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[Harriet Willoughby]

There was really only one date in the year that Harriet loved as much as Christmas, and it came barely even a month after: Her birthday. It was never a big affair, but it was something that Harriet couldn't help but look forward to. It was slightly weird not being home for her birthday like usual and Harriet was beginning to feel a little homesick. Her mother had encouraged her to stay at Hogwarts and make the best of her first year and if she was honest, she had soon regretted her decision. Harriet loved the castle, but she missed the farm terribly.

It was still fairly in the morning and few people were awake. Harriet herself had been woken up by one of the school's owls, carrying a fat letter from home, tapping on the window of her dormitory. She had been out of bed like a shot, both in excitement and in an effort to not wake up her housemates. It had been just starting to get light outside, so Harriet pulled on her robes and hurried off the to Great Hall to open her letter.

So there she was, one of only a few people sitting at the bench, peeling apart the envelope, almost knocking her goblet of juice over as she did so. Several sheets of paper, each in different handwriting from each member of her family, fell onto the table. She picked up the first one from her father, grinning wildly as she painstakingly read the letter, although she found herself stumbling over several words. At the mention of her present, she picked up the three lengths of ribbon that had fallen onto the table with her letter. They were beautiful, long strips of silk in gorgeous shades of yellow, purple and red. She stroked the soft fabric with her thumb as she picked up a second letter written in her mother's loopy handwriting and began to read.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Alexander walked into the Great Hall which was surprisingly empty for Saturday morning. Plans sprang into his mind of what he wanted to do on the first weekend back to school from Upper Flagley. He could go out into the grounds, stomp around a bit and go back upto the castle to the library; or he could just head down to the library as soon as he was done eating breakfast or he could just lounge around the school, try to meet up with a friend or spend time by himself in the Slytherin Common Room. His mind was trying to decide upon which task he should focus on instead when passing by a Hufflepuff table, he noticed something on the ground. Picking it up he handed the envelope over to a Hufflepuff girl he saw on a few occasions but had never had a chance to speak.

"I think this might be yours?" he said pleasantly to the girl.

[Harriet Willoughby]

Harriet was close to finishing her mother's letter when she was startled by a voice behind her. Turning in her seat, she saw a Slytherin boy in her year holding the envelope that has contained her letters, having fallen on the floor whilst she was preoccupied. She recognised him from a few of her classes, although they'd never actually spoken to each other. What was his name again? Aaron maybe? No, that can be it.

"Oh! Thank you," She said, tucking the envelope into her robe pockets. It was no surprise she had dropped it. Her immediate area was fairly cluttered, so it was no surprise she'd be a little clumsy. "I must not have been paying attention." And then, because it was the polite thing to do and Harriet, was nothing if not polite. "I'm Harriet by the way. Do you want to join me?" She pushed her letters to the side slightly, clearing space in case he agreed.

[Alexander Sowerby]

"Oh! Thank you," the Hufflepuff said placing the envelope safely her pockets. "I must not have been paying attention." Alexander smiled at her politely. "It's not a problem of course,"

"I'm Harriet by the way. Do you want to join me?" Harriet asked politely. Alexander nodded and than introduced himself. "Alexander, it's a pleasure to meet you and thank you."

He sat down beside the girl and looked at the mound of envelopes. Taking a teacup from a tray in the middle, he placed it on the desktop and than poured himself a hot steaming cup of tea. Placing a single sugar into his cup, he drank it silently as he watched the girl.

"Seems like you've got quite the correspondence."

[Harriet Willoughby]

As Alexander sat down, Harriet attempted to sort the pile of envelopes somewhat, clearing space on the table. She laughed slightly, and said, "I suppose I have. I haven't had this many letters all year." Harriet paused, and for a moment her mouth twisted into a line. "It's my birthday see and well, I've never been away from home for this long before." She shrugged, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"But it's fine," She said decisively, staring down at the letters. She missed her family it was true, but what good was it getting upset? She was going to be here for a few more months, and she wasn't going to let homesickness ruin it for her. "Really."

She looked up at Alexander and smiled brightly. "So, what brings you up so early?"

[Alexander Sowerby]

"I suppose I have. I haven't had this many letters all year." Harriet said before adding "It's my birthday see and well, I've never been away from home for this long before." the girl seemingly embarrassed shrugged.

Before Alexander could reply however the girl with a bit of defiance in her voice said.

"But it's fine,"

Alexander understood, he missed his siblings and especially his older sister very much, however he knew that saying that would do nothing to cheer her up. "Really."" she reassured herself more than him!

She looked up at Alexander and smiled brightly. So, what brings you up so early?"

"Well I think I ought to start with a bit of an explanation," he said smiling at the girl, "For I hoped that I'd run into a girl who was having their birthday today, thankfully you do." Alexander said with sincere laughter in his voice. "But, where are my manners?"

Alexander took out his wand and murmured "Orchideous" a bouquet of flowers appeared at the end of Alexander's wand.

"These are for you on your very special day," he smiled an bowed to her the bouquet of red roses extanded toward her in his hand.

"Happy Birthday Harriet" Alexander said smiling