Chapter 49: Birthday at the Park
AN: Thank you, my lovely readers and viewers for the reviews you have made, they were brilliant. Thank you for those who have pointed out spelling and grammar mistakes that I have failed to miss during editing, I will correct them ASAP.
I usually answer questions in the review box but I thought I should start doing it in the author notes.
Lozzy035 - Yes, Hermione is aware of her age. Before she was given the time turner she was made aware of the aging process and other consequences. This also means that she will be able to use her wand outside of school during her fifth year, as she is a year older.
Enjoy!
The Burrow - Sunday 31st July
Hermione was bustling around the kitchen checking that she had all of the food in the many picnic baskets and that she had the bags of games for the park. She had her hair in a messy bun and was wearing light blue converse, blue shorts and a white vest top. Underneath she had on a plain white bikini. She wasn't sure about it, but Ginny had persuaded her that it looked fine and it was modest and safe to be around children. In fact she told Hermione "I have seen grandma's wear more daring bikini's than that" which made them chuckle.
"COME ON GUYS, GET A MOVE ON. WE DON'T WANT TO BE LATE!" she yelled as she walked through the living room and over to the fireplace. She quickly placed a floo call to Wood Manor and they would be through shortly.
One by one people came running down the stairs and into the living room and they were all carrying something in their hands.
"Hey, what's with the boxes?" she asked them.
"Harry's presents" Lee said.
"Are they all wizarding world bought?"
"Well yeah" Ron said looking at her like she was daft.
"Well than you have to leave them here, muggles"
Recognition showed in their eyes and they put the gifts down on the table. She checked over their clothing and they had gotten it right this time.
Fred and George were wearing white trainers, black knee length shorts and white fitted short sleeved t-shirts. She raised her eyebrow at them; they usually dressed similar but not completely identical.
"Not taking any chances with you being able to tell us apart"
"Well you're going to have to try harder Fred" she said.
"I'm George" he said.
"Nice try Freddie"
"No I am, look I have the freckle on my neck" he said pointing at said freckle.
"So does George, you drew that on Fred. But I'll give you boys an O for effort" she said and everyone chuckled at her and the boys scowled.
Lee was wearing blue knee length shorts, black trainers and the short sleeved t-shirt Hermione had bought him for his birthday. On the front it said "there's no need to repeat yourself. I ignored you just fine the first time"
Bill was wearing blue jeans, a blue short sleeved t-shit with white trainers, and Charlie was wearing black trainers, black jeans and a black fitted short sleeved t-shirt.
Ron was wearing blue jeans, white trainers and an orange short sleeved t-shirt. Percy was wearing blue jeans, black trainers, and a checkered shirt. Mr Weasley was wearing brown hiking boots, blue jeans and a colourful Hawaiian shirt which she chuckled at.
At that point the Woods flooed in.
Mr Wood was wearing dark blue jeans, a green polo shirt and white trainers. Oliver was wearing white knee length shorts, white trainers and a black fitted short sleeved t-shirt. Mrs Wood was wearing the clothing Hermione had sent her the day before. They were all carrying a couple of picnic baskets each.
Ginny came down the stairs with Mrs Weasley both wearing the clothing that she had bought and given them the day before and they looked amazing.
"Where'd that come from?" Ron said pointing to them.
"Mione" Ginny said smiling gratefully.
"You bought them those?"
"Yes Ronald"
"Did you but something for everyone else" he said with an edge to his tone that she didn't like.
"Yes Ronald I did, but It's Harry's day to day so no one is getting their gifts until tomorrow" she said glaring at him. "But I did buy something things for the park"
"Oh yeah? What?" Charlie asked excited.
"Hula hoops, swing ball, water guns and water bombs, things like that. They can be used here at the Burrow in the garden afterwards as well. They're just typical muggle summer things" she said shrugging her shoulders.
"What are those things? What do you do with them?" Bill asked.
"Well you fill the water bombs with... well water and throw them at people and you fill the water guns with water and squirt people with them and chase them. It's a water fight. Swing ball is a game. There is a tennis ball attached to a piece of string which is attached to a metal pole. Two people grab the bats and they hit the ball back and forth. The object of the game is for the person to get the string on the ball either to the very top of the pole or the bottom, depending on what side you're on. It's easier to show you than explain. And the hula hoop is basically a large ring that you put around your hips and you have to spin it with your hips around your body without it falling to the ground"
"Cool" Ginny said.
"Alright has everyone got a swimming costume and towel, because you are likely to end up in the pond" they nodded at her.
"Sirius did you remember to owl Lupin?" she asked.
"Yes Kitten, he's meeting us there"
"Okay, if that's everything, let's go"
The bags and picnic baskets were banished to Hermione's house. And they all flooed to Hermione's house.
The Granger Residence
"I'm coming" Sirius said.
"No, you're not going Sirius" Mrs Weasley said sternly. "We can't trust you and Hermione to be in the same room together with the Dursleys" Hermione and Sirius grinned at each other. Mrs Weasley had a point.
"We should floo" Mr Weasley said.
"I don't think they have a fire place Mr Weasley" Hermione said but he had already called out the address and disappeared into the flames.
Hermione sighed, picked up the floo powder and called the address and disappeared closely followed by the twins.
Four Privet Drive - The Dursleys
She landed, it was dark and cramped and she could feel people standing on her.
"Ow that's my foot"
"Sorry Princess"
"Oh this is ridiculous, Pita you're going to have to blow the wall out"
"Right, Bombarda"
The wall exploded and bricks propelled forward and landed with a loud bang. Hermione coughed as the dust began to clear and they stepped out of the wall.
She saw Harry staring at them shocked but amused. She walked to him.
"Mione"
"Harry" they hugged tightly, grinning at each other.
"Happy Birthday, we can't give you your presents until we get to the Burrow" he nodded in understanding. She looked him over; he was wearing a red polo shirt, black trainers and blue jeans.
The others greeted Harry and she turned her attention to the Dursleys.
"Really sorry about that. I tried to tell them that you didn't have a fire place but they wanted to floo. We'll fix it for you, it will be as good as new" Mr Dursley glared at her.
"Hello Dudley" she said smiling.
"Yo-your back" he stuttered.
"Yes I am"
The twins didn't know whether they should be amused or angry that Harry's cousin was drooling over their Hermione. Harry bit his tongue to stop himself from laughing and the twins looked at him.
"He's always like this when she's here, hasn't stopped talking about her and asking me questions about her since the day of the trial" he said. The twin's eyes narrowed at Dudley.
"Harry, my lad, you ready?"
"Yes Mr Weasley, my trunks upstairs" he said turning to leave and get it.
"Don't worry Harry -" Fred spoke first.
"- We'll get it for you. -"
"- We'll be back -"
"- In a jiffy."
With that said the twins turned to leave, winked at Hermione and left the room walking up the stairs. She smirked and Harry looked at her, she winked at him and he chuckled. They were up to something.
They both turned to the others to see Dudley staring at Hermione and Mr Weasley asking questions about the TV.
The twins returned not long later, carrying the trunk down into the room.
"Now Harry -" George started.
"- We love the room -"
"- Brilliant colour choice, -"
"- Gryffindor red and gold. -"
"- We knew you loved us -"
"- I mean who doesn't? -"
"- We are the Weasley twins -"
"- After all. But Harry -"
"- We didn't expect that you loved -"
"- Us so much that you -"
"- Have pictures of us on -"
"- Your bedroom wall. -"
"- Although we do look amazing -"
"- In those quidditch robes -"
"- Whilst we're holding -"
"- The quidditch house cup. -"
"- We are so winning -"
"- Again this year. -
"- GO GYRFFINDOR" they said finishing together and high fiving.
Harry looked between the two and started laughing with Hermione and Mr Weasley chuckling at his twin sons.
"I still don't know how you did that to your room boy. It's disgusting, and when I find out you will be sorry" Mr Dursley said and the room went silent. Fred and George dropped Harry's trunk to the floor and they glared at Mr Dursley whilst trying to keep an eye on Hermione, Mr Weasley was looking at her worriedly.
"It was me, I did it to his room, albeit by an accident, but I did it" Hermione said in a cold and dangerous tone. "Harry deserves to have a room that is comfortable, where he can be by himself and escape from you horrible people"
"How dare you? You freak. When he's gone that room will be destroyed along with his stuff and it will be turned into a gym"
"You won't be doing anything to his room because I'm going to have wards placed around it. It will stop you from getting near it. And don't lie we both know you won't turn it into a gym, more like a KFC" the twins started laughing at her comment. "By the way, the papers have come through, Harry is no longer under your care" she said and Harry smiled widely.
"That means that you are no longer protected by him. However it has been advised that he spends the first two to three weeks of the summer holidays here. Then he will spend the rest with his family" she said. Harry frowned. "Dumbledore, Harry" they looked at each other and nodded.
"Now I know how people feel when we do that, it's scary" George whispered to Fred and he nodded in agreement.
"And I don't take kindly to you threatening my brother. Are you stupid or something? After all the warnings I have given you about your behaviour towards Harry and you still treat him that way in front of me. You're very lucky he's still in this room" she said and he and his wife paled.
Hermione turned to Harry.
"Harry is there anything else that you need from upstairs? Maybe Hedwig?"
"She went hunting last night, I told her to go to the Burrow afterwards. That the right place?"
"Yes. Freddie, Georgie?"
"Yes Princess?"
"Can you please fetch Hedwig's cage?" she asked with a evil glint in her eyes. They knew what she wanted them to do.
"Be right down" they ran upstairs. They returned a few minutes later with the cage and their pockets considerably lighter. They nodded at her and she smiled.
"Well we better get this stuff to the Burrow, so we can leave for Harry's party" Mr Weasley said.
"Party?" Dudley asked. He had been staring at Hermione the whole time and hadn't taken his eyes of her.
"Yes, would you like to come with us?" she asked kindly and nodded eagerly.
"HE WILL NOT BE GOING ANYWHERE WITH YOU FRE..."
"Finish that sentence, I dare you" she said menacingly and he shut up.
Fred and George picked up the trunk and walked over to the floo and on the way they dropped the trunk and pretended to trip. Loads of sweets fell out of their pockets. They quickly stuffed them back in their pockets intentionally leaving some on the floor. That was the only time Dudley's eyes strayed from Hermione. He zoned in on the sweets, he had been on a diet since he had returned from school and hadn't had any candy since.
When Fred and George stepped into the floo, they heard a scream before they disappeared. Hermione and Harry burst out laughing as the others panicked.
Harry was sent through the floo first. Hermione followed leaving a threat for Mr Dursley.
The Granger Residence
"Did he eat it?' said Fred excitedly.
Everyone in the room turned to watch the scene curious.
"Yeah" Harry and Hermione said as she walked over to them and they high fived.
"What was it?" Harry asked.
"Ton-Tongue Toffee" said Fred brightly. "George and I invented them; we've been looking for someone to test them on for ages"
"That was planned?" Harry said.
"Yep, although what we left for your aunt and uncle wasn't, but they deserved it. I wanted to hex them but the twins persuaded me otherwise" Hermione said.
"That wasn't funny, Fred!" Mr Weasley shouted. "What on earth did you give that Muggle boy?"
"That's George, Pita" Hermione said.
"Sorry" he turned to the other twin. "Same question"
"I didn't give him anything. I just dropped it. It was his fault he went and ate it, I never told him to" he said grinning.
Mrs Weasley glared at her sons as she walked over to his side.
"What did you do?" she said.
"Nothing" the twins said.
"He's right Maji, they didn't technically do anything to Dudley, they tripped over Harry's trunk and things fell out of their pocket. They must've missed some when they picked them up off the floor" Hermione said and Mrs Weasley glared at the twins before walking away. Everyone greeted Harry and the twins turned to Hermione.
"So Princess, how big did his tongue get?" George asked eagerly.
"I'd say about five feet, it was touching the floor" she said and they grinned. "Told you, you could do this for a career" she said walking off towards Harry who was stood with Ginny and Ron.
"We've been hearing explosions out of their room for ages, but we never thought they were actually making things" said Ginny. "We thought they just liked the noise"
Hermione chuckled. "Oh they do like the noise" she said. "Alright everyone let's get going. Padfoot you going in animagus form or human form today?"
"Animagus obviously. People in the park tend to give me food when I'm a dog" he said and they laughed at him and he shifted. Harry's stuff was banished to the Burrow and they all picked up some bags or picnic baskets and left for the park.
London: The Park
Just as they were about to enter the gates, Lupin showed up and they greeted him.
"Hello Professor, did you find this place okay?"
"Hermione, I'm no longer your Professor, call me Remus" he said chuckling.
"Sorry, force of habit"
"Yes I found this place well. Let me help you" he said and took some of the bags that she was carrying.
They entered the gates and Padfoot was off like a shot straight after the ducks.
"What is it with him and ducks?" she asked and they chuckled at her.
They picked a large empty spot in-between the pond on the play areas with a couple of picnic benches close by and they set the blankets up. Half way through setting up they heard children squealing and they looked up to see the Mullins and Collins heading their way with the children running to them shouting.
"MIONE!" they yelled and tackled her to the ground laughing. She hugged them and the children hugged the Weasleys and Woods. Bill, Charlie, the twins and Oliver picked them up, put them over their shoulders and spun around in circles making the children squeal and laugh in delight.
"Everyone this is Remus"
"Hello" they said and the children waved at him eagerly.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HARRY" the children yelled and they hugged him. Harry looked shocked before he smiled widely and thanked them. They all set up their things together and the children went off to play with Padfoot.
Hermione set up the swing ball set and showed them how to play, she left them to it and took the bags of water guns and bombs to the pond along with Harry. They chatted whilst they filled them up and put them carefully into the bags before walking back to others and placing them out of sight. Hermione then showed Ginny how to hula hoop and everyone had a go laughing because they were terrible at it.
They all chatted and played games and sports before dinner came.
Hermione with the help of Mrs Weasley, Mrs Wood, Mrs Collins and Mrs Mullins got the items out of the bags. She removed the packaging from the barbecues and set them up in a row. She removed the fire lighter and lit the coal.
"Now these have to heat up, so we may as well get the other things ready"
Luckily they had managed to get a couple of picnic benches to themselves near their blankets so they set the food up on the tables. They buttered all the buns and placed then on the table. They removed the bowls of salad and fruit they had prepared the night before and placed them on the table followed by the already prepared orange juice and Vimto and disposable cups. They removed the crisps and sweets and placed them on the tables to. Mrs Weasley cautiously and slyly placed a charm over all the food and drink to keep away any insects and other animals.
Hermione checked the barbecues and noticed they were ready and when she was about to start placing things on the grills, Mr Collins and Mr Mullins walked over to them.
"We'll do that for you Hermione" Mr Mullins said.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, it is the dad's job to tend the barbecue after all" Mr Collins said chuckling.
She smiled at them. "Okay then, I'll just get everything for you" she stood and walked off. She returned carrying a few bags.
"Blimey you go all out don't you?" Mr Mullins said as he whistled.
"Well it's Harry's birthday and in the past he hasn't really had the best birthdays. That's why when he's with us we try and make his summer the best it can be"
"His parents don't hurt him do they?" Mr Collins asked quietly as they removed the food to be cooked and placed it on a clean blanket.
"Harry doesn't live with his parents. When he was a baby they died, he lives with his aunt, uncle and cousin. They don't treat him very nice. Until he was twelve they made him sleep in a cupboard under the stairs. They emotionally abused him, but he won't be with them for much longer. I've sorted out the parental guardianship problem. He has to spend a few weeks at the beginning of the summer with his aunt, uncle and cousin but then he will stay with the rest of us; his family and godfather for the rest of it. I'm not letting them hurt him anymore"
"You did a great thing" Mr Mullins said proud.
"Harry deserves it, he's family, he belongs with us and we won't let anyone hurt him, not again" she said.
"Let's make this the best birthday he's ever had then" Mr Collins said.
"I think it already is" she said as she watched him getting tackled to the ground by Padfoot and the children and Hermione took a picture with the wizarding camera that had an illusion charm cast on it to show a muggle camera.
"So what do we have?" Mr Mullins asked.
"I can't even remember I bought that much" she said and he chuckled at her.
"Well leave it to us; we'll get it sorted for you" Mr Collins said and she smiled and walked back to the table. They put pickled onions, cubes of cheese and sausages on the cocktail sticks and cut up the sausage rolls into pieces.
"You think there's enough food?" Hermione asked. The women looked at her and laughed.
"Yes dear, I think there's enough food here to feed everyone in the park" Mrs Weasley said and they chuckled more.
"Well at least the food won't go to waste" she said. All the food was set out so she picked up a few pieces of sausage roll and a bowl she had Mrs Weasley sneakily fill with water and walked towards Padfoot.
"PADFOOT" she yelled and he stopped chasing the ducks and ran over to her.
"Here I brought you some water and food" she said as she placed it on the ground and sat down near the pond with him in front of her. He laid down with his head in her lap and she scratched his head.
"They tired you out already, you must be getting old" she said and he growled at her, which she just laughed at.
"Only kidding, you've got the mind and heart of a thirteen year old if that makes you feel better. Dursley threatened Harry in front of me" she explained and he growled again.
"Don't worry, I didn't hex him because Mr Weasley was looking at me funny, but I did have the twins leave him a few little surprises in his room and the bathroom" she said laughing and the dog grinned at her. "You sure you want to stay as Padfoot the entire day? I could just tell the kids that you had to leave" he shook his head at her and she fed him another piece of sausage roll. Her attention was brought away from Padfoot when she heard someone calling her name.
"Miss Granger" she looked up to see a familiar face walking towards her. It was the auror from the trial.
"Deputy, what brings you to a muggle park on a Sunday?"
"Well it's my day off" he said. He wasn't wearing his auror robes. Instead he was wearing white converse, black jeans and a blue polo shirt.
"Really? So you're not here because the Ministry screwed up again and allowed Pettigrew to escape? And you're not worried that he will come after Harry and I? And you're not here to keep an eye on us?" she said raising an eyebrow.
He chuckled at her. "Should've known you were already aware. You really are the wisest witch of the age. May I?" he said gesturing to the ground.
"If you'd like, I don't own the ground" she said shrugging. He sat down on the ground next to her a little too close and Padfoot growled at him. Hermione scratched his head.
"What is it Pads?" she asked. The auror looked down at the dog.
"Sirius Black, I imagine he doesn't like aurors much. Why is he in his animagus form?"
"I imagine it's because he can get away with a lot more than he could as a human. Apparently he gets more food from people, he can play with the children and he can chase the ducks and pigeons" she said chuckling as she looked down at him. "Speaking of which... Padfoot here they come"
"MIONE!" several voices shouted before she was tackled onto her back laughing.
"Hey girls" she said groaning. "Where are they boys?" as soon as she said that, two more children appeared and jumped onto the pile.
"We're here" they said laughing.
"Never mind" she said groaning again. She sat up and the children ran off with Padfoot chasing them.
"Take it they know you"
"Their parents live on the same street as I did when I was growing up; they used to care for me when my parents were at work. Any way, how did you know we would be here?"
"I heard you talking about celebrating here after the trial"
"That was almost a month ago, how did you know we would be here now? And at this park? There are many in London" he stayed silent. "Doesn't matter I have my suspicions" she said.
"Care to share these suspicions?" he said and she stayed quiet and he chuckled at her.
Padfoot came running back to her and he sat in front of her.
"Hey Padfoot, want to do another prank? We're not letting them off that easy" she said and the dog nodded.
"Okay" she whispered in his ear and he barked before running off.
"What did you say to him?"
"Just watch Deputy"
They watched at Padfoot ran up to Fred who had his back turned to him. He jumped up at him and he fell in the pond. Hermione burst out laughing as did the rest of the family. Padfoot then ran up to George and while he was laughing, Padfoot jumped up at him and pushed him into the pond. Sending everyone into hysterics as they laughed louder. Luckily for them, they were wearing their swimming trunks and had taken of their shirts.
The twins got out of the water and their eyes narrowed on the man sat next to her. They recognised him as the leering auror from the trial. When they saw Hermione in stitches laughing they smirked and she stopped laughing.
"Oh no" she said and stood up and ran in the opposite direction. They twins chased after her and caught her. Fred had her thrown over his shoulder as they marched to the pond with their family laughing and cheering.
"Fred put me down" she said laughing.
"Nope" the twins said singing.
"Please"
"Nope" they said speeding up their pace.
"Well at least let me take my over clothes off, I have my bathing suit on underneath" she said.
As soon as she said the words 'bathing suit', the twins stopped and Fred put her on her feet so fast she swayed and he had to steady her. She quickly removed her shorts, t-shirt and shoes and was picked up again and thrown into the pond and the twins jumped in after her. A splash fight ensured.
As Hermione was picked up and thrown over Fred's shoulder, the auror glared fiercely at the twins but then his attention turned on Hermione's backside. When she took off her clothes leaving her in her bikini, he actually drooled and groaned a little. 'She certainly doesn't have the body of a near sixteen year old' he thought. He continued to watch as she was in the water. When he felt a presence behind him, he looked up to see a tall, muscular, tattooed angry looking man.
"Weasley"
"Reddings"
"What can I do you for?"
"You can stop staring at my little sister and drooling" Charlie said glaring at the auror.
He stood up and looked at Charlie. "Just here for her safety"
"Well then maybe you should be more discreet and not be deliberately interacting with her. Since your failure allowed Pettigrew to escape, if he is watching her and Harry, he is going to know that you are watching her because you are not a part of my family and we are the only people she goes anywhere with. And that is a barely fifteen year old girl that you're leering at" he growled at him.
"With the time turner she's sixteen"
"And you're twenty-one" he said menacingly.
"Like you wouldn't want to have a go"
"No, because she's my little sister and I'm five years older than her and she is under age"
Bill noticed Charlie was missing, they had been with the children in the park and when he looked around he saw him with the auror. He quickly ran over to Charlie and he caught some of the conversation.
"She doesn't look or act her age" he said and Bill stepped forward.
"That's our little sister you're talking about, I'd be careful what you say about her and how you look at her" Bill warned and dragged Charlie away from him before he hurt him muggle style and without magic.
"MIONE" Bill shouted. She looked over and he pointed to the picnic table where people were beginning to gather for dinner.
She and the twins got out of the pond, she picked up her clothes and they ran to the others.
They sat around and chatted as they ate their food.
"This is really good" Harry said eating his hotdog. "Thank you Mr Mullins and Mr Collins"
"You're welcome, and you can call us Brian and Jeremy" Mr Collins said.
They all chatted pleasantly and ate their food before going their separate ways. Bill and Charlie had explained to Mr Wood, Remus and their dad what had happened with the auror and they agreed they were going to have to keep an eye out in case he turned up again before Hermione left for school.
"Ready Harry?" she asked him as they hid behind several trees.
"Let's do this" he said excitedly.
They nodded and picked up their water guns. They had one in their hands and another thrown over their shoulder as a backup.
"Ready kids" they asked together.
"Let's get them" Joey said as he and the others filled their arms with water bombs.
"On the count of three we run and the war begins" Hermione said.
"One, two, three"
They ran out from behind the tree with a loud battle cry and the children lobbed water bombs at the unsuspecting boys who were playing football. The parents all turned to see Harry, Hermione and the children running from behind a tree, shooting the water guns at the boys and the children throwing water bombs and they burst out laughing.
They chased them around the park soaking them. Hermione chucked her spare water gun at Ginny and she caught it and joined in, aiming for the boys. She quickly made a dive behind the parents, landing on her stomach but out of harm's way.
"You alright down there dear?" Mrs Weasley asked amused.
"No, I'm out of ammo, I repeat I am out of ammo" she said and they laughed at her. "Remus cover me?" she asked him and he looked at her amused.
"How?"
She pulled out a bag filled with water bombs and two bottles of water that she had hidden underneath the picnic table earlier. She had done this several times throughout the park so she could reload when she needed to, without being left in the open. She filled the water gun with the water from the bottle. And she handed the bag to Remus.
"You sure you want to do this?" she asked him seriously and the parents chuckled, he nodded.
"This is war; people are going to get hurt. Or worse soaked and thrown in the pond and pecked by angry ducks. DUCKS! REMUS, DUCKS! They take no prisoners" she said with horror on her face which made them laugh harder.
"I can handle it"
"Right solider, cover me"
"Yes Ma'am" he saluted her.
"One, two, three" she dived out from her hiding place. She made her way to Harry and Ginny whom were hidden behind a tree.
"I'm out of ammo" he said and she handed him the other bottle of water.
"Ginny, how you fairing?"
"I'm good on ammo for now Mione"
"I have another stash of ammo hidden behind that bin over there" she pointed to it. "I have one hidden inside the tunnel in the play area over there" she pointed to it. "And I have one hidden underneath that picnic table of there" she pointed to it.
"We'll split up. I'll go to the play area, Ginny the picnic table and Harry the bin. Meet me back here at base and we'll take cover in the trees" they nodded.
"Ready?"
"Let's go" they ran separate ways with the boys trying to lob water bombs at them which they had stolen from the children. They were now sat near their parents watching the war. It was Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Remus against the twins, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Oliver, Ron and Lee. They were outnumbered but they were going to win.
Hermione ducked into the play area removed the bag; she ran back to the 'base' and climbed the tree, the branches covering her. Ginny made it back followed by Harry. They could see the boys walking around underneath them, but they couldn't see them. They began lobbing water bombs at them until they were screaming and running around trying to dodge them.
The parents were all taking photos. The Weasleys and Woods had put illusion charms on the wizarding camera's to make them look like muggle ones, so they would still produce moving photo's which they were thankful for during the water fight.
When they ran out of water bombs they continued with their water guns. They used the last of the ammo from the water bottles, climbed down the tree and continued on foot. They managed to get the boys in the pond which made Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Remus the winners.
They threw the water guns to the ground and did a victory dance whilst everyone laughed hysterically and plenty of photos were taken. The children high fived them and joined in the victory dance.
Half an hour later everyone was doing something different. But Hermione was lighting the candles and placing them on Harry's cake. It was a large square chocolate cake, with vanilla cream, marshmallows and popping candy as a filling. It was large enough to feed double the amount it was meant for. Hermione had decorated it in Gryffindor colours with malteasers around the edge of the cake board. "Happy 14th Birthday, Harry" was written in gold piping and had a lion in two of the corners and a stag in the other two.
"CAMP FIRE" she yelled and her family made her way over to her, and they grabbed the children on their way to her. When they gathered, Harry was pushed forward and he smiled widely. This was the first time he had ever spent his birthday with his friends, with his family.
They all sang happy birthday and he bent down to blow out the candles. When he did the flames reappeared. He looked confused and blew them out again, and the flames reappeared. He did this five times by which point people were laughing.
"Go on Harry -"
"- Give it some welly" the twins said.
"I'm trying" he huffed. At this point Hermione fell forward leaning against the table laughing hysterically.
"What did you do?" the twins said laughing.
"Sorry I couldn't resist Harry. I bought the pranking candles, the one's that never go out" she said and they all laughed.
Harry stared at her before laughing. She removed the candles from the cake and poured water over them. The cake was cut and handed out. They went back to having fun before they all packed away to leave. They made plans to meet up at the park in August and then they left back to Hermione's house, where they flooed to the Burrow.
The Burrow
They all sat in the living room and Harry was given his presents which he thanked everyone for. As they were all talking and laughing, Hermione walked over to Harry and sat down next to him.
"So how was your birthday?"
"Best birthday I've ever had. And it was all thanks to you" he said smiling at her.
"No problem Harry, you deserved today"
"Thank you"
"Harry we're family, I will do whatever I can to make sure you are happy" she said smiling at him. "I need to talk to you" she stood up and dragged him out of the room, up the stairs and into her and Ginny's room. They sat on her bed and faced each other.
She traced her finger over his scar.
"How is it?"
"The same as the last time I told you, why?"
"Well, because I've got this feeling something's going to happen and I haven't been sleeping either" she said and he looked at her.
"The same as me?"
"Yes, but I think I'm starting to remember some of my dream"
"What is it?"
"Well we're all celebrating and laughing but I can't remember enough of it to know why and then we're running and we get separated and someone is chasing after me. I'm hit by a spell and I fall to the ground. I turn around and I'm looking at something. That's all I can remember. I know you're going to say it's a dream but it doesn't feel like it. It feels real" she said and he took her hand and squeezed it comfortingly.
Monday 1st August 1994
The next morning they were all at breakfast when Percy stood to leave for work at the Ministry and an owl arrived.
"Careful with that Percy" George warned.
"Yeah, someone might've slipped dragon dung in it again, eh, Perce?" said Fred.
"That was a sample of fertiliser from Norway!" said Percy embarrassed as his face turned the same colour as his hair. "It was nothing personal!" he said and then he stormed out of the kitchen.
"It was" Fred whispered to Harry. "Because we sent it"
Harry burst out laughing as the twins left the table to carry on making products for the new shop they wanted to open.
Hermione came down the stairs and Harry looked at her.
"Okay?"
"The same. You?"
"The same" and they nodded.
Mrs Weasley has been watching the interaction closely, the two teenagers looked exhausted.
"You okay dears?" Mrs Weasley asked.
"Fine" they both said without missing a beat.
She nodded hesitantly and walked away from them. 'They're keeping something from us' she thought.
"You want to do some homework?" Hermione asked and Harry looked at her like she was an idiot. "If you get it done now, you have the rest of the summer to relax" she said and he reluctantly agreed.
"Let's go then"
