Different

birthdays

Claire felt bittersweet as she woke up on her birthday. For the first time that she could remember she didn't have to deal with the DeBlanc family, but she also didn't have Harry. She missed him a lot, but she couldn't seem to answer his letters quick enough. Claire barely answered any letters, so Harry wasn't the only one getting less thay speedy replies.

"Happy birthday!"

Claire groaned and shoved her head under her blanket as her father entered her room.

"Oh, come on," Remus laughed. "You're fourteen now! This is exciting!"

"I'm not excited," Claire mumbled sleepily. She felt Remus sit down on the end of the bed, so she peeked her eyes out from under the blanket. Remus grinned at her and handed her a small box.

"What's this?" Claire asked, yawning as she say up. She gathered her hair in a loose bun at the top of her head, not feeling like dealing with it. Remus grinned and handed her the box. It had another charm for her bracelet, this one being of a golden snitch.

"I know you prefer beater, but the snitch was all I could find," Remus said sheepishly. Claire just smiled as she grabbed her bracelet and put the new charm on it, allowing her dad to help her clasp the bracelet into her wrist once she was done.

"Thank you," Claire said through a yawn. "What time is it?"

"Nine," Remus answered. Claire groaned loudly and laid back down, covering herself in the blanket once more. "I have more than one present for you but you have to actually get up to get it."

Claire sighed and got out of bed, not looking happy about having to do that. Remus just grinned at her.

"Put on something nice but casual," Remus told her.

"I have like...three outfits," Claire responded. Remus frowned guiltily and sighed.

"Wear whatever you like best," Remus finally said. "We need to leave in thirty minutes."

Claire hurried to put on her favorite outfit, some skinny jeans with holes in the knees paired with a plain white shirt, although it was cropped. The DeBlanc boy had cut it as a joke but Claire ended up liking it better that way anyways. She hesitated before hurrying to the bathroom in the house with a bag of some makeup Hermione had gotten her during the school year. She put on some basic stuff, mainly a light blue eyeshadow that made her eyes pop and some mascara. Finally, she pulled her hair down and braided part of it back, creating a half up-half down look.

"Is that makeup?" Remus asked with furrowed eyebrows when Claire came to tell him she was ready to go. "And your stomach is out!"

Claire blushed and ducked her head.

"I can go change and take it off," Claire mumbled.

"No! No, don't worry," Remus said quickly. "You look nice, it's just...you're getting so big and mature."

Claire awkwardly cleared her throat and looked down.

"Where are we going?" Claire asked. Remus chuckled at her changing the subject and grabbed some last minute things.

"First to your grandfather's and then to a surprise," Remus answered.

"Please tell me!" Claire pouted. "It's my birthday!"

Remus just shook his head and gestured for her to grab some floo powder. Claire huffed and disappeared from her house into her grandfather's. She went there at least once a week to either play quidditch, learn about her grandmother or Remus' childhood. Lyall already loved her, and that was exceedingly obvious when she reached his house. Her mouth fell open at the sheer number of presents there.