Chapter Five: 'Birthday Surprises'

"How are we getting to the burrow?" Harry asked as Mr Weasley led them down Privet Drive.

"Well, we came by floo, but… I'm not sure how we're doing to get you home…maybe a portkey" he said to himself. Everyone shot fugitive looks at Harry as he crutched a few steps behind the rest of them. Harry tried to ignore the looks. He tried very hard.

Lupin was just behind Harry, his fists still balled in his pockets, his eyes still alight in rage; Harry shot him a quick look as he gave him a small smile. He's the only one who knows what I'm going through Harry realised, he must be missing Seri- a lump formed in his throat and he swallowed it down thickly.

Mr Weasley stopped before number 8 privet drive, Harry looked up at the house in surprise,

"Did Miss Figg let you floo here?" he asked, panting slightly. Harry opened and closed his hands around the crutches grip; he could feel the blisters forming.

"Yes" Auther muttered as he knocked on the door. After a moment Mrs Figg opened the door, she smiled warmly around at the visitors until her eyes reached Harry. She gasped as she stumbled backwards

"Harry! Oh your poor dear!" she said as she rushed forward and embraced him tightly. Harry winced in pain as she clutched his face where the stiches were,

"Is this why Vernon left so early this s'morning?" she demanded, Harry nodded weakly; her hands still tightly his face,

"Um…Mrs Figg? I think your hurting him" Hermione said hesitantly, Mrs Figg immediately let Harry go with a quick

"Sorry dear". She looked around at the group and signalled they come inside.

The house was exactly the same as Harry remembered it. Cats everywhere and a strong smell of cabbage that seemed to have intensified since his last visit. Mrs Figg led them to the lounge where the fire was crackling merrily in the grate. Mr Weasley sat wearily on one of the floral armchairs and rested his head in his hands with a sigh. Harry began to limp over to the coutch when a strong hand clasped his shoulder,

"Harry. Can I have a word?" He heard Remus ask quietly. Harry turned and found himself face to face with his professor and last living...Could you call it relation? His amber eyes were dull and almost lifeless, his face pale and gaunt…like mine Harry thought without humour.

"Sure" Harry said after a moment, Remus smiled ever so slightly and lead Harry gently from the room.

Once in the hall Lupin stopped and Harry leaned against the wall, letting his crutches rest beside him. Remus Lupin looked at his shabby shoes and started to fidget with a patched hole in his jacket.

"I'm sorry," he blurted and Harry frowned in confusion.

"For what?" he asked as he rubbed his hands, he was definitely getting blisters. Remus looked up with frantic eyes

"For what! Look at you Harry! I allowed you to return to those blasted muggles and look how I find you! Your nothing but skin and bones! You look like you haven't eaten anything since you returned from Hogwarts for Pete's sake" Harry saw the last of the Marauders fill with guilt. Lupin sunk to his knees before Harry and Harry suddenly found himself looking down at him, Remus grasped his shoulders gently and Harry was shocked to see tears fill his amber eyes

"I promised him I wouldn't let anything happen to you," he almost whispered. Harry had no doubt how 'him' was, once again Harry felt a lump rise in his throat.

"The Dursley's had nothing to do with this" Harry finally said, Lupin shook his head as he shook Harry's shoulders with every word

"But Harry! Look at your leg! I know you had nothing to do with that!" Gently Harry took Remus's hands from his shoulders

"No, Dudley did that…but I couldn't come to eat…I still can't. I just, Aunt Petunia even told me to eat something but I didn't, I couldn't. I let Dudley take what he wanted. I didn't even try to stop him," Harry said quietly. Remus looked at him in shock

"Why?" he asked in a small voice as his eyes ran from his gaunt face to his boney legs and back again,

"Why?-" Harry was furious at the stinging in his eyes

"He-I-It was my fault" he heard himself gasp as his breath quickened. He closed his eyes tightly despite his swollen one's protest as he held his tears at bay. It was the first time he had admitted it to anyone.

"Harry-" Harry shook his head and silenced Remus in an instant. Once the burning in his eyes had gone he opened them to see Lupin back on his feet,

"It wasn't your fault Harry. It wasn't" he said quietly, thought with a tight stomach Harry saw Lupin wouldn't meet his eye.

"Harry?" He heard Ginny call. Harry turned at the sound and left the hallway and the unmoving figure of Lupin.

Back in the lounge Harry limped over to the coutch and collapsed on it. He propped his crutches next to him and looked at his red hands. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat beside him.

"Are you going to tell us what happened?" Ginny asked, Harry continued to look at his soar hands

"No" he said as he flexed and un-flexed them.

"Ever?" Hermione persisted

"No-Maybe" Harry said as he raised his head

"Please mate…we want to know who did this to you…or whatever" Ron said as he blushed slightly

"In whatever you mean me doing this to myself" Harry said wearily,

"Yeah…did you do this to yourself?" he asked un-comfortably

"No" Harry answered flatly

"Though I guess I did start it," he thought aloud,

"Start what?" Ginny asked eagerly. Harry sniggered humourlessly

"Nothing" he said, Ginny 'humphed' and crossed her arms

"Oh Come'on! You can't say that and not tell us!" Ginny insisted

"Ginny, leave him alone" Mr Weasley said without lifting his head. Ginny turned to her father guiltily. Remus took that moment to re-enter the room. He looked around at Harry with his friends all sitting around him and Auther looking defeated in his floral chair.

"I can't believe he did that! And I tried to help him when he got that tongue!" Auther began to mutter angrily. Harry stiffened. Will Ron figure it out? He was there after all…Harry looked over to Ron, Ron looked from him to his father a few times until he stopped, eyes wide.

"You mean…he…did he do this to you?" Harry hesitated before he nodded slowly. Ron's eyes burned with anger

"Why would he do that?" he asked, Harry smiled half heartedly

"Welllll… I did sort of jump him…but he started it" Harry finished childishly. Auther turned to Harry

"Did you now?" he asked raising a brow, Harry hung his head

"He started it," he repeated stubbornly.

Hermione rolled her eyes

"Who?" Ginny asked excitedly,

"Who'd you jump Harry? Did you hit him? Who's him?" She asked quickly

"Shut up fro a moment Gin" Ron said giving her a hard glare,

"Dudley? Are you talking about that lump of a boy?" Mrs Figg asked, Harry hung his head, Ginny looked from Harry's defeated form to Mrs Figg's face

"What? Fat stuff? Pig in a wig-"

"Stop while your ahead Gin" Ron advised, Hermione put a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. For a moment Harry was tempted to shrug it off but thought better of it. She's only trying to help.

"What happened? What did Dudley do?" Hermione asked concern edging her casual question. Harry felt his jaw tighten before he repeated, she's only trying to help, she's only trying to help, she's only trying to help. Harry looked up at them as he forced a smile

"He threw me down the stairs" he said, seeing there shocked expressions Harry added in an attempt to humour them

"Can't blame him though, can't say I'd weigh much at the moment". Everyone was silent.

"Oh, that would explain the dent in the wall…ouch" Ginny said causing everyone to smile…Harry was glade no one noticed his was once again forced…that would explain why my head is throbbing.

"Enough of that. How are we getting to the Burrow? I can just taste Molly's cooking" Camron said with enthusiasm. Auther smiled broadly

"Ron, Hermione, Ginny, You can floo home, I'll-"

"I'll Apperate with Harry Auther" Remus said from his position in the corner of the room. Auther hesitated from a moment before he nodded,

"Okay Remus, well? Off you go Ron" Mr Weasley said as he shooed Ron towards the fireplace. "Thankyou for the use of your Fire place Mrs Figg" Auther said as he turned, Mrs Figg waved the thanks away saying

"It was nothing Auther, it's good to see Harry away from the Dursley's". After a moment everyone apart from Harry and Lupin had left. Agribella looked between the two and left the room.

"Harry?" Lupin said as he looked at him intently.

"Umm…yes?"

"You have to be careful," he said and, once again Harry frowned,

"I didn't exactly asked for this to happen" Harry couldn't help but snap as he indicated his plastered leg, Remus shook his head

"I wasn't talking about that. You could have been attacked in that muggle hospital! You were undefended and at you're weakest! What would have happened if Voldemort chose then to attack you?" Remus said, not once had he raised his voice but that just made it worse. Harry's jaw dropped

"There. Was. Nothing. I. Could. Do!" he said through gritted teeth. It was all too unfair. I thought you of all people wouldn't be scolding me! He wanted to yell. Remus looked like he was going to say more but stopped himself… a smart choice Harry couldn't help but think as his knuckles went white around his crutches.

"Hold onto my arm tightly Harry, I'm going to apperate us to the Burrow" He said without looking at him after an awkward moment of silence. Harry did so without a word, holding both his crutches in his other hand. Mrs Figg reappeared and smiled at them both,

"It's good to see you Harry, though considering…I hope you mend fast" she said and Harry forced yet another smile.

And suddenly Mrs Figg was left alone in her lounge.

"Bless him," she said as she knelt down to pat a passing cat,

"Always getting into some sort of trouble aren't they Mr Patch? Teenagers…what will we do with them?"

After a moment Harry appeared in the Burrow's front yard, extremely dizzy and nauseas. Remus looked at Harry's slightly green face and laughed

"Your first Appereation can do that"

Harry shook his head to clear it and gripped the crutches more tightly. Realising he was still clinging to Lupins arm he jumped away, almost over balancing in the process. Looking at everything my Remus Harry began to crutch over to the Burrow's dark windows. The burrow. The house was still tall and crooked and still held up by magic. The lawns were lush and green and silhouetted against the setting sun he could see a gnome running across the garden with a ginger fluff ball chasing madly after it. A smile tugged at his lifeless lips, he was glade to be back.

He limped slowly up the path towards the front door, Remus was a step behind him looking nervous and kept giving Harry side glances. He reached the door and tried to open it…and once again failed. Remus quickly stepped forward and opened it from him after giving Harry another nervous glance. Harry looked into the dark room, the gloom smothering all shapes. He limped inside; fingers inching for his wand as he called

"Hello?"

"SURPRISE!" Many voices coursed as the lights were magically restored. Harry looked around the room in Horror. All of his friends were there, even some of his teachers! Professor Mcgongal was staring at him with wide eyes. Seamuse Finnegan jaw agape, the famous twinkle in Professor Dumbledore's eyes was gone and Lavender Brown shrieked. Harry took one glance around the room before he turned tail and limped as quickly as he could back into the darkening garden away from the silent room.

Dean Thomas elbowed Seamese in the ribs saying

"So much for giving him the surprise"

Harry crutched quickly away from the Burrow. He headed straight for the near wild garden where he hoped he could hide. That did not just happen he thought frantically as he lent against a tree. Harry closed his eyes against the memory of all his friends' faces…and his Professors but the darkness only caused the imagers to focus cruelly. The looks on there faces as they saw him…Oh why did this happen! Why now! My birthday's not even today! Why couldn't they wait till tomorrow? I could have been to St Mungos and back by then! He thought as he slid down the tree. Hr put his head in his hands, if he hadn't already cried all his tears for Sirius…
Auther watched from the corner of the room as Remus sidestepped Harry on his way towards the gardens. Poor boy he thought as he walked further into the would be party. Everyone was looking at the door with mixed expressions, some with Pity, others horror, anger or concern.

"What happened to Harry?" Neville asked from the crowd of people

"It's his story to tell if he even wants too' Camron answered, everyone turned to Camron in turn

"Who are you? Another Weasley?" Someone asked, Camron laughed

"Yes, I'm another Weasley, I'm Auther's younger brother…or one of them" he said, he looked around at all the unfamiliar faces

"Harry will be fine, he just need's some time alone, I think, anyway! Molly's gone to all the trouble to make all this food so lets tuck in!"

Molly stood in the doorway to the kitchen and shook her head, Harry didn't want to be left alone, and he had just lost his Godfather and now was faced with utter embarrassment in front of all of his friends. What the boy needed was a shoulder to cry on. Her shoulder. Molly silently left the room thinking, Harry definitely dose not want to be left alone, if anything he must feel abandoned.

Molly looked around the garden; she saw the corner of a crutch sticking out from behind a tree at the very bottom on the garden and headed towards it. As she approached she heard slow deep breathing, she looked around the tree trunk and saw Harry sitting awkwardly at its bottom, his cast sticking out straight in front of him, his head in his hands.

"Harry?" she asked quietly, Harry's head snapped up and he gave her a fugitive look to Molly, his eyes seemed dead and emotionless, one eye was slightly shut due to the bruises and swelling around it, his cheek was a mess of little black stitches and his face was pale in the darkness and gaunt. His hair, lank and greasy fell limply around his thin face. Molly felt a huge eagre to hug and reassure the boy before her but resisted. He wasn't used to those kind of this she reminded herself, he'd never had a mother figure that had cared for him and comforted him when needed.

"Can I sit down?" she asked, Harry lowered his gaze and shrugged his boney shoulders,

"It's your yard," he mumbled. Molly sat beside him and realised just how thin he really was. She was sure that if he was any thinner she could of wrapped her hands around his small waist. A surge off anger coursed through her blood, who could let a child sink to this? The boy before her was staving himself surely! He looked like he didn't care if he lived or died, he looked like he was waiting for something to jump up and consume him!

"Are you alright?" she asked once she had mastered her emotions, Harry shrugged again.

Molly got out her wand and touched Harry's cheek gently with the tip of it, all the stitches seemed to come alive and undo their knots before falling limply to the ground. She pointed her wand once again at his cheek and all the small, deep cuts on his cheek healed themselves without leaving a blemish. Harry brought his hand to his cheek and smiled weakly

"Thanks" he said as he turned to her

"Now that eye of yours" she said as she pointed her wand at his eye, which immediately returned to normal, Harry blinked several times,

"Thanks" he repeated. Molly looked at his glasses and rolled her eyes

"I bet you do that a lot," she said before she swished her wand as she intoned lazily

"Oculus repiro". Instantly the shattered plan of glass reformed before Harry's eyes. Harry opened his mouth to speak but Molly interrupted

"Thanks, I know," she said with a warm smile.

Harry returned his gaze to his feet, and Molly put a hand on his shoulder

"You know you're like a son to me don't you?" she asked, Harry's face looked slowly to hers with mingled expressions, was that hope?…or despair?

"Come on dear, I'll get you back to the Burrow, I believe you don't want to run into any of your friends?" Harry nodded quickly. Mrs weasley helped him to his feet and lead him to the kitchen entrance, Harry stopped before the door,

"No one's in there dear, there all in the lounge" Molly reassured. Harry gave another weak smile before he entered the room. The kitchen was warm and welcoming, filled wit the smell of freshly baked bread.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, Harry shook his head

"Ummm…could I just go to sleep? Or something?" He asked meekly.

"Of course dear: Molly said as she escorted him up the stairs to Ron's room where a bed had been made up for him.

"Will you be okay up here?" She asked, Harry nodded again as he sat down on his bed

"Thankyou Mrs Weasley" Harry said in a dead tone as she left the room.

Ron and Hermione stood on the outskirts of the crowded lounge. Everyone in the room wore board or sad expressions; the person they had all come to see was hiding.

"Can't blame him," Ron said after a moment, Hermione rolled her eyes

"Are you going to explain what you mean by that?" she asked,

"I can't blame him for hiding, I mean he's suppose to be …you know a hero or something" Ron explained

"Lets go and look for him, make sure he's okay" Hermione suggested

"Sure, let me just get a jumper first, it's raining out there" Ron said as he nodded towards the window now being splattered with heavy rain.

Harry looked up at the roof, the sound of rain reverberated around him. He closed his eyes against the constant hum. My stupid luck he thought, but it was luck that had saved him countless times: as a defenceless infant, as an eleven-year-old first year, in the chamber of secrets, as he was being attacked by dememtors, and in the Tri Wizard Torminat …luck…His leg throbbed particularly sharply and his breath came out as a hiss, yeah luck, he thought darkly. Where was my luck in the Ministry that night?

He lay back on the small bed and stared obliviously at the low ceiling, he couldn't wait to go back to Hogwarts, where he could loose himself in the crowded halls, bow his head and go un-noticed… well almost. But he had a better chance than at the Burrow. He sighed and closed his eyes; at least here I'm not treated like vermin…He thought as he drifted off to sleep. Stupid Dursley's…

Ron and Hermione trudged up the stairs towards Ron's room. As he got there Ron saw that the door was shut…hadn't he left it open? He opened the door silently and looked inside. Ron sniggered

"Hey Hermione, look at this" he whispered, Hermione did as he asked and smiled. Harry lay on a camp bed sound asleep; his crutches lay forgotten on the floor beside him. His newly repaired glasses were hanging off his face and his lack of a black eye was clear.

"Mum must of fixed him" Ron whispered and Hermione nodded. She crept deeper into the room and shook a folded blanket open before draping it gently over Harry's sleeping form. She returned to Ron's side who whispered

"You'll make a good mum one day, come on, let's let him sleep" The two friends left the room silently, returning to the 'party' below.

Harry woke early the next morning; he looked around the sun filled room for a few confused moments before he remembered where he was. He sat up and yawned, Ron was still snoring quietly from his own bed. Harry smiled silently to himself. Happy birthday to me he thought. By habit he looked at his no longer working watch that he still wore. Even though it hadn't worked since the 2nd task in his 4th year. Harry looked up sharply as something tapped against Ron's window. A small black owl stood on the window sill, a letter clasped in its beak. Harry collected his crutches and hobbled over to the window and opened it. In a flurry of black feathers the owl entered the room and perched on Harry's bed. Harry went to it and took the letter from its beak, with a doleful hoot the owl returned to the sky and flew out of sight.

Harry sat on his little bed and looked at the grubby un-marked envelope. With a shrug he opened it and fished inside. An old piece of parchment, folded many times was the only thing he found. Curious Harry carefully unfolded the ancient paper, he read the first word and gaped. He took off his glasses, cleaned them frantically before he re-read the first word. It was still the same: son.

YEAH! THAT'S RIGHT! CHAPTER FIVE IS DONE! dances around sorry all for the cliffy…but couldn't be helped. laughs evilly well, next chapter is 'the letter' Dum dum DUUUUMMMM. Find out what's inside…Please review, and try and guess what the letter says, I'll read all your reviews (gives puppy dog eyes) if you give me any and err…yeah. Thankyou

Mali Caren