CHAPTER 2: BIRTHDAY SURPRISES
Friday evening came-- and went without a peep from Harry's room. He could not believe his luck: no house-elves splattering dessert across the floor, no people blowing up to extortionate proportions… It was almost too quiet. Harry had taken it as his birthday gift from the Dursleys, and decided that it was the only gift he would get from them, so he'd better enjoy it.
At eight thirty Uncle Vernon's guests had left. That was half an hour ago, but Harry was still up, trying to do his Potions homework, which consisted of a one scroll document on the uses and characteristics of mirthwodle, a plant used in many potions. With a sigh, he flipped through another two pages in his Potions book, hoping that something else would pop out at him.
Harry jumped as something tapped the window. He glanced around; Hedwig was fluttering just outside the window, something tied to her leg. He quickly opened the window and let her inside, and she hooted softly at him, knowing that if she made too much noise she would get him in trouble. He had sent her off after supper on Monday night, and apparently Hermione had sent his birthday present along with her responding letter.
Harry,
How are you doing? I'm fine. My parents and I are vacationing in Spain. While there aren't as many famous Spanish wizards and witches as in France, they still have a few interesting ones.. They've even got a few curses that are native to Spain! The food here is very good, too, if a bit too spicy for mum's taste.
I think Snuffles is off on a scouting mission; from your letter that's what it sounded like. I think he'll be fine. He always could take care of himself…
I have no clue what your sphere is. Did you check in all your books? I've been checking mine, but I haven't found anything mentioning that sort of globe. Really, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Snuffles wouldn't have sent you something dangerous, and you can always ask him what it his when you get his next letter.
I'll see you at the end of the summer; only one week away!
With Love,
Hermione
Harry smiled, then put the letter down. He rose and locked the door. If there was one thing he liked about this room, it was his privacy.
Before he could open her present, two more owls shot through the window. The smaller one zipped around the room once before landing on Harry's bed. The larger brown barn owl put his package down and perched on the back of a chair. It looked at him expectantly before acknowledging Hedwig, who had woken when the other two came into the room. Harry pinned the small owl, Pigwidgeon, down with one hand and grabbed the package he had brought. It was rather small, but it had to be because Pig couldn't carry anything large. Attached to Pig's package was a letter with Ron's handwriting on it.
Harry wondered suddenly where Errol was. Errol was the Weasley's family owl and he was very old. He could no longer make long journeys, but Ron often sent him on them anyway.
The larger owl's package had a letter written in Hagrid's scrawling handwriting attached to it, and Harry hoped that Hagrid hadn't sent him any Monster Book of Monsters or something similar this year. It looked about the right size for a book, which worried Harry. Hagrid had a kind heart, but he also had the idea that everyone loved monsters as much as he did. In their first year, Hagrid had taken a baby dragon into his wooden house, nearly burning it down before Harry and his friends could convince him to set it free.
He opened Hermione's gift first. She had cleverly managed to store a cake inside the box, and it hadn't been mashed into the side of the box, thanks to Hedwig's careful flying. On it was written, "Happy fifteenth Birthday, Harry!" Was he really only fifteen? He felt so much older...
Harry pulled the cake out of the box and found that there was what appeared to be a magazine beneath the cake, wrapped so the frosting wouldn't smudge all over it. He took it out of the wrapping and a note fell out with it.
Harry, I've subscribed you to this magazine. They actually have some updates as to You-Know-Who's where-abouts, planned moves, etc. The "Daily Prophet" doesn't acknowledge this magazine, probably because the "Prophet" is run by Fudge and the Ministry. I forwarded the magazine for this month and the next month, and told them to send them to you at school. I hope these will help you with your search for knowledge!
~Hermione
Harry rubbed his scar absentmindedly while he re-read her note. So Fudge was not listening to anything Dumbledore said anymore? Not surprising, since their fall-out last year, but something that Harry had been dreading. This only confirmed his first impression from the papers Sirius had sent.
Harry quickly pulled out some paper and a quill.
Dear Hermione,
Thanks for the magazines, I think they'll be of help in the future. I can't wait to see you both. That cake is going to taste so good.. I don't think the Dursleys will ever get cake again, thanks to Dudley's diet.
I'll have to look for that stone in the library when I get to school; I've already gone through all of my books, even Potions, looking for the stone. I hope Snuffles is okay.
I'll see you in a week!
~Harry
Harry gave the letter to Hedwig, who clacked her beak and nibbled his fingers affectionately. "Go to Ron's house when you're done. I'll see you there." She swept out of the room on a cool back draft.
He opened Ron's gift next. It turned out to be another book about Quidditch maneuvers and feints, but Harry didn't mind. The likelihood that he would be the Captain for the Gryffindor team this year was very high, and he would need to know tactics and such to pull it off. Ron, too, had sent a letter.
Harry,
I'm having a wonderful summer so far. Percy's being a pain (as usual), and George and Fred are devising new ways to send toilet seats home to Mum while they're at school. Bill is home for some much needed vacation time, but he'll be leaving the day after you come. Ginny's fine as well, and Charlie's written home saying he's having a wonderful time in Germany playing with his pack of rowdy dragons. Mum's not too happy about that, but he doesn't care. She really wants him home, where he's safe.
I hope you enjoy this: it's kind of like Mah Jeng, or whatever the muggles call it... It's a blast. The squares talk to you when they get to know you, telling you where their partner is... You'll understand when you open it. Just don't let them get loud, or the Dursleys won't like it.
I'll see you in a week. Dad decided to send you some floo powder, and he'll apparate to your house at four on Saturday. Can't wait to see you again!
~Ron
Harry unwrapped Ron's package, and listened for a moment to the box of tiles. "Gerroff!" "Move outta the way!" "Where are you?" He slid the box open and the tiles stood up and danced around, stretching. They reminded Harry of his wizarding chess set. He packed them up and sent Ron a thank you, which Pig took with excitement. He fluttered out the window and was gone with a whir of his tiny wings.
The next package was from Hagrid. He had sent some of his jaw-breaking toffee, along with his little letter. Harry wasn't too happy with the appearance of the food, but he was glad that Hagrid had been thinking of him all the same. He sent Hagrid a letter back with the last owl, and then turned back to his homework regretfully, munching on a bit of cake.
There was another scratching at the window, which he had shut after Hagrid's owl left. He glanced at the window, and there was a barn owl perched on the sill, waiting patiently for him. Her golden eyes moved slowly, watching his movements, and then she shuddered. He opened the window and she floated silently inside, a letter grasped in her talons.
Harry took the letter from her and offered her a sip from Hedwig's water. She went back to the window and flew silently away, not waiting for a reply. Harry looked down at the envelope and opened it slowly. Inside was a list of items for the following term, and a short handwritten message in a flowing print that was oddly familiar...
Mr. Harry Potter,
This letter may have gotten to you late, but I want to wish you a happy birthday. I know it is hard to stay with your uncle and aunt, but they are your best protection.
Voldemort is on the move. I'm not sure where he will turn up next, but it can only lead to something bad. Please write to me if you have any dreams or your scar hurts again, as this may help us find what Voldemort is doing.
Snuffles is doing something for me, so please do not write to him until he writes to you. You may place him in an awkward situation if you do send something.
~Prof. A. Dumbledore
Harry stared at the words, wondering and thinking. His hand reached up to touch his scar, partially obscuring the letters. Dumbledore wanted Harry to write him about his scar…
He thought back to last summer (was it only that far away) when his scar had woken him with a dream about an old man dying? He had thought it very stupid to write to Dumbledore, so he had written to Sirius. But Sirius had written to Dumbledore with this news, and had later told Harry to go straight to Dumbledore with another such incident if it occurred.
Harry was suddenly too tired to work on Potions anymore, so he packed it all away and settled into his bed. His dreams that night were unsettling, but he could not remember anything of them in the morning, only the vague sense of being chased.
Friday evening came-- and went without a peep from Harry's room. He could not believe his luck: no house-elves splattering dessert across the floor, no people blowing up to extortionate proportions… It was almost too quiet. Harry had taken it as his birthday gift from the Dursleys, and decided that it was the only gift he would get from them, so he'd better enjoy it.
At eight thirty Uncle Vernon's guests had left. That was half an hour ago, but Harry was still up, trying to do his Potions homework, which consisted of a one scroll document on the uses and characteristics of mirthwodle, a plant used in many potions. With a sigh, he flipped through another two pages in his Potions book, hoping that something else would pop out at him.
Harry jumped as something tapped the window. He glanced around; Hedwig was fluttering just outside the window, something tied to her leg. He quickly opened the window and let her inside, and she hooted softly at him, knowing that if she made too much noise she would get him in trouble. He had sent her off after supper on Monday night, and apparently Hermione had sent his birthday present along with her responding letter.
Harry,
How are you doing? I'm fine. My parents and I are vacationing in Spain. While there aren't as many famous Spanish wizards and witches as in France, they still have a few interesting ones.. They've even got a few curses that are native to Spain! The food here is very good, too, if a bit too spicy for mum's taste.
I think Snuffles is off on a scouting mission; from your letter that's what it sounded like. I think he'll be fine. He always could take care of himself…
I have no clue what your sphere is. Did you check in all your books? I've been checking mine, but I haven't found anything mentioning that sort of globe. Really, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Snuffles wouldn't have sent you something dangerous, and you can always ask him what it his when you get his next letter.
I'll see you at the end of the summer; only one week away!
With Love,
Hermione
Harry smiled, then put the letter down. He rose and locked the door. If there was one thing he liked about this room, it was his privacy.
Before he could open her present, two more owls shot through the window. The smaller one zipped around the room once before landing on Harry's bed. The larger brown barn owl put his package down and perched on the back of a chair. It looked at him expectantly before acknowledging Hedwig, who had woken when the other two came into the room. Harry pinned the small owl, Pigwidgeon, down with one hand and grabbed the package he had brought. It was rather small, but it had to be because Pig couldn't carry anything large. Attached to Pig's package was a letter with Ron's handwriting on it.
Harry wondered suddenly where Errol was. Errol was the Weasley's family owl and he was very old. He could no longer make long journeys, but Ron often sent him on them anyway.
The larger owl's package had a letter written in Hagrid's scrawling handwriting attached to it, and Harry hoped that Hagrid hadn't sent him any Monster Book of Monsters or something similar this year. It looked about the right size for a book, which worried Harry. Hagrid had a kind heart, but he also had the idea that everyone loved monsters as much as he did. In their first year, Hagrid had taken a baby dragon into his wooden house, nearly burning it down before Harry and his friends could convince him to set it free.
He opened Hermione's gift first. She had cleverly managed to store a cake inside the box, and it hadn't been mashed into the side of the box, thanks to Hedwig's careful flying. On it was written, "Happy fifteenth Birthday, Harry!" Was he really only fifteen? He felt so much older...
Harry pulled the cake out of the box and found that there was what appeared to be a magazine beneath the cake, wrapped so the frosting wouldn't smudge all over it. He took it out of the wrapping and a note fell out with it.
Harry, I've subscribed you to this magazine. They actually have some updates as to You-Know-Who's where-abouts, planned moves, etc. The "Daily Prophet" doesn't acknowledge this magazine, probably because the "Prophet" is run by Fudge and the Ministry. I forwarded the magazine for this month and the next month, and told them to send them to you at school. I hope these will help you with your search for knowledge!
~Hermione
Harry rubbed his scar absentmindedly while he re-read her note. So Fudge was not listening to anything Dumbledore said anymore? Not surprising, since their fall-out last year, but something that Harry had been dreading. This only confirmed his first impression from the papers Sirius had sent.
Harry quickly pulled out some paper and a quill.
Dear Hermione,
Thanks for the magazines, I think they'll be of help in the future. I can't wait to see you both. That cake is going to taste so good.. I don't think the Dursleys will ever get cake again, thanks to Dudley's diet.
I'll have to look for that stone in the library when I get to school; I've already gone through all of my books, even Potions, looking for the stone. I hope Snuffles is okay.
I'll see you in a week!
~Harry
Harry gave the letter to Hedwig, who clacked her beak and nibbled his fingers affectionately. "Go to Ron's house when you're done. I'll see you there." She swept out of the room on a cool back draft.
He opened Ron's gift next. It turned out to be another book about Quidditch maneuvers and feints, but Harry didn't mind. The likelihood that he would be the Captain for the Gryffindor team this year was very high, and he would need to know tactics and such to pull it off. Ron, too, had sent a letter.
Harry,
I'm having a wonderful summer so far. Percy's being a pain (as usual), and George and Fred are devising new ways to send toilet seats home to Mum while they're at school. Bill is home for some much needed vacation time, but he'll be leaving the day after you come. Ginny's fine as well, and Charlie's written home saying he's having a wonderful time in Germany playing with his pack of rowdy dragons. Mum's not too happy about that, but he doesn't care. She really wants him home, where he's safe.
I hope you enjoy this: it's kind of like Mah Jeng, or whatever the muggles call it... It's a blast. The squares talk to you when they get to know you, telling you where their partner is... You'll understand when you open it. Just don't let them get loud, or the Dursleys won't like it.
I'll see you in a week. Dad decided to send you some floo powder, and he'll apparate to your house at four on Saturday. Can't wait to see you again!
~Ron
Harry unwrapped Ron's package, and listened for a moment to the box of tiles. "Gerroff!" "Move outta the way!" "Where are you?" He slid the box open and the tiles stood up and danced around, stretching. They reminded Harry of his wizarding chess set. He packed them up and sent Ron a thank you, which Pig took with excitement. He fluttered out the window and was gone with a whir of his tiny wings.
The next package was from Hagrid. He had sent some of his jaw-breaking toffee, along with his little letter. Harry wasn't too happy with the appearance of the food, but he was glad that Hagrid had been thinking of him all the same. He sent Hagrid a letter back with the last owl, and then turned back to his homework regretfully, munching on a bit of cake.
There was another scratching at the window, which he had shut after Hagrid's owl left. He glanced at the window, and there was a barn owl perched on the sill, waiting patiently for him. Her golden eyes moved slowly, watching his movements, and then she shuddered. He opened the window and she floated silently inside, a letter grasped in her talons.
Harry took the letter from her and offered her a sip from Hedwig's water. She went back to the window and flew silently away, not waiting for a reply. Harry looked down at the envelope and opened it slowly. Inside was a list of items for the following term, and a short handwritten message in a flowing print that was oddly familiar...
Mr. Harry Potter,
This letter may have gotten to you late, but I want to wish you a happy birthday. I know it is hard to stay with your uncle and aunt, but they are your best protection.
Voldemort is on the move. I'm not sure where he will turn up next, but it can only lead to something bad. Please write to me if you have any dreams or your scar hurts again, as this may help us find what Voldemort is doing.
Snuffles is doing something for me, so please do not write to him until he writes to you. You may place him in an awkward situation if you do send something.
~Prof. A. Dumbledore
Harry stared at the words, wondering and thinking. His hand reached up to touch his scar, partially obscuring the letters. Dumbledore wanted Harry to write him about his scar…
He thought back to last summer (was it only that far away) when his scar had woken him with a dream about an old man dying? He had thought it very stupid to write to Dumbledore, so he had written to Sirius. But Sirius had written to Dumbledore with this news, and had later told Harry to go straight to Dumbledore with another such incident if it occurred.
Harry was suddenly too tired to work on Potions anymore, so he packed it all away and settled into his bed. His dreams that night were unsettling, but he could not remember anything of them in the morning, only the vague sense of being chased.