Chapter Twenty: One Special Day

Summary: Twentieth chapter. Twenty-nine to go. That about sums it up.

The last day of July Harry awoke to someone vigorously shaking him.

"Wake up, Harry." A voice called through the dream he was having. "Come on. You can't sleep this day away."

Harry slowly rolled over and opened his eyes, squinting against the sunlight. He blinked. If the sun was already up he must have slept late. Reaching for his glasses, he found them instead being carefully slid onto his face. He blinked again. But before he had time to focus on anything an array of fireworks suddenly went off at the end of his bed, causing him to jump. As Harry brought a hand up to shield his eyes, music started playing 'Happy Birthday To You' as though a music band was standing in his room. Harry looked around to find his godparents standing next to his bed, beaming at him.

"Happy birthday, Harry!" Arabella cried as she swept down on him and kissed him everywhere she could as he squirmed.

When she pulled back, Harry waited for a similar onslaught from Sirius. But when none came, he tentative opened one eye and glanced at his godfather.

"Nope." Sirius replied. "Arabella won the toss to totally embarrass you first thing in the morning. I have to wait until you get downstairs."

"Hurry and get dressed, Dear." Arabella called as they started for the door. "Then come and tell your godmother what you would like for your birthday breakfast."

"Oh, and Harry," Sirius added as they stepped out of the room, poking his head back around the corner of the door, a mischievous grin on his face. "Next year is my turn."

Harry groaned playfully, falling backward on the bed as Sirius disappeared around the door. But seconds later he started laughing. The whole thing had been an interesting way to be woken up on your birthday.

He pulled himself out of bed, heading for the bathroom as he shook his head. Heaven only knew what they had planned for the day. But for the first time in his life, he realized with a smile, he was looking forward to his birthday.

Coming downstairs, Harry stopped at the kitchen door and stuck his head around the corner, checking for any booby traps.

"No, it's safe." Sirius stated from the table. "I'm not allowed to outdo your godmother either this year ."

But as Harry walked by him, Sirius suddenly grabbed him in a hug as he kissed him on the cheek. "So you'll just have to settle for that this year." Sirius said. "Happy Birthday, Harry." He gave his godson a wink. "I'll make it up to you next year. Count on it."

Harry gave another mock groan as Arabella came over to the table and kissed him on his head. "Now, what can I get the birthday boy for his breakfast?"

"That depends," Harry answered, grinning from ear to ear. "How much strength am I going to need to survive today?"

Sirius was, as usual, buried behind the morning paper. "Haven't got that much food in the house." He stated, just loud enough to be heard.

"Do you want to read that paper or put it out!" Arabella sneered at the front page of the Daily Prophet. But she quickly reverted to her sweet smile as she turned back to Harry. "Now, Dear, what can your godmother get you?"

A few minutes later Harry was happy digging into a plate of scrabbled eggs, hash browns, bacon, and toast.

Sirius got a similar breakfast, although Harry couldn't help but notice his toast looked slightly burnt.

"So," Arabella asked, seating herself next to Harry as she set her own plate on the table. "what are your plans for today?"

Harry thought for a moment. His 'plans' for his birthday usually involved thinking about it as little as possible.

"I don't know." He said. "I guess I really don't have any."

"Good then!" Arabella stated happily. "Then you won't mind spending it with Sirius and I."

"Sure." Harry replied. He sort of thought that would be the idea anyway. That they would all spend the day together.

"All right then. We'll be leaving at ten."

"Leaving?" Harry asked. "To go where?"

"Why, shopping, Dear. It's your birthday."

Harry smiled at the idea. "All right. That sounds like fun."

After Harry finished his breakfast and hurried upstairs to get ready, Sirius turned to Arabella.

"Shopping?" He asked.

"That's what we agreed to tell him! And it's all I could think of!" She defended quickly in a hushed voice.

"But he liked the idea. Now he expects to go shopping. You said all teenage boys hated to go shopping."

"We'll take him another day." Arabella stated, shoving Sirius off from the table. "Just go and get ready, will you. Or we'll be late."

Sirius mumbled something and headed off upstairs.

A half-hour later, Sirius, Harry, and Arabella stood in front of the fireplace.

"All right now, Dear. Sirius and I will go first to make sure it's a proper landing. We'll stop you from getting through if there's any problem. And if we do, you just wait right here for us to come back. All right?"

Harry considered all the extra instructions a bit strange, but nodded agreeably anyway.

Arabella handed a small jar to Harry.

"All right, Dear. Get yourself some Floo powder. We'll be taking the rest with us."

Harry considered that also a bit strange, but chose to ignore it as well as he grabbed a handful of Floo powder as Sirius stepped into the fire and said something Harry didn't quite catch. "Wait a minute." He asked Arabella before she stepped into the fire. "Where are we going?"

"Diagon Alley, Dear." Arabella replied as she searched through her robes. "Oh dear. I can't find my wand. Harry, go find godmother's wand, will you? I think I left it on the table. Just follow me when you found it, all right?"

"OK." Harry replied, rushing off to get the wand.

When Harry came back Arabella had already left. Taking his floo powder, Harry threw it into the fire and called "Diagon Alley," and stepped into the fire. He felt the familiar spinning begin, but suddenly felt it stop. Abruptly he was spit back out of the fire and landed on the carpet in Arabella's living room.

Harry looked about confused. But then he remembered Arabella's words to him. If there was a problem, she would stop him from following them.

Harry pulled himself quickly to his feet.

'If there was a problem'!

The words settled on Harry with a feeling that sent a chill through his body.

Something had gone wrong. But what? Surely not the Deatheaters or Voldemort. They couldn't have known that Harry was going to Diagon Alley today.

What if someone on the other end had recognized Sirius again. No. That couldn't be it. Moody had said there was an 'unrecognizable charm' on Sirius.

Then what?

And what could he do? He had to tell someone. Find out what happened. But who?

Harry pondered the question for only a few seconds. Dumbledore! Of course. He had to get to Hogwarts and tell Dumbledore.

But he didn't have any Floo powder to get to Hogwarts quickly. And Arabella had told him to stay there. To wait for them to return.

But what if they couldn't? What if they needed help? What if they were hurt?

Harry was so distracted over what might have happened that he didn't notice as the fire in the fireplace began to crackle loudly. Suddenly an invisible force reached out of the fire and grabbed Harry and dragged him into the flames.

The familiar spinning sensation began again and all thoughts of what might have happened were swept away as Harry tried to concentrate on landing properly wherever he was going. He had to be prepared for anything.

He didn't have long to think about things. Within moments he found himself deposited out of another fire. His landing was less than he had hoped for. He rolled a few times, then quickly struggled to his feet, his godmother's wand held tightly in his hand and pointed, ready for whatever he was facing.

Currently it was a group of about fifteen people, half of them with bright red hair.

Suddenly they all yelled 'Surprise!' in one loud voice.

Harry just stood there, still holding his godmother's wand, pointed at the small group.

Arabella stepped forward from the front of the group and slowly slipped the wand out of Harry's hand.

"Why don't I just take that?" She said kindly.

"You think he's in shock?" Ron asked, looking Harry over carefully.

Bill, Ron's older brother, studied Harry for a moment, then walked over to him. "Naw. Just surprised, I think." He slapped Harry good-naturedly on the arm. "How are ya', Harry? Enjoying your birthday, are ya'?"

Harry blinked, then slowly stood up with a large grin on his face. He turned to his godparents. "You planned all this?"

Arabella nodded with an extremely pleased smile.

Harry ran to her and hugged her. "You're just the best, Arabella. Thank you."

"Sirius helped." Sirius stated in an exaggerated, disappointed tone, standing next to Arabella and feeling very left out.

Harry quickly wrapped his arms about Sirius' waist as he hugged him in turn. "You're the best too, Sirius. You know that." Harry stated.

"But of course." Sirius answered, a mock expression of conceit on his face.

The rest of the day was spent between playing games, catching up, eating and just generally everyone enjoying themselves. The back yard of the Burrow provided ample space and Mrs. Weasley did an admirable job of making sure everyone was comfortable. Harry was somewhat surprised by some of the people who had come to the party. Of course, all the Weasley's were there. Although Harry was surprised but pleased that Bill and Charlie, the oldest Weasley boys, had made the effort to come. Hermione was also there, with her parents, which surprised Harry a little. But as the day wore on, he got the impression that the Grangers had struck up something of a friendship with the Weasley's, with Mr. Granger sitting about drinking some sort of potion with Mr. Weasley that was brewing in a large caldron, that was then iced down in glasses, and Mrs. Granger and Mrs. Weasley sitting about with Arabella talking over various things. Professor Dumbledore was there, along with Professor McGonagall, Professor Lupin, and Professor Snape. But even Snape's appearance at his birthday party didn't surprise Harry nearly as much as the very pretty woman who was following him around, attached, it seemed permanently, to his arm. Snape had introduced her early on to Harry, Stating her name was Analisa Morton, a fellow colleague and well-know potions master in her own right.

"So," The woman had practically purred at him as Harry politely shook her hand. "You're the famous Harry Potter that Severus talks so much about."

"Yes, Ma'am." Harry replied flatly. He hated being referred to as 'famous' and he wasn't sure at all that he wanted to know what Snape had been 'talking so much about' him regarding.

"I hope you're enjoying your birthday." She added.

"Yes, thank you." Harry answered. "It's been great."

Snape directed her away from Harry before she said anything more.

Several times during the party Harry looked around the gathered group to see where Snape was. He couldn't imagine he was mixing freely with almost anyone that was there. And true enough, most of the time Harry found him speaking with Professor Dumbledore. But once Harry had been surprised to look around and find Snape standing off in a corner area in deep conversation with his godfather. Another time he had seen him standing across the yard, actually laughing with Lupin and Arabella, the woman attached to his arm equally enjoying herself. It took Harry a minute to remember that he hadn't seen the woman with Snape while he was talking to Sirius.

Halfway through the day Harry had managed to corner his godmother long enough to asked what she had done to the fire that brought him there.

"Oh. That." Arabella laughed. Sirius had just joined them, slipping his arm about Arabella's waist as she began explaining, laying his head on her shoulder with a sort of silly grin on his face and a tight grip about the glass of dark brown liquid in his hand. Harry studied his godfather for a moment, then began wondering what the potion was that was brewing in the caldron that Mr. Weasley was eagerly getting everyone to try who was over the age of 18.

Arabella stared at Sirius for a moment, then turned back to Harry. "Sirius enchanted the fire," she went on, "so that the only place it would take you, no matter where you said, was to the Burrow. Then we went first, and stopped you from coming through until we were sure everyone was ready, then...sort of kidnapped you here with a type of summoning spell. I'm sorry we were so mysterious about it, Harry. And I'm sorry if you got worried when you couldn't get through the fire."

"I had thought something went wrong." Harry explained. "I wasn't sure what to do."

"Well, that's why I tried to be pointed about telling you to stay put." Arabella explained. "As well as why we took the Floo powder with us when we left. I figured you'd try to run off and find help. But the summoning spell I used would only work if you stayed near the fire. And we couldn't tell you anything because it was a surprise party, you see. So," She asked, looking apologetic, "are we forgiven?"

Harry hugged her tightly. "Of course. This is just the best."

"Sirius helped." Came the same glum statement next to her.

Harry hugged Sirius in turn, lavishing his thanks again on his beaming godfather.

As the day wore on, Arabella finally brought out the cake before Harry started to open presents. Arabella was given a large amount of praise and admiration over her creation, and Harry seemed positively overwhelmed by it. He was finally pressed into cutting it by a very anxious Fred and George.

The cake seemed to disappear almost as fast as it had been conjured, and soon it was nearly gone. But finally, as late afternoon was drawing on, Harry finally got ready to begin opening his presents. Just as he was heading back to the table for one more slice of Arabella's cake before he started on his presents, the woman who had come with Snape drew him aside.

"Harry, it's most unfortunate," she began, "but I've been called away. I'm afraid Severus and I will have to leave. But," she added, reaching into her handbag and pulling out a small present wrapped in gold paper, "Severus and I would like for you to have this." She smiled down at him with an expression that for some reason left Harry feeling a bit cold. "I picked it out because it reminded me of you. I hope you like it."

Harry graciously accepted the gift, thinking it was a bit odd that someone he just met would say they picked out a present because it reminded her of him.

"Thank you." Harry replied cordially. "I'm sorry you have to leave."

"Oh, so am I, Harry. I so wanted to see your expression when you opened your present. That's half the fun for the giver of a gift, you know. But," she added with the same, chilling smile, "'duty calls', I guess. Enjoy the rest of your party, Harry."

Harry watched as she swept back towards a waiting Snape, who was conversing again with Dumbledore. But the conversation came to what seemed an abrupt end as she joined them, and Snape led her across the yard and out the garden gate. Harry set the small gold wrapped gift with the others and quickly headed off to get some more cake.

A sort while later Harry began opening his presents. The first was from Hermione. Ron looked over Harry's shoulder as he unwrapped it, but suddenly gave a cry of disbelief.

"A book! Hermione, you gave him a book?"

Hermione gave Ron an annoyed stare. "Not just a book, Ron." She replied coldly. "It a very special book. Took me ages to find the one I wanted."

Harry was looking over the cover. The book was very handsome indeed, with an intricately carved leather cover and gold lettering. "Hogwart's: A History." Harry read.

"Oh for the love of...." Ron sputtered. "You couldn't get us to read the thing so now you're forcing it on us?"

Harry continued to look over the cover of the book, ignoring Ron. "Special Edition? What's the Special Edition, Hermione?"

"Look at the author." Hermione explained with a pleased smile. "It's written and enchanted by Philip Austor. He a very well known wizard author. But his specialty is enchanted books. His version of Hogwart's: A History adds to itself as events happen."

Harry looked amazed. "What? So, everything that's up to last year...?"

"Is already in there." Hermione replied.

Harry looked the book over with renewed interest. Even Ron looked a little more appreciative, but quickly covered it when he caught Hermione watching him.

"Well," Harry said with a smile, "that'll be different. Reading about all the stuff we went through."

"You're not going to read it?" Ron asked in disbelief.

"It'll be interesting, Ron. Come on. Just the last few chapters. Look, you can have a go when I'm done with it. All right?"

Ron moaned and rolled his eyes as Harry thanked Hermione for the gift.

Harry spent the next half-hour opening presents. Finally he came to the last one, which was the small gold present the woman with Snape had given him. As Harry began to unwrap it, Sirius looked up from talking to Arthur Weasley to see what Harry was unwrapping now. He paused as he looked over the small package, not recognizing it earlier among the presents.

"Harry?" Sirius called, causing Harry to pause in his unwrapping as he looked up at his godfather. "Who gave you that present? I don't remember seeing it before."

Harry tried to remember the woman's name, but couldn't. So he gave the name he could remember. "It's from Professor Snape."

Sirius frowned as he glanced over at Arabella, who had been following the brief conversation.

Everyone was now looking on expectantly as Harry opened the last present. Harry was a bit puzzled to find a small brown box inside the wrapping. He flipped it over a few times. There was nothing extraordinary about it. It had no markings or letters. It looked like a small, plain, brown, cardboard box. Harry shrugged and opened it.

A voice emerged from the box as soon as it was opened. One that Harry knew all too well.

It was James Potter's voice. Crying for his wife to take their infant son and run.

Harry dropped the box, staring at it in horror as it lay on the ground before him. The voice coming from it was now that of a woman screaming and begging for the life of her son. The scene had been played out just as Harry had heard it before when the Dementors got too close to him.

Arabella had immediately rushed forward and grabbed Harry by the arms and pulled him back, away from the box as Sirius approached it cautiously, his wand out and at his side. Those gathered had also drawn back, unsure of what the gift meant.

Sirius performed several spells on the box, checking it for any further activity. But it seemed now, as it had before, to be nothing more than a plain, brown, cardboard box.

Sirius turned to his godson, who stood stock-still in Arabella's embrace. Harry's wide eyes hadn't left the small box since he dropped it.

"Harry?"

Harry raised his eyes to meet the dark, piercing stare of his godfather.

"You said Snape gave you this?" Sirius asked, his voice low and measured.

"It....it was that woman who was with him." Harry explained. "She gave it to me. She said it was from both of them."

"Did she say anything else?"

Harry went on in a flat, emotionless tone of voice, telling Sirius everything the woman had told him and how strange he had found her comments about the present.

Sirius finally picked up the box and tossed it into the air. Pointing his wand at it as it reached its peak, he spoke a single word and a bolt of blue light shot out of his wand and struck the small box. The box vanished in a flare of fire.

Harry looked for the ashes to fall from the sky, but none did. He pushed himself back against his godmother, turning to her over his shoulder as he grabbed her hand.

"It's all right, Harry." She said softly. "That's the end of it now."

Sirius was walking over to them, the dark anger still in his eyes. "My guess is it was meant as some sort of a joke."

Harry shuddered slightly in Arabella's embrace. "I didn't find it very funny." He muttered.

Arabella tightened her hold a little. "Oh course you didn't, Harry. None of us did."

"I'm sure Voldemort thought it was." Sirius replied quietly, staring at Arabella. "And I'm just as sure that's who sent it."

"But it couldn't have been from Severus?" Arabella stated. "Surely he wouldn't have...."

"If he had no choice he would have played along." Sirius replied quietly. "I believe the lovely Ms. Morton had a lot more to do with that present than Severus did."

"She said she was the one who picked it out." Harry reminded them.

"She may have delivered it, Harry." Sirius said. "But I have little doubt as to who it came from."

"Well, it's done and over with." Arabella stated firmly, determined not to let the event ruin the day for Harry. "No need to dwell on it now." She kissed the top of her godson's head. "We don't want to let it spoil Harry's party."

Harry nodded slightly as he pulled out of her arms and went back to join Ron and Hermione.

Arabella watched carefully as Harry fell into conversation with his two friends. She sighed quietly as Sirius came up beside her.

"Why now?" She asked quietly. "What was the point, Sirius? To ruin a birthday party? That's a bit petty for the Dark Lord, don't you think?"

"I think he would have found it quite amusing, actually." Sirius replied. "Harry's never had a real birthday in his life, let alone a party. I would think Voldemort is simply showing how determined he is that our godson never has one."

Arabella pulled back her own anger at Sirius' words. "Well, he'll fail." She stated in a heated voice. "Harry'll have this birthday. And he'll live long after Voldemort's defeat to celebrate many more after it."

Sirius slipped an arm around her waist and lightly kissed her head as he smiled down at her. "Yes he will, 'Bella. We'll see that he does."

But Arabella was watching Harry now. "He seemed so upset by it, Sirius." She said quietly. "I so wanted this party to be a happy one for him."

Sirius squeezed her tightly against him, giving her a mischievous wink. "Then why don't we give him the perfect distraction from Voldemort's little present."

Arabella returned a tentative smile, but then nodded. Sirius squeezed her again as he directed her over to where Harry was standing.

"Harry." Sirius called. "Can we see you a minute?"

Harry turned around with a puzzled looked, then walked over to his godparents.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Well," Sirius said slowly, but with an eager smile, "Arabella and I were wondering if you were ready for our gift now?"

"Yours?" Harry asked. "But I thought the party...."

"No, no, no." Sirius cut him off quickly. "The party was just a good way to get you more gifts, so if ours didn't pan out, the day wasn't a total waste."

"Well..., OK, then..., I guess." Harry stuttered uncertainly. "I'm ready for it."

"No, you're not." Bill said over Harry shoulder.

Harry turned back to him. "What? You know what it is?"

"Saw Sirius bring it over. Trust me. You have no idea."

Harry was now extremely curious what his godparents had gotten him. But he didn't have long to wait as Sirius led him out the back gate and to the front yard of the burrow.

For a few seconds Harry scanned the yard, looking for what Sirius had brought him there to show him. But his gaze suddenly fell on the sleek, green-trimmed motorcycle sitting in the drive, a large green bow tied to it.

Harry was speechless. He simply stood wide-eyed with his mouth open.

"Happy birthday, Harry." Sirius said. "We hope you like it."

"Ohhhh." Ron stated, staring at the bike over Harry's shoulder. "No way! Harry! They bought you a motorcycle!"

Harry suddenly turned an ecstatic expression to his godparents, then took off at a run toward the bike. He practically fell over it with a scream of delight, hugging it like it was a new pet. Ron ran right after him.

"You gotta let me ride it, hey, Harry? Can I?"

Harry and Ron spent the next few minutes dancing about the bike, screaming and yelling and jumping about.

Sirius stood next to Arabella, who was watching the two with a very pleased smile.

"Well?" Sirius asked quietly. "Do you think he likes it?"

Arabella tried to stifle a laugh, which came out as more of a snort of laughter instead.

"Harry?" She called over the two's yelling. "Do you like it?"

Harry came charging back across the yard as the others gathered around to look over the bike. He threw himself at his godmother, hugging her with all his might. "Ohmagod, ohmagod, ohmagod!!!" Harry yelled. "This is absolutely the best birthday I will ever have!" He cried. "I can't believe it! I just can't believe you bought me a motorcycle. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"

"Do I even need to say it?" Sirius asked, looking dejected again.

Harry laughed at him, wrapping his arms just as tightly about his godfather. "I know. I know." He cried. "You helped."

"Well," Sirius admitted, "so did Moony. So you might want to remember to thank him as well."

" I will." He promised, the excitement still in his voice. "I can not wait to drive it!"

"Ahhh, Harry." Arabella began tentatively.

Harry stopped bouncing around and turned to her.

"There are a few provisions that come with the bike, Harry." Sirius stated in a tone that let Harry know he was being quiet serious now.

"Provisions?"

"Rules." Sirius replied firmly. "Ones we'll expect you to adhere to."

"What sort of rules?"

"You can't ride the bike unless I go with you." Sirius stated. "That's the main one."

"OK." Harry replied. That seemed reasonable, since he wasn't technically old enough to drive without an adult anyway.

"The other rules will come later. We have a whole list worked out." Sirius added a bit more light-heartedly. "But we have to be firm about the first one. All right? It's written in stone until your older."

Harry nodded as he hugged them both again. "It's still the best present in the world." He stated, then happily ran back over to the bike, climbing onto it among the group of admirers gathered around it.

Arabella stepped back over to Sirius, who was watching Harry sitting on the back of the motorcycle with a growing smile. She slipped her arm through his as she leaned against him.

"Thank you." She said softly.

"For what?"

"For stepping in and being the heavy. I was the one who insisted on his not riding it alone."

"It wasn't a frivolous rule, Arabella. It was very good judgment. Besides," He added, turning back to a still very excited Harry, sitting perched atop his new bike, "I don't think it dulled his enthusiasm one bit."

The party continued for a few more hours before guests began leaving. The Granger's were staying at the Weasley's overnight, then returning home in the morning. Harry said goodnight to Ron and Hermione, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Weasley for having the party at their place and Bill and Charlie for coming, and prepared to leave. Sirius finally apparated them all home, along with Harry's presents and the motorcycle.

Once home, Harry begged and pleaded to be allowed to take the bike out just once. Thankfully it didn't take much. Sirius seemed as eager to ride the new bike as Harry was. Sirius did spend a few seconds apologizing to his own bike as he pulled on his helmet and settled himself on the seat with Harry in front of him, holding tightly onto the handlebars. Arabella stood next to them, trying to hide the anxiety in her eyes as she watched Sirius explaining the controls of the bike to Harry. In her hands she held a small camera that she was quickly taking pictures with as the two sat on the bike. Even she couldn't deny a slight hint of excitement as Harry slipped his own helmet on and started the bike.

The engine roared to life.

"Now not too fast, Harry." She called as they started to pull out of the garage.

But she doubted they had heard her as Harry gave a shriek of joy as they took off down the drive.

She shook her head with a slight smile. The look on Harry's face, she told herself, was all she would ask to remember of the evening. It was sheer delight, excitement, and mischief, all rolled together as he beamed at her from the seat of the motorcycle. The day, with one small exception, had been absolutely perfect. And she happily looked forward to the next one as she headed back into the house.