Harry's stay with Mrs. Figg was drawing to a close. Lupin was also leaving soon, only two days before Harry. Harry was trying not to think about Privet Drive or about the Dursleys. Fortunately, something that kept his mind off his cousin Dudley was the fact that the fourth-last day before his reluctant return to number four Privet Drive was his birthday. That morning, Harry woke feeling mixed emotions. He was excited about his birthday, but he dreaded the prospect of having to go back to the Dursleys after one of the most pleasant months of his life. Harry walked slowly down the stairs to the kitchen, trying to memorize everything he saw, smelled and felt in the house, including the cabbagey/Wolfsbane potion odour and the sight of cat (and Kneazle) hair on everything. He pushed open the door to the kitchen and jumped back in astonishment when there was a shout of-

"SURPRISE!"

Confetti floated down on Lupin and Mrs. Figg, who stood beneath a banner which read "Happy 15th Birthday Harry". Between them was the kitchen table, and on the kitchen table was a giant birthday cake with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" written in pink icing. Fifteen green candles dotted the chocolatey surface.

Harry was speechless.

Lupin beamed. "Happy birthday, Harry! We were certain you'd never had a birthday party before, so here we are!"

"I made that cake," said Mrs. Figg with much pride. "I hope you like chocolate."

"It's an excellent cake, and I love chocolate," Harry reassured her as he found his voice again. "You're right, I never had a birthday party before." He looked around at the decorated kitchen wonderingly. "How did you do this without my finding out? I never thought- I mean I didn't- well, thank you!"

"You're welcome, Potter," said Mrs. Figg. A swish of her wand set the candles alight. "Now, make a wish!"

"But don't tell us what it is," interjected Lupin, "or else it won't come true."

"Blow out the candles!" urged Mrs. Figg.

Harry's face split into a wide grin. It was the first time in his life that he was ever making a wish on his birthday cake. After a moment's though, Harry blew out the candles in one breath, thinking his wish but not voicing it aloud. Lupin and Mrs. Figg cheered.

"Open your presents!" cried Lupin. He flicked his wand and a pile of gifts suddenly appeared at Harry's feet. While Mrs. Figg sliced the birthday cake, Harry ripped the ribbons and wrappings off the gifts and discovered thoughtful tokens from all of his friends.

Ron Weasley had sent a watch which Harry initially thought was a regular Muggle wristwatch, but which turned out on closer inspection to have been magically tinkered with, undoubtedly with the help of Ron's Muggle-obsessed father.

Ron's older twin brothers, Fred and George, had also sent a parcel. Harry opened it prudently, and was not surprised when its contents exploded in his face. He was, however, startled to find another box inside the first, after the smoke cleared. This one was long and thin, and contained several fake wands from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the twins' joke-making venture.

Hermione Granger's gift was a thick book of the history of the British Quidditch league, with a card that had been charmed to pop open and persistently sing "Happy Birthday" at him, until he tied it shut with a ribbon.

Sirius Black sent a brand new lime green Fwooper-tail quill which wrote in appropriately matching lime green ink.

From Rubeus Hagrid, Hogwarts groundskeeper, there was an enchanted Hippogriff figurine, which Hagrid apparently thought would evoke fond memories from Harry. The figurine, however, behaved exactly like a full- size Hippogriff would, and was not so fond of Harry at first. It flew out of its box straight at Harry's face the moment he pulled off the cover. Harry ducked and the miniature Hippogriff, obviously outraged at having been cooped up in a box for several hours, narrowly missed clawing two talonfuls of hair off the top of his head. It turned back for another pass, but Tibbles leapt up out of nowhere and knocked the figurine out of the air. Harry managed grab a box and shut the Hippogriff model back inside. Once the box had been secured with Tibbles sitting on top of it, Harry went on and opened the rest of his presents.

Dean Thomas, who was very good at drawing, had painted a picture of the Hogwarts crest and framed it. Seamus Finnigan had given Harry a package of Acid Pops, a candy which had once burned a hole right through Ron Weasley's tongue. Parvati Patil's present was a big bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Ginny Weasley, Ron's younger sister who had a big crush on Harry, gave him a large sugar quill.

The pile dwindled until there was one present left. It was a large, heavy package wrapped in scarlet paper with gold polka dots and a golden ribbon. Harry opened the card. His jaw dropped when he saw the signature at the bottom. Lupin peered over his shoulder and made an impressed noise. "Albus Dumbledore sent you a birthday gift?"

"He's so thoughtful," raved Mrs. Figg as she finished her slice of cake. "Why, I remember once when I had broken my leg, he sent me a box of chocolates and the entire Westminster Abbey choir to sing me lullabies. Albus is just so kind, it's no wonder everyone likes him. What did he send you, Potter?"

Harry opened the box and found a shallow stone basin with strange carvings etched on the rim. He stared at it uncomprehendingly until Mrs. Figg looked inside the box and smiled. "Why, it's a Pensieve! I've heard it's a bit like a memory well. Haven't you seen one of these before, Potter?"

Then Harry did recognize the object. It was a shallower, empty version of the Pensieve that Dumbledore himself owned. Harry had had a chance to observe the Pensieve, a magical invention, at work the year before, when he had accidentally fallen into Dumbledore's memories, preserved in the stone basin in the form of quicksilver strands. And now he had one of his own. The Pensieve's purpose was to organize the user's mind by keeping their surplus thoughts in the basin, for future reference or meditation. Harry thought this was a very useful gift, and decided to remember to thank Professor Dumbledore the next time he saw him.

He turned back to Mrs. Figg and Lupin, intending to express his gratitude.

"I want to thank you," began Harry, and then he couldn't say any more because his throat was inexplicably choked up. But Mrs. Figg came and gave him a warm hug and Lupin patted him kindly on the shoulder, and he knew they both understood.

* * *

The rest of the time passed like a blur for Harry. Remus Lupin packed his trunk and Disapparated, not telling Harry where he was going but promising that they would meet again soon. Then it came Harry's turn to pack up his belongings and get ready to leave. When the end of Harry's stay with Mrs. Figg finally came about, he was surprised to find that he was genuinely sorry. Normally he had no one to talk to during the summer, besides Hedwig. Mrs. Figg and Lupin were excellent company, and had made Harry's summer much less lonely.

The day of his departure arrived. The Dursleys came back from the airport at three o'clock. Harry went home at four. Before he left, he stood on the front walkway and Mrs. Figg stood on the porch, both at a loss for words. They looked just like when Harry had arrived, but now there was a different atmosphere. Harry didn't know what to say to the caring woman who had taught him so much in the space of four weeks and who had been watching over him since he was a baby. Finally he broke the silence by saying, "I can come visit you every day, can't I?"

Surprisingly, Mrs. Figg shook her head. "It would stir up a lot of questions. I'm meant to be the mad old cat lady of the neighbourhood, and you're supposed to be the wayward scamp who attends St. Brutus' Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys. It would look awfully peculiar if you suddenly started wandering over here all the time, wouldn't it? And in any case, even if you did come after today, you would find an empty house. I won't be back here for a while. I'm going away to deal with business."

"What sort of business?" asked Harry before he could curb his curiosity.

"That's not for you to know," said Mrs. Figg loftily. "I leave tonight. Now off you go, there's a good lad." She patted Harry on the head and smiled affectionately at him. "Good-bye, Potter. I enjoyed your stay very much, rather more than I thought I would."

"Thank you for letting me stay with you, Mrs. Figg," said Harry. "I really do appreciate all you did."

Then Harry turned around and dragged his trunk and Hedwig, in her cage, off the porch.

"Oh, Potter," called Mrs. Figg, and Harry stopped on the sidewalk. "I have one more little thing for you." With a furtive glance around the empty street, Mrs. Figg pointed her wand at Harry's trunk and murmured a spell. Little wheels were conjured up out of nowhere and fastened to the bottom of Harry's trunk. "I'd make it levitate by itself but that would be even more suspicious than mysteriously appearing wheels."

Harry grinned. "Thanks, Mrs. Figg!"

Mrs. Figg smiled wordlessly, and went inside her house. And Harry pulled his trunk back to number four Privet Drive, where a red, sunburnt Dudley was waiting, inventing fictitious tales of how much fun he'd in Barbados to taunt Harry with.