Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the plot and my original characters, everything else belongs to Rowlings, great write that she is. I hope you enjoy and will review, thanx bunches and enjoy. Also, if you can't tell this takes place in Harry's final year.

Happy Birthday, Harry

It was his birthday again. Harry had already gotten most of his presents but was he'd decided to wait until after lunch to open them. Technically he wouldn't be seventeen until late that night but he couldn't wait that long, especially since he hadn't been able to have a birthday party with his friends. He figured that it was only fair that he be allowed to open them a bit early. The big sweet seventeenth and he had to spend it with the Dursleys, how unfair was that? He'd wanted to spend it at Ron's or Hermione's but no such luck. Somehow his uncle had gotten it into his head that Harry should spend his birthday with them and nothing he'd said or done could dislodge that idea. The letter from the Ministry that had told Potter to stay at the Dursleys as much as possible this summer hadn't helped matters either. He did have a cake though, Harry thought with a sigh; at least that was something. He'd snuck out early that morning as it was Saturday and the Dursleys tended to sleep in. He'd gone to the bakery and purchased the chocolate cake he'd ordered the week before in secret. He'd gotten out and in without trouble and the cake was safely stored in his closet with his other magical school supplies, somewhere not even Dudley would dare to look. Of course it would be so much better if his friends were here to share it with. Of course Ron would be fed up of Dudley within minutes and would have zapped him, which wouldn't have been good, even if it would have been a great birthday present.

"Harry Potter, get down here this instant."

I

Harry winced at the sound of his aunt's shrill voice. Sometimes he wondered if maybe there hadn't been a harpy or two in his aunt's side of the family. Since she was also his mother sister Harry had to hope not, even if it did explain a few things about his aunt's disposition. Putting down the pencil that he'd been fooling around with at his desk Harry got up and headed for the door, looking back to make everything was in order then headed down the stairs quickly before she started shrieking at him again. As always the boards under him creaked, the poor wood being no match for Dudley's weight which continued to rise at alarming rates. Harry wouldn't be at all surprised if one day his cousin went through the stairs and into Harry's former room. Or better yet get stuck half and half, Harry thought with an evil grin.

"Harry, Harry where are you?" His Aunt Petunia called out in a harsh voice from the living room, or at least that's where Harry was guessing. "That lazy boy, where is he?"

"Yes, Aunt Petunia. What is it?" Harry asked as he walked into the room to find his aunt pacing, waving around a duster as she moved around like a chicken with her head cut off. The room was perfectly clean and it was doubtful there was any dust to be found thanks to his Aunt's obsession with keeping a clean house. Not that she believed that.

"I want you to go out and run an errand for me." Aunt Petunia replied and Harry just about gapped at her in pure shock. She wanted him to go outside, in public, where people could see and hear him? What on earth was going on and what kind of errand could it possibly be? For as long as he could remember the Dursleys had tried to pretend that he didn't exist, why on earth were they doing an about face?

"Of course, Aunt Petunia. What would you like me to do?" Harry said quickly, not wanting her to change her mind or think about the possible social consequences of unleashing him upon the Muggle society. He never got to go outside unless it was to work around the house or somehow managed to blackmail them into letting him.

I

"I need some things in order to make dinner; my soap opera will be on in a few minutes though so I don't have time to do it myself. Can you run down to the store and get me the items without causing any trouble? You know what your uncle will do if you disgrace us in any way." Aunt Petunia added with a tight smirk, as though her face would shatter if she actually smiled at him, even nastily.

"No problem, Aunt Petunia. I'll be there and back in no time." Harry said with a serious look, nodding his head gravely. The store was only two blocks away but it was a chance to get outside and maybe he could even get something at the store with what Muggle money he had. Before he'd come to the Dursleys he'd arranged to exchange some of his gold for Muggle money in case of emergency, the chance to get some good food fit his description of emergency to a T.

"All right then, but you have to bring back the receipt, no spending any of it on yourself." Aunt Petunia said as her eyes narrowed at the very thought. Harry had no doubt she'd scan the change and the receipt as soon as he came back. "Understand?"

"I understand, perfectly Aunt Petunia. I'll go get my shoes, they're in my room." Harry said and at her nod quickly got out of the room and rushed up the stairs. He could hear Dudley when he reached the top of the stairs, his cousin had the volume on his stereo at full maximum and Harry could only marvel that his cousin still had his hearing. Shaking his head Harry made his way into his room and shutting the door grabbed a chair and put it under the handle in case Dudley decided to see what he was up to. Walking over to Hedwig's cage Harry lifted the cage up and removing the fake bottom he'd created he slid out several bills, enough to buy plenty if he chose to. Setting the cage back down he smiled at Hedwig and with a promise of bring her back a treat grabbed his sneakers from under his bed and raced back down the stairs so that his Aunt wouldn't wonder what was taking him so long.

I

Harry congratulated himself on a job well down as he turned into the driveway with the grocery bags in his arms. He'd hidden the treats in the backyard and would retrieve them when his uncle sent him out to dump the trash as usual. Humming lightly under his breath Harry had to admit that this was shaping up to be a pretty great birthday all things considering. He'd come across a great book while he was shopping and he couldn't wait to send it to Mr. Weasley. The book was called inventions of the 20th Century and Harry knew that his best friend's dad would just flip over it. All the Weasleys had sent him happy birthday wishes and presents, even though he knew that they really couldn't afford to do so. The Weasleys always treated him as though he was a part of the family and he didn't know what he'd do without them. A book was a simple enough way to show his thanks.

"And where have you been, boy." His uncle called as he got out of a car that had pulled up near the house. Uncle Vernon's car hadn't been working so it was in the shop and much to his uncle's disgust he'd been forced to car pool.

"Aunt Petunia sent me on some errands at the store, I just got back." Harry said quickly, holding up the bags as proof that he'd spoken the truth and hadn't made it up. "I better hurry in, we wouldn't want the ice cream to melt."

"Hurry up then, hurry up." Uncle Vernon said as he pushed Harry towards the house. Biting his tongue Harry walked quickly to the house with his uncle at his heels, almost as if his uncle feared he'd suddenly make a break for it. But then his uncle was always expecting him to do something like that. Getting into the house he was immediately met by his aunt who demanded to know why he'd take so long getting home.

"There was a long line up, Aunt Petunia and I didn't know where to find everything so I had to ask for help." Harry said with what he hoped was a winning smile. He wasn't stupid, he'd been able to read the signs in the store but his relatives thought he was dumb as dirt. He wasn't about to correct them.

"Hopeless, completely and utterly hopeless. Just like that father of yours." Uncle Vernon guffed and it took everything Harry had not to rise to the bait as he followed his aunt into the kitchen. He knew that Uncle Vernon was trying to get a rise out of him and Harry refused to give him the pleasure of knowing that he'd succeeded.

"Well then go to your room until supper. Clean that room of yours while you're at it. I'm sure it's a pigsty." Aunt Petunia ordered, looking down her nose at him, which was getting increasingly harder to do as Harry continued to get taller and taller.

"Yes ma'am." Harry said setting the bags down on the table before heading for the stairs, muttering under his breath. His room was actually clean, his aunt just said that because Dudley's was always a mess and it made her feel better to assume Harry's was the same. Of course he could count on one hand the number of times she'd come into his room this summer, the longer he went to Hogwarts the more afraid of him she seemed to get. Maybe afraid wasn't the word Harry admitted as he reached his room, more like anticipating. But what, he wondered as he shut the door behind him, was she anticipating?

I

The doorbell rang part way through the meal and Harry could have kissed whoever it was. Uncle Vernon had been talking for the last half an hour about a new businessman that had joined the company and Harry was quite close to starting hitting the table with his head. Apparently his uncle and the new guy didn't get along and his uncle had felt it necessary to once again list all the reasons why this other man was nearly as bad as Harry.

"Now whoever could that be? How rude to interrupt us during dinnertime; no manners at all. I'll have a few choice things to say to whoever it is." Uncle Vernon huffed and Harry hoped it was someone important so that his uncle would have to eat his words. There was silence then they could hear his uncle talking to someone, then the sound of his uncle slamming the door a little harder then was necessary. All was quiet then until seconds later the sound of his uncle cursing and then his name being called. "Harry, get in here, you wretch."

"Yes Uncle Vernon?" Harry said when he and the rest of the family had entered the living room to find his uncle cradling his hand to his chest; his eyes fixed on a large box sitting on the coffee table. It took up about half the fair sized table and Harry couldn't help wonder what was in it and why his uncle was holding his hand like it was about to be amputated.

"Who the hell is this from?" Uncle Vernon demanded, pointing at the package with his other hand. "One of those ghastly friends of yours probably. I want it out of my house now! The bloody thing is cursed and I'll not have such a thing in my home."

"I'll get rid of it for you, Dad." Dudley said and before his father could stop him Dudley tried to pick it up, only to receive a slight shock as a voice came from the package, female and rather haunting in its sharpness.

"You're not Harry Potter, Dudley Dursley. This package is most definitely not for you so hands off before I bite them off." The package warned and Dudley dropped in to the floor before racing to his mother's side, vibrating with fear as he hid behind her which was laughable since he was so huge she hid very little.

I

"What is the meaning of this, boy?" Uncle Vernon growled as he glared at his nephew, his face close to fire engine red. "Explain yourself this instant."

"I don't know, Uncle Vernon, I'm not expecting something from anyone." Harry answered with a confused shrug. All his friends and Remus had sent him things already, who could have possibly sent something like this, which was obviously protected by superior magic. Moving closer he got to his knees and leaned over the package, looking for something that would indicate who it was from. Having the strangest feeling that it would be all right Harry laid a hand on top of the package hesitantly.

"Now this is indeed Harry Potter. Happy Birthday, Harry and I do hope you have a great birthday day." The package said and before his eyes the top layer of the package disappeared to become what looked to be a metal badge of some sort, shaped like the Hogwarts coat of arms. Under the object was an ordinary package with a letter on top.

"Dumbledore?" Harry whispered to himself, the great wizard the only one that sprang to mind who could have sent something so powerfully magical. But why would the head master have sent him a birthday present? Maybe the letter would explain, Harry thought to himself. Reaching over he picked up the letter and removed the envelope. Unfolding the page he was just about to read it when his uncle snatched the letter from his hand. "Hey, that's mine." Harry said angrily as he got to his feet.

"Hush up, boy." Uncle Vernon warned as he gave his nephew a hard look, more then a little pissed off. "Now let's see who sent you this abomination." So saying his uncle began to read the letter out loud so that Harry's aunt could hear it as well.

I

Dear Harry,

You won't remember me of course, I wouldn't expect you too since you were only a child when last you saw me. I would have sent you presents and cards every year but they always seemed to end either in the trash or in Dudley's possession so eventually I gave up trying. This year however I understand that they are starting to treat you like a human being and so I send you this in a way that will prevent them from keeping it from you. The badge is yours to keep as well by the way, set it on something and it will form a barrier around it that will cause even a great wizard time and effort to break. What's in the package is yours as well, a birthday present from me to you. If the Dursleys take it away from you assure them that I will know as I always do and this time I will not take it so lightly.

Happy Birthday and Hope to See You Soon,

IR

"IR, who on earth is IR?" Uncle Vernon demanded, his face going an interesting shade of red as he finished the letter. Several people of the magical kind had sent his nephew gifts when he was younger but who had dared think to start up the nonsense again?

"I don't know." Harry said with a shake of his head. This IR had known him when he was a child, perhaps a friend of his parents? Something about the letter made him think the writer was female and what did she mean she hoped to meet him soon? Was he was going to meet her? Looking down at the package he looked back at his uncle who was cursing and pacing while he read the letter over again, Aunt Petunia at his side as she fretted and wrung her hands. Seeing his chance Harry got down on his knees again and quickly undid the wrappings of the package. Moving back the tissue paper Harry couldn't believe what was inside. "Wicked." was all he could manage as he stared in joy at his presents.

"Hey, no fair!" Dudley said as he saw what Harry had gotten. In the wrappings lay a real, black leather jacket and what looked to be a pocket knife and some books which really didn't interest Dudley in the slightest as he didn't care for books at all. But the jacket..oh yes the jacket definitely interested him though he could never fit in the thing.

"Oh boy." Harry said pulling the jacket out with a reverent look in his eyes. It was a real leather jacket, just a little big for him which was perfect since it would last longer as he grew into it. Unzipping it he put it on and he could have crowed with joy as he straightened it then looked over at his cousin who was practically salivating with envy. Dudley had always wanted a leather jacket but they didn't make any in his size. Trying not to grin Harry picked up the pocketknife and slipped it into his pocket before his aunt and uncle could see it. "I'll tell my Godfather if you tell them about it." Harry said looking Dudley straight in the eye until his cousin nodded quickly, fear in his eyes. Turning back to the wrappings he picked up the books and found that one was on Quidditch techniques and the other about the art of wand dueling and defense/offence charms to use during it. "Double wicked."

I

"It's her!" Aunt Petunia yelped as she finally got a good look at the letter. She recognized that writing and those initials all too well. "It's that good for nothing friend of James's. How dare she send Harry anything. I told her to stop it!"

"Who? So she was a friend of my father?" Harry asked, drawing their attention back to him as he looked at them with questioning looks, eager to learn more.

"Where did you get that jacket? Is that real leather?" Uncle Vernon said looking at the jacket closely. As a man of culture he prided himself on being able to recognize quality and this jacket was obviously top quality. "That jacket must be worth several hundred pounds, who would send the boy such a gift?"

"Oh it would be peanuts to Miss High and Mighty." Aunt Petunia sniffed, envy and hate clear in her voice and eyes. Obviously she didn't like this person at all. Perhaps even more then himself, Harry thought in awe. "Always throwing her money around, acting like she was something when all she really was was a good for nothing witch, a freak for all her money, fine clothes and snobby attitude. I thanked God the day she stopped darkening our door when your mother married that Potter man."

"But who is she?" Harry asked, thoroughly exasperated. His aunt really didn't like this woman which made Harry pretty sure that he was going to if he ever got a chance to meet her. She must have been really close to his dad for her to have spent so much money on him, to have bothered to have sent him stuff in the past. Harry hoped feverishly that he would meet her soon.

"No one you need to know or will ever know if I have anything to say about it." Aunt Petunia said in a tone that he'd never heard her use before. Whoever this woman was his aunt hated her a great deal and perhaps even feared?

I

"Is she dangerous, Mum?" Dudley whined, thinking of the comment that some of the stuff she'd sent Harry had been given to him. What if she wanted revenge and came after him, turned him into a pig or a frog like in the storybooks his mother use to read him for the way he'd treated Harry and taken his stuff.

"Don't worry, Darling." Aunt Petunia said as she tried to wrap her arms around her son but couldn't because of the size of his waist. "She won't come anywhere near here. I promise you that you'll never have to see her, my pet."

Maybe he won't but I'm going to do everything in my power to see that I do meet her, Harry thought as he turned away from the sight of his cousin to pick up the badge from the floor, sticking it in his pocket for later use. It might take him a while but he'd write Remus and ask him who she was. If she was a friend of his father's then odds were that Remus would know who she was. If not then he had no doubt that she'd find him, something told him that she'd meant it when she'd said that she'd be seeing him soon.

Okay, that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed this and will review cause I love to hear from people, especially those who like my fics. LOL. Anyway, thanx again and hope to hear from ya, have a great day