Chapter 10 –Party!
"SURPRISE!!" came a multitude of voices. Harry turned back to Tonks, who was grinning. "Well go inside, Birthday Boy!" ***************
Harry stepped uncomprehendingly into the room. 'What was going on? A surprise party for him? WOW.' Almost the entire Order was there, along with all the Weasleys except for Percy, and so was Hermione. Wondering when they had time to plan all this, Harry grinned around at everyone.
Ron saw him looking around in astonishment and walked over to him smiling. "Hey, Mate! Stop looking so surprised. Did you think we'd forget your birthday?"
"Uh...No, course not," mumbled Harry, although that was exactly what he had though. "I ...just... a party...for ME. Thanks."
Mrs. Weasley came bustling over to him and wrapped him in a tight hug. "Happy Birthday, Dear! Oh, you're all grown up! You look so different from when we first saw you on the platform. You don't look so much like your father anymore. But you've grown so tall and handsome." She was nearly in tears. Ron however, seemed rather embarrassed.
"Mum. MUM! You're smothering him!"
"Oh, of course, sorry dear," she said releasing Harry. "I need to go see to the food anyway."
"Sorry about that," muttered Ron, after she had left. "She tends to get over emotional at birthday parties for her children. And you're as good as one of us now."
Harry grinned, and began to reply but was cut off by Hermione flinging her arms around his neck. "Oh! Happy Birthday Harry!"
"Thanks Hermione. When did all of you have time to plan this? You didn't know I was coming till this morning!"
"Well, we had planned to have it at the Dursleys. Get them out of the house, and throw you a party, but this made it easier."
"Wow. Thanks."
The rest of the crowd started to gather around Harry. After most of them had finished wishing Harry a happy birthday, Sirius came up to him.
"Happy Birthday, Harry" he said, ruffling Harry's hair. "Look at you, all grown up. You look so much like your father at his 17th birthday. You make me feel so old!"
Harry couldn't believe that Sirius would still say that, although, to be fair, he had no idea Harry knew. However, he smiled at Sirius anyway. He didn't want to ruin the party by bringing that up. "Well, that's because you are old, Sirius!" he joked.
Sirius put on a mock angry face, before laughing. "Well, I'll go now, because I think there is a young lady over there, waiting to talk to you."
Sure enough, as Sirius walked away, Ginny made her way over to him. "Hey Harry. Happy Birthday. Want to go get some food?"
"Sure Gin, let's go." But as they started to wander towards the kitchen, Fred and George intercepted them.
"Harry! Happy Birthday Mate. We've got a couple bottles of FireWhiskey, want some? It is your birthday after all!"
Harry laughed. "With Dumbledore and your mother around? No thanks! We'll get sloshed some other time though, before I go back to Hogwarts. I have this Muggle drink called Vodka. Apparently it's quite good."
"Harry!" said Ginny, sounding scandalized.
The boy in question smiled. "Don't worry, Angel, you can come too." She looked partly mollified at this, but still not happy. With a final grin, Fred and George migrated to the food, and Ginny turned to face Harry.
"Harry, I don't think that's a good idea. I won't stop you or tell on you or anything, but if you get drunk, your Occlumency might slip, and Voldemort could break in."
Harry nodded soberly. "I know. That was the real reason I refused today. I was going to see if there was any spell or potion that will close off my mind for one night. I don't want to loose out on this chance to act like a teenager. I missed so much in my childhood; I don't want to miss this too. It's stupid, but I really wanted to get drunk. Did you know this is my first birthday party ever? Anyway," he abruptly changed the topic, "let go get that food." Ginny stared at him worriedly for a moment, and then followed him towards the food.
After everyone had finished eating, and Harry had talked to most of the people around, the lights went off, and Mrs. Weasley appeared carrying a large cake, lit by 17 candles. She set it down on a table, and called everyone over.
Once everyone was gathered around the cake, they began to sing.
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday to you!
The twins, of course, sang a much ruder version.
"Blow out the candles, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. "Don't forget to make a wish!" Harry nodded and blew as hard as he could. All the candles went out, and the room burst into applause.
"What'd you wish for, Harry?" called out Tonks.
"Can't tell you that," said Harry winking. "Or it might not come true."
Mrs. Weasley began to cut up the cake and had out pieces to everyone. Harry took a bite and smiled. "This is delicious, Mrs. Weasley."
"Don't tell me, dear, tell Ginny. She's the one who made it."
Harry turned to a blushing Ginny. "It's really good, Gin."
"Thanks," she muttered, her cheeks nearly as red as her hair. "Mum's been teaching me how to cook."
Once everyone was holding a piece of cake, Fred yelled out "PRESENTS! Come on, everyone!" and Harry found himself being swept along to a table that was laden with presents. Out of nowhere, George's arm appeared and dragged him to the front. Hurriedly he whispered, "There are some presents that people didn't feel needed to be shown to everyone. They're on your bed. Our's, Ginny's and Tonks'."
"Oh. Should I be scared to open yours?" asked Harry laughingly.
"Harry! You wound us!" cried Fred. "Anyway, here's your first present. It's from our darling baby brother."
Harry took the present, smiling as he realized that Fred hadn't answered his question. He opened Ron's gift. It's was a refill for his Broomstick Servicing Kit, and a few Quidditch Weekly magazines. "Thanks, Mate," he said with a smile.
The next present was from Hermione. Taking the package from George, Harry noticed it looked like a book. When he opened the package, however, he laughed. It was indeed a book, but it was entitled, 'So, You have a Dark Lord after you. What do you do?' It turned out to be a book of very advanced Defence. "Thanks Hermione! This'll definitely come in handy."
From Mrs. Weasley, he received a green sweater and a package of her fudge. Moody gave him a wand holster ("Now you won't blow off your buttocks!"), and Bill and Charlie got together and got him quite a nice leather jacket. However, when he looked at it more closely, he noticed it was dragonhide. Moody looked impressed by this. "Dragonhide repels most of the weaker curses," he told Harry.
Sirius and Remus gave him the deed to Potter Mansion, which was officially Harry's now that he turned 17. They also gave him the key to his parent's vault at Gringotts. Harry was surprised; he thought all his parent's money was already in his vault. He didn't know how rich the Potters really were.
Most of the order got him something to do with either Quidditch or Defence. Harry was surprised by their thoughtfulness. They barely knew him, yet got him birthday presents.
Once all the presents were opened, and Harry thanked everyone, most of the crowd began to leave. Harry noticed Tonks had left shortly after the cake, and wondered where she had gone.
Finally, only the people living at Grimmuald Place were left. After helping clean up, Harry went up to his room. He was about to sit on his bed, when he saw three packages lying there. Picking up the first one, he noticed it was from Fred and George. Opening it, he found their own NEWT's survival kit. It included alcohol, fireworks, and directions to many bars near Hogwarts. He smiled and picked up Tonks' present.
In this one, he found instructions for a variety of Birth Control Potions, along with a book on various techniques for sex. Harry blushed and put it down.
Then he opened the final package on the bed. It was from Ginny. It turned out to be a necklace. The pendant was a stag, with a lily on its hide. Picking up the note the came with it, he read,
'Harry,
First of all, Happy Birthday.
Now, you're probably wondering why I gave you a necklace.
It is a stag and lily, for obvious reasons, but it is also a protection.
I put it in a potion, which should protect you. I'm not sure how, but
it does. It had drops of blood from everyone who truly cares about you.
Me, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Fred, George, Mum, Remus, Tonks.
Please wear it; I don't want you getting hurt.
Love,
Ginny.
Harry smiled and put it on. He got up to find Ginny and thank her for it. It was incredibly nice of her.
Finally, exhausted by the day's events, Harry fell into a restless sleep.
*****************************************************
A/N: Short, I know. But I wanted a happy chapter. The next chapter shouldn't be TOO long, but review guys! I'll encourage me to write faster! ;) Please?
Thanks to everyone who reviewed this chapter.
Fiddy – Right, sorry, I've changed that. Thanks.
RavenPotterBlack – Thanks, and I've changed that. Thanks for telling me.
Athenakitty – They demolished the wall and then rebuilt it. Sirius got bored one day. =) As to Harry telling Sirius what the Muggles did to him, well maybe. Depends how Sirius reacts when Harry tells him he knows that Sirius is his father.
Wytil – I totally agree. I still think Harry will defeat Voldemort, because he knows he won't live otherwise. But Dumbledore had better watch out, because Harry isn't planning on taking this lying down.
Dee – Thanks! I don't HATE Dumbledore, but he really pissed me off in OOtP. Also, even from the beginning, I didn't see him as infallible. But no, I don't hate Dumbledore as much as it seems in this fic. But I needed him to push Harry away, and make him fight his own battles. In the books I think he relies on Dumbledore too much.
Ladyla – Thanks. =) Harry/Ginny stuff will START at the end of the next chapter.
Silvercrystal77 – Thanks! Ginny IS hiding something, as well as her feelings. She's really really confused right now. It'll become clear next chapter.
MidnightJustice – No, she won't be at headquarters. If I do a sequel, she'll be in that. Thanks!
Temporary Insanity – Nope, Violet's not Tonks. I guess it does make sense, but technically, since all Pureblood families are related, then they ALL have metamorphamagi blood in them somewhere. Because Tonks' is really a Black. Good guess though.
WaterStorm99 – Thank you very much!
Dirbatua – lol! Sorry, Dumbledore's gotta stay alive for a while. He's being quite a bastard isn't he.
Lilo – Thank you! Neither can I! Oh wait, yes I can, I'm writing it. lol
Jenny – Thanks. You might need to wait a bit for that one! Sorry.
MMQ – Thanks. But no, this won't be H/T, even for a fling. Sorry about that. I am planning to write one though. I'm a H/T shipper too.
JENNIFER – Thank you!
Again, thank you to all of you! Please enjoy, and REVIEW!!
"SURPRISE!!" came a multitude of voices. Harry turned back to Tonks, who was grinning. "Well go inside, Birthday Boy!" ***************
Harry stepped uncomprehendingly into the room. 'What was going on? A surprise party for him? WOW.' Almost the entire Order was there, along with all the Weasleys except for Percy, and so was Hermione. Wondering when they had time to plan all this, Harry grinned around at everyone.
Ron saw him looking around in astonishment and walked over to him smiling. "Hey, Mate! Stop looking so surprised. Did you think we'd forget your birthday?"
"Uh...No, course not," mumbled Harry, although that was exactly what he had though. "I ...just... a party...for ME. Thanks."
Mrs. Weasley came bustling over to him and wrapped him in a tight hug. "Happy Birthday, Dear! Oh, you're all grown up! You look so different from when we first saw you on the platform. You don't look so much like your father anymore. But you've grown so tall and handsome." She was nearly in tears. Ron however, seemed rather embarrassed.
"Mum. MUM! You're smothering him!"
"Oh, of course, sorry dear," she said releasing Harry. "I need to go see to the food anyway."
"Sorry about that," muttered Ron, after she had left. "She tends to get over emotional at birthday parties for her children. And you're as good as one of us now."
Harry grinned, and began to reply but was cut off by Hermione flinging her arms around his neck. "Oh! Happy Birthday Harry!"
"Thanks Hermione. When did all of you have time to plan this? You didn't know I was coming till this morning!"
"Well, we had planned to have it at the Dursleys. Get them out of the house, and throw you a party, but this made it easier."
"Wow. Thanks."
The rest of the crowd started to gather around Harry. After most of them had finished wishing Harry a happy birthday, Sirius came up to him.
"Happy Birthday, Harry" he said, ruffling Harry's hair. "Look at you, all grown up. You look so much like your father at his 17th birthday. You make me feel so old!"
Harry couldn't believe that Sirius would still say that, although, to be fair, he had no idea Harry knew. However, he smiled at Sirius anyway. He didn't want to ruin the party by bringing that up. "Well, that's because you are old, Sirius!" he joked.
Sirius put on a mock angry face, before laughing. "Well, I'll go now, because I think there is a young lady over there, waiting to talk to you."
Sure enough, as Sirius walked away, Ginny made her way over to him. "Hey Harry. Happy Birthday. Want to go get some food?"
"Sure Gin, let's go." But as they started to wander towards the kitchen, Fred and George intercepted them.
"Harry! Happy Birthday Mate. We've got a couple bottles of FireWhiskey, want some? It is your birthday after all!"
Harry laughed. "With Dumbledore and your mother around? No thanks! We'll get sloshed some other time though, before I go back to Hogwarts. I have this Muggle drink called Vodka. Apparently it's quite good."
"Harry!" said Ginny, sounding scandalized.
The boy in question smiled. "Don't worry, Angel, you can come too." She looked partly mollified at this, but still not happy. With a final grin, Fred and George migrated to the food, and Ginny turned to face Harry.
"Harry, I don't think that's a good idea. I won't stop you or tell on you or anything, but if you get drunk, your Occlumency might slip, and Voldemort could break in."
Harry nodded soberly. "I know. That was the real reason I refused today. I was going to see if there was any spell or potion that will close off my mind for one night. I don't want to loose out on this chance to act like a teenager. I missed so much in my childhood; I don't want to miss this too. It's stupid, but I really wanted to get drunk. Did you know this is my first birthday party ever? Anyway," he abruptly changed the topic, "let go get that food." Ginny stared at him worriedly for a moment, and then followed him towards the food.
After everyone had finished eating, and Harry had talked to most of the people around, the lights went off, and Mrs. Weasley appeared carrying a large cake, lit by 17 candles. She set it down on a table, and called everyone over.
Once everyone was gathered around the cake, they began to sing.
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday to you!
The twins, of course, sang a much ruder version.
"Blow out the candles, dear," said Mrs. Weasley. "Don't forget to make a wish!" Harry nodded and blew as hard as he could. All the candles went out, and the room burst into applause.
"What'd you wish for, Harry?" called out Tonks.
"Can't tell you that," said Harry winking. "Or it might not come true."
Mrs. Weasley began to cut up the cake and had out pieces to everyone. Harry took a bite and smiled. "This is delicious, Mrs. Weasley."
"Don't tell me, dear, tell Ginny. She's the one who made it."
Harry turned to a blushing Ginny. "It's really good, Gin."
"Thanks," she muttered, her cheeks nearly as red as her hair. "Mum's been teaching me how to cook."
Once everyone was holding a piece of cake, Fred yelled out "PRESENTS! Come on, everyone!" and Harry found himself being swept along to a table that was laden with presents. Out of nowhere, George's arm appeared and dragged him to the front. Hurriedly he whispered, "There are some presents that people didn't feel needed to be shown to everyone. They're on your bed. Our's, Ginny's and Tonks'."
"Oh. Should I be scared to open yours?" asked Harry laughingly.
"Harry! You wound us!" cried Fred. "Anyway, here's your first present. It's from our darling baby brother."
Harry took the present, smiling as he realized that Fred hadn't answered his question. He opened Ron's gift. It's was a refill for his Broomstick Servicing Kit, and a few Quidditch Weekly magazines. "Thanks, Mate," he said with a smile.
The next present was from Hermione. Taking the package from George, Harry noticed it looked like a book. When he opened the package, however, he laughed. It was indeed a book, but it was entitled, 'So, You have a Dark Lord after you. What do you do?' It turned out to be a book of very advanced Defence. "Thanks Hermione! This'll definitely come in handy."
From Mrs. Weasley, he received a green sweater and a package of her fudge. Moody gave him a wand holster ("Now you won't blow off your buttocks!"), and Bill and Charlie got together and got him quite a nice leather jacket. However, when he looked at it more closely, he noticed it was dragonhide. Moody looked impressed by this. "Dragonhide repels most of the weaker curses," he told Harry.
Sirius and Remus gave him the deed to Potter Mansion, which was officially Harry's now that he turned 17. They also gave him the key to his parent's vault at Gringotts. Harry was surprised; he thought all his parent's money was already in his vault. He didn't know how rich the Potters really were.
Most of the order got him something to do with either Quidditch or Defence. Harry was surprised by their thoughtfulness. They barely knew him, yet got him birthday presents.
Once all the presents were opened, and Harry thanked everyone, most of the crowd began to leave. Harry noticed Tonks had left shortly after the cake, and wondered where she had gone.
Finally, only the people living at Grimmuald Place were left. After helping clean up, Harry went up to his room. He was about to sit on his bed, when he saw three packages lying there. Picking up the first one, he noticed it was from Fred and George. Opening it, he found their own NEWT's survival kit. It included alcohol, fireworks, and directions to many bars near Hogwarts. He smiled and picked up Tonks' present.
In this one, he found instructions for a variety of Birth Control Potions, along with a book on various techniques for sex. Harry blushed and put it down.
Then he opened the final package on the bed. It was from Ginny. It turned out to be a necklace. The pendant was a stag, with a lily on its hide. Picking up the note the came with it, he read,
'Harry,
First of all, Happy Birthday.
Now, you're probably wondering why I gave you a necklace.
It is a stag and lily, for obvious reasons, but it is also a protection.
I put it in a potion, which should protect you. I'm not sure how, but
it does. It had drops of blood from everyone who truly cares about you.
Me, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Fred, George, Mum, Remus, Tonks.
Please wear it; I don't want you getting hurt.
Love,
Ginny.
Harry smiled and put it on. He got up to find Ginny and thank her for it. It was incredibly nice of her.
Finally, exhausted by the day's events, Harry fell into a restless sleep.
*****************************************************
A/N: Short, I know. But I wanted a happy chapter. The next chapter shouldn't be TOO long, but review guys! I'll encourage me to write faster! ;) Please?
Thanks to everyone who reviewed this chapter.
Fiddy – Right, sorry, I've changed that. Thanks.
RavenPotterBlack – Thanks, and I've changed that. Thanks for telling me.
Athenakitty – They demolished the wall and then rebuilt it. Sirius got bored one day. =) As to Harry telling Sirius what the Muggles did to him, well maybe. Depends how Sirius reacts when Harry tells him he knows that Sirius is his father.
Wytil – I totally agree. I still think Harry will defeat Voldemort, because he knows he won't live otherwise. But Dumbledore had better watch out, because Harry isn't planning on taking this lying down.
Dee – Thanks! I don't HATE Dumbledore, but he really pissed me off in OOtP. Also, even from the beginning, I didn't see him as infallible. But no, I don't hate Dumbledore as much as it seems in this fic. But I needed him to push Harry away, and make him fight his own battles. In the books I think he relies on Dumbledore too much.
Ladyla – Thanks. =) Harry/Ginny stuff will START at the end of the next chapter.
Silvercrystal77 – Thanks! Ginny IS hiding something, as well as her feelings. She's really really confused right now. It'll become clear next chapter.
MidnightJustice – No, she won't be at headquarters. If I do a sequel, she'll be in that. Thanks!
Temporary Insanity – Nope, Violet's not Tonks. I guess it does make sense, but technically, since all Pureblood families are related, then they ALL have metamorphamagi blood in them somewhere. Because Tonks' is really a Black. Good guess though.
WaterStorm99 – Thank you very much!
Dirbatua – lol! Sorry, Dumbledore's gotta stay alive for a while. He's being quite a bastard isn't he.
Lilo – Thank you! Neither can I! Oh wait, yes I can, I'm writing it. lol
Jenny – Thanks. You might need to wait a bit for that one! Sorry.
MMQ – Thanks. But no, this won't be H/T, even for a fling. Sorry about that. I am planning to write one though. I'm a H/T shipper too.
JENNIFER – Thank you!
Again, thank you to all of you! Please enjoy, and REVIEW!!