Chapter Two
A Pleasant Surprise
The next morning Harry woke up before the sun rose and wished himself a happy birthday. He ate his cake from Mrs. Weasley in bed, knowing he would be eating one of her wonderful home cooked meals tonight. Harry then began thinking about the wonderful day ahead. The fact that he had yet another dream about Lord Voldemort and Cedric's death didn't upset how truly happy his was right now.
After he heard the Dursleys go down stairs he changed clothes and made his way to the kitchen. Harry ate his 1/8th of a grapefruit with a smile; nothing was going to bother him today. While he was eating Uncle Vernon eyed him suspiciously.
Uncle Vernon was about to ask him why he was smiling but changed his mind. "Well, I guess you can come with us up to London today, we don't have a place to leave…" As Uncle Vernon was finishing his sentence the phone rang.
"Hello…" Uncle Vernon said, followed by a long pause during which a rare smile graced Uncle Vernon's face.
"Thank you Mrs. Figg. He will be right over." He stated as he hung up the phone turning to Harry.
"You! Go to Mrs. Figg's house. She has offered to take you for the day while we go to London. Go over there now so we can leave." Uncle Vernon ordered Harry.
Usually this news would have upset Harry but not today. He left the room as quickly as he could without running. As Harry opened the door he hear Uncle Vernon yell "Remember you go to St. Brutus's Secure Center for the Incurably Criminal Boys!!"
As he walked the two blocks to Mrs. Figg's house Harry looked everywhere for the familiar sight of the large shaggy dog that was his godfather. Mrs. Figg met him at the door with open arms. She had never hugged Harry before, but he stiffly allowed her to.
"It is so nice to see you." She began. "I am glad Vernon didn't mind you coming over."
"Mind," Harry stammered, "mind, he practically shoved me out of the door!"
"That's what I expected." Mrs. Figg replied with a smile as she showed Harry to the couch. Harry sat down not knowing what to expect. "It is so refreshing to talk with a wizard, face to face, instead of the irritating muggles who live here. I assume you received Sirius' letter last night?" Harry was unable to speak but he nodded. With every word out of her mouth Mrs. Figg was blowing Harry's mind. It was harder than he thought it would be to accept the fact that Mrs. Figg was a witch, but he had to admit it was comforting.
The door to the hallway opened with a creak and Sirius stood smiling broadly at Harry. Harry ran to him and hugged him tightly. Sirius had obviously had a haircut and had shaved; he looked young and healthy.
"I'm so glad to see you!" Harry said straitening up quickly, while not allowing himself to stop looking at Sirius. He realized that it wasn't quite as large a gap in their heights. "Why are you here? Won't they catch you?" He blurted out realizing that he was looking his Godfather eye to eye for the first time in a month.
"It's okay Harry. Arabella has been kind enough to let me stay here for a few days so I could visit you for your birthday. I had to see you one more time before you go to the Weasley's." Seeing Harry's confused face he quickly explained, "Mrs. Weasley and I have been keeping in touch this summer to watch over you. I have also been in touch with Arabella." As he spoke Sirius and Harry walked over to the couch and sat down. After Harry got all of his questions out he and Sirius sat and talked.
"Harry, it looks like someone is going to need to start shaving soon." Sirius said with a grin as he messed up Harry's already messy hair. Harry hadn't noticed that he was beginning to grow facial hair. "And it looks like you are gaining mussel. You really do remind me SO much of James! The two of you even have the same growth pattern!" Sirius laughed looking at his Godson. Arabella came in and interrupted to announce lunch.
As the three sat down at the kitchen table Harry asked Mrs. Figg why she hadn't mentioned her true identity before now. She quickly changed the subject. Harry decided not to press the subject because he was having the best birthday ever.
"What has been happening in the wizarding world?" Harry asked realizing that he was able to talk to two adult wizards for the first since June.
"Not much has changed." Sirius answered.
"Ron mentioned something about attacks, what happened?" Harry pressed looking from his godfather to Mrs. Figg.
"Oh, he told you did he? I should have expected that. Well, Fudge is being stubborn like he always has been. Several Wizards have disappeared and many have been found dead. The ones that have been found look like they had been in excruciating pain at the time of death. Many know this could only be the work of dark wizards, the only reason they would be this daring is because Voldemorte is back. Fudge is just being an ass and refuses to accept the truth. Most of the Ministry is still on his side. They believe they can catch the perpetrators. Muggles have also been attacked, nothing in a large open area but some in remote villages near the homes of the Wizards that were attacked." Sirius gravely explained, "But enough of this boring talk, tell me about this girlfriend of Dudley's!" Sirius' mouth twisted into a wicked grin.
"Oh, her…" Harry moaned rolling his eyes, "… Frances, that's her name, is VERY irritating. She reminds me of Aunt Petunia. They look like they could be sisters. Frances and Dudley deserve each other. I thought Dudley was paying her but after last night I don't think so. She actually likes him!" Harry said as he explained the events of last night while he Sirius and Mrs. Figg ate lunch.
At 1:00 Mrs. Figg looked at the clock, "It's time." She muttered to herself as she left the room. Harry and Sirius were too busy talking to pay attention.
"Sirius, Harry, why don't you two come in hear and I will come and clean up the dishes!" Mrs. Figg called. When they entered the room the logs in the fireplace had been lit. This was odd because it was July 31. At that moment Voices were heard coming from the fireplace.
"Mum! Geroff me!!!" Harry realized it was Ron! What was Ron doing at Mrs. Figg's house? Ron and Mrs. Weasley stepped out of the fireplace.
"Happy Birthday Harry!!" Ron and Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as they came over to Harry. Ron gave Harry a fast hug then proceeded to say hello to Sirius. Mrs. Weasley had done the opposite, she had gone to Sirius and given him a large hug and then moved to Harry and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Harry, you have grow so much, at least five inches since last time I saw you!" Mrs. Weasley carried on. Harry realized he had grown, and changed since he had seen his best friend. Ron had changed as well. He was taller and had lost the roundness of his face. He looked much older than he had the previous year.
The group then turned to see Hermione pop into the fireplace.
"Hi Harry, Happy Birthday!" Hermione shouted as she ran and gave Harry a tight hug. "Hi Ron!" She added, as an after thought, giving Ron an awkward hug. Hermione had changed Harry realized immediately. How could someone change so much in a month, he had no idea but she definitely had. She now had curves where there had been none.
"Surprise!!!" exclaimed Sirius. Harry was speechless.
Sirius explained how they planed the whole thing. While he was explaining the planing process for this little party Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Figg brought in a large chocolate Birthday cake. Everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to Harry as he stared from face to face in disbelief. Harry realized this was the first Birthday party he had ever had. Wow, this is amazing Harry thought grinning as everyone finished singing to him. This is why people actually look forward to their birthdays.
"Harry, you have to blow out the candles and make a wish!" Ron explained.
"What should I wish for, everything I could think of wishing for is happening!" Harry rationalized.
"Well, Charlie always told us to wish for a girlfriend. Are there any girls you would like to date?" Ron asked with a mischievous grin.
Harry felt his face turning red but decided to take Ron's advice. He concentrated on his wish. "I wish that Cho Chang was my girlfriend!" Harry silently wished as he blew out the candles. Mrs. Weasley flicked her wand at the cake and it split into large pieces. While they ate, everyone visited and caught up with what was going on in their lives. Sirius slipped away for a minute and returned with a large package.
"Happy Birthday Harry!" Sirius shouted as he gave Harry the large present.
"Wow! Sirius this party was enough you didn't have to buy me a gift." Harry insisted looking at his godfather. Knowing that he sounded sappy.
"What kind of Godfather would I be if I didn't give my godson a present for his birthday. You should have had a birthday party each year of your life but I'm still trying to makeup for the past fourteen years! Go on, Open It!" Sirius grinned as he spoke.
Harry knew the look in Sirius' eyes it reminded him of his own eyes when he was determined to do something. He unwrapped the present with some help from an excited Ron. It was a box that read FIREBOLT UPGRADE KIT: Speed Enhancement Kit.
Ron group goggled at the present. Hermione obviously didn't know the importance of the gift. Harry jumped up and gave his godfather a hug.
"Thank you, this is amazing!" Harry said.
"The add said it increases the speed by 15 to 20 seconds. It contains stirrups for tucking your feet under you to make you more aerodynamic. It is being used by the professional seekers." Sirius explained.
"We can enhance your broom at the Burrow!" Ron said grinning.
"That's right!" Harry exclaimed realizing that he would be leaving the Dursley's, for a year, this evening. The rest of the afternoon passed quickly with conversations about everything from the comings and goings of Death Eaters, to the Daily Prophet and the mysterious disappearance of Ritta Skeeter. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other and laughed knowing the reasons behind Ritta's disappearance. Harry looked around with a perpetual smile on his face.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were making predictions on who would be Quiditch captain of their house team since Oliver Wood, Gryfendor's captain, had finished school at Hogwarts two years ago. They seemed to agree that it would be Angelina Johnson.
"Oh, Harry I forgot to tell you, Oliver is now a full time player for THE CANNON'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ron exclaimed looking as if he couldn't believe he had forgotten to tell Harry. They began to jabber about how excited this was to know a professional quiditch player.
"You do know Victor, you two!" Hermione interjected.
"Yeah, but not like Oliver, I haven't spent countless hours with Victor on the quiditch field." Harry said looking at the discussed expression on Ron's face.
"Here you have to read this!" Ron said pulling out a folded up piece of parchement. Upon closer observation Harry realized it was an article from The Daily Prophet. There was a picture of seven Quidditch players all standing and waving back to Harry. In the middle was the familiar face of Oliver Wood. The article was short but spoke of the 'Amazing Gryffindor come back over the past few years under the lead of Oliver Wood.' It didn't even mention that Harry was on the team, or that he had won the last game for then the year they finally won the Quidditch cup. Harry was relieved. He read over the article and handed it back to Ron who was too busy arguing to really see Harry grinning about Oliver's new position.
The Phone rang interrupting the fight that was beginning between Ron and Hermione. Mrs. Figg left the room to answer it. About five minutes later she returned.
"Your Aunt and Uncle just called Harry." She stated, "They explained that you have been granted an extra month at your school because you are such a hopeless case." Everyone laughed at this news. "I believe they received Molly's letter and want you out as soon as possible."
"Arthur and the twins will be driving to pick you up. We are borrowing a car from the ministry on Dumbledore's insistence. They should be here in about half an hour. He will pick us up first and then we will come and get you." Mrs. Weasley explained as Harry rose to leave.
"I'll follow you." Sirius said. Harry knew not to argue. As he said goodbye to Hermione Sirius changed to the familiar shape of a large shaggy dog.
"I'll see you in two weeks Harry. You two better send me owl's at Victor's" Hermione instructed Harry and Ron as she took a handful of Floo powder from an urn on the mantel. She tossed it into the fire and stepped in and yelled "Krum Manor" as the flames rose with a POP! She was gone.
Harry thanked Mrs. Figg on his way to the door; feeling relieved to know that he wasn't completely cut off from the wizarding world while he was on Privet Drive. Sirius followed Harry the whole way to the Dursleys, not too close to make it suspicious but close enough to protect him if anything were to happen. Once they were three doors down from Number Four Harry hugged the huge dog and told him to keep in touch. As great of a day as Harry had he hardly was expecting to be greeted with open arms by the Dursleys.
"That friend of yours is going to come and get you. Hurry up and pack. They will be here in twenty minutes! They better come the NORMAL way! I don't want the neighbor's thinking we are anything abnormal." Uncle Vernon grunted as Harry hurried up the stairs to get his things together. He didn't have too many things to pack so it took very little time.
He maid sure to grab the essay on the Sphinx that he had written for Defense Against the Dark Arts. As he was closing his trunk and checking the room one last time the doorbell rang. He smiled knowing this was his ride.
"Harry get down here with your stuff!" Uncle Vernon barked at Harry from the bottom of the stairs. Harry dragged his trunk to the door and opened it to see Fred, George and Ron smiling at him on the opposite side of the doorframe smelling of chocolate cake. Fred and George took his trunk down stairs as Harry and Ron got Hedwig's cage and the Firebolt. When they reached the bottom of the stairs George and Fred were going outside with his trunk. Aunt Petunia and Mrs. Weasley were talking politely. They were both struggling to be polite. Ron smiled at Harry not saying anything, but they both were really glad Harry was getting out of this house and going to the Burrow.
"Harry!! How are you?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as if she hadn't seen her missing son in months grabbing Harry in a tight hug.
"Do you have all of your things?" Uncle Vernon asked forcing himself to sound civil.
"Yes." Harry replied.
"Well, we will see you next summer." Uncle Vernon stated; straining to not sound overly excited. He rushed them to the door and said Goodbye. The door shut so quickly it almost hit them in the bum. Harry heard what sounded like shouts of rejoice coming from the occupants of Number Four. He had to laugh thinking that as happy as the Dursley's were that he was gone, Harry himself was ten times happier to be leaving.
Harry and the Weasley's walked to the car.
"Hi Harry!" Mr. Weasley said smiling broadly to see Harry. Everyone got in the car. Harry was amazed at the space inside the car. It reminded him of the old Ford Angular. He thought of what had happened to the old car still feeling guilty for getting Mr. Weasley into so much trouble with the Ministry.
"Wow, this is really spacious!" Harry said.
"Yeah, after seeing the modifications I made to the Angulair the Ministry had the same modifications made to all of their cars." Mr. Weasley explained grinning.
"One change though, it has a better invisibility shield." Ron added with a grin. After everyone was settled in their seats Mr. Weasley pressed a small round button on the dashboard with is wand. Everything became invisible. Harry knew Ron was next to him but he couldn't see him, he couldn't even see himself. As he gawked at this ability the car rose high above the clouds and on its way.
The ride was thoroughly enjoyable. Harry thought it was like the past year had never happened well, except for the World Quiditch Cup. They were still talking about it. Those seated in the back seat still pored over every detail of every move used in the game. Ron interjected "Krum isn't that great of a player!" to everyone's surprise, except Harry. "What? He's not!" Ron protested to everyone's mellow-dramatic gasps. The group laughed. Harry mused that Ron was giving them all insulted looks. It was likely a good thing that they were invisible.
When they got to the Burrow Ginny, Bill, and Charlie met them at the front door. Harry was amused to see that Bill had not cut his hair or taken out his earring much to Mrs. Weasley's chagrin. Harry wondered how long it would be before Mrs. Weasley started complaining about it this trip. They went from person to person exchanging hugs and Mrs. Weasley was giving everyone kisses. Harry even gave Ginny an awkward hug, thanking her for the birthday card. She then turned a brilliant shade of red but didn't run into the house. Harry realized this changed before being swept into the house by Mrs. Weasley. That wasn't the only change in Ginny he noticed. She didn't look like a little girl anymore. She was a young lady now, complete with curves. What happened to the two closest female friends he had, Harry wandered.
Bill grabbed Harry's school trunk out of the car and took it up to Ron's room. As Harry entered the room after them he noticed the extra mattresses that almost covered the floor. Ron was right behind him in the hallway.
"I'm SO glad Dumbledore let you come and stay with us!" Ron exclaimed.
"Me too!" Harry replied grinning.
"I think it has something to do with the fact that Bill and Charlie are here. I read part of a letter he wrote Mum, but she caught me before I could finish it. He mentioned something about a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. I didn't get to read the name before Mum came in. I think Bill and Charlie know but they won't tell me." Ron was talking as if Bill wasn't in the room. Upon the mention of his name Bill went pink.
"I don't know anything more than you do!" He protested. "If you too don't mind I'm going to bed. I have had a long day and could use a good nights sleep." Bill informed the two best friends as he walked out of the room.
"He is going to write to Fleur!" Ron said after Bill had left the room. "He writes to her EVERY day!"
Just then Mrs. Weasley's voice drifted up the stairs into their room. "Harry, Ron, go to sleep!" They changed into their pajamas and laid down. Fred and George walked in already in their pajamas. Everyone muttered their goodnights and went to sleep.
