The next day seemed to rush by for Harry. He and Remus had gone to
Diagon Alley to buy Harry some things for Quidditch. Sirius, for obvious
reasons, had stayed at home. Then, after many hours in Diagon Alley, Remus
and Harry returned home.
"Sirius! We're home!" Shouted Harry as he and Remus set down their bags. They waited a few while, but Sirius didn't reply.
"Hey! Padfoot! Where are you?!" Shouted Remus. Harry began to worry. 'What if something has happened to him?' A million and one bad thoughts and images flooded Harry's mind. Remus obviously noticed Harry's worried look.
Slowly Remus began to walk up the stairs followed by Harry. They checked Sirius' room, but he wasn't there. Then they checked all of the other rooms in the house…still no Sirius. Remus and Harry went back downstairs.
"Remus…where could he be?" Asked Harry. 'How could I have left Sirius here alone after my vision? I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to him…' thought Harry.
"I'm going to check in the kitchen one more time. If he isn't there, then we'll owl Dumbledor and go to search for him. Ok?" Remus, too was beginning to look a bit worried.
Harry nodded.
Just as Remus was walking into the kitchen there was a loud 'POP' and streamers were floating everywhere.
"SURPRISE!!!!!" Three voices said in unison. The voices were those of Ron, Hermione, and…Sirius. At the sound of Sirius' voice, Harry rushed into the kitchen, knocking over Remus on the way.
"SIRIUS! Harry shouted as he rushed into Sirius' arms, completely oblivious to Ron and Hermione.
"Where were you Padfoot?" asked Remus as he rubbed his head from where Harry had knocked him over. "We looked everywhere for you, why didn't you answer us?"
Sirius smirked.
"I was right here the whole time. You didn't see me because I had an invisibility charm put on Ron, Hermione, and me. We wanted to surprise Harry for his birthday. Well, were you surprised?"
Sirius was expecting a cheerful "yes" from his godson, but he got quite the opposite.
"SURPRISED?! Sirius, DON'T EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN! I THOUGHT SOMETHING BAD HAD HAPPENED TO YOU! I DON'T MIND SUPRISES, ACTUALLY, I LIKE THEM, BUT NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO SURPRISE ME, WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL REMEUS ABOUT IT SO THAT I AM NOT AS WORRIED?!" Sirius gawked at his godson as Harry tried to catch his breath.
"Yes, sir," said Sirius in a mock tone. Then he added: "But were you surprised?"
Harry laughed and thought 'Well, Sirius will be Sirius.' Soon, the entire room was laughing. Finally, Harry noticed the two extra people who were in the room.
"Ron! Hermione! What are you two doing here?!"
"Well," began Hermione, "Sirius owled us and said that he was throwing you a party for your birthday, so, of course, I came. And Sirius mentioned something about cake, so, of course, Ron came." Hermione dogged one of Ron's playful hits.
"Happy Birthday, Harry," said Ron.
"Well, why not get to the presents?" suggested Sirius.
The first gift was a pack of cards with Quidditch players on them fron Ron. From Hermione, Harry got a book called 101 Ways to Fake a Feint In Quidditch. From Remus, Harry got a Quidditch card. This card was different from the ones that Ron got Harry. This card was different because instead of having a Quidditch star on it, it had Harry on it. On the front, there was a picture of Harry doing a feint to catch the snitch. On the other side, it had a short biography on Harry. But what Harry loved most about his card was that in the biography, the fact that Harry has stood up to Voldemort was not mentioned at all. Finally, Harry was able to read something about himself that was about HIM and not about him AND Voldemort. From Sirius, Harry got two pieces of parchment. Harry looked up at Sirius, confused.
"Sirius! I didn't know that you sill had those!" shouted Remus as his eyes lit up.
"Did you expect me to throw them away? Honestly, Moony," Sirius looked back at Harry, who was still confused. Sirius' glance moved to Ron and Hermione, who looked equally dumbfounded. Sirius lightly laughed at their expressions.
"From mine and Moony's maraudering years," hinted Sirius.
"Oh! I get it! Like that Marauders Map, right?!" Harry and Ron said in unison. Remus and Sirius nodded.
"What does it do?" asked Harry.
"Take out your wand, tap the parchment, and use the same password that you use for the map."
"Ok," Harry tapped the parchment and then said: "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The parchment didn't change. Harry looked up at Sirius questioningly.
"Now, think of someone…someone who isn't in this room. Think of…" Sirius' mouth formed into a mischievous grin.
"Think of who?" asked Harry.
"Snape," Sirius said, holding back laughter.
"Snape…Ok," Harry was unsure of what was going to happen, but he trusted his godfather, so he imagined Snape.
"Harry! Look!" shouted Ron, pointing at the parchment. Harry looked down. What he saw was funny…yet disturbing.
It was Snape…in his room at Hogwarts…wearing nothing but a bathrobe… and he was…dancing?
"Snape? Mr. Fifty-Points-From-Griffendor-Because-You-Have-A-Life-And- I-Don't…dancing?" Hermione was completely stunned. Remus was grabbing his sides in laughter. Sirius was rolling all over the floor, unable to breathe from laughing so hard. Harry was laughing so hard that tears were running down his cheeks.
"Shake it, Snape!" shouted Ron as soon as he was able to gather up a little breath. Suddenly, Sirius and Remus stopped laughing and Snape stopped dancing.
"WEASLY?! WHERE ARE YOU?! WHEN I FIND YOU, 100 POINTS FROM GRIFFENDOR AND I WILL HAVE YOU EXPELLED BEFORE YOU CAN SAY QUIDDITCH! ARE POTTER AND GRANGER WITH YOU?! WHEN I FIND YOU I'LL-" Before Snape could finish, Remus had grabbed the parchment from Harry and muttered "Mischief Managed." Then, he and Sirius let out a large sigh in unison.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione, we forgot to tell you that it also works as a communicator." Harry, Ron, and Hermione's faces all lost their color at Remus' words. "Whatever you say above a whisper, the person your looking at can hear. And whatever they say above a whisper, we can hear."
"Oops…" was all Ron could find to say. After a moment of silence, the room broke out into fits of laughter again.
"Well, should we have the cake now?" asked Sirius.
"Wait, what does this piece of parchment do?" asked Harry, holding up the other piece of parchment.
"Oh, that. Well, although it is possible to charm regular pieces of parchment to do stuff like what the Marauders Map does, it is extremely difficult. This is a special parchment that makes it much easier to place charms on it."
"Wow…" Harry and Ron were both in marvel.
"Harry," whispered Ron once he though he was out of earshot range from everyone else, "Do you know how much trouble we could get into with something like this?" Grins spread across Ron and Harry's faces.
"I can't wait," replied Harry.
Ron and Harry had thought that nobody had heard them, but one other person had: Sirius.
Sirius grinned to himself. Although he hated it when Harry got into trouble, he loved to be a part fit when he did. Sirius was so happy to be there as Harry grew up to be more and more like James, but Sirius was overjoyed to watch Harry grow up to be more and more like himself.
"Sirius…Earth to Sirius…" Harry whistled to get Sirius' attention.
"Oh, sorry, Harry. So…how about that cake?"
Soon the night of fun and cake ended. Ron and Hermione traveled back home by floo powder after telling Harry goodbye.
"Thank you, Sirius. Thank you, Remus. I had a GREAT time!" said Harry as he hugged Sirius and Remus goodnight. "Well, I'd better be getting to bed. I leave for Hogwarts tomorrow. 'Night," and with that, Harry went to his room.
Remus walked over to Sirius and put his band on his shoulder.
"Well, Padfoot, you really did good. I think that was the best birthday Harry's ever had." Sirius nodded and said: "But I wish I could give him more. He is only a teenager, and he has the basically has the well- being of the entire world on his shoulders. He deserves so much better…" After a moment of silence, Remus got up.
"Well, Padfoot, I think I'll be headed off to bed as well. 'Night."
"'Night, Moony." And with that, Remus went to his room.
After Sirius was sure that Remus was asleep, he slowly crept into Harry's room. Sirius pulled up a chair and sat by Harry's bed. He slowly ran his hand threw Harry's hair. 'He even sleeps like James,' thought Sirius, 'Harry doesn't deserve this.' Sirius just sat there for what seems like minutes, but were really hours. Sirius began to feel his eyelids get heavier and heavier. With a sigh, Sirius stood up and walked to the doorway, with one more glance at Harry over his shoulder, Sirius went to bed.
"Sirius! We're home!" Shouted Harry as he and Remus set down their bags. They waited a few while, but Sirius didn't reply.
"Hey! Padfoot! Where are you?!" Shouted Remus. Harry began to worry. 'What if something has happened to him?' A million and one bad thoughts and images flooded Harry's mind. Remus obviously noticed Harry's worried look.
Slowly Remus began to walk up the stairs followed by Harry. They checked Sirius' room, but he wasn't there. Then they checked all of the other rooms in the house…still no Sirius. Remus and Harry went back downstairs.
"Remus…where could he be?" Asked Harry. 'How could I have left Sirius here alone after my vision? I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to him…' thought Harry.
"I'm going to check in the kitchen one more time. If he isn't there, then we'll owl Dumbledor and go to search for him. Ok?" Remus, too was beginning to look a bit worried.
Harry nodded.
Just as Remus was walking into the kitchen there was a loud 'POP' and streamers were floating everywhere.
"SURPRISE!!!!!" Three voices said in unison. The voices were those of Ron, Hermione, and…Sirius. At the sound of Sirius' voice, Harry rushed into the kitchen, knocking over Remus on the way.
"SIRIUS! Harry shouted as he rushed into Sirius' arms, completely oblivious to Ron and Hermione.
"Where were you Padfoot?" asked Remus as he rubbed his head from where Harry had knocked him over. "We looked everywhere for you, why didn't you answer us?"
Sirius smirked.
"I was right here the whole time. You didn't see me because I had an invisibility charm put on Ron, Hermione, and me. We wanted to surprise Harry for his birthday. Well, were you surprised?"
Sirius was expecting a cheerful "yes" from his godson, but he got quite the opposite.
"SURPRISED?! Sirius, DON'T EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN! I THOUGHT SOMETHING BAD HAD HAPPENED TO YOU! I DON'T MIND SUPRISES, ACTUALLY, I LIKE THEM, BUT NEXT TIME YOU WANT TO SURPRISE ME, WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL REMEUS ABOUT IT SO THAT I AM NOT AS WORRIED?!" Sirius gawked at his godson as Harry tried to catch his breath.
"Yes, sir," said Sirius in a mock tone. Then he added: "But were you surprised?"
Harry laughed and thought 'Well, Sirius will be Sirius.' Soon, the entire room was laughing. Finally, Harry noticed the two extra people who were in the room.
"Ron! Hermione! What are you two doing here?!"
"Well," began Hermione, "Sirius owled us and said that he was throwing you a party for your birthday, so, of course, I came. And Sirius mentioned something about cake, so, of course, Ron came." Hermione dogged one of Ron's playful hits.
"Happy Birthday, Harry," said Ron.
"Well, why not get to the presents?" suggested Sirius.
The first gift was a pack of cards with Quidditch players on them fron Ron. From Hermione, Harry got a book called 101 Ways to Fake a Feint In Quidditch. From Remus, Harry got a Quidditch card. This card was different from the ones that Ron got Harry. This card was different because instead of having a Quidditch star on it, it had Harry on it. On the front, there was a picture of Harry doing a feint to catch the snitch. On the other side, it had a short biography on Harry. But what Harry loved most about his card was that in the biography, the fact that Harry has stood up to Voldemort was not mentioned at all. Finally, Harry was able to read something about himself that was about HIM and not about him AND Voldemort. From Sirius, Harry got two pieces of parchment. Harry looked up at Sirius, confused.
"Sirius! I didn't know that you sill had those!" shouted Remus as his eyes lit up.
"Did you expect me to throw them away? Honestly, Moony," Sirius looked back at Harry, who was still confused. Sirius' glance moved to Ron and Hermione, who looked equally dumbfounded. Sirius lightly laughed at their expressions.
"From mine and Moony's maraudering years," hinted Sirius.
"Oh! I get it! Like that Marauders Map, right?!" Harry and Ron said in unison. Remus and Sirius nodded.
"What does it do?" asked Harry.
"Take out your wand, tap the parchment, and use the same password that you use for the map."
"Ok," Harry tapped the parchment and then said: "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The parchment didn't change. Harry looked up at Sirius questioningly.
"Now, think of someone…someone who isn't in this room. Think of…" Sirius' mouth formed into a mischievous grin.
"Think of who?" asked Harry.
"Snape," Sirius said, holding back laughter.
"Snape…Ok," Harry was unsure of what was going to happen, but he trusted his godfather, so he imagined Snape.
"Harry! Look!" shouted Ron, pointing at the parchment. Harry looked down. What he saw was funny…yet disturbing.
It was Snape…in his room at Hogwarts…wearing nothing but a bathrobe… and he was…dancing?
"Snape? Mr. Fifty-Points-From-Griffendor-Because-You-Have-A-Life-And- I-Don't…dancing?" Hermione was completely stunned. Remus was grabbing his sides in laughter. Sirius was rolling all over the floor, unable to breathe from laughing so hard. Harry was laughing so hard that tears were running down his cheeks.
"Shake it, Snape!" shouted Ron as soon as he was able to gather up a little breath. Suddenly, Sirius and Remus stopped laughing and Snape stopped dancing.
"WEASLY?! WHERE ARE YOU?! WHEN I FIND YOU, 100 POINTS FROM GRIFFENDOR AND I WILL HAVE YOU EXPELLED BEFORE YOU CAN SAY QUIDDITCH! ARE POTTER AND GRANGER WITH YOU?! WHEN I FIND YOU I'LL-" Before Snape could finish, Remus had grabbed the parchment from Harry and muttered "Mischief Managed." Then, he and Sirius let out a large sigh in unison.
"Harry, Ron, Hermione, we forgot to tell you that it also works as a communicator." Harry, Ron, and Hermione's faces all lost their color at Remus' words. "Whatever you say above a whisper, the person your looking at can hear. And whatever they say above a whisper, we can hear."
"Oops…" was all Ron could find to say. After a moment of silence, the room broke out into fits of laughter again.
"Well, should we have the cake now?" asked Sirius.
"Wait, what does this piece of parchment do?" asked Harry, holding up the other piece of parchment.
"Oh, that. Well, although it is possible to charm regular pieces of parchment to do stuff like what the Marauders Map does, it is extremely difficult. This is a special parchment that makes it much easier to place charms on it."
"Wow…" Harry and Ron were both in marvel.
"Harry," whispered Ron once he though he was out of earshot range from everyone else, "Do you know how much trouble we could get into with something like this?" Grins spread across Ron and Harry's faces.
"I can't wait," replied Harry.
Ron and Harry had thought that nobody had heard them, but one other person had: Sirius.
Sirius grinned to himself. Although he hated it when Harry got into trouble, he loved to be a part fit when he did. Sirius was so happy to be there as Harry grew up to be more and more like James, but Sirius was overjoyed to watch Harry grow up to be more and more like himself.
"Sirius…Earth to Sirius…" Harry whistled to get Sirius' attention.
"Oh, sorry, Harry. So…how about that cake?"
Soon the night of fun and cake ended. Ron and Hermione traveled back home by floo powder after telling Harry goodbye.
"Thank you, Sirius. Thank you, Remus. I had a GREAT time!" said Harry as he hugged Sirius and Remus goodnight. "Well, I'd better be getting to bed. I leave for Hogwarts tomorrow. 'Night," and with that, Harry went to his room.
Remus walked over to Sirius and put his band on his shoulder.
"Well, Padfoot, you really did good. I think that was the best birthday Harry's ever had." Sirius nodded and said: "But I wish I could give him more. He is only a teenager, and he has the basically has the well- being of the entire world on his shoulders. He deserves so much better…" After a moment of silence, Remus got up.
"Well, Padfoot, I think I'll be headed off to bed as well. 'Night."
"'Night, Moony." And with that, Remus went to his room.
After Sirius was sure that Remus was asleep, he slowly crept into Harry's room. Sirius pulled up a chair and sat by Harry's bed. He slowly ran his hand threw Harry's hair. 'He even sleeps like James,' thought Sirius, 'Harry doesn't deserve this.' Sirius just sat there for what seems like minutes, but were really hours. Sirius began to feel his eyelids get heavier and heavier. With a sigh, Sirius stood up and walked to the doorway, with one more glance at Harry over his shoulder, Sirius went to bed.
