All characters thoughts are in italics.
It was a warm summer morning when Harry Potter awakened. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and everything would have been completely normal had it not been for his very strange dream and past events of the recent month. But today was going to be a very strange seventeenth birthday for Harry and he could tell that something was bound to happen soon. Looking over to his best mate Harry grinned to himself; at the moment Ron was contently sleeping in his bed and Harry would have left him that way if he had not suddenly turned over on his back and displayed his chest openly for the world to see. It wasn't the fact that Harry could see his best mate's chest it was the thing displayed across his chest that reminded him he should wake his best mate before Mrs. Weasley did and decided to beat Ron to death with a bludger at the sight she would see.
Beautifully drawn across Ron's chest was the Gryffindor symbol; a beautifully drawn lion with its auburn mane and golden flesh roaring with the pride of a king. Ron had hand picked it the day he and Harry went to Diagon Alley with Lupin who kindly reminded Ron of what his mother would say if he ever saw it. Ron's only words were "It's better than a bloody snake. Mum should be proud to have a house full of Gryffindors and I'm gonna show just how proud I am." And with that he marched boldly into the chair to get his first tattoo. After Ron had finally gotten his tattoo Harry asked the tattoo artist if he could draw a tattoo of a phoenix exactly identical to Fawkes. After lots of questioning on the exact coloring, wing span, and height of the bird the artist decided that he had enough information to draw a likeness of Fawkes on Harry. Ron and Lupin hadn't commented on it but they knew it was a sign of respect to Dumbledore.
Coming out of his daze and looking at his own chest reminded him that he needed to wake Ron soon before Hermione and Ginny came to get them out of their beds and downstairs for breakfast. In the two weeks that Harry had spent at the Burrow he could feel that Hermione knew he and Ron were hiding something from her but it was only a matter of time before she uncovered the mystery and flipped out on the both of them for their "juvenile and irresponsible decision making" or something like it. So far Ron and Harry were keeping on their toes; they had awakened early or on time everyday much to Ron's chagrin and showered and clothed themselves before anyone could even come to wake them. Even Mrs. Weasley had noticed their timeliness and had commented on it quite a bit but never took much notice to it because it gave the boys more work to do.
Getting up and smacking Ron on the head with a pillow Harry began to dress for the morning while Ron commented on something along the lines of 'not sleeping in even on one's birthday'. The boys dressed quickly and went downstairs for breakfast where they were met by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
''Good Morning boys!!'' said Mr. Weasley ''Harry how are you feeling now that you're seventeen any wiser, stronger?''
"Uhm … no, I don't think so sir. I feel about the same as usual I guess'' said Harry as he sat down and filled his plate with food.
Other than the fact that he no longer had to wear glasses Harry honestly felt the same as he would any other day.
''Well one thing is for sure your appetite has surely gotten bigger'' said Mrs. Weasley as she watched him fill his plate to the brim ''It's almost the size of a Weasley's!!''
''Aw mum leave Harry alone he's a growing boy'' Ron said Even if he can't spot the changes he's going through
The boys had only been at the table for five minutes when Ginny and Hermione graced them with their presence. Ginny was wearing short shorts and a light blue shirt while Hermione was wearing a black mini skirt that just barely came to her knees and a red tank top. Ron subtly admired Hermione's choice in clothing this morning until she directed her attention towards him. Hermione gave Ron and Harry the usual suspicious looks before sitting down and greeting everyone while Ginny began to fill her plate with food.
''You two got up early today'' were Hermione's first words towards Ron and Harry since she had entered the kitchen.
''We always get up early Hermione. What's the difference between today and the past couple weeks?'' Ron said.
''Well for one thing it's Harry's birthday that's the difference. I thought the two of you would have still been sleeping''
''If we were still sleeping would you have brought us breakfast in bed?''
Hermione gave Ron a scandalized look for his remark but answered all the same ''No''.
''Then what was the point in sleeping and starving when we could get up and make our food for ourselves, especially since you weren't going to do it for us?'' Ron asked.
He and Harry both knew that Hermione only wanted them to still be asleep so that she could try to figure out what they were trying to hide from her. They had both discussed it with one another and had felt bad about not telling her their secret but they had agreed that if they did she would either flip out on them and tell Mrs. Weasley or she wouldn't talk to them for hiding it from her and thinking she would be upset. So no matter which way they looked at it they couldn't tell her until she was ready. Whenever that may be
Ron thought.
''Well?'' Ron said after he noticed Hermione had failed to answer his question.
''Just forget it'' Hermione mumbled and went back to her breakfast.
Breakfast went along fairly quiet other than Fred and George popping in through Floo to say that they wouldn't be back until lunch due to the overflow of customers at the shop and Errol dropping through (literally) with some mail for Mr. Weasley regarding work at the Ministry. Bill and Fleur were to be expected sometime in the afternoon due to Fleur's pregnancy and Charlie would be home about noon so the house was fairly empty. Breakfast was almost over when a slight vibration from the cabinet and a tune that sounded vaguely familiar to Hermione.
''Is that a cell phone'', Hermione asked ''with an Indiana Jones ring tone??''
At this Harry jumped up from the table and summoned the phone which got louder as it came out of its hiding place in the food cabinet.
''That's where it was!'' he exclaimed ''Hello''
''Happy Birthday love'' said a female voice from the other end of the phone.
Unknown to Harry everyone in the kitchen had tuned in listen at the sound of the female voice.
Who the bloody hell is that? And why did she just call Harry love? Ron thought to himself while listening in.
''Hey!'', Harry said happily as he recognized the voice ''Happy Birthday to you too you know. How come you're not asleep?''
''I could ask you the same thing you know. And don't give me that whole 'I don't have to answer you' speech because we both know that right now if you were at my place it would take an entire buffet of food to wake you up.''
Bloody Hell!! I thought Harry was with the Dursleys these past few weeks. Sounds like he's already been around the block once or twice staying with this girl.
WHAT'S SHE MEAN 'AT HER PLACE' I CAN'T BELIEVE LITTLE HARRY WOULD GO TO SUCH LENGTHS IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME!!
Well, well, well. Harry's been busier than I thought and it looks like Ron wasn't in on this one. He looks really surprised! I wonder what else they haven't been telling me.
I wonder if Harry will let me borrow his telephone after he's through talking it doesn't have wires or anything on it like the one I have!!
When did he get enough time to lounge around with a girl!! He's always pushing people away and he has time to stay with this girl for who knows how long!!!!
''Hey! I take offense to that. If you must know I like to wake up when I'm with the Weasleys its … peaceful. With you there's nonstop chaos!''
''Blah blah blah. Excuses excuses that's all I hear. Hey has Hedwig arrived yet.''
''Uh no. Why?''
''Oh don't worry she should be there before I hang up. I sent her with some presents for you and your friends.''
''Oh''
''Oh that's all you can say? How bout a what cha get for me instead.''
''But I told you already..''
''I know I know '' she said cutting off Harry ''You don't want me to buy you anything. So instead I did something better.''
''Yeah, what's that?'' Harry asked as he went back to the table and drank a sip of pumpkin juice.
''I'm coming to see you''
''WHAT!!'' Harry yelled as he spit out the pumpkin juice onto the table. He took enough time to cast a scorgify on the table before he could find the words to say.
''LIL!! …Lil …. Precious.. lovely.. little Lil''
''I can come see you right? You said I could before you left or have you changed your mind'' Lil said.
What's he up to promising people that they can come see him. She sounds like a scarlet woman to me. And why did she send Hedwig with presents for us? We don't even know who she is!! Hermione thought scandalized.
Harry couldn't stand the torture she sounded so sad and at the same time he was unsure if the Weasleys would allow her to come over; even though he was pretty sure they would be happy to have more company it was Ginny and Hermione especially he was worried about.
''Lil just please promise me you didn't runaway from home or do something stupid like spend all your money to get here from Paris.''
Bloody Hell did he say Paris?! If he brings a veela around here I'm dead for sure!!
Oh Paris is so romantic. No wonder the poor dear sounds sad.
When the hell did Harry go to Paris!!?? Ginny and Hermione thought simultaneously
''No mum brought me and…''
Lil stopped talking for a moment and Harry couldn't hear anything from the other end of the phone.
''Lil is everything okay?'' Harry asked.
''Yeah mum came in she wants to say hi''
''Er okay''
''Hello Harold '' said a motherly voice that reminded everyone in the room of Mrs. Weasley yet more melodic and harmonious.
''Bonjour, Sister Mary. How are you this morning?''
Did he say Sister? As in a nun! I didn't know there were any nuns in the wizarding world!!
''I'm fine and happy to hear that you're doing well. Have you eaten breakfast yet?''
''Yes, Sister. I was just finishing up when Lil called.''
''Good. Now have you heard from the doctor about…''
''MOM do you know where my shirt is?'' said Lil from the background
''Excuse me for one moment Harry'' said Sister Mary said briskly.
''Sure thing''
Harry could hear squabbling in the background of the phone and what sounded like a very condescending and harsh tone replacing the harmonious one.
And another lovely save by Lil. Sadly she's going to pay for that one and I can't help her. The last thing I need is anyone snooping into this if its leaked I'm doomed and they get put in danger!!
Did she say something about a doctor?? What's a doctor and what does Harry need one for? Thought Ginny and Ron
''Harry, Lil says that you're not so sure you'll be able to meet up with her today.''
''Oh no Sister it's not like that I assure you its just I'm at the Weasleys and I'm not sure about..''
''We'll only be in town the rest of the week and then we have to go home. And the rest of our time after today will be spent in conferences.''
Harry could tell that Sister Mary wasn't happy about the arrangements especially since she said they would be in conferences the rest of the week and Sister Mary hated conferences but he didn't know what to do.
All of a sudden Harry was tapped on the shoulder by Mrs. Weasley. At first Harry thought she was telling him to put the phone away but Hermione caught on and covered the mouthpiece of the phone.
''Why don't you invite your friend dear? She sounds nice and I'm sure her mother hasn't brought her all this way for nothing. It'll be alright I'm sure.''
''Really? 'Cause I must warn you that if you invite her you're gonna have about twenty red heads in one place and they're mainly going to be female.''
''I heard that Harold'' said Sister Mary
Harry turned around to see that Hermione had let go of the phone and resumed eating her breakfast.
''I didn't mean that in a disrespectful way Sister its just… ''
''I know and don't worry I only brought six of them with me. And you'll be happy to know that Victoria is one of them.''
''Well I guess its okay then especially since Mrs. Weasley says so''
''Perfect when shall we see you all''
''Um I guess around lunch or so is good''
''Excellent one o'clock it is at the Burrow. We'll see you then Harry''
''Bye''
As Harry hung up the phone he was passive and tranquil, but also tense. He could tell that this was the feeling that he'd had this morning and that things were only starting to get hectic getting through the rest of today was his biggest challenge. That. And facing the millions of questions that were about to be asked by Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the rest of the Weasley household about the lovely Lil and how they came to meet.