Lucky Thirteen PV Bex Closed

On the morning of Valentine's Day in 2025, the Great Hall naturally flooded with owls delivering love-letters, presents, and various other mails for the purpose of a day of adoration. At least one message, however, wasn't swathed in pink and glitter and smelling vaguely of perfume. No, this one was a standard, small package, wrapped in old editions of the Hogwarts Headliner and topped with a small blue ribbon. After all, the day was sure to be hectic, and its sender wasn't even in the country to give it to its recipient face-to-face - best to send it, then, but ensure it stood out from the crowd of rose and frill in the immediate surroundings. If its recipient looked closely, they would find that the owl had also been decorated - just a standard school owl, but adorned with a matching blue ribbon around its neck. The thing didn't seem too happy about that, shaking its head and pawing at it with one wing in a futile attempt to get it off. As per usual, a small scrawled note accompanied the gift, written in the blue of the sky between sunset and night, and addressed to one @Rebecca Lark:

Feb. 14th, 2025

Dear Bex,

Happy birthday, mate! Remember how, when I passed on the Silver Arrow to you (I'd say I hope you're taking good care of her, but I know you are, since I see you flying on her at practice every week), I told you that I carved my surname into the handle with a knife? Well, I've taken to carrying a paring knife with me - you never know when you might need it nowadays, especially at balls and the like - and I thought you might like one of your own as a little birthday present. Please don't tell Professor Iwasaki I gave you a weapon, though, or I'll be expelled - or worse, kicked off the team. Just stay safe, don't cut off any of your fingers, and maybe I'll see some cool carvings on your bat when I get back from France.

Much love and I hope thirteen treats you wonderfully,
Aly

P.S. I dunno how much I can trust the seller I picked this up from, but I hear this can open many doors for you... some figurative, but maybe some literal... just stay out of trouble and don't get caught!

Upon unwrapping the layers of old newspaper, if she didn't cut her fingers on it, the recipient of the small package would discover a small knife with a wooden handle, easily sized to fit within the delicate hand of a fresh teenager. Patterns of gears and carvings decorated its handle and even spilled over unto its blade, which was of course able to switch within the wooden portion to avoid carrying a sharp surface in one's pocket all the time. Whether a mechanism of defense, an apparatus of escape, or a tool to offer the promise of a new hobby, the birthday girl would have to decide for herself...

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