Happy Birthday...

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~~~(POV: Alexander Aevum)~~~

~~~(Location: Hogwarts Express, Kings Cross Station, Platform 9 3/4)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: September 1st, 10:49 AM, 1992)~~~

~~~(Age: 13 Years)~~~

Students continue piling into the train that will take us away. Sister Beth and Bella threw me a rather tedious birthday party yesterday since I have to leave for Hogwarts today.

The gold I created using Chrysopoeia via the Sorcerers Stone has served its purpose. We've got a new house and live on a plot of farmland instead of in the bustling city. I'm glad I was able to solve their financial issues.

Despite how much hot water I got into with the Ministry.

The children of the orphanage need a better place to live. Now they have one. They'll never say it out loud, but Beth and Bella were at wit's end for money. Thanks to my creation, that problem is solved.

My thoughts are pulled from my birthday party yesterday as I see a familiar face open the door to my cabin. Neville looks at me nervously as our eyes meet; I give a nod of permission a second later.

Neville has grown since last year. He quickly puts his luggage in the spaces above the seats and sits across from me. Looking out the window at the students boarding the train.

He takes a small breath. Looking like he wants to start a conversation. Instead of saying anything, he pulls something out of his pocket and tosses it to me. It's wrapped in gift wrapping.

"Happy birthday, Alex."

The nervousness in his voice is almost gone, along with plenty of hope that I'll like the gift he bought for me. I honestly wasn't expecting this. Beth, Bella, and Albus are the only people ever to get me anything on my birthday.

I can't help cracking half a smile as I inspect the cliche birthday cakes on the wrapping paper. It's in the shape of a small box.

"You've surprised me, Neville. I wasn't expecting any gifts today."

For some reason, knowing that he surprised me caused him to smile. He scratches the back of his neck and looks out the window. Trying to find words.

"Well, you are my first friend at Hogwarts. You let me hang out around you and didn't bully me. You even took some time to help me with problems I had."

It's true when he says I was his first friend at Hogwarts. My first friend is Albus, but out of the students. Neville is the first one I have called a friend. His eyes are locked on the wrapped gift, waiting for me to open it.

After a few seconds, enough time has been wasted on talking. I rip the wrapping paper off, and the box shape is a metal cube.

It's a storage cube. Its function is identical to my storage bag but has different parameters set to it. For example, it might be big enough to walk in. If it's the shape of a cube, I can set it down, and it turns into a portable home.

This had to cost a small fortune...

I lift my eyes off the storage cube and look at Neville. A smile plastered on his face, and that's when I realized I'm making one of my own.

"I'm glad you like it. It's just big enough for a room. It belonged to my grandfather, but I don't have any use for it. I figured it's better in your possession than mine."

Wow... This is an incredible gift... I honestly don't know what to say, but I guess a thank you is where I can start. I want to ask him where his grandfather got something like this, but that's something I can ask him later.

~~~(POV: Hermione Granger)~~~

~~~(Location: Hogwarts Express, Scotland, Great Britain)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: September 1st, 2:45 PM, 1992)~~~

~~~(Age: 12 Years)~~~

My heart races as I stare at the plain box in my hands. Ron and Harry didn't make it on the train this year, and I'm worried about them. But not as much as I'm concerned by what I'm about to do.

I stand up from my seat and leave the compartment. Walking down the hall and staring at the room at the very end of this car. Coming from the other direction is a face I hoped to avoid here today, but I guess that's wishful thinking.

Daphne sees me walking down the hall opposite her, and a determined look enters her eyes. We start rushing forward to reach the door that holds our locked destination.

We stop in front of the glass door and look inside. Neville and Alex are talking as they look out the window. Before I can get a word out to Daphne, she grabs the door handle and throws it open. Startling Neville and making Alex turn to look.

That's when I freeze in place... His gaze locks with mine, bouncing softly between Daphne and me.

"I wanted to stop by and give you this before we got to Hogwarts. Happy birthday, Alex. I'm glad I have you in my life; this is my way of showing you."

My lungs trap the air within them and stutter in my thoughts. I watch Daphne hold out a beautifully wrapped present. Consciously comparing how hers looks to mine instantly fills me with grief.

Alex slowly reaches out for the present and takes it. A small smile on his pleasant features... My cheeks start to become hotter the longer I look at Alex... His enrapturing hazel eyes and dark hair complement him greatly.

He's grown more this summer... More since I saw him during the break... How can someone change so much in such a short amount of time?

The boy we've both come to see today quickly tears the wrapping paper off his gift, and that's when my stomach sinks.

It's an ancient book... By the looks of it, valuable, too... Alex loves knowledge...

"Wow... Thank you, Daphne... I didn't know there were still books that taught defense spells in original Latin like this..."

That's a fantastic gift... My hands tighten against what I'm holding behind my back... Before he says anything else, I step forward. My courage soars higher. Not wanting to lose to Daphne. I hold out my hands with the plain box in them.

I avoid looking directly into Alex's eyes. Worried that I might tell him something I don't want him to know yet.

He gently takes it from my hands and takes the cover off. His eyes widened, then became softer. A smile of real happiness instantly forms, and my heart jumps up and down.

"I remember this day... It's when we went fishing and river rafting together..."

Mom and Dad took many pictures that day, and the one I've given to Alex is where we're standing next to each other. Both holding fish we caught. Our cheeks are touching, and I'm leaning a bit closer than I should in the photo.

Daphne leans forward to look at the gift more closely, and that's when an expression I seldom see on her appears. A mixture of disbelief, worry, and jealousy.

I admit it. I feel like I've won at this event today. The way Alex looks at my gift compared to hers says it all.

"Yeah... Mom always has a camera ready for moments that are worth remembering."

The polaroid keeps his attention entirely, and that's when I feel the eyes of two others in the compartment. I look and see Neville smiling. The other one doesn't have any cheerful disposition to share with me.

Daphne furrows her brow and wears a slight scowl. Staring at me hard. We're both after the same thing, and if we didn't acknowledge it before. This is a declaration between us.

~~~(POV: Alexander Aevum)~~~

~~~(Location: The Great Hall, Gryffindor Table, Hogwarts)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: September 1st, 5:36 PM, 1992)~~~

~~~(Age: 13 Years)~~~

I find the absence of Ron and Harry rather conspicuous, to say the least. They're my friends too. Harry hadn't responded to my letters, but after asking Hermione. It was the same on her end.

Something isn't adding up there... But that shouldn't be my focus for right now.

As the sorting ceremony comes to a close, Albus gives his speech. It takes a few minutes, but after he returns to his seat. His eyes lock with mine, and gives a slight nod. Indicting, we'll be talking later tonight.

"Do you want to go to the library with me today? There are supposed to be new books that we have access to now that we're second years."

The voice of Hermione takes my attention away from Albus. I smile as I look at her, and she blushes just a little. Her gift means more to me than I thought it would.

But I'll have to join her tomorrow, given that my meeting with Albus might take a long time. No harm in trying to meet up tonight, though.

"Sure, I have to meet with Headmaster Dumbledore for a bit, but I'll try to make it."

I don't like making promises I can't keep, so this isn't a promise. She knows this, as she nods her head with hope. Reservation laced with it too.