Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of J.K. Rowlings' stuff. Got it? Okay then.

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Chapter 6 – Unexpected Presents

The next morning Harry awoke rather suddenly, feeling as if he had forgotten something. He glanced over at Ron, only to find, to his amazement, that Ron was not there. Well, guess he had to beat me at least one morning over the summer, he told himself as he got up. As he dressed, replays of the night before with Silver came to mind, and he found himself smiling in a rather silly way as he remembered her sweet, "Night, Harry." He went downstairs a bit preoccupied: whatever he had forgotten was certainly bugging him – he had a feeling it was important. He walked into the kitchen and nearly yelped with surprise as every member of the Order jumped up from their seats and yelled, "SURPRISE!" He saw a banner hanging up that said, "Happy Birthday, Harry!" above the table and instantly knew what he had forgotten.

He glanced at the table to see balloons and confetti all over it. A chair in the center of the table had balloons tied to it which were flashing the words, "Happy Birthday, Harry!" repeatedly in different colors. It was in between a tired-looking Lupin and an excited-looking Ron, and across from Dumbledore, who had abandoned his usual spot at the head of the table. Harry felt a sheepish smile spread over his face as he realized that he had forgotten it was his birthday.

"Thanks, guys," he said, taking a seat. Suddenly his vision was obstructed by a huge ball of white and grey speckled feathers.

"Hedwig!" he exclaimed. She hooted and nipped his ear affectionately, but Mrs. Weasley shooed her away as she fed Harry his breakfast.

"Thanks," he said warmly.

"No problem, dear," she replied.

It was only when Harry looked at his plate that he realized how full it was. There were pancakes, eggs, bacon, and toast, and a lot of each. Grinning, Harry started. He glanced up to see that everyone looked as if they were enjoying their own breakfast. As he took a sip of his orange juice, Silver caught his eye from beside Dumbledore and gave him a warm smile. As a result, a good bit of his orange juice ended up on his shirt. Silver pretended not to notice, whilst Snape, on her other side, smirked, only to earn himself a reproving glance from Silver. He moodily began to pick the confetti out of his food. Beside Harry, Lupin pointed his wand at him and muttered, "Scourgify". The orange juice disappeared from his shirt, and Harry grinned his thanks.

After breakfast, Mrs. Weasley magically cleared the table and called, "Accio Presents!" Presents of all shapes and sizes came marching in through the door and settled on the table in front of Harry as Mrs. Weasley directed them. When they were all there, it was quite a large pile of presents. Harry couldn't see Dumbledore, Silver, or Ginny, who sat on Dumbledore's other side, over them.

"Well open them already!" Ron exclaimed, and he was echoed by everyone else as he said so.

Grinning, Harry began to tear wrapping paper. The pile diminished quickly, only to create two growing piles in front of Lupin and Ron; one of unwrapped presents, and one of wrapping paper ("Why couldn't I get the presents pile?" Ron complained. Lupin, on the other hand, was delighted.) From Hermione he got a book (not surprising) on Quidditch techniques, from Ron he got a box that would bite anybody other than himself who tried to open it, from Lupin he got a very long letter that Lupin advised him to read later, and a framed picture of a shaggy black dog. When Harry looked at the picture the dog jumped up and attempted to lick him, leaving lick marks on the glass, his tail wagging so fast it was hard to keep track of. Harry set that one especially aside. Among his other notable gifts, he got purple shoelaces from Dumbledore, a book on Disguise and Concealment for Aurors from Tonks, and a device that Mr. Weasley had made himself ("from Muggle equipment!") that tied your shoes for you.

When Harry had unwrapped all his presents, Silver stood up and put her hand in her pocket.

"That's not all, Harry," she told him.

Her eyes sparkled as she withdrew a green velvet pouch and handed it to him. "Go on, open it," she urged.

Harry thought he would rather look at her eyes, alight with anticipation, for a while, but opened it anyway. He withdrew an ancient gold pocket watch. Lupin's hand flew to his shoulder at an alarming speed. Harry saw that there was something engraved on the front. He held it a bit closer and read:

James A. Potter

He glanced up at Silver, ignoring Lupin's death grip. He couldn't bring himself to say anything.

"Don't you like it?" she asked concernedly, suddenly looking close to tears.

"It's my favorite," he croaked.

She smiled. "Good," she said softly.

Harry looked down at it again, and held it closer to Lupin so he could see. Suddenly Snape reached across the table and snatched it out of his hand.

"Hey!" Harry yelled, standing up.

Snape studied the watch intently, and then thrust it back at him, standing at the same time. He turned to Silver.

"Where did you get that?" he demanded.

Silver looked pointedly ahead.

"Look at me," Snape demanded.

She looked the opposite direction.

"What is it, Severus?" Dumbledore asked.

"That's James' watch, Albus," Snape replied, his voice cutting, "The one he lost in the battle with her mother."

These last few words seemed to have effect on only Dumbledore, himself, and Moody, who stood up and fixed a piercing gaze on Silver.

Dumbledore reached out, placed his finger under Silver's chin, and lifted her eyes to meet his. He didn't speak for a few seconds.

"Did you go back to get the watch, Silver?" he asked.

"Yes," Silver admitted defiantly.

"When?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Last night."

Gone back where? Harry thought, Where did she go?

Suddenly Mrs. Weasley gasped and clapped her hands to her mouth. "Not to her house!" she exclaimed.

"Yes indeed, Molly," Dumbledore replied gravely.

Lupin drew a sharp intake of break from beside Harry. "Silver!" he exclaimed.

"I wasn't caught," Silver protested, "And I didn't leave any fingerprints, I promise!"

"You could have been caught!" Snape roared, "And you're much too young to be Apparating!"

"I'll be old enough to Apparate next year", Silver replied coolly, "And I didn't Apparate anyway."

Snape's glare was question enough for her.

"I used Floo Powder," she said.

Mr. Weasley choked on something. For a moment Snape just stared at her, then he threw his hands up in the air and began to pace that side of the room.

"Foolish girl!" he yelled, "Imprudent!"

Silver looked mildly sorry.

Snape turned to her, eyes blazing. "You shouldn't have risked your life for his blasted father's watch!"

Silver stood up to face him, and although she was still nowhere near his height, she spoke as if she were five feet taller than him.

"Just because you don't like his father doesn't mean I shouldn't have done it!" she yelled. Her eyes were as fiery as his, and her cheeks were flushed with anger.

Snape stared at her, stunned, for a moment, and then turned and began to pace again.

"Silver," Dumbledore said gravely, "You realize that you must never go back again."

"Yes, I know – it's just that it was Harry's birthday," she replied.

Dumbledore nodded and Silver took her seat. The fire in her eyes hadn't died completely, and she still had a defiant look to her. Moody took his seat again, as well.

"Sit, Severus," Dumbledore commanded.

Snape angrily took his seat.

"Well, Harry," Dumbledore said, looking up at a mildly confused Harry, "You should be very, very thankful for that watch. It was your father's prized possession, and he was most undone when he lost it. Now that it is in your hands, I suspect you will take very good care of it."

Harry nodded, and Dumbledore nodded back at him.

"Come now," Dumbledore said imperially, "Let us adjourn to the living room."

Everyone rose, and some scattered chatter broke out.

"Silver." It was Snape's voice. "Stay."

Silver turned to him defiantly, but still stayed. Harry lingered by the door. Snape looked up at him with his usual loathing.

"Get a move on, Potter," he sneered.

Harry reluctantly left, clutching his father's watch very tightly. He made a mental note to thank Silver profusely for going to get it for him.

Situated in the living room, everyone began to talk pleasantly, but Tonks, who was by the door, suddenly let out a loud "Shhh!"

Everybody quieted, and they could hear Snape and Silver's conversation.

"What you did was unthinkable," Snape was saying, "And I don't think you realize the seriousness of what you have done. You're grounded."

Silver snorted. "When are we going to leave this house anyway?"

"To your room," Snape finished.

"You can't ground me on Harry's birthday!" she protested.

"Watch me," Snape replied, "Potter's birthday has nothing to do with you!"

"It obviously does, or I wouldn't be grounded," Silver retorted.

"Go to your room," Snape replied.

"Make me," she challenged.

To Harry's surprise, nobody brought up the fact that they shouldn't be eavesdropping. In fact, nobody really seemed to realize that was what they were doing at that very moment.

"Go," Snape commanded.

"I won't. It's Harry's birthday and he wants me there," she replied, "And besides, who gave you permission to punish me?"

"I don't need permission," Snape said, his voice angry, "I am a responsible adult and you are not."

"You're not my –"she began.

"What, your father?" Snape asked, his voice rising to a higher level. "Your father isn't here to make the decision, but if you'd like me to call your mother in, I certainly will!"

"That's not funny!" Silver yelled back, sounding as if she were about to cry.

"I didn't mean the part about your mother," Snape said resignedly, "And I suppose what I meant to say was that no, I am not your father, but I...I..."

"Yes?" Silver asked slyly.

There was no answer from Snape, and Silver suddenly laughed.

"You care about me?" she prompted.

"Yes," he said grudgingly, sounding as if he would rather say no.

"A lot?" she encouraged.

"Yes," Snape muttered through what sounded like clenched teeth.

"You love me?" she asked, but this time the question sounded more sincere.

"If you must hear me say so," Snape replied, sounding extremely annoyed.

A second later he cried, "Ouch! Don't break my ribs again!"

Tonks giggled and murmured, "He knows he loves it."

"Sorry," Silver apologized. "So am I still grounded?"

Harry could imagine her looking up at him with those big, brown eyes, and knew that there was no way Snape was going to confine her to her room either that day or any day.

"No," Snape said, still sounding resigned.

"Yay! Thank you!" she cried.

"Watch the ribs!" was his concerned reply.

Silver giggled and they heard the door to the kitchen open.

"Aren't you coming?" she demanded.

"No," Snape replied stubbornly.

"Oh come on, you know you want to go and sing happy birthday to Harry," she teased.

"I think not," Snape said, sounding horrified at the thought.

"Why not?" she asked.

Snape muttered something under his breath. They heard the kitchen door close, but knew she hadn't left the room.

"What?" she prompted.

"Nobody wants to talk to me anyway," Snape replied.

"Oh yes they do," she said, "Come with me and you'll see."

"I don't want to."
"Yes you do."
"No, I don't."
"Just for a little bit!"
"No."
"Please?"
"Oh, fine."

There were chuckles all around. "What a softie!" Ginny crowed from beside Harry. Immediately everyone became busy, lest Snape and Silver find out they had been overheard. Nobody wanted to imagine Snape's temper if that should happen.

Silver dragged Snape into the room and Moody walked up to Snape immediately.

"Come," he said, grabbing Snape by the wrist and dragging him into a corner. Snape looked back at Silver, who gave him an 'I-told-you-so' look. As the two men walked away, Harry heard Moody say gravely, "I think you have a stalker. Let's look at the evidence." Snape didn't look convinced.

Then Silver bounded over to Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione.

"Get in trouble?" Ron asked.

"A little," she replied.

Harry, Ron, and Ginny exchanged grins over Silver's head as she flipped through the book Tonks had given him, but Hermione looked outraged.

"I was looking at that," she snapped, grabbing the book out of Silver's hands and marching off.

"It's my b-"Harry began, but Silver quieted him with a hand on his arm.

"Let her be," she said, "She'll come around."

Harry studied her intently, but she refused to make eye contact with him.

"You don't really believe that, do you?" he asked.

"No," she admitted, smiling ruefully, "But I'm only telling you so because it's your birthday, you'll never hear me say it again!"

Harry grinned. "I bet I could get it out of you."

"I'd like to see you try!" she shot back, a mischievous grin on her face.

The rest of Harry's day went smoothly. They had ice cream and cake for lunch in his honor, and Hermione even sat across from Silver while they ate it. That night they were allowed to stay up as long as they liked, and soon it was only Harry, Ron, Silver, a reading Hermione, Snape, Lupin, and Dumbledore in the room.

Lupin and Snape were watching Harry and Silver like hawks. Harry kept glancing up, uncomfortable at the eyes focused on him. He caught Dumbledore's eye and could have sworn Dumbledore winked at him.

"My good men!" Dumbledore exclaimed, "I've just remembered that I have something highly intriguing to show you in my office – or my bedroom, whichever you'd like to call it."

"No thanks," Snape grumbled, his eyes locked on Silver.

"Maybe another time," Lupin agreed, staring just as pointedly at Harry.

"I really do insist!" Dumbledore said, and he took each man by the wrist and fairly dragged them out.

Silver let out a sigh of relief, which was echoed by Harry. They exchanged relieved glances.

Suddenly Hermione snapped her book shut, causing the remaining three by the fire to jump.

"Ron, I got a book about Quidditch, and there's a part I completely don't understand," she said, "Will you come look at it with me?"

"No," Ron replied, "I'll look tomorrow."

"But I really want you to look at it now," Hermione replied.

"Well, bring it down here, then," Ron replied.

"No, Ron, I really think you should come up with me and look at it. Right now," Hermione said, narrowing her eyes.

"Oh fine," Ron exclaimed exasperatedly. He looked up at Harry and then froze. He turned to Silver, and then back to Harry, and then to Hermione.

"Ohhh," he said in a completely non-subtle manner.

Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, leading him out of the room.

Harry looked uncertainly at Silver. She was already looking at him. She was close – very close. He was sitting down with his side to the fire, and she was sitting facing the other way, but right beside him. He was surprised he had just realized it. It would be so easy to just reach over and...

Their eyes locked, and this time there was nobody to interrupt. Harry also realized that she wasn't blocking him. He leaned closer to her.

"Harry," she whispered, "I trust you."

He reached out and hooked an arm around her waist. He felt her hand travel to the back of his neck as she leaned closer to him, as well.

"Don't hurt me," she whispered as he put his other arm around her.

Harry had no intention of hurting her – ever – and intended to show her just that. He gazed down into her sweet upturned face as they drew closer, thinking that it would be a shame to block it out by closing his eyes. His lips met hers and a spectacular warmth flowed through his entire body. A string of fireworks went off across his lips. He closed his eyes and simply felt. Her arms were around his neck as he pulled her closer. I won't hurt you, he thought, desperately hoping that she would be able to just feel what he was thinking, I would never hurt you. I couldn't. A few seconds afterwards they parted, although Harry kept his arms around her, and she allowed one of her hands to hang on to the back of his neck. Harry found himself looking into her eyes, eyes that were alight with wonder. He knew by looking at her that she knew what he had been thinking. He began to pull her to him again, and she raised no objection, when they heard footsteps. At first Harry didn't care, but she suddenly jumped away from him, and it took him a moment to figure out that footsteps meant that there was somebody coming.

Snape pushed the door open just as he released her and glared at Harry with fervent suspicion. Harry did his best to look completely innocent, and was relieved when Lupin and Dumbledore appeared behind Snape.

"Severus," Dumbledore was saying, "I really did think it was interesting."

"Where's everyone else?" Snape asked suspiciously, completely ignoring Dumbledore.

"We stuffed them in a closet," Harry replied, feeling too good to let Snape get away with being a jerk.

"Really, Severus," Lupin said, "They obviously went to bed. As you two should do," he added, giving them a pointed look.

They rose and followed the adults up the stairs. Snape escorted Silver all the way to Sirius' room without even letting her pause to say goodnight, but Harry felt that he didn't need to hear it.

"So, what happened, mate?" Ron asked excitedly as he entered.

Harry didn't answer as he fell onto his bed and buried his face in his pillow, feeling as if he could yell with happiness.

Ron chuckled. "I thought so."