Harry pulled open the door. There, standing in the doorway was a familiar old face. Still as shabby, with patches on his robes, stood Remus Lupin. Behind him were Tonks, whose hair was neon green today, Mad-eye Moody, his electric blue eye focused on Harry, Kingsley Shacklebot, and the other four members of Harry's so-called guard. All of them looked happy to see him. Harry stood smiling breathlessly. He had been dreaming of another rescue like this.
"I've got my Firebolt right here, I'll just go..." but he was cut off by Lupin.
"No need Harry. We've been able to hire a Ministry car. We're still not making it public that the Order is back together, but Kingsley here, has been able to.... well we have a car anyway." He smiled vaguely. Harry stood confused for a moment.
"Then why are there eight of you?" They all smiled sheepishly.
"It was really just my job and Kingsley's, but, well, you know Mad-eye is," he paused, "We all just wanted to do a bit of checking up. You know, make sure the Dursleys are keeping in line." Harry grinned widely as he stepped back to allow them all to come in.
"The Dursleys are in the kitchen." Harry said loudly. Uncle Vernon had heard him and shouted,
"What is it now, boy? Who's there?"
"Oh, no one, just some friends." said Lupin, winking at Harry. They all filed in to the kitchen facing the Dursleys. Harry couldn't help but watch, so he stood in the doorway.
"You've been treating Harry well, I expect? After our last meeting I wouldn't expect any less from you Dursley." Continued Lupin.
"Y-yes." stuttered Uncle Vernon, his face going a deep shade of maroon with anger.
"You're aware we're here to take him, are you then?" said Mad-eye.
"N-no. But, g-go ahead. Be m-my guest." Answered Vernon. At that moment, Petunia stepped forward.
"Dumbledore said that he stays." She said in an almost whispered voice.
"Ahhh, Petunia, we are under strict orders from Dumbledore as well. He has told us that he thought it better that Harry come with us."
"Very well Remus, but if I get another h-howler, I will blame the mistake souly on you." Harry stood in amazement. Had Aunt Petunia just called Lupin by his first name? How did she know it?
"Trust me Petunia, the letter is right here, so, not to worry. We'll be off then. You can expect to pick him up at the end of the year, as usual." With that, they left the room, Tonks bewitched Harry's trunk to fly out to the car with them as Harry grabbed Hedwig.
When the coast was clear, those of the guard who were not joining them apparated with quick good-byes. This left Harry with Kingsley, Lupin and Tonks, who had begged to come for the ride.
It was a particularly long car ride, though not as long as the one to Hogwarts. Harry slept through most of the journey, as it lasted through the night. When he was awake, he interrogated the others, making sure he knew as much as possible. This was no success. Apparently, they knew very little more than he did about Dumbledore's orders.
"Truthfully, Harry, we received the owl, which had very little detail, and that was that. We left almost immediately, once we had the car." he sighed and said, "Really, it wasn't much. He said he'd be in touch." There was something in the way he said this that made Harry feel as though Lupin was not telling him everything. Lupin stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. Harry and Tonks on the other hand played a few games of exploding snap, but mostly talked. Harry soon realized how much he really didn't know her.
Finally, they were pulling up into the driveway that leads to the Weasley's home. It looked very much the same as it had when he first saw it. That was in his second year and he'd arrived by flying car. No one was outside when they pulled up to the house. Harry grabbed Hedwig and Tonks grabbed his trunk. They all headed into the house, Harry bracing himself for one of Mrs. Weasley's hugs. In entering, Harry was given a shock. The rest of Harry's guard, Hermione, and the whole of the Weasley family, with the exception of Percy, were crammed in the small kitchen shouting surprise. It wasn't only that, but the fact that it was so early in the morning. Harry looked around the kitchen and saw a banner across the ceiling that read,
'Happy 16th Birthday Harry!' Harry was speechless. In all the commotion of leaving the Dursley's, Harry had forgotten his own birthday. When everyone stopped cheering and wishing him a happy birthday, Harry had a chance to get a better look around. On his second look around, Harry spotted a familiar pair of light blue eyes that he hadn't noticed before. Dumbledore stood up as Harry made his way towards him.
"Professor Dumbledore, is this what you...?" but he was cut off.
"Not completely why, Harry. But I thought it was time for you to have a real birthday." He replied with a smile. Harry couldn't help but grin. This had to be one of the best days of his life. Everyone stayed for the afternoon, and for their dinner celebration. Only one troubled thought broke into his mind all day. What was Dumbledore's other reason for Harry coming to the Burrow? He didn't have a lot of time to dwell on this though. Any time that he had to think was interrupted by someone talking to him. After dinner, Mrs. Weasley brought out a delicious looking cake with 'Happy Birthday Harry' written across it. It was as delicious as it looked.
After much eating and excitement, Harry had time to sit, relax, and digest. He noticed Tonks talking excitedly to Hermione and Ginny, finding himself wondering what they were discussing. He then wished that he were back in the car still talking to Tonks...
Harry was being tapped on the shoulder, and realized that he had been staring at Tonks. Ron was next to him repeating his name.
"Harry, are you in there?" Ron asked. Harry smiled at him.
"Yea Ron. Sorry... I guess I drifted off for a minute there..." Ron stared at him, cocking one eyebrow.
"A minute? Try nine or ten. Come on, everyone's leaving." Harry realized that the space he had been staring into was empty. He remembered Tonks' laughing face and wished it were still there... He then stood up and wandered off into the kitchen to say his good-byes.
Once he had said good-bye to everyone else, he turned to Tonks. She smiled widely at him and said,
"Happy Birthday, again, Harry." Her smile was so contagious that he couldn't help but to return it.
"Hope to see you again." He said, still failing to control his grinning.
"Oh, don't worry. I'll be back." She was still smiling at him when she disappeared with a loud "crack." Harry wished she hadn't. He turned around half-heartedly to go upstairs with Ron. When they finally reached Ron's room, Ron turned to Harry and said,
"Harry, s'there something you're not telling me?"
"What? No... why?" Had he been that obvious? Ron laughed.
"I saw you staring at them. D'you like one of them or something?" Harry felt his face go red.
"Well...see...er...I dunno..."
"Hermione?" Harry was shocked by this question. She was Harry's best friend next to Ron... he'd never thought of her that way before.
"No." said Harry truthfully.
"Then Ginny, right?" There was something odd about the way Ron asked this, and the look in his eye. Harry hadn't thought of that before. After all, she was Ron's little sister. Although, she had liked him...but did she like him now?
"I don't know."
"D'you know," Ron started as he was getting ready for bed, "I think she still fancies you. She was all excited about throwing you a party... talked about it all the time..." Harry went redder. He pulled on his covers and got comfortable. Did he like Ginny?
"You don't like Tonks do you?" Ron stifled a laugh, although he was now red himself.
"Why? D'you fancy her as well?" Harry said, now glad that he wasn't alone.
"Well, at least she talks to me. Couldn't say that much about Fleur." They both laughed.
"Yea, and she doesn't cry all the time." Harry said, both still laughing.
"You two are hopeless." Said Hermione, who was standing in the doorway. They both jumped.
"How long have you been there for?" Said Ron, who was now a brilliant shade of bright red.
"Just long enough." She smiled as Harry and Ron looked at each other, both worried about how much she'd heard.
"Harry, Dumbledore is still here and he wants a word with you." Harry got up to go downstairs.
"In the kitchen." She said, as Harry squeezed by her.
"Good-night Ron." Harry heard her say this, struggling to get it in through her fits of giggles.
Harry made his way down the several flights of stairs and into the kitchen.
"Ahh, Harry. Just the man I wanted to see."