Everyone proceeded to sing the birthday song as Aurelia blew out the candles. Then, she sliced through the lower layer of the red velvet cake. She fed the first piece to her parents before she fed Allen and Helen.
"Are you not gonna open your gifts?" Allen asked excitedly.
"You seem much excited than me," Aurelia rolled her eyes while the others chuckled.
"Yeah," he nodded as he fished out his jumper pocket, "In a way, yes."
Aurelia snorted as she advanced towards the table with two huge gift boxes.
"WAIT!" she stopped dead in her tracks, thinking that it was a perfect dream that had shattered. She turned around slowly, fearing the truth. But it was just her brother, Allen. She frowned.
"What?" she shot him an annoyed look.
"Before you see the other gifts," he extended his palm that held a white envelope, "You must see this."
Aurelia took the envelope from his hand with a puckered brow. When she opened it and read the contents, a wide smile formed on her face. She looked up and her eyes flickered between Allen and Helen.
"Finally," Aurelia chuckled.
"What's going on?" Mom asked with a startled look.
"Haven't you told them?" Aurelia asked Helen with a frown. Allen shook his head, before saying, "The fact is, that I have been promoted." Helen smiled at his words while Mom and Dad nodded.
"Not only me," Allen continued, "Dad has been promoted to be a Grandpa, Mom, to be a Grandma and Lia, to be an Aunt." Then, he pinched her nose.
Helen and Aurelia smiled as the realization hit on her parents' face.
"Can't you say that straight?" Mom smacked him on his arm ever so lightly, earning chuckles from Dad. Both Aurelia and Helen shook their heads in disapproving.
"How... old?" Dad asked awkwardly.
"Eight weeks," Allen answered excitedly.
"You will have a bump to show off by the time I return," Aurelia sighed.
"Isn't that great?" Allen seemed super excited.
"Now, you are free to open the gifts," Helen nudged her. Aurelia nodded as she turned towards the table. She opened the box that her parents carried in earlier. Inside it was a velvety red box. Aurelia opened it. Her eyes sparkled when she saw a silver charm necklace inside it. A silver mermaid sat on blue earth made of Pearl.
"Thank you so much!" she voiced out, while a sob escaped. Mom and Dad smiled at her.
"Now, open up the other one," Allen said excitingly.
"What are you so fussy about?" Aurelia twisted her lips. Helen sighed and picked up the huge box. She placed it in Allen's arm. With that, the box shook a little. Aurelia who was about to step forward instead took a step back.
"There is nothing to be afraid about," Helen grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the box.
"What... what is it?" Aurelia hesitated.
"Are you going to be an Auror or not?" Allen raised a brow. Aurelia pressed her lips into a thin line. Then, she went closer to the box and placed her palms on either side. She pulled up and the cover came off. Nothing happened.
Compelled, Aurelia peeped in and backed away as far as possible. A purple baby dragon slept peacefully, twitching its tiny wings. Smoke billowed out of its nostrils as it snored.
"Why did you bring a baby dragon?" She muttered. Both her brother and sister-in-law were healers for magical creatures. Allen was specialised in dragons. Even the fiercest of dragons calmed down at his touch and drifted to sleep by his voice.
"You handle dragons, NOT ME!" Aurelia yelled at her brother, pouting.
"Do you want to be an Auror or not?" he tossed back the same question at her.
Saying that Allen knocked at the box with systematic taps.
KNOCK... KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK... KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK...
Aurelia stared in fright as a low gurgle sounded from within the box. Probably, how a dragon yawns. The next thing she saw was the appearance of two tiny purple horns protruding from above the box. Aurelia took a deep breath and drew her lower lip between her teeth. Very soon, dark purple eyes came up as they blinked curiously.
This time, Aurelia was forced to hold her breath. The dragon finally poked out its tiny purple head. It flapped its wings listlessly. Then, it turned its head to look at Allen, making a low gurgling sound.
"It's alright, Smokey," Allen patted its head, "You don't need to be afraid of her. She is the one I was talking about."
Hearing that, the dragon turned excited as it turned its purple eyes and shook its tail. Its tail resembled that of a rattlesnake, making jingling noises.
"What... what's going on?" Aurelia asked cautiously.
"Smokey had heard a lot about you from us," Helen patted its head, "So, she is happy to meet you."
"She? It's a she?" Aurelia asked. Then, she squinted at the little dragon who was jerking its tail and flapping its tiny purple wings excitedly. She widened her eyes when the dragon raised its tiny clawed arms as if asking for a hug.
"Look! She wants to hug," Helen chuckled.
"Is she the type to give hugs?" Aurelia asked disbelievingly.
"No, and yes," Allen added, "Rattle tailed dragons are a dangerous breed of dragons. Don't let her look misguide you. She can be as ten times as dangerous, as she will grow up. They are known to be fiercely loyal. And instead of fire, their nostrils release methane and carbon monoxide as smoke. They have deadly poisons in their fangs and release it when they bite. Of course, that won't bother you. You are immune to poisons."
Aurelia widened her eyes. Allen grinned, "What do you think?"
"I think she is more loyal to you than to me," Aurelia paused, "And she is... adorably dangerous?"
"She is. Of course," Helen said, "But she loved you without seeing you. You know she is just a week old."
"Loved me without seeing me?" Aurelia frowned, "What does that mean?"