Chapter Three: The Way Birthday's Are Suppose to Be
"Harry! Is it really you?" Ron exclaimed as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"Yes, Ron, it's really me," Harry smiled. Ron grabbed his trunk and took it upstairs to his room, making small talk on the way.
"Mum was worried about you, but didn't want to make a fuss by going and getting you, although we did try to talk her into it. How did you get here anyway?"
"Knight Bus," Harry replied as he flopped himself unto Ron's bed, which was still made up in bright orange Chudley Cannon's bed sheets.
"Really? That's wicked, Harry. I've always wanted to ride on that thing, but Dad says it's a menace and you'd likely die before you got where you were going."
Harry laughed, "I think your dad's overexaggerating a bit, but not much. It's certainly a ride to remember though," Harry let out a huge yawn, "Ugh, I'm exhausted. Do you think I could catch a quick nap before I see your parents?"
"Sure, no problem. I'll give them heads-up that you're here, but tell them not to disturb you, all right?"
"Sounds good to me. Mind if I use your bed?"
"Go right ahead. I need to do some stuff before Mum wakes up anyway."
"Thanks. See you in a while," Harry yawned before settling in to catch some well-needed sleep.
As Harry came down the stairs after his nap, Mrs. Weasley and Ron welcomed him.
"Harry! How good it is to see you!" she stated warmly as she gave him a big hug. "We were wondering if you could come and see us before the holiday ended."
"Well, here I am," Harry smiled, looking around. He couldn't believe how much he missed this place, with its crooked construction, noisy ghost in the attic, and clutter everywhere. This was home, not the Dursley's. "So, where's Fred and George and Ginny? I haven't seen them since I arrived."
"Oh Fred and George, don't get me started on them!" Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "They've been nothing but trouble since the term ended. I suspect they're blowing something up someplace. And Ginny, why I have no clue where she ran off to."
"She's in her room, hiding," Ron whispered to Harry, "You know how she gets around you."
"Anyway, we're glad you're here," Mrs. Weasley continued, "Hermione is coming too, by the way, in a month, so we all are going to Diagon Alley."
"In a month? Isn't that a little early?" Harry asked. If she came then, it would still be July!
"Well, she didn't want to miss your party." Mrs. Weasley stated matter-of- fact.
"My what?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Of course! I forgot to tell you," Ron laughed, "Mum and Dad caught word that your birthday's the thirty-first, so they decided to throw a party. Nothing too big of course, just the family and Hermione. But still, it's going to be great. And that's all I'm going to tell you."
"Great, I was almost not invited to my own party," Harry said sarcastically to Ron, who just laughed.
"You would have been, sooner or later. Now grab your broomstick and let's go play some Quidditch!"
*****
This was the best birthday Harry had ever had. Even better than the time he received cards and cake from all his friends. Ron had said a party, but this was more of a feast/carnival. The backyard of The Burrow was set up to look like a circus with colorful tents everywhere. Inside the tents were games in which you could win anything from candy to stuffed animals that moved around like the real thing. The food was fantastic, with cakes and sweets, chicken and turkey, potatoes and greens, just about any kind of food you wanted was set on the numerous tables. Harry had no clue how the Weasley's could afford all of this, but didn't have the nerve to ask. The Weasley's, although poor, were also proud.
As the day wore on, it was time for the present giving and the cutting of the cake. As the entire Weasley family, minus Bill and Charley, Hermione, and Harry sat around the table, Mrs. Weasley presented the birthday cake, which was something to be wondered. It was at least four layers high and bright green. The words "Happy Fifteenth Birthday Harry!" seem to flash in different colors. The candles were playing the Happy Birthday song all by themselves. Harry's smile beamed brightly as he blew out the flames and made a wish. Everyone cheered as all the candles went out. Then it was time to pass out the cake.
"So, how did you like the party?" Mr. Weasley asked as slices were being distributed.
"This has been the best day of my life, I think. I don't know how to thank you enough."
"Oh, it was nothing, dear," said Mrs. Weasley, "We know that you weren't use to having fun on your birthday, so we decided to make up for the last fourteen for you."
"Mmmmph, this is 'reat cake, Mum," George complemented through a mouthful.
"Yep, really outdid yourself this time," agreed Fred.
"Thank you boys, but no matter how much you sweet talk me, you're still in trouble," smiled Mrs. Weasley.
"Blast! I mean, you think any time we pay you respect we're looking out for ourselves? I'm flabbergasted Mum! To shame, to shame." Everyone at the table laughed, even Mrs. Weasley.
"What did you guys do this time?" asked Hermione.
"Nothing really. Unless you count the accidental destruction of Percy's room."
"Don't know how those Filibuster's Fireworks got in there, honest."
"Ruined a whole stack of 'important paper' or some rubbish."
"Some rubbish?!" Percy suddenly retorted. "Those papers were part of the assignment I was conducting for Dumbledore! You two could have put me behind weeks! You're lucky I had back-ups or the whole exchange program could have been lost!"
"What exchange program?" Harry asked curiously.
Percy sat up and puffed out his chest importantly, looking slightly like a pompous goose, "Professor Dumbledore has decided to create an exchange program with the United States to strengthen ties with them as allies. Since the incident with You-Know-Who last year, he finds it extremely important to do so."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" crooned Hermione. "I can talk to them about their culture and learn even more facts about America. Since my holiday there, I've become fascinated by them."
"Don't bore them to death, Hermione," Ron intervened. "They might just go home if you do that."
"How many students are coming?" Harry interrupted the impending argument.
"Just four this year. But Professor Dumbledore has told me personally that since I'm doing such a great job that we'll probably have more next year." Percy said proudly.
"Dumbledore, Dumbledore, Dumbledore," groaned Fred. "And I thought your obsession with Crouch was bad."
"Just because I'm respected in the wizarding community doesn't mean you have to be jealous."
"Jealous?" questioned George. "Au contraire, Percy. We're proud of you, almost in awe, aren't we Fred?"
"Exactly. We're not worthy, oh great Percy! We're not worthy!" The table again was filled with laughter as the twins began to bow towards Percy, causing him to turn bright red, which didn't mix well with his hair.
"Boys, boys," Mr. Weasley said after the laughing ceased, "Stop hassling your brother. It's time for bed anyhow. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."
"Alright, alright. Ruin all the fun. 'Night all."
Harry hugged Mr. and Mrs. Weasley before going up to bed, "Thanks again. I'll never forget today. Good night."
"Harry! Is it really you?" Ron exclaimed as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"Yes, Ron, it's really me," Harry smiled. Ron grabbed his trunk and took it upstairs to his room, making small talk on the way.
"Mum was worried about you, but didn't want to make a fuss by going and getting you, although we did try to talk her into it. How did you get here anyway?"
"Knight Bus," Harry replied as he flopped himself unto Ron's bed, which was still made up in bright orange Chudley Cannon's bed sheets.
"Really? That's wicked, Harry. I've always wanted to ride on that thing, but Dad says it's a menace and you'd likely die before you got where you were going."
Harry laughed, "I think your dad's overexaggerating a bit, but not much. It's certainly a ride to remember though," Harry let out a huge yawn, "Ugh, I'm exhausted. Do you think I could catch a quick nap before I see your parents?"
"Sure, no problem. I'll give them heads-up that you're here, but tell them not to disturb you, all right?"
"Sounds good to me. Mind if I use your bed?"
"Go right ahead. I need to do some stuff before Mum wakes up anyway."
"Thanks. See you in a while," Harry yawned before settling in to catch some well-needed sleep.
As Harry came down the stairs after his nap, Mrs. Weasley and Ron welcomed him.
"Harry! How good it is to see you!" she stated warmly as she gave him a big hug. "We were wondering if you could come and see us before the holiday ended."
"Well, here I am," Harry smiled, looking around. He couldn't believe how much he missed this place, with its crooked construction, noisy ghost in the attic, and clutter everywhere. This was home, not the Dursley's. "So, where's Fred and George and Ginny? I haven't seen them since I arrived."
"Oh Fred and George, don't get me started on them!" Mrs. Weasley shook her head. "They've been nothing but trouble since the term ended. I suspect they're blowing something up someplace. And Ginny, why I have no clue where she ran off to."
"She's in her room, hiding," Ron whispered to Harry, "You know how she gets around you."
"Anyway, we're glad you're here," Mrs. Weasley continued, "Hermione is coming too, by the way, in a month, so we all are going to Diagon Alley."
"In a month? Isn't that a little early?" Harry asked. If she came then, it would still be July!
"Well, she didn't want to miss your party." Mrs. Weasley stated matter-of- fact.
"My what?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Of course! I forgot to tell you," Ron laughed, "Mum and Dad caught word that your birthday's the thirty-first, so they decided to throw a party. Nothing too big of course, just the family and Hermione. But still, it's going to be great. And that's all I'm going to tell you."
"Great, I was almost not invited to my own party," Harry said sarcastically to Ron, who just laughed.
"You would have been, sooner or later. Now grab your broomstick and let's go play some Quidditch!"
*****
This was the best birthday Harry had ever had. Even better than the time he received cards and cake from all his friends. Ron had said a party, but this was more of a feast/carnival. The backyard of The Burrow was set up to look like a circus with colorful tents everywhere. Inside the tents were games in which you could win anything from candy to stuffed animals that moved around like the real thing. The food was fantastic, with cakes and sweets, chicken and turkey, potatoes and greens, just about any kind of food you wanted was set on the numerous tables. Harry had no clue how the Weasley's could afford all of this, but didn't have the nerve to ask. The Weasley's, although poor, were also proud.
As the day wore on, it was time for the present giving and the cutting of the cake. As the entire Weasley family, minus Bill and Charley, Hermione, and Harry sat around the table, Mrs. Weasley presented the birthday cake, which was something to be wondered. It was at least four layers high and bright green. The words "Happy Fifteenth Birthday Harry!" seem to flash in different colors. The candles were playing the Happy Birthday song all by themselves. Harry's smile beamed brightly as he blew out the flames and made a wish. Everyone cheered as all the candles went out. Then it was time to pass out the cake.
"So, how did you like the party?" Mr. Weasley asked as slices were being distributed.
"This has been the best day of my life, I think. I don't know how to thank you enough."
"Oh, it was nothing, dear," said Mrs. Weasley, "We know that you weren't use to having fun on your birthday, so we decided to make up for the last fourteen for you."
"Mmmmph, this is 'reat cake, Mum," George complemented through a mouthful.
"Yep, really outdid yourself this time," agreed Fred.
"Thank you boys, but no matter how much you sweet talk me, you're still in trouble," smiled Mrs. Weasley.
"Blast! I mean, you think any time we pay you respect we're looking out for ourselves? I'm flabbergasted Mum! To shame, to shame." Everyone at the table laughed, even Mrs. Weasley.
"What did you guys do this time?" asked Hermione.
"Nothing really. Unless you count the accidental destruction of Percy's room."
"Don't know how those Filibuster's Fireworks got in there, honest."
"Ruined a whole stack of 'important paper' or some rubbish."
"Some rubbish?!" Percy suddenly retorted. "Those papers were part of the assignment I was conducting for Dumbledore! You two could have put me behind weeks! You're lucky I had back-ups or the whole exchange program could have been lost!"
"What exchange program?" Harry asked curiously.
Percy sat up and puffed out his chest importantly, looking slightly like a pompous goose, "Professor Dumbledore has decided to create an exchange program with the United States to strengthen ties with them as allies. Since the incident with You-Know-Who last year, he finds it extremely important to do so."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" crooned Hermione. "I can talk to them about their culture and learn even more facts about America. Since my holiday there, I've become fascinated by them."
"Don't bore them to death, Hermione," Ron intervened. "They might just go home if you do that."
"How many students are coming?" Harry interrupted the impending argument.
"Just four this year. But Professor Dumbledore has told me personally that since I'm doing such a great job that we'll probably have more next year." Percy said proudly.
"Dumbledore, Dumbledore, Dumbledore," groaned Fred. "And I thought your obsession with Crouch was bad."
"Just because I'm respected in the wizarding community doesn't mean you have to be jealous."
"Jealous?" questioned George. "Au contraire, Percy. We're proud of you, almost in awe, aren't we Fred?"
"Exactly. We're not worthy, oh great Percy! We're not worthy!" The table again was filled with laughter as the twins began to bow towards Percy, causing him to turn bright red, which didn't mix well with his hair.
"Boys, boys," Mr. Weasley said after the laughing ceased, "Stop hassling your brother. It's time for bed anyhow. We have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow."
"Alright, alright. Ruin all the fun. 'Night all."
Harry hugged Mr. and Mrs. Weasley before going up to bed, "Thanks again. I'll never forget today. Good night."