Chapter 2: Birthday at the Burrow

The Weasleys shouted a warm "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" to Harry, and before he knew it, they were shoving presents into his hands. Mrs. Weasley had reached him first, and after a rather squashing hug, she handed him a neatly wrapped package, which, to no one's surprise, contained yet another knitted sweater.

"I know it's July, so you won't be able to wear it for a while, but I knitted it a little larger so you could grow into it," said Mrs. Weasley apologetically.

Harry murmured his thanks after running his eyes over the bright pink sweater. It was covered in a checked-pattern, and each square sported a somewhat lopsided snitch. He was about to open Ron's present when Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, "Harry dear! You didn't see the other part of the present!" she held up a skirt, with a matching pattern.

"But-but—" stuttered poor Harry. "There must be a mist-"

"No! It's a kilt, silly," said George, who had just apparated into the room, trying to keep a straight face. "It'll look great on you Harry, won't it, Fred?"

"Bet it will," he snickered, having just apparated also. "A snoggerific bloke! Blimey!"

Mrs. Weasley interpreted Harry's weak grin as a sign that he was overcome with emotion.

The others gave him his presents; Hermione had given him a set of stationary and new self-correcting quills, the tops of which were edible (with 12 flavors of muggle food!); Ron had given him a little gadget to snap on his broomstick that predicted weather conditions and displayed altitude; Fred and George had given him a large bag of their own joke merchandise; Mr. Weasley had given him a pair of "Mugglific Sunglasses," and finally, Ginny, looking flushed, handed him flat, locket-like box, with a chain. "Don't open it til later," she whispered, pecking him on the cheek.

"I—I—thank you all so much!" said Harry, feeling that this was his best birthday.

"Hagrid also sent you a present… 17 pounds of treacle fudge…" said Mrs. Weasley disapprovingly. "It was in bad shape when it arrived… I'm afraid we fed it to the garden gnomes."

Hmm.. well that explained why there so many dead ones, thought Harry with a grin. He had noticed through the nearest window that there were hordes of garden gnomes sprawled on their backs outside, with their arms and legs in the air.

"Now let's have some cake, eh?" winked Mr. Weasley, patting his stomach. They were about to head to the kitchen when a huge crate shot out of the fireplace, and deposited itself right upon Harry's toes.

"AAAAGH!" Harry screamed.