A/N: Thanks for the reviews

A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Yay – Hermione finally comes into the story…and more Sirius (I have big plans for him…hehhehehe). Read and review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing…well maybe Veronica…but I think she should be able to own herself…

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Harry was sincerely flattered that the Weasleys had decided to throw him a surprise birthday party. The Dursleys hardly ever acknowledged Harry's birthday at all, let alone make a big fuss about it – so this was actually the first time he had ever had a party. He was amazed at all the people who had shown up. His school roommates Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnagan were there, along with Neville Longbottom, who grinned back at him with his usual sheepish look. Parvati and Padma Patil stood in the corner along with Lavender Brown. His entire Quidditch team was there - even Oliver Wood, who had graduated two years before and was a now a professional backup player for England. He noted that Fred Weasley was standing rather close to Angelina Johnson. George Weasley was standing next to the table with Lee Jordan, who still wore his long dredlocks…actually Harry concluded, practically all of the Gryffindor House seemed to be present. Even Charlie and Bill Weasley had made an appearance, back from dragon hunting in Romania and the Gringotts bank in Egypt.

 "Thank you," Harry managed to say getting his voice back. He turned to give Veronica an accusing glance. "You knew about this the whole time, didn't you?" She nodded grinning widely.

"Honestly, Harry," Harry turned around at the familiar voice. It was his good friend Hermione. She still had the same full head of bushy brown hair, but as it was summer, she was dressed in jeans and a tank top. Her hands were placed defiantly on her hips. "You must be blind! When we were all arriving, I swear you flew over us on your broom about ten times! We were sure you would notice."

"Yeah well, he was probably too…occupied…to notice anything…" Ron's voice was cut short as Harry punched him hard in the arm.

"What are we waiting for?" George Weasley bellowed. "Let's dig in!"

This was definitely the best meal Harry had ever had in honor of his birthday. Molly Weasley had obviously been very busy in the kitchen for hours. There were fries, and hamburgers, roast chicken, steak, potato salad, strawberries, cantaloupe, and some of Mrs. Weasley's prized fruit salad. Everyone stuffed himself or herself, sitting at the table or standing on the patio, and chatting merrily. Then it came time for Harry to blow out the candles. Everyone gathered around the table, with Harry sitting at the head.

"Make a wish!" Mrs. Weasley said. Harry closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Then he blew all fifteen candles out. Everyone cheered.

"We were going to dunk your head in the cake," Fred laughed, teasingly.

"But Mum would've killed us." George finished.

The cake sliced up and served, it was now time for Harry to open his presents. Ron handed him a rather large and misshapen package.

"From Hagrid," he explained. Hagrid's large presence was missed at the party; he was still on the mission to the giant country that Dumbledore had sent him on in June. Harry looked skeptically at the present, remembering the Care for Magical Creatures book Hagrid had sent two summers ago. He opened it carefully.

It actually turned out to be an object that reminded Harry a lot of a muggle snow globe. He peered inside of the glass. It showed a landscape of mountains and forests. As it was magical, Harry could see the trees rustling around, and animals scurrying around on the ground. He thought he could see a tongue of orange flame as it emerged from one of the caves in the mountains. He turned it upside down. He heard the thunder and lightening rumble from within, and then saw clouds gather in the sky inside. Soon a storm was brewing, which eventually turned to a snowstorm. Fluffy snowflakes fell from above until all was covered with white frost. He picked up the note that went along with it.

Harry,
Hope everything finds you well on your birthday. Madame Maxime and me are having a good time up here in Giant country…it's a beautiful land isn't it? The mountains have all sorts of interesting creatures in them, and a lot of caves that you can get lost in. Hope you like what I sent you. We have had little luck getting in touch with many of the local inhabitants yet – but hopefully that will change before I see you next. Happy Birthday!
-Hagrid

Smiling, Harry continued to open the rest of his presents. Most of them had to do with Quidditch, although Fred and George gave him a huge bin of their trademark gag jokes, and Hermione gave him a book about Owl Care. With a pointed look at Hermione, Ron told Harry to open his present. It was a humongous poster of the victorious Irish Quidditch team, as they stood on the podium at the World Cup last summer. Hermione flushed at the obvious reference to Victor Krum's defeat.

"Oh, that's mature, Ron," she said rolling her eyes.

"What?" Ron snapped back, as if the poster had no deeper meaning. Hermione just shook her head.

Harry ripped the paper off of his last present, a set of Quidditch playing cards from Neville. He surveyed the huge stack of gifts he amassed. Even Dudley would probably have approved.

"Ok!" Everyone turned to look at George. "I think that its time we get this party going." He winked and disappeared up into his room with Fred and Lee.

"What d'you reckon they're getting?" Ron asked Harry.

"Search me." Harry shrugged.

The twins and Lee returned a few minutes later with an enormous muggle stereo and set of speakers.

"Hold it!" Mrs. Weasley raised a warning hand.

"Aw, c'mon mum," Fred wheedled.

"Its not everyday that Harry has a birthday…"

Mrs. Weasley's face softened at the mention of Harry. "Oh all right," She said. "But that goes off at ten!"

The twins fumbled around until they somehow got it hooked up to the Wizard Wireless Network radio that was in the kitchen. They charmed the speakers so that they floated in midair, and turned on the music. A group called the Weird Sisters was singing their new song called Charm Me. Veronica figured it was a popular song among wizard-students because everyone cheered loudly. Arthur and Molly Weasley retired upstairs wearily, discussing how best to charm the door to their bedroom to block out the sound. It was about five times louder than any ordinary speaker could be. The walls and ground were positively vibrating to the beat.

The more brave of the company danced in the center of the room while the rest stood crowded by the walls with their friends. Fred and Angelina were already on top of the table doing a dance that it is safe to say Professor McGonagall would not have approved of had she been there. Lavender was whispering in Hermione's ear. They both looked over at Ron, while Lavender giggled loudly. Ron, who had been staring at Hermione, quickly flushed crimson and averted his gaze. He began to talk and laugh loudly with Dean and Seamus, to hide the fact that he was looking in her direction. Harry ambled over to where Veronica was standing.

"Want to go outside?" He asked.

"What?" Obviously she couldn't hear him over the music.

"WANT TO GO OUTSIDE?" He bellowed.

"YEAH, WE SHOULD DANCE. I WOULD LOVE TO." She answered, nodding her head.

"NO," Harry shook his head, and motioned to the door. Finally understanding him, she followed him out of the back door.

"Honestly," Veronica looked back up at the Burrow. Someone had charmed the walls inside, so that they flashed brightly with alternating neon lights. It looked like an enormous disco ball. "This is ridiculous," she added shaking her head.

"Yeah the twins overdue it occasionally…"

"I think I've noticed."

They meandered through the garden and out into the field behind the house. Veronica was looking intently at Harry.

"Hey Harry!" She broke out suddenly. "What's wrong with your forehead. You have some sort of scar on it…" She reached out to touch it.

Harry caught her hand in midair, and let it drop down still holding it. "Oh that's nothing. I-uh-got it when my parents died."

"Oh Harry I'm so sorry," she peered at him sympathetically.

"No its ok," Harry said quickly. "I was so little, that I don't even remember."

"How did they die?" Veronica asked. "I mean you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to – I understand." She added quickly.

"No its alright," Harry heaved a sigh.

Somehow, he was reluctant to explain to Veronica how he had gotten his scar from Voldemort when his parents died. That was one of the things he liked so much about her, he realized, he could talk to her without feeling like she was in awe at him…she never stared up at his scar in wonder like everyone in the wizarding world did, marveling at how he had been able to defeat Voldemort. Sure his close friends - like the Weasleys and Hermione - never did that…but even with them he had the feeling that they always feared for him and looked at him with a subtle reverence. He was tired of always being on the spotlight, of being "the boy who lived." He knew it was his responsibility to face his destiny…but it was so much weight for a teenager to carry around on his shoulders. It was nice to feel like an ordinary person once in awhile.

Veronica seemed to like him for him. And, Harry decided, he wanted to keep it that way.

"Voldemort killed them." She nodded at the name, remembering the conversation the Weasleys had in her hospital room. "He killed a lot of wizards…but that was a long time ago." Harry let the topic drop.

They walked along in silence for a bit longer, not needing any words, but just content to be with each other, their fingers lightly clasped. They came to stop in the center of the field, and faced one another. Embracing in the moonlit field, Harry drew Veronica close and kissed her forehead tenderly. Then they just stood there, in one another's arms.

"You know what really sucks," Veronica murmured, her chin rested on Harry's shoulder. She drew back from him, and caressed his face, pushing his dark hair back from his forehead. His spectacles flashed in the moonlight. "I am really going to miss you when I have to go to school." She looked up at him, her brown eyes filled with emotion.

"Yeah, I really am too," answered Harry sincerely in a soft voice. He knew for certain that he didn't want this just to be a summer fling. But Veronica was leaning in towards him her eyes closed. They embraced and kissed passionately for a while, lingering in the sweet moment. Neither wanted to leave, but each knew that they would be missed at the party if they stayed outside much longer. Sighing regretfully, they headed back over to the Burrow hand in hand.

Harry stopped suddenly, hearing loud barks in the distance. Out of the trees a large black dog bounded towards them. It came to a halt before the couple. Panting, its long pink tongue hung out of its mouth.

"I didn't know the Weasleys had a dog! I love dogs," Veronica approached the huge dog without a hint of fear, and patted in on the head. "Good doggie!" She cooed.

"Oh this is not your ordinary dog," Harry said, grinning. "Why did you come Sirius?"

Veronica drew back in shock. The dog had suddenly grown and head and two legs. After a few seconds of the dog shifting and expanding, a full-grown man was standing before them. He wore brown pants and a leather jacket and worn black boots that went up his calves. His hair was long, but slicked back from his forehead, and his face show the scruffy beginnings of a beard. His otherwise serious dark eyes twinkled at the sight of Harry. He embraced him with a bear hug.

"Do you really think I would forget my favorite godson's birthday?"

"Yeah, your only godson," Harry smiled.

"To true, too true…" Sirius broke off at the sight of Veronica. He had of course, carried her to the hospital after the Death Eaters' attack, but this was the first time he had gotten a good look at her. He stared at her though startled. She stared back, equally as amazed.

"What is it Sirius?" Harry asked anxiously.

"So this is her again?" Harry nodded. "Hello, I am Sirius Black." He stuck out a hand for Veronica to shake. "You must excuse me- but you look like somebody I used to know." He continued to gaze at Veronica intently before shaking his head.

"Well, I'm Veronica." She replied, not really knowing what to say.

"I know." Sirius gazed at her a bit longer before shifting his eyes to his godson. "Harry," The serious gleam had returned to his dark eyes. "I have met with Dumbledore. The Ministry is conducting a full out search for you, Veronica…they don't know you are at the Weasleys yet. Arthur did an excellent job covering it up." Sirius sighed and continued. "Dumbledore seemed quite alarmed. He wants Veronica to come to Hogwarts immediately for protection. I fear…" Sirius sighed. "It would seem Voldemort wants her…for some reason."

Veronica stiffened. Harry could only nod.

"I have a letter here, from Dumbledore himself." He handed the envelope to Harry. "Give this to Ron's dad. I am afraid that I will have to leave. There seems to be a large amount of people here," His eyes strayed to the chaotic noise of the party coming from the Burrow. "But I will check up on you at school. Until then… Happy Birthday!" With that he shrunk back down to dog size, and bounded off across the field.

"He's an Animagus," Harry explained. "So he can turn into a dog." Veronica just nodded.

"You know," she shrugged simply. I've come to a point where nothing surprises me anymore."

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More to come! Review!