Chapter 4

Harry's Birthday

"Harry, get up or we'll drench you in hot water," Remus' voice came echoing into Harry's ears and he rolled over.

"What?" Harry muttered, grabbing his glasses.

"Happy birthday," Sirius grinned.

"Do you want to open your gifts now or wait until later?" Remus asked.

"Presents?" Harry exclaimed, now wide awake.

"Yes, now, do you want your presents now or later?" Sirius repeated Remus' question.

"Now," Harry sat up and Remus and Sirius handed him two gifts. First he opened the smaller one which turned out to be a blank piece of parchment.

"Parchment? You gave me parchment?" Harry looked at them as they sat at the foot of the bed grinning.

"Sirius, would you like to do the honours?" Sirius took out his wand and put it to the paper.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Ink lines spread across the paper revealing a picture and words. "Read it," Sirius urged.

"Messers Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, are proud to present: The Marauder's Map," Harry read then opened it. "This is Hogwarts!" he exclaimed.

"Yep. There's Dumbledore pacing in his office. Mrs. Norris wandering around. Filch in the library," Remus pointed a few people out.

"You made this? It's incredible!" Harry turned the page to see an empty Defence Against the Dark Arts office and Astronomy office.

"This will be great for when Ron, Hermione, and I go to visit Hagrid at..." he trailed off when his guardians looked at him with serious looks.

"I advise you not to finish that. Open the next gift," Remus advised and Harry opened his other present. He opened it to see a broomstick, but not just a broom, a...

"A FIREBOLT! Oh my god! You guys are the best!" Harry cried, jumping on Remus and Sirius. They laughed at his reaction. "I can give my Nimbus 2000 to Ron, can't I?" he added and the two older men nodded.

"Of course you can," Sirius nodded.

"I'm going to use this in the Quidditch Cup game. It's this year," Harry was smiling widely. "Will you two come to watch it?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Remus ruffled his hair.

"Now that's why my hair never lies flat," Harry pushed Remus' hand away.

"Harry, your hair will never lie flat no matter what we do or don't do," Remus shrugged grinning.

"Whatever. Can we go to wherever we're going now?" Harry said impatiently.

"Hold on there. You have to shower, brush your teeth, get dressed, and eat breakfast," Sirius grinned as Harry's smile disappeared.

"Fine. Out, out." I need to shower. Go," Harry pushed his laughing godfathers out of his room.

"All right, all right. We're going," Sirius laughed. For about fifteen minutes, Harry had a shower and then brushed his teeth. The he raced to his room to get dressed then ran downstairs to eat breakfast.

When Remus placed the food on the table in front of Harry and Sirius, Harry began eating very fast.

"Harry, you might want to slow down," Sirius smiled when he saw how fast he was eating.

"But I want to finish so we can go to wherever it is we're going," Harry looked up to see Remus shaking his head and Sirius holding back his laughter.

"You don't even know where we're going yet," Remus answered and Harry sighed.

"I know, but it is my birthday and knowing you two, you're going to take me somewhere I'll love. I know you two too well," Harry grinned, shrugging.

"Of course, but still slow down," Sirius agreed.

"Fine. How are we getting there?" Harry asked slowing down to the speed Sirius and Remus were eating at.

"Side-Apparation," Sirius told him finishing off his breakfast and taking a bite of Harry's.

"Hey, bugger off," Harry scowled.

"Sirius, I don't think side-Apparation is a good idea. He's thirteen, he's not ready for it," Remus explained, cleaning and putting the dishes away.

"Remus, don't worry. He'll be fine, and if not we'll both be there," Sirius replied.

"Can we go now?" Harry complained.

"Yeah, let's go. We're going to blindfold you until we get there," Remus went behind Harry and blindfolded him, making him jump slightly. "Sorry," Remus quietly apologized when he felt Harry jump.

"Let's go. You'll be side-Apparating with me," Sirius said when the blindfold was on. They went outside and Harry held tight to Sirius' arm. Harry had never Apparated before and he was not expecting what came next. He turned when Sirius did, then felt the sensation of being pressed in from all sides, and just when Harry thought he would stop breathing, everything stopped and he began to breathe normally.

"Are you all right? Harry?" Harry heard Remus ask and felt him put a hand on his back.

"I wasn't expecting that, if that's what you wanted to know," Harry answered and his guardians could tell he was a little scared.

"Sorry, we should have told you what to expect," Sirius apologized.

"It would have been nice. Now, are we there?" Harry responded and Remus and Sirius grinned.

"We're here," Sirius took the blindfold off and Harry opened his eyes. He looked forward then spotted the too familiar house.

"It's the Weasleys!" Harry exclaimed hugging his godfathers. "You're the best! I love you both," they both laughed at his reaction as they hugged their godson back.

"Come on. People are waiting inside," Remus stated and they walked towards the Burrow. When they got to the house, Harry opened the door and they walked in to see all the Weasleys standing in the kitchen.

"SURPRISE!" all seven Weasleys called out along with another voice Harry recognized.

"Happy birthday, Harry. I've missed you," Mrs. Weasley walked over and gave Harry the usual hug.

"Hi, Mrs. Weasley. I've missed you too," Harry smiled as he and Mrs. Weasley broke apart.

"Hello, Harry. How are you?" Mr. Weasley shook his hand.

"Mr. Weasley. I've been fine," Harry replied grinning widely.

"Harry!" a brown haired girl jumped into his arms. "Happy birthday," Hermione giggled when they parted.

"Hey, Hermione. Thanks for the gift. I love it. I thought you were in Rome with your parents?" Harry wondered.

"I was, but I came back a few days ago to help with the party. I couldn't tell you or it would have ruined the surprise," Hermione answered and Percy, Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Ron, and Ginny came over to them.

"Bill! Charlie! What are you guys doing here?" Harry asked remembering that Bill worked in Egypt and Charlie worked in Romania.

"For the party, of course, and the cake," Charlie said quietly and Harry laughed. "Mum called us and told us we had to come home to help out," Charlie explained.

"Hey, Harry. Happy birthday!" the twins, Fred and George cried happily.

"Hey, guys. What have you guys done this summer?" Harry stated, knowing their answer would be funny.

"Well, Percy is now Head Boy and we stole his badge. We made it read 'Humungous Bighead!" Fred replied and they all laughed.

"Hi, Harry. As you've heard, I'm Head Boy. It's good to see you again," Percy came up to him and shook his hand.

"Yeah, I heard and it's good to see you too," Harry said uncomfortably. He had never been fond of Percy.

"Hi, Harry. Happy birthday," Ginny quietly told Harry.

"Hi, Ginny. Thanks for your gift. I love it," Harry smiled at the shy girl. She giggled quietly and walked away, allowing Ron to finally get to his best friend.

"Hey, Harry. Happy birthday. Come on, let's get Hermione and we can go talk in my room. Hermione! Come on!" Ron responded quickly and Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran up to Ron's room.

Remus and Sirius had watched, grinning as all the Weasley children and Hermione walked up to him, and then watched as the three best friends raced up the stairs.

"Come in, come in. Sit and we can talk," Mrs. Weasley told Remus and Sirius who sat at the table.

"So how has this summer gone? Had Harry been behaving like I told him to at the end of the last school year?" Mrs. Weasley gave the two men a cup of coffee then sat at the table herself beside Mr. Weasley.

"For the most part. When we went to Diagon Alley last week, Harry met up with Malfoy. Apparently, Malfoy said some things that got Harry worked up, causing him to take his wand out. Harry was about to send a curse when we got to him. We had a long talk with him. That's why Ron couldn't come over that Sunday," Remus explained.

"Yes, Ron told us about Harry telling him he couldn't go over. I had a feeling Harry had done something wrong," Mrs. Weasley nodded. As they were talking, Ron, Harry, and Hermione were up in Ron's room talking happily.

"How has your summer been, Harry? Ronald hasn't told me anything," Hermione asked glancing at Ron who smiled sheepishly.

"It's been amazing. Except I got grounded last week for almost using magic in Diagon Alley against Malfoy. I was so mad at them for that week," Harry sighed.

"You almost used magic? You can't do magic, you're underage, you know that!" Hermione cried.

"I know. Hermione, you sound like Remus when you say that. He said the same thing," Harry complained.

"Good, at least someone does," Hermione said casually.

"What did Sirius and Remus give you for your birthday?" Ron asked not wanting his two best friends to fight.

"They gave me a map that they had made with my dad when they were in Hogwarts. The Marauder's Map. Also, this is why they're amazing, they got me a Firebolt!" Harry exclaimed and his friends gaped at him.

"No way!" Ron said not believing it.

"Yeah, I'm going to use it in the Quidditch Cup game. After that, I'm going to give my Nimbus 2000 to you, Ron," Harry nodded grinning.

"Are you serious?" Ron gaped at him.

"No, Sirius is downstairs. I do mean it about my broom though," Hermione watched as Ron sat on his bed, wide eyed.

"Why don't you go tell your mum, make sure she agrees," Hermione suggested and they all ran downstairs, Ron yelling the same thing over and over.

"Mum, Mum, Mum, Mum, Mum! MUM!" Sirius, Remus, Mrs. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley looked at the stairs when they heard Ron yelling.

"What is it, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked calmly. Ron ran around the table and stopped beside his mother, while Harry went between Remus and Sirius, Hermione going on the other side of Remus.

"Harry, what's going on? Why was Ron yelling?" Sirius whispered and Harry bent down to hear him.

"I told him about how..." Ron finished it for him.

"Harry's going to give me his Nimbus 2000 after the Quidditch Cup!" Ron finished, practically jumping up and down.

"I see. Doesn't Harry need his broom though?" Mr. Weasley asked confused. Harry shook his head.

"Nope. Remus and Sirius got me a Firebolt for my birthday," Harry smiled at his two guardians.

"You have a Firebolt?" Harry turned around to see all the other Weasleys coming towards him. He groaned quietly enough so only Sirius and Remus could hear him, and they grinned.

"Harry, did you say you have a Firebolt?" George asked, his eyes wide open.

"Yes, George. I have a Firebolt," Harry sighed.

"You know what? Oliver is going to go completely mental because of this," Fred added.

"Oh man. I forgot about Oliver. He is going to be all over me about this," Harry groaned out loud. For a few minutes there was silence until Mrs. Weasley spoke.

"Okay, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and everyone else who is standing, sit. Time for singing, cake, and presents," Harry sat beside Sirius and everyone else sat in empty seats around the table. As Mrs. Weasley lit the candles, everyone sang 'happy birthday' to Harry. After, Harry opened his gifts. He got a sweater and Mrs. Weasley pie from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, a model of a dragon that really moved and blew fire from Charlie, a book about the Ministry of Magic from Percy, a lot of sweets from Fred and George, and a picture of Bill in front of the Sphinx from Bill. While they had cake they all talked and laughed happily.

"Well, we should get him. It's getting late," Remus said and began shrinking Harry's gifts.

"But, Remus..." Harry whined and Remus chuckled.

"Come on, Harry. It is late," Remus repeated.

"All right. Bye everyone. Thanks for the party," Harry gave in. Before he left, he hugged everyone and then went back home, unfortunately for Harry, by side-Apparation.

"So, did you like the party?" Sirius stated when they got home.

"It was incredible. Thanks, guys. I guess I should go to bed. Night. You two are still the best," Harry said good night, grabbed all his gifts which Remus had returned to normal size, and went to bed.

"Night, Harry. We should get to bed also. Good night, Sirius," Remus suggested and he and Sirius went to bed along with Harry. After about fifteen minutes, the house fell silent as everyone fell asleep.