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Chapter Eleven

All Alone

Harry awoke late that morning. The sun was nearly above them, so he guessed that it was around noon. He stretched and began looking around. The sleeping bags appeared useless, since it was so warm outside. Both Ron and Ginny had kicked them off in their sleep.

The waves crashed against the shore weakly, and a soft breeze began to bend the leaves on the willow trees. The cabin looked uninhabited and silent. Harry got up off the ground and headed towards it.

As he was about to touch the door, he realized that there was a piece of paper taped to his shirt. He pulled it off with little effort and read.

Dear Harry,
Your godfather and I are not in the safe highland any longer. We've decided it was for the best if we left you alone to be with your friends. You will find everything you need in the cabin, if you want to get anywhere their is Floo Powder in my large Chinese flower pot.
Be careful for the magical creatures. All their food has been fed to them so you need not worry over their well-being. But they can become restless DO NOT LET THEM OUT OF THEIR CAGE!
If you run out of Floo Powder (for any particular reason), just push the button on the bottom of the settee, it'll refill my pot. Your birthday cake is in the refrigerator, eat it whenever you like. And if you must know, I got you a present. It's underneath of silverware in the drawer next to the sink.

Harry looked over at the drawer and continued to read;

We will meet again, in less time then you think. If you want to invite your friend Hermione Granger feel free (I heard about her from Ginny). But she'll have to use the Floo Powder and say the password; tell her in advance that the password is 'Prongs'.

He paused again and reread the word 'Prongs' it was his father's nickname back at Hogwarts.

You might have to send her some Floo Powder too. There are small boxes in the closet in the bedroom.
If you have any questions, just send your owl. She knows where to find me. -Yorkshire and Sirius

Harry was still pondering the thought of his fathers name, but ignored it temporarily, and looked inside the silverware drawer. True enough, once he lifted the spoons and forks up, there was a handle to a door that could be pulled open.

There was an elegant box inside, wrapped in gold paper. There was a small card on top of a large emerald green shimmering bow. He tore the paper off quickly to reveal a message like the others he'd received.

You'll have to find the next clue to get closer to your present;

Think of a place where people could hide,
where a first touchdown meant nothing but a surprise.

Harry thought it over quickly and read it again, he recognized 'touchdown' was where one of them was 'touched down', not a rugby touchdown.

"Well, Ron was on the carpet, Ginny was on the counter, and I was in there," Harry repeated, thinking aloud. Nothing but surprise could mean his present, and someone could hide underneath a bed.

He walked into the bedroom, and pulled up the blankets. Sure enough, there was another identical package. He ripped off the paper and again there was a little card with another clue on it.

These clues made Harry go to the oddest places one would think to find a package, one was on top of the ceiling fan, and another underneath the refrigerator, but when he was getting closer the clues grew harder until finally he reached the last poem.

This will be the last of my messages your present will appear before you once you can solve it.

If I had known what trouble you were bearing;
What griefs were in the silence of your face;
I would have been more gentle, and more caring,
And tried to give you gladness for a space.
I would have brought you warmth into the place
If I had known.

Just answer this and your present will appear.

Harry thought about the poem and read it over, he didn't know who had hurt him at one time, or who'd hurt him and would feel sorry for it.

A loud yawn came from behind Harry, and he turned quickly to see Ron coming through the sliding glass door.

"Hey Harry," Ron said, stretching, "Did York make breakfast?"

"She's not here anymore," Harry said, reading the poem again.

"She's not here?" Ron asked, trying to confirm what he'd heard.
Harry handed him the letter, and Ron read it with another yawn, "So we're all alone, then?" Ron asked, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

"Uh huh," Harry nodded quietly, still staring down at the card, "Do you understand this?"

Ron read the poem and his eyes looked slightly confused, "Well, someone that wants to care about you... maybe Ginny sent it?" Ron said with a chuckle.

Harry blushed. He hadn't thought about Ginny, but he knew York sent it, but unsure if he should tell Ron.

"Um.... I don't think it was her," Harry said, as Ron gave him the card back. There was a long pause, "York sent it to me."

Ron looked irritated, "Really? She did?"

"Yeah. I just have to solve it and I'll get my birthday present," Harry explained.

"Oh yeah, your birthday!" Ron said, "It's this Monday isn't it?"

"Yeah, I think so," Harry said. He hadn't been counting down to his birthday really, "There's a cake in the fridge."

Ron headed over towards the fridge, yanked to door open, and stood there rather shocked. Harry looked through it over his shoulder and was too rather impressed.

There were three cakes inside the refrigerator (which was charmed to magically expand). One with Harry's head on it, one with Ron's, and one with Ginny's. Each little frosting picture moved, and shouted Happy Birthday!

There was a small note taped onto the shelf in the fridge;

I've been making cakes all my life, this is nothing. - Yorkshire

"You hungry?" Ron asked reaching for his cake.

"Let's eat!" Harry and Ron took their cakes out of the fridge and proceeded to eat them with their hands.