Chapter 11: Harry's Birthday
Everyone sat around the living room waiting for Remus and Albus to return, Ron and Harry playing Wizard's Chess, Hermione and Ginny giggling about an article in teen witch weekly. Fred and George were up in their room, making more of the stupefy stickies. Mrs.Weasley and the two house elves were in the kitchen finishing up the feast for the party. Ron had just finished beating Harry for the third time when they heard the whoosh of the floo network activating. The four teens ran into the kitchen to see who was arriving. As they ran into the room, Remus Lupin stepped out of the fireplace, quickly followed by Albus Dumbledore.
"Molly, if you would turn on the WWN, Fudge will be announcing Sirius' innocence in a press conference in just a few minutes. They administered the Veritaserum to him and he cleared Sirius," Albus told them. Just then, the announcer came on the wireless,
"We interrupt this Weird Sisters song for a special announcement from the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge," he said.
They heard a man clearing his voice, "Three years ago, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban Prison, and was assumed to be out to kill Harry Potter. He has been on the run from the Ministry, the Dementors, and the muggle authorities. Today a person that was thought killed by Mr. Black, Peter Pettigrew, was captured by none other than The-boy-who-lived, Harry Potter. He was questioned by the Ministry, under the influence of Veritaserum, and he confirmed the story told almost three years ago, by Mr. Potter, Mr. Ronald Weasley, and Miss. Hermione Granger. He will be sentenced by the wizard's council tomorrow, it is most likely that he will receive the Dementor's Kiss. Mr. Black has been cleared of all charges, and he will be compensated by the Ministry of Magic for his twelve years in Azkaban and his three years on the run. Mr. Black is the Godfather of Mr. Harry Potter, and as soon as he is found, guardianship of Mr. Potter will be transferred to him."
All eyes in the room turned to Harry, who was standing with tears in his eyes. "Now it's not just a birthday party, it's a celebration of Sirius' innocence," Harry said. "I just wish that he was still alive to enjoy it." Ginny walked over and hugged the crying boy.
"You did it Harry, you cleared his name. Sirius and your parents would be so proud of you," Ginny told him. She kissed his cheek and led him to the kitchen table. "I'm proud of you. We are lucky to be considered your friends."
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Two hours later the party was in full swing, the tables in the yard were heaped with food, and the WWN was playing loudly for everyone to hear.
"Well Harry, how does it feel to be sixteen?" Hermione asked him.
"No different from being fifteen, I guess. I've only been sixteen for one day," he told her laughing. "Only one more year, Hermione, then I will never have to go to the Dursley's again."
Ron came up behind them, "Only two more years of school, I wonder what it's going to be like, not having to go to transfiguration and potions," he said. "It will be strange, we won't be together everyday anymore. I hope that we don't forget about each other."
Hermione sighed, "That won't happen, Ron. You and Harry are my best friends, I'll never forget about you, either of you. We'll just have to set up times to spend together. I can work out a schedule for us to meet, and we'll see each other on holidays. Maybe we'll even work in the same field."
Ron and Harry rolled their eyes at her comment about the schedule, "Don't worry Ron, we'll always be friends," Harry told him.
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Mrs. Weasley carried out the cake that she had decorated for Harry's birthday, and behind her Ginny carried a smaller one that read 'Congratulations Sirius'. She served the giant chocolate cake with sides of pumpkin ice cream that she and Ginny had made.
"Mrs.Weasley, I think that this has been the best birthday of my entire life, not to mention my first birthday party," Harry told her before he wrapped her in a hug that rivaled one of her own.
"We would do anything for you Harry dear, you are just like one of our own sons," she stated, sniffling.
Ginny came running over, and grabbed Harry's arm, "It's time for you to open presents," she said quite loudly. Harry followed her across the garden to one of the tables.
Ron handed Harry his gift first, "Something that I knew you needed," he told him. Harry quickly un-wrapped the package and found a new set of Quidditch pads.
"Thanks Ron, I really did need these," he said as Hermione handed him her gift.
He stared at the small package, expecting the same gift that he always received from Hermione, a book. "Isn't this too small for a book, Hermione?" he asked.
She lightly swatted his arm, "I didn't want to get you a book this year," she said, sticking out her tongue.
He un-wrapped the gift and pulled out the Stag pendant that she had bought. "Hermione, thank you," he said, looking longingly at the stag. "It looks just like I pictured Prongs."
Remus looked at the pendant, "If that's how you pictured him, you did a good job. Hermione, where did you find this at?" he asked.
She leaned over and spoke to him softly, "At a shop called Magical Jewelry, it's a soul mate pendant," she told him. She watched Harry open his other gifts out of the corner of her eye.
"Magical Jewelry? That shop hasn't been open since I was in school," he told her.
She looked at him, "Well, last week, Ron and I went shopping for Harry's gift, and it was open. Harry even bought Ginny a pendant from the same store, hers is a unicorn."
Remus looked at Harry and Ginny thoughtfully, "I'll be back, I have to check something out."
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Remus returned about half an hour later, and motioned for Hermione to join him. They walked over to where Albus was standing, a plate with a piece of cake in his hand.
"Albus, when was the last time that you saw the shop Magical Jewelry open?" he asked the headmaster.
He looked thoughtful, "I believe that it was your sixth or seventh year, when James and Lily had their pendants made," he said, "Why Remus?"
Remus looked around to be sure that no one was listening, "Because when Hermione and Ron went to get Harry's gifts, it was open. Hermione bought Harry a pendant that looks shockingly like James' stag form. That same day, Harry bought Ginny a unicorn pendant from the same shop." He paused and checked around again, "I just came back from there, Albus. The shop isn't there, and none of the shop keepers have seen it."
Albus stroked his beard, "I think that I must take a look at these pendants."
Hermione, Remus and Albus walked over to where Harry and Ginny were sitting together, laughing at a large yellow canary sitting in front of them. A few seconds later, it molted and became Bill.
"Harry, Ginny, might I have a word with you?" Albus asked.
"Of course, Professor Dumbledore," they both replied.
They went into the kitchen of the burrow, and Albus explained what had happened. Harry and Ginny both removed their necklaces and handed them to Professor Dumbledore. "I think that maybe you and Professor Lupin should check them out before we wear them again, Professor," Ginny told them.
"Have they done anything strange?" he asked, looking at both teens.
Ginny blushed, "It gets warm whenever I'm near Harry," she told them quietly.
"I only had mine on for a little while, but it did get warm when Ginny came over," he said, blushing one shade lighter than Ginny.
Remus smiled, "We'll have them checked out, and you will have them back if they are okay."
"Will we get them back soon," Ginny asked, turning even redder.
"Don't worry Gin, if we don't get them back, I'll buy you a new necklace in Hogsmead, during the first visit of the year," he told her, patting her shoulder.
A/N: Sorry, I couldn't put the surprise into this chapter, had to do Harry's birthday. I promise that it will be in the next chapter (It's called Shock on the Hogwarts Express), and I'm going to post it as soon as it is finished, (I'm working on it now, so hopefully tonight.) Thanks again to my awesome reviewers.
Everyone sat around the living room waiting for Remus and Albus to return, Ron and Harry playing Wizard's Chess, Hermione and Ginny giggling about an article in teen witch weekly. Fred and George were up in their room, making more of the stupefy stickies. Mrs.Weasley and the two house elves were in the kitchen finishing up the feast for the party. Ron had just finished beating Harry for the third time when they heard the whoosh of the floo network activating. The four teens ran into the kitchen to see who was arriving. As they ran into the room, Remus Lupin stepped out of the fireplace, quickly followed by Albus Dumbledore.
"Molly, if you would turn on the WWN, Fudge will be announcing Sirius' innocence in a press conference in just a few minutes. They administered the Veritaserum to him and he cleared Sirius," Albus told them. Just then, the announcer came on the wireless,
"We interrupt this Weird Sisters song for a special announcement from the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge," he said.
They heard a man clearing his voice, "Three years ago, Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban Prison, and was assumed to be out to kill Harry Potter. He has been on the run from the Ministry, the Dementors, and the muggle authorities. Today a person that was thought killed by Mr. Black, Peter Pettigrew, was captured by none other than The-boy-who-lived, Harry Potter. He was questioned by the Ministry, under the influence of Veritaserum, and he confirmed the story told almost three years ago, by Mr. Potter, Mr. Ronald Weasley, and Miss. Hermione Granger. He will be sentenced by the wizard's council tomorrow, it is most likely that he will receive the Dementor's Kiss. Mr. Black has been cleared of all charges, and he will be compensated by the Ministry of Magic for his twelve years in Azkaban and his three years on the run. Mr. Black is the Godfather of Mr. Harry Potter, and as soon as he is found, guardianship of Mr. Potter will be transferred to him."
All eyes in the room turned to Harry, who was standing with tears in his eyes. "Now it's not just a birthday party, it's a celebration of Sirius' innocence," Harry said. "I just wish that he was still alive to enjoy it." Ginny walked over and hugged the crying boy.
"You did it Harry, you cleared his name. Sirius and your parents would be so proud of you," Ginny told him. She kissed his cheek and led him to the kitchen table. "I'm proud of you. We are lucky to be considered your friends."
**********************************
Two hours later the party was in full swing, the tables in the yard were heaped with food, and the WWN was playing loudly for everyone to hear.
"Well Harry, how does it feel to be sixteen?" Hermione asked him.
"No different from being fifteen, I guess. I've only been sixteen for one day," he told her laughing. "Only one more year, Hermione, then I will never have to go to the Dursley's again."
Ron came up behind them, "Only two more years of school, I wonder what it's going to be like, not having to go to transfiguration and potions," he said. "It will be strange, we won't be together everyday anymore. I hope that we don't forget about each other."
Hermione sighed, "That won't happen, Ron. You and Harry are my best friends, I'll never forget about you, either of you. We'll just have to set up times to spend together. I can work out a schedule for us to meet, and we'll see each other on holidays. Maybe we'll even work in the same field."
Ron and Harry rolled their eyes at her comment about the schedule, "Don't worry Ron, we'll always be friends," Harry told him.
*****************************************
Mrs. Weasley carried out the cake that she had decorated for Harry's birthday, and behind her Ginny carried a smaller one that read 'Congratulations Sirius'. She served the giant chocolate cake with sides of pumpkin ice cream that she and Ginny had made.
"Mrs.Weasley, I think that this has been the best birthday of my entire life, not to mention my first birthday party," Harry told her before he wrapped her in a hug that rivaled one of her own.
"We would do anything for you Harry dear, you are just like one of our own sons," she stated, sniffling.
Ginny came running over, and grabbed Harry's arm, "It's time for you to open presents," she said quite loudly. Harry followed her across the garden to one of the tables.
Ron handed Harry his gift first, "Something that I knew you needed," he told him. Harry quickly un-wrapped the package and found a new set of Quidditch pads.
"Thanks Ron, I really did need these," he said as Hermione handed him her gift.
He stared at the small package, expecting the same gift that he always received from Hermione, a book. "Isn't this too small for a book, Hermione?" he asked.
She lightly swatted his arm, "I didn't want to get you a book this year," she said, sticking out her tongue.
He un-wrapped the gift and pulled out the Stag pendant that she had bought. "Hermione, thank you," he said, looking longingly at the stag. "It looks just like I pictured Prongs."
Remus looked at the pendant, "If that's how you pictured him, you did a good job. Hermione, where did you find this at?" he asked.
She leaned over and spoke to him softly, "At a shop called Magical Jewelry, it's a soul mate pendant," she told him. She watched Harry open his other gifts out of the corner of her eye.
"Magical Jewelry? That shop hasn't been open since I was in school," he told her.
She looked at him, "Well, last week, Ron and I went shopping for Harry's gift, and it was open. Harry even bought Ginny a pendant from the same store, hers is a unicorn."
Remus looked at Harry and Ginny thoughtfully, "I'll be back, I have to check something out."
********************************
Remus returned about half an hour later, and motioned for Hermione to join him. They walked over to where Albus was standing, a plate with a piece of cake in his hand.
"Albus, when was the last time that you saw the shop Magical Jewelry open?" he asked the headmaster.
He looked thoughtful, "I believe that it was your sixth or seventh year, when James and Lily had their pendants made," he said, "Why Remus?"
Remus looked around to be sure that no one was listening, "Because when Hermione and Ron went to get Harry's gifts, it was open. Hermione bought Harry a pendant that looks shockingly like James' stag form. That same day, Harry bought Ginny a unicorn pendant from the same shop." He paused and checked around again, "I just came back from there, Albus. The shop isn't there, and none of the shop keepers have seen it."
Albus stroked his beard, "I think that I must take a look at these pendants."
Hermione, Remus and Albus walked over to where Harry and Ginny were sitting together, laughing at a large yellow canary sitting in front of them. A few seconds later, it molted and became Bill.
"Harry, Ginny, might I have a word with you?" Albus asked.
"Of course, Professor Dumbledore," they both replied.
They went into the kitchen of the burrow, and Albus explained what had happened. Harry and Ginny both removed their necklaces and handed them to Professor Dumbledore. "I think that maybe you and Professor Lupin should check them out before we wear them again, Professor," Ginny told them.
"Have they done anything strange?" he asked, looking at both teens.
Ginny blushed, "It gets warm whenever I'm near Harry," she told them quietly.
"I only had mine on for a little while, but it did get warm when Ginny came over," he said, blushing one shade lighter than Ginny.
Remus smiled, "We'll have them checked out, and you will have them back if they are okay."
"Will we get them back soon," Ginny asked, turning even redder.
"Don't worry Gin, if we don't get them back, I'll buy you a new necklace in Hogsmead, during the first visit of the year," he told her, patting her shoulder.
A/N: Sorry, I couldn't put the surprise into this chapter, had to do Harry's birthday. I promise that it will be in the next chapter (It's called Shock on the Hogwarts Express), and I'm going to post it as soon as it is finished, (I'm working on it now, so hopefully tonight.) Thanks again to my awesome reviewers.