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Happy Birthday, Bee

Here's a little something I wrote for everyone's favourite Hufflepuff girl 💖 @creampuffcloudsdreaming Happy Birthday to my baby girl 🥰🎉

Leonard Lovegood took one last look in the mirror and adjusted his frilly tie. It made him feel a bit like his own father, but Mr Hill had insisted it was perfect for the occasion.

“How do I look?” he called out into the dormitory.

“Good enough to eat,” Orpheus’s voice shot back instantly.

Leo hadn’t noticed him coming in. He laughed. “Merlin, do you ever stop?”

“Every now and then. When I’m asleep,” Orpheus retorted quickly.

“Right, that’s enough information,” Amit interjected, to whom Leo’s question had originally been directed, “Actually, you shouldn’t even be here.”

Leo grinned. “His name is Orpheus. Of course he finds ways to get into places he has no business being.” He turned back to the mirror and ran his fingers through his blond hair. “But seriously, can I go like this?”

“Of course you can. You look good,” replied Amit. Leo smiled gratefully.

He reached for his cap, which, as always when he wasn’t wearing it, he’d hung on the back of the chair. But it wasn’t there. As he looked around, searching, he found it on Orpheus’s head.

“Give it back,” he said.

“No.”

“Yes, you do.” Leonard lunged for the cap, but Orpheus dodged him effortlessly. “I’m just borrowing it,” he said.

“No, you’re not. Last time you did, I spent three months looking for it.” Leonard put his hands on his hips. The corners of Orpheus’s mouth twitched.

“I’m just doing you a favour. That old thing doesn’t go with the outfit,” he explained.

“Oh. And since when have you cared about that sort of thing?”

Orpheus shrugged. “I don’t.”

“Fine, then give it back to me.”

“Jocelyn does, though. She wants Bee to have a perfect day.”

“Well, as it happens, Bee loves that cap. Give it back to me, Leon!”

He held out his hand expectantly. Orpheus held his gaze for a moment, then grinned. “At least I can say I tried.”

He pulled the cap off his head and handed it to him.

“Thanks a lot.” Leo put it on and glanced at his watch. “Right, I’ve got to go. See you later.”

He blew a kiss into the room and then made his way to the main entrance.

Bee was already waiting for him. Leo stopped in his tracks when he saw her. She was wearing the new yellow dress she’d picked out with Valeria on their last trip to Hogsmeade, and looked as enchanting as ever. He took the last three steps with a casual leap and landed beside her.

“Happy birthday, Honeybee.”

She flinched briefly, but smiled when she recognised him. “Thanks.”

Leo kissed her on the cheek. “So, ready to go?”

“I don’t know. After all, you haven’t told me what we’re doing yet,” she replied, feigning sternness.

Leo acted surprised. “Haven’t I? That is, of course, inexcusable.”

He smiled and offered her his arm. “I hope you’ll forgive me for a surprise.” Her gaze softened as she took his arm. “Always.”

Together they left the castle.

On the way, he asked her how her day had been so far. They hadn’t seen each other yet, thanks to their different timetables. He listened attentively as she told him how she’d nearly been splattered with Bubotuber pus in Herbology and how Leander had given himself a bald patch in Transfiguration when he was actually supposed to be changing his hair colour.

She also told him how relieved she was that nobody had made a big fuss about her birthday.

“A few people wished me a happy birthday, but that was it, thank Merlin.”

Leo bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from grinning. He knew why everyone had been so reserved.

They reached the floo flame at the castle’s entrance portal. Leo took a pinch of powder, threw it into the fire and said clearly: “Northford Bog.”

A green jet of flame engulfed them both and spat them out of a chimney in a small stone house.

Outside, Mr Babcocke was already waiting with the boat Leo had rented.

“Wait a minute, are we going to take that?” asked Bee, alarmed.

“Yes, but this time far away from any waterfalls. And from Jocie,” Leo said reassuringly, “Just a relaxed trip at a moderate pace, with plenty of time to look around. Perhaps we’ll see a few beasts; Madame Peck said we'll pass a few nests along this route.”

Leo pushed the boat into the water and helped Bee climb aboard. Then he pushed her off the bank and jumped in after her. A flick of his wand set the boat in motion, at a calm, steady pace that quickly eased Bee’s initial tension.

Indeed, the route Leo had chosen was wonderfully peaceful. Neither of them felt the need to break the silence of the almost untouched landscape they were travelling through with words.

Their route took them first through marshland and past a Thestral’s nest. Leo stopped the boat briefly so they could admire the creatures. One of the mares had a foal, which was trotting alongside her with its head held high. Bee stifled a delighted squeal at the sight.

A little further down the stream, they also spotted giant purple toads.

They too had offspring: three toads the size of an ordinary Crup. Bee smiled at their unusually high-pitched croaking and leaned against Leo’s chest as they watched them. Leo gently kissed the top of her head.

With the last rays of the setting sun, they reached Pitt-Upon-Ford. Leo steered the boat onto safe ground. When he looked up, his mouth fell open. Bee had stood up. Her hair reflected the sunlight and seemed almost to glow. She was so beautiful!

She noticed he was staring at her and furrowed her brows. “What?” she asked, half-laughing.

“I was just wondering what I’ve done to deserve the good fortune of having an angel like you as my girlfriend,” Leo replied sincerely. She blushed. “Stop it!”

But she was beaming, and Leo couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear as well.

The two of them set off towards the village. Leo glanced nervously at his watch. Hopefully, everything had gone to plan. They reached the village square.

“Surprise!” rang out suddenly from all sides. Bee grabbed Leo’s arm in fright before she realised what was going on.

In the village square stood a long table laden with a huge buffet of all her favourite treats. Gifts were piled high on another table, and many small tables and chairs were scattered around. Ernie Lark was there with all his instruments, playing a cheerful tune, and now all her friends were emerging from between the houses. A surprise party!

Happy tears welled up in Bee’s eyes as everyone lined up to congratulate her. Sebastian was the first: “Happy birthday, Busy Bee!”

He pulled her into a hug.

Lyra followed hot on his heels. “Happy birthday! I’m so glad to know you!”

And so it went on. Poppy, Valeria, Carina, Natty and Ominis, each giving her a hug; then Jocie, who had been held back by Orpheus until that moment but was now almost crushing Bee; then Orpheus himself, who, to the surprise of everyone present, actually smiled warmly as he congratulated her.

Then there were Garreth, Hanno, Lyla, Tara and Maeve, Willow and Savina, Alice, Elisa and Maisie, Lily and Kai. Even Cataria and Aurora were there.

Not even Leo, who knew most of his fellow students, did recognise everyone who had come to celebrate Bee.

He stayed by her side, his hand resting supportively on her back. He knew she was incredibly happy to see everyone who was there, but was just as overwhelmed by being the centre of attention.

Eventually, however, everyone had congratulated her and Jocie took it upon herself to open the buffet for Bee. The crowd dispersed a little. Bee took a deep breath and let Leo lead her to one of the tables.

“I’ll get us something to eat.”

When he returned with a plate piled high, Lyra and Carina were sitting with her.

“I can’t believe you’ve managed to organise this,” she was just saying, “and that so many have come! I never would have expected that!”

“People just like you! I’ve been trying to explain that to you for months,” Carina replied warmly.

“Yes, but it’s still a strange feeling to see them all together.” Bee let her gaze wander over the crowd. “I really don’t know how to handle this.”

“I can imagine,” said Lyra gently.

“Have something to eat first,” suggested Leo, sitting down with them. “And then we’ll mingle with the crowd a bit. It’ll be fine!”

“Yes, I’m sure,” Bee agreed tentatively.

“Don’t worry,” Leo continued, “if it all gets too much for you, Orpheus, Jocie and I have an escape plan ready. I’m sure Jocie would even be grateful if she got to put it into action.” He raised an eyebrow suggestively. Bee giggled. “You’re all nuts!” she declared.

“Thank you so much for everything,” she added and kissed him sweetly.

“Any time,” Leo replied quietly, “Happy birthday, Sweetie Pie!”

MCs mentioned:

Orpheus Kerr by @amus2110

Jocie Bell by @creampuffcloudsdreaming

Valeria Davenport by @honeyed-blossom

Carina Savge by Amanda

Lyra Prag by me

And all the characters appearing in this post

Screenshot Reference