Yippee my longest chapter yet. Again don't own Harry Potter wish I did. Yada yada.

Thanks for reading.

Beta Read by Susan

Chapter 5

Of Birthdays and Quidditch

Harry squinted against the bright light coming through the window. He tried to close his eyes and go back to sleep. But someone bouncing on his bed effectively shook him awake.

"Come on Harry, wake up." Ron's deep voice drifted down to his ears.

He grumbled. "Only a little more?"

The youngest Weasley male shook his friend. "Harry. Harry, mum wants to see us down stairs."

"Alright." He gave in only because it was not a good idea to keep Mrs. Weasley waiting. He stretched, got up and got ready, then headed downstairs. As he traveled down he wondered where all the Weasley's went off to. Normally at least the Twins would be lagging behind. He found them as he entered the kitchen.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!" The whole clan cried.

He was shocked.

"Come on Harry, don't just stand there, have a seat." Fred pulled him to the table.

"Hey there Harry." Hermione greeted as she sat across from him.

"Hi Hermione. You guys didn't have to do this."

She smiled. "Come on Harry when was the last time you had a real birthday party? We wanted to do this for you. Come in guys."

Through the kitchen door leading outside came; Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Neville Longbottom, Parvati and Padma Patil, Charlie and Bill Weasley, Luna Lovegood and the entire Gryffindor Quidditch team. "Holly Merlin." Harry gasped. This was more than he had ever expected. Sure he had received presents from his friends. But they had never had a party. Unless you counted the time when Fred, George, and Ron had rescued him from the Dursley's in the summer before their second year. Mrs. Weasley opened the oven and pulled a cake out that he didn't believe would fit in there normally.

Every one started to sing and tears formed in his eyes. Hermione smiled and patted his hand. After they were done and he had blown out the candles he received his gifts.

Of course Hermione gave him a book 101 Healing Spells and Potions. He cocked his head. "Are you trying to tell me something Hermione?" He couldn't help but tease her.

She blushed. "Well, no, it's just that with how many times you end up in the Hospital wing. I just thought..."

He laughed at her rambling. "It's alright Hermione. Thanks, I'm sure it will come in handy."

Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, and Alicia Spinnet had gotten together and bought him a couple of practice snitches and a book called The Definitive book of Feints for Quidditch Seekers.

"Thanks guys."

"We have to make sure that the last original member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team is well prepared to beat those slimy Slytherins this year." Angelina patted him on the back.

Ron gasped. "Bloody Hell, that's right. All three of you finished last year. That means we're going to have to find three new chasers this year."

Harry's eyes panned from Ron over to Ginny. The talk that they had after their little match played over in his head.

Ginny smiled catching his eyes. She knew exactly what he was thinking, for she also remembered the conversation.

- - Flashback - -

Ginny brushed her hair from her eyes. "See Harry, I told you I couldn't hold a candle to your Seeker skills. There aren't many who can. I wouldn't be surprised if you had hundreds of Quidditch teams trying to recruit you even before you finish Hogwarts."

Giggling slightly he rested his broom on the ground. "Thanks for the praise Gin, but I can't help but feel a little rusty after not playing most of last year." He stretched his right arm.

Mouth agape she couldn't speak for a while. "That was 'a little rusty?' Holly Hell Harry if that was rusty I feel sorry for the Slytherins this year when your back up to your full speed." She was a decent seeker, but she hadn't been able to catch a single snitch. Of course, Harry's Firebolt far surpassed her Clean Sweep when it came to speed and maneuverability. But most of the time she never even got a chance to see the snitch before he had it. He was also doing moves at speeds she had never seen before. She had watched him pull off a perfect Wronski Feint. This move was not one that many seekers could pull off. One had to have great reflexes and pinpoint accuracy or all you accomplished was to plow yourself into the ground. He had done flips and rolls. And a couple of moves she had never seen before. One of which was when he had spotted the snitch close to the ground. He dove at top speed righting himself at the last minute. Then he jumped up placing his feet on the broom. Standing one the handle, bent over slightly for balance he caught the snitch and then got back on his broom. Ron had mentioned him pulling a move like this during a match in his first year. Of course he also mentioned that it didn't turn out that well. Harry had flipped off his broom and caught the Snitch in his mouth. She had thought the other move was a feint at first. He had flown at top speed towards the far end of the makeshift pitch. Then at the last minute he did a complete roll. When he came out of the roll he had the snitch in his hand.

"Yep, those Slytherins don't stand a chance." She smiled.

"Well, what about you. I can't just take your place and kick you off the team. You did really well last year, it wouldn't be fair." He ran his fingers through his hair.

"Harry, as I said and we both know, you're the better Seeker between the two of us. And I for one will be looking forward to you being back on the team. If you keep pulling moves like you did earlier, Malfoy won't know what hit him. Besides, I don't plan on quitting. I always thought that I would make a better Chaser than a Seeker anyway, and if you didn't realize, we have no Chasers this year. They all finished Hogwarts at the end of last year." She pointed out, pulling her hair back into a ponytail.

"Your right." He smiled. "I'm sure you'll make a great Chaser. The Quidditch captain would be off there duff not to pick you." He placed his arm around her shoulders.

She blushed. "Harry, won't you be the Quidditch Captain this year? You are the last one left from the original team and a darn good player to boot."

"Yeah, I know I'm the last. But the truth is I'm not sure I want it. With what happened last year I'm not sure if I'm ready to have that type of responsibility. Besides, there are others who know more about the game than I do. Most of what I do is on instinct. Between you and me I'm not very good at figuring out defensive moves and such."

She doubted that. If his skill as a leader in Quidditch was even half of what he showed with the DA during the battle at the Department of Mystery's last year then she had to say that he was a better strategist than he thought. But she let it slide.

- - End flashback - -

She smiled again at the memory.

Harry opened Ginny's present next. He blinked wide eyes. "Gin, it's beautiful."

Ron glanced skeptically between his best friend and his baby sister. When had that nickname started?

Harry pulled out a necklace. It had a slender chain. The pendant was a silver disk with runes engraved around the edge. A smooth dark green stone sat in a bevel set in the middle. "You shouldn't have."

A sweet smile graced her lips. "It's alright Harry, I wanted to. Come on put it on."

He undid the clasp and placed it around his neck. Letting it rest against the chest of his red shirt. "Thanks Gin." It was then that he realized that it wasn't just green. But caught the sun and shown back a couple of different colors ranging between silver, blue, and red. He ran a finger along the edge and felt a slight spark of magic come off it. Probably had a protection spell on it to protect it from breaking.

"The color suits you." She blushed and bowed her head.

From Dean he received a bag of chocolate frogs, whilst Seamus gave him a collected addition of The Lord of the Rings. He couldn't help but giggle when he opened this one, remembering what Gelena had told him.

Neville gave him a strange flower. It had light blue petals. They were slightly heart shaped with dark red veins etched across them, the flowers where slightly tube shaped and gathered on the stalks. The leaves were lacy a silvery colored. "Thanks Neville. But what is it?"

"It's a rare type of Betony known as the Silver Lace. Like it's common cousin the Wood Betony it has the power over dreams. But this one doesn't require you to sleep with a pillow stuffed with the leaves. Just put it on your bedside table and it's supposed to protect against nightmares. To be exact it's supposed to actually help it grow."

Harry was shocked. He hadn't expected something like this from Neville. But then his nightmares weren't actually secret from most of the Gryffindor sixth years. And of course Neville had been in DA and had heard about some of the premonition dreams he had. He knew that Neville hoped this plant would protect against those dreams in particular. "Thank you so much Neville. I'll make sure I take care of it."

"Well if you need any help, I'm in the same dorm and don't mind. It's become quite a passion for me. I actually grew that one myself."

Mrs. Weasley gasped. "You grew that Neville! My goodness, that is amazing. Even the most advanced Herbologist has trouble getting the Silver Lace Betony to grow. I think Professor Sprout has been the only other one that has been successful here on the British Isle. It's very beautiful isn't it?"

Neville couldn't help but feel pride at the praise. He hadn't known that actually. He'd found the clipping in a shop in Diagon Alley. When he purchased it the shop owner hadn't even known what it was, so he had gotten a very good price on it. He had watered it carefully, then one day it had sprouted flowers. After that it had been rather simple to identify the plant, and he had gotten a good deal indeed. He had only paid two Galleons and he found out that even small Silver Lace Betony's go for about fifteen Galleons.

When he opened the one from Luna he had to admit he was a bit confused. Inside the layers of multi colored tissue paper was a Cherry sized stone. It was clear blue with purple mist swirling in it.

"It's a recorder stone." She explained. "Just place your pointer finger on and say 'Vox'." She touched the stone as she spoke as the mist turned pink. "And it will record what you say for about five minutes."

"And it will record what you say for about five minutes." The stone repeated. Everyone in the room laughed.

"Then you just tap it again to end the spell. Or let it run out." She tapped the stone again. "I don't know if it will come in handy but I thought it was interesting."

"Thanks Luna. I'm sure I'll find something to do with it." He gave her a hug.

She smiled as she pulled away. "Wait a minute." She fished in her pocket looking for something. After pulling out some string, a couple of butter bear caps, what looked like a dried mouse tail, and other miscellaneous things she finally extracted a small yellow piece of paper. "Ah yes, here it is. My father wanted to send you something as well." She handed him the paper. "It's a year subscription to the Quibbler."

"Oh, uhm, well, tell him thank you." She smiled again.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave him two new jumpers and some treacle fudge. Fred and George decided that he needed some new shoes besides his ones for school. So they got him two knew pairs of trainers. He had to say he was thankful, he was wearing a pair of Dudley's old ones and they not only stunk but also had a tendency to fall off. Mrs. Weasley insisted on casting a few spells on them to make sure they didn't do anything funny. The twins looked indignant that their mother thought they would do anything to Harry, but she had only said that she knew her children to well.

Charlie gave him a new pair of dragon hide gloves, and Bill gave him a book on ancient Egyptian Wizards.

The last person to give him their present was Ron.

"I know it's not much, but here you go." Ron handed him a small wrapped package.

Harry smiled. "Ron, you always say that. And every year I love what you get me." He tore open the blue paper to reveal a photo frame. He flipped it over and the tears that had threatened to fall earlier now fell. "Oh Ron," He gasped. The frame was simple. Cherry wood with the words painted in god that read. "Always Remember. The picture is what caused the tears. He recognized one of the rooms of no. 12 Grimauld Place. He saw himself, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. But behind them stood Remus and Sirius. His green eyes focused on his Godfather who wrapped his arm around his picture selves' shoulders and smiled. "I...I don't remember this picture." The photo Remus bobbed Sirius on the head. "Oh Ron." He jumped up and wrapped his arms around his friend. It was one of the best presents he had ever received. Of course it brought back many bad memory's but many good ones as well. He'd been depressed because he really didn't have any pictures of Sirius. And when he closed his eyes the only way he could picture him at the moment was eyes closed and falling back through the veil. The picture brought everything back into focus again. He was able to picture Sirius so clearly now. How his eyes use to sparkle when he was happy. The only thing it was not able to bring back was the sound of his voice and how it made Harry feel. Tears streamed down his face and soaked the redheads shoulder.

Hermione leaned over and took a look at the picture. She had no idea what Ron had planned, but she wanted to know what made Harry react like that. If Ron had done something stupid she would definitely have to reprimand the big git, all thoughts of the reprimand were lost when she say the picture. She too started to cry. Quickly she ran around the table and wrapped her arms around her two best friends. Ron and Harry each unhooked an arm and wrapped it around her. The three friends just stood there and had a good cry, no one interrupted their time together. The rest of the party milled around talking quietly. The only sound coming from the three friends was quiet sobs.

About ten minutes later there were a couple of final sniffs and the three of them pulled apart. Hermione rubbed Harry's back a few more times and leaned over and gave him light kiss on the cheek.

Mrs. Weasley came to stand behind them and wiped some tears from Harry's cheek. "Alright dears?" She questioned. Her face was wrinkled slightly with a sad smile.

"Yes mum. We're fine." Ron answered.

"That's good. Now why don't we have some of this cake?" She handed the knife to Harry. "Birthday boy gets to take the first slice."

He took the knife and carefully cut the cake up into even pieces. Soon everyone had a nice large helping of the chocolate confection.

Ron finished his off in no time. But Harry was a little more patient when it came to food and he had only eaten half his piece. The other half sat beside him as he looked at the picture again. Two tears escaped from the corner of his eye and had a quick race down his cheek. He jumped slightly when he felt a light hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Hermione's honey eyes looking at him concerned.

"Are you sure you're alright Harry?" She asked quietly. Ron came to join them. And the three of them moved a little further away from the party to have a private chat.

He wiped a few stray tears from his eyes. "Yeah Hermione, I'm fine. Actually I think I feel better than I have since that day. I don't think I've ever let my self cry." He sniffed again and looked at the picture. He watched his picture self punch Sirius's arm lightly. "It still hurts. I just can't bare him not being here in person. I miss him so much, and everything. But somehow now it feels like I just might be able to make it. I still have him here." He placed his hand over his heart. "And that will never change. No matter where I go a part of him will always be with me, just as a part of my parents is always with me. No matter where I go the essence of those that I love and that love me surrounds me. I know that I can draw on that love when ever I need it and it fuel me when all else seems lost."

Hermione blinked. She couldn't believe it. Had that just come out of Harry? Then she had always guessed there was more to her friend. He proved that much last year when he stood up to Umbridge and willingly ran the DA club even though he knew it was against school rules. He proved it during the battle at the Department of Mystery's. He was a born leader, but not one that was against taking advice from those below him. Voldemort demanded loyalty with fear and pain. Harry on the other had didn't demand loyalty at all. He encouraged it with love and friendship. He was as willing to put his life on the line for one he loved as they were for him. There was just something that drew people to him and made them want to have his approval.

All the others had already left when Delphine reappeared.

"Who is that?' Hermione asked pointing to the tall woman.

Harry pulled his brown haired friend over to the blond. He knew that Hermione would need to know about all that had happened. There was no chance of keeping her in the dark. Not only would it not be fair, but it would hurt her and he didn't want to loose her as a friend. "Hermione this is Delphine Evalnphire."

"Pleased to meet you Hermione Granger. Dumbledore spoke highly of you."

"Thank you." The ever curious witch eyed the ears. "Holy Cricket, you're an elf!" She gasped.

With that she was taken aside and everything was explained.

"So you're related to elves Harry?" She was still trying to take it all in.

He nodded.

"And this woman is like some distant relative yours through your mum's side?"

He nodded again.

"Well, that explains a lot. So when you gain your Heritage are you going to gain the elfin characteristics?"

"We're not sure about that. Gelena said that some things could change. She said that my eyes are already an elfin attribute."

Ginny smiled. "I think they're quite nice." She took his hand.

"Thanks Gin." He gave her hand a squeeze.

"Oh little Ginny winny." Ron teased his little sister.

"Ron, don't." Ginny warned.

"Such pretty eyes." He clasped his hands next to his cheek and batted his eyes.

"Ron." It was Harry's turn to warn. He always thought that it was rather mean when Ron teased his baby sister, but for some reason this time was getting on his nerves. Maybe because he knew that if Ron really thought there was anything going on between Ginny and himself. Best friend or not he the older Weasley would be giving the boy-who-lived the third degree. Harry couldn't help but think that a Ron protecting Ginny might be even scarier than Voldemort himself.

"Smoochy smoochy."

This was enough. "RON!" Harry cried. A shock of white energy shot from him and hit the taller boy right in the chest knocking him to the ground. "Ron." He fell to his knees beside his friend. "Are you okay?"

Fiery hair hanging in his face the young man tried to sit up but fell back again.

Delphine bent down on the other side. "Harry let me take care of this." She took out her wand. "I need you to back up." She motioned to the other three.

Hermione and Ginny complied but Harry didn't move.

"Would you two please move Harry?"

"What, no please I need to be here. I did this, I didn't mean to." He croaked.

She gave him an understanding nod. "Yes Harry we know. You couldn't control this. But I need room to work."

He bowed his head in resignation and let himself be pulled away.

She whispered a few words and ran her wand from Ron's toes to the top of his head, she smiled. "He'll be alright. Nothing is really wrong just a slight stunning spell. I must say I'm amazed that was dead on, pinpoint accuracy. Not many get it right when they use wand less magic. That might teach him to pick on his little sister. Of course do big brothers actually ever learn?"

Three pairs wide eyes blinked in astonishment.

"Delphine, how can you take this so well? I just hit my friend with a spell that I don't even remember casting."

Ginny and Hermione both crossed their arms in agreement and waited for the answer.

"Harry calm, down you didn't do anything wrong. You won't receive a letter from the Ministry of Magic, and Ron won't hold it against you. He's a little older than you. He's probably already experienced magic fluctuations himself."

A groan was heard from the floor. "Oh man."

"Ron!" The raven haired teen cried. He fell to his knees and gathered his friend in his arms. "I'm so sorry, so sorry."

"Harry, it's alright." Ron consoled.

"But I hit you with a spell Ron."

"And I blasted George and Fed the other day because they waved a fake spider in front of me. Not to mention Hermione levitated a book right at my head this morning because I teased her about always getting you books."

Said brown haired girl blushed. She had forgotten about that.

"It's the fun of being a wizard or witch during magical puberty." He laughed as Harry helped him to his feet.

Delphine had her hands on her hips. "See Harry, what did I tell you."

He smiled. "Uhm Delphine, can I ask you something?"

"Sure go right ahead."

"It didn't really dawn on me back at the Dursley's, but just now and back then you used a wand. In my dream Gelena didn't use a wand."

"Well that's because Gelena is a very strong elf. And even though most elves can do some magic without a wand it isn't the same variety of what you can do. Our magic is mostly nature orientated. When an elf is recognized as being a witch or a wizard we have to get a wand just like anyone else. "

"You're a witch?" Hermione questioned flabbergasted.

"Yes. Did you think that only humans could become witches or wizards?"

She shook her head. "No, it's just that, well, you see I never really though about it before. But I guess it makes sense."

That day an owl arrived at their window. The official looking envelope it carried bore the Hogwarts seal.

"Oh, this might be them." Hermione said excited. She took the proffered letters and with a pat on the head the owl was off. She placed the one bearing Ginny's name aside and handed Harry and Ron theirs. With shaky hands she tore open the envelope and removed the pieces of parchment from inside. One was of course the regular information about when school would start and the list of books and supplies they would need. But the one behind it was what she was interested in. It bore not only the Hogwarts seal but the Ministry of Magic one as well.

"Holly Hell!" Ron gasped. "How in the heck! Hermione you're a life savoir." He cheered and latched his arms around his friend's neck. "I was sure all the studying you had us do was insane, but it really paid off." He showed her his paper.

She smirked. "Maybe then this year you won't give me such a hard time about getting your work done early and studying some more."

"Uhm, well, I see you got all O's." He tried to change the subject. "How did you get an O in Astronomy with all that happened?"

She looked sheepish. "I actually had it done by then."

"Oh."
She turned her attention to her other friend. "So Harry, how did you do?" But she received no answer. "Uhm, Harry, Harry?" She waved her hand in front of his face. But the green eyes stayed glued to the parchment in front of him.

Ron sighed. "Oh come on mate, it couldn't be that bad."

The raven head shook but the teen still couldn't find his voice.

"Oh let me see that. What did you miss Potions…" Ron's voice failed him. "Bugger." He gasped.

Hermione was worried now. She knew how much Harry wanted to be an Auror. She wished her friend would choose a much safer job. Especially with all that he had gone through and would go through with Voldemort, but she knew how important this was to him. Mainly because of Voldemort and what he had done to his parents. She also knew that he needed an O in potions to get in. Snape wouldn't take any but the best.

"Ron, what is it? Did he not get potions, Ron?" But her friend couldn't answer her. "Let me see." She grabbed the parchment." It can't be that ba….Holy Cricket." She couldn't help the cry that escaped her throat. "My goodness Harry, I….I…" She scanned the parchment again. "Oh Harry!" She exclaimed cheerfully and threw her arms around her friend. "This is so wonderful. Now you can become an Auror!"

Right at that moment Mrs. Weasley entered the kitchen. "What's going on?"

"Our O.W.L. scores mum." Ron grabbed the sheets and handed them to his mother.

She read his first. "Oh Ron, this is great. You received six OWLs." He had received an e in Charms, Herbology and Transfiguration. O's in DADA and Care of Magical Creatures. She went on to Hermione's. "Hermione, this is great, you received O's in all your classes."

"Now look at Harry's mum." Ron knew that Harry could use the backing of a mother figure.

Ms. Weasley pulled out Harry's parchment. "Let's see, E in Charms, and Transfiguration, and History of Magic. An A in Astronomy. Sorry you didn't get Divination Harry dear."

"I don't think he really cares mum." Ron snickered.

She gave her youngest son a stern look. "Very good Harry. You got O's in Care of Magical Creatures, DADA, Herbology and Potions. Wait, what's this?" She continued reading. "Gulping Gargoyles." She gasped. "Oh Harry this is wonderful." She gathered the boy into his arms. "I'm so proud of you."

Harry blushed a nice cherry red. "Thank you Mrs. Weasley, but it's not that great."

"Of course it is Harry." Hermione chided. "An Award of Merit for the highest grade in Defense Against the Dark Arts ever in Hogwarts History. That's something for anyone to be proud of."

"She's right Harry darling. You deserve an extra special dinner. What would you like me to cook?"

"Uhm, roast beef and potatoes." He really couldn't think of anything. And that was one of his favorites, especially when Mrs. Weasley cooked it.

The red haired woman was really excited now. "That would be just wonderful. And a very special desert as well." With that she bustled off into the kitchen.

"I don't see what's so great about it. It's not like I actually earned it." Harry groaned.

"Harry Potter! " Hermione yelled. "You stop talking that way right now! Of course you earned it, and don't you dare try to tell me that you didn't because the only reason you learned them was to defend yourself against Voldemort."

Ron cringed at the name.

"It doesn't matter why you learned them you still learned them. You were able to learn spells that most adults can't pull off…I mean you were able to summon a corporeal Patronous in third year. Most adult witches and wizards can't even do that."

"But Hermione, most of the DA where able to pull off a somewhat corporal Patronous. Yours was pretty good." He tried to argue his point.

She was going to have none of it. "Yes Harry, but that was fifth year. And then most of ours are rather week and don't stick around long. Not long enough to scare off a Dementor that's for sure. Especially not the amount yours scare off." She conveniently left out that she had seen how many he had scared off, because Ron still didn't know about the Time Turner incident. "The fact is Harry. That even though you had to learn those spells to protect yourself or for the Tri Wizard tournament. You still learned them."

Harry couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. It was impossible sometimes to fight Hermione without seeing it her way. "Thank you Hermione." He conceded.

"That's better." And she gave him a big hug.

"What Dementors?" Ron asked.

Harry and Hermione looked each other in the eye and then started laughing.

The rest of the summer went about the same way. All three young wizards had to watch what they did for fear of their ability's going haywire. Harry's were the worst. Hermione and Ron's wand less spells were rather harmless. A tickling spell and a floating spell every now and then, nothing higher than a second level spell. But poor Harry was casting things level four and higher. He had actually cast a rope spell on Ron when he was being ornery and not waiting up for his friends. Thankfully Delphine had been able to help him learn how to keep it controlled slightly, but she also warned him that this is the only the beginning and the fluctuations might get worse later.

On the day before they were to head back to Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione and the younger Weasley's decided to have a small Quidditch match. Well actually Hermione was just going to watch and take on the job of the one woman cheering squad. The teams of course weren't even with only five people playing. Fred, George and Ron were on one team. And since Harry had the superior broom, he and Ginny made a team.

"Go on Harry, squash them." Hermione cried.

"I will Hermione." He waved and took off at top speed to the other end of the pitch, getting there just in time to catch the quaffle and hand it off to Ginny, who was able to avoid both Fred and George on her way to their hoops. She tossed it and did a foreword somersault kicking the Quaffle as her feet reached over her head effectively driving it past Ron and through their hoop.

"Bloody hell." Ron groaned. That was twenty five points to five. Even with only two people they were kicking the others butts. Ron hated to admit it, but his baby sister was one hell of a good chaser.

"Whoo hoo." Ginny cried and did loop-the-loop.

"We're getting our butts kicked by our own little sister." Fred whined.

"Come off it Fred." Ginny chided her older brother.

Hermione watched all this from the sidelines holding her sides with laughter. 'Wait a minute, did something just move in the trees.' She scanned the forest to the side of her. 'Nope nothing there probably just a squirrel or something.' She returned her attention back to the game. But something was different, Harry had stopped moving, he wasn't even paying attention. 'What is going on?'

'What's that I can sense?' He tore his eyes away from the game. 'There was some magic force coming from the trees. "Hermione, be careful." He called down to his friend. Again his eyes came to rest on the forest again. Then he saw it a tree had not been there a moment ago. It wasn't a big tree just a small silver birch. Landing he took out his wand and pointed it at the tree.

"Harry, what do you think your doing? Have you gone daft?" Ron called.

But his friend wasn't listening. His sights were focused on the leafy wonder. He stepped forward again and the tree wiggled slightly.

Hermione jumped. "Did that tree just move?"

But of course the big shocker came next. "Could you please point that thing the other way?" The words came from the tree as it wiggled again.

"Holly Hell!" Ron cried almost falling off his broom.

The others all came in for a landing.

Harry's eyes were now slits of brilliant green. "I might think of pointing it somewhere else if you tell us who you are."

"Probably some Death Eater scum." Ron hissed.

"I most certainly am not." Came the indignant reply. Then there was a loud pop and a puff of smoke. When it cleared the tree was no longer there. Instead there was a young man around the same age as them. He had spiky blond hair with brown tips and his eyes were a dark woodsy green. They stood out in contrast against his pale skin. He wore a dark blue T-shirt and blue jeans. "I would never be affiliated with scum like that." He snapped facing the youngest Weasley male. "And if I had been you would have been gone long before now. I've been watching you guys for at least the last month. Not very observant are you. If I had been with Voldemort you'd be gone long ago." He turned his gaze to Harry now. "You need to become a lot more observant if you're going to survive. You're all bloody blind if you ask me."

Ron clenched and unclenched his fists. "Who are you calling bloody blind?"

"I do believe that it was you. Harry's the only one who even realized that something was different. All the rest of you were contently flying around up there just waiting for some one to shoot you from the sky. By the way Harry, you can put that thing away now. I know very well that you can't do magic out side of Hogwarts, you're still under aged."

"Oh, yeah." He placed the wand back in his pocket. "May I ask who are you and how do you know my name?"

"I'm Roan, Roan Betula. And to answer your other question most wizards know who you are Harry Potter."

"You're a wizard?" Ginny gasped.

Roan reached into his back pocket and produced a wand. He held it up in front of his face looking father cocky.

Harry couldn't help but thing that his guy kind of reminded him of Malfoy at times.

George and Fred came to stand next to Harry. They had their wands out. Even though this guy said that he wasn't with the death eaters they were ready if he tried something or attacked Harry. Unlike the others they had no reason to avoid using magic. It wasn't like they could be expelled from Hogwarts.

"So what are you doing here?" Fred demanded. "We might not be as well protected as Hogwarts, but I know that Dumbledore has helped mum and dad place some wards around the Burrow just before Harry got here. You aren't supposed to be able to get past them if you're not invited by someone living on the property. And I know very well none of us invited you, so how did you get here?"

"I know that none of you invited me. But the person who did does live here."

"There is no one else who lives here." George growled. He was ready to curse this kid if he didn't start speaking true fully.

"Wait." Hermione called. She looked as if she was trying to figure something out. Suddenly her face lit up and she got that look she always got when things finally came together. "Harry, remember what Delphine told us about the fact that not all wizards and witches are human." Her friend nodded. "Well, I think he's one of them. Think about it. Just a bit ago he was a tree now he's a human. You're a nymph aren't you?"

Roan looked a bit surprised. He had been surprised when they hadn't seemed to pick up on that there was something different about him. How else do you explain the fact that one minute there is a tree standing in front of you and the next a sixteen year old young man? "Yes, I'm a Nymph a wood nymph to be exact. Well actually a Dryad."

"Wait a minute." Ron sneered. "Hermione, I think you might have actually gotten this one wrong. How can he be a nymph? There all supposed to be women." He had a triumphant look on his face.

"Ron Weasley you big git, if you read your books like your supposed to, then you would know that nymphs can be both male and female. The females are just more common than males, but the males do exist. So did you come here to see another nymph, is that who invited you?"

"Yes. My Uncle just so happens to live on this property. My mother and I moved in around here in about June. He asked if I come visit him this month."

Ron still wasn't buying it. "And who might your uncle be?"

Roan crossed his arms and faced the red head. "He's the large Oak that lives in the middle of your small little forest you have here." He said snidely.

Fred still didn't put his wand away. "Now wait a minute. That tree has been there as long as I can remember. I don't remember it ever moving."

"Yes, well, uncle is a very old Dryad that's pretty set in his ways. He's actually a very distant relative that comes from the old school idea that you don't move around people except for at night."

Hermione, ever the one to take any chance to gather information had her interest picked. "Oh, and what changed that?"

"The 60's." Roan laughed.

"The 60's?" Ginny was confused.

"Oh yeah, Woodstock was a play land for Nymphs and other magical creatures. They could show themselves in the open and most people thought it was a drug endued hallucination. And if they did remember what they saw, it was very credible."

"Oh well, that makes sense." George said with a snicker.

"So now what do we do?" Ginny asked.

Harry closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Well, I think that we should talk to your parents. Roan, would you mind going with us?" It wasn't a demand, but an honest request.

"Harry, do you really think that's such a good idea?" Blue eyes glared into dark green of the mysterious teen.

"Ron" Harry called effectively drawing the attention of his friend. Emeralds bore into sapphires. "Trust me." He said with a smile.

The red head's eyes shot between his best friend and the blond and he gave a resigned sigh. "Alright Harry. I'll trust you." He turned his attention to Roan. "But if he try's anything. I'll be the first to beat the shite out of him."

The raven haired teen smiled and shook his head. Ron would be Ron.