Impossibilities

Chapter 3 - Birthdays Etc.

Disclaimer: Nope still don't own it, wish I did, then I could tell a certain someone to hurry up and get the next book out *evil look towards the "certain someone"* * "certain someone" ignores evil look completely ignores tempest...* anywho have a nice day.

A/N: ok by the bye I'm writing this assuming you've read all the Harry Potter books and you know what I'm talking about when I mention names and places. If you haven't read any of the books I suggest you stop everything you are currently doing and run to the nearest book store buy all 4 books, read them as fast as you can, then return and read my lovely story. Of course if you would really rather just read mine...I won't complain.

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The weeks dragged by slowly, Harry was totally disconnected from the rest of the wizarding world. He wished he had a subscription to the Daily Prophet then he would know what was going on, instead of guessing and worrying himself silly.

Probably the worst part was the dull aching of his scar. It had flared up a few times pretty badly, but he'd pushed the thought of it aside as soon as it passed. He hadn't had any dreams, and Harry thought a burning scar wasn't exactly specific enough to be helpful.

The pain never really went away though, no matter what he tried. It was a never-ending sting: just enough to make his eyes water, not bad enough to make his knees buckle. As constant and inevitable as death and taxes.

But no matter how slight or how harsh the pain was, Harry knew it meant things were happening. Terrible things, yes: great, dark, terrible things. If only he knew what.

Currently, Harry lay on his back, having recently flopped himself on his bed. He stared up at the ceiling unhappily, wishing summer would be over. It was 4:06 am and 29...no 30... no 31... and thirty-something seconds. A tapping at the window, broke his silent reverie.

Harry immediately jumped up and threw open the window. Hedwig soared in carrying a large package and seeming VERY pleased with herself. Harry quickly relieved Hedwig of her load and she gratefully flew over to her waiting water dish. Luckily Harry had kept the water fresh and the cage clean out of habit while he'd waited for summer to end.

Curiosity mounting every second, Harry opened the package. Enclosed was a brown box and a letter. First things first Harry thought, and he opened the envelope.

Inside were two things, the first was a card with big flashy letters reading "HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!" As he watched the letters would rearrange themselves in various patterns first reading "HARRY DAY HAPPY BIRTH!" then nonsense patterns of "DAPPI ARRTH YARHH!"

Harry laughed softly and set the card aside. He was amazed that somehow his extreme boredom at the Dursley's had caused him to completely forget today was his birthday. Harry squinted in the moon light as he read the letter's contents.

Dear Harry~

Happy Birthday! Hedwig was so excited when she realized she was getting to go home to you. Thank you for letting me borrow her, she was extremely useful. I'd tell you why she was useful but this letter may be intercepted even with Hedwig carrying it. Can't be too careful.

Wow! Was that a laugh! You're father and Moony would never let me live it down if they heard me say the words 'be careful'! My old age has changed me.

Speaking of old age, you're getting along in years yourself. 15 years old. Now I remember being 15, best time of my life (aside from all those detentions...). I hope you enjoy yourself. I'm sure my little gift will help in that department.

Things are happening all over the country. Not good things I must admit, You-Know-Who's been busy. Nothing too drastic yet, so don't worry. Tell me if your scars been bothering you, we need all the information we can get. None of this noble, 'oh its not that bad, I don't think I'll tell anyone' nonsense.

I'm laying low at Moony's right now, Hedwig will know how to find me if you need to write (although I think she'll want to bond with you for a while first). Take care.

~Snuffles

P.S. Happy Birthday! ~Moony.

Harry grinned as he finished reading the letter. Then he quickly set it aside and opened the box that had come with it. Inside a mound of tissue paper lay a beautiful blue cylinder. It was about 6 inches long and an inch and a half around. Harry excitedly picked it up, but nothing happened.

A single slip of parchment fell to the ground from amongst the tissue paper. Harry hurriedly set the cylinder down and picked up the paper. It contained a note:

Harry~

I had one of these during my years at Hogwarts. Dead useful they are. Its called a "celare aeger" It Latin, roughly translating to "hidden light". To hard to remember though, we always called it the "cel-ger". Just hold it in your fist and say "refulgente" and it will give light only to you. If more than one person is touching it when you say the word it will give light to both of you. No one else can see it... need you ask why I liked it? To put it out say "Nox" like you would with your wand. Now stay out of trouble young Mr. Potter... or should I say Pronglet.

~Padfoot

"Wow, Sirius!" Harry whispered. Suddenly he remembered something similar from 2ond year during his accidentally trip down Knockturn Alley. ' "Ah, The Hand of Glory... Insert a candle and it gives light only to the holder! Best friend of thieves and plunderers!"'

Apparently marauders have their own Best Friend too, Harry thought ruefully.

He happily and set down the note and reached for the cylinder... cel-ger... he was about to say the spell to light it when he remembered something. No magic during the holidays.

Harry set the cel-ger down again with a sigh. Even wandless magic was a risk he didn't want to take. Mischief Making would have to wait until school started.

Harry was about to start a thank-you letter to Sirius when another owl flew in through the still open window. This owl was much smaller, much speedier, and MUCH less dignified than Hedwig. That's right, you guessed it, Pigwidgeon.

Pig zoomed around the room several times before Harry could catch him and pull the package he carried off of his leg. Then Pig flew around the room several more times peeping at the top of his lungs before Harry could grab him again and stick his mouth shut with a large owl treat.

Breathless, Harry turned back to the package. A card had been slipped in under the twine holding the package closed. Harry pulled it out and opened it.

HARRY!

Guess what?!?!?! Mum's convinced Dumbledore to let you stay with us for the last few weeks of summer. We'll pick you up in 4 days! Dad reckons you'd better pretend to ask the muggles again, but we're coming no matter what.

Happy Birthday mate. Sorry I haven't written before this, George and Fred wanted to borrow Pig for some "special reason". I would have said no, because I was worried they'd blow him up with one of their experiments but they uh... shall we say bribed me handsomely, and I couldn't refuse.

Mum was panicking for a while because the twins somehow acquired a large bit of gold for their joke shop. She was sure they were doing something illegal... but no one's reported anything yet.

I hope you like your present, and the muggles are treating you alright. See you soon!

Ron

P.S. Hermoine might come too, if her folks will let her. They like to see as much of her as they can though, since she's gone for so long during the school year, keep your fingers crossed.

P.P.S. Don't worry about the Floo Powder and the fireplace this time. We're picking you up in the car. THAT'S RIGHT! The old car we crashed 2ond year. Remember how it was moping about in the Forbidden Forest? Well it showed up in our driveway the other day, must've flown over by itself. Dad had a field day fixing it up and now its as good as, if not better than, new!

Smile growing every minute Harry picked up the package and gently shook it. A muffled rattle responded. Mind whirling Harry untied the string and pulled off the paper. Inside lay a silver box with the words. "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - Limited Edition" glowing on top.

Snapping open the lid Harry's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as he gazed at the contents of the box. It was neatly arranged with little compartments each filled with something ingenious. A little book marked "Mischief Making Miracles" lay on one side. Harry picked it up and laughed out loud as he read the first page.

Dedicated to the greatest mischief makers of all time: Prongs, Padfoot, Moony, and Wormtail.

Just wait until I show that to Sirius and Remus, Harry thought. Following the dedication was page after page of how-to pranks and jokes. Special ingredients or tools included in the kit were highlighted in scarlet.

On the back of the book was a note from Ron expressing his excitement of the following school year. "OWLS might not be so bad, with this to keep us from over studying" read one part.

Harry happily closed the WWW-EL box and propped his cards against the window. Suddenly he was very tired. Deciding to get a few more hours sleep before he wrote any thank you's Harry crossed the room to his bed.

Harry absentmindedly wondered why Hermoine hadn't sent anything. But he was too tired to be properly miffed.

Unknown to Harry, as he pulled off his glasses and sank down between the sheets, someone was watching him. Someone with eyes that recognized the cel-ger when Harry opened it. Eyes that followed his movements as he read Ron's letter and unwrapped his second present. Eyes that distantly wondered what it would have been like to be sending a gift as well. Someone who quickly pushed aside that traitor thought.

Someone was watching, this couldn't be good.

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In a few chapters Harry will be going to Hogwarts (duh he does that in like EVERY story.... so original tempest, so original.) so if you would like to have your name used as a student or pick another name... tell me what you want to look like and brief personality along with name. I wanna keep fairly accurate to the book so you cannot be in Gryffindor unless you are a first year. If you would like to be older than a first year tell me what house besides Gryffindor you would like to be in. Gryffindor is already too established to make an addition now seem reasonable... ya get my drift? I can't promise you a big part or anything... but your name will be mentioned... I just don't want to have to make up all the first years and this is more fun. *wink*

Oh and Kat (you know who you are) Lucy's already decided what house your being in and what name you're using so unless you have a really good reason why she should change her mind: you're stuck. lol and I expect you to review this time. (: - P)

Harriet: Thank you for reviewing... I loved all of your ideas about how they could come back... that is kinda what I was going for you even had a few more ideas i hadn't thought of; I think I'll use a few of them, *grin*. If you really must you may correct my writing cause I'm sure its really bad.... so sorry...but I can't really help it... I'll try... some habits (like dot dot dot's) are hard to break. Also thank you for pointing out the whole Harry's scar not hurting when Wormtail got the curse put on him, I didn't even think of that. I'll try to work something in about that. sorry.

kaydee: THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for reviewing. You are SUCH a confidence booster. You're the greatest... I really hope you remember by pen name and story so you can read this latest addition.

goldenrose: pretty name: I like I like. I also like that you enjoyed my chapter *hugs computer* you make me feel much better bout meself here's the next chapter

louie: HERE YOU GO! thanks a bunch for reviewing!