Happy Birthday

Gemini sighed helplessly, then flipped over and leaped down from the Astronomy Tower. Pulled along by spider silk, he landed on the open ground not far below Gryffindor Tower after only a few swings.

"Whew... That webbing looks really useful. How did he make it? Could he sell us some?"

The twins leaned over the Astronomy Tower railing, watching curiously.

"I think that without Mr. Fox's sturdy physique, the only outcome of using that thing would be breaking your necks," Professor Dumbledore advised kindly.

"Not necessarily." Fred thoughtfully pinched his chin. "We might get caught on the railings."

"And have our bits strung up in a row."

"Oh, dear God, that sounds terrifying!"

"I can already feel a chill down there."

The twins' words made Dumbledore laugh. He greatly appreciated the pair; no matter the situation, they could always bring laughter to others.

By then, Gemini had filled the open ground with fireworks. They were all ordinary fireworks, classified in the Weapon Shop as Logistics Support Class equipment.

For example, setting off fireworks to celebrate a victory in war.

Of course, that was not even the most ridiculous thing. The Weapon Shop even sold White Flags...

Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor Tower girls' dormitory.

Hermione sat quietly against her headboard, reading by the dim yellow light.

She held a thick magic book in her arms, though she looked somewhat distracted.

After midnight, it would be her birthday. It was the first birthday she had ever spent away from home, and also the first without any birthday presents.

Fred had been right. No one went to sleep on time when the next day was their birthday, at least not young people.

Closing her magic book irritably, Hermione leaned against the headboard and quietly recalled everything that had happened over the past few months.

One morning, she had suddenly received a letter from Hogwarts, informing her that she was a little wizard.

Then, that afternoon, Professor McGonagall had unexpectedly visited. Gemini had appeared in the garden as well, holding a baseball bat and standing with one foot on that miserable little fat boy. Aside from his handsome face, he had looked every bit like a thug.

The next day, she had gone to Diagon Alley, where wizards were everywhere and there were so many interesting things.

After that, she had arrived at Hogwarts and been sorted into Gryffindor.

Once she got here, she had to face everything alone, away from her parents.

She somewhat regretted not buying an owl. At least then, she could have sent letters home.

Ever since arriving at Hogwarts, Hermione had been anxious and uneasy.

Many of her classmates came from wizarding families. She worried that she would fall behind in her studies, worried about making mistakes, worried that others would look down on her for being Muggle-born. So she studied desperately, wanting to make herself better.

Hermione was proud, but she was also insecure.

Beneath her excellent grades lay a heart full of unease and fear.

Whoosh----

Boom!!!!

All of a sudden, a brilliant red light blossomed beyond the window, illuminating Hermione's fair little face.

She rolled out of bed and went to the window. The red light burst apart, becoming a golden waterfall cascading down from the sky. In an instant, the golden radiance imprinted itself upon Hermione's clear pupils.

The east wind released a thousand trees of flowers into the night, then blew down stars like rain.

The little girl had never experienced the profound beauty of Chinese culture, but before such magnificent fireworks, people all over the world surely felt the same way.

Then, as if a powder keg had been lit, dozens of multicolored lights shot into the sky. Cluster after cluster of fireworks completely covered the skies above Hogwarts Castle.

The dazzling fireworks bloomed freely overhead, their fantastical beauty made all the more striking against the ancient castle.

Hermione stood spellbound at the window, a glimmer of tears unconsciously gathering at the corners of her eyes.

Her dormmates, Parvati and Lavender, had already been awakened by the sounds of the fireworks. They stood at another window, hopping excitedly.

Swish--

A strand of spider silk stuck to the window, and then a black figure appeared outside it.

Under Hermione's astonished gaze, Gemini smiled and tapped on the glass.

"Gemini? How did you..." Hermione opened the window, then seemed to realize something and could not help opening her mouth. "Did you set off those fireworks?"

"Happy birthday, Miss Granger." Gemini smiled gently, then waved at Parvati and Lavender, whose mouths hung open beside her. "Good evening. Sorry to disturb you. Would you like to join us?"

Parvati and Lavender exchanged glances, then could not help giggling. "No, we won't interrupt you. Have fun."

Gemini nodded gently, and then...

Swish--

A strand of spider silk stuck to Hermione's pajamas. Gemini gave it a tug, wrapped one arm around the little girl's soft waist, and leaped from the tower amid Hermione's cry of surprise.

After several swings, they returned to the Astronomy Tower. Fred and George immediately cheered loudly, while Dumbledore wiped at the tears in the corners of his eyes and gazed wistfully at the fireworks still endlessly blooming overhead.

"Being young is wonderful..."

At that moment, the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw towers were brightly lit. Students had gotten up one after another and gathered by the windows to watch the grand fireworks display.

To keep Old Filch occupied, Gemini had prepared quite a few fireworks—enough to last for a while.

"Professor Dumbledore... and Fred and George?"

Her face flushed as Gemini set her down, Hermione stared at the three people before her in astonishment.

"Good evening, Miss Granger." Dumbledore smiled kindly. "It is exactly midnight now, so... happy birthday."

"Happy birthday, Miss Know-it-all," the twins said with grins.

Hermione looked blankly at Gemini, then opened her mouth uncertainly. "Does Hogwarts have a tradition of celebrating first-years' birthdays?"

"Of course not." Dumbledore considered it for a moment. "Though it is a good suggestion."

"Do we need to revise the school rules, Professor?" Fred's eyes lit up. "We can help."

"I think we should pass." Dumbledore gently declined Fred's offer. "I ran into Mr. Fox while Night Wandering, and he seemed to want to celebrate your birthday. So the two of us went to the kitchen and made a birthday cake, but unfortunately, Astronomy class ended a little early today."

Gemini waved his hand, and an enormous birthday cake appeared before them.

Hermione looked at Gemini in surprise. She barely paid any attention to the cake.

"How did you know it was my birthday?"

Gemini shrugged. "There is a room at Hogwarts that records the names of every wizard born in Britain. I happened to see yours."

"Ha, we've been to that room too," Fred said excitedly.

"We even wanted to see whether we could change some names."

"But then George got stabbed hard in the back of his hand by that quill..."

Hermione: "..."

"Then make a wish, Miss Granger." Dumbledore waved his hand, and a lit little candle appeared above the cake.

"Want us to sing you a birthday song?" George suggested.

Gemini smiled. "Let's skip the birthday song..."

"Happy birthday to you—"

Before Gemini could finish, Dumbledore and the others had already begun singing...

Fuck! Damn it!