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Chapter Two: Surprise at the Burrow

"Ron!" Hermione yelled as she pounded on his door. "Seamus, Neville, and Dean are here. We have to set up for Harry's party. He'll be here at noon, remember?"

"Blood hell does she have to do that?" Ron asked himself as he threw off the covers and wandered over to the door. He opened it and found Hermione standing there with a smile on her face as she looked up at Ron's rumpled red hair.

"Nice hair," she commented, trying not to giggle.

"Thanks," Ron said sarcastically. "I worked really hard on it."

Hermione laughed making Ron smile. She was so beautiful when she laughed. Her eyes would shine and sparkle. He loved it when she laughed.

"Get dressed and get a move on. We've got work to do. Ginny's been up since 7 making Harry's cake. She can't wait for him to get here. It's kinda cute really." Herimone said reaching up to try and flatten some of Ron's but it was a hopeless cause.

They both stood there for a minute just looking at each other. Herimone in her gray skirt and black tank top and Ron in his pajama bottoms, his bare chest exposed.

Suddenly, Hermione blushed and turned away. "Well I'm going to help your mom cook. You can help your brothers set up the table and decorations when you get dressed." She said looking down at her feet and then rushed off down the stairs.

Ron sighed as he watched her go. She did something to him when she was around and when she left, it was like falling off a cliff.

It was almost noon and everything had been set up. Bill, Charlie and Mr. Weasley sat together at one end of the table talking to Lupin about Order business. Ginny, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the Harry's cake. Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean discussed quidditch while the nearby twins played Wizard's chess. It was another hot day up at the Burrow but in the shade of the trees it wasn't too bad.

Suddenly Mr. Weasley and Lupin stood up. "Reamus and I are going to get him now. Everybody get to your places. Well be back in a jiffy." Arthur said. He and Lupin headed into the house and disappeared into the fireplace.

They were back in less then fifteen minutes with Harry, Hedwig, Harry's trunk and his Firebolt. Ron and Ginny sat on the couch acting like they were playing a game of chess while Hermione sat next to them pretending to read through a book. The others hid outside ready to surprise Harry.

Lupin, Mr. Weasley, and Harry entered the front room with a clunk of the trunk.

"Harry!" Ginny shouted when she first laid eyes on him. She had missed him so much. She jumped up and rushed over to him. She overtook him and he smiled as he returned her hug, trying to keep his balance.

"Hi Ginny! How have you been?" Harry replied showing the smile in his voice as they parted.

"It's so great to see you." She said looking deep into his eyes. They were her favorite color of green. She could look into them for a long time and never get tired.

"It's great to see you too." he said giving her another hug. Ginny watched him as he turned to Ron and Hermione. She didn't know if she'd be able to take her eyes off him now that he was there. She had missed him so much over the past month. Surprisingly more then she thought she would have. "It's about bloody time you two wrote me. I've been dying at the Dursleys."

Hermione came forward and hugged him. "How are you Harry?" she asked happy to see her best friend again.

"I'm doing okay. Better now that I'm here." Harry replied. He knew she wanted to know if he was getting along okay without Sirius. Ginny looked back to him. She could tell by the look on his face that Sirius's death was still haunting him. Her heart hurt. She wanted to help him but she was beginning to realize that he would find the one who could help on his own.

She smiled at him and touched his arm lightly. "We're glad you're here. And happy Birthday." she said grinning wider.

"Oh so glad you are here." Ginny thought wanting to tell him how much his being here really meant to her. How much she had really missed him.

"Yeah happy birthday mate." Ron said shaking Harry's hand.

"Thanks mate. Been practicing lately? This is gonna be our year and we need you playing your best." Harry said returning Ron's handshake with a tight grip of his own.

"A little," Ron admitted. Ginny smiled. He had hardly practiced at all over the past month of the holiday. He had spent most of his time playing chess with one of twins or sleeping.

"But I've been practicing." Ginny shouted inside her mind. She wanted to shout it out from him to hear. She knew he would be proud of her. But she didn't speak. Instead she listened to Ron.

"Probably not as much as I should have been but I was kinda hoping we could have a go once you got here." Ron continued, his hands inside his pockets.

Harry's smile widened. "Yeah sure I'd love to. Firebolt's probably a little dusty though seeing as it hasn't been used in a bloody long time."

"Great. Let's take your stuff up to my room and I'll grab my broom and we can have a go. It'll be wicked." Ron said with a smile as he grabbed Harry's trunk by himself. He could remember a time when they both had to carry a side, but they had both grown so much since then. Each one now could fully hold his own.

"I'll go grab my broom and meet you outside. You don't mind if I practice too do you Harry?" Ginny asked blushing slightly as Harry looked over at her. Suddenly Ginny felt herself turn bright red. At one time, Harry had had this affect on her. She had thought it was gone but it was back. And she knew why it had returned.

" 'Course not Ginny. Did you wanna play Hermione?" Harry offered. Hermione shook her head. She wasn't much for flying.

"No but I'd love to watch." she said, smiling happily. Ginny smiled too. They both knew this was a coverup for what was really going to happen.

And with that it was settled. Ron and Harry took Harry's stuff to Ron's room, Ginny rushed off to grab her broom and Hermione rushed outside to warn everyone. Ron and Harry grabbed their brooms, then headed outside.

As the two boys stepped out the back door, Harry was overwhelmed by shouts of "Surprise!" and "Happy birthday!".

Harry was having the time of his life. The real world was gone. Nothing but what was in the Weasley's backyard mattered right now. He looked around the table and smiled. He was surrounded by everyone he cared about. He was truly happy.

Suddenly Ginny jumped up and rushed into the house. When she returned she carried a homemade birthday cake in her hands with sixteen lit candles. She placed the cake in front of him and then began to sing happy birthday. Right away the others joined in.

While they sang, Harry looked down at the cake. It was a two layered white cake with chocolate frosting. He grinned. It was his favorite. Obviously Ron had told Mrs. Weasley about it.

When they concluded, he blew out the candles, making his silent wish. Then he cut the cake as Ginny began to pass out the pieces to the other guests.

"This cake is really good Mrs. Weasley. How did you know it was my favorite?" Harry commented after he had swallowed his first bite.

"I didn't make it Harry dear. Ginny did." Mrs. Weasley replied looking over at her now brightly blushing daughter.

Harry looked over at Ginny. He caught her eyes for a moment before she looked downward at the plate in front of her. "Thank you Ginny for the cake. It's delicious." Harry said seriously, staring at her until she looked up again. Their eyes locked for a moment before George interrupted asking for another piece of cake.