Chapter 35

Sunday, July 26, 1992- The Burrow, Ottery St Catchpole, Devon, England

Molly Weasley insisted on throwing Harry a birthday party at the Burrow. She cooked all the food, made sure that it was on a day that all of Harry's closest friends could attend, and got the adult children (Arthur and Sirius) to set up all the furniture and table settings outside where the gnomes wouldn't bother them. Patricia, Harry, and the Weasley children who still lived at home hid themselves upstairs so that they wouldn't be forced into manic preparations.

Hermione arrived at the Burrow exactly on time for the party, despite the fact that the Muggle-Repelling and Notice-Me-Not charms that blanketed the area had her dad turning the car around and trying to drive away every few minutes. She would have been the only other guest if Patricia and Harry hadn't gotten their hands on the guest list. Molly hadn't thought to invite the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team or Neville Longbottom, who Harry had started befriending at the end of the last school year and would have been writing to all summer if something hadn't gone wrong with his mail. Patricia also added Lee as well as Cedric Diggory, who she remembered lived nearby, and Ginny's friend Luna Lovegood. It wasn't like everyone would be able to come so may as well invite as many as could be argued for. It was Harry's first birthday party. That was an excuse to go overboard. (And the invitation to Sir Nicholas as the Gryffindor ghost was definitely going overboard, especially since he came and brought the Fat Friar and his fiddle with him.)

The next people to arrive were Cedric Diggory and Luna Lovegood. Lovegood came skipping through the garden gate, barefoot and wearing a bright yellow dress that nearly matched the brightness of her smile. Diggory was a few steps behind her carrying both of their gifts for Harry.

Lovegood skipped right up to Harry and gave him a hug around his waist. "Happy birthday, Harry!"

"Er, thanks," Harry said, looking down at the wreath of daisies the girl had woven into her long blonde hair.

Lovegood danced away to greet Ginny and Diggory took her place, though he shook hands with Harry rather than giving him a hug.

"Happy birthday, Harry," Diggory said. "Nice job in that last game against Ravenclaw, by the way. That dive you did to catch the Snitch was amazing."

"Thanks," Harry said with a smile. "Uh...Is your arm feeling better?"

Diggory had broken his arm in the final Hufflepuff-Slytherin game to decide third place. Slytherin won.

Diggory smiled and shrugged. "Well, you know, Madam Pomfrey had it fixed before I even knew it was broken." He lifted up the gifts he was carrying. "Where should I put these?"

"I'll take them." Patricia swooped in and he handed her the gifts. "And Cho was right behind him. She would have caught the Snitch if it hadn't changed direction."

The two boys grinned at each other as she walked away.

Alicia and Angelina were the only other people who were able to come. Shortly after they arrived, Molly sat all of them down at the tables in the garden and fed them more food than was probably good for them. She didn't have to try very hard though; her cooking was so good that everyone took second helpings without prompting.

After lunch, Patricia and the boys started a pick-up Quidditch game while Luna and Hermione dragged Ginny over to talk to the two ghosts. Alicia and Angelina got cornered by Percy Weasley to talk about O.W.L.s. The adults made themselves scarce.

After about an hour, Molly brought out the cake. It was shaped and decorated like a Snitch with golden wings made of spun sugar.

"That's amazing, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, his eyes wide.

Molly placed the cake in front of him with a smile and lit the candles with her wand. "Well, I wanted you to have something special for your first birthday party, dear."

The Fat Friar began playing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" on his fiddle and everyone else sang along cheerfully. Harry blushed at all the attention.

"Make a wish, ickle Harrykins!" Fred and George chimed from across the table. Harry grinned and blew the candles out.

"What did you wish for?" Ron asked.

"What do I need to wish for?" Harry replied. He looked down the table to where Patricia and Cedric were arguing amicably about something that had happened during the Quidditch game, and then across to Sirius and Remus trying not to get suckered into the twins' scheme to set off fireworks at the end of the party (though Sirius wasn't trying very hard). "I've got everything I could ever want right here."

Ron groaned at his friend's sappiness and Sirius shot him a smile. Harry smiled back.

The party ended without a fireworks display, much to Fred and George's disappointment. As Harry and Patricia were saying goodbye to Cedric (which was taking quite a while since Patricia and Cedric were having another Quidditch-related argument) they were interrupted by Patricia doubling over in a coughing fit. When she straightened up her face was pale and her eyes were briefly unfocused before locking on to Cedric's face.

Hisses filled the air. Every current Hogwarts student knew what that signaled.

(When Harry listened closely to them he realized that they were saying "I'm sorry.")

Patricia opened her mouth and seemed to choke. She twisted her head this way and that, and turned even paler before hundreds of women finally spoke through her.

"If you enter the maze you will die."

While everyone was marveling at the most unambiguous prophecy they had ever heard and probably would ever hear, Patricia didn't faint (for once) but entered into another coughing fit. When this one was over she touched her fingers to her lips and brought them away wet with blood.

"Oh dear," Lovegood said. "I don't think that's right."

Patricia wished she had fainted.

Letter from Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore to Nicolas Flamel; dated Tuesday, July 28, 1992

Dear Nick,

The books that you suggested have been of great help in researching the Grave Problem. I believe that I may have found a partial solution in section three of the first volume of the Du Lac manuscripts. As I am sure you will wish to confirm this with your own volumes, I plan to begin the process of locating the grave of Tom Riddle's father. I do not expect this to take too long a time as I have found the name of his mother and accessed records of where she once lived. The Gaunt family home was close to a Muggle village where I believe the father's remains will be found.

If the theoretical ingredients presented in the Du Lac manuscript are, by your judgment, correct, countering their use will be of vital importance. I have a few ideas for how to accomplish that... (The letter continues for two feet of parchment)

With much thanks,

Albus

P.S. This year's Defense teacher is promising to be nearly as bad as the one that replaced 'Professor Darrow', perhaps worst. Should you have any suggestions for his replacement come the end of the year, they would be greatly appreciated. I believe we have reached the very bottom of the barrel for possible Defense teachers in England.