Chapter 6: Hermione's Birthday

Saturday arrived and everything was going as planned. The weather was good for an afternoon fly, Hermione suspected nothing, and the gift Ginny had ordered had arrived by Eagle Owl that morning at breakfast to Parvati Patil (who pocketed it with a wink, and took it upstairs to the common room). After breakfast, everyone headed up to Gryffindor Tower to finish up any remaining homework, seeing as it was Hermione's birthday, and they knew it would make her happy. Other than that, they had the added bonus of having all night and all day Sunday to party for their best friend's birthday.

Harry carefully rolled up his Transfiguration essay, and put it into his bag. Checking his watch, he saw it was nearly time for lunch, and he was famished. Clearly, by the way Ron's stomach was growling he wasn't the only one. With a smile and a nod from Hermione as she rolled up her parchment (she didn't even comment that it was at least 6 inches longer than Professor McGonagall had asked for), they all rose and headed for lunch. A reassuring grin from Neville, Parvati and Lavender showed that everything was right on schedule as far as the party was concerned. Dean Thomas winked at Ginny- they had been drawing some banners in secret together over the past week to post in the common room. Although Harry didn't know what they were all going to say, he did know that Ron had suggested "Hermione for Hogwarts Head Girl!" for one of them.

A hasty lunch, and Ron finally succeeded in dragging his girlfriend outside, onto the Quidditch pitch, and next to a broom. Seeing everyone laughing and having such a good time was refreshing- Harry didn't know how much longer they would have like this together, with only one year left at school. A few loop-the-loops and Harry was feeling right at home on his Firebolt. A snitch that had been retrieved from the broom shed raced around the pitch, Harry and Ginny close on its wings. There was only one thing amiss, and that was Hermione seemed to be having the least fun out of everyone.

Harry beckoned Ron to the ground, and after a few hushed words, they called Hermione over. Slowly, she lowered her broom and stepped off it, looking thankful that her feet were firmly on the ground.

"Having fun, 'Mione?" Harry asked pleasantly.

"Oh yes!" she smiled, and Harry was sure it looked genuine. "I'm just not much of a flyer, I'll admit. It's all right, I suppose, but being on a broom just feels a little scary. There's just so little to hold onto!"

Harry and Ron grinned at one another- this is what they had hoped she would say.

"Here," Harry offered, "let me put this away for you. Of course you don't feel just right on a rickety old school broom. You need something better. Try taking my Firebolt out for a spin."

Hermione's jaw dropped.

"No way Harry! You LOVE that broom! And you've only just got it back, and… and—Harry, that's a RACING broom. There's no way I could control it!"

Ron grinned, "That's where I come in, 'Mione. I'm coming, too. We can ride on it together, and then you'll have lots to hold onto."

"Really? You're sure it's safe?"

"Definitely!" Harry broke in, pressing the broom into her hands. "Besides, Ron knows what will happen to him if he hurts you- OR my broom!"

"Pounded into a pulp!" Ron supplied, illustrating by slamming one fist into his other hand. "I promise I'll only go as high and as fast as you want, Hermione."

Hermione bit her lip, but Harry could see the excitement behind her eyes.

"All right. But not too high, Ron!"

Harry grinned as his two best friends rode off together, Hermione's hands grasped firmly to the broom, and Ron's even more firmly around her waist as they headed off into the sunset. Calling everybody else down, they headed their way up to Gryffindor common room to help finish setting up. Ron knew to fly Hermione through the tower window on Harry's signal- a box of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes finest firworks- being set off from the astronomy tower. He had gotten special permission from the Headmaster to set them off from there, and he knew Hermione would love it.

Ron's broom in hand, Harry headed towards the kitchens while the rest of his friends traipsed to the seventh floor. He had notified Dobby of Hermione's party the first week of term, to make sure the elf would have enough time to make snacks, since they had all planned on missing dinner that evening. He had also let McGonagall know, that way she wouldn't be worried, and she had agreed as long as he promised to have the party stopped by eleven o'clock.

"I don't want any more riots following after the Weasley twins, Potter. I don't think my heart can take it."

But he was sure that there was the slightest smile behind her stern words, and so he promised that he would even make sure that all first through third years were in bed by that time, too. As he thanked her and prepared to leave her office, she called out for him to wait for a minute.

"Here, Potter. I think Miss Granger might appreciate this. Let her know she can give it back when she's done- it's from my personal library."

It was a book on Animagi, and training techniques to become one. Harry smiled once more, and could have sworn he saw the Professor wink at him.

"Oh, and Potter?"

"Yes Professor?"

"As long as I don't hear you, Potter, I don't know you're up. Are we clear?"

Harry grinned, "Crystal clear, Ma'am."

Upon opening the kitchen door, Harry was greeted by a storm of elves, with Dobby as the ringleader.

"Oh, Harry Potter, sir! Dobby is so pleased you is here! Now we elves can bring Miss Grangey her food, sir!"

Harry's heart nearly stopped when he saw what the elves had prepared for them. There was even a card thanking Hermione for letting them 'cater' her birthday party. Harry knew she would appreciate that the most- she still didn't like the thought of 'over-worked' house elves.

Back in the common room, everything was just about ready. Hermione's first year partner, Maddelein Roseworth had even sent a small gift with her friend, Emmeline Bartleby, being too shy to deliver it herself. Ginny bounded over and kissed Harry on the cheek.

"Everything's ready, Harry! Are you going to set off the fireworks soon?"

Harry grinned, "Yup. Aren't you coming with me?"

"All the way to the astronomy tower? But Harry, I want to see her reaction!"

Harry smiled, and kissed her forehead. "You think I want to miss it? I've still got Ron's broom, see?" He held it up. "I'm going to fly up there, set them off, and then come back through the window. We should be back long before Ron and Hermione are. I'm sure she'll want to watch for awhile."

Ginny grinned. "Oh, Harry! You really do think of everything, don't you?"

Harry shook his head. "No, Gin. WE think of everything. All of us together, and there's nothing we can't do."

Turning to the whole of Gryffindor Tower, Harry yelled, "Are we ready?"

A check was made all around the room- presents, food, banners, and most importantly, friends. Colin Creevey unlatched the window, and Harry and Ginny flew out of it towards the astronomy tower. A whispered incantation, and they could see the fuse begin to diminish towards the Blaze Box. Sending Ron's broom into a steep dive, and earning a shriek of joy from Ginny, Harry sped off back to Gryffindor tower, hearing the first cracker explode behind him. Back through the window, a quick nip up to the sixth year boy's dormitory to put Ron's broom away, and he was back next to Ginny before she had even noticed he had gone.

While the fireworks went underway, so did the party. People began eating, drinking and dancing while still looking towards the window from time to time for any sign of the guest of honor. Ten minutes after the last cracker drifted by the window, there was a squeak from a second year- 'they're coming, they're coming!'- and everyone turned to wait. Ron was now on the front of the broom, with Hermione pink-cheeked and smiling behind him. Through the window they flew, and the broom waited at waist height for Ron to dismount and then help Hermione down. She seemed completely oblivious to what was waiting for her beyond the window seat.

"Um, 'Mione?"

"Yes, Ron?"

"Look."

Hermione turned, and as one, the whole of Gryffindor tower shouted "SURPRISE!" Now that Hermione was here, the party got back in full swing, people hugging her, and wishing her a happy birthday all around the room. When she was finally able to make her way over to where Ron, Ginny and Harry were standing, she had tears in her eyes.

"Did you do this?" she squeaked.

Harry nodded. "All of us did- Neville organized people to help decorate the common room with Parvati. Dean and Ginny drew the banners. Everyone helped."

Hermione burst into tears, and threw herself into Harry's arms, sobbing.

"You guys are the best friends a girl could ask for!"

Ron and Ginny joined in the hug, and then they finally convinced Hermione to go and join the party with the rest of them. It seemed just like a regular party, but to Harry it seemed just a little more special. It wasn't for Quidditch, and it wasn't for the Cup. It was for his best friend. And she deserved the best party of all.

Pulling away, she admonished, "And whose idea was it for the 'Hermione for Head Girl' banner? And what about the 'Granger's Got it All' one? Honestly!"

Ron grinned. "The Head Girl one was me, 'Mione."

"And what's wrong with the 'Granger's Got it All' banner?" asked Ginny, pretending to be offended. "I made that one up, and Dean drew it."

Hermione giggled. "Well, that explains it then."

"Explains what?" asked Harry, reaching for a butter beer.

"Why I'm drawn the way I am. All those books- I don't even TAKE Muggle Studies any more, and half of those subjects don't even exist at Hogwarts. You'd have to be top circle at the Ministry's Think Tank to get your hands on books like those!"

"Oh, come on, 'Mione!" cried Ginny, exasperated, missing the smirk behind her best friend's rant.

"And besides… My boobs certainly are NOT that big!"

Harry and Ginny doubled over in fits of laughter, while Ron looked like he was debating between laughing and killing Dean Thomas. Fortunately, he chose laughter.

Music wafted around the room, and everyone danced- even the birthday girl. Parvati and Lavender had conjured a crown for her to wear, and Ginny enchanted it to sparkle in the lighting. As eleven o'clock came closer, Harry found they didn't have a hard time sending the first through third years to bed- most of them had gone already. Many of the fourth years headed up as well, and soon there was only a decent sized group milling around. Ron pulled Hermione to the corner, and she began to open her presents- birthday tiara still shimmering in the night.

First was a brightly wrapped parcel from Ginny- the one that had been delivered to Parvati that very morning- a brand new book titled Apparation: At Its Easiest. Hermione grinned and hugged it to her chest. Harry laughed at the thought of her reading it by wandlight under her comforter after she went to bed that evening. Second was a small gift card from all the Gryffindor sixth year girls- containing a gift certificate to Madam Malkins- so she could get dress robes for job interviews.

Several more packages made their way through Hermione's hands, until she came to the one from her Mentee, delivered by Emmeline Bartleby. She smiled at the thoughtfulness of her first year friend when the Muggle-styled stationary and ink fountain pen fell into her lap. She passed it around to the remaining curios members of her birthday party, and it received many appraising words, especially from the girls.

"Wow! Muggles actually write with this contraption?" exclaimed Katie Bell, shaking the fountain pen and splattering ink all over her blouse. She cleaned it off with a wave of her wand and mused, "That's amazing!"

Lavender looked next. "And look! The parchment's—oh, paper?"

She turned to the other girls, "See, Katie, it's called statiomary paper—Well, it's even got her name on, see Parvati? Hermione Jane Granger, right at the top."

Ron pushed a messily wrapped gift towards her, "Open this one next, 'Mione. It's from me."

He turned crimson as she tore of the wrapping paper, and proceeded to turn redder than the school radishes when she flung herself around his shoulders, whispering her thanks in a gasp. Harry looked down at the table to finally see what Ron had gotten her from Miss Amanda's shop. A small, sliver locket glittered back at him from a deep velvet case, engraved with her initials- H.J.G.- on one side, and Ron's- R.B.W.- on the other. Handing it to his friend, Ron held it out to her and placed it in her hand, then covering it on top with his own. A brief, silver light pulsed from in between their fingers, and then they let go. Opening the locket for all to see, Harry and Ginny leaned close and found that on the inside were two wizard photographs, and Ron and Hermione were each smiling and waving back at them from their miniscule frames.

"It's beautiful, Ron," Hermione whispered, as he clasped it around her neck. "I'll treasure it always."

"Um… Well, there's more to it than that. Miss—um, the shopkeeper told me that if your, um, 'love is true' that you'll be able to feel my emotions through it. So, if I'm happy, or, um, in trouble, it will tell you. I have a pocket watch that matches, so that way I can feel you through it, too."

Harry and the rest blushed at seeing what seemed to be such a private moment, but it soon passed, and Hermione, the ever gracious hostess, moved on to her last few presents. After opening one from her parents, and also the book Professor McGonagall had lent her, she turned to the last, somewhat lonely package, also messily wrapped lying on the table.

Smiling, she turned to Harry. "From you, Mr. Potter, I presume?"

Harry nodded, blushing. What if she didn't like it? What if she thought it too unpractical? Harry held his breath as the final piece of tissue paper fell away.

"Oh, Harry!" she exclaimed softly. "Wherever did you find this?"

He and Ron shared a mischievous glance, and then both shook their heads.

"More than it's worth to tell you that, Hermy."

She giggled, and then placed her wand inside the intricately carved holder Harry had bought at Madam Amanda's Antiques and Amour.

"It's perfect, Harry. I've always wanted one, but could never find one that suited me. I love it, thank you."

Hermione hugged him, and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Harry," she whispered, "for everything."

Turning back to the table, she banished all the wrapping paper, and then sighed.

"Thank you, everyone, for doing this. It's been the best birthday I've ever had."

There was a chorus of 'you're welcome's', and then one by one the last remaining Gryffindors retreated to their beds, until it was only Ron and Hermione remaining. Pulling her into his lap, they sat together and stared into the fireplace, both content in the soft silence, each other's arms, and the warm, comforting pulse from the gift Ron had gotten them.

"I love you, Hermione."

"I love you, too, Ron."