So, I broke my computer...
Harry had just finished a counseling session with Ororo. Despite seeming at ease most of the time, Professor Xavier had noticed him flinching at touches and looking entirely too uncomfortable among people, so he had practically forced him into counseling with the weather goddess. As it was, the sessions were actually proving quite helpful in getting over his past treatment.
Harry was walking down the hall with Bobby, talking about that night's pizza night. He was using a complicated form of sign language that he and the other students had come up with. Mind links (aside from his permanent one with Scott) were tiring to maintain, especially with as many kids as there were in the mansion. So they had come up with this strange speaking form instead.
None of the adults could seem to follow it, though.
"What kind of pizza do you want?" Bobby asked, headed towards the main living room.
Harry made a couple of motions, which translated to 'pepperoni, mushroom and olive.' Or, it could have meant 'purple fairy oreos' but as that didn't make any sense, Bobby went with the former.
They entered the living room, finding Scott reading a book on the couch, but the room otherwise empty. "So," Bobby said, ignoring their teacher and giving Harry a sly grin. "Who do you think is hotter, Rogue or Kitty?"
Harry raised an eyebrow, noticing Scott's amused glance and ignoring it. "I have a girlfriend."
"So?" Bobby asked. "There's nothing wrong with a little window shopping."
Harry promptly flipped him off.
Scott laughed, lighting nudging the boy with his foot. "You've been spending too much time with Logan, Harry."
And he's such a good influence too! Harry replied with a grin, causing Scott's laughter to increase.
Logan and Remus chose to enter the room at that moment, which only set Scott and Bobby off again. Ignoring them, aside from some strange looks, Remus turned to Harry. "Hey, Cub, your birthday is in two days. Do you want to see if Ginny, Hermione and Ron can come over?"
Harry grinned, nodding his head enthusiastically. "Well that's good," a familiar voice chirped. "Otherwise I would have brought them for nothing." Tonks flounced into the room, practically bowling Remus over with her eager hug. Behind her, two girls and a boy stood, looking around in confusion before finally seeing Harry.
"Harry!" they all yelped before engulfing the mutant/wizard in a hug of his own. If he had been capable of audible sound, Harry would have been laughing his head off. Instead, he buried his face in Hermione's bushy hair and wrapped his arms around the three of them.
Harry glanced over at Remus and grinned at the sight of him hugging Tonks back just as fiercely as she him. They need to get a room. He told Scott, gesturing towards the two of them. Scott choked on his laughter, waving a hand at the confused looks he got.
"Harry James Potter! You ever do that again, and I swear I will kill you myself!" Ginny snapped, hitting Harry lightly on the chest.
Remus and Logan exchanged glances. "Reminds me of Lily," they said in unison. Logan shrugged. "Hey, munchkin, time for your training."
Harry would have groaned, if he could, but his friends did it for him. "Can we watch?" Ron asked.
"Nope."
Harry shrugged apologetically and followed Remus, Scott and Logan out the door. Bobby turned to the three visitors. "Hey, don't sweat it. We haven't been allowed to watch him train either."
Two days later, a party was going underway. Harry was sprawled on the ground surrounded by the other kids of the mansion and his three Hogwarts friends. Ginny had her head resting on his stomach, and was depending on the others to translate Harry's strange hand motions.
"Time for presents!" Jean exclaimed as she and the other teachers brought Harry's gifts into the room. He blinked at them, confused. Those are for me?
Scott nodded slowly, but didn't say anything, knowing that Harry didn't want to be embarrassed by the fact that he had never had a birthday party before. "Happy seventeenth, cousin-mine."
Harry smiled and allowed the presents to be handed to him. He opened them, grinning at the gag gifts and books and random items he received from his friends. But after the last of the gifts was unwrapped and the group was getting ready for some cake and ice-cream, there was a flash of black and blue flame, and a letter floated to the ground in front of Harry.
Cautiously, he picked it up and glanced at the writing on the front of the envelope, his face paling somewhat as he recognized the slanted writing. Fate owed me one.
Tearing open the letter, he unfolded it and began reading, despite the questions that everyone was asking him.
Dear Harry,
Surprise. Fate, it seemed, owed me one, as I wasn't exactly supposed to die just yet. Don't blame yourself, cub, as it most certainly wasn't your fault. It was mine for being so stupid. I should have known better than to taunt dear Bella while standing in front of the veil. Oh well, hindsight is always 20/20 and all that crap.
So, anyway, as I finally managed to track down Fate and demand that she give me a favor, I have your birthday gift for you. His name is Anubis. All you have to do is tap his name three times and he'll show up. And yes, he is a real Grim. And yes, everyone who sees him will die. But then, everyone dies eventually, so I guess it doesn't really matter. Make sure that old bat Trelawney sees him. I'd love to see her reaction.
Anyway, as Fate also happens to be there were quite a few creative phrases inserted into this part of the letter ow…your mother has a mean right hook…but as I was saying, since Fate is um…crabby, she won't let Lily say anything, so I'm gonna be her hand for a moment.
Harry, son, I'm so proud of you. I hope you know that. And I'm sure James or Logan or whatever he goes by now, is proud of you also. (Do me a favor and tell him I love him and to leave my poor Scottie alone). Anyway, I know that life is going to get harder for you, what with that stupid prophecy and all, but don't give up hope. Accept the help of those around you, you'll need it. I love you son, and don't you ever forget it.
Alright, ickle Harrykins. Tell Remus and Tonks to get married now (by the way, nice job with fixing him), and make sure that you don't become too serious with the saving-the-world gig. Play some pranks, manage some mischief. Have fun.
We love you, cub, and we're watching over you always.
Sirius Black, aka Padfoot.
Harry bit his lip, skimmed over the letter again, and then tapped 'Anubis' three times, as Sirius had told him to. Shadows converged in front of him and then shaped into the form of a fluffy little puppy that looked exactly like a miniature of Padfoot, but with amethyst eyes. Remus started. "Harry? Is that a—"
Harry handed him the letter and reached a hand out to the puppy, who lapped at his fingers with a little pink tongue. "Only Sirius would think of giving you a Grim for your birthday," the not-quite-werewolf said with a half-laugh. Harry grinned at him, scooping up the puppy as the girls all began to coo over it.
This was one of the best birthday presents ever.