Chapter 1: Surprise Visit
A large white owl flew into the open window at Number Four Privet Drive. A teenage boy had been laying in his bed, counting down the minutes to his sixteenth birthday.
Harry Potter didn't have much reason to celebrate his birthday. He was, once again, stuck at the Dursleys with no contact from his world, the wizarding world. Although he now knew why he was stuck here every summer, if anything, he had felt even more deserted than usual. From what his friends Ron and Hermione had said, Harry assumed that they were at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, the Order of the Phoenix headquarters.
Harry wasn't sure that he even wanted to join them, since being there would remind him of his godfather. Harry felt a pang of guilt when he thought of Sirius. Whatever Dumbledore said, he still couldn't help blaming himself.
Hedwig, his owl, was pecking at him affectionately, as though to comfort him. Harry then noticed the large package she was carrying. He picked it up and surveyed it closely.
"I wonder who this could be from," Harry muttered to himself as he ripped open the envelope, which had been perching precariously on the top of the package.
Harry,
Happy
birthday! We have a surprise for you. Prepare yourself for the
best.
See you soon,
Fred and George Weasley
Weasley's
Wizard Wheezes
Number 93 Diagon Alley
Wondering faintly what sort of surprise they could possibly mean, Harry opened the package. When the package opened, several things happened simultaneously. Many miscellaneous Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products fell out of the discarded package. Dudley, from the room next door gave a loud snore. Also, two loud cracks came from within the room.
Harry looked out of the window. He was sure that the cracks had been made by wizards apparating. He assumed that it must have been from a member of the Order of the Phoenix who had been keeping guard on him.
"There he is!"
A very familiar voice rang from the bedroom doorway. Harry turned around and saw the outline of the two Weasley twins smiling back at him.
"We were beginning to think that maybe we'd apparated at the wrong place-" began Fred.
"We haven't been here that many times..." George's voice trailed off, leaving Harry in the impression that they don't exactly enjoy being here any more than he does.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked in a mixed tone of confusion and glee.
"We reckoned that we'd give you a visit-" began Fred.
"As a birthday gift, you know-" pursued George.
"Well... Maybe more a visit for that pig-" continued Fred.
"Dudley?" Harry asked, a wry grin spreading across his face.
"Yes, him," finished George.
Fred and George exchanged highly amused looks. Harry had the feeling that whatever Fred and George were planning, he would enjoy it. Luckily for them, Fred and George were wizards of age, which meant that they could do magic whenever they please. Harry, however much he wished, was not allowed performing magic so he couldn't get back at Dudley for all those years of torment… yet!
Harry looked gleefully at Fred and George, who were examining his room carefully. All three were quite startled as Dudley gave another loud snore.
Day was breaking. Harry Potter figured that this was going to be one of his best birthdays yet.
