As soon as Angelina headed out with the lunch order for the Sticks, Hannah put up the closed sign. Only a few people were getting in today. Brody was under strict orders to hassle Angelina a little and keep her there long enough to get things set.

Kristen was already blasting the ceiling with streamers and balloons. Mac moved most of the tables to the side, and Hannah brought out the cake.

Owen helped Mac moving the chairs to the side of the room. He hadn't gotten Angelina anything for her birthday, he thought it would be too weird as he had just started here. He tried to help Kristen with the streamers and failed, getting tangled in the mess.

"Sorry."

He figured he was better off helping the guests in the bakery.

Astoria smiled at the guy who let her inside the bakery. It felt good to be out and about. She was feeling much better despite odd sleeping habits now. She went over to speak to Kristen.

Hera was smiling as she walked in, her gift under her arm. She made a face at the guy at the door.

"I know you from somewhere."

"Oh, well, I took your photograph for Witch Weekly. You remember? I'm Owen Cauldwell." He hoped she remembered, and that she liked the photographs. He would like it if she had him in mind for future photography sessions.

"Owen, right," Hera lied. She didn't recall him, but she did recall that she liked the work he had done. "You work here? Or you a friend of Angie's?"

"Yeah, I work here. I needed the extra income because it's been a little slow at the Prophet. That's why I did that freelance photo shoot with you for Witch Weekly." He nodded, a little embarrassed about his predicament.

Hera nodded. "Very cool."

She smiled at him and moved to set her gift with the others on the table.

Hannah was looking around as people gathered. Now all they had to do was wait for Angelina to return. This had come together faster than she anticipated.

Angelina was grumbling to herself as she strode down the street in Hogsmeade. Wrapping her coat tighter around her person, she muttered obscenities about 'burly Scotsmen' and their affinity for making her wait 'for bleeding ever'.

Running a hand over her face, she began passing the building next to the bakery, the familiar scent of biscuits rousing her from her angry mutterings.

Keeping an eye out the window as Hannah got everything else ready, Owen saw Angelina heading back to the Bakery.

"Hannah! She's coming back, Hannah."

"Yes, that was the plan Owen," Hannah said giggling. "Here she comes, everyone!"

Owen flipped the sign back to open, and the small crowd gathered waited in anticipation. Even Amy and her new look had come out of the back.

Pushing open the door, Angelina took one step inside before actually feeling when everyone screamed at her. Her hair had been moved back by the wave of sound. Her eyebrows lifted as she looked up at the people gathered. "What?"

"Happy birthday," Hannah called, jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

Owen just smiled at Angelina.

Angelina wondered if it would be possible to turn and run from the building. Her eyes darted to look at everyone gathered. Mrs. Dearborn was there, along with Mrs. Chenowith. Most of their regular customers were there, along with Hera. She smiled slightly at Hera, eyes started to the next blond in her eyesight.

Tearing her gaze from Astoria, unable to look on her for too long anymore, she glared at Hannah. "This was unnecessary."

Hannah moved close to her. "I wanted to. We're friends."

"Plus, she's fightin' wit Blaise," Mac said. "It gives her somethin' else to focus on."

Hannah glared at Mac.

"This is not that big of a deal," Angelina said. She'd never really done too much on her birthday, always avoiding the idea of having a party. Yes, she liked to be in front of an audience, singing or dancing, but being in front of an audience like this? Uncomfortable.

She took a step closer to Hannah. "Really. You didn't have to do this."

"And I said I wanted to. You should have seen what I did to Justin on his birthday."

Hera approached Angelina. "Hullo. Happy birthday."

She gave Angelina a tentative hug.

Angelina hugged Hera back, her eyes boring into Hannah over the singer's shoulder. "You didn't have to come, Hera, really. I'm sure you've been busy lately." The fact that Hera Warbeck had taken time out of her day to celebrate her birthday was a bit of a shock to Angelina. She would be the first to treat Hera like anyone else, like she deserved to be treated, but you couldn't overlook the fact that she was a star.

She pulled back and kissed Hera on the cheek. "Thanks for coming."

"Are you kidding? Cake and good company. I wouldn't be anywhere else."

Astoria's eyes had narrowed slightly at the other woman. Was she the reason Angelina shied away from her? Astoria approached slowly and tried not to look too jealous.

"Angie, who's your friend?"

"What?" Angelina's eyes widened a bit, taking a small step away from Hera when she realized how close she'd been standing next to the singer. "Oh. Um..." She motioned to Hera. "Hera Warbeck, this is Astoria Dolohov. Astoria, this is Hera. She lives here in Hogsmeade."

She grimaced, turning to look at Hera with an apologetic look on her face. "I'm sorry. Should I call you Holly in public? Do you want me to call you something else?"

Hera looked around. "Most of the people here know me as Hera anyhow. It's fine."

Astoria was staring. Her secretary talked about Hera Warbeck and listened to the woman on the wireless. Astoria didn't think she looked like her voice.

"Pleasure," Astoria said gruffly.

She was too ladylike to yank the Warbeck woman away from Angelina.

Angelina put a hand on Hera's arm, laughing a bit. "Wouldn't that be great, though? 'Oh, hey! This is my friend Hera-' 'Oh my Goddess, it's Hera Warbeck!'" She shook her head. "I'd have to help you escape from the fans. It'd be fun for me, but probably not that fun for you. Do you ever get anything scary from a fan?"

"You know, I still haven't gotten pants from anyone. I'm waiting though. I think I have assistants that filter my mail and keep the loony stuff out."

Astoria was glaring at Angelina's hand on Hera's arm.

"I think I might need an assistant then," Angelina said with a laugh, looking over at Astoria, the smile sliding from her face slowly. She dropped the arm that had been on Hera's, feeling foolish for doing so a second later. Hera was a friend. She had nothing to be ashamed about. Besides, she didn't belong to anyone and had no reason to be embarrassed.

"Okay," Hera said, smiling. "I'm going to go steer that Owen guy towards Kristen before she stares a hole in him. Nice to meet you, Astoria."

Hera took off.

Astoria looked at Angelina uncomfortably. She did not know what to say.

"How are you," Angelina asked, shifting her weight from one foot to another. I've been avoiding you. "Has work been busy?"

"Not especially."

Anything else was interrupted by Hannah announcing it was cake or presents, and it was Angelina's choice.

Looking up at Hannah, Angelina threw her a look. "I don't care either way, Han. Most of the people here are probably wanting the cake more than anything anyway," she said with a small smile, looking at the group gathered.

Hannah grabbed her and steered Angelina towards the cake.

Hera moved next to Owen. "So... Prophet's not paying you good?"

Owen looked up suddenly to see Hera standing next to him. "Oh, well I make money when they use my prints. They haven't needed my prints for a while now. I'm not actually sure what's going on with that, so I decided to work here." Hands in his pockets, he shrugged.

"Have your camera today," Hera asked as nonchalantly as possible. "I'll bet they'd be interested in my stuffing my face. Probably make up a story about my having an eating disorder."

Owen blinked. "Sure. Er... let me get it, it's in my bag in the back." He rushed back without being too obvious and made sure to get his camera and the extra film. He removed the cap and came back out front.

"So, where did you want to do this?"

"Just you wait until I have me a nice piece of cake. I'll give you something interesting. Just get one with a Happy Hearth logo in it."

"Okay." Owen positioned himself to the logo in the shot while still keeping Hera in sight. He focused the camera, as it was still a bit fuzzy from what he had been shooting earlier. He got ready to take multiple shots in a row, just in case, like he always did.

Hannah handed Angelina a knife to cut the cake.

Angelina grinned at the cake, looking up at Hannah with a thankful smile. She cut into the cake, almost hating to ruin something so beautiful. "Who wants a corner piece?"

The cake went quickly. It was delicious, as all of Hannah's baked goods were, and Angelina was thoroughly stuffed, sipping from a glass of punch.

Hannah stood back with a smile. This was what she liked - sated and happy people. Owen had been snapping pictures. Hannah would ask for copies later.

Owen took a picture of Angelina talking to Hannah and then moved on to Kristen. He felt much more comfortable behind the lens. He hadn't particularly warmed to everyone in the bakery, he was too preoccupied with ideas for photographs or ideas for how he could sell them.

He felt particularly awkward around Kristen, as he always was around pretty girls. Truth was, he dropped and broke most of the things he did when he was around her. She distracted him. He took a few pictures of her when she wasn't looking and then decided to get a few when she was.

"Hey, Kristen. Smile."

Kristen turned with a bright smile.

Amy and Mac were leaned back against the wall, observing. Both had their arms folded across their chests. Amy was scowling, but Mac was grinning. She might have to meddle here. Now that she had her Neville back in a way, she was going to get up to old habits.

Owen finished after about eight more shots of her and brought his camera back down, smiling. His face tinted a light shade of red as he said, "That was good, thanks." He turned and made his way back to the back to put his camera away. He never knew what to say around girls.

Astoria moved close to Angelina again. She was thinking perhaps she was not welcome here. She'd gotten a red silk dress for Angie to replace the one she'd ruined at the flat that night Astoria was ill.

Angelina sat up a little straighter in her chair when Astoria came closer, busying her hands with spinning her glass. She didn't want to be awkward around Astoria, but it was hard. She'd seen Marcus and Astoria together, in that flat, and it had hurt, knowing what they had. That night, more than any other, had made it perfectly clear that she was interfering in something. Seeing it, and not being able to do anything about it, made it even more clear that she needed to keep her distance, for all of their sakes.

Astoria had long ago decided she needed to stay out of Angelina's and Marcus' heads, but Angie was thinking so loudly just now, Astoria could not help but hear.

"I'm going to go. Because I don't want to ruin your day," Astoria said quietly, feeling dreadful.

She did not understand how she could have messed things up so terribly.

"I hope you have a good birthday."

Astoria nodded at her and turned to go.

"Astoria, wait." Angelina was on her feet, chasing Astoria towards the door. When Astoria turned, Angelina realized she wasn't exactly sure what to say. "I'm glad you came today."

Astoria leaned up and kissed Angelina's cheek. "If you could only see what I see."

She turned and left.

Angelina watched the door swing shut behind Astoria, feeling horrible. She turned, flashing a quick smile at Mrs. Dearborn as the woman came up to chat. Fuck.


{SUMMARY} Hannah and the HHB employees with the help of a few regular patrons throw Angelina a birthday party.