Disclaimer: If I were JKR I wouldn't be going to school for writing, I would have my dream car, and I would own my little cottage in England! But, since I'm still clocking hours in studying and going to class, I must not be her! Damn!
Chapter 6- Birthday Woes
The sound of birds singing outside woke Harry the day after his fight with Ron. He smiled as he put on his glasses, noticing that it was early morning. The house was silent which told Harry that he was the only one up. He quietly left his room and walked to the bathroom, turning the faucet on and stepping under the warm water. He quickly showered, thinking about what he should do that day. It wasn't every day that he turned sixteen, and he wanted today to be special. He wanted to do something special with his friends. But he doubted whether Mrs. Weasley would allow them such fun. He sighed as he turned off the water and stepped out. He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around him. Checking to make sure no one else was in the hall, he quickly tiptoed back to his bedroom. Closing the door, he started to remove the towel.
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" Ginny cried out from the door as she knocked and opened the door at the same time. Harry quickly wrapped the towel around himself and looked at her. Her cheeks were crimson from embarrassment. She stood rooted in the spot, staring at his chest.
"Ginny Weasley," he teased while trying to hide his embarrassment and hanging onto the towel, "I swear you're trying to see me starkers! Is that your goal this summer?" He chuckled as she looked at the floor.
"I…er…I'm s-sorry, Harry," she stuttered as she looked at the floor, "I d-didn't mean to-to catch you l-like this." She still stood, her feet planted on the floor, embarrassed to move. Silence traveled through the room.
"Ginny?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you mind?" he called to her as she looked at his chest, avoiding his eyes. Her eyes widened as she stared at him.
"S-sorry," she called out as she turned toward the door. He let his hold on the towel loosen before she turned back to him.
"At least I knocked this time," she blurted out as the towel began to slip.
"Ginny!" he jokingly yelled as she flew out of the door and closed it behind her. He quickly pulled out clean clothes and threw them on, still chuckling at her ability to embarrass him. He ran a hand through his wet and messy hair as he walked to the door. She stood in the hall, her face still red and staring at the floor.
"I'm sorry, Harry," she apologized as she looked at her feet, "I just figured you would have dressed in the bathroom. He chuckled as he stood before her, placing a hand under her chin and forcing her to look at him.
"At least you knocked this time," he teased as he smiled at her, "But the least you could've done is left when you saw instead of standing there." She blushed even more and he pulled her into a hug. He smelled the sweet and intoxicating scent of flowers in her hair as he inhaled deeply. Sighing, he finally let go and smiled at her.
"Come on," he stated, "Let's go eat." She nodded as they walked downstairs. He chuckled as they reached the kitchen.
"Good Morning, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley called from the stove, "Happy Birthday, Harry!"
"Good Morning, Mum," they called in unison as they joined Ron and Hermione at the table. They smiled at each other as they waited for breakfast to be ready, yesterday's occurrences in the past.
"So, Harry," Mrs. Weasley announced as she set a platter of sausages, eggs, and toast before them, "Do you have any special wish you want for your birthday?" Harry opened his mouth to answer, but Ginny interrupted.
"He wants to go to London," she started as he looked at her, "He wants to have fun and be a normal teenager for a change." He shook his head at her as she smiled at him.
"Harry," Mrs. Weasley asked as he turned to her, "Is that what you want to do today?" He sighed and nodded, turning his attention to his breakfast.
"What sort of things do you want to do?" she questioned as he shrugged.
"You mentioned shopping, clothes shopping," he answered as he looked at her, "I've never done anything like that before, but I thought it would be fun. And I thought that Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and me could do things like that today. You know, normal muggle teen things." Harry blushed as he looked at only Mrs. Weasley, not wanting to look at the rest. Mrs. Weasley smiled as she patted his hand.
"What do you mean "us" and "shopping," Harry?" Ron asked as Harry glanced at the bewildered look on Ron's face. Harry shrugged as he ate quietly.
"You know," Harry replied, "Shopping, like you would in Diagon Alley. Only, it's Muggle London. I've never been shopping in London, and I thought it would be a nice change."
"Harry," Hermione asked as he turned his attention to her, "are you feeling alright? I mean, since when do you want to do something outside of our world?" Harry shrugged as he leaned back in his chair.
"I dunno," he started as he looked at her with seriousness in his eyes, "I just want to get out of the house for a day. Away from the wizarding world for a change. I thought it would be nice for us to act like tourists and wander through London for the day." Ron and Hermione stared at him as though he was a foreign object that they feared.
"I think it would be fun," Ginny piped in as she smiled at Harry, "I think we should do it if Mum will let us." Harry smiled at her, silently thanking her for help. Silence passed as they all thought about it.
"You know, I think it would be fun to do that," Hermione finally gave, "It would be interesting to be a muggle for the day."
"It would?" Ron asked as Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Yes, Ronald," she started, "it would be good for you to see how the rest of the world lives."
"Why would I want to do that?"
"How do you expect to appreciate our world if you don't see how everyone else lives without magic?" Hermione questioned.
"But, I don't want to see how everyone else lives," he started.
"Ron, mate," Harry piped in as he watched his two best friends bicker, "we'll go to Diagon Alley too. I mean, we'll have to get money changed to go to London and shop. And I would like to see Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes."
"Yes, Harry needs to see Fred and George about something," Ginny remarked. Harry turned to her, confused.
"I do?" he asked.
"You do?" Ron and Hermione asked in unison as Ginny smiled and winked at Harry.
"Oh! Yeah I do," Harry answered as he remembered their plans for the year, "I forgot about that."
"Maybe we can get a couple of guards to go with you," she gave as she stood up, "I'll see what I can do." Harry smiled at her as he returned to his breakfast. Mrs. Weasley wandered out of the kitchen while Ron and Hermione stared at Harry.
"What's going on between you?" Ron asked as he looked at them, "Ginny, did you break up with Dean? Are-are you two dating now?" Harry looked up at Ron and shook his head.
"No, Ron," Ginny answered.
"Mate, it's best if you don't know," Harry responded, "We don't want to get you in trouble."
"I don't want to know," Hermione muttered as she closed her eyes. Harry and Ginny grinned as they looked at each other.
"Okay," Mrs. Weasley said as she walked in the room, "I just spoke to Albus. He's arranged for Tonks and Remus to take you to London." Harry grinned as everyone's face lit up.
He got up and wrapped his arms around Mrs. Weasley.
"Thanks, Mum," he whispered as he pulled away. She smiled at him and patted his shoulders.
"Alright all of you, go get ready," she ordered, "They should be here soon." The four of them scrambled out of the kitchen, eager to have fun.
o-o-o-o-o
"What do you think of this shirt, Harry?" Ginny asked as she pulled out a stony-green t-shirt from a rack in a muggle clothing store. Harry looked at it, wondering what he was supposed to see.
"I…er…I dunno," he gave as he looked up at her, "It looks okay. Why? Did you want it?" She rolled her eyes as she pulled the hanger from the rack and thrust it against his chest playfully.
"No, silly," she began, "it's for you! I think it would really bring out the color of your eyes. You have to try it on." He stared at her blankly, not comprehending what she meant. After all, he figured, it was his first time in a muggle clothing store. Judging by Ron's futile attempts to get the tape measure on one of the chairs to move like at Madam Malkin's store, it was Ron's first time in one too.
"Harry," Hermione asked as she walked up behind him, "Have you no idea what she means?" Harry shook his head as he looked at Hermione, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"You try on clothes in one of the rooms over there," she gave as she pointed to a set of closed doors by the back of the store, "and then you decide if you want anything by how it looks on you." Harry nodded as he started for the doors before both his arms were held by the two giggling girls.
"First, Harry, let's get you more to take with you," Hermione ordered with a smile. They began to pull things off the racks around the store and pile them into his arms, commenting on the color or style of the item as they went. Harry followed behind, his arms soon aching to be free from the tangle of fabric. He noticed Ron sitting on one of the chairs, envying his best friend for being allowed to sit while Harry suffered the ordeal of the two giggling girls. Young women, Harry silently reminded himself as he stared at Ginny. He could hardly believe how fast they were all growing up. He thought of the first time he had met Hermione, on the Hogwart's Express on his way to school first year, and Ginny the summer after at the Burrow before he started his second year.
"Okay, Harry," Ginny said, bringing him back to the present, "Go try those on. I'll wait and tell you what looks good on you." His heart leapt in his chest as she winked at him. She directed him into the dressing room while holding the door open for him.
"When you put something on," she ordered with a smile, "Come out and I'll let you know if it's okay or not." He nodded as he walked in the room before turning around and running into her.
"What about Hermione?" he blurted out as he took a step back, trying to catch the things that were slipping from his arms. Ginny stooped down to pick them up for him, avoiding his eyes. He noticed her smile had faded from her face.
"She's helping Ron," Ginny said quietly as she set the clothes on top of the pile in his arms, "I'll get her if you want her to help you instead." Harry shook his head as she turned and started to walk away. Quickly he threw the pile on the bench in the room and grabbed her arm.
"No, Ginny," he announced while holding her wrist gently, "I didn't mean it that way. I just wondered where she had gone to. I want your help." She looked at him, dolefully, as she cocked her head to the side.
"Are you sure?" she asked in a timid voice. He smiled and nodded at her.
"Yeah, I'm sure," he answered as a small smile formed on her lips, "Besides, they're probably bickering and won't stop if she comes over here." She rolled her eyes and shoved him into the dressing room.
"Harry!" she joked, "Go try something on. I'll wait for you out here." He winked at her as he closed the door and looked back at the large stack of clothes for him to try. Sighing, he picked up the first thing in the pile and started on the task at hand.
o-o-o-o-o
It didn't take long for Harry to realize what Ginny had meant by her offer to help him. Soon after trying on each item, Ginny had told him what she saw with each article of clothing. Pulling him to a full-length mirror in the corner, she had started pointing out aspects with each piece, commenting on how one shirt showed off his muscles, which he thought were nonexistent but showed in clothes that fit right, or how another shirt brought out the color of his eyes, which he had never thought about. After the last piece was off and Harry's stack of clothing to purchase was ready for him, he smiled at Ginny and sat down beside her.
"Thanks for helping me, Ginny," he announced as he looked at her, "I don't think I could've survived this alone. I already feel like I haven't survived it." She giggled as she pointed to Ron and Hermione, who were bickering over what Ron had tried on.
"I think you faired better than he did," Ginny teased, as Harry turned back to her.
"I think my helper was less cruel than his," he joked, even though he felt it was true.
"I think my mannequin was quieter than Hermione's," she joked back. He laughed as he forced himself to look back at Ron and Hermione.
"If they stopped bickering, they might actually get something done," Harry stated.
"If they stopped bickering, I would die from shock," Ginny kidded. Harry nodded his head as he turned back to her.
"You and me, both!" he exclaimed just before Hermione flopped in the chair next to his, her arms crossed before her and her breathing fast.
"Everything alright, 'Mione?" Harry asked, knowing the answer.
"That stupid git won't even listen," she vented as she turned to them, her anger still showing in her cheeks, "If he would listen for just one second, he might actually realized that I'm right." Harry turned to Ginny, whose fist was in her mouth in hopes of keeping her laughter back. Harry looked away before he broke into gales of laughter, joined shortly with Ginny.
"What's so funny?" Hermione demanded as she looked at them in disgust. They stared at each other for a second before Ginny nodded and Harry turned to his best friend, a large grin spreading on his face.
"Hermione," she began, "when are you and Ron going to admit that you like each other?" Hermione stared at her in shock, the color on her cheeks deepening into a pinky blush.
"I don't know what you are talking about," she covered while looking away.
"Hermione," Ginny protested as she stopped laughing, "It's obvious you like my brother! Why can't you admit it?" Hermione turned back to them, her mouth opening and closing several times, before she groaned in frustration and stomped off. Harry turned back to Ginny, shocked, and noticed that her face bore the same expression. Suddenly, they both began laughing and couldn't stop.
"Where's 'Mione?" Ron broke in as he approached them, a look of confusion on his face. Harry and Ginny looked at him before their laughter came out again.
"She's trying to deal with her sexual frustration right now," Ginny commented as Harry looked at her in shock. She winked at him as she nodded to Ron. Turning back to Ron, Harry fought the urge to laugh again; Ron's face drained in color before turning into a color slightly darker than beet red. He turned on his heel and walked the other way to where Hermione stood. Harry and Ginny shook with laughter as they stood and followed Ron. They approached the counter and paid for their purchases quietly. Ginny had to leave the store when Hermione began bickering with Ron at the register for fear that she wouldn't be able to stop. Even Harry had tears in his eyes as he tried to hold it all in. As the last person to leave, he found them on the sidewalk with the guards, waiting for him to finish. He beamed at all of them and winked at Ginny.
"Where to now?" he asked in a shaky voice as he tried to avoid Hermione's glares and Ron's embarrassed and red face.
o-o-o-o-o
Laden with muggle shopping backs, the four laughed their way back to the Leaky Cauldron. Their money bags were extremely lighter than they had been when they left Diagon Alley, but they still had some purchases to make before going back to Grimmauld Place. They made their way into Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, their guards hot on their trail, and looked around at the shop.
"Good afternoon, our most favorite sister," George called from the end of the aisle as they walked through the store. Ginny smiled at George as she pulled Harry with her to the back of the shop where the twins were.
"George," she asked quietly, "Is there any way to can distract the others while we talk to you and Fred?" George raised his eyebrows as he looked at the pair.
"Is this business, or pleasure?" he questioned. Ginny and Harry looked at each other for a moment before Harry turned back.
"A little of both," he answered as George nodded.
"Go back," he whispered, "I'll get Ron to try one of our new products. Talk to Fred and I'll find out from him." Harry and Ginny hurried past George to the back of the shop where they found Fred in front of a cauldron.
"Fred!" Ginny called out quietly, as she dragged Harry by the hand to her brother. Fred turned to them and raised his eyebrows.
"Do mine eyes deceive me?" he joked as he looked at the pair, "Hast mine sister turned to a harlot and dragged two men along?" Ginny rolled her eyes as she let go of Harry's hand.
"No, I'm still with Dean," she retorted as Harry felt the familiar twinge in his heart. He forced a smile on his face as Fred nodded.
"Shame," Fred answered as he shook his head, "I've always liked you, Harry. I would've enjoyed pulling pranks on you. At least you have a sense of humor. What, my dear sister, do you see in Dean that you don't see in our dear Harry?" Ginny rolled her eyes again as she stomped her foot.
"Dean is nice," she teased as she looked at Harry, "Besides, he asked me out when someone else hasn't. Dean's got guts that 'our dear Harry' doesn't have." She giggled as she grinned at Harry. He chuckled with her, not wanting to admit anything, and looked at Fred.
"Fred, we need to see you about some business," Harry began, changing the subject, "and possibly some pleasure." Fred raised his eyebrows and sat on his stool.
"Do tell."
"We want to play a prank at the Welcome Feast this year," Harry continued. Fred's eyes lit up as though Christmas was upon them.
"You came to the right place, my man," he stated as he pulled Harry and Ginny through the back office.
"Now, what sort of prank would you like to play?" Harry and Ginny looked at each other before turning back to Fred.
"We want to pull a prank that will have everyone talking for a long time," Harry started, "and something that will definitely cause detention to the person that put it on."
"You want detention for it?" Fred asked incredulously. Harry nodded as he looked at Ginny.
"Not for Ginny," he explained, "I want it to be something that everyone will know came from me and me alone. Something that will most likely make me look like the prankster. I have my reasons, but I can't tell you why." Fred thought about it as he paced the floor.
"Okay, something big that will have people talking for awhile, something that fingers you, and something that would be fun," Fred muttered before snapping his fingers and grinned, "I've got it! 'Porky's Potion'!"
"What does it do?" Harry asked. Fred pulled them to the bench along the wall and shoved them down as he started to explain.
"Well, it's the latest product we have," he started as he showed them the product, "You take this potion, put just one drop it into a drink, and the let the rest happen. The drinker turns into a pig for awhile and then back into their usual self!"
"And how's it going to help us at the feast? How will it make it apparent it's us doing the prank?" Harry questioned as he looked at the pill.
"By putting it in Slytherin's drink!" Ginny guessed as she smiled at Fred, "Everyone knows we hate the Slytherin's, especially Draco Malfoy!"
"Exactly, dear sister!" Fred called out as he beamed at her, "And to think, George and I were afraid you would take what we call the 'Percy route'. But, I always knew you would be like us." She smiled at her older brother for a moment.
"Right," Ginny asked as she looked at them, "but how do we get it into their drinks?" Harry stared at the floor before looking back at her.
"Dobby," he answered, "Dobby would do anything for me. I can guarantee that he'll help us with this. He hates the Malfoy's enough to help us."
"Harry," Fred remarked, "I never would have expected you to be the prankster type. Too bad Ginny chose a git for a boyfriend. I think you would have been a good match for our little sister. Shame." Ginny glared at her brother for a moment before standing up.
"Alright," she ordered, "So, you and George get a bottle of the potion ready for us and drop it off this week. Then, Harry and I can get in touch with Dobby and get him to do it."
"You're on!" Fred answered as he saluted her. Harry paid for the potion and followed Ginny to the front, but not before thanking Fred and George for their help in the plan.
"This will be perfect!" Harry whispered to Ginny as they left the shop.
o-o-o-o-o
Harry lay in bed that night with a smile on his face, thinking about his birthday. For the first time in years, he had thoroughly enjoyed everything about his birthday. It felt good to live and he realized that he wanted to do more of it. He silently vowed to start living more as he thought back to that evening's events.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had thrown a party for him and had invited several people from the Order. They Weasleys had given him the usual sweater, this time black with a large red Gryffindor lion on the front, and a box of Honeyduke's Finest Chocolate. Fred and George had gotten him an enormous box of their pranks and jokes from the shop, as well as a small bottle of a crystal red liquid, which Harry shoved away immediately from prying eyes.
Lupin had gotten Harry a set of books on Defensive spells, which Harry knew would come in handy that year with the D.A. Tonks had presented him a book titled Dark Arts and You: A Complete Guide to Auror Training. She had winked at him when he had seen the book. Returning a smile, Harry had placed it with the rest of the books from Lupin. Ron had gotten Harry a Self-Writing Quill and Color-Changing Ink. Hermione had given him another one of her talking homework planners. Even Mad-Eye Moody had come and had given Harry a miniature Foe Glass for him to carry in his pocket. Harry had thoroughly enjoyed everyone's company and wished his birthday could've continued the next day. At midnight, however, Mrs. Weasley sent them all to bed so they could have an Order meeting.
Harry smiled as he thought of how well the day had gone and suddenly thought of Ginny. He wished they could have spent more time together and alone, but then he remembered she had a boyfriend. His face fell as he thought of her relationship with Dean before he shocked himself. Why do I care if she has a boyfriend, he asked himself as he turned onto his side, She has had other boyfriends. What's the difference this time? He thought about it for a while until he jumped, startled by a warm hand on his shoulder.
"Sorry, Harry," Ginny whispered as she took a step from his bed, "I didn't mean to scare you." He shifted until he was leaning against the headboard and caught his breath, shoving his glasses on his face.
"It's alright, Ginny," he responded quietly as he finally looked at her. Her long fiery red hair danced in the moonlight as her warm coffee eyes glistened at him.
"Is everything alright, Ginny?" he asked as he moved over so she could sit on the bed. She nodded as she looked at her hands, fumbling with something in them. She finally looked at him, the fear in her eyes shining under the moonlight outside his window.
"I wanted to give this to you, but I was embarrassed to do it with everyone else was around," she explained as she handed him a small package, "I don't know if you'll like it or not…" He smiled as he took the package and her hand in his.
"I'll like it because it came from you," he gave with a smile. Even under the pale moonlight, he saw her blush as she looked away from him and fidgeted with a strand of hair that fell along her face. He wanted to tuck it away and touch the glistening skin of her cheek, but he resisted the urge. Instead, he carefully opened the package. As he held out his hand, a small necklace of black cord and beads fell. As he looked closely at it, he noticed an odd shaped pendant in the center.
"It's a dragon fang," she answered his silent question, "Just like the one Bill has in his ear." He smiled at her as he put it on.
"It's great, Ginny," he gave as he looked at her, "Thank you. I think it's the best birthday gift I've ever received." She smiled at him as she hugged him.
I'm glad you like it," she whispered in his ears, sending chills down his spine. He inhaled the flowery scent of her hair, getting lost in the moment before she pulled away, smiling sheepishly. She rose from the bed and walked quietly to the door.
"Happy Birthday, Harry," she whispered from the doorway, "And goodnight."
"Sweet Dreams, Ginerva," he whispered as she closed the door before he laid back down and thought of her. Before long, he was fast asleep.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review!