Isn't That What I Said?

"So what do you want to do for your birthday, Harry?"

His fork stopped midway towards his mouth; the young man in question raised his eyebrow at his godfather and the werewolf. The two men sat across from him at the dining table and watched him with interest. His birthday. Harry hadn't realized that July was half over. He lowered his fork - treacle tart still precariously resting on the tines - and responded, "I won't be here."

"That isn't a real answer to the question." While Sirius looked hurt by Harry's response, Remus was mildly amused. "Regardless of where you are physically located on July 31st, you'll still have a birthday. Therefore, the question remains: what do you want to do for your birthday?"

Dessert now forgotten, his fork sat on his plate in front of him. Harry sat back in his chair and eyed his ex-professor. Instead of answering, Harry responded with a question of his own. "Anything I want?"

"If it's doable, yes."

"Anywhere I want?"

"Again, if it's a reasonable request, then I see no reason not to grant you your birthday wish."

His gaze flicked from one adult to the other and back. His Slytherin mask was still firmly in place. During his time at Grimmauld Place Harry had gotten to know the two men better although he was still more comfortable with Remus. The werewolf kept his godfather's more Gryffindor tendencies in line much to Sirius' disappointment and Harry's relief.

A birthday wish? The two were offering him a birthday wish. Harry pondered the question posed to him. He weighed his response: want versus need, honesty versus lie, open himself up to possible ridicule or a safe obtuse request. The two wizards had been working on their budding friendship with the young man since they met during Harry's third year at Hogwarts. The blunder with the headmaster aside, they did get along surprisingly well.

An old adage came to him. You won't know if you don't try. He let his guard down and took a deep breath. Harry just hoped he wouldn't regret it. "I want to visit my parents."

Their reaction wasn't immediate as the last of the Marauders stared at him. When they did react it wasn't a favorable response. Sirius gaped and floundered while Remus fidgeted and scratched the back of his neck.

Harry's Slytherin mask slammed back into place. He pushed the dessert plate away from him before he could give into the temptation to mutilate it. The young wizard spoke coldly in clipped tones, "Forget it."

"Buggering hell, Harry. That wasn't a 'no'. You just…" Sirius exchanged a strained look with his best friend. Remus gave an encouraging nod. The animagus ran his fingers through his hair before he continued, "You just blindsided me. So… let me see if I got this right. For your birthday you want to go to Godric's Hollow."

"If that is where my parents are buried," The teenager's voice was distant and wary, "then yes."

"Wait, 'if'? What do you mean if? Hasn't anyone told you…?" Sirius' words tapered off and his shoulders slumped as realization sunk in, "Of course no one told you. It was my responsibility. I should have told you, but I wasn't there. I'm sorry, Harry. I failed you in so many ways."

"I never thought to tell him either, Sirius." Remus gave his friend a lopsided grimace before looking back to the Slytherin, "Sorry, Harry. I just thought you already knew."

All pretenses were cast aside, Harry perched his elbows on the table and peered at them, "I'm sure if I'd had grown up with you, Sirius, I'd have known. As it stands, Aunt Petunia never wanted to speak of my parents. When she did she told me a slew of lies. So what is this Godric's Hollow place like? Is that where they're buried? Can we really go?"

Harry watched her as she continued into the room. Honestly the woman seemed to float, not walk. Harry found her grace intimidating at times - even when sitting still - because no mere mortal could move so effortlessly, but that wasn't what had his attention at the moment. The words she had just spoken had taken him by surprise. "I'm sorry. I believe I may have misunderstood you."

"I'm quite certain you heard me correctly."

The Zabini library was brightly lit courtesy of the sunshine streaming in through the windows. Yet Harry had to blink as his thoughts clouded his vision. He must have missed something. He needed formal wear for a dinner? Blaise pointedly refused to look up from his leather bound book in order to hide his own reaction to what his mother had said. Harry sent a quick glare at the top of his best friend's head. "But dress robes?"

Maddalena's lips curled into an amused smile. She leaned a hip against one of the two couches, half sitting on the arm, while resting a hand on the back, "Yes, you both need new dress robes. An Ni will be arriving tomorrow morning after breakfast to fit you both."

"Annie?" Harry cocked his head to the side.

"Not Annie, it is An Ni," Corrected Maddalena.

"Isn't that what I said?"

"No, you said Annie." Maddalena's patience still held, but only because the confusion on Harry's face was genuine. Blaise hid his humor behind the bank report he had been reading, but the shaking of his shoulders was a dead giveaway. The witch reached over towards her son and easily flicked his ear. "Her name is Madam Ni. An is her first name."

Harry blushed and gave a lopsided sheepish grin, "Got it. Madam An Ni."

"Excellent," Maddalena crossed the room and took a seat on the sofa with Harry. She then asked the one question that had come up on several occasions during his summer. "So tell me, Harry," The boy stilled. She had called him Harry. Maddalena had never called him by his first name before. It had always been Mr. Potter. Always. The woman hadn't skipped a beat and kept speaking, "What do you intend to do once you've passed your N.E.W.T.s?"

The wizard stuttered, "I… I…"

"Come now," She continued, "Something must have caught your interest by now. Haven't you given your future any thought?"

Blaise didn't hold back his amusement any longer and chuckled aloud, "I'm sure he's given it some thought, Mother. You've rendered him speechless by using his given name."

"Did I?" Maddalena looked from her son to Harry and both nodded at her. She gave a small shrug of indifference, "Well you are like a second son to me, it is only logical that I'd call you by your given name." Harry made a small choking noise and she frowned, "Does that offend you?"

Harry's bemused look became a radiant smile. The idea that the woman cared that much for him warmed him, "No. Not at all. I'm honored. Besides, I like the way your R's roll in my name."

"Excellent," Maddalena smiled at the teen and patted his knee before she approached the question again. "So, what interests you?"

"I'm not sure. I imagine part of that would depend on how I do on my O.W.L.s. I have good grades, so I'm not overly concerned." Harry sat back and ran a finger along the spine of the book he had forgotten he held since Maddalena entered the room, "Black and Lupin have both asked me that very same question and honestly, I hadn't given it much thought. They both think I'd do well as a curse breaker. I felt the wards at the Black Townhouse. They're old, warm and hostile, exactly what you'd expect from the Black family I suppose."

"Fascinating," The Italian woman pointed at the portfolio in his hand, "According to Blaise you seem to have a mind for business as well."

"I've been working on diversification. With my goblin advisor's assistance, I've added a couple of Muggle investments and when I'm of an age, I can add more magical investments as well. That isn't counting the new magical business venture I helped kick start." Harry handed a sheet of parchment to Maddalena and she read it quickly, "The thing about business is, it doesn't hold my interest."

The witch's brows furrowed, "Grunnings. This is a manufacturing plant. What do they make?"

"Drills," Harry quickly elaborated when the Zabini matriarch raised an eyebrow, "Drills are machines that create holes of various sizes in objects. Muggles who build things use them. The company does well enough surprisingly. Vernon Dursley tends to exaggerate his own worth, so buying into the company was a risk."

"Vernon Dursley?" Maddalena's eyebrows furrowed. It wasn't that she didn't know who Vernon Dursley was; the furrowed brow was because she did.

"Yes, my uncle works there." Harry admitted, "The Dursleys were receiving a monthly stipend to take care of me. It began the moment they took me in. Instead of seeing to my needs as I grew up with basic necessities such as clothing or glasses that weren't second hand, they indulged in vacations and new cars.

"I've ensured that they no longer receive any of my money. Next I will arrange it so Vernon has to pull his own weight at work." Harry smirked, "Considering how large the man is, that will be nearly impossible."

"To what end?"

"Justice," Harry admitted. "I'm not out to get the man sacked. I'm simply going to ensure he isn't stealing from the coffers and, as I said, he pulls his own weight. From what I've heard so far, he isn't well liked within the company.

"None of the dealings will be traced back to me and if somehow it is, it will all be above board. Nothing will be underhanded or illegal. I will do everything within the letter of the law."

"And your cousin?" Maddalena asked, "How will this… justice affect him?"

"I don't know. Dudley is currently attending a private school. If Vernon or Petunia invested any of the monies they received for taking me in, they should have a decent sized savings and he can continue attending Smeltings. If they didn't, then I can loan him the money until he graduates." Harry assured her, "I have no ill will towards my cousin regardless of our differences in the past. He was there when I first found out about the money going to his parents and he'll understand, and most likely approve of my actions against his father."

Much to his surprise, Harry's birthday wish was granted. It was a warm summer morning when he gripped his godfather's arm and fought off the dizziness of side-along apparation upon arrival. It only took him a few minutes to regain his equilibrium and give a small nod to let Sirius know he was okay.

Harry looked around at the small sleepy village and quaint cottages with stone walls that separated the domiciles. Harry walked in companionable silence along the sidewalk until they reached a traffic circle with a decent sized garden in its center with what appeared to be an obelisk.

"Sirius, look," Harry had pointed at what he had thought was a simple decoration, but the closer they walked the more it changed. The teen stood dazed at what he saw. "Is that…"

"Yeah," Sirius moved closer to the small plaque below the family made of stone and read aloud, "In memory of the Potter family."

"That's… kinda creepy." The Slytherin peered at the statue likeness of his parents and a toddler sized Harry. "Honoring my parents I understand, but I'm not dead."

"I'm sure it was meant to be an honor," Sirius wrinkled his nose at the sight.

"That doesn't make it any less disturbing." Harry pointedly turned away from the statue and asked, "Which way?"

"Come on," The animagus urged his godson towards the building that was once his childhood home. Sirius' steps slowed as they neared a dilapidated cottage. "I haven't been here since…"

"Really? Me either…" Harry gave his godfather a small grin and nudged him with his elbow to lighten his mood. "It's okay to be uncomfortable, Sirius. You lost your family that night, just as I had. Remus and I spoke about that night and it helped me understand that I'm not alone in my loss. I lost my parents; you two lost your best friend and second family.

"Things could have gone very differently, but second guessing what could have been won't change what is." Harry looked up at the house that he would inherit with its half missing roof, "I'm not sure how I feel about this house. I have no memory of ever living here. What do I do with it once I've come of age?"

"Huh," Sirius scratched the back of his neck, "I don't know what to say, Harry. It's just been here waiting for you, I guess."

Harry noted a sign that had been set in the ground outside of the house. He walked towards it and read aloud, "This house has been preserved in its ruined state as a monument to the Potters and as a reminder of the violence that tore apart their family." The teen rubbed his forehead, "People wrote all over this sign: names and… huh…"

"What is it?" Sirius came up beside him and read some of the messages written, "Good luck. Thank you. We love you, Harry. We're here for you. You're my hero."

"Ridiculous," Harry shook his head, "Why would anyone write such rubbish? Love me? They don't even know me. They have this false image of who they believe me to be, not who I truly am. I'm no one's hero. I'm just a teenager, nothing special.

"They're here for me, where? Where were these people when I was growing up? That blasted Dumbledore and his dictating my life. Honestly, Sirius, why was that man allowed to decide to block my parents' wills and leave me to live with that Aunt of mine?"

"Harry, we've been through this. You know Dumbledore had your safety in mind when-"

"He left me on the doorstep in the middle of the night. Didn't even wait to see if I was found by my Aunt or maybe a hungry stray dog would have made a meal out of the tender flesh of a toddler." Harry interrupted his godfather with his tirade. "Sorry, Sirius, but your leader of the Light is not my favorite person. He left me with a family that hated magic so much they treated me like a leper and a house elf. He left you to rot in Azkaban without a trial. How is it he could clear Snape with just his word that he was a spy and you went to gaol without a trial? Wasn't he the Chief Warlock at the time?"

Sirius sighed and fidgeted, "He is the Chief Warlock and he was back then, too. Harry, he's not a God. He's just human and makes mistakes like anyone else. If I can forgive the man, why can't you?"

"Where's the graveyard? Maybe coming here was a mistake." Harry turned and headed in a random direction.

"I'd guess that way," Sirius pointed towards a steeple in the distance.

Harry looked upwards and gave a small nod, but otherwise kept quiet. They had made it to the gate of the cemetery before the teen spoke again, "Maybe I'm still bitter. Life with my Aunt and her family wasn't… ideal. It's gotten better now that I have my cousin on my side, but Dumbledore never even checked on me to make sure I was okay."

The two wizards entered through the gate and began wandering between headstones in search of the Potters. Sirius stole glances at his godson, but kept his silence until the young man relented, "It's nothing, Sirius. Dumbledore was obviously too busy to worry about one child."

Harry refused to go into detail about his childhood and was saved from doing so by finding the gravestones of his parents. "Here they are."

They stood in silence, deep in their own thoughts and memories. Harry sighed softly, "I'll just leave the cottage alone. It obviously means more to the people than it does to me."

Sirius wrapped an arm around his godson's shoulder and pulled him into a tight hug. Harry was a bit confused with the sudden display of emotions from the man and awkwardly patted the elder wizard's shoulder a few times. "Sirius?"

"I'm sorry."

"What? Why?"

"I should have been there for you."

"You're here now."

Sirius nodded, but didn't release his hold on the teen. "Happy Birthday, Harry."

"I realize that, you daft Gryffindor. I wasn't implying I would try anything without guidance and - more importantly - without permission. I had never entered the property through the front door and was simply making an observation regarding what I had felt as we passed the wards." The conversation came to an abrupt halt and Harry stopped short when he entered the foyer. The Zabini matriarch raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow causing the young wizard to grin sheepishly, "I would beg for your mercy Madam Zabini, but I already know what you would say. For what it's worth, it is entirely Black's fault that we're late."

"What? How?" Sirius stammered, "You-"

"It's my birthday." The young Slytherin stated the obvious, cutting off any rebuttal the Gryffindor had wanted to spout in his own defense. Harry continued with a lazy drawl as if speaking to a rather dim witted child. "Therefore by default any altercation, infraction or oversight that happens today is immediately your fault."

"He is right of course," Maddalena didn't bother to hide her amusement. She stepped up to her adopted son and combed his hair from his forehead as she had done for years. "Your guests will be arriving within the hour, Harry." Maddalena reminded the young man. Both Slytherins - current and former - ignored the sputtering animagus. "Go on. Get dressed for dinner. Cari has seen to your clothing for the evening."

"Yes ma'am." Harry gave the woman a quick peck on the cheek and dashed up the stairs to his room without looking back to see what would happen to Sirius.

After his shower, Harry stood with the towel draped around his hips. He leaned against the sink and stared at his reflection, turning his face left, right and left again before he huffed. He was fifteen and there was not one facial hair. Ignoring his scowling likeness, the teen brushed his teeth and put on deodorant before leaving the bathroom while running his fingers through his damp hair. He still needed to get dressed.

Harry dropped the towel and pulled on a fresh pair of pants. He frowned at the blue formal dress robes that were laid out on his bed, but seeing how late the hour was becoming, he hadn't the time to debate wardrobe choices with the house-elf.

The birthday boy had just fixed his bow tie with the spell Blaise had taught him during their fourth year of school when there was a soft knock on his bedroom door. Harry adjusted his cuff links and straightened his dress shirt as he absentmindedly called out, "Come in."

"Ah, Mother will be pleased." While perhaps Maddalena would be pleased, Blaise looked entertained.

The look on his best friend's face confused Harry, "What's so amusing?"

"Nothing," yet the small grin Blaise had sported only grew with Harry's annoyance.

"Blaise…"

Harry grabbed his robe and the pair started towards the door before the Italian admitted, "Mother and I had a discussion while you were away at Godric's Hollow. I didn't believe you'd wear the blue robes seeing how you favored the dark gray and she naturally insisted you would if only because it would mean not having to argue with Cari."

Blaise chuckled when Harry blushed, "I do hate disappointing that elf almost as much as your mum."

"It is frightening how well Mother knows us at times."

The two Slytherin wizards stopped at the bottom of the staircase on their way to dinner. "Tonight will be a test of sorts. She will want to ensure that you're ready for next year's ball," Blaise continued on towards the double doors of the ball room and gave Harry a look that he didn't recognize. The birthday boy didn't interrupt when the Italian teen continued, "Mother has gone all out for tonight. She truly sees you as her son," Harry fidgeted. "I expect you to behave as a true Slytherin."

Harry felt the now familiar warmth spread through his chest. He glanced at the closed doors before him and noted - for the first time since they approached - the soft buzz of conversation that reached them. Harry mentally prepared himself, "I understand."

"Good," Blaise pushed the doors open and preceded him into the room as the occupants grew quiet as they noticed the guest of honor enter.

Maddalena was just inside the room and smiled radiantly at the two teens. The Italian witch waited until her son stepped aside and she gave a small nod to Harry. The young wizard bowed to the hostess and offered his arm to her. Maddalena looped her hand into the crook of his arm and spoke to the room, "Ladies and gentle wizards, I present to you Harry James Potter, Scion to the Noble House of Potter."

The birthday boy did his best not to stumble at the sight before him. The room had been magically expanded to accommodate numerous wizards and witches, adults and children alike, many of whom the boy had recognized - either in passing or as personal acquaintances and friends - and even more guests that he didn't know.

The last three arrivals walked down the middle of the room to the head table. Maddalena walked in the middle of the two teens on Harry's arm. When they reached the head table, Blaise pulled a chair out for the Zabini matriarch before he and Harry sat as bookends to the woman.

Once the three sat, the guests took their seats and food appeared on the tables throughout the room. It was a few moments before Harry could manage to swallow past the lump in his throat and sipped at his glass of water. Guests began eating and conversing while a string quartet played for their entertainment.

Harry smiled at Maddalena, "I don't suppose I can talk you out of next year's birthday ball."

"Of course not." She quickly corrected the boy. "A formal dinner with musical entertainment will simply not suffice. You are the Potter Scion and must be presented to society."

"Ah, well, I tried." Harry plucked his spoon up in order to enjoy the first course.

"Indeed you did." Maddalena sipped her wine and grinned at the boy she called her second son, "Though this dinner will suffice for this year, my dear boy."

"What are you reading?"

"It's about warding. As you're aware, I find runes fascinating. Last month I started looking further into their multiple uses. One of which is protection wards," Harry patted the couch and commented, "and I've been meaning to talk to you about something."

"That sounded almost ominous." Blaise peered at his friend as if he had never seen the teen before, but eventually he acquiesced and sat on the settee. "What's on your mind?"

"Starting next term we're going to have a roommate."

"Who told you this?"

"Professor Snape did."

Blaise stiffened. "Professor Snape told you this?"

"Yes, though he didn't tell me who will be joining us, just that the rooms are unbalanced seeing how the other fifth year dorm room has four students while we have only the two of us."

"When did speak with him?"

Harry gripped the book and did what he had to. He ignored the knot that settled in his stomach and lied. It wasn't a full out lie, but it was a partial omission out of necessity. Harry told his friend, "He was there during the reading of my parents' wills. My mother left him something.

"There's more," Harry said and sighed softly wishing he could divulge everything. "Old Voldy isn't dead, just temporarily without a body. You know he tried to come back twice already; once with that bloody stone using Quirrell and then with the journal using Weaselette."

"There's your visions and nightmares to consider as well."

"Exactly." Harry braced and said, "I hate keeping things from you, but this information is important and can effect you just by being friends with me." Blaise's eyebrow rose and Harry continued, "There's a group called the Order of the Phoenix. They're a vigilante group that fought against Old Voldy during the last war. Black and Lupin are part of this Order and when they heard about my connection, they contacted the leader.

"We can't talk about any of this except in private. With Voldy trying to come back, lives are at stake. We have to be more vigilant."

Blaise nodded in understanding, "That explains your sudden interest in wards."

"Yes," Harry brought the conversation back around, "Considering the option of potential roommates, I thought learning a few wards to protect ourselves would come in handy."

Blaise sat quietly processing all that had been said as Harry went back to reading his book. The Italian sighed softly and stated, "Just one year."

Harry looked at his friend, "What's that?"

"One normal year," Blaise gave his friend a warm smile, "Is that too much to ask for?"

AN: We survived the summer months. Next chapter we're finally back to Hogwarts.

Beyondthesea16: Thanks for the laugh, but no. They did not get Harry into a red (or any other color) speedo.

rjmaray94: Welcome to the madness!