Chapter Eight: Birthday Boy

It was well past noon when Harry decided to drag himself out of bed. He blearily opened his eyes, glancing tiredly around his empty dormitory. Unlike most mornings, today Harry had allowed himself to sleep in a bit longer than usual. A little birthday gift to himself.

Though Harry had experienced many a significant birthday, since his eleventh, he hoped that this one may be more relaxed.

On his eleventh birthday he'd been told he was a wizard, and whisked away to a world where he'd fight monsters and evil lords. On his twelfth, he'd had a house elf break into his bedroom, and cover his Uncle's business partners in desserts, which resulted in him being locked away like a prisoner. And last year, he'd blown up his Aunt Marge to the size of a compact car, and she'd blown away into the night sky. Though, Harry would argue she deserved it.

Harry, adorned only in blue and white striped boxers and his round wire frame glasses, lazily swiped up his wand, his most recent letter from Hermione, a quill, yawned, and made to make his way down to the Gryffindor common room.

Harry and Hermione had been corresponding much more frequently than they had any prior summer. Often times they'd send and receive letters multiple times a week. Hermione was Harry's one consistent escape from the stresses of summer classes, and the visions which so often plagued him. Harry wasn't sure why, but every time Hedwig would arrive with a new letter, Harry would feel a nervous, excited swell in his chest, before digging into it.

Harry worried idly about how hard Hedwig had been working, but she always seemed happy to deliver. He reflected on the time he had tried to use a school owl and she had nipped at his ear angrily, as if in protest. Harry smiled as he closed the creaky door to the boys dormitory and took to the steps. Under normal circumstances, he'd never walk around in such a state of undress, but since he'd been staying at Hogwarts this summer, the only person he'd seen in Gryffindor tower was Nearly Headless Nick. Once.

Maybe if Harry hadn't been so tired, he would have heard them. Maybe, had he not just spent a month with Hogwarts as his own private housing, he'd be more prepared for what was to come. He made his way down the last few steps of the winding staircase, into the Gryffindor common room, his feet cool to touch the stone steps. He stepped off of the staircase, yawning-

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Harry recoiled in shock, "Agh!" he exclaimed, slipping on the final step and reeling back. Harry landed hard and awkwardly, his bottom striking the stone steps, and he yelped in pain.

Harry looked up, toward the sounds of bubbling laughter. There were several people in the common room, all sporting multi-colored party hats.

From left to right, Harry saw Mrs. Weasley, wearing a look of worry on her face (as she often did). Next to her, Ginny was staring at Harry wide eyed, and her cheeks were very red. Next to Ginny, Fred, George and Ron were howling with laughter, Fred gripping his stomach and kneeling over. George was already on the ground. And finally, Harry saw Hermione Granger.

Harry didn't expect her to be laughing, of course, but he didn't expect the look he got back in return either. She first looked to a point beside Harry, and when Harry traced her eye-line, he looked down to see her most recent letter, and a quill firmly held in his hand. Hermione then looked at his face, bit the inside of her cheek, smiled bashfully, and turned away. Harry felt a blush rise up his neck and land in his cheeks.

"Uh," Harry said, "I'll be right back!" And Harry frantically scrambled back up the steps to the boys dormitory, hastily bounding up the stairs.

It took a moment and a little bit of scolding from Mrs. Weasley for the boys to stop their laughter. Ron was dabbling at the corners of his eyes with his maroon Weasley sweater.

"Where's Creevey when you need him?" Ron asked after a deep, satisfied sigh.

Harry, now perfectly and completely dressed, stored his letter from Hermione in a textbook in his trunk, and made his way down to the common room once more. Harry paused on the last few stone stairs, and saw Hermione and Ginny sitting on the couch, while Ron was sinking into his favorite arm chair. He didn't see Fred and George however-

"SURPRISE!" They both yelled, arms raised, jumping out from behind the wall at the end of the stairway. They both had matching looks of great anticipation on their faces. Harry held up his hands in faux shock, "Ah," he expressed lamely. Fred and George looked disappointed.

"Aw, what did I tell you Freddie, once in a lifetime." George said emotionally. He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms and shaking his head slowly. Fred mirrored his stance on the other side of the stairwell. Harry ignored them and did a quick inventory on the the common room; Mrs. Weasley was nowhere in sight, but Ron, Hermione and Ginny seemed to have noticed him.

"Harry!" Ron called happily, lifting himself from his chair. Ron had always been tall and gangly, but, Harry noticed, he seemed to have sprouted up even further this year. Harry wondered briefly if he'd gotten any taller.

"Harry, you're not gonna believe the present we got you!" Ron claimed excitedly. Ginny made kind of a harsh shushing sound.

"Oh yeah?" Harry pried, "What'd ya get me? Dragon egg? Three headed dog?" He'd been hanging out with Hagrid too much.

"Not likely. No, dad got us tickets to- Ow!" Ginny brought her hand across the back of Ron's head suddenly. "Bloody hell Ginny! What was that for?" Ron put his hand in his hair and rubbed his head, where Ginny's tiny fist had struck him.

"It's supposed to be a surprise, you idiot!" Ginny reprimanded. Ron scowled angrily at his sister. Harry briefly reflected on Madam Pomfrey's assessment of the Weasley's. Something something the good sort something something loud and disruptive. Sounded about right to Harry.

"Well someone has to tell him! Might as well be me, considering I'm his best friend." Ron argued.

"Mum said to wait!" Ginny claimed, standing her ground. Harry, unsurprised by his birthday's strange turn of events, yawned once again.

"What exactly are you doing here again Ginny? Harry doesn't even-"

Harry stopped paying attention to their bickering. His eyes drifted from the two siblings arguing, and landed on Hermione. She was still watching Ron and Ginny with mild interest. Harry noted the way her pink lips were idly parted, as she watched the two siblings. Only now did Harry consider that not only he and Ron were growing, but Hermione had as well.

Hermione finally noticed Harry's stare. Hermione turned, and smiled widely up at Harry. Her curly, bushy brown hair seemed to frame her face, and the sunlight glimmered a bit on her fair pale skin. His heart pounded a little bit harder in his chest, which he thought was supremely odd, it was just Hermione after all.

Harry blushed when he realized that he thought she looked quite cute, smiling at him so earnestly, before swiftly banishing the thought from his brain as if wary of the nonexistent threat she might be a legilimens. Harry smiled back oddly at Hermione, his face muscles didn't seem to be working at full capacity. All of a sudden there was a-

*BANG*

Ginny had swung up her wand, and in a flash hit Ron with a bat-bogey hex, who recoiled back over the arm of the chair and crashed unceremoniously to the floor below. George frowned appraisingly and Fred said, "Nice shot, Gin." As Ginny huffed, and pocketed her wand.

"Ginny!" Hermione reprimanded, and Harry reached hand forward in the space between them. "Mate, you alright?" Harry asked. Ron stood up, and tried to hold his nose shut with both hands, making small murmuring sounds of displeasure.

His efforts proved fruitless, and dozens of small, booger bodied entities slipped between his fingers and began diving from all directions at his head. Ron made a beastly yell, and barreled through the common room toward the portrait hole. Harry had to step back quickly to dodge him.

"Ron?" Ginny called after him, "Ron!"

"Ugh, he's so dramatic!" Ginny huffed angrily, following her brother out of the portrait hole. Fred and George both seemed to watch with passive interest.

"Where is he running to? Don't one of you two know the counter curse?" Harry asked, turning to the twins. Fred shrugged.

"Kinda have to, living with Ginny." Fred replied.

"Then why didn't he just-"

"Ronniekins doesn't always think best when under pressure." George claimed. Harry suppressed a scoff, remembering a particular giant chess board and heaping loads of pressure.

"Probably running off to Madam Pomfrey as we speak." George told Harry nonchalantly.

"Or he's not running to Madam Pomfrey at all." Hermione spoke up from her seat on the couch, finally.

"And where, pray tell, would he be going otherwise?" George inquired.

"Your mother, perhaps?" Hermione said obviously. Fred and George's faces both slowly morphed into one of horror as realization dawned upon them. The twins shared one of their signature glances, and sprang into action.

"Sorry Harry, gotta dash-" Fred began.

"Gotta go save our lives-" George added.

"And Ron's-" Fred suggested.

"And Ginny's." George finished, he patted Harry on the back. "Surely you of all people understand." Hermione shook her head. "See you in a bit Harry!"

"Happy Birthday!" They said in unison, making their way from the common room. For the first few steps they walked swiftly, but by the time they made it out of the portrait hole they were full on sprinting.

It swung shut loudly behind them. And when Fred and George left, it was just Harry and Hermione remaining in the empty Gryffindor common room. Harry, dug his hands in his pockets. Hermione was smiling at him.

"Happy birthday Harry." Hermione said, patting the couch next to her. Harry nodded, but sat at the opposite end of the couch.

"Uh, thanks" Harry said, his eyes settling on Hermione. He picked at the inside of his pockets while he looked for something to say. "Nice hat." Harry said with a smile. He found it rather pleasing how the party hat she was wearing seemed to sit unbothered atop her bushy brown hair. Hermione pointed her eyes upward, though she couldn't see past her brown locks, she smiled.

"Thanks," said Hermione, "I suppose I was a tad jealous about how you've been spending your summer, so I decided to reinvent myself a bit too." She said with a flourish of her hands, indicating the hat. "Ya know, change things up a little." He quirked his eyebrows at her remark.

"I'm hardly reinventing myself." Harry responded.

"Oh, hardly." Hermione said, leaning forward. Harry blinked and gave her an odd sort of look. She clicked her tongue.

"Harry you spent your entire summer studying; You! Not to mention we've written more letters in a month than we ever did over the last two summers combined," Harry tried his best to look nonchalant, as if he hadn't just written to her a few days ago about missing her desperately, "And you've been acting..." Hermione trailed off.

"Acting what?" Harry asked.

"Well you're sort of-" Hermione opened her mouth to speak, and held it that way, "More... animated? No no no, it's not bad!" She amended as Harry shook his head in confusion. "You're just... hm." Her eyebrows knit together. "I don't know." Hermione smiled at him, and looked down at her hands, "It's nice though."

Harry nodded slowly, still not understanding what she meant. "Okay, cool, thanks," said Harry after a moment, "Right back at ya."

"Shut up." Hermione said playfully, throwing a pillow at him. It was a terrible throw. He made no attempt to block it, as it soared a good foot over his head. He craned his neck and watched it fly through the air, and plop softly onto the floor. He laughed and turned to Hermione, who had her bottom lip curled in between her teeth. "Not a word." She said to him. Harry's face settled on a smirk.

"Here I'll show you how it's done," Harry flourished his wand, turning and pointing at the pillow, "Accio!" Harry cast.

The pillow flew at Harry, who ducked low under the arm of the couch. The pillow soared past the space he had just inhabited, and smacked Hermione in her shocked and waiting face. Her party hat had gone crooked on her head. Harry laughed at her again.

"Oh yes, ha ha, very funny." Hermione said, trying to sneakily pick up the pillow. "But really, we should be- HA!" She swung her arm up, and her aim was true, the pillow soared toward Harry who-

"Depulso!" Harry banished the pillow back at Hermione. This time it hit her heavily in the chest, and she let out an "Oogh!" Harry laughed again, harder this time.

"Zero for two Hermione, rough stuff."

"That's hardly fair!" She expressed, the pillow in her lap. "We're not even meant to cover summoning and banishing until next term! Stop laughing!" But Harry didn't stop, and Hermione couldn't keep the smile off of her face either. Harry deposited his wand back into his pocket.

The laughter subsided, and they sat in comfortable silence for awhile. Harry leaned his head against the couch, and Hermione mirrored his action. They sat, and watched each other peacefully. The peace was broken by the portrait hole swinging open once again.

"Harry dear!" Mrs. Weasley called to him. Harry screwed up his mouth, trying to wipe the silly smile, and glanced toward her. Harry hopped up from the couch quickly, as if caught doing something he shouldn't.

"Hi Mrs. Weasley." Harry replied politely. She crossed the common room and engulfed him with a hug. It was smothering. She rocked him back and forth on his feet gently.

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart." Mrs. Weasley said upon releasing him, staring down at him with that look so filled with appreciation. It reminded Harry of the way Sirius had looked at him.

"Thanks." Harry said quickly, "And thank you for bringing everyone, I was..." Harry thought about how he had reacted to the surprise, falling down the stairs in his underwear, "Not expecting you guys."

"Oh, of course dear. No problem at all." Molly said, idly fixing a few stray strands of his hair in a motherly sort of way. "You shouldn't have to be alone on a day like today. Which begs the question," Molly Weasley glanced around, "Where exactly are my children?" Hermione perked up.

"Oh they wanted to go look for you!" Hermione offered, "Ron said he couldn't wait to give Harry his present, but wanted to check with you first." Hermione lied cleverly.

As if on queue the portrait hole swung open one final time. Ron was at the front, being led by Fred's hands on his shoulders. Ginny was behind Ron, looking bothered, and George took up the rear. Ron's eyes went wide.

"Mum! We were just-"

"Looking for me?" She filled in. Ron shared a look with Fred over his shoulder. "Really Ron, be a little patient, we've all day to give Harry his present."

Ginny let out a triumphant, "Hmph."

Harry had hoped for a calm birthday, but this was so much better.

The staff table was alight with conversation for his birthday dinner. Professor Lupin, Professor McGonogall, Professor Flitwick, and Mrs. Weasley all talked animatedly about her children and their students and Harry's progress, to which she said she was, "So proud."

Professor Dumbledore seemed to love the company, and he engaged Fred and George in a rather fun conversation about the logistics of a joke shop, and several avenues of research they could pursue. Mrs. Weasley looked like she wanted to interrupt, but couldn't bring herself to reprimand Dumbledore.

Hagrid joked and laughed happily, though the large man looked extremely foolish, his giant head adorned with the tiniest gold party hat, but he seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

Harry sat in between Hermione and Ron, across from Hagrid and Professor Babbling, and Harry was being very careful to not let his leg brush up against Hermione's. Every time it would, he'd jerk it back nervously and suddenly. Aside from this little stressor, however, the dinner was marvelous by everyone's standards. Though, Hermione thought Harry's repertoire with Professor Babbling was particularly unsettling.

"Sorry Professor, how exactly do I draw the rune of silencing again? I was hoping to trace a few around the rim of your hat and have a proper meal for once." Harry said to her. Hermione's mouth fell open at the blatant disrespect, and Ron nearly choked on his food.

"Oh please, I've seen you with a quill. This boy can hardly handle the English alphabet, let alone the runic one. Isn't that right Mr. Patter?" Babbling replied coyly, popping a small potato into her mouth. Ron snorted.

"Okay! I misspell a name one time-"

"Your own name, mind you."

The dinner went on like that for a long while, with people laughing and chatting. Snape was nowhere to be found, which Harry thought was a great plus. Professor McGonogall was the first one to rise from the table.

"It was a pleasure seeing you all, but I've got work to attend to. Happy Birthday Mr. Potter." After she left, it was then Flitwick, "See you on Wednesday Mr. Potter! The animation charm!"

And Dumbledore, "Well Harry, thank you for inspiring all this brilliant company. Unfortunately, I've got some business with the Bulgarian minister for magic. Have a very pleasant rest of your evening."

People continued to shuffle out, until eventually it was just the Weasleys, Hermione, Professor Babbling, and Professor Lupin. They had started the dinner relatively early, and the sun still shone through the windows of the great hall, orange and burning.

"Mum," Ron said across the table. Mrs. Weasley looked up from her conversation with Professor Lupin.

"Yes dear?"

"Could we give Harry his present now?" Ron asked somewhat childishly.

"Oh, right, right, of course we can dear." Mrs. Weasley dug around in her bag for a moment. She pulled out two small envelopes. She handed one to Harry, and to Harry's surprise, one to Hermione. Hermione looked back and forth between the letter, Harry and Mrs. Weasley.

"Open it!" Ron urged them. They looked at each other one last time, before peeling open their letters. Harry's eyes widened. Inside the small envelope was a ticket to the 422nd Quidditch World Cup. Tiny figures on broomsticks, adorned in red and green, zoomed across the ticket.

Harry glanced to his right, and Hermione was holding an identical ticket. She looked equally surprised. The Weasleys watched his reaction with great interest.

"Top box too." Ginny said, and Harry looked up to meet her gaze. She was playing with her hair awkwardly. "Dad did some favors for some bloke at the Ministry." Ginny explained, looking down at her plate.

"Brilliant." Harry said to her.

Harry looked back down to his ticket, and then to Ron, who seemed disappointed by the lack of reaction.

"I mean, it's no firebolt or anything." Ron said sheepishly, "But we can all- woah!"

Harry threw his left arm around Ron's shoulder, pulling him roughly into a one armed hug. Harry laughed, and ruffled Ron's hair affectionately, who fought to get out, "Hey, hey!"

"You're the best mate anyone could ask for." Harry said, releasing him. Ron blushed, and stumbled over his response that sounded something like, "Don't mention it."

Harry turned to Mrs. Weasley. Her and Lupin were looking down the table with soft expressions, and Molly had tears in her eyes.

"And you're the best 'best mate's Mum' I could ask for." He said to her. Tears were streaming down her face now. "Thanks Mrs. Weasley."

"Thank you to all of you." Harry expressed, glancing to each of them in turn. "This is the best birthday I've ever had. Thank you guys." Harry said to all of them. It was silent for a moment; Nobody was quite used to how open Harry was being.

"Well it's not over yet." Professor Babbling said into the silence. Harry raised an eyebrow. "Well I didn't get an invitation to the World Cup, and I want to see some quidditch." She said simply. Harry perked up. "There's still an hour or two daylight left, and a criminally underused quidditch pitch."

"Professor you're brilliant!" Harry exclaimed, to which Professor Babbling replied smugly, "Of course."

They played a rather simplified version of Quidditch. Three on three, with two chasers and a keeper. The first team to score one hundred points won.

Since the Weasley's didn't have the foresight to bring their own brooms, most of them were on some of the shoddy old school brooms. Aside from Ron, who Harry insisted ride his firebolt.

"Blimey, is it my birthday?" Ron asked him, wide eyed.

They hit a bit of a snag, when they realized that they didn't have enough players for even teams. Ron suggested they leave Ginny out, but Harry refused. They contemplated this for just a moment, before Professor Babbling raised a suggestion.

"I could play." The witch said to Harry.

"You? You're gonna play Quidditch, Professor? With us?" Harry asked, pointing from himself to his friends.

"Course' I am." Professor Babbling replied. And the witch was an absolute demon on a broom.

The teams were divided like so; Fred, Harry and Ginny against Ron, George, and Professor Babbling. Fred and Ron played keeper, and the others filled the role of chaser respectively. Professor Lupin, with Hermione and Mrs. Weasley at his side, held the quaffle in wait.

"Alright, three, two, one!"

He threw the quaffle into the air, and in an instant the sky was a blur of red hair, and Molly Weasley's knit sweaters.

Ginny got first possession, she did quite a spectacular roll to dodge George, who tried to snag the quaffle. Harry flew with her, side by side.

Professor Babbling dove at them from a slanted angle above, nearly knocking into Ginny. Clearly, the witch had no qualms about almost knocking a child off her broom.

"Ginny!" Harry called. She made a desperate pass, that rolled over the fingertips of Professor Babbling. Harry snatched the quaffle with both hands, hugging it close, and leaned tight against his broom handle. He picked up speed, urging his broom to go faster. In his peripheral, he could see red hair. He wasn't sure if it was Ginny, or George. Harry raised the quaffle, took aim, and belted the ball as hard as he could toward the leftmost goalpost. It was going to go in!

Ron flew in through the goalpost, seemingly out of nowhere. He tugged hard on the Firebolt's handle, urging to a stop, as he kicked the quaffle with the base of his foot. It went sailing back into the sky- George caught it, and the assault switched sides. Harry swerved his broom to contest.

Harry hadn't ever played Quidditch like this, with no stakes, just a few of his friends indulging in a pastime they all loved. If Babbling had surprised Harry with her skill on a broom, as had Ginny. The girl was completely coordinated, seeming to read Harry's very mind whenever he approached a play. Whenever Harry found himself in a tight spot, Ginny just seemed to be in the proper position to assist him.

The final goal was decided when Babbling lined up a shot on Fred, who was waiting in anticipation at the middle goal post, hovering. She raised her arm, quaffle held high, prepped for a direct shot, when she just dropped it.

Underneath her, George came flying by as fast as the school broom would allow, sneakily and swiftly grabbing the quaffle and sailing a shot through the rightmost post. The ding the ball made against the metal rang loudly. The final score was 100-80.

Harry, hovered for a moment, as the three winners whooped and hollered, flying in a small circle around their hoops. Harry distinctly heard Professor Babbling shout, "In your face Potter! Woohoo!"

Losing had never felt so fantastic. Harry gripped his broom, and panted tiredly. Slowly descending. He noticed, in the stands, Hermione speaking with Professor Lupin, and stopped to observe. She seemed overly pleased, hugging Lupin around his middle, before quickly releasing him. Lupin pointed toward the field, seeming to indicate the game was over.

They all touched down in a small group, winded and satisfied as the last bits of daylight drifted behind the ramparts of Hogwarts castle.

They were gathered in McGonogalls office, employing the use of her fireplace.

"Brilliant birthday Harry!" Fred said happily, taking a small handful of floo powder. "Seeya in a few weeks!" And with a roar of green flame, he departed for the Burrow.

"Yeah, really excellent!" George said, "You should stay at Hogwarts every summer!" Harry very much liked this idea. "Seeya Birthday Boy!" And the green flames flourished.

"Thanks for playing with me Harry… it was really fun." Ginny said, playing with her hands, not meeting his eyes.

"Course, Ginny. You're wicked on a broom! Maybe you'll make the team next term?" Harry said. She blushed very much at that.

"Bye! Happy Birthday!" The fireplace belched a fresh amount of green.

Mrs. Weasley was the next to go. She hugged Harry once more, very tight.

"Did you have a good day, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked, her hands still on his shoulders. Harry smiled wide.

"The best." He said truthfully.

"I'm happy to hear it."

She stepped up to the fireplace, a handful of floo powder in her small pudgy hand.

"Now wrap it up quick you three, it's rather late and we still have to get Hermione home." Mrs. Weasley smiled serenely, "Happy Birthday dear."

And she left for home.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stood in McGonogall's office. Harry and Ron shared a short hug with a pat on the back.

"See you in a few weeks mate, and thanks again for letting me ride the firebolt!" Ron expressed excitedly.

"Don't mention it." Harry said with a wink. Ron smiled, and took a handful of floo powder.

"Happy Birthday Harry!"

Harry and Hermione were alone.

Harry shuffled his feet, waiting for her goodbye, and was surprised when she produced a muggle style manilla envelope. She held it out for him.

"What's this?" He asked, taking it from her hands gently.

"Your birthday present!" Hermione explained, "But don't open it until I'm gone!" She said quickly, as Harry went to tear the seal. "Trust me, you'll understand."

Harry nodded at her. They stood there, staring at each other in the office, which was mostly dark aside from the presence of a few small, ever lit candles. He wasn't sure what to say, and was even more unsure when Hermione went to move.

He expected one of her hugs, but was utterly shocked when she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Harry's cheeks burned with his blush.

"Happy Birthday, Harry…" Hermione said to him quietly. Harry didn't say anything, a bit stunned. He was still standing there, looking a bit stupid, as she stepped away from him and toward the fireplace. Hermione looked back at him over her shoulder, and smiled mischeavously.

"Seeya!"

The green fires roared a final time, and Harry stood there, holding his present, his cheek still burning with the memory of her lips.

What a fantastic birthday.

A/N: Right! Bada bing bada boom, finally an update. Sorry this one took so long, classes are hell right now. I slept through a test yesterday and I genuinely almost died of panic thinking I was gonna fail the class. We're good tho ;) she let me take it late

First things first, of course it's Harry/Hermione. Why wouldn't it be? I have good taste, guys. I hope I didn't push the romance too hard, and I definitely won't make it move super fast, I think there's a ton of stuff to cover and that's just something that will progress as the other stuff happens

There was this one review I wanted to address sorta briefly, a guest mentioned other stories where Harry had his scar kissed. I didn't wanna make it seem like nobody had ever wrote about it! I just haven't personally read any fics like that, and really wanted to play with the idea!

And finally, really honestly thanks for reading and especially thanks for reviewing. They just make me want to write more and more. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I'll try to get the next one out soon; I'm still trying to work out some plot details in my head. I have a lot of plans for later on, but getting there is proving tough for my tiny walnut brain.

Ty again for reading :))) love you dudes

p.s. was thinking about making a lil discord server, share fics and talk about stuff, if anyone would be interested