A/N: Hello! Please keep reviewing! And I'd still really like some ideas from the Chapter 7 Author's Note, thanks for the ones I've already gotten! Okay, sorry for the cliffhanger last chapter! I had this evil impulsion…. Muwhahahaha! OK, sorry! This chapter won't have one! Thanks, **Jinglebellz**

Chapter 9:

"SURPRISE!" Harry was so startled and ready to attack that he accidentally sent out a stunner, which directly hit Mad-Eye Moody. Harry then registered what he was seeing. Pretty much every member of the Order and any of their children that attended Hogwarts were in the room, besides Snape, which didn't upset Harry too much. Harry gaped openly at the room full of people. After he hexed Moody, though, a sudden silence enveloped the room, only broken a few moments later by Tonks.

"Harry! Out of all the people in this room, you had to hit Moody! Now he's going to be even more paranoid!" Several of the Order members began chuckling. Tonks turned to them, completely exasperated. "This isn't funny! None of you have guard duty with him! Now it's over; we'll be heading to the guard place via Russia or someplace ridiculous everyday now… Stop laughing!" But then Tonks began laughing as well. "Happy Birthday, Harry and Lenore!" Harry grinned sheepishly and exchanged smiles with Lenore. This was quite a surprise.

Tonks then turned to Moody as everyone began talking. "Remus, come help me. Should I enervate him now or after the party? He'll be a nightmare when he regains consciousness… I shudder to think."

Lupin laughed as some music began playing. "Let's do it later… don't want to ruin the party so early, now, do we?"

As the music began to play, Harry and Lenore hurried over to their friends. Some other friends whose parents were in the Order as well were there, including the Patil twins, Terry Boot, Ernie MacMillan, and, to Harry's discomfort, Cho Chang.

"Happy Birthday, Harry!" she squealed upon seeing him, and she ran up to him and hugged him. Harry awkwardly patted her on the back.

"Thanks, Cho." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ginny, Hermione, and Lenore laughing at him. She finally let go of him, and he spent the first few songs socializing with his schoolmates.

"How have your summers been?" asked Harry to Parvati, Padma, Terry, Ernie, and Cho.

"Mine's been great," said Parvati happily. "I've been playing Quiditch every day; I'm trying out for the team this year," she said proudly. "Are you going to be captain, Harry?" she asked.

"Nah," replied Harry. "Katie Bell is."

"I thought she graduated?" asked Terry.

"No," said Ron. "She was younger than Alicia and Angelina."

"Oh," said Parvati. "Harry, did you get your ban lifted?"

"Yeah," said Harry happily. "Thank goodness!"

"That Umbridge was really horrible," said Padma. "We don't have her again, do we?"

"No," said Hermione. "She was carried off by a herd of Centaurs."

"Oh, yeah. I think I heard something about that. Thank goodness. But I wonder who Our next Professor will be," said Ernie.

"I don't know," said Harry truthfully. "Does anyone else know?" Everyone shook their heads.

"Oh, yeah, Harry, I've been meaning to ask you," started Ginny, "Are we still doing the DA this year, even if we've a decent professor?"

"Yeah, are we?" echoed Neville. "I got an O on my Owls, all because of that. You were a really good teacher, Harry." Everyone nodded in agreement.

"I've actually thought about it," confessed Harry. "But maybe we can get permission and make it an official club," he finished.

"That would be good," said Luna. Several people started to see that she was still there.

"What's the DA?" asked Lenore, flipping her hair back over her shoulder.

"It was a secret club last year, founded by Harry," started Hermione excitedly, until Harry made a noise pointedly in his throat. "All right, it was Ron and my idea, but Harry taught us, as Umbridge refused to teach us anything. And then we were found out; long story."

"Oh," said Lenore sadly. Harry felt bad suddenly that Lenore didn't know anything that he and his friends talked about so often.

"You'll have to join this year; it's really great," said Harry helpfully.

"Okay," said Lenore, as a fast-paced song died down.

As a slow song began, Cho came up to Harry hopefully. "Want to dance, Harry?" she asked. Harry really didn't want to dance with her.

"Uh, sorry Cho," he began, thinking quickly for an excuse. "But I already promised this dance to… Ginny." Ginny arched her eyebrows in surprise, and Harry gave her a pleading look.

"Yeah, Cho. He did. Maybe you can dance with him later, though. I'm sure he'd love to. Right, Harry?"

"Yeah, Gin. So come on, let's dance."

Ginny smirked as she approached Harry and he led her onto the dance floor. "Do I get an explanation?" she asked expectantly. She smiled, her brown eyes sparkling. Her red hair cascaded down her back over a white halter-top and some Muggle jeans, and Harry couldn't help but think how pretty she looked.

"I really didn't want to dance with Cho. It's so awkward; she acts like nothing happened last year." And then, plucking some courage, he added, "And I wanted to dance with you, Ginny. You look really nice tonight." Ginny blushed softly. "This birthday party is really something!" exclaimed Harry happily. "I've never had one before. When I walked into the room, I was expecting a Death Eater attack or something!" Ginny laughed pleasantly.

"You've never had a birthday party?" she asked. Harry shook his head no. Ginny sighed. Poor Harry. Those Muggles must've treated him horrible. She moved closer to Harry and rested her head on his shoulder, and Harry happily held her a little tighter. He hoped that the song would never end. It did, of course, and Harry laughed to see Ron and Parvati breaking apart as Hermione and a seventh year Ravenclaw Harry vaguely recognized break apart across the room. Ron and Hermione must still be mad at each other, he thought.

Harry took Ginny's hand and they sat down at a table with quite a few ex-Gryffindors, including Fred, George, Lee, Katie, Angelina, Alicia, and Oliver Wood.

"Harry!" called Oliver happily. "Happy Birthday, mate! Haven't seen you in ages; how've you been?"

"Hey Oliver," greeted Harry. "I've been pretty good, actually. And you? How's Puddlemere United?"

"Oh, it's great. We made quarterfinals last year. I'm the keeper, and I'm really enjoying it."

"That's good," said Harry, turning around and tuning into the conversation next to him. On one side of him, Parvati was asking Ginny about Dean, and the details surrounding the break-up, which Parvati seemed rather pleased about. On Harry's other side, Fred and George were talking about Bill and Fleur's wedding in a week.

"Yeah," Fred was saying, "they've been going with each other for a year now, and they're madly in love. Go figure." All of the Hogwarts graduates laughed.

"Yeah," added George, "Mum's a wreck. They only told her about it three weeks before the wedding was planned, and then Fleur's family joined the Order and all. They're living there until the wedding, and Mum's going ballistic; they're always complaining!"

Katie laughed, and George leaned over to her. "So when are we getting married, dear?"

Katie playfully pushed George out of his chair. "Hey!" he said. "I'm of age and you won't be for twelve days! I can hex you!"

"Bring it," laughed Katie, and he administered a tickling charm. Immediately Katie fell out of her chair and began rolling on the floor, hysterical.

"George!" she wheezed. "Take it – OFF!"

"Oooh, feisty," laughed Alicia, earning a short glare from Katie, who couldn't stop laughing.

"Help-" she wheezed fitfully, cracking up. Finally, George lifted the hex, laughing nearly as much as Katie had been.

"Oooh," breathed Katie, "I'm going to get you for that!" She then grabbed the nearest item (an unpoppable for forty-eight hours balloon) and began hitting George with it as hard as she could.

Oliver sighed audibly. "Katie would've made a fair beater! And if I had just half this enthusiasm out on the field each year, we'd have had the Cup no problem!"

"Well maybe we'd have had that amount of enthusiasm if we hadn't been up at four in the morning every day!" said Angelina, laughing at Oliver's shocked expression.

"You're one to talk, Angelina," snorted Alicia, and Harry secretly agreed. Then Lenore joined the conversation.

"Were you on the team, Oliver?" she asked.

"Oh yeah," said Alicia, sighing. "That qualifies for the understatement of the year!"

"I wasn't that bad!" said Oliver, scandalized. Harry snorted.

"He was captain for my first three years," said Harry to his second cousin.

"Oh," said Lenore, her emerald eyes dancing merrily. Oliver looked at her interestedly.

"Would you like to dance, Lenore?" he asked suddenly, as a new song began.

"Sure!" said Lenore, and she jumped up happily and began dancing with Oliver. Harry suddenly wished he was dancing with Ginny, but when he looked for her, he saw, to his dismay, that she was dancing with Neville. Ron and Hermione were finally dancing. Ernie was dancing uncomfortably with Luna, and Padma was dancing with Terry. Harry suddenly saw Cho out of the corner of his eye and he hurriedly decided to ask Parvati to dance. She accepted, and a moment later they were dancing. Harry didn't feel as happy with Parvati as he had felt with Ginny, though. They ended up dancing next to Fleur and Bill, and Parvati spent most of the dance chatting with Fleur, while Harry kept glancing at Ginny. Bill saw this and smirked.

"You fancy Ginny, Harry?" he asked, smiling.

"Is it obvious?" asked Harry.

"Pretty much. Ginny likes you, too, I think. I'm glad it's you, Harry. I know I can trust you not to hurt my little sister, right?" Harry nodded, smiling. After the dance ended, Harry decided to mingle with a few more guests that were there.

He and Lenore went around to most of the Order members and thanked them for being there, and they introduced themselves to the people they didn't know; though most people knew Harry already. That went without saying. The party went on until around midnight. At twelve thirty, the only people left inside the room were Harry, Lenore, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Lupin, Dumbledore, and Tonks. Moody had awoken around ten and had, needless to say, been in a very agitated mood, and Kingsley had escorted out a very drunken Mundungus about thirty minutes before. A table in the very back of the room was full of about fifty presents for each Lenore and Harry, and Mrs. Weasley was busily cleaning up. Tonks had offered to help, but Mrs. Weasley politely declined and asked if she could simply collect all of the stray balloons and scoop up all of the confetti into containers; Fred and George had made it so even "scourgify" could clean up just one piece at a time, and there had to be tens of thousands of pieces scattered throughout the house. The teenagers asked Mrs. Weasley what to do, but she advised everyone to get to work on opening Harry and Lenore's presents.

Before they began, though, Dumbledore walked over to Harry. "I had better get going. Have a wonderful birthday, Harry. You too, Lenore. And I have all of your school letters; I had thought you might like your owl results," he said, eyes twinkling. "Good-bye." With that, the old wizard handed Harry four envelopes and walked out the door.

"Thanks, Professor," said Harry, and he eagerly looked through the envelopes for the one addressed to him. Then Hermione, Ron, and Ginny walked over to him and Lenore.

"What's that, Harry?" asked Hermione.

"Owl results, grinned Harry casually.

"WHAT!" shrieked Hermione ad she frantically found her envelope and opened it. Harry read his paper.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Harry decided to skip the first paragraph. He looked right at the scores:

Defense against the Dark Arts: O

Herbology: E

Potions: O

Charms: E

Transfiguration: E

Divination: P

History of Magic: D

Astronomy: A

Care of Magical Creatures: O

Harry smiled. He had achieved ten OWLS and would be taking five classes in NEWT level: Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Charms, and Transfiguration. Harry couldn't believe he'd gotten an O in Potions! He'd really be able to be an Auror!

He then looked up just as Hermione squealed. "I got fourteen OWLS! How did you do, Harry?"

Harry grinned. "Well done, 'Mione! I got ten! I got an O in Potions!"

"Whoa, guys, well done!" said Ron happily. "I got eight- about five more than expected." Ron chuckled good-naturedly.

"Good job," said Harry happily. "What did your letter say, Lenore?"

"Oh," she replied. "Just the NEWT classes I'm taking next year; I'm going to be an Auror."

"Really?" asked Harry. "Me too!"

"Wow," laughed Lenore. "I guess great minds think alike!"

"Yeah," said Harry, smiling. "So, you reckon we should get started on these presents?"

"It'll take days," groaned Lenore happily. "I'm surprised I got any presents; I hardly know anyone!"

"Let's open them tomorrow," said Harry, yawning tiredly.

"Good idea," said Lenore. "I'm tired."

"But wait-" began Harry. "Just open mine tonight."

"All right," smiled Lenore. "You open mine, too."

"Agreed," said Harry. He rushed over to Lupin and asked him to regrow the cat in the cage. Lupin obliged, and Harry ran over to Lenore.

"Here," he said. Lenore gasped, smiling.

"Thank you, Harry! She's gorgeous! And look, she has our eyes!" Harry grinned as Lenore hugged him. He then unwrapped Lenore's present. It was a brand new two-way mirror, and Harry guessed that Lenore had the other one. He had a sudden feeling of guilt about Sirius's death.

"Thanks, Lenore!" Harry said, trying to smile. "This will be really useful!"

"Yeah," she said. "But this kind is also really rare. You can press this red button and you will be invisible to everyone but the person you're talking to, and if you press the blue button nobody will be able to hear you but the person you're talking to. Unfortunately, they can't work at the same time."

"Wow," said Harry truthfully. "That's really cool! Thanks, Lenore!" Harry happily hugged her, and then talked to Ginny on his way to his room.

"So you'll open my present tomorrow?" asked Ginny happily. "I hope you'll like it!"

Harry grinned. "I'll open yours first, and I know I'll love it!" Ginny smiled before going into her room.

"Night, Harry. Happy Birthday." She then stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Harry was startled for only a moment, and then he held her arm.

"Goodnight, Ginny." He then leaned down and kissed her on the lips gently. Ginny smiled happily and skipped into her room. Harry, feeling very happy and brave, decided that this was the best birthday anyone could have. He put a hand to his cheek, smiling, before going to bed.

His dream about Ginny quickly faded, though, once again, to shadows on a stone wall. There were two of them.

"Oh, I wish we knew why Godric was so upset!" cried a short woman.

"He's been so depressed… Do you think it could have to do with Acacia and Salazar?"

"Nonsense, Rowena, Godric is and always will be faithful to you."

"I hope so, Helga. I hope so."

The scene quickly faded into a harsh black until three shadows emerged. One of them went unnoticed by the other, and it stood in a far corner as the others discoursed. "Acacia, what is wrong with Godric? I wish I knew. Not even Rowena makes him happy.

"Was he ever in love with Rowena?"

"I thought that was unspoken."

"Well, he is your best friend, Salazar. Talk to him."

"Oh, Acacia… I am so lucky. I love you so much."

"Salazar… kiss me, Salazar." The two shadows then became one, and the third shadow slinked off into the darkness.