June 25, 1895 — Rowle Household, Wellingtonshire

"Elliott."

It was still very early in the morning, with the grey light of dawn lighting the room as Emilia hovered next to her brother's bed, but Emilia had always been an early riser on normal days, never mind on birthdays. She usually kept her own company when she woke up first, but this was a special occasion. And if you couldn't be annoying to your brother on your shared birthday, what was the point?

To punctuate this thought, she said again, "Elliott." This time, her whisper was accompanied by a quick jab in her brother's side.

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Elliott Rowle / Tycho Dodonus

  

Elliott was most definitely not an early riser. His twins attempts to wake him up were meant with muffled grunts. He groaned as he got jabbed in the side and he wiggled further away from the offending finger. "It's the dead of night," he mumbled, despite the light of day slowly pouring into the bedroom window, the curtains not entirely blocking the light out.

And in barely a second, his eyes flew open and he sat upright, his hair askew. "We're ten."

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Emilia climbed up on to her brother's bed, sitting next to him. "We're ten," Emilia echoed affirmatively. "I almost can't believe it." Ten wasn't as momentous as eleven would be, but it felt like a big deal to Emilia.

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"How many gifts do you think we'll get today?" Elliott asked. He hoped he got that Elliott-sized walking dinosaur toy that he kept seeing at Denbrights. He had hinted heavily enough about wanting it. Though he also would not say no to a new toy broom. His older one was getting a bit small for him.

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"A dozen apiece," Emilia said confidently. That was a bit too much to be realistic, but it was guessing was fun. And their birthday presents were usually good regardless of quantity. She'd been angling for a new dress in a pattern she'd seen at Twilfit & Tatting's. She hoped her mother had paid attention to her hints.

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That was a bit much but not more than they deserved. They had been such good children this year. Or, well. Emilia had been enough for the both of them. "I hope Cook makes us a cake that is ten tiers tall. One for each year of our life." He had never seen a tall cake but one never knew.

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Emilia laughed. "We'll be eating cake for weeks," she said. She felt strangely light. Something about her birthday--their birthday--put her in a good mood. And anyway, they were only joking. There was no harm in it.

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"And just think, Sis. We'll be going to Hogwarts next year," Elliott said, mind already on the future. Though only in a vague, excited sense. It was a whole year away and he had plenty of fun at home with Emilia and his neighborhood friends. He did wonder if they would be in the same house... they were almost always together but they also had such different personalities. Ugh, he didn't want to think about that right now so he stood up and started jumping on his bed. "How long until Mama wakes up?" He wanted his birthday Mama kisses.

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