Surprises

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. :(

Author's Note: This is a very looooonnngg and important chapter in the story. (it's even longer then my English essay!) Please take the time to write a review (even if it's really short) because I love feedback. Thank you to everyone who reviewed my previous chapters!

The aroma of a cake baking was in air as the famous Gryffindor trio made their way down to the kitchen of number 4 Grimmauld Place. Before Harry and Hermione had even climbed down the stairs, Ron was already at the door of the house's old but now cozy wizarding kitchen.

"RONALD WEASLY! I clearly told you not to step foot in this kitchen until I called you for dinner!" At the sound of Mrs. Wesley's voice, both Harry and Hermione backed away a few steps from the kitchen door and ran back upstairs. Not to long after, a red faced Ron entered the room and slumped down on the nearest bed.

"Honestly Ron," chided Hermione, "You should have listened to your Mum, you knew you weren't allowed to be in the kitchen."

"Okay Okay, I'm sorry! Harry do you have any candy leftover from your presents?" Ron asked hopefully. Harry grinned and threw his remaining chocolate frog packages at his friends. At Harry's offer of candy Hermione politely refused, but proceeded to watch her friends eagerly open the packages.

"What card did you get Ron?" Harry asked, his mouth full of chocolate, "I got the wizard who invented sneakoscopes." At the mention of chocolate frog cards, Ron fished around in his already open package until he pulled out a card. After the reading the card, Ron's eyes grew big and there was a moment of frantic chewing before he could open his mouth to talk.

"Harry, Hermione Look!" shouted Ron excitedly. Both Harry and Hermione leaned in to see Ron's chocolate frog card. On small pentagonal card was a smiling picture of none other then Fred and George Weasley.

"What? How did they do that?" said Harry, like his two friends, he was confused.

"For goodness sake Ron, read the card out loud!" said Hermione.

"Fred and George Weasley, born April 1st 1978. The Weasley twins, this years winners of the Daily Prophet's annual chocolate frog card contest are Hogwart's infamous Gryffindor pranksters. The twin's most recent claim to fame is their creation of a portable swamp in one of the school corridors, and their stylish departure from Hogwarts before their education was finished. Currently, the twins own a joke shop 'Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes' at 93 Diagon Alley." Read Ron.

"Wow." Breathed Harry, "How in the world did they manage to be printed on a chocolate frog card?"

"Well, it says here, that they won some type of contest." Hermione observed.

"I guess this explains why they've been so smug lately," said Ron who was staring intently at the card. "I just can't believe it, Mum is going to go crazy when she sees this!"

"Hey Ron, maybe they want it to be a surprise." Said Harry lightly.

"You're probably right, do you mind if I keep this Harry?"

"Sure, they are your brothers after all."

"KIDS DINNER!" Mrs. Weasley's carried upstairs.

"Oh finally! I thought I was going to starve!" moaned Ron.

"Harry, remember, you have to act surprised about the party," said Hermione sensibly.

"Don't worry, I don't forget that easily." Harry said.

When Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally entered the kitchen, they were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Tonks, Remus, and Professor Dumbledore.

"Happy Birthday Harry" shouted the party guests. The kitchen was decorated with colourfull banners and sparkling confetti that seemed to hover in the air. After greeting everyone, Harry, who was pleased as well as embarrassed with all of the attention was grateful when Molly Weasley made everyone sit down. Like usual to food was delicious, when the final plates were cleared away, Mr. Weasley said the spell to dim the lights and brought out a birthday cake shaped like a golden snitch. Harry had never had a real birthday cake with candles, so he wanted to remember the moment. After thinking for a few seconds, Harry blew out the candles not remembering the muggle tradition of making a wish.

After the singing of happy birthday had finished, and everyone had their share of cake, Tonks pulled out a brightly wrapped present and gave it to Harry.

"Here Harry, I couldn't owl this to you yesterday, so you can open it now" said Tonks happily.

"Thank you, though you didn't have to get me anything." Harry said truthfully. After struggling for a moment to unwrap the present, Harry finally managed to open the package and pull out a small blue hair brush.

"Thanks Tonks, my hair always needs to be brushed" Everyone laughed, as they knew about Harry's notoriously messy hair.

"Well, I thought you could use it, the brush has all kinds of flatting and straightening charms. Wet your hair before you use it, the store I bought it from claims it will straighten anything for up to 14 hours." Said Tonks with a smile. After thanking Tonks again for the gift, Harry was pulled into the hallway by the Weasley Twins.

"So Harry, what did you think of our gift?" asked Fred, both boys had identical grins on their faces.

"Actually, I haven't opened it yet because…you know I was worried it was something loud that would wake the Dursleys." Said Harry who was blushing slightly. Hearing Harry's words, the twins both burst out laughing.

"This is perfect!" said George

"I agree, we can't possibly pass up this opportunity!" added Fred.

Before Harry realized what was happening, he was being pushed back into the kitchen, and George was announcing in a loud voice that there was one more present to be opened.

"Actually Mr. Weasley, I believe Harry has two more gifts to open." Dumbledore said quietly, his eyes twinkling. Before Harry could reply, Fred and George handed him their gift. 'Someone must have summoned it,' thought Harry before he hesitantly started unwrapping the gift. When the paper was off, Harry looked at the present he had was holding in his hands. Nothing had jumped out at him and there were no explosions, instead Harry was holding the now familiar Chocolate Frog card of the twins incased in glass.

"Harry it's the card!" shouted Ron, "and look they signed it!"

"What? How did you know about the card?" asked Fred.

"We were eating chocolate frogs upstairs, and Ron found a copy of the card in one of the packages." Hermione said with a smile. Until this moment, the adults in the room had been silent.

"Card?" said Mr. Weasley, "what card-"

"Look Mum, Fred and George are on a chocolate frog card!" said Ginny excitedly.

After, the twins explained how they had entered the Daily Prophet's chocolate frog card contest, and won by writing the best 'I think I should be the next person on a chocolate frog card because…' essay. The only time Harry had seen Mrs. Weasley as excited was when Ron was made prefect. When everyone had seen the new card, Fred and George announced that they had wanted Harry to be the first to own a sighed copy of their card as he was the one who had helped them to get their business up and running. After thanking the twins again for their gift, Harry looked expectantly at Professor Dumbledore.

"Okay Harry, you may open your gift." Said Dumbledore warmly. Harry tenderly lifted the small box that he had received earlier that day from his pocket. Carefully, Harry undid the card board flaps and was surprised when he saw that the box contained a golden necklace with a green sparkling stone in the middle.

After staring at the stone for a moment, Harry gingerly picked up the necklace. As soon as the stone touched his skin, it glowed a bright eerie green. Harry thanked the Professor, expecting an answer for the stone's strange behavior. The headmaster, who had a large smile on his face, began to reach into one of his many pockets, and produced two more boxes identical to the one Harry had opened. To everyone's surprise, Professor Dumbledore proceeded to hand the remaining two boxes to Ron and Hermione.

"Thank you Professor," stammered Hermione, she was clearly shocked that she was receiving a gift from the headmaster.

"Yes…um thanks Professor," Ron managed to say.

"Your most welcome," said Dumbledore as he motioned to them to open the boxes. Like Harry had before, Ron and Hermione carefully opened their boxes and each found a necklace.

Ron's necklace had a round blood red stone in the middle of what looked like copper colored metal. When Ron touched the stone, it emitted a thin beam of red light.

The necklace Hermione received was a stunning silver circle with a light blue tear shaped stone set in the middle. Like her friends, when touched her necklace gave off a cobalt blue glow.

"Professor-" began Hermione.

"I'm sure you three have many questions , I will speak with you tomorrow after lunch. In the meantime, you have some homework that must be completed before our meeting." Said Dumbledore. For the second time that night he reached into his robes and produced three identical books and gave one to each member of the Gryffindor trio. "Begin reading these books, and fill out any information that it asks for," Dumbledore said merrily.

After thanking everyone for coming, Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way upstairs for a good nights rest. Little did they know that tomorrow would be full of surprises…

2nd Author's Note: Review! Review! Review:-)