Chapter Thirty!
A Birthday
A.N. IMPORTANT READ: when the words are italicized it is a flashback and when it is regular print it is the present. Thanks and enjoy.
Last Chapter:
James walked out onto the grounds and down to the gates, somebody's birthday was in a few days and he was going to make sure that he got something that might make up some of the large debt that he and lily owed him. With that James apparated to London, fully set on knowing what he was about to do…
James walked down the street were the visitors entrance was. He saw standing next to the telephone booth, his accomplice for today's mission waiting patiently for him occasionally popping a lemon drop into his mouth. Albus Dumbledore. He hurried his steps eager to get the deed done.
"Albus" he said trying out his old headmasters first name, he was right it did sound weird.
"James, are you ready?" Dumbledore said a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. Today would be a good day…hopefully.
"As I'll ever be" he replied before stepping into the booth after Dumbledore.
He waited as Dumbledore dialed the number: 62442
They did not need to wait long for the lady on the other end to say in a monotone droning voice, "welcome to the ministry of magic please state your name and business"
"Albus Dumbledore here to speak with the minister of urgent business," Dumbledore said, conveniently not saying James' name.
It was agreed that once they reached the atrium, Dumbledore would disillusion James before they entered. After all it would look quite strange to have a presumed dead man back among the living in such a public place as the ministry.
"See the ministers secretary on the fifth floor, the ministry wishes you a pleasant day," the lady grumbled.
James took a deep breath, this was it.
The unknowing birthday boy walked down the stairs following his friends. Mrs. Weasley had called for dinner five minutes ago and he was eager to eat it.
He had been wondering if something was wrong or something as everyone kept casting secretive looks at each other, but they were not as secretive as they thought. As he had spotted several of their secret looks. What had happened was it another attack, why were they being so guarded, and odd?
Just as planned Albus had cast James under the Disillusionment Charm and they both entered the ministry, one hidden from view.
James looked around in slight awe it was so… different. Back in his days at the ministry nothing was this extravagant they were deep in war and the time for shimmering lights and statues of famous wizards was not important, peoples lives were. But they were still in war what were with all the UN needed things, it must be that prat of a ministers doing. After all it seems to him that image is everything. Git.
He looked to the middle of the atrium to see about three or four wizards working on what looked to be a new fountain. Why do they need a new fountain? Then he remembered, 'Harry fought here just earlier this summer of course how I could be so stupid.'
"James" Dumbledore whispered to him. "We need to be moving along"
"Right" he whispered back.
They headed towards the crowded elevator, and the pit of nerves in James' stomach grew in size.
He looked up to see many little paper airplanes hovering above their heads. 'Those are amusing' he thought.
"Level seven," The ladies cool tone called out to the members of the elevator, as the grates separated and several wizards and witches along with airplanes moved in and out of the elevator.
This continued again when they reach level six, and the little airplanes that used to be amusing had grown to be annoying to James as they got closer and closer to their destination.
"Level Five" the lady spoke her voice becoming increasingly irritating.
"That's us James" Dumbledore called out. Others in the elevator looked around in confusement as Dumbledore talked to nobody. But then again this was Dumbledore.
James gulped, and followed Albus out of the lift and up to the minister's secretary's desk.
"Ahem," Dumbledore said gaining the attention of the plump witch behind the desk.
She looked up and immediately sat with attention as she saw that it was Albus Dumbledore that stood before her, "what can I do for you sir"
"I am here to discuss urgent business with Mr. Fudge" Dumbledore said politely.
"The minister is not expecting you"
"I am aware of this but it really is quite important"
"Very well, I expect you know where his office is"
"Thank you miss" Dumbledore smiled, before heading off to fudge's office with James following obediently.
The unknowing birthday boy followed his friends through the hallway and down to the kitchen. They once again glanced at each other before opening the door and stepping through. He followed them, a curious expression on his face. When he entered the kitchen he saw that it was to dark even for Grimmauld place, "what the hell?" he spoke out.
Just then the place practically lit up, with the amount of fireworks and lights going on. Tens of tens of Bangs! Booms! Pops! Whizzes and Fizzes! Cracks! Zips! Crashes! Bashes! Hammers! Roars! And Rumbles! Uttered at once along with a chorus of "Happy Birthday"
He stared at all the faces in the crowd; the whole order was there excluding Snape, along with the marauders, the potters, the Weasley's. He grinned at them all, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Never had he been so grateful. 'It has been far too long' he thought, before he dove into his birthday party, ready to have the time of his life.
Dumbledore halted at an extremely plain brown door, written on it were the words, MINISTER OF MAGIC; Cornelius Fudge
James took yet another deep breath he was more then ready to do this, ready to return to world. He had asked the permission of his family earlier to do just this and they had agreed wholeheartedly to it.
Dumbledore knocked a few times, and waited for a sign of allowed entry.
"Come in" came the stale voice of the minister.
Dumbledore did not hesitate but barged right in, James quickly followed in his step.
Fudge looked up startled at the abrupt entrance of Albus Dumbledore, " Albus what are you doing here, we do not have any meeting planned, you will have to come back later, the minister spoke in a rush.
"I am afraid that I can not do that. This is a matter of urgency and timing is of importance so if you will let me proceed" Dumbledore said in an overly polite tone.
The annoyance showed on fudge's face all too knowingly, but Dumbledore did not let it affect him.
"Very well, though does hurry up I have matters that need to be attended to."
'Like primping your hair?' James thought sarcastically.
"I need to discuss a matter involving Harry Potter and… others" Dumbledore said carefully.
"What has the potter brat done this time" Fudge said his annoyance growing with each word that Dumbledore spoke.
James had to physically restrain himself from causing the insufferable twit bodily harm, but he could not stop the glare that spread across his face.
Dumbledore also glared, "Cornelius is that anyway to treat a boy that has saved so many lives in this world that is more than you have managed now isn't it?" He spoke again with that overly polite tone but his harsh words stood out clearly.
James near enough laughed out loud at the look on the ministers face, it looked as though he was about to speak but then realized it was truth and started squirming in his chair, anger and embarrassment written all over his face.
"Go on then Albus continue" Fudge murmured.
"Well as I was saying this matter involves Harry Potter and others the others being the point of this discussion. You see recently it came to our discovery that James and Lily Potter are both alive and well, and that they in fact have two more children"
At this fudge out right laughed a high pitched laugh, "you are completely mad Albus, they are dead they have been dead for fifteen years"
'Not this denial crap again, bloody hell when will someone just accept this' James thought to himself.
"now Cornelius keep an open mind, cause I can assure you that it is the truth" Dumbledore said his patience was wearing thin with minister, and they needed to hurry this along they only had so much time.
"Oh please do, I feel this will be enlightening" Fudge said sarcastically.
James nerve with the old git was on its last straw one more derogatory comment about him and his family and well put it this way- the man could dig his own grave.
"Very well then, James if you would please show yourself" Dumbledore said.
James did as was asked and took off the charm, and watched amused as the minister looked shocked to see him, that shock then grew to embarrassment and fear as he cowered under James' glare.
Presents, presents, millions of presents lay before him, and he was all too ready to open every single one of them.
"Open ours first" the twins called from the gathered crowd.
He obliged and peeled back the rainbow colored wrapping paper, and was quite pleased to find a basket full of prank items, how he would love to get lily and James with these not to mention Remus.
He grinned mischievously at the crowd who all took a small step back afraid that any second they would be a victim.
He moved on to Hermione's and Ron's present, ripping apart the wrapping he pulled out a large supply of sweets, all his favorites mind you.
"Ron picked it out" Hermione exclaimed.
"I had to or you would have ended up with a book" Ron said.
He smiled up to them; he would take candy over reading any day.
"Awe thanks guys" he said, truly meaning it.
Three hours, and three drops of veritaserum later, everything was set. Fudge now knew the truth and had gone straight to the press in order to tell them what was going on. Tomorrow would be up in arms.
James was quite pleased with himself and quite frankly could not wait until tomorrow when he could finally present his gift, he just had one stop to make before he returned to headquarters, Zonko's.
He moved onto the next gift and the next gift after that. Each one made him laugh and look around in delight. He could not remember the last time he had a party so extravagant, he did not even remember his birthday was today even. It had been to long…
Harry and Ginny's gift was next and he looked at the two wondering what they had gotten him; it had to be good seeing they were anxious to see what he thought.
He tore back the wrapping and pulled out a thick leather book. Taped on the front was a note.
For new memories of new times
Harry and Ginny
He looked through it to see that it was a picture album. He looked up and grabbed them in a hug that was a spectacular gift and was really exceptional to him. He would always cherish memories from the past and now of the future.
He ripped off papers of a couple of more gifts before there was only one left.
He looked at the front to see a card attached along with a pack of dung bombs.
He took the letter off the package, opened it and read to himself,
Dear Padfoot,
I know how much you liked these back in the day. So it is time that the old ways were brought back just like the group has been. I just want to thank you again fro everything you have done for Harry and everything else. Hopefully this gift will cover somewhat of the dept we owe you,
Love James, Lily, Isabelle, Brandon, and Harry.
The letter was meaningful enough to Sirius but he moved on to the gift. He took the dung bombs off the wrapping paper and placed them next to him. Then he proceeded to shred the paper off his present.
What looked to be a newspaper fell into his lap, curious as to what this was all about he unfolded it reading,
SIRIUS BLACK INNOCENT POTTERS ALIVE!
A.N. so did you like it. I liked writing this chapter, even though there was not much of anybody other than Sirius and James in it I still liked to write it. Once again tell me what you liked, disliked, positive comments or constructive criticism and feedback. I love to hear what you guys have to say and last chapter's comments have really helped me out so if you could do so again I would love you for it and some long reviews would be nice if you would not mind.
: quotes taken from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling not petroleumjellydotone. Consider that your disclaimer.
I had to laugh when every single reviewer that guessed Harry when it was mentioned that his birthday was back in the fifth chapter but it was cool to see I fooled so many but anyways
I am not going to edit this chapter so please refrain from making grammar and editing comments I just really want to get it out as I promised it would be out this weekend.
Cheers
Petroleumjellydotone.
Review:)
