Chapter 5


Sixteen and Counting




Harry awoke with a smile on his face and this was amplified when he reached and put on his glasses to find Dobby bouncing up and down on the edge of his bed. "Happy Birthday Harry Potter Sir."


"Thanks Dobby." said Harry sleepily, rubbing his eyes.


"Can I give Harry Potter his present sir?" asked the elf still bouncing.


"Of course Dobby, but you really didn't have to get me anything."


"Not get Harry Potter anything?" Dobby looked a little hurt "but Harry Potter set Dobby free and Harry Potter is Dobby's friend."


"Of course you are Dobby, thank you!" these statements made the broad grin return to the little elf's face.


Harry's was handed a squashy package wrapped in plain paper, opening it Harry found a beautiful black cloak with a silver coloured lining. Harry was taken aback and stuttered in shock "This is great Dobby it must have been expensive!"


"Dobby likes to work Harry Potter sir and is getting paid now so Dobby has lots of money."


"Thanks again Dobby this is great."


"Dobby has to get back to work now Harry Potter sir, have a good day." with a *pop* the elf was gone again.


Harry rose from bed washed and dressed in some of his new muggle clothes, the tight jumper a pair of plain dark trousers and black loafers Harry also put on the new cloak he had received from Dobby, examining himself in the mirror he was quite impressed and apparently so was the mirror telling him he looked "Not to shabby."


When Harry entered the kitchen professor McGonagall and Remus both greeted him with 'Happy Birthday's and gave him a little box about the size of his fist, Harry thanked them and told them they shouldn't have, the older women replied it was to make sure he had no excuses for tardiness in the future, opening the box Harry found a muggle watch in stainless steel and Harry smiled when he saw it was water resistant to two hundred meters, Harry's last watch hadn't worked since the second task in 'The Triwizard Tournament. He put the watch on, and settled down to have breakfast and laughed when he found the contents of his plate arranged in a smiley face by Dobby, after breakfast he asked his teachers now he would be travelling Remus explained he would be travelling with him and they would portkey from just outside, and return to the clearing in the forest tonight, the darkness should negate the need for the invisibility cloak. Before leaving Professor McGonagall reminded Harry not to let the cat out of the bag, so to speak, about any of his training and enjoy his birthday.


Moony and Harry left almost immediately and after exiting the gate, Remus removed a crushed soft drink can from his cloak pocket and asked Harry the time, 09:04 stated Harry and 47 seconds "Right oh" said the werewolf "touch the can". 57, 58, 59 ... Harry counted then felt the tug and the next thing he knew he was in the wood at the back of the Burrow. The pair walked down to the rickety house and round to the front door, Harry knocked, and it was answered by Mrs Weasley "Harry! Happy birthday!" giving him a motherly hug "Everyone will be surprised to see you; I kept it secret in case we couldn't arrange it. Come in, come in. you too Remus."


Harry stepped into the familiar kitchen the long scrubbed table was surrounded by Weasleys and guests. Ginny saw him first, she was sat at the far side closest to the door still in her dressing gown, and slippers her hair messily falling over her shoulders, she rubbed her eyes and looked again then let out a scream and bolted from the room. Everyone turned to see what the out cry was about and then turned and saw Harry, there was a shout from everyone of 'happy birthday'. Hermione ran to him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She then stood back to look at Harry questioned what happened, Harry didn't understand and asked if something was wrong, she laughed saying something like 'same old Harry' and stood away as the Weasleys approached. Greeting with many handshakes and slaps on the back Harry was wished Happy Birthday by Ron, Fred and George, Bill and Charley, next to greet Harry was Neville who had been hanging back a bit, "Hia Harry, Happy Birthday." said his fellow Gryffindor.


"Hi Neville, thanks..." Harry stopped as Ginny returned to the room, she was now dressed in a light summer dress showing off her slim figure and newly acquired, slight curves. Her hair brushed and loosely tied back a few tendrils falling across her face. Harry couldn't help but stare and felt his mouth go very dry, this was a new development and something he didn't feel he was entirely comfortable with.


"Hello Harry, Happy Birthday." she walked over to him and standing on tip-toes kissed his cheek lightly.


Harry realised he was reddening slightly and hoped his tan from time spent outside was hiding it, pulling himself together as he realised he was still staring, but the butterflies in his stomach seemed to be doing stunt flying, he had to conciously reminded himself she was his best friends sister and seeing Neville.


"Hia Ginny thanks a lot." He was spared further uncomfortable feelings as Ron and Hermione approached with wrapped gifts.
Turning out to both be books, Hermione's was a potion book and Harry told her that was great giving her a kiss on her cheek making her blush, she said she couldn't believe Harry was keeping with potions, to which Ron hold heartedly agreeing. Harry simply said 'I am going to be an Auror, you need to know about poisons and antidotes.' Ron and Hermione both looked at each other smiling when Harry said 'going to be' like nothing else was possible. Ron's book was called '1001 Great Quidditch Moves', instantly allowing Harry to strike up a conversation with most of the Weasleys about Quidditch and Harry could hear Hermione sign and mumble something that sounded like 'Typical Boys'.


Finishing the conversation, Harry went to the sitting room while the Weasleys and Neville went upstairs to get changed, he sat down with Moony and Ginny joined them. Harry feeling progressively more uncomfortable with the silence had to make a conscious effort not to stare at her and decided to try and start another conversation. "Have you had a good holiday?" he asked.


"Yeah it's been fun having everyone here, it's a shame you couldn't have stayed." Replied Ginny nonchelantly.


"Yeah, me too but it's safer for everyone. Trouble just seems to find me."


"I'm sorry Harry..." Ginny replied quietly, playing with a lock of her hair "have you been okay with your relatives?"


"I've been built a rockery in their garden. I quite enjoyed it actually, like herbology with granite." he said knowing it was the truth but grinning to himself 'not the whole truth' though.


The conversation was interrupted as everyone else returned, but Harry kept glancing at Ginny to see her looking at him.


All the Weasely children together with Hermione, Neville and Harry, lazed around in the garden enjoying the bright sunshine and pleasent smells of Summer. The conversation was light and relaxed, concentrating on incidents that had occured so far in the holiday. Harry particularly enjoyed listening to stories of the twins pranks on their family, which normally ended in someone turning into some bizarre animal and the twins then being forced by Mrs Weasley to spend the rest of the day throwing gnomes from the garden. Lunch was just as entertaining, Mrs Weasley provided them with an enormous picnic basket and after a walk in the near by wood they all ate hearterly. Harry laughed till his sides ached when half the group briefly turned into fairies, the twins had apparently managed to slip some of their newest inventions 'Fairy Flumps' into the food. Ron made a particularly amusing fairy, flying with delicate translucent wings to with in a inch of the twins faces and attempted to bellow insults at them. Being a fairy however meant that his triad of abuse was only heard as an amusing serious of high pitched squeaks. A fight was avoided when Ron turned back a minute later by a comment from Hermione, the Ron 'made a very cute fairy', causing the youngest Weasely male to blush heavily from the tips of his ears right down his neck. The effect of this rather flirtisious comment backfired on Hermione however as everyong else burst into fits of laughter, some could be seen with tears leaking from their eyes as they clutched their sides, making Hermione blush almost as completely as Ron.


Harry had a brilliant day, he enjoyed the presence of his friends greatly it was light hearted and relaxing, a break from the seriousness of the training. Harry knew he would be the one to kill Voldemort or be killed but for one day he was just a normal boy on his birthday lazing about the garden at the back of the Burrow. Harry, to his own amusement, as well as Remus's who was watching intently from back porch, kept stealing glances at Ginny who always seemed to be looking at him at the same time, despite the fact she was lying in the garden next to Neville. Come the evening when the sun was going down and the temperature dropped they made their way back to the house, but Ginny called Harry back and offered him a small neatly wrapped package, opening it Harry found a belt with a buckle that looked like a lion.


"It's perfect Ginny, you shouldn't have spent all this money on me ..." but Harry was interrupted as she stood on tip-toes and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Happy Birthday, Harry." Ginny said softly, her cheeks colouring only slightly, but with the close porximatey, it was still obvious to Harry.


Harry blushed heavily and it took him a second to snap out of the daze he was in and stepped back stuttering "I w-wish you hadn't done that."


Ginny looked confused and slightly hurt "Didn't you like it?"


"It's not that Ginny, its just you're seeing Neville aren't you? And he's my friend."


Ginny face lightened but then looked guilty, "Who told you ?" then obviously decided she didn't want an answer and continued, "I'm sorry Harry it wasn't fair, I'm not sure what I want at the moment, but I miss you not being around ... Happy Birthday."


"Thanks Ginny and the belt really is perfect." Harry smiled as he thought about his transfiguration and hoped the only significance wasn't him being a Gryffindor. Harry had a incredible urge to tell Ginny everything but knew he was sworn to secrecy and knew when he promised not to make the trust everyone was showing in him misplaced, he meant it.


They turned and walked to the backdoor and before entering Harry put his arm round her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze smiling at her before they separated and entered the house. As he walked in Remus told Harry that he'd have to go now as it was getting late and reminding Harry he had training tomorrow, to be honest he was tired but still managed a small protest as much for the others benefit and that of realism. They all wished him Happy Birthday again and after several hugs and hand shakes, the teacher and student departed to the forest near Hogsmead with the help of the portkey.


On the way home they chatted, "You seemed to make a good impression with young Miss Weasley." said his teacher playfully.


"She's seeing Neville." replied Harry "She got over the crush on me last year."


"That's funny." muttered the old man to himself. "So did you have a good birthday." he asked now talking to Harry.


"Yeah it was great ... its funny though, when I'm with them sometimes I think they wear kid gloves like I'll break, they always seem to be careful what they say. It's probably mostly my fault I did go a bit mental last year, but I get a little tired of everyone agreeing with me."


"I know you hate hearing it Harry, but you're special, and they worry about upsetting you. Last year you shut a lot of people out and your friends want to be there for you, but they know better than to push you. You might not realise this but they see you as their leader. You may not understand why, I mean we both know Hermione is smarter and Ron more popular, but you're the leader. James was the same..." Then Remus chuckled, "Potter Charisma."


"They what? ... But I'm not ... I mean ... " said Harry not knowing what to say.


"Think about it Harry, when they get in trouble, who do they turn to? When something has to be done, who is the one who always steps up? They would follow you anywhere Harry and you have to careful, the last thing I mean is shut them out, but you have to be sure about whatever you plan."


"Do you know about the prophecy?" said Harry quietly.

"I know enough." replied his teacher "but I also think you won't have to do it alone. Hogwarts is more than just a school it's something a lot of people remain loyal to long after they leave and you're more than just a pupil at that school. Voldemort is a fully trained wizard Harry but he did not use the school to its full potential, any witch, or wizard that does can become more powerful than even him."


They continued to the house in silence, Harry deep in thought about what his father's friend had said, he understood some of what he was told and hoped some of it wasn't true, but really knew it all was. Responsibility was a burden and he started to see how important Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers actual were. Harry had been slowly introduced to the adult's world by the teachers, faster than they probably want to, but better than being thrown straight in, something he was now very grateful for.


Harry didn't sleep much that night, not because of nightmares he was starting to control his dreams, but Harry was too thoughtful to sleep, nightmares about things that had happened didn't seem as painful as possibilities that could happen. The final thought that Harry clung to as sleep took him was that he was going to use the school, there was no margin for error to succeed in this battle. Harry mustn't allow things to distract him or prevent him from what he had to do and he knew his friends would help, he didn't know how but he knew they would. Voldemort was powerful and Harry had to kill him, Voldemort had his Death Eaters, but Harry had something more powerful, Harry had friends.


Over the next three weeks Harry's lessons where so intense these thoughts where lost, he loved them all the fencing was almost like its own form of meditation clearing his mind of everything but the task at hand, he found he woke up earlier each day warming up and standing ready for Remus's arrival his body now so used to the long piece of metal in his hand he no longer had to think, parrying, dodging, cutting and lunging by instinct his only worry was what would happen with the start of term would he be able to continue? Would Remus stay and continue to be his sparring partner? He couldn't imagine not missing the buzz of adenaline from using this deadly weapon and he knew he would miss the constant insults thrown light heartedly between himself and Moony.


Harry had also become very fond of Tonks the slightly clumsiness the Auror showed in day to day, left when it was down to business and she was a great teacher, never scolding even when potions or charms went dramatically wrong, just pointing out why this had happened and how to avoid it next time. He found her to be just as adept at DADA, understandably as she was an Auror, and they would often end a lesson with some duelling flinging curses at each over blocking and dodging and sometimes catching the other out and both laughing as one danced about the room with 'Jelly legs' or landed stiff as a board from a 'Full Body Bind'.


Transfiguration was rewarding in a different way, progress was slow but each step rewarding, Professor McGonagall said she was sure if Harry kept up the effort he could become an Animagus, he had so far managed to be able to transform several parts of his body, he could grow a large mane over his head and down his back, lengthen his teeth to sharp points, make his mouth and nose protrude and turn his hands into large paws with razor sharp claws. Each of these steps initially required massive amounts of concentration and a fair amount of pain as bones grew and changed shape or fused, muscle multiplied and hair follicles accelerated way beyond there natural purpose but as they became more familiar they became more instinctive and pain was nothing new to Harry.


At the end of the third week Harry was told by the stern professor they would not be having the afternoon session but instead Hagrid had a surprise and he was to bring his invisibility cloak and he would be spending the night at Hagrid's hut. Upon arrival at the gates of Hogwarts, Hagrid was waiting for them and Harry was told to remove his cloak, the three then proceeded to Hagrid's hut and after tea and rock cakes, which neither Harry or the Professor ate, McGonagall bid Harry farewell and told him 'Remus and Tonks will arrive tomorrow to escort him back around lunchtime.'



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