"Happy birthday, Rory!"

Cedric greeted me with open arms as I stepped out of the cabin. He enveloped me in a bear hug and twirled me round and round, making me laugh with glee.

"Stop, Ced! I'm going to be sick!"

"It's been years since I've gotten to see you on your birthday!" He chuckled. "I wish you weren't getting so old, though."

"I'm fifteen - it's hardly old." I smiled, linking my arm in his as we strode towards the castle for breakfast.

But I knew exactly what he meant, by the dark expression crossing his face as we passed the Slytherin table in the Great Hall.

Happy birthday, I mouthed to Draco, not being able to help the smile tugging at my lips.

You too, he mouthed back, throwing me a discreet little wink.

My heart fluttered as we exchanged a sweet, furtive smile.

I just couldn't wait to see him properly.

Cho joined Cedric and I at the Hufflepuff table, planting a birthday kiss on my cheek as she passed me a small box of Honeydukes chocolates.

As we started helping ourselves to breakfast, Cedric slipped me a small, rectangular wrapped package.

It was a beautiful, red velvet, hard back copy of The Tales of Beedle The Bard. I ran my fingers along the gold embossed lettering.

"Mum used to read me a copy of this before she died," he explained softly, looking at me cautiously with a tenderness in his eyes. "I don't remember it too much, but Dad said I loved it. I know it's not much, but-"

"It's perfect, thank you," I whispered, my voice wobbling. I squeezed my eyes shut briefly as a wave of sadness washed over me.

"Hey - no tears. It's your birthday." Cedric murmured, wrapping an arm over my shoulders and kissing the top of my head.

Our family owl dropped a parcel of presents into my cereal bowl, slopping milk everywhere. It was from Dad, mostly practical things for school like a pencil case, but also a huge box of chocolates which delighted the Hufflepuffs to no end as I prised it open and shared them about.

"So, I was thinking we could ask the Hogwarts house elves to make you a birthday cake for tonight." Cedric said, chewing on a chocolate caramel.

"Oh." I blushed, wondering how I was going to explain this one. "I'm sort of... busy, tonight."

"Busy? Doing what?!" Cedric frowned. I suddenly felt really bad. He was obviously keen to help me celebrate my birthday.

"I'm going to a party."

"Party? What party?"

"Um, it's not just my birthday today, you see, and Blaise-"

"Not Zabini?!" Please don't tell me this is a Slytherin thing?"

"Well, it's going to be held in the Slytherin common room, if that's what you mean."

"Who else's birthday is it today?" Cedric asked, closing his eyes as if to give himself patience.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY DRACO, DUDE!"

A vein pulsed in Cedric's forehead as Blaise excitedly greeted his best friend.

"You have a wonderful time, Aurora," Cho said, placing a placating hand on my brother's arm. "Cedric and I were planning on taking a walk at some point anyway, so tonight will be perfect."

...

I was making my way through the empty Entrance Hall on my way back down to the carriage after breakfast, when a hand grabbed my arm from behind me, making me cry out in alarm as I was whirled around and slammed up hard against a familiar chest.

Draco's lips crashed down upon mine, a longing groan vibrating in his throat as he kissed me urgently.

"I'm sorry," he murmured breathlessly once he broke away, resting his forehead down against mine. "I just wanted to give you a birthday kiss."

The sound of the door to the Great Hall opening made us leap apart. My heart was pounding as I attempted to casually straighten out the creases of my pale blue robes.

"I'll see you tonight," I whispered, grinning, before turning on the spot and walked away, trying my hardest not to skip.

...

Draco wished this wasn't happening. He didn't want a stupid party.

He was sat slumped moodily on the sofa by the fireplace. Blaise had gotten the house elves to decorate the room with loads of colourful balloons and party streamers. Upbeat music played in the background and the tables were littered with Butterbeers, various sweet and savoury snacks, and - of course - two cakes.

Blaise had thought of everything.

But all Draco wanted to do was find a quiet spot and kiss his girl.

"Make room for the birthday girl!" Blaise announced excitedly as he dragged Aurora into the Slytherin common room, followed by Fleur Delacour and a few other Beauxbatons students whom Draco didn't know or care what their names were.

He felt the familiar flutter in his chest. She looked, as always, beautiful. Draco could hardly believe how lucky he was that he got to kiss and hold her, that she wanted to be with him as much as he wanted to be with her. His body literally ached for her when he wasn't near her.

It took all his control not to leap up from the sofa and smother her in kisses right there and then. Instead, he stayed where he was, observing; allowing his eyes just to enjoy the sight of her.

Blaise dragged her across to the table and proudly showed her the cakes. Draco's was in the shape of a golden Snitch; Aurora's, a chess piece - the queen. "Drac tells me you are a bit of a chess whizz, so it had to be the queen, of course."

"This is amazing!" Aurora gushed. "You didn't have to do all of this!"

"Ah, it was nothing, any friend of Drac's is a friend of mine. Besides, you've even managed to make the grumpy git smile a bit, so that puts you right up in my estimation."

Aurora glanced over to where he sat, watching, and Draco's stomach flipped as she gave him her most beautiful, widest smile. He beckoned her over, trying to play it cool, despite his fingers itching to touch her.

As soon as she sat down, he threw his arms around her, practically pulling her onto his lap, no longer caring about who was watching.

"God, you're so beautiful," he murmured hoarsely in her ear, feeling as though he was almost drowning in the very scent of her.

She turned her head so that her lips were practically touching his. He couldn't not kiss her no more than he couldn't not breathe.

"Ease up there, tigers," Blaise said, plonking himself down on the other end of the sofa, offering out bottles of Butterbeer. "Not everyone wants to tune into the Discovery Channel."

Draco frustratedly tore his lips away from hers and grabbed the bottles from Blaise's hand, handing one to Aurora, as he kept one arm snaked tightly around her waist.

"So, this is the Slytherin common room," Aurora said, looking around impressively. "I have to say, it really is something."

"I don't think your friend thinks so," Blaise chuckled, nodding towards a disgusted looking Fleur Delacour who was clutching her robes around her as if she was afraid of being contaminated by her surroundings.

"Fleur can be a little particular at times." Aurora smiled, shrugging her shoulders.

"Come on," Draco said, standing up and grabbing Aurora's hand. "I want to give you your present."

"Just make sure it's the gift you unwrap and not anything else!" Blaise called after them as Draco led her towards the dormitories.

Draco was thankful the room he shared with Blaise, Theo, Crabbe and Goyle was empty.

He switched on the lights pulling her towards his four poster bed.

"Sit." He commanded, pointing at the green bedspread whilst he knelt down and rummaged in his bedside cabinet, searching for the little box he had carefully wrapped in shiny green paper.

"Draco, you didn't have to get me a present." Aurora spoke, sounding worried. "I don't need anything. I'm just happy to have you."

He looked up at her, grinning. "You've got me - that's a given. But you can also have this."

He got to his feet and plonked the box in her lap. She let out a startled gasp, making him chuckle as he sat on the bed next to her, snaking his arm back around her waist whilst he watched her fumble with the wrappings.

He suddenly felt a little apprehensive as she opened the box, feeling fearful that maybe it was too much, and it would frighten her away.

Inside the box was half an opalescent, pearly stone of varying colours, it's smooth body coated in a moonlight sheen.

Aurora picked it up, studying it closely. "A moonstone! It's beautiful." She paused, squinting down at it. "What are these letters supposed to mean?"

"It's a date." He explained, retrieving the other half of the moonstone from his pocket. He placed it against the stone in her hand. The two pieces fitted together perfectly, making one whole stone. And engraved, now clearly, it read:

5th June 1980

"Thought it was an appropriate gift for a birthday twin." He shrugged, suddenly feeling highly embarrassed by it. What fifteen year old wants a rock for their birthday? And half a rock at that.

Then all of a sudden she was kissing him - tenderly and softly, her lips sweet like honey. And, as he eagerly kissed her back, he found himself yearning to know what the rest of her tasted like.

"It's one of the most beautiful gifts anyone has ever given to me," she said in a breathless whisper as she pulled away, her eyes burning deeply up into his. "Thank you."

Draco ran his fingers through her hair, tucking it tenderly behind her ear as he brushed his lips against hers, sighing in complete and utter longing.

She was his girl. His Aurora. The universe was good simply because she was in it. And even though they hadn't labelled it, in that moment he did.

He called it love.