Chapter 28. Happy Fucking Birthday.

A/N: TWO CHAPERS IN A WEEK! posted as a different name in the TOC to make sure I'm compliant with FFNETs rules on profanity in titles, just in case.

Harry crashed on his bed in the dog house, tears running down his face. Happy fucking birthday to me Harry thought as he stewed on how fucked up his life was.

24 hours earlier.

Harry awoke on the morning of July 30st with a huge grin on his face. He was nearly fifteen, he lived with his godfather who was going to be married soon, he had a great girlfriend and was about to have a birthday party. There were some dark spots. Voldemort was back, and despite his defeat at the graveyard and loosing many of his best followers, he was out there, and Harry knew the dark tosser wanted him dead. The minister was also trying to deny the return of Voldemort, but then again, he was fighting against the eye witness testimony of Amelia Bones, the head of the DMLE, as well as Dumbledore, his godfather the now recently reinstated Lord Black, Bill Weasley of Gringotts and a host of others. Not only that, but the daily prophet was being remarkably cautious about their reporting. Harry had worried that the paper would tow the line of the minister, but Fudge was on the ropes and the paper was trying to take a middle road, so as to not alienate whichever side won in the end.

After a fantastic breakfast from Winky, who was adjusting to her new family, Harry opened presents from his family. Sirius had gotten him a Kawasaki Ninja 900, which Sirius called a "starter bike." Hestia had berated Sirius that it was too dangerous and Remus was incensed that Sirius would flaunt muggle laws, but Sirius brushed that aside. "I enchanted it, it has notice-me-not and muggle repelling charms, a flight charm, anti-collision charms and a sticking charm on the seat, it's perfectly safe. I mean, the kid has a firebolt, they have about the same speed and acceleration. It will weave around traffic like the knight buss. It's perfectly safe."

"Besides, he'll look hot driving it around, Ginny will love it." Chimed in Tonks.

"Do you honestly think Molly Weasley will let her child near that thing?" asked Hestia.

"Well Tia…"Tonks said, "that depends on if you can keep your mouth shut. Or do I need to tell my dear cousin whose photo you had over your bed in your third year?"

"Wait what? Who?" asked Sirius, looking insanity Jealous.

"Calm your tits Sirius, you were in Jail then." Snapped Hestia. Harry laughed. Hestia was usually so proper and reserved…until she got riled up. Then she swore like a sailor…or a Weasley.

"Anyway," said Remus in his 'teacher voice', "Lets continue, shall we? This is from me Harry." And he handed over a large book entitled Customs and Traditions of Magical Britain, a Guide for Young Wizards by Emmeline Poste. Harry looked at Remus with a bit of confusion.

"Harry, Sirius is the new Lord Black, the head of an ancient and noble house, and you are his defacto heir until Sirius forgets a certain charm."

"Hey, who says we won't do the thing on purpose?" Sirius protested. Hestia was blushing furiously.

"As I was saying, and you are the Potter heir. Though Sirius doesn't, and your father didn't follow all the old traditions, this might help you to know what's going on. It also explains the Wizzengamot laws and ministry regulations. With our current minister's attitude towards you and Dumbledore, it might not be a bad idea to familiarize yourself."

Harry nodded thoughtfully and continued. Tonks had given him a leather jacket and helmet, apparently Sirius had told her of his gift, and Hestia had given him a book on occlumency.

"What's this?" Harry asked.

"Occlumency, the art of defending the mind. Dumbledore thinks you should be given lessens on this and asked me to teach you over the summer until the start of term, when he will take over. It's something I had to learn when I became a warder for Gringotts, as many wards that defend against mental attack require the caster to have occlumency skills. The Fidelius charm, for example, requires the caster to use occlumency to focus the mind enough to encapsulate the secret. It's not a common skill. Dumbledore and Snape know it, so does Bill Weasley."

"That's what the amulet I gave to Ginny does, doesn't it?" Harry asked.

"yes, Bill told me about that at the order meeting, that's a rare runic talisman that can accomplish the same thing but learning occlumency will give you this ability natively. It will also help you retain what you've read and help your recall as well."

"Thanks Hestia!" Harry said. He was looking forward to learning with her. He shuttered to think what learning mind defense from Snape would have been like, probably a mind rape over and over without warning.

After presents Tonks insisted Harry take her for a ride on his new motorbike. Harry knew how to ride, Sirius had taught him last summer, but now to have is own? Tonks sidled up behind him and wrapped her arms around his middle. She leaned forward, crushing her breasts against his back, and whispered in his ear.

"Just think about what it will be like when this is Ginny instead of me." And Harry was glad he was sitting down lest he embarrass himself.

At noon the guests arrived for the party. The Weasleys all came of course with Hermione, as did Andi and Ted. They had decided to have Harry's birthday on the Sunday before his birthday on Monday so that Arthur, Remus, Tonks, Bill, Fleur and Hestia could all attend. Charlie made his own schedule and Gwen's season had just finished up a couple weeks earlier after being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. Fleur greeted him with kisses on her cheeks as per usual, she had been dating Bill now for two weeks according to Ginny. Bill and Fleur had gone in together and gotten reservations for themselves and Harry and Ginny to a very nice French restaurant, so he could take "ta belle Geneviève" on a proper date. Bill whispered to Harry that they were going to send them by themselves, but Molly got wind of it and insisted they have a chaperon and Fleur had airily suggested it would be a good opportunity for her to get to know "Geneviève," and that they would probably get away with ordering wine as they would have two adults with them as well.

Molly and Arthur had given him an assortment of baked goods. Andi and Ted had gotten him a nice set of robes. Charlie gave him a genuine dragon claw letter opener and Gwenog had given him an autographed Ladies of Quidditch calendar. Harry had opened it and turned beat red as he saw Miss January, AKA Gwenog Jones, dressed in a very small bathing suit straddling a broom. Sirius and Ron laughed heartily along with the twins, Ginny looked uncomfortable and Molly glared daggers at the younger witch who was dating her second oldest.

"I figure you can put it in your dorm room, give you blokes some material for…private time."

"Merlin's pants Gwen," Sirius said as he spat out some butterbeer.

"Well Potter?" asked Ginny with her eyebrow raised.

"No, I mean, I have a girlfriend." Harry spluttered.

"Wait so you think of her then?" asked Charlie cracking his knuckles and scowling at Harry.

"Wait, no I mean…"

"Oh, don't you think I'm attractive?" asked Ginny with her hands on her hips.

Harry gasped, "No, I mean yes, I mean you're beautiful Ginny I just don't want to…I mean your parents are…I mean and your brothers.."

"Leave the poor lad alone" said Arthur trying to not laugh. "Ginny that's enough torture and lets all not speculate about what the boy does alone. Harry, I know they were taking the mickey, and I've raised six boys. Let's just say all of them are healthy young boys and none of them can…well that is to say teasing you would be hypocritical. And Molly washes their socks for Merlin's sake.

"Gross dad!" protested Ginny, now as red as Harry.

"You didn't seem to mind when we were talking about Harry." Said George.

"Maybe she wants to handle his broom…" Fred was saying when he was cut off by Molly.

"CAKE, lets do cake, cake sounds good." And Harry breathed a sigh of relieve as Molly bustled off to get the cake she had brought.

After cake most of the guests headed out. Ginny stayed behind as Harry was going to take her for a walk by the seaside. As they walked to the beach they kicked off their shows and waded in the sea. The moon was nearly full, reminding Harry that Remus could now enjoy it with the newest Wolfsbane potion stopping the transformation. Harry spread out the blanket he had brought, and they laid out on the beach, looking at the stars and talking about nothing in particular. Then Harry was looking in her eyes and lowered himself for a kiss. The kiss deepened, and Ginny opened her mouth. Harry and Ginny have never open mouth kissed before, so this was a new experience. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and every nerve in his body tingled. Ginny softly moaned beneath him as they continued to kiss passionately. Harry's had was on her side over her shirt and was sliding up and down. He rolled her over on top of him and his other hand went to her bum and he squeezed softly, eliciting another moan. His groin was aching, and they were getting more heated when all of the sudden the passion seemed to drain from around them as it grew colder. Harry wasn't sure what was going on, but the loving feelings left him as they were replaced with dread and terror. This was a familiar feeling. Harry looked over and saw them, gliding across the beech towards them. Two hooded dementors were approaching them. Harry took out his wand, but Ginny put his hand down.

"Harry the statute." She said as she produced the amulet from beneath her shirt. She tapped it with her wand and light began to shine from it as the dementors backed off.

"Bill has been studying this since he returned to England," Ginny explained. "He found out it can do this, but we aren't doing underage magic. Let's go back and call Sirius."

Walking slowly, and leading his girlfriend, they backed away. To a muggle observer it would look like two teens shining a torch down the beach. When they were close enough to the house Harry yelled for Sirius to come. Sirius bolted out the house and his eyes widened in fear. He produced his wand and bellowed "EXPECTO PATRONUM" and a large bear like dog sprang out of his wand and chased the two dementors down. The two teens broke into a run and made it back, quickly explaining to Hestia, Remus and Tonks what had happened.

"I'll go inform the headmaster," Tonks said, throwing some floo powder in the fire and saying, "Headmaster's office, Hogwarts" and sticking her head in the fire.

"I'll side along apparate you home," said Hestia.

"Bye Harry, It was a great night until…"

"Yeah…bye Ginny….I…bye" he said as he gave her a hug that seemed to communicate what he couldn't say and only partially understood, …that he loved her.

The next morning Harry awoke a bit later than normal. Mooney had given him chocolate and insisted that they talk some before bed. Sirius returned from chasing the dementor off, bringing back Harry and Ginny's shoes and their blanket. After quickly flooing over to return the shoes, and receiving a bone crushing hug for saving Molly's little girl, the two marauders talked with Harry late into the night about what the dementor's presence meant, Harry's feelings for Ginny and about life in general.

Shaking off memories from the night before Harry realized that it was his proper birthday today, he was fifteen! He took a quick shower and made his way to the kitchen for a late breakfast and was shocked to see Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore sitting at his table, sipping tea and eating a scone.

"Ah Harry, have a seat…we have important matters to discuss." Dumbledore said as Harry sat and grabbed a scone. Mooney brought him tea, apparently, he had taken the morning off from work. Tonks and Hestia were already gone to work. After everyone had eaten the headmaster took a small package from his robes and handed it to Harry. After opening it, Harry found it was a small stone cup with what looked like runes on the sides.

"Place it in the center of the table Harry," suggested Dumbledore. Harry did so and Dumbledore tapped it with his wand and the small cup enlarged to be a large stone basin.

"This Harry is a Pensieve. They are quite rare as they require knowledge of charms, runes and most importantly alchemy. Nicolas Flamel and I have been working on this with the few years he has left. We started your first year. I had planned on giving it to you when you came of age, that is seventeen, but with events last June…especially when Voldemort hit you with the killing curse and you survived, I thought it was time."

"What does it do sir?" Harry asked curiously. He could see the runes on the sides, they were Norse in nature, and he could identify Laguz, ingwaz, dagaz and hagalaz at a glance.

"The pensive can be used to store memories and thoughts Harry. You can use it to view memories you have, or memories donated by another. You can also put stray thoughts in to help clear ones' mind. We are, however, going to be using this today as part of our discussion. A little over three years ago you asked me why Voldemort tried to kill you when you were a baby, and I told you that I could not answer that question at that time. Now that time has come. This will also answer for you why Voldemort didn't die, and why the killing curse didn't kill you the second time. Are you ready to begin?"

Harry nodded, and Dumbledore put his wand to his temple and withdrew a silvery thread and placed it into the pensieve and began to speak again. "over fifteen years ago, when your mother was still pregnant with you, I was interviewing candidates for the new divination professor at the Hog's Head where my brother is proprietor. I had considered discontinuing the position as none of the applicants seemed to have the talent and it's a fringe subject anyway, but a woman came by claiming to be the granddaughter of the famed seer Cassandra Trelawney. As the gift typically follows in family lines I decided to hear her out. At once I determined she was a fraud, when at the end of her interview she entered a trance and gave a real prophesy." And with this Dumbledore tapped the mist with his wand. A professor Harry had seen before and knew to be Sybil Trelawney arose from the mist and began to speak.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

Harry stared at the image and then his hand came to his scar as he traced it mark him as his equal. "It's me… isn't it. I'm the one…"

Dumbledore lowered his head and began to speak, "There were two candidates whose parents defied the dark lord thrice, you and Neville Longbottom, but Voldemort came after you first. Like you he was a half blood, maybe that's why. Who can say? But come after you he did. When the prophesy was made a death eater had been skulking outside the room and heard the first part, ending as the seventh month dies, and told his master. Voldemort doesn't know about the whole prophecy, which is good as he may have come to the same conclusion I have.

"What's that headmaster? I mean, what the hell does this mean, one must die at the hand of another. Does that mean I'm the only one…I have to either kill or be killed?"

"Not quite Harry. Remember the graveyard. I have been pondering this prophesy since before you were born. Once it was revealed to me that you are a parselmouth and that Tom had created at least one Horcrux…well I came to some conclusions. You see Harry, as early as the incident at the dueling club, I began to suspect you were a horcrux. And as for dying, I thought you must die at his hand…if you were a horcrux, which I suspected you were, that the only way for him to die is for you to die as well."

Sirius rose from the table and punched Dumbledore in the face. "What the fuck Albus, when were you going to tell me this? When I fucking buried my godson?" Harry thought he was going to be sick. He was marked for death. Dumbledore arose from the floor and spit a bit of blood out and waved his wand to stop the flow.

"I will not chastise you Sirius, I understand your rage and it is justified. I…I kept this from you both, hoping I was wrong, and not wanting to rob your childhood from you."

"Ginny," Harry crocked. "I'm going to have to break up with her…she…I don't want her to…I…Padfoot I think I lo…I oh fuck." And Harry proceeded to empty his stomach contents on the floor. With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore removed the sick.

"Harry you will do no such thing, you will live a long life with Miss Weasley, if that is your choice and hers, don't you see? The way out I was looking for, to save your life, Voldemort himself ensured it when he used your blood. By using your blood to incorporate your mother's protection and make you vulnerable to him, he made himself an anchor for you. When he killed you, and upon further reflection I believe you did die, the horcrux died with you. The blood magic your mother used, still tied to this plane, allowed you to come back. Don't you see, dear boy? and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives, you had to die at his hand for you to live! This prophecy, from the marking you as his equal with the curse when you were a baby to him using your blood to resurrect, he has done it to himself!"

"So, you're saying," said Remus, trying to center the conversation, "That by killing Harry he is now vulnerable?"

"He is one step closer. I fear he has created multiple horcruxes. We know he made the diary, and I have uncovered evidence that he may have created more. I suspect he planned to make six, but that is only speculation. This term, Sirius, I will send you out on fact finding missions to help us find these horcruxes. If you're still willing that is. And Harry, when we find them we will destroy them, and we will make him mortal again. On that day Harry, if we are both still alive, I promise you I will do what I can to end him. Harry…don't you see the power he knows not, it's love. Pure love. The love you showed by jumping in front of Ginny, the sacrifice you made, it's love. I know it's hard for you to say, that you didn't know love growing up, but Harry, my dear boy, we all know you love her."

Harry looked around and his godfather and uncle Moony were nodding. Dumbledore continued. "This might seem like a small thing, and indeed Tom doesn't understand it, the willingness to give up your life for one you love, it is your greatest strength. And I feel love will have another part to play before Tom's end."

Harry was speechless. He looked his headmaster in the eye. "But sir, Voldemort, he still, I mean he thinks I can, that I'm the only one who can defeat him."

Dumbledore grew grave once more. "Yes, he does, and who knows, not all prophecies come to pass…but I thought you should know. Maybe he is going to come after you, maybe you will have to kill him, and it's a huge burden to place on you, but with the horcrux gone your link to him is destroyed. We will find out later if you have retained your parselmouth ability, but I do not think your scar will hurt anymore, nor will you see him in your dreams. And I will do what I can to ensure you are ready to face him in the end."

Harry rose from his seat and went to his room and collapsed on his bed. Happy fucking birthday to me.