Happy Valentine's Day! Big smooshy kisses to my beta Romulus Magnus for working his magical spells on my bad spelling and grammar!

Gaul1 brought up an excellent point – why wasn't Dobby executed as a pervert? I don't believe every pervert would have been executed - that would be for serious crimes, and letting your master be killed is the ultimate (right before doing it yourself). Although Dobby betrayed his master's (Malfoy's) wishes, he didn't directly disobey his master. I'm sure Lucius never said to Dobby "Now elf, don't go blabbing to Harry Potter". So I think the elves would be disgusted by Dobby and shun him, but wouldn't bring punishment.

Also, you will find as the story progresses, the elves know of The Chosen One, and all elves serve Harry to some degree, hoping for a better future for the house-elf plight. So Dobby's assistance to Harry helps to overcome the fact he betrayed the Malfoys to some degree.

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Chapter 8

Birthday Surprises

The next morning dawned bright and warm. Harry started the day with a letter to Hermione, which he gave to Winky to deliver.

Dear Hermione,

I hope you aren't too startled to see Winky. It's a long story, but I now care for Dobby and Winky, and two more named Nodding and Blink who were homeless and needed care, and are now the new elves for Snuffle's old place. Kretcher is gone – the elves have a legal system of sorts and found him guilty. They acted before I could stop them, but I'm not sure I would of wanted too. Hope you aren't mad at me.

Please don't be upset with me – Dobby and Winky really wanted to be bound to me. Winky will answer any questions. Dobby will stay at Hogwarts working and keeping an eye on things, if you know what I mean. Winky is my personal companion – she is feeding me and caring for me, and will deliver my messages to those I can trust so I don't have to risk owl mail being read. When you need her to deliver a message, just call her name out loud – she will hear.

I need you to learn occlumency from either her or the goblins – I don't want Dumbledore or Voldemort to be able to read your thoughts.

So how many times have you read the book I gave you? I'm guessing twice already!

Harry

He handed the letter to Winky. "I trust Hermione completely. Her wishes are my wishes, ok Winky? If she wants you to wait to send a reply, that's ok with me. With a grateful nod, Winky popped away and Harry started on two letters to Luna and Neville, which were identical.

Dear Neville,

How is your holiday so far? How are you doing after all that happened? I still feel really bad about everyone getting hurt, and I really want to apologize for rushing into something so dangerous. You are a great fighter and I'm proud to be your friend. I hope you forgive me.

Harry paused in his writing. He wished he could see them in person, to see if they could be added to his 'trustworthy friends' list. But until he could be there to use his goblin magic skills to determine their loyalties, he couldn't risk sending Winky and blowing the cover of his new-found spies.

I was really down at first, but I'm doing my homework now and keeping myself busy and feel much better. I can't wait for the new school year to start.

Harry

He wrote the same letter to Luna, and a quick note to the order to let them know he was fine, and sent them off with Hedwig. The owl was quite offended that he had given his first letter to an elf instead of herself, but after a couple of well-aimed nips, she forgave him and took off to deliver his mail.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

What am I doing in Tom's head? I haven't had pain or nightmares since Griphook's teachings? What is he looking at?

Harry was looking over the now familiar dungeon room through the eyes of Voldemort. He could hear Voldemort's voice and see what he saw, but the sharing of emotions was now gone.

"Crucio" came the high, hissing voice. A young girl, maybe 12 years of age, was bound and held in front of him by two masked Death Eaters. She screamed and jerked, crying and sobbing hysterically. The wizard casually lifted the curse, and Harry was shocked that he could actually hear Tom's thoughts.

Where is Potter? Why haven't I felt him all summer? This should have brought him around. Could he be dead? Or overseas perhaps?

Harry was shocked. Voldemort couldn't feel his presence? The next time the evil wizard's eyes shut, Harry tried to will himself back to his body. But when Tom's eyes were open again, Harry was horrified to see he was still there. Quickly re-enforcing his mental shields, Harry could feel himself panicking. What if he was trapped in Voldemort's mind forever?

"Well, this is going no where" hissed Voldemort angrily. "Avada Kedavra!" and the young girl collapsed lifeless to the dungeon floor.

"Master? Kind master? Please wake up!"

Harry flung himself up, and found himself in his bed in Godric's Suitcase. Sweat was pouring off of him, and he trembled with exhaustion and fear. Lying back down, he was surprised to find his head resting in Winky's lap, who was wiping his brow with her apron, and crooning at him.

Winky handed him his glasses. "Master, are you ok now? Winky found you were having a bad dream and tried to wake you."

He let out a slow sigh of relief. "Thanks, Winky. That was the first vision I've shared with Voldemort since my goblin training. And he couldn't feel me this time. Boy, do I owe Griphook big time for this!" Then Harry recalled the young girl being tortured, then killed by Voldemort, and a tear escaped out of his eye.

"Good Master, why is you crying?" Winky wiped his eyes and stroked his hair.

"Oh Winky" he sobbed, "he was torturing a girl. Just a kid! He was trying to get my attention, but thought he failed. He didn't care about that poor girl at all – I could hear his thoughts! Then he just killed her because he thought he couldn't get to me. Why aren't I strong enough to take him down!"

"The elves will help you, Master." Winky soothed him. "You will be. That you can hear You-Know-Who's thoughts is big weapon against him. Winky teach you elf magic so you can go in or leave his head whenever you want."

Harry sat up. "You can do that?"

"Oh yes – you have the link already. Winky just has to teach you how to use it better. You see – great and kind Master will win. Now lay down, Winky help you fall asleep again – no dreams."

He took off his glasses and laid them on his nightstand. He glanced around the blurry image of his room. His room – Godric's Suitcase was the first place he ever had that was truly his. He felt himself relaxing, despite the horrible sight he had just witnessed. Winky caressed his brow and started singing a lullaby. At first Harry bristled at the thought that maybe Winky thought he was a baby, but then realized just how soothing it was. "I wonder if my mum sang like this to me?" he thought.

"Why is my master still crying?" Winky asked, shaken that perhaps she was bothering him.

"I've never been sang to like that" Harry explained, embarrassed. "It's nice".

"Master never had a lullaby?" Winky gasped. "Master never had comfort as a child? May I see?"

He wasn't sure what she meant, so he nodded. He felt Winky enter his thoughts, swiftly and gently. It wasn't the whisper of Dumbledore or the battering of Snape, or the stealth of Griphook. It was, well, house-elvish. She gently, with an organized touch, quickly skipped over all his childhood up to Hagrid's first visit at age 11. She didn't pry into his thoughts and feelings, just over the Dursley's treatment of him, as if watching a movie. Harry didn't feel violated, or even like he had revealed secrets.

"Poor Master!" Winky now had tears dripping down her own cheeks. "How can you be so good and kind when treated so badly? Winky sing you to sleep, and Winky is here always when you need her."

And the little elf sang her heart out, quietly, softly, lovingly, and Harry drifted off, a gentle child-like smile of hope on his lips.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

It was 11:30, the next night, and Harry was fast asleep in Dudley's second bedroom. He decided to sleep 'upstairs' that night so he could listen for Hedwig or other owls. He was on the verge of wakefulness, with the unconscious impression of hearing giggles and whispering, but not enough to shake him from his heavy slumber.

Midnight came and Harry was woken by loud yells of HAPPY BIRTHDAY and the crash of several large bodies jumping on his bed and body. He flung himself upright in a panic reaching for his wand, which wasn't handy as usual. Grabbing his glasses, he gaped uncomprehendingly around him, still a touch fuzzy-headed. The room was filled with smiling faces – the twins, Lupin, Tonks, and Dumbledore. A quick glance upon donning his glasses, and he could see the portrait of Sirius was gone and the elves were no where in sight.

"Shhhh!" Harry whispered frantically, goggling at the streamers, confetti, and fireworks the twins were setting off in his room, "you must have woken up my relatives!"

But Uncle Vernon the Rhinoceros never came crashing through the door, and the crowd was laughing joyfully. "Nah – no worry" leered Fred at Harry.

"We charmed the room for silence, young Harry" chimed in George.

"And we've come to take you to Headquarters for your birthday" continued Fred,

"And for the rest of the summer"

"If you like" they finished together.

"Wha-wha – sure!" stuttered Harry. But all the time he was making sure his thought's defenses were firmly in place, and wondered where the elves had gone off to with Sirius. So much for training over the summer, he thought to himself, forcing himself not to look disappointed.

With jubilant flair the crowd threw Harry's stuff in his trunk, not realizing it was a new trunk with a hidden secret, Dumbledore charmed his pajamas into clothing. Harry pried up the loose floorboard under his bed and brought out some wrapped up stale food to throw in the trunk – if he didn't have things hidden in his room, Dumbledore could get suspicious.

"Have we got everything?" Tonks grinned at him. Harry nodded and she shrank his trunk to the size of a small box of chocolates and tossed it to him. He winced slightly, knowing that if Winky and Dobby were in there, they were fine and not crushed or even jostled, but it still seemed, well, weird.

Dumbledore charmed a birthday hat into a portkey for Grimmauld Place. Everyone touched it and Harry could feel the familiar jerking sensation behind his navel. He was off.

O0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0o

Harry arrived in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place with the customary stumbling and falling. He noticed the only people who seemed to land gracefully were the aurors and Dumbledore. The rest were staggering and clutching for balance. "I've got to learn that trick," Harry thought to himself.

His friends once more crowded around him with hugs and cheers, and in the room were also Mr. And Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Hermione, and Professor McGonagall. He was delighted to see a large banner saying "Happy Birthday Harry" strung across the room. He also noticed the place looked different – happier, cleaner, less dark, if that made sense. "What happened here?" he asked innocently.

Remus raised an eyebrow and was the first to speak. "Yes, well. It seems the house-elf government or whatever caught wind of Kretcher's treachery, and took matters into their own hands. They have replaced him with Nodding and Blink, a married couple."

With that, the two new elves popped into the kitchen, faced Harry and bowed. "Greetings and Happy Birthday, Mr. Potter" they spoke in unison, acting like they had never met him before.

Harry grinned at them "thanks! The place looks much better already, and I've only seen the kitchen!" The elves looked extremely pleased, and started to serve up a huge birthday cake and pumpkin juice. Harry stared at the cake – frosting and icing letters saying "Happy Birthday Harry" and 16 candles on top.

"Aren't you going to make a wish?" Ron sputtered impatiently, and everyone laughed to hear his stomach growling.

Harry looked blankly at the crowd of well-wishers. "Um… is that what I'm supposed to do?"

Mrs. Weasley burst into her customary motherly tears. "Oh dear – don't tell me you've never had a birthday cake before?" she sobbed.

He blushed furiously. "Sorry… um, this is a first. But it's really cool!"

Hermione smoothly broke in to break up the shock. "Nothing to it, Harry. You close your eyes, make a wish, and then blow out all the candles with one breath. If you do that, your wish is suppose to come true. It's a tradition with both wizards and muggles!"

Harry grinned and closed his eyes. I wish to stop Voldemort and Dumbledore, and live a normal life real soon! He opened his eyes and blew them out.

"I hope that wish had something to do with me" a silky voice purred at his elbow. Glancing over Harry saw Ginny giving him cow eyes. He smiled with embarrassment, and Mrs. Weasley proceeded to smack her daughter in the back of the head.

"Not bloody likely, you little tart" Harry thought to himself. But he gave her an 'ol'-Harry shy grin' and proceeded to cut the cake. Ron glowered at him when he thought he wasn't looking, and Dumbledore wore his usual thoughtful gaze, but everything and everyone seemed as normal as ever.

"Presents now!" Tonks called out cheerfully as she got up to clear the dishes, but Molly and Ginny swiftly stopped her and took over before her legendary clumsiness caused any birthday mishaps. Fred and George brought over a large pile of brightly wrapped gifts and placed them on the table in front of Harry.

"Wow, guys – aren't you sure you'd rather be in bed?" Harry was touched and pleased.

"Nonsense, young Harry" laughed George.

"Can't have you moping around all summer, now can we?" chimed in Fred.

"Open ours first!" They crowed together.

"Um, at a distance or under water?" Harry asked nervously, but proceeded to tear off the paper with abandon.

The twins gave Harry a very large and generous box of Wheezes. There were several skiving snack boxes, canary creams, and the usual. There was also his own extendable ear, which he discretely pocketed before anyone else noticed it.

He also got a large box of Honeydukes sweets from Ron and his parents, a book on advanced transformation from McGonagall, an arm wand-holster from Tonks, and a book on defense from Hermione. Remus gave him framed photo of Sirius and him together taken last Christmas, which brought a tear to his eye.

Ginny then threw her arms around him, causing him to blush furiously again. "Open mine now, Harry!"

"Oooh yes, please!" the twins minced in unison, acting as girly as possible, to everyone's hysterical delight. Ginny punched each boy in the arm and sat in Harry's lap, much to his extreme embarrassment, and handed him a small box. Mrs. Weasley's lips were pinched with disapproval, mirrored closely in McGonagall's face, and he looked at them helplessly.

He opened the box swiftly, trying to figure how to get the girl off his lap without hurting her feelings or making anyone suspicious. Inside was a chain and pendant of a small silver stag. "Prongs" he said softly, and felt a sudden, suspicious surge of love and trust for Ginny. "Thank you" he spoke softly, "it's very nice".

"And very charmed, I'm sure" Harry thought to himself. "I can't wait to check this stuff over for auras". But he allowed Ginny to clasp it around his neck and gave her a brief brotherly hug, which she returned a bit too warmly, and slid off his lap, much to Harry's relief.

"Mine's last, my boy" Dumbledore handed his a large, heavy package, eyes twinkling away.

Harry carefully blocked his mind. Yeah – always last, always the center of attention. He tore the paper off to see a penseive – like Dumbledore's but smaller.

"Wow" Harry spoke at last. "These are really expensive, aren't they professor?"

Dumbledore puffed out his chest a bit, with a cloyingly modest look on his face. "You are worth it, Harry. It will help you organize your thoughts and keep your emotions in check."

"So how does it work? If I siphon off a memory and put it in, will I forget it?" Harry could see some use in that, but it also seemed dangerous.

"No, but memories you choose to store will be softened in your mind – not so 'up front', if that makes sense. You will be able to recall anything you choose, but it can make it less annoying. It also really helps to be able to view memories again – you can see all the details and exact words your memory tends to forget or change over time – the penseive is always accurate. That's why they can be used in court."

"Thank you. Thank you everyone. And thanks for my yearly rescue!" Harry grinned at the crowd. But now that the excitement had died a bit, Harry couldn't help but feel a bit depressed, as he glanced around the room. He noticed the chair Sirius always sat in, spied the cup on the shelf Sirius preferred for his coffee, and recalled snatches of conversations with his godfather held in that room. Although three years had passed with Griphook thanks to the goblin time-bending, he needed to act the part of the freshly grieving god son, and not much of it was an act.

As everyone milled around finishing up a last couple bites of cake, he indulged in a goblin-glimpse into people's minds. He felt a little guilty doing it, and wondered how Snape and Dumbledore felt when they were poking around people's head's uninvited. But his safety was up to him now – Harry needed to find out who he could truly trust.

As Ginny was hovering near, he picked her first. How much longer does 'Uncle Whiskers' expect me to play this prat? How dense can a boy be – I practically threw myself on him. A hug? Just a hug? I really would like to have the benefit of being known as the girlfriend of the 'Boy-Who-Lived', but sheesh – he's such a geek. Oh well, I'll keep playing as long as Dumbledore's paying….

Harry winced although he was trying to keep his spying secret. "I've got to keep my face more neutral!" He looked over at Arthur Weasley and listened in.

Got to have a talk with Ginny – that was not really appropriate. Are they going out perhaps? Harry looked as surprised as we did. Poor boy – first birthday cake? I wonder why Dumbledore wants us to keep such a close eye on him – he seems like a lost kid in desperate need of a childhood – not some threat or whatever.

So Mr. Weasley wasn't really sold on keeping Harry weak? There seemed to be honest affection in his thoughts towards him. He turned to Molly next.

That girl of mine is SO grounded! Poor Harry – if I EVER get to give the Dursley's a piece of my mind! Such a sweet boy….

Molly's mindset seemed to be like her husband's. They had strong loyalty to Dumbledore with just the whisper of questioning and doubt, and strong love for himself. If he was more Slytherin he could exploit that, but for now he will trust them in the minimum sense.

Harry skipped the twins and Hermione, knowing where their loyalties lay. He looked at Tonks and took a peek into her mind, and swiftly backed out, blushing. He knew she was attracted to Moony, but gosh – she was really attracted! He didn't even try to read Remus – no more thoughts like that before bed time!

He took a glance into McGonagall's mind. What is Albus playing at with that pensieve. Perhaps he doesn't realize what it does? I'll ask him later in private……Harry was shocked to see the thought struck from the professor's mind as if erased. He looked around and saw Dumbledore staring at her from across the room. Dumbledore was ease dropping too, and erased her thought. Why was McGonagall suspicious about the pensieve, and why didn't Dumbledore want her to be? He had stayed in there long enough to pick up hints of distrust toward the aging headmaster forming around the edges of her mind – he didn't know if Dumbledore was skilled enough to see it.

He had always been told that the great Albus Dumbledore was the greatest Occlumens and Legilimens of their time. He was gifted and powerful, but it was nothing compared to the subtlety of the goblin's ability. As Harry innocently looked around the room pleased with the party, he didn't pick up any suspicion from the headmaster, but wasn't going to risk trying to see into his mind. He took a breath and looked into Ron. This was going to be painful.

Great big bloody prat. I hate him. How much longer will I have to pretend? I could have cool friends that make me look good, not keep me in the background all the time. Ooooh – I'm such a quiddich star. Oooooh – I kicked You-Know-Who's arse. Ooooh – the girls think I'm soooo cute. I hope You-Know-Who trounces him to teach him a lesson. Just hurts him good – then I hope Dumbledore takes care of You-Know-Who.

Yep – that hurt, Harry decided. He's spying on me and he doesn't even know what for. I don't even know what for he mused. What is the purpose of keeping me weak and clueless? What are Dumbledore's plans?

The party started to dissolve as yawning people wished Harry their final well wishes and stumbled off to the floo or bed. Harry took a large chunk of cake on a plate "midnight snack!" he grinned at Molly, and turned toward the stairs.

"You'll be sleeping with Ron in the same room as last year, dear! Go ahead and unshrink your trunk – you can do magic here and it's not traceable" she called after him, and he nodded back to see Ron giving him a bored look while he chowed down more cake. Harry gave his surrogate mum a heartfelt hug. "Thanks for the cake and everything" he whispered, and headed up.

He entered the room and took his miniaturized trunk out of his pocket. Placing it on the floor at the foot of his bed, he enlarged it and swiftly cast silencing and time slowing charms in the room. He opened the lid and bounded down the stairs into Godric's Suitcase.

"Winky, Dobby?" Harry called. Dobby popped in front of him, and Winky climbed down out of her room above the closet, rubbing her eyes. "Are you guys ok? Were you in my room when Dumbledore apparated in?"

Winky laughed, which sounded so much better than all the sobbing she use to do. "I was in your room, master. When I felt the magic from apparition enter the room, I grabbed Mr. Sirius' portrait and popped into here."

Harry glanced over to the fireplace and saw Sirius, who waved at him. "Whew! We are now at Grimmauld Place. Are you ok from the trip? Were you jostled or anything?"

"You are so kind to ask, master! Winky is fine – inside Godric's Suitcase is in another place – I wasn't affected one bit. And Winky can hear from in here if master has bad dreams – I'll wait in here for your call or needs."

"Another place?" Harry asked, puzzled. "Oh – another dimension!"

"I've nothing new to report, sir" said Dobby. I work in the kitchens, though there isn't much to do in the summer, and I keep my ears open for any news Harry Potter might need".

Harry nodded with approval. "Well, I brought you guys a hunk of my birthday cake! Please enjoy!"

The two elves just stared with open mouths. "Wow – the great Harry Potter shares his birthday cake with lowly house-elves!" Dobby breathed reverently. Harry hoped they'd get over their hero-worship soon.

"Goodnight, my friends! I'll come down as soon as I can get some privacy!" Harry waved, returned to the room and removed all the charms. As he was changing into his pajamas, Ron came in the room and wished him a goodnight, and they finally went to sleep.

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You might have noticed a lack of birthday magical enhancement. You know the type – Harry glows at midnight and wakes up with super powers. I love reading those stories, but this fic will be different. I'm trying to show Harry as not being a super!Harry, but a very loving and trusting boy/man who wins the hearts of many. It's his goodness that brings all manner of beings to train him and help him.