Birthday Surprises Chapter 38

Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only. Lolly, xxx.

WOW! 500 Reviews! I am so happy! Yay! Ok, thanks loads to all of those who have spent time writing lovely reviews. Yay. They're all appreciated. *big hug to everyone who reviewed* Oh yes, and a Double Decker to lord archimonde who was my 500th reviewer - though I'm not sure whether to be a tad insulted that they want to know when the plot picks up a bit anyhoo, you are all dutifully warned that this story is LONG!!!!! So far, I've written up to chapter 73. I have a horrible tendency to go into way too much detail with a day-by-day thing going on. Besides that, we're all sorted. Enjoy this chapter, and for all of those who keep asking for longer chapters, this one is longer! Happy reading.

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The rest of the day was spent between the Burrow and Diagon Alley, with Harry and Ginny going out to buy some things for the dinner. Molly had insisted that the family should get together straight away, as they had had precious little to celebrate in a long while. Harry had pulled out the list and ordered some new clothes for the babies. He would need to see about paying Dumbledore at some point, he decided. While they were in town, they met up with Bill.

"What are you doing here?" Ginny almost squealed.

"I'm going up to the Burrow - just doing a little shopping first. Why?"

"You're too early! Mum will have a flaky! How long will your shopping take?"

"About half an hour - I thought it would be nice to be a little early, and have a chat with mum before the others arrive."

"Absolutely not - Harry, why don't you talk to Bill, I'll go and get the stuff that mum wants." Harry raised an eyebrow, but she shrugged and waltzed off.

"What on Earth was that all about?" Bill asked.

"No idea." Harry replied. "She's lost it."

"So, d'you want to get a butterbeer while we're waiting for my incredibly strange little sister? What's all this about not being early, anyway?"

"Umm..I'm not sure." Harry lied.

"You've grown a lot." Bill said, suddenly realising that Harry wasn't craning his neck to look up at him.

"Yeah, I guess I have." Harry laughed.

" Have you been taking growth spurt potion, or what?"

"Me? Take a potion willingly? Are you out of your mind? I get enough of the foul things at school, thanks."

"Snape still forcing things down your throat then?"

"Yep." Harry said woefully.

"Never mind - only a year to go and then you'll be out of there. What are you going to do?"

"After Hogwarts? Not much of a choice really."

"Auror, then?"

"Yeah." Harry said. Bill noticed that there was something distinctly different about Harry now - and it wasn't just his height.

"So, have you got a girlfriend?"

"No, not just now. Got a few..erm..other things on my mind at the moment."

"You-Know-Who?"

"Not really - well yeah, but that's not what I meant."

"Ooh, sounds intriguing. Care to share?"

"Nope." Harry said, taking a gulp of butterbeer. He shuddered as he remembered the last time he had been out drinking with Ron - that had ended up with him having very little recollection of that night, though Ron wasn't much better. It had been a miracle that both of them arrived back at Hogwarts in one piece, although they did sleep in the kitchens that night.

"Harry? You there?" Bill was waving a hand in front of Harry's face.

"Yeah, sorry. Drifted off for a bit there." Harry said.

"You're telling me - oh, look, there's Ginny."

"Oh yeah." Harry was relieved that she was back, as his wrist was beginning to throb, and he guessed that Molly must have been having trouble with the triplets.

"Hey Harry, I'm going to take these back to the house. I'll tell mum that you and Bill are here."

"No, I'll go." Harry said immediately.

"Why? I'm fine, I can go."

"There are things I need to take care of." Harry said, his wrist brushed hers and she felt the bracelet lurch. Harry grimaced.

"Ok, tell mum that me and Bill will be up in a while."

"Right. See you both later." Harry said, disapparating on the spot.

"What's up with Harry?" Bill asked.

"He's got a few things to sort out." Ginny said.

"You sure he doesn't have a girlfriend?"

"No, it's not a girlfriend that's keeping him busy." Ginny said, smiling mysteriously.

"Come on, let's have a bit of a look around the shops, while we're here." Ginny said, dragging him from the pub.

"All right, all right." Bill said as she grinned up at him.

***

Harry reappeared about twenty minutes later beside Ginny.

"Hey, what are you doing back?" Ginny asked suddenly.

"Molly told me, in no uncertain terms that I was getting in the way." Harry said sheepishly.

"Was that before or after you saw to what you had to?"

"After. Umm..things were a little..hectic when I got there."

"So you had to save the day?"

"Naturally." Harry grinned. Bill, who was standing on the other side of Ginny, frowned.

"What are you two talking about?"

"Harry's problems." Ginny grinned.

"Hey! They're not problems!" Harry replied, a twinge of a recollection coming back before he shook it away.

"I was joking." Ginny said softly, having seen the flash of pain in his eyes.

"I know. Sorry."

"It's ok. I should think before opening my mouth."

"Ginny Weasley, thinking? Now there's a terrifying thought!" Harry said cheekily. Ginny's mouth dropped open in surprise - how could he just change emotion so quickly?

"You will pay for that Harry Po." Ginny trailed off as she saw Harry wasn't listening. His eyes had drifted to a nearby shop window. Inside were thousands of tiny baby outfits, and a couple were shopping inside, proudly pushing a pram. Ginny dragged him and Bill over for a closer look.

"Aww - look at that!" She said, pointing to a tiny little dress. A small flicker of anger appeared in Harry's eyes, but it was gone as soon it had come, and Ginny wasn't sure it had been there at all.

"Oh no. My baby sister's broody!" Bill said, with the air of one that was doomed. Ginny caught Harry's eye and they both began to laugh.

"You know, it's amazing - you're sixteen, but you're still a baby." Harry commented. Bill watched them both closely - they seemed awfully close all of a sudden.

"I'm sure Leah will always be a baby to her brothers." Ginny said. Harry grinned at her.

"I'm sure she will."

"Hey, who's Leah? Your girlfriend?"

"Yes." Ginny giggled. "She's Harry's girlfriend."

"But you said you didn't have a girlfriend." Bill said, looking closely at Harry, who was glaring at Ginny. He shrugged casually, and moved away from the clothes shop. Next was Quality Quidditch Supplies, which all three of them wanted to go into. Harry dragged Ginny across to a small display at the back of the shop while Bill looked at something else.

"Look over there." He said, looking towards a display of the smallest broomsticks Ginny had ever seen.

"No WAY!" She said, shaking her head firmly. Harry looked slightly downcast, and gave her the 'pleading puppy-dog' look. "Harry, you can't! Mum would have an absolute fit!" She protested. His expression didn't change.

"Would you?" He asked hopefully. Ginny suddenly felt a surge of sympathy for Lily - at least she only had Harry pleading - Lily would have had James and Sirius, possibly even Remus pleading.

"You are insane!" Ginny said, biting her lip - she couldn't refuse him when he was looking at her like that.

"Please?"

"On your head be it when Mum finds out." Ginny sighed. "But if I see them in use before they are six months old, you will be in deep, deep trouble." Harry grinned at her, pecking her cheek.

"You're the best!" He said. Ginny frowned.

"I get the feeling I'm going to regret this." She watched as Harry almost danced away, picking up an order form as he walked out of the door.

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A/N: Aww, aint it cute? Just thought that I'd be inconceivably evil and tease everyone. I would really like to keep my readers, and I'm willing to be a little Slytherin about it to get my way. So here it is, a little extract from chapter...68

*** "Maybe there is a way..." Hermione muttered, remembering the passageway that Harry had used in third year. Maybe that would work. "Ron, come with me for a moment." They both left the Room of Requirement, talking in murmurs about the likelihood of the passageway being left open. ***

There we go! And that is a bit from chapter 68 - not sure why I chose 68, but hey! Right, I'll stop babbling now. Ho hum. Please review and tell me what you think.