Finished Birthday Surprise!! PV Simon Tilia

*Banner based on a picture of Madison's bedroom from her Ency

Simon had not told Madison that he was coming to London with his parents to visit his sister. He had sent a letter to Mr. Bennett, asking if it was alright if he stopped by to surprise Madison and give her a birthday present. Mr. Bennett had said yes, and this time, her brother James was going to be there as well. Not like the Christmas break, when Simon and Madison had been home alone for the most part.

Even though only a week had passed since they left Hogwarts, Simon missed his friend terribly. Leaving Hogwarts had been even harder for him than he thought. He had been surprised by his own reaction in the compartment on the Hogwarts Express with his eyes tearing up as he saw the castle becoming smaller and smaller before disappearing around a hill. There was both this relieving feeling of accomplishment, having completed his first year, but also the feeling of separation from the place that he had grown to love so much, and the separation from all his friends, of course – his best friend in particular.

Simon got out of the car and closed the door, standing on the path leading up to the familiar white facade of the Bennetts' house.

"Call us when you want us to pick you up, honey", said his mother from the car window. "Have fun and say hello to Mr. Bennett from us as well!"

He went up on the front porch, keeping Madison's gift hidden behind his back and knocked on the door. Why am I so nervous? Relax, he told himself. After a short while he could hear steps on the other side of the door. It opened and in the doorway stood Madison, as pretty as ever, dressed in one of her fabulous outfits.

"Happy birthday!" He could not help but laughing when he saw the surprised look on her face. "Sorry, I didn't want to spoil the surprise by letting you know I was coming."

After giving her a long and warm hug, he gave her the birthday present. "Happy birthday, Madi."

Simon's outfit

Reducio

OOC notes: Standing consent between Madison and Simon's writers to godmod each others characters

Madison opened the door and was shocked to see Simon, she had no idea that he was coming to visit her. She smiled and gave him a long and warm hug "It's so good to see you Si, i've missed you, even though it's only been a week since we left Hogwarts" Madi said after she pulled out of the hug. She blushed and took the present from him, giving him another hug "Aww thank you Si, we'll open it when we're in my room later, come through" she says, closing the door once he was inside. Madi puts the present on the table near the stairs before she walks into the living room kitchen/living room where her dad and brother are.

Madi's dad steps forward first and shakes Simon's hand warmly "Hey Simon, thanks for your letter by the way, without it, probably would have slipped my old brain" her dad said and Madison giggled. Her brother James came forward next and shook Simon's hand too "Nice to see you again Simon, congrats on surviving a whole year with my sister, not many can, aye Cub" he says as Madi nudges him. "Come on Si, why don't we go up to my room, I know you've missed it, though hopefully you've missed me more" Madi says with a giggle, grabbing the present from Simon as she walks upstairs with Simon and her brother behind her.

Once she was at her bedroom doors, Madi turned to the boys and smiled. Her brother stops Simon and looks at Madi "he'll be there in a second Cub James says to her before he turns to Simon after Madi nods and closes her door. "Look Simon, I'm not saying this to be mean towards you because I know you're my little sisters best friend, but here's something for you to think about, tell Madi how you feel soon, or at least figure out how you feel about her, before it's too late. I'm not gonna stop you two if you both like each other, but if you hurt Madi, I will get you" he says before smiling and going up to his room.

Madi was leaning against her door, listening to the conversation between James and Simon as she waited for Simon and, moved away from the door, smiling when he came into her room, "I'm so glad you're here Si, I've missed you heaps, also can you believe it, we're second years!!" Madi says as she goes over to her bed and sits down with the present in front of her. "So, can I open it now or do I have to try and guess?" Madi asks with a giggle.

@Simon Tilia

"It's so good to see you, Si, I've missed you, even though it's only been a week since we left Hogwarts."

Simon blushed a little. "I've missed you too."

He closed the door and followed her to the living room where he was met by Mr. Bennett and her brother James. He shook Mr. Bennett's hand. "Thanks for letting me come. I hope I'm not intruding."

"Nice to see you again, Simon," said her brother James. "Congrats on surviving a whole year with my sister, not many can, aye Cub?"

They were almost the same height, although James radiated superiority with his mere being. After all, he was two years older than him and an excellent Ravenclaw student, but above all – he was Madison's big brother.

"It's good to see you, James," said Simon with a smile. And he meant it. Last they saw each other was in the Ravenclaw Common Room the week before. Simon always greeted James whenever he saw him, but he always had the feeling that James did not like him. James was always polite but at the same time, he had this special look in his eyes. It was almost as if James was looking right through him, trying to decipher Simon's intentions with his sister.

"Come on Si, why don't we go up to my room, I know you've missed it, though hopefully you've missed me more."

"Sure," he said and turned towards James and Mr. Bennett with an excusing look on his face. "If you don't mind."

They left the living room but before they went inside Madison's room on the second floor, her brother caught up with them and stopped them. "He'll be there in a second Cub"," said James.

Simon swallowed. What could James possible want that he did not want Madison to hear? Either he was going to get himself a warning, typical that of a big brother, or it had something to do with the birthday celebration. Maybe another surprise? When James took him to the side and spilled it, Simon could not get a word out. He just stood there in silence with blushing cheeks and watched as James went up to his floor.

How I feel about Madi? Before it's 'too late'? Of course he liked Madison, but what her brother seemed to suggest was something else. He was talking about feelings beyond those normal of best friends. Almost as if James knew what Simon felt. What do I feel? He was very confused, although he knew that Madison had a special impact on him. She made him feel things that other friends did not make him feel. And what did James mean by 'too late'? Was someone interested in Madison? Or was she perhaps interested in somebody else? He felt a sting of jealousy, same as that time when they were talking about good-looking people from their school. Just like that time, he did not understand the source of his jealousy. Madison had other friends and that was not a problem. But the thought of her finding a boyfriend...

Simon woke from his thoughts and realized Madison was waiting for him in her room. He went over to her bedroom and closed the door behind him.

"I'm so glad you're here Si, I've missed you heaps, also can you believe it, we're second years!"

"Yeah!" he said and let out a forced chuckle. "It's gonna be interesting to see what this year has in store for us."

"So, can I open it now or do I have to try and guess?"

"You can open it right away!" he said and smiled.

The present was wrapped in white wrapping paper with golden dots on it and tied with a golden string. Inside was an empty photo album and a magical camera. He knew that Madison loved taking pictures.

"It's a magical camera, from the Middle East. Powered by magic rather than electricity, so it's the kind that takes moving pictures. Well, I guess you know all about that already... Point is – it will work even at Hogwarts. So this year we we're making new memories, we can save them in pictures as well."

Madison overheard the conversation and had thoughts running through her head as Simon walked in. I don't like anyone else, I like Simon, in more than a best friend way, I hope he doesn't get the wrong idea from what James said to him, ugh i love my big brother but why is he so overprotective? I hope he won't scare away my best friend Madi thinks to herself.

When Simon walked in, Madison instantly knew something was up, he let out that forced chuckle that she had heard a few times before. When she was sitting on her bed, about to open the present from Simon, she placed her hand on his hand, in a comforting way and a way of hopefully calming down his slight look of jealousy and confusion. She smiled that ever sweet smile and opened her present from Simon. Once she saw it, she gasped and smiled brightly, giving Simon a massive hug "Oh Si, it's beautiful thank you!! Maybe we could even take some tonight and tomorrow, that way I've got some on there so that we can remember today too!" Madi says with a giggle.

Madi placed her camera on her bedside table and looked at Simon "um I overheard what James said to you, and I want to put your mind at ease Madi said, turning to face him and smiling at him "I'm not interested in any other boys, I don't care about other boys the way I do about you. James is gifted in Legilimency, which sucks when you want to keep your thoughts private, but you don't need to feel jealous or scared or confused Si, I could never care about another boy, the way I care about you. You're my best friend Si, that's what the bracelets symbolise, I'm not going anywhere, or dating some other guy anytime soon, they don't mean as much as you do to me" Madi says, tickling Simon until she lands on top of him, their eyes perfectly in line with the others. She blushes, gets off Simon and smiles, "I'm just going into my bathroom to fix my hair into braids and I might ask my dad if you can stay the night, if you'd like to of course" Madi says with a giggle, going to her bathroom to put her hair into two dutch braids. After she comes out of her bathroom and Simon indicates that he'd like to stay the night, Madi goes down to ask her dad if he can. Her dad Atticus says yes to Simon staying over and so Madi goes back up to her room with a massive smiled on her face. "Good news Ori, my dad said you can stay over for the night" she says with a smile.

@Simon Tilia

"Oh, absolutely! We'll have to try it out today, for sure," he said.

When Madison told him that she had overheard what James said, he felt the heat on his cheeks again. So James was unusually gifted at reading people too, same as Madison and her mother... That explained it all. Thankfully, he only met James briefly in school, but still, he wondered what else had gone through his mind that James may have picked upon...

As if Madison had read his mind too, she told him not to be worried or jealous from what James had told him.

"... You're my best friend Si, that's what the bracelets symbolize. I'm not going anywhere, or dating some other guy anytime soon, they don't mean as much as you do to me."

She told him not to be confused, but Simon was very confused at the moment. What did she mean by all that? Did she like him more than just a friend? At the same time, she called him his 'best friend'. Growing up with an older sister, he had overheard Clara and her friends many times and learned of the concept of 'friend zoning'. Was this such an occasion?

"That's very sweet of you, Madi" he said and smiled, not sure how to address what she had just told him. "You don't have to worry either. I'm not going anywhere."

She smiled and started tickling him. "Oh no, you don't," he said and started laughing. He tried to back away from her and get a hold of her arms, but Madison followed and got the upper hand, landing on top of him. Then she stopped and just looked at him. Simon took a deep breath as their eyes met, only a couple of inches away from each other. They starred at each other for a short while before Madison blushed and rolled off him.

"I'm just going into my bathroom to fix my hair into braids and I might ask my dad if you can stay the night, if you'd like to of course?"

"You... want me to stay? Yes, of course I would like that. If that's okay with you of course. I can go outside to call my mom and dad and check if that's alright. But you should ask your dad first."

––––––––––––––––––

After getting the green light from their parents, Simon's mother and father stopped by with a packed bag and got to meet with both Madison and Mr. Bennett for the first time. His mother complimented Madison for her clothes and her braids over and over again. She must have said "You look so pretty" at least three times. It was almost embarrassing. After some grown-up talk between his parents and Mr. Bennett, talking about their work and stuff, his parents finally left and Simon followed Madison back to her room. This day turned out even better than he had expected. He was going to spend the rest of the day and night with Madison, just as those memorable days sixth months ago, when he stayed with her the first time. Still, this time felt differently. Something was different between them.

Madison smiled and blushed almost when Simon's mother complimented her braids and outfit. She politely thanked her before she went back up to her room with Simon. Once in her room, she looks at Simon and sits on her bed after taking her shoes off. She holds a fluffy pillow close to her and smiles, "ok so what do you wanna do now Si? Shall we play a boardgame or shall we test out the camera you brought me?" Madi asks with a smile.
Simon was her best friend but Madi wanted something more, something other than just friends. She knew Simon must have feelings for her, she definitely had some for him, but what if Madi was wrong, that was why she didn't say anything. Oh jeez now i'm overthinking this, stop it Madi she says, covering her face with her pillow so only her eyes can be seen. Madison was super excited that Simon would get to stay the night again, and since she'd already won a tickle battle, she knew it was gonna be a fun night, though something to Madi seemed different to the last time, something in the air between her and Simon felt like they were dancing a waltz together, but without actually dancing. Like their hearts were beating at the same time and the feelings for each other in their minds and hearts were changing, for the better.

@Simon Tilia

Simon started unpacking his bag to check that his parents had not forgotten anything. He found his black sleep shorts, a t-shirt and a blue jumper for tomorrow along with a pair of jeans. His toiletry bag was packed with his toothbrush, shower gel, deodorant, perfume and the hair paste he used to keep his stubborn fringe in check after showering.

"Ok, so what do you wanna do now Si?" asked Madison. "Shall we play a boardgame or shall we test out the camera you brought me?"

"It's your birthday, Madi!" he said and chuckled. "I'd love to take some pictures with you but I'll let you decide! I'll take the toiletry bag to the bathroom later." He closed his bag. "Seems like they've packed everything. Except for my wand. And you know how I always feel naked without it, even though we're not allowed to do magic outside school until we're older. But it's like my wand has become a part of me at this point. It's a strong bond. Like the bond we have."

He smiled and took the pink pillow from her chest and tossed it back on the bed before grabbing her hand, making her stand up.

"Come here." He gave her a long hug, his chin touching her forehead. "What my mom said is true, by the way," he said in a low voice. "You look great today."

Madison blushed and smiled "Hmm well then how about we play a boardgame and take photos at the same time?" Madi says with a giggle. "Yeah, i know how you feel naked without it Si, but at least you can rest knowing that it's safe back home" Madi says as she feels her cheeks turn pink again.

Madi smiled and stood up after interlocking her hand with Simon's. Whilst he gave her a long hug, Madi smiled and felt her body relax. She felt so safe around Simon, he really was her rock and he'll always be there for her, she knew that in her heart. She blushed and smiled at what Simon said "Thanks Si, you look great today yourself" Madi says with a giggle. She sits down on the floor and picks out a game for them to play. "Ok so, the objective of the game is to collect as many magical beasts and creatures as you can, but each time a 6 is rolled, the game board changes" Madi says with a smile. The board game came with a six sided dice and once the it was set up, Madi smiled softly and giggled as she waited for Simon to be ready so that they could start the game. She got her new camera from her bedside table, sat back down on the floor diagonal to Simon and as they start playing the board game, Madi takes a photo when it's Simon's turn and then passes it to Simon so that he can take a photo when it's her turn, and the photos turn out great, since Madi feels so relaxed, the photos don't look posed at all. She smiles and puts the Camera back on her bedside table so that she and Simon can focus on the board game.

@Simon Tilia

Simon smiled at her compliment. After all, he had done his best to look the part for Madison's birthday celebration, so hearing that she was pleased with the way he looked was a relief. His shirt and suit pants were not the most comfortable to sit on the floor and play a board game in though. There was some stretch in the fabric of his pants, but the slim fit model still made it a bit uncomfortable. He did not mind, though. In fact, he had been through worse. It was not like that time when he was at a party with his parents, and his black tie was tied so tightly around his neck so he could hardly swallow during the supper. Funny he thought it was supposed to be like that before his mother noticed he was getting pale and corrected the knot.

Madison explained the rules of the game and then rolled the dice. It seemed easy enough, unlike the Quidditch board game they played last time when she won by far. They took some photos of each other. When Simon saw the moving picture of Madison, his heartbeat raised a bit. She was so pretty and looked so happy. He instinctively wanted to keep that picture.

"So... Are there any other relatives stopping by today to celebrate your birthday, or is it just your dad and your brother?" he asked and rolled the dice. It was a six this time.