Chapter 2 – An Unfortunate Birthday

Harry didn't know what to do. He couldn't exactly attack a mobilized sword, even if it was coming for him. He did the only logical thing: run. His knees didn't matter now, as he stumbled past the sidewalk and ran right onto the road at the top of his speed. He dared not to look back and see a shiny sword lingering mere inches from him. What was happening? He was sure there was a culprit behind the sword, but since he was invisible, Harry couldn't attack them. Why the sword, though? Why not use a wand? Since when did wizards attack with swords?

Harry swerved right on Wisteria Walk, the opposite of where Mariah was. He didn't want her to get hurt or reveal himself.

Even in the urgency of it all, his mind craved to wonder what the Muggles would think if they saw a flying sword. Would he get suspended or expelled again?

Then, it hit him. It was his birthday. He could use his wand freely now. He came to an abrupt stop and twirled to find the sword hovering right in front of his face, barely three inches from his neck. His blood boiled right down to his feet. Harry's head felt light headed, as if he was passing away to a far away place. The sword inched closer to him until he could feel the sleek still cover on it and smell the fresh metal craving some blood. There was a strange green glow to it like a contaminated mirror. He dared not move.

Suddenly, the sword sliced his forearm. He cried out in intense pain, his skin blazing fire and scorching to no end. Before he knew it, the sword vanished into thin air, leaving Harry alone. He looked at his upper arm and winced. A large wide cut had replaced most of his arm with fresh gushing blood. He helplessly fell to the ground, suffocated by unbearable weakness. What in the world…?

Harry heard a voice behind him and he jumped, "Harry? Harry? Are you alright?"

Tonks was looking worryingly at him. She kneeled down and observed his arm, moved it slightly, but stopped as Harry cried out, "Ouch!"

"Sorry. What in the blazes of Merlin…?"

That's exactly what Harry was thinking. Why hadn't the Order showed themselves before a big lethal sword followed him around?

"We didn't know someone was following you Harry." Tonks replied, as if she'd just read his mind.

"How could you not?"

"Well, the only way we could sense something happening was if magic occurred, and since that didn't take place…"

"You didn't know I was going to be attacked." Harry finished for her. Tonks nodded.

"Come on, I have to get you out of here before something else happens." Tonks helped him up with one hand, and held her wand up with the other. His arm looked pretty bad…great, just what he needed after a month of starving himself. He eyed his hand and saw how pale he was turning. Harry just hoped he didn't faint…

"You won't. Don't worry, I'm getting you to the Burrow in five seconds. Side-Along Apparition, you know…"

"Are you taking Legilimency?" Harry asked amusingly.

"As a matter of fact, yes, from Remus. I reckoned I would need it in these times..."

"I see." Harry strived to know more about their relationship but he knew it was none of his business, and besides, she probably knew what he was thinking and she would have answered if she needed to.

"Where's…everyone else." He was finding It hard to verbalize himself all of a sudden.

"They're looking for the culprit of course. That sword wasn't flying alone. Surely someone was made invisible and sent to get you, but why they didn't kill you, I have no idea…"

"Well, it's a…good thing they didn't."

Tonks glanced at him shortly and quickened her pace until they were behind an old liquor store off of Queens Street. Tonks Disapparated and Harry felt that awkwardly disgusting feeling inside his stomach. He felt even worse this time because of his arm, thinking that would be able to make it to the Burrow.

But he did. When Harry opened his eyes, he faced a familiar sight, the Burrow. Tonks held him by his other shoulder but he shoved it away, "I can handle myself."

He walked a few feet and then collapsed onto the ground, feeling highly embarrassed. Tonks chuckled and helped him up again, leading him to the back entrance.

Mrs.Weasley was the first face Harry saw, and it wasn't a pretty one either. She shrieked with astonishment and hugged him tightly, which just added to his pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks before Harry told her to let go.

"I'm scared to ask what happened…" Mrs.Weasley kept her eyes on him, but he looked away. Wasn't anyone going to do anything about the gash on his am?

"He was followed by a Death Eater, save that they were invisible. A sword sliced him."

Mrs.Weasley screamed again, hiding her cheeks with her hands.

"Shh!"

"Uh…I don't mean to interrupt, but can we clean this up…?" He pointed to his arm.

"Oh!" Both of them exclaimed. Supposedly coming back to reality, Tonks rushed to his aid while Mrs.Weasley fetched a bucket of water and some clean cloths.

"Why can't you just sue magic to heal it?" Harry asked, as the cold and wet cloth made contact with his skin. He winced in pain and twitched his arm.

"One, because we're not experts in healing, and two, we don't have Fawkes."

"Alright." Harry said, making sure not to further the matter, and changed the subject, "Where's Ron?"

"Ron and Hermione are upstairs. God knows what they are doing…" Mrs.Weasley replied.

A few minutes later, Lupin Apparated to their side, wiping sweat off of his forehead. If it was even possible, Lupin looked worse than before. His hair was half-gray and half-brown, it was unkempt, and unusually long. Wrinkles were present all over his face. Lupin saw him looking and smiled slightly.

"Did you fin him?" Tonks asked, staring at him curiously.

Lupin shook his head, "Whoever it was, he got away. I can't BELIEVE they got to Harry. We should have been extra careful…"

"It's not our fault. How were we to know they would attack him exactly on his birthday?"

"He should have." Lupin gave him an accusing look, Didn't we tell you not to leave the house? You, of all people, should have known he would attack you the day you became of age."

"The Dursleys kicked me out." Harry lied, or he rather liked to call it fibbing.

"On the same day?" Lupin raised his eyebrows.

"If you already know the answer, why are you asking?" Harry raved.

"There's no need to be getting so angry Harry dear." Mrs.Weasley said, "He's just looking out for you."

"What was I supposed to do, stay cooped up in that jail for ever? I had to get out for a bit."

"It could have cost you your life Harry." Lupin said gravely, "Promise me you won't do smoething foolish like that again."

"Fine. I won't. Can I go upstairs now?" Harry shot Lupin an unscathed glare. For some reason, his head was on fire from Lupin's comments. Why had he gotten so angry? Lupin and Harry were usually on good terms.

He slowly walked up the stairs, eyeing his arm. It was now covered with a white cloth which Harry knew was blood red inside. All of a sudden he became sleepy, and without greeting Ron and Hermione, he went right into the twins's room and collapsed on the bed.

…

Harry opened his eyes. The room was still streaked with light from the window. Clearly it was still day. Harry moved his body up from the bed, scratching his head, and stepped onto the floor.

After washing his face, Harry figured he should meet Ron and Hermione. He strolled over to Ron's room and opened the door. He wished he hadn't. In front of his eyes were Ron and Hermione locked together, arms all over each other, and lips immersed with each other. Ugh….

"Never mind!" Harry shouted, closed the door, and laughed. He knew that his two best friends would get together one day but he never knew he would find out by barging on their private moments.

As soon as he reached his room, he heard Hermione yell behind him, "Harry!"

They both showed up in the room their faces beet red and looking away embarrassingly.

"Aloha." Harry said, smirking.

"erm…sorry about that…" Hermione muttered, took a seat on the opposite bed, and Ron followed her.

"It's fine with me."

"Oh my…what happened to your arm, Harry?" Hermione scurried over to Harry's side and laid her fingers on the cloth.

"I got butchered."

"By what?' Ron raised his eyes.

"A sword, believe it or not."

"What?" Hermione jumped, taking her hand off of him and moving it to her face.

"Yeah. Do you know any spells to heal this?"

Hermione thought hard for a moment, staring at the wand, and said, "I…don't think so Harry. If only Madam Pomfrey was here. Is it bad?"

Harry nodded.

"How did it happen?" Ron asked.

"I was walking outside and a sword attacked me, although Tonks thinks that the person behind it was invisible."

"Strange…"

Hermione didn't say anything for a minute or two.

"What's up?" Ron inquired.

Hermione looked at him, as if she'd just woken up, "Hmm? Oh…I was just thinking of something I read before…"

"What's that?" said Harry.

"Maybe there was a purpose for using a sword. They could have used magic easily…I'm trying to remember…it was a while ago…"

"Well, think away."

Hermione seemed more worried than she should have been. Her eyes went down to his arm and then his face as if she was calculating something.

"What?"

"Nothing."

But obviously something very serious was going on or Hermione wouldn't have been looking at him as if he were dead.