We finally left the amusement park three hours, six roller coaster rides, and two churros later. We arrived at the doorstep of Grimmauld place in the middle of a discussion of whether roller-coasters or broomsticks were better.

"Doesn't matter, they both wear me out after a while," Remus said as Arthur knocked to gain entry. The door swung open but no one was there and we saw that it was darker than usual.

"That's odd," Arthur muttered. He cast a worried glance at Remus, who in turn did the same to me.

"I'll cover the front," Arthur said, pulling out his wand and muttering "Lumos."

"Lumos. I'll cover the left," Remus said. I in turn took out my wand, lit it and followed them through the hall, covering the right side. We had come upon the stairs when something caught our attention. Arthur shined his light and we breathed a sigh of relief when we saw it was only Kreacher. He saw us and immediately started insulting us under his breath.

"Blood traitors, mutants, half-breeds infesting poor Mistress's house," the elf muttered.

"Kreacher, where is everyone?" Remus asked.

"The filthy mutant wer—"

"Kreacher!" Arthur cut across the elf's muttering rather sharply. "Tell us!" Kreacher glared.

"Kreacher saw nothing." And with a crack, he was gone.

"Damn elf!" I put in. We continued up the stairs and went down the hall. It was eerily quiet. Then—

"What was that?" I hissed and spun around. The other two turned to me. "I heard something in the drawing room." I raised my wand and started to open the door but Remus moved me aside.

"No, I'll do it," he said, and opened the door slowly.

"SURPRISE!" A startled Remus stepped back into Arthur and me. The light in the drawing room came on and half the Order jumped out.

"What--" Remus's shocked face turned into an amused smile. "You mean you whole lot tricked me?"

"That's right, and you fell for it!" I said, laughing. "Happy Birthday, Remus!"

-

The clock was going on twelve and almost everyone had left. Tonks yawned and bowed out early, telling us that she had to work tomorrow. The Weasley's also retired early and soon it was only Remus, Sirius, and me left.

"So," Remus said, leaning back against the couch. "How'd you all manage to do all this?"

"Well, all we did was decorate while you were out and then Peri sent a Patronus to us before you got here so we got everything ready and hid in the drawing room," Sirius said. "Mad-Eye helped us out with his eye of his."

"Arthur and I had to improvise with the dark lights and all," I said. "We wouldn't have found you if you hadn't rapped on the wall."

"That was Mad-Eye. He chucked a paperweight when he saw you guys were going too far past." Sirius said. Remus chuckled.

"Is all this because I said I was too old for birthday parties?" he asked.

"Remus, the Order decided to go all out for your birthday because you give everything for the Order," Sirius said. Remus reddened slightly.

"Oh, come on, everyone else gives everything, too," Remus said.

"But not as much as you," Sirius insisted. I looked from Remus to Sirius.

"What type of stuff do you do for the Order, Remus?" I asked. Remus and Sirius looked at me, startled, like they had forgotten I was there.

"I…er…well…I--"

"Remus does the dangerous stuff," Sirius said. "Any dark exploding toilets, evil boggarts or whatever—"

"Sirius," Remus said, looking embarrassed and for some reason nervous.

"Remus, it's great that you do so much for the Order," I reassured him. He reddened considerably but we said nothing more of the matter.