a\n actual magic gets done, and some a-u differences explained, and some more hinted at, to be explained in the coming chaps. (still first-time fic)

p.s. I am a flexible type, so if you want something different let me know etc. or other story ideas to do simultaneously etc.

Disclaimer: I think the Harry Potter in this A-U has severe ADHD. (Look it up, seriously)

Chapter Two: A Birthday and a Book

I woke up early that morning, my blood pounding with the exhilaration that I was finally seventeen. Seventeen, yay! I could finally do magic again! I would never be bored again! (Yeah right. But I could hope, couldn't I?) I grabbed my wand from the bedside table and brought it to my lips for a smacking emotional kiss. "Oh wandy, I will never leave you again", I promised to my dear woody companion. I lied back in the ultra-deluxe king-sized bed that I had bought the week before. I had finally gotten around to throwing out all of the Dursley's old furniture and choosing new furniture for the whole house. After they had permanently moved to the U.S. following some manipulation by the Order (at least they were good for something) and "allowed" me continue to live in their house, I was just too lazy to redecorate, but in honor of my friends upcoming visit, I managed to gather the will-power to get it over with already.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the fact that I still had to stay in the Dursley's house every summer for the foreseeable future, but deep down I was relieved that we didn't have to carry out that crazy plan that we had discussed at the beginning of the summer. In the end, we figured out that it was quite easy to keep the protections even after I turned seventeen. All it took was some of my blood, (ok a lot of my blood, but hey that's what blood replenishing potions are for) a few fancy stasis wards, and another few wards protecting the setup, and the house would be protected forever, or at least as long as I returned every few months for technical support.

I continued to reflect on the last few weeks as I automatically went through my morning rituals. I thought about the long sessions with my therapist. Jack had really helped me learn how to deal with Professor Dumbledore's death. I didn't think I had any of the angst that I had after Sirius' fall through the Veil. I rushed through the rest of my morning preparations and went downstairs to make myself a coffee. By now I had actually stocked the pantry, so there was real food in the house. I drank my coffee, put up a load of laundry (ugh) and tried to wash the dishes with magic. I failed, miserably. "But, but, that's exactly how Mrs. Weasely does it," I spluttered to myself as I cleaned soap suds out of my ears and eyes. "Splat," a huge ball of suds plopped down on my head. "This is ridiculous," I groaned out and proceeded to clean the floor, walls, ceiling and myself, from my latest fiasco. A good while later I was done. "Well, at least the kitchen is clean," I consoled myself. "It really needed a good cleaning for a while already".

I went to enjoy some well-earned rest on the couch and had just sunk myself deep into the cushions when I heard a tapping at the window. I sighed at the next typical chapter in the story of my life. I opened the window for Hedwig to enter. "Hedwig," I said as I ruffled her head feathers, "You know you could always come in through your Owl Door upstairs." She hooted in agreement but didn't comment any more than that. "Oh well", I thought. "Birds will be birds". I took the letter from her and shooed her up the stairs where she knew there were treats and water waiting for her. I sat back down and unrolled the letter. It looked like an average Hermione type of letter, but stuck on to the paper was something that looked like a book in miniature. "Oh no," I muttered to myself. "What else is new? Hermione has sent me a book." With growing consternation, quickly skimmed the letter from one of my best friends. Hermione, as usual, wrote too much, but I was good at picking out the good stuff from among all the uninteresting details. Oh, boy it looked like the forecast for today was again dull and boring with a slight chance of danger.

" Dear Harry. Hey, Harry how are you? I was really excited to come to your house for your birthday party, and we had the whole thing all planned out, but something really important came up. You see, the experts at St. Mungo's finally completed their report on Professor Dumbledores strange illness and death, so the Order has called for an emergency meeting. Of course, you would have come but you know it is crucial that you stay over there for a few more weeks to stabilize your connection with your underage blood …. ramble ramble ramble …. but no matter, maybe tomorrow we'll be able to come over for your party. I know you are really bored over there, but you know what? Now you can do magic! But I know you too well, studying is boring for you, but I have something I think might help. ("Yeah, right," I thought to myself, "Another attempt by Hermione to get me to enjoy studying"). I sent you a book. All you have to do is Finite the Sticking charm, then Finite again to get rid of the Shrinking charm, then read the book. You won't be disappointed ramble ramble ramble. This book is unique ramble ramble ramble. Have a great Happy Birthday, Love Hermione.

P.S. Professor Dumbledore gave me the book last year and said that I should be careful who reads it, but I should make sure the right people get this information.

I sighed with exasperation. Only Hermione knew me that well. Nobody else could have manipulated me like that, pushed my buttons to get me to do as they wished, but too bad, she had me there, especially with that sly postscript that she snuck in there in the end.

I Finited, Finited, and opened up the book. It was blank. "Oh, for goodness sake" I growled and poked at the blank front page with my wand. Words appeared on the page, "Security Question: What did the witch say when the plant tried to kill her?" "Seriously," I chuckled to myself, "She actually knows how to laugh at herself? Not bad, not bad at all, our little girl is growing up."

I replied to the book, "I don't remember exactly but something about wood or matches, something like that". "Correct", the book wrote out, and with that the pages starting filling themselves with actual content. "Ok, here I go," I muttered, as I got myself comfortable on the couch for a long read. TBC