Harry is caught by Dumbledore and unwillingly sent back to Grimmauld Place, where he has a grim encounter with a certain portrait and young Mr. Potter finally gets to have a birthday party.

A/N: I own nothing this is all J.K.R.'s, what a brilliant mind she has.

Chapter Eleven- Birthday Surprises and Portrait Unglued

Harry swallowed back a curse as Snape stepped out from a small alcove beside the shop. "Mr. Potter," Snape said coldly as he moved to stand beside him.

"Professor," Harry acknowledged him quietly but kept looking at the window, not wishing to draw attention to himself.

"May I suggest that you turn yourself in," Snape said uncaringly and with a monotone voice as he too pretended that he was surveying the contents in the window. "Professor Dumbledore already knows that you are not hiding under your invisibility cloak somewhere in Grimmauld Place. Alastor found it in the bushes not too far down the street. I doubt that you will be seeing that garment for quite sometime. Professor Dumbledore was quite livid," Snape's sneer was evident in his sulky voice, and Harry also detected a hint of amusement.

Harry glared at Snape's hooded reflection for nearly a minute, the curiosity building up in him, before he turned on his Potions Professor with one question in his mind. "Why turn myself in, when you can do it for me?"

"As much as I would get extreme pleasure from turning you over to Professor Dumbledore; I think that it would be quite imprudent of me to turn you in, when I was the one that let you out this morning." Harry was about to protest that he had gotten out on his own just fine, when Snape interrupted him. "Come now Potter, you didn't really think that after the last time you left Grimmauld Place that they would simply allow you to just leave again. Professor Dumbledore is smarter then that, he put Wards up that would alert him the minute you opened the door. Why do you think I Apparated from outside? I allow you to follow me out, of course. You can thank me later."

Harry was speechless, shocked really, and only one question came into his mind and he voiced it almost too loudly. "Why?"

"To allow you to continue your training, of course, I must admit that I am slightly impressed by your dedication. I just wish that you showed such devotion when it comes to your Potions assignments, but perhaps I will see some improvement this year in class," Snape sneered.

Again Harry was shocked into silence, but he pushed passed it to clarify what he had heard, but before he had the chance Snape moved away, back into the small alcove he had come from and Harry turned around to be face to face with Dumbledore. Harry removed his hood and put a fake smile on his face as he looked up into the old Wizard's blue eyes.

"Morning Professor, what brings you to Diagon Alley this lovely day? Couldn't be that you were looking for me, could it?" Harry asked sarcastically. He knew that he shouldn't be so crass with his Headmaster but he couldn't help it. Every time he was in the man's presence, since the night that he had been told about the Prophecy, Harry just felt like blowing something up. Now that he had Sirius' views on Dumbledore floating around in his head, he couldn't help but wonder. If Sirius had never died, would Dumbledore have ever revealed the Prophecy to him?

Sirius obviously thought he wouldn't, or he wouldn't have mentioned it in the letter. Then there was the fact that his parents had trusted Dumbledore so implicitly, that they left him his guardian in Sirius' place. But Dumbledore had cast him off on the Dursley's where he was forced to live as a bullied servant for the last fifteen years of his life. His headmaster was obviously more concerned with keeping him alive then allowing him the chance to actually live.

It was then that it dawned on Harry, he had been partially holding the blame for Sirius' death on Snape's shoulders, but that wasn't fully where the blame should lie. Dumbledore should hold some responsibility. Snape may have egged him on about not being able to help the Order, but it was Dumbledore who had caged him. Harry would not allow himself to be caged as well.

To the rest of the world around him, Harry looked as if he was about to explode, his features kept getting darker as he ran through his thoughts in lightning speed, but Harry quickly regained his control, and chilled his thoughts. He would wait for Dumbledore's reaction before he blew up at the man, or blew something up as he so desperately wanted to do.

But as always his Professor's reaction was calm. "It is a lovely morning Harry, but I suggest that we return to headquarters before the day turns sour," Dumbledore held out his hand to Harry and there was a small palm sized stone there, a portkey no doubt.

Harry's false smile faded from his face as he said five simple words, in a very low voice, that Harry would later find out would change his relationship with Dumbledore forever, "if I choose not to?"

"I am sorry Harry but you do not have a choice, the outcome of this war depends on your safety," Dumbledore spoke back, his calm exterior never wavering and shoved the portkey into Harry's hand.

A moment later, he was standing in the drawing room back at Grimmauld place. That was Harry's last straw. He had never had much of a choice and Dumbledore was taking away his ability to choose. Harry's control snapped but his exterior calm remained. Sirius was right. He was not the savior of the Wizarding World, nor would he ever become one. This war had nothing to do with him. It had been raging since long before he was born, since long before the prophecy had ever been made. Sure one day, he would have to face Voldemort, but even on the slim chance that he succeeded, another Dark Lord would eventually just rise in his place. It was time that Harry took back his ability to choose, he would not live like Sirius, he would not be caged, and he refused to allow Dumbledore to continue to manipulate him, he would no longer play as a pawn in this war.

Harry turned towards the door and wretched it open letting it swing all the way back on its hinges. It banged loudly against the wall, shattering the silence of Grimmauld Place and starting Mrs. Black on another torrent.

"FILTHY MUGGLE LOVERS… DESTURBING THE PEACE OF THE HOUSE OF BLACK… IF ONLY MY LORD KNEW…"

Harry bounded down the stairs and ripped aside the moth eaten curtain that covered Mrs. Black's portrait. "SHUT UP!" Harry screamed back and Mrs. Black did.

"You," she whispered. "You're the one that corrupted my son. The one the Dark Lord had such high hopes for. I welcomed you into my family with open arms, like my own son, and you tore us apart. IF ONLY I WERE IN THE FLESH YOU'D PAY FOR YOUR TRAITOROUS ACTIONS… And now my son is gone… BELLA, I WANT BELLA… She was named in my Will. WHERE IS SHE!" Mrs. Black's screeches were worse then a banshee's and Harry stepped away a few feet as his ears were starting to ring.

"Bellatrix will not be coming here. Thanks to your son the House of Black belongs to me now, along with your fortune. And," Harry looked up and down Mrs. Black's Portrait, "so does your portrait," Harry said calmly, his ears still ringing.

"NO! NEVER! MY SON WOULD NEVER BE SO CRUEL!"

Harry pulled Sirius' letter from his pocket and began to read it out loud. "…this is my Will and will be carried out automatically upon my death. I have left you the Black Family fortune, along with the house, as I do not need them anymore and I can not stomach my vile cousin obtaining any of it…"

"NO!" Mrs. Black screeched again and then she suddenly stilled as if reverting to a Muggle painting, and fell off the wall. With a loud bang the painting hit the floor and broke in two, straight down the middle. Each piece lay flat on its front beside the other.

Harry stared wide-eyed, with his mouth open, at the two pieces until he heard the ruffling of robes and shuffling of feet behind him. He quickly stuffed Sirius' letter into his pocket. He turned to see his friends, as well as Mrs. Weasley, and several Order members, staring at him. Remus, Luminous, and Lyndira were among them.

"Hi," Harry whispered, and then staggered back from the on slot of questions that were thrown at him.

"Where were you…?"

"Why'd you go…?"

"What happened to Mrs. Black…?"

"Do you realize what could have happened to you?"

"YES!" Harry shouted at the last question that was directed at him from Remus.

"Everyone," Luminous stepped forward and held up his hands to ward off any more conversation. "I must apologize. I had hoped to have him back before anyone noticed him missing," Luminous bowed. "I did not know that it was going to cause this much of a fuss to allow Mr. Potter a couple of hours in Diagon Alley as a birthday treat."

"You were with Minister Friedens, Harry?"

Harry quickly covered his shock at Luminous' words, as he turned towards Dumbledore, who had come into the entrance hall unnoticed. "Didn't he just say that? I've been with Luminous and Lyndira the entire morning, having some fun. I was completely safe." Harry's defiance towards the old man showed blatantly through his words.

Dumbledore nodded and looked to Luminous. "Luminous, if you have a moment, I would like a word."

"Certainly Albus, but first," Luminous reached into an inside pocket of his robes and produced a small silver wrapped box. "A birthday present," Luminous handed the box to Harry who surveyed it for a moment, and then tore apart the wrapping. As he opened the box a smile came to his lips.

"I noticed that you were without a watch. And time goes by so quickly that one needs to keep track of every second of it. Now Harry, I thought you should know, before you count it as ordinary. That watch is special. It once belonged to your grandfather, Harold Potter, who if I'm not mistaken, you are named after. Oddly I found it among some of Fudges things. It already contains a Dark Arts detector, a Chameleon Charm, and a very inventive Shielding Charm. I added to it some very useful Charms of my own, including an emergency portkey. I'm sure that you will discover the other Charms as you continue with your studies."

Harry took the watch out of the box and put it on his wrist. He knew exactly what Luminous meant by studies, and he smiled as he examined the ingenious watch. The face contained not only a regular watch face but also the date and day of the week. Harry pressed one of the many tiny buttons on the side and was startled to see a tiny star chart glistening where the face had been. Harry noticed that it acted like a compass and the tiny night sky moved as he moved. Harry stared mesmerized for a moment before he released the button and turned back to Luminous. "Thank you Luminous, it's brilliant."

"You're welcome Harry," Luminous said with a wink and a smile, and then turned to leave with Dumbledore.

"Luminous, before you leave. My things are still umm, very small." Harry held out the small cube that was all his purchases.

Luminous chuckled. "Just set it on the floor, they'll expand by themselves. Happy Birthday Harry," he said over his shoulder. "Come Lyndira I think we're in for a scolding for keeping Mr. Potter out this morning…" Luminous trailed off as he Apparated with a loud crack, shortly after followed by Lyndira and a not so happy Dumbledore.

Harry let himself really breath for the first time since Dumbledore had found him in Diagon Alley. He looked to the people that remained in the Entrance Hall. "Who asked about Mrs. Black's portrait?" Harry smiled as Ginny raised her hand. "I have no idea. I don't think that she could stomach the fact that I now own Grimmauld Place. She just kind of froze and fell apart, literally," Harry shrugged with indifference. "Now Luminous was saying something about a party…"

Mrs. Weasley threw up her hands. "It was supposed to be a surprise. Minister or not that man could never keep a secret…" She grumbled as she headed off towards the kitchen. "Breakfast!" she yelled over her shoulder as she disappeared down the stairs.

Harry flinched as the kitchen door could be heard slamming. "Maybe next time, I'll just act surprised," Harry murmured and laughter for the first time in weeks could be heard in Grimmauld Place. It came from his friends at first and then even Remus and Tonks could be seen trying to hold in snorts of laughter. "Breakfast then," Harry clapped and his forgotten cube of purchases fell and landed on the floor, expanding as they did. "Maybe after I take care of my things," Harry chuckled.

"Wow, Harry, it looks like you've gotten yourself a whole new wardrobe," Ron said in amazement as Harry started to gather up some of the bags. He didn't want anyone poking into them, especially the one with the pensive, and the one with his underwear.

"I did. And," Harry tossed Ron the Quidditch book. "I got a few things for everyone else as well."

Several minutes later, Harry had stored his purchases in his and Ron's room, and given out the things he had bought for his friends. Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione joined the adults in the kitchen for one of the grandest breakfasts Harry had ever seen. It even rivaled a breakfast at Hogwarts.

After stuffing themselves full of bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, and a variety of other delicious items, Hermione and Ginny ushered Harry back up to his and Ron's room. They insisted that they had to see all of the clothes he had purchased earlier that morning. Harry managed to thank Mrs. Weasley for the great breakfast just as Hermione and Ginny dragged him out the door.

Harry eyed the two girls suspiciously as they closed the bedroom door behind him. He had never known Hermione to be so interested in clothes before, and why hadn't Ron come up with them. "Okay, what's going on?"

"What ever do you mean Harry? We want to see your new clothes," Ginny said sweetly as she moved towards some of Harry's bags.

Harry immediately dove for the bags. "No, not these ones," Harry said as he grabbed the bags from Ginny but Hermione got them from behind his back and he could feel his face turn pink as he heard Hermione giggle.

"Underwear Harry, you didn't want us to see your underwear," Hermione taunted as she opened the other heavier bag and her eyes widened. "Harry is this a Pensive?" she asked as she set the bags down and pulled out the small stone basin. "I thought underage Wizards weren't allowed to own a Pensive."

Harry gently took the Pensive from her. "Yes, Luminous, umm… Minister Friedens, took me to this shop that had all these unusual objects in it and I found this there. I thought it might come in handy. Especially if I have to continue on with Occlumency…"

"Professor Dumbledore is going to make you continue Occlumency, with Professor Snape? After last year, after what he…" Hermione started but Harry interrupted.

"I don't know, with the way Dumbledore is acting I wouldn't be surprised," Harry said quietly with a hint of anger in his voice. He looked at his feet and then he looked up to his friend's concerned eyes. "Just because Voldemort has an inclination to want me dead, doesn't mean that Dumbledore should lock me up to keep me safe. I mean, I know he's my guardian and all, but I would think that he gave up those rights the day he shoveled me off on the Dursley's doorstep," Harry took a deep breath in and then let it out in a sigh. "Why can't they just leave me alone? I'm sick of all the adults trying to dictate my fate."

"Harry I can't pretend that I know what you're going through, cause I don't…"

"You're right Hermione, you don't know. No body knows, not even the Order," Harry interrupted Hermione and then sat down on his bed and put his head in his hand, his head hurt. "Some times I just wish…" Harry trailed off with his whispered thought. No, he didn't wish that, if he were dead then he'd never get a chance to live. Harry put his new pensive aside and grabbed at his bag of underwear, determined to change the subject. He didn't want his friends to feel sorry for him.

Thankfully, just as Hermione was going to argue with Harry, Ginny took the cue and grabbed the bag away from him. "Now lets see what you've got in here," Ginny said pulling out a pair of Slytherin green boxers. "Oh, knotty Harry, switching sides. Hope you aren't planning on wearing these during our Quidditch matches."

"I've got Gryffindor colors in there too. Green happens to be my favorite color, has nothing to do with Slytherin," Harry objected as his face turned bright pink and he grabbed the boxers and shoved them back into his bag. "Here you wanted to see my new clothes? You can see my new clothes, not my underwear." Harry threw another bag at Ginny and grabbed the bag she held, from her.

The two girls took the next hour and a half to make Harry model all of his new clothes. Though Harry grumbled with embracement at first, he gradually started to have fun. Harry was strutting around in his Gryffindor colored dress robes when the door opened and closed of its own violation. The three Gryffindors stared at the bedroom door and then all jumped and turned around to see Ron rummaging around through Harry's bags.

"Harry, what are you turning into Snape now? I've never seen so many potion ingredients. Blimy you've got potion robes in here too."

"Jeez Ron, where did you come from?" stammered Ginny, as she dropped the bag she was holding and neatly folded Muggle clothes tumbled out onto the floor.

Ron looked up from the bag that he nearly had his head in. "Oh sorry, I came in while you were ogling Harry's dress robes."

Harry looked next to where Ron was kneeling. "My invisibility cloak," Harry said eyeing the garment beside Ron.

"Sorry mate, but it's not, its old Mad-Eyes. I filched it off him while he was sleeping. Dumbledore still has yours."

Harry's shoulders slumped at Ron's words and his smile faded.

"Ronald, that is stealing!"

"No, Hermione, barrowing without consent, I'm going to give it back."

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron and moved over to where Ron was on the floor. She pulled a small silver colored cauldron out of one of the bags, and looked up to Harry questioningly. "Is this silver Harry? These are really expensive. You do know that we only use up to a basic number six cauldron in school? You'll never have a need for this at Hogwarts."

Harry looked away from Hermione's questioning glare. He hadn't told his friends about the potion yet. He had skirted their questions, and now he either had to confess or make up a lie. Harry chose the latter. He didn't want his friends to know just yet, maybe after he started taking the potion. "It's silver with a lead insulated base, and yes I know I won't need it for school, it's not mine. I picked it up for Lyndira. I forgot to give it to her." Harry bit his lower lip and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He flicked his eyes up to Hermione. After a moment she seemed to except his answer, for now. Harry looked to Ron beside her. "What did you mean about me turning into Professor Snape?"

"It's just that, I've never seen you with so much potions supplies before. I mean look, you even have new measuring stuff." Ron held up an open black box full of measuring supplies.

Harry gave a half smile. "Kind of went a little overboard, didn't I?" The three in front of him nodded. It was obvious even Hermione thought he had bought too much stuff. "I guess I just wanted to make a good impression on Professor Snape this year, if that's possible."

"But Harry you said that you got kicked out of Professor Snape's potion class," Hermione said with a nit in her brow.

"He told me this morning that he was letting me back in. Honestly don't know why," Harry really didn't know why, it was quite baffling actually. What was even more bizarre, was Snape letting him train. Just a few days ago, he was convinced that Harry was learning Dark Magic. Now he was siding with him and almost being nice. It was a little creepy.

"He's letting you back in? He must be feeling guilty about cursing you," Ginny said.

Harry shrugged, "maybe."

Harry walked over to his trunk and unlocked it. He didn't open it right away, he didn't want anyone to see inside. He grabbed one of his bags closest to him and then emptied the contents over everything else in his truck, more specifically Merlin's Diaries. After check that clothes were covering the many different sized books, Harry began to do the same with the rest of his belongings.

"Jeez Harry, why don't you just have mom reorganize your truck like me and Ginny do? It would be a whole lot easier to find stuff and she can do it in less then a minute. She's really good with organization charms," Ron commented.

Harry was about to make up an answer when all four of their heads shot up at the sound of Molly Weasley's voice, echoing up the stairs. "Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Harry, down here now," Mrs. Weasley didn't sound happy, and both of the Weasley children ducked their heads before they all left Harry's and Ron's room. Harry held back long enough to stuff the rest of his belongings into his truck and lock it, he was glad it had an ever expandable charm on it, another idea of Hagrid's.

They made their way down the stairs quickly and Mrs. Weasley pointed them into the drawing room. What Harry saw brought a smile to his face. The room was decorated with balloons, streamers, and decorations, which Harry had never even dreamt about. He thought breakfast was nice, but this was breathtaking. Harry turned around to thank Mrs. Weasley again and was greeted by a large birthday cake carried by the twins. The cake held sixteen sparkling candles, and Harry's heart melted. He'd never had a real birthday cake before. Harry's features darkened slightly, he'd missed out on a lot of things because of the Dursley's. No, because of Dumbledore.

"Happy Birthday Harry," said Mrs. Weasley with a huge smile on her face and a round of 'Happy Birthday's,' followed from the other people in the room.

Harry tried to plaster a smile of his face for his friends' sake, but it was as if a list of things that he never had or ever got to experience started to run through his mind. He knew that it was another one of Voldemort's mind games, but it was all true. He couldn't help but wonder, what his life would have been like if Dumbledore had just placed him with a Wizarding family. You'd have everything you've ever craved, said a small voice and Harry wasn't sure if it was Voldemort's or his own.

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by the people around him singing a bizarre form of Happy Birthday. Harry suddenly felt sick, not just sick, horrible. He wanted them to all stop, he wanted to scream for them to stop. He didn't understand it. He should be happy, but he wasn't. He suddenly felt hate pushed into his mind as the room started to spin. Harry closed his eyes tightly against the dizziness. He briefly heard someone ask if he was alright, before unconsciousness overtook him and he fell into darkness.

A/N: Ooh, Harry, your in trouble now Mister.