From: madskillzpro: nice chapter, I like ur story so far, keep writing )

From: Sesshomaru-is-my-master : You have me hooked and you just have to update soon

Wow, to think I just updated a few hours ago, and already I have a couple reviews asking for a fast update, hope this works for speed. I also have to apologize for miss-spelling poor Hermione's name as many times as I did….

Chapter 5 Harry's Birthday Preperations

"Dawn, can I talk to you and your sister for a moment?" Moiny asked as the group from England stiffly sat down to dinner that night with the American family.

"Sure Hermione, what's up?" Dawn asked as her, Buffy, and Moiny went into the kitchen to help bring out the dinner.

"Well, Friday is Harry's 16th birthday, and he really hasn't had a real one since probably with his parents when he was a baby." Hermione started, "I mean, between Ron, our friend Hagrid, and myself send him little things, but it doesn't seem like anyone else recognizes the fact."

Buffy looked thoughtful for a moment; then, "So what you're saying is you would like to have a surprise party for Harry?"

Hermione started to look a bit excited at the thought, "If that is possible; especially since this is the first time that, well, friends have been together for it."

"What do you think Dawn? Seems like a good idea to me" Buffy asked her younger sister as they started to make their way back to the dining room where everyone was waiting.

"Sounds awesome, we just need to send a letter to that Professor Dumbledore person to invite him and maybe some of Harry's professors and other classmates. Sound good to you Hermione?" Dawn asked as they got to the dining room door.

"Great, if we can write the letter after dinner, I can send it out with Hedwig before bed so that we will have a reply by breakfast or latest dinner tomorrow." Hermione responded then opened the door to the dining room.

"Great, Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Peas in 'magic sauce', and Corn on the Cob!" Xander exclaimed as he grabbed a large serving of each item and settled down to eat.

Everyone enjoyed the food. The trio from England had never had any of the dishes served; and thoroughly enjoyed it.

"This is as great as, if not better than the feast at school at the start of the school year." Harry and Ron exclaimed in agreement as they filled their bellies with the very American meal.

"Glad you liked it, and we are having Apple Pie for dessert. Faith did great in the kitchen today didn't she?" Buffy said as no one knew that Faith was much of a cook.

"Who made the Apple Pie?" Giles asked a bit surprised at how wonderful it tasted with the vanilla Ice cream and whipped cream on top.

Buffy and Faith grinned impishly in reply. "Glad you liked it G. It took a long time to get it down the way I wanted it, but it was worth the work to see everyone enjoying my mom's recipes." Faith finished.

All the Scoobies were taken back with the fact that Faith actually spoke about her past, especially of her family. It was a wonder at the change that happened to the once evil slayer once the Hell Mouth in Sunnydale was closed, and the effect that Robin had on her even though he was killed when the hell mouth in Chicago was closed. She started to act more like a young woman than what she had been. Buffy also noticed the looks that Harry was giving her 21 year old sister slayer. After thinking about what she had been told about his life growing up, Buffy didn't see it as too much age difference between Harry and Faith; if they got together, all the better for them.

After the dinner dishes were cleared, Hermione went to the room that she was given to write to Professor Dumbledore.

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

This letter is to invite you and the rest of the Hogwarts Professors to a surprise birthday party that we are planning for Harry on Friday evening. If you can also send the invitation to the rest of Ron's family, and the rest of those from our house in our year, we would greatly appreciate it; it will make it easier for us to keep the surprise from Harry if I only get one or two owls back with responses. We kind of need to know as soon as possible so we know just how much stuff to do, and Buffy can be better prepared for accommodations as well.

Thank you, and I will be in touch,

Hermione Granger

Hermione asked Harry if she could borrow Hedwig to take a letter to Ron's family for her letting them know that they made it alright and not to worry, the usual stuff.

"Not a problem Moiny; I'm sure she will enjoy the trip since it has been a little bit since she had any work to do." Harry told her as he took Hedwig from her cage and handed her to the young witch.

"Thanks a lot Harry. I hope that she will be back by the end of the week with news from home. I asked my parents to clip the more important articles from the Daily Prophet to send me regarding you know who." Was Hermione's excited answer. We're having a party for Harry! Great, I hope he likes it was going through the young girl's head.

After sending Hedwig off on her trip Hermione went off to find Buffy and Dawn.

"I don't care that he is our cousin, I don't want him out on patrols with us Dawn. He lives a dangerous enough life as it is. Lets just let him and his friends enjoy a safe summer vacation where they don't have to worry about their safety." Hermione over heard from Buffy's office as she finally located it.

"How bout you let us decide what is safe of dangerous for us? After dealing with almost getting killed every year for the last 5 years, this will be good for us to see how to defeat some different types of enemies as well as get a better education for our Defence against the Dark Arts class. Did you know that Harry wants to be an Auror? That is almost exactly what you lot do, but the Wizard version. Don't take that chance from him." Hermione went on in her accusing tone that made Buffy feel a little guilty.

"Was there something you wanted Ms. Granger?" Buffy asked using her intimidation factor as the Head Slayer to show her annoyance.

"I sent that letter off to our headmaster about the party, and we should have a response in a couple days. And sorry that I went off like that; it's just that Harry has had to deal with so much. I don't think that we would have been allowed to come here unless Professor Dumbledore knew about what went on here, and approved." Hermione said showing no fear to the Slayer.

"Well, on that note; what should we do for the party?" Dawn asked interrupting the potential argument that she sensed brewing between the two women.

"I think we may be able to get Oz's band to play, Willow could probably conjure one of those playing areas for that Quidditch game that Harry and Ron were going on about through out dinner, and we can let Faith take over the kitchen with a couple of the other girls to help. Hermione can be in charge of keeping Harry occupied while the guests are arriving. Dawn, decorating is up to you and who ever you want to help." Buffy said as she tilted her head thoughtfully and started to write things down.

"And what are you going to do oh sister of mine?" Dawn asked as she noticed Buffy not taking any of the little chores with the party planning.

"Just figured I am no good in the kitchen, and well too short to do decorations; and well I was going to be the one to call Oz about booking the Dingos." Buffy said with a bit of a pout that Hermione found funny.

"You can always help me keep Harry from finding out about the party, and have a hand in keeping him busy during the guests arrivals." Mione suggested as she sat down and got out her notepad to take notes for the party planning.

FRIDAY MORNING

"Harry, I was wondering if you would like to do some training with me this morning, then try your hand at a light patrol later this afternoon, early evening." Buffy said after Hermione told her that Harry wanted no part of studying in a very grumpy mood.

"I guess that would be okay" Harry said in a depressed tone. I can't believe that no one remembered that today was my birthday; no owl from Hagrid, Ron and Mione haven't said anything either. I guess that I should just take advantage of Buffy wanting to spend time with me since she has been a bit busy; and Faith has been busy in her kitchens… maybe I was wrong, and she just isn't interested in a kid like me… Harry thought sulkily the more his birthday wore on.

"Harry, if you really don't want to hang out, you just have to say so. Hermione mentioned that you wanted to go into the 'family business' so to speak. She was explaining what an Auror was and showed me some cool pictures in her Hogwarts books for I think it was the Defence Against the Dark Arts class you guys apparently rule in." Buffy babbled as she looked at her upset cousin. She didn't want to say anything that would ruin the surprise guests that she was going to be putting up for a few days.

"No, it's fine. I could use all the edge against Voldemort that I can get." Harry replied trying to get a smile on his face. I guess that this is better then nothing Harry continued to think.

"Great; just let me know when you are ready to go into my gym. Then about 5 we will go out on a patrol and see if anything is about." Buffy said in her bubbly blond ditzy manner trying to cheer Harry up.

While the cousins were in Buffy's gym training; Dawn set some of the SIT's to decorating the main gym with maroon and gold streamers, using the same colours for table cloths, and setting up a main table for all the food that Faith was busily preparing in the kitchens. Occasionally Willow would pop in to the gym to ask Hermione about the Quidditch arena that she was working on so that it would be perfect for the party. Oz and his Dingoes arrived and started to set up on the makeshift stage that Hermione transfigured from a weapons case that stood on one wall.

When 5 pm rolled around, Harry left with Buffy; armed with a sword and several stakes that she had shown him how to position all over his body like she did. After all, there is nothing worse then loosing your steak in a Vamp that you dusted when he still had friends around. Buffy showed him how to tuck it up his sleeve so that if he flicked his wrist just so it would drop right into his hand. Buffy figured that they would patrol for 2 hours so that Harry would have time to shower before dinner and his party.

"Ready for your first patrol?" Buffy excitedly asked Harry as they got ready to walk out the door to go to the far end of the compound in order to stay away from the area that Willow was working in.

"As ready as I will be I guess." Harry answered sounding a little happier then he did that morning. As for birthdays, I guess this is better then the last few. I have to admit that it has been a bit fun…

While Buffy and Harry were on patrol, Faith set up the food in the gym, Hermione helped Willow finish the field, Dawn and Oz and the rest of the band finished the decorations and warmed up. Giles was waiting in Buffy's office where the fireplace had been hooked up to the Floo network so the guests from Hogwarts were able to attend. In his hand, Giles had a list of who was to be expected: Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall, Servius Snape, Rubeus Hagrid, The Weasley clan (5 brothers and a sister with their parents), Remus Lupin, and student Draco Malfoy.

At half past 5, the professors from Hogwarts and Draco came out of the fireplace and cleaned themselves off then introduced themselves.

"Good evening, I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, and these are some of my professors. To my left this is Professor Minerva McGonagall, and Professor Rubeus Hagrid. And to my right this is Professor Servius Snape and next to him is a student that was just recently transferred to the care of the school, Draco Malfoy." Albus told Giles who was standing there greeting everyone taking in the sight before him.

"It is wonderful to welcome you to the Slayer Academy. I am Rupert Giles, the head of the Watchers Counsel, and Buffy's second in charge of the school here." Giles answered as both Minerva and Servius looked at him remembering the rumours of "Ripper" being a respectable man.

"And where is Ms. Summers pray tell?" Snape asked a little arrogantly for what would be good for him had Buffy heard him.

"The Slayer is on patrol fright now with Mr. Potter. He has been excelling in the classes that he has been sitting in on, so Buffy figured that he should get the benefit of what a patrol feels like as well as a chance to use his newly gained knowledge." Giles answered with pride in his voice from seeing how the kids seemed to grow mentally in such a short time.

When the clock in Buffy's office chimed 6:30; 8 more people stepped through the fire place. Ginny looked a little upset at seeing Draco lounging in a chair as her mom cast the cleaning charm over the family who was covered with dust and coal powder. No one else seemed to notice; or if they did, they just ignored the fact that the kids enemy was in the room.

Buffy got back to her office about 5 minutes after the last of the guests arrived. She explained how she was the slayer and what responsibilities she had as the headmistress of her academy.

"Are we all ready to go hide in the gym so that I can get Harry down here so we can go 'Surprise'? The poor boy thought that none of us remembered his birthday." The petite woman said as she looked at the dark wizard wearing all black, from his slacks and shirt to his jacket, boots, and robes. Hmmm, I wonder if he is as cuddly as he looks… bad Buffy, no having that kind of thoughts on one of your baby cousin's teachers…