Chapter 43: Birthday

"Can I wake him up yet?" asked Sirius as he and Faith sat at the table in the kitchen. The sun was just beginning to rise. Its light reflected on the water and into the walls of the kitchen.

"I guess," said Faith with a coy smile. Sirius didn't even pause, he jumped out of his chair and went straight for the door. He then spun around kissed Faith and murmured

"I love you," before running upstairs and into Harry's room.

Harry dreamed of a grassy plain. It was dark and the stars in the sky were many. A small crescent moon hung low in the sea of black sky. The air was cool and the grass was wet. It splashed up and targeted the back of his pants. A light fog hung over the grass. A high pitched shriek broke the silence of the night. Harry could feel his heart thumping in his chest. Thump Thump Th-

"Harry!" boomed a loud voice. Harry was torn from his dream. Bright light flooded his eyes as he looked up from his bed. Sirius stood in the doorway, a wide smile on his face.

"Happy Birthday!" He exclaimed.

"So…do you think Prongs will kill us?" Sirius whispered to Remus.

"He might," Remus said with a cunning smile.

"When?" Peter asked in his squeaky voice. He was practically bursting with excitement. His hands twitched constantly at his side.

"We'll wait till the sun rises a bit more," Sirius said looking off in the distance.

"Do you think someone should get the girls?" asked Remus smoothly.

"They would sure love this," Peter said excitedly.

"Well then go get them Wormtail." Sirius said pointing towards the castle. Peter scurried off in a hurry.

"Where is James?" asked Lily to no one in particular as she sat in the Gryffindor Common room.

"Probably primping for his birthday," Faith put in as she walked towards the couch were Lily sat. Sarah came down the stairs from the boys dorm.

"They aren't upstairs," she said.

"Well that's just," Faith said spinning around so her back was against the back of the couch. She fell backwards and lay like that. "great."

The portrait gave a small creak as it opened. Peter walked in.

"Where are they?" asked Lily, already assuming they were up to some prank.

"Outside. Come," Peter said excitedly. Lily groaned as she got up, Faith flipped over and Sarah followed closely after Peter.

"I don't understand. Where are we going?" Sarah asked as they followed Peter through the castle.

"You'll see," He twittered. Sarah looked back at Faith and Lily, raising a high eyebrow. Faith made a face at Wormtail and Lily put a hand over her mouth to suppress her giggles. Peter led the girls outside.

"OH-" said Lily her jaw dropping.

"MY-" Sarah continued, a wide smile spreading on her face.

"GOD!" Faith finished. She broke out into a fit of laughter. The boys had dragged James's mattress out onto the lake. He was now floating in the middle of it, completely oblivious to what was happening.

Sirius looked back at the girls and smile. He turned back towards the lake, cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled

"JAMES!"

James sat bolt upright on the mattress. When he saw where he was, he swayed to one side. Then he swayed to the other, causing him to rock back and forth when finally he fell into the ice cold water.

"Happy Birthday!" Sirius,Remus, and Peter screamed at the top of their lungs.

"I've got a surprise for you." Sirius said excitedly. He moved over and sat on the edge of Harry's bed.

"Whats that?" Harry asked reaching for his glasses. Sirius smiled and lifted up two purple and red tickets. Harry took them from him.

"A Quidditch game?" he asked sitting up in bed.

"Not just any quidditch game…the first game of the year," Sirius said. His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Wha-These tickets are impossible to get," Harry said awestruck.

"I know! Get dressed," Sirius said with a large smiling and leaving the room.

"There is a portkey that will take us to the game just outside the house," Sirius said as Harry came into the kitchen.

"Well lets get going then," Harry said with a smile.

"Have something to eat," Faith said, clutching her cup of coffee. Harry and Sirius quickly grabbed a piece of toast that Faith had already made for them.

"Awww James, you're all wet," Faith roared as James trudged out of the water.

"This is so not funny," James growled.

"Yes it is….even your girlfriend thinks so," Sirius said in-between barks of laughter.

"Give me your wand," James snapped as he took Sirius's wand, who was now doubled over in laughter. James said an incantation and was soon dry. He grumbled something about chaining Sirius up next full moon.

"Oh come off it James. It is your last Hogwarts Birthday…and we have N.E.W.T.S next month. We had to have some fun," Sirius said laughingly.

"Bloody comedians the lot of you," grumbled James as the group continued their fits of laughter.

"That was the best quidditch game I've ever seen!" Sirius exclaimed as he and Harry arrived back at the beach. The sun was just beginning to set and causing the whole beach to have an orange-pink tint. Harry just smiled widely. It had been a very good game. Being with Sirius and not having to hide him from the Ministry made it great though.

"I've forgotten how much I loved Quidditch. Hey, think Faith will let me set up a Quidditch field here on the beach?" Sirius asked jokingly as they headed back to the house. As he climbed onto the porch, Harry following close by, Harry asked

"Why are all the lights off?"

Sirius looked up at the house puzzeled. When he looked back he noticed there was something wrong with window.

"Why…Why is the window broken?" He said slowly. He and Harry stopped to look at the broken window that had a large gaping hole in it. Sirius and Harry exchanged glances.

"Look…the door is open," Harry said softly pointing towards the door. Sirius turned to see that the door was in fact partially open.

"Wands at the ready." Sirius muttered. The two creeped over to the door, wands held firmly in one hand.

"Ok. On three," Sirius whispered.

"One…two…three." Sirius said. The two burst through the door and Sirius flicked on the lights next to the door.

"SURPRISE!"

Harry's mouth dropped. In the room off to the side was a whole group of people underneath a large banner that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY! Sirius gave a loud bark of laughter behind him.

"You should have seen your face!" Sirius said as he wiped away tears from his eyes, still laughing loudly.

"That wasn't funny," Harry said frowning.

"Everyone else thought so," Sirius said smiling and joining the group of people. Harry spotted Ron and Hermione coming over to him.

"It was all Sirius's idea mate. He wanted to throw you a surprise party and COMPLETELY surprise you," Ron said laughing.

"You have to admit it was rather funny," Hermione giggled.

"Yeah…it was funny," Harry said smiling.