Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Harry Potter or any of the other characters associated with the franchise. I only borrow them!

Author's Note: This is the beginning of a story that I came up with while on my way to school one day. I haven't written in so long so I apologize now for my writing being a little rust. Please bear with me as my writing becomes more fluid. I promise to write this story as frequently as possible and keep updating. I hope you like it!

The Unwritten Birthday Card

Ch. 1

He put his quill down and stared at the blank sheet of parchment in front of him. What could he say that he hadn't said before? What could he write that didn't sound hollow, fake or cliché? It had been three years, three long years. The man sighed and, placing his hands flat against the parchment, closed his eyes against his final decision. There was nothing to write. There was nothing left to say. It was time he let go.

It was early. Too early. Squinting at the blurry clock (which was currently reading 6:21 AM), Harry pushed himself up to a sitting position and groped around for his glasses. Now that he was awake a surge of anticipation went through him, just like it had ever since his 11th birthday, ever since he had real friends.

Shuffling out of his bedroom, he headed across his apartment to the small kitchen in the corner where he started brewing his coffee with a flick of his wand. He didn't even look over at the counter to make sure he hadn't accidentally started the stovetop instead of the coffee maker as he was much more intent on the flock of owls sitting the railing outside on his balcony overlooking a large park. Opening the sliding glass door, the owls swooped in, all jostling for him to untie their letter first.

There were the usual owls; a large barn owl delivered his Daily Prophet, a smaller screech owl had his Quibbler in its beak, Pidwegeon had a letter from Hermione and Ron, Ginny had sent her birthday card with a new owl that Harry didn't recognize and there were three more owls from the Weasleys (one from George, one from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and even one from Charlie). As Harry unloaded each of the owls in turn they immediately flew off. Finally, after a few letters from fans wishing him a "Happy Birthday!", and a few from old Hogwarts friends, including some of his old professors, there was just one more owl perched serenely on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. It stared at him for a long moment before sticking out its leg and Harry had to admit to himself that his heart was beating a bit faster . This was the letter he had really been looking for.

After he untied the note, the owl didn't move, it simply stared at him and waited patiently. Turning away from the owl, Harry tore open the seal and scanned the letter. His heart sank. It wasn't from who he'd thought it would be from. It was from his coworkers in the Aurors office, not wishing him a happy birthday but requesting that he send in some paperwork that he still had sitting on his desk at home. Nodding at the owl, he quickly went and gathered up the papers, sealed them and sent them back with the owl.

Now that his coffee was ready, he went over, poured himself a cup, took a sip and started perusing his birthday cards. As usual, they were all really sweet, all promising to come to his birthday party the Weasleys were throwing him at the Burrow but he couldn't keep the nagging little voice in the back of his head quiet.

Why hadn't he sent Harry a birthday card? He always sent him one. In fact, he always sent him a card for every holiday. Had he forgotten his birthday?

A louder voice inside his head laughed. Forget his birthday? That was impossible. He probably decided to move on. Yeah, that's it.

The smaller voice didn't like the sound of that at all and a cold chill spread through Harry as he sat there, staring out at the sky wishing a owl-shaped speck would appear on the horizon. He never missed Harry's birthday. What if, what if something had happened to him?

An irrational fear washed over Harry as he stood up and walked over to his fireplace, determination searing through his muscles. He needed to find out. Taking a pinch of Floo powder, he stuck his face into the green flames and shouted his desired destination.

A/N: So, what do you think of the first chapter? I'm setting things up here so that the rest of the story can move more quickly, I'm hoping this will only be a few chapters long. Read and review please! I love constructive criticism as well as compliments!