Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any related material. J.K. Rowling does.
Chapter 1: Presents
The luminous display of numbers beside Harry Potter's bed indicated that it was 10 minutes past midnight on the early morning of July 31. 10 minutes past his birthday and Harry Potter had so far received packages of different sizes and shapes from a variety of owls. Harry recognized Pig, shortcut for Pigwidgeon, a hyperactive owl belonging to Ron and Errol, the weasley family's owl. His own owl, Hedwig, was out hunting. Her cage was littered with owl droppings and animal bones.
Each of the owls was trying to push past one another, eager to deliver their packages first. Finally, Pig, being the smallest, was able to edge past the bigger owls and was hooting in front of Harry.
"Okay, okay, whatcha got there?" asked Harry.
Harry tore off the package wrapped around Pig's leg and opened it with a grin on his face. A piece of parchment dropped to the floor. Harry picked up the note and with the help of a flashlight, he read it under the blanket.
Dear Harry,
How you doing mate? Things in the burrow are just fine aside from the fact that Fred, George, Ginny and I are banned from leaving our property. Security measures, mom says. From the sheer boredom of things, I decided to explore every nook and cranny of our lovely home. As to your present, I hope you like it. It's something I found when I was rummaging around the attic. I showed it to my parents and they said I could give it to you. Knowing your tendency to go looking for trouble, I think you should have it. Just wear it in your ring finger and whenever trouble seems to lurk around the corner, it will produce a shrill noise that only the wearer can hear, the greater the sound, the bigger the snag. Anyway, any chance we can meet on Diagon alley on August 30 to get our stuff together?
Ron
Harry smiled as he finished reading Ron's letter. Maybe then he'll be able to experience what it feels like to be cooped up. The ring was silver in color. There were no symbols or words and the like giving Harry the impression that it looked plain. The other owls were getting restless, hooting loudly and screeching.
"Hey, Quiet, will you? My uncle is sleeping." The owls shut up from Harry's reprimand. "I'll just take the stuff and then you can leave." Harry took the packages attached to each owl's leg and offered each of them a drink from Hedwig's water bowl. As each owl finished drinking, they took off into the night sky.
Harry turned to his presents. He picked one up wrapped in a colorful wrapping paper. To Harry was written on the package. He recognized Hermione's handwriting. Smiling, he opened Hermione's gift. Knowing her, it was probably a thick book on Curses, Countercurses, Hexes or Jinks. He was right. Advanced Curses for the Cursed was stamped in gold lettering on the cover of the book. He opened to the first page and he saw a note written on the leaflet. Again, he read it under the covers.
Dear Harry,
A very Happy 16th birthday to you. You probably knew from the minute you held the package that this is from Hermione and it's going to be some type of book. I know it's so typical of me but I think you'll find it useful. Ron and I are meeting on August 30 in Diagon alley to get the things we need. Hope you can be there. I hope you find the book useful.
Love,
Hermione
Harry, a smile creeping up his face told himself. A typical Hermione present. Harry turned to his other presents spread out on the bed. He picked up a long thin package. Halfway through unwrapping a note fell out. He recognized Lupin's smooth handwriting.
Harry,
This is from everybody on the order. We decided to find something that would remind you of Sirius. Knowing that you are still in grief over his death, we had something fashioned that would remind you of him. We know that you seek revenge over his death. Dumbledore enchanted this piece of art so that whenever Sirius' murderer is in an area a mile away from the item, it vibrates slightly and the blade turns red. We hope that when the blade does respond, you will not seek Bellatrix out yourself, rather you will inform any member of the order. Justice will be swift.
P.S. The blade needs no sharpening. It stays sharp forever.
As Harry unsheathed the sword, he saw the artistry and the skill it took to make the weapon by the faint moonlight. The whole sword measured about four feet. Three and a half feet made up the blade. The remaining half a foot was the hilt. Though Harry could not clearly see the sword in the darkness, he was sure it was beautiful. He ran his finger down the edge of the blade, not surprised to find it very sharp. The tip of blade was also very sharp, even though it curved slightly towards the end, meeting the dull side. Harry tried to feel the hilt. It was adorned with jewels, though of what quality, he did not know yet.
"Lupin wasn't joking when he said it was a piece of art." Harry muttered softly to himself. The present unwrapping slowly continued. The Weasley family all pitched together to give him a variety of presents, each present, reflecting each Weasley's personality or job. Bill gave him a small model of a pyramid; Charlie gave him a silver necklace with a dragon as the pendant; Percy, an Eagle's feather quill and another apology. Harry, expecting some pranks and practical jokes from Fred and George, was rather surprised to find out that they had given him sweets; Chocolate Frogs, Sugar Quills, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and as a joke, some Cockroach Cluster. From Ginny, he received a Muggle book entitled Veronika decides to die: And From Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, a pocket watch complete with a fine silver chain.
Harry was astonished to find his next gift also from Fred and George. Since they had already given him some sweets, he wondered if their second present was a joke. It was, though not in the literal sense. Harry smiled as Fred and George's present was something from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The twins had given him Extendable Ears, Puking Pastilles, Nosebleed Nougats, Fainting Fancies and all sorts of other things they had manufactured. It also contained a note.
Harry,
We decided to send these separately since you know and we know mum's point of view when it comes to our calling in life. We have been manufacturing new . . . merchandises for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes so we decided that with you as our sole benefactor, you deserve these free of charge. Since we are legally out of school, mum finally reluctantly agreed to our new business. And it's been booming. Feel free to stopover our shop if you ever visit Diagon Alley.
His next present came from Hagrid. Hagrid, a half-giant, had the tendency to view monsters that others find horrifying in a different perspective. He loved monsters; the more dangerous, the harder he tried to get it for a pet. Knowing Hagrid, Harry knew somehow that Hagrid's present was going to be slightly dangerous. Warily, Harry took in the details of the box that contained his gigantic friend's present. The box itself was black marble. Aside from the box's plainness, Harry had a gut feeling that whatever was inside the midnight colored box was alive. He could not figure where the feeling came from, but it told him that whatever was inside was no ordinary magical creature.
With trembling fingers, Harry took the box into his lap and cautiously opened the lid. He gave out a very short gasp. Inside the box, straw was littered all around, but this was not what made Harry gasp. What made him gasp was that in the center of the straws, was an egg of the darkest hue of black he had ever seen.
"Hagrid, you've really done it this time . . .," Harry muttered under his breath. His fingers slowly opened Hagrid's note, dreading what it contained.
Harry,
Hope the muggles treating you all right. I'm not telling you what's inside the egg, It's a surprise. It'll be a beauty when it hatches. Take really good care of it. It's loyalty to it's master is unquestionable.
Hagrid
P.S. Keep the egg warm until it hatches. If I'm correct, it should hatch start of term, give or take a few days.
"What should hatch?" Harry asked himself quietly. Closing the lid on the egg, Harry decided he would worry about it tomorrow.
With a feeling of satisfaction knowing tomorrow would be a great day, he placed all his presents under the loose floorboard under his bed and lay down on the bed.
"This is the best birthday ever," Harry mumbled to himself. And with that, he slept a dreamless sleep.
AN: I decided to keep the first chapter short. The next chapter will be quite longer. This is my first time writing fanfiction. Hope this story in the end will satisfy your expectations. Flame if you want to. . .