Chapter 3: Happy Birthday

Uncle Vernon's loud footsteps groaned as he listened into the room to make sure that Harry wasn't up to something. Thankfully, Harry and the twins were keeping perfectly still and making no noise, something quite peculiar for Fred and George! Finally, as Uncle Vernon seemed to deem that Harry was asleep and not doing anything magic-related, his footsteps pounded like stomps down the stairs.

Fred and George looked at each, then at Harry. "That was a close one," whispered George, barely audible.

"Yeah, it was," agreed Harry in the same breathless tone.

For the next half hour, they listened as one after the other, the Dursleys awoke and started their daily routine. Finally, Dudley Dursley's boisterous voice booming, "What's for breakfast?" from the hallway as he slugged downstairs seemed to be a cue for Harry to start getting ready for the day.

Although most sixteen year-olds prefer to spend a few extra hours in the morning sleeping in, Dudley simply couldn't resist any chance he got to eat food. He didn't seem to need an alarm in the morning, his own body's clock was adjusted to mealtimes.

"Good morning Duddykins! Did you have a good sleep?" Aunt Petunia asked in her customary motherly voice, wrapping her own thin arms around Dudley's generous body.

Fred and George looked revolted. "The little poor Duddykins will wish that he never got up this morning," whispered Fred as George nodded vigorously.

Harry watched as matching malicious smiles spread across the twins' faces. He wondered precisely what they were planning. Then, with an audible sigh, he pulled on a pair of pants, which were far too large having once belonged to Dudley.

"You look like Ron, mate," whispered George, glancing reproachfully at the ankles quite visible below the hem of the pant.

"You should go down and eat, or do whatever you normally do," stated Fred.

"But, what about you?" asked Harry. Surely Fred and George couldn't hide away for that long. It would be only a matter of time before something happened or the Dursleys figure that something was up.

"You'll see… But we promise that it'll be quite entertaining!" exclaimed George.

Harry put his hand over his lips and glanced meaningfully at the twins.

From below, Uncle Vernon's voice rang out clearly, "What's that boy up to?"

Without another word, Harry fled down the stairs and tried to savor Aunt Petunia's scrambled eggs while imagining what Fred and George had in store for him.

After finishing his meal, Uncle Vernon wiped his lips with a napkin and said to his wife, "Delicious! Mmm-Mmm… Now, what have you planned for the day?"

As if on cue, the Weasley twins prodded down the stairs and bounded into the kitchen. The instant effect was quite a spectacle for Harry. Dudley dropped his fork and stared open-mouthed at them, a look of sudden fear striking across his plump face. Uncle Vernon became steadily more purple whilst Aunt Petunia, in comparison, was becoming paler and neared Dudley to protect him.

"Hello Muggles," began Fred waving over to the motionless Dursleys. "Are you having a nice day? We sure are!"

"Let us introduce ourselves. My name is George."

"And I'm Fred. We're friends of Harry's from Hogwarts."

"We were wondering if you bothered to wish Harry a Happy Birthday-" began George.

"We think that you probably forgot-" continued Fred.

"Because he turned 16 today, you know," pursued George.

"W-why sho-should w-we?" stammered Uncle Vernon, as always trying to remain the authority in all situations.

Fred and George took out their wands simultaneously and glanced at them interestingly. Then, George flicked his wand and a birthday cake with the lettering "Happy 16th Birthday Harry" appeared in the center of the table.

So, for the first time in Harry's life, the Dursleys sang Happy Birthday to him, not that they had much choice. The whole time, each of the Dursleys kept eying the upheld wands warily.

As Harry watched, a broad smile spreading across his face, he wondered what else was planned for the day.