A few weeks later, the whole school trudged out to the Quidditch field
to see the Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor match. Spirits were fairly high,
as no one had been attacked in weeks, and everyone was excited for the
game. The late March air was warming up, and the sun was out, however
weak. It was warm enough that Chloe could wear just a sweater and not a jacket as well. It was a perfect day for a birthday.

The day had started out perfectly. There were presents on the foot of her bed (her parents had sent her a box of reappearing chocolate, a quilt in her house colors, and a little stuffed bear) when she woke up, her favorite dress was clean, there was marmalade at breakfast, and Hermione gave her a hairbow she had made. There were no classes that day, just a Quidditch match and the celebration dinner afterwards.

It went downhill quickly from there. Draco had told her that they shouldn't sit together for a while, just in case anyone had seen them together on the night of Justin's attack. So she sat next to a fellow Slytherin in the Quidditch stands named Adelaide, but quickly discovered that Adelaide was prissy and rather rude. It started to rain, and Hufflepuff was losing badly.

Just when she thought it couldn't get any less fun, the announcement came.

"Students, there has been another attack. Please file calmly into the castle and find your Head of House or prefect. Follow them into your house, where you will await further instruction."

Chloe's mind whirled. Who had been attacked? What was happening? She searched for a familiar face, settling on Harry and Ron. She raced towards them, her heart thumping a thousand times too fast.

"What's happened? Who's been attacked?"

She got a better look at their faces. Ron was ashen-faced and looked stricken. Harry was flushed and looked like he might cry.

"Hermione," Ron finally choked out, and then made a little moaning noise. "She's been petrified!"

Chloe gaped openly. "That's terrible! Poor Hermione."

Harry opened his mouth, made a painful, rasping noise, and then turned and walked away. Chloe ran towards her dormitory, needing to get away from everyone. She wrapped herself in her new quilt, grabbed her birthday stuffed bear, opened her box of reappearing chocolate, and had a good long cry.

                                                                           *                *                 *                *

When Chloe finally came out from under her covers, it was late at night. Malachi was asleep, the candles had been all blown out, and the heavy green draperies were closed. Not a sliver of moonlight showed through the window. She sat up and hissed, "Lumos." The tip of her wand glowed, illuminating the dark room. She saw her snoring roommate, crumbs of chocolate everywhere, and a small envelope on her pillow. She reached for it and, with a quick "Windgardium Leviosa", made it hover in front of her nose.

Chloe-

I'm off tickling a sleeping dragon. Sorry about your Mudblood friend and everything. Happy birthday.

-D

Chloe opened the envelope to reveal a little ring. The ring was silver, with a tiny emerald, perfectly sized to fit on her pinkie finger. Maybe this would be a good birthday after all.