Chapter 9- Harry's Birthday
It was 7 am when Molly strolled into the tent's bedroom. She walked over to the bed and gently shook Christine. "Let me sleep for ten more minutes," came the sleepy supply.
"Rise and shine, come on and have breakfast," Molly said as she pointed her wand at christine's blankets, and gave it a flick. The blankets flew off the bed.
Christine sat up and said, "Alright, I'm up,"
"Good, get dressed and be in the kitchen in five minutes," Molly replied and walked out of the tent.
Christine picked out a blue robe, and tied her hair back in a messy bun. It's Harry's Birthday, which means only two days of vacation left! I just hope that I can say where he is without the Fidelius Charm stopping me from doing so, when my mission is over. If I can't say where, well, what's the worst thing that can happen?
She picked up Harry's Birthday present, a six-pack of Butterbeer. She walked out of the tent and into the kitchen. She inhaled the aroma of frying bacon. She sat the six-pack of butterbeer on the table, with the other presents. Then sat by Bill as Molly sat a plate of eggs and bacon in front of her.
"Thanks, Molly," she said as she started eating. She had just finished when Harry and Ron walked into the kitchen.
"Arthur told me to wish you a happy seventeeth, Harry," said Molly, beaming at him. "He had to leave early for work, but he'll be back for dinner. That's our present on top."
Harry sat down, took the square parcel that Molly had indicated and unwrapped it. inside was a watch very like the one Arthur gave Ron for his seventeenth, it was gold, with stars circling around the face instead of hands.
"It's traditional to give a wizard a watch when he comes of age," Molly said watching him anxiously from beside the cooker. "I'm afraid that one isn't new like Ron's, it was actually my brother Fabian's and he wasn't terribly careful with his possessions, it's a bit dented on the back, back…"
The rest of her speech was lost; Harry got up and hugged her. she patted his cheek clumsily when he released her, then waved her wand in a slightly random way, causing half a pack of bacon to flop out of the frying pan onto the floor. That's a downright waste of bacon, Christine thought.
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" said Hermione, hurrying into the kitchen and adding her own present to the top of the pile. "It's not much, but I hope you will like it. What did you give him?" she added to Ron, who seemed not to hear her.
"Come on, open Hermione's!" exclaimed Ron.
She had bought him a new Sneakoscope. The other packages contained an enchanted razor from Bill and Fleur, Chocolates from the Delacours, and an enormous box of the latest Weasley's Wizard Wheezes merchandise form Fred and George. Finally he got to Christine's gift.
"Harry, I know it isn't much, but I heard you like butter beer."
"That's fine, Christine," he replied.
Madam Delacour, Fleur and Gabrielle came in and Harry, Ron, and Hermione left. Christine was about to leave when Molly said, "Christine, where are you going?"
"Outside," she replied.
"No, you don't, remember your promise that you made last night?"
"Was it I will help cook supper?" she guessed.
"Yes, now get the down the cookbook and meet me in the sitting room."
"Yes, Molly," she replied and casually waved her wand. The big cookbook flew to her hand, and she walked into the sitting room.
She sat down and opened the book. "Molly, is the party going to just have cake?" she asked.
"No, dear, I was thinking a light supper, maybe a roast, now what I want you to do is find a cake that would be good for Harry's Birthday," Molly replied straightening the room.
"Well, maybe a cake in the form of a Snitch, that would make me smile. It would make me smile if I loved Quiddich as much as he does," she replied, turning to the cake section.
"That is a brilliant idea, Christine!"
She found the page that had the recipe. "It takes an half an hour of prep and 35 minutes to back," she replied.
"You can help Bill with escorting the people, who are setting up the tent, later today."
"You're letting me out of you sight?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, well, it might improve your mood because I don't want you in a bad mood tomorrow."
"Thanks, Molly," she said getting up and handing Molly the cookbook.
Several hours later
Christine, Fred and George arranged a few tables end on end, in the garden. Fred and George bewitched a lot of lanterns to float in a 17 over the tables.
"Bloody Brilliant, you two," she said as she waved her wand to guide the table cloths onto the tables.
"Yes, but not as brilliant as your ideas of jokes to play on Percy," they replied.
"Was it in my fourth year when I came up with those ideas?" she laughed.
"Yes, so we tourtured him with them ever since he became a prefect," Fred stated.
"'ear, 'ear," George joked.
They all laughed. "Sometimes I wish those days were back; things were much simpler," she said leaning against a tree.
"Yes, you knew who to pick on without any worry of getting killed, or an ear taken off." George stated.
"It was usually Percy, but he usually retaliated if he thought that I planed it," she replied.
"And he usually thought we planned it most of the time, and that was when we took your ideas," Fred stated gently shoving her.
"Fred, do you really want to get in a fight with me?" she asked playfully.
"Fred and George, please go down to the end of the lane and wait for our guests. Christine, please help me put finishing touches on the cake, the rest of you finish decorating the garden," Molly yelled from inside the house.
"Yes Mother/Molly," they all replied.
"At least you two will be out of her sight," Christine said.
"Well, I don't think we will have much more fun waiting than you will have helping mother decorate the cake," Fred replied.
"Have fun!" teased George as the twins started toward the gate.
"Bye!" yelled Christine as she turned and went into the house.
When she entered the kitchen, she saw that the cake was already decorated. "Molly, why did you ask me to help decorate the cake, when it is already finished?" she asked.
"So you and Fred don't kill each other," Molly replied.
"Molly, we have been friends since our years at Hogwarts. We wouldn't kill each other willingly. The twins and I just got all this pent-up energy," she stated sitting down.
"Hopefully, you will still have all this energy in a few days," Molly said.
"Molly, don't worry. I won't overwork myself so don't go all concerned mother on me. Minerva has filled that position since I was four," she replied calmly.
"I know that. I also wanted to tell you that I invited, Ride."
"Of course you did, Molly. I expected you would have invited him. You should get the cake out there," she answered eyeing the cake.
"I suppose you are right, watch out," Molly answered as she levitated the cake and walked out of the room.
7:00 pm
Fred and George and the guests walked into the house. "Watcher, Christine," greeted Tonks.
"Hi, Tonks," Christine answered. "Good evening, Lupin."
"Good evening," he replied.
"Hey, Christine," Hagrid said as he walked into the room.
"Hi, Hagrid. How's Fang?"
"Just fine, where's Harry?"
"I 'spect outside," she answered.
"Thanks," he said as he moved to go outside.
"You're welcome," she replied; she turned and saw Warvold Ride walking though the door. "Good evening, Ride."
"Good evening," he replied as both of them went outside.
"Harry is finally of age," she sighed.
"Yes, but he doesn't have his mother's protection," he replied.
"He hasn't had that protection for the last three to four days, Ride, but he'll be completely fine after the Dark Lord falls. How have you been holding up?"
"Fine, but He is growing impatient with Yaxley about how long it is takeing the Ministry to fall, and how long it is takeing you to find out where Harry is staying," he replied gravely.
"Well, I am doing the best that I can," she replied. "Can we talk about this later?"
"Hey, Charlie!" Hagrid yelled.
"Hi, Hagrid, how's it going?"
"Bin meanin' to write fer ages. How's Norbert doin'?"
"Norbert?" Charlie laughed. "The Norwegian Ridgeback? We call her Norberta now."
"Wha- Norbert's a girl?"
"Oh yeah," said Charlie.
"How can you tell?" asked Hermione.
"They're lot more vicious," said Charlie. He looked over his shoulder and dropped his voice. "Wish, Dad would hurry up and get here. Mum's getting edgy."
They all looked over at Mrs. Weasley. She was trying to talk to Madam Delacour while glanceing repeatedly at the gate. "I think we'd better start without Arthur," she called to the garden at large after a moment or two. "He must have been held up at- Oh!"
They all saw it at the same time: a streak of light that came flying across the yard and onto the table, where it resolved itself into a bright silver weasel, which stood on its hind legs and spoke in Mr. Weasley's voice.
"Minister of Magic is coming with me,"
The Patronus dissolved into thin air, leaving Fleur's family peering in astonishment at the place where it had vanished.
"We shouldn't be here," said Lupin at once. "Harry,- I'm sorry.- I'll explain another time…"
He seized Tonk's wrist and pulled her away, they reached the fence, climbed over it, and vanished from sight. Christine took out her wand and used the Concealing Charm on her dark mark. Mrs. Weasley looked bewildered.
"The Minister-but why-? I don't understand…"
But there was no time to discuss the matter; a second later, Mr. Weasley had appeared out of thin air at the gate, accompanied by Rufus Scrimgeour, instantly recognizable by his mane of grizzled hair.
The two newcomers marched across the yard toward the garden and the lantern-lit tables, where everyone sat in silence, watching them draw closer. When Scrimgeour came within the range of the lanterns, Christine thought that he looked a lot more careworn than he did the week before.
"Sorry to intrude," said Scrimgeour, as he limped to a halt before the table. "Especially as I can see that I am gate-crashing a party."
His eyes lingered for a moment on the giant Snitch cake.
"Many happy returns."
"Thanks," said Harry.
"I require a private word with you," Scrimgeour went on. "Also with Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger."
"Us?" asked Ron, sounding surprised. "Why us?"
"I shall tell you that when we are somewhere more private," said Scrimgeour. "Is there such a place?" he demanded of Mr. Weasley.
"Yes, of course," said Mr. Weasley, who looked nervous. "The, er, sitting room, why don't you use that?"
"You can lead the way," Scrimgeour said to Ron. "There will be no need for you to accompany us, Arthur."
Mr. Weasley exchanged a worried look with Mrs. Weasley as Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood up and lead the way back to the house.
When they went inside, Christine asked, "What is this all about, Arthur?"
"I am not sure, Christine, but I couldn't do what you asked me to do though," he replied
"That's fine, Arthur, I probally won't have time to do it until I'm back at the office, anyway," she stated thoughtfully.
"What do you don't have time for until your back at the office?" Molly asked incredulously.
"Nothing, Molly," she answered blankly.
A few minutes later, they heard raised voices coming from the house. Arthur and Molly ran towards the house, and Christine and Warvold stood up and went over to the gate.
"What is bothering the Dark Lord about how long it is taking me with my mission?" she asked turning to him.
"He wants to know where he is soon, Black. He is growing impatient, and he won't be happy if you fail," he replied.
"I am trying to find away around the Fidilius Charm, Ride, it is almost impossible to get around," she whispered.
"I am going to have to report that to the Dark Lord, tonight," he replied.
She nodded and walked back to the table with Warvold by her side. Scrimgeour burst out of the house with Molly following him. Once he got out of the protection of the Burrow, he dissaparated. Molly stormed back into the house.
"What caused him to leave like that, I wonder," Christine asked.
"Maybe, Harry said something bad to him," guessed Ride.
"I 'spect you're right," she replied.
When they came out, they passed what Dumbledore left them. They lamented the fact that Scrimgeour wouldn't let Harry have the sword.
"Harry, I knew about my part of the will about a week ago, but I didn't know there was more to it than that," Christine said, looking at the Snitch.
"I didn't know that. What did you get?" he asked.
"I got his family home in Godric's Hallow and Fawkes," she replied, passing the Snitch to Warvold Ride.
When Mr. Weasley examined the Deluminator for the third or fourth time, Mrs. Weasley said tentatively, "Harry, dear, everyone's awfully hungry, we didn't like to start without you… Shall I serve dinner now?"
They all ate rather hurriedly and then, after an hasty chorus of "Happy Birthday" and much gulping of cake, the party broke up. Hagrid, who was invited to the wedding the following day, but was far too bulky to sleep in the overstreached Burrow, left to set up a tent for himself in a neighboring field."
"Warvold, please stay the night, so you don't have to commute as far for the wedding tomorrow," stated Molly.
"I would love to, Molly, but I have to do something before I go home. Thanks anyway," he replied, turning to Christine. "Christine, will you please accompany me to the gate?"
"Of course, Warvold," Christine stated, standing up. She also noticed Molly gleaming with joy.
When they reached the gate, she asked, "So, you are really going to give the report on my progress tonight, are you?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Be careful, my friend," she stated.
"I will," he replied with his hand on her shoulder. "You know that I will."
"I know, but Molly will never forgive you if you die tonight," she teased.
"Oh, it won't fit Molly's plans, if I die," he smiled and took his hand off her shoulder and dissaparated.
Christine slowly walked back, trying to stop the worry overcoming her. The Dark Lord is not going to like the report that Ride is going to give him, she thought.
"Is something bothering you, dear?" Molly asked Christine, after ten minutes of Christine helping clean up.
"What was that, Molly?" she replied waveing her wand and made the streamers disappear.
"You been unusually quiet and not as stormy; I just wanted to know if anything is bothering you?" Molly explained.
"No, nothing is bothering me, but tonight is my last night here. I think it is time to go to my new home," Christine stated.
"So, you're leaving us tomorrow," Molly replied.
"Yes, I hope you're not mad about that."
"No, of course not."
"I'm going to bed, Molly, see you tomorrow," Christine yawned.
"Ok, dear, see you tomorrow," Molly replied.
Christine walked into the tent, waved her wand and all of the loose articles packed themselves into boxes. She then walked into the bedroom and plopped down and then fell into an uneasy sleep.
