Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.
Harry's New Boggart – Chapter 11 – Happy Birthday Harry
The days that followed found the quartet working harder than ever on everything, including detecting magical traps, as well as an advanced book on healing charms. The day after their first search, Hermione and Harry (under his cloak) went back to Diagon Alley and found books on detecting magical traps. Ginny and Ron had chores to do, so Mrs. Weasley made them stay home. When his mum was out of the room, Ron muttered something like, "degnoming the garden is more important than vanquishing You-Know-Who to that woman."
When Harry and Hermione got back, they were also put to work by the Weasley matriarch. When they finally got to meet in Ginny's bedroom, after silencing the door, Hermione took out the books. "I've seen that book before," commented Ginny, pointing at one of them. "Bill has it. He said that it was the most useful book he'd found on detecting curses." Since Bill was a curse-breaker for Gringotts, that was quite a good recommendation.
"Very well," agreed Hermione, "We'll start with this."
The days passed by quickly, and before they knew it, it was July 31st, Harry's seventeenth birthday. He lay in bed, sound asleep, when he felt a strangely familiar sensation. Something was touching his lips. It felt like someone else's lips were pressed upon his. He could swell the flowery scent he so loved and thought, "Ginny." He briefly contemplated saying, "Pansy, oh Pansy how I've missed you!" but figured he'd end up hexed very badly by a double bat-bogey hex for his attempt at humor.
He opened his eyes to see his beloved looking down on him. She pulled her lips away and said, "Happy Birthday, Harry."
"It is now," he sighed contentedly. "Good morning, Ginny. I love you." He then wandlessly conjured a red rose and handed it to Ginny.
"Thank you, Harry. That's so sweet! Giving me a rose on your birthday." She then kissed him again, this time pressing her tongue to his lips, requesting entrance.
Harry's mouth opened, and the kiss became a passionate snog that continued until they heard Ron's voice calling, "Ginny, I let you in here to kiss him awake for his birthday, not swallow his tonsils!"
"And where were you and Hermione while we were snogging," asked Ginny defiantly, causing Ron to go purple.
"That's different," argued Ron, "we're of age."
"So is Harry," countered Ginny.
"But you're not!" replied Ron.
"I will not let you ruin Harry's birthday!" declared Ginny. "Harry, get dressed and then let's take a walk."
A few minutes later, Harry and Ginny were outside, enjoying the beautiful summer day. "Ginny, I've got to admit it. That was the most bloody brilliant wake-up call I've ever had!"
"I hoped you'd like it! I fully expect the same from you on my birthday, which is August eleventh in case you didn't know."
"I didn't. Thanks for letting me know in advance. It could save me from a terrible hex."
Ginny giggled. "I didn't think Ron would tell you. The only times I've seen you on my birthday were just before I started Hogwarts, and the day before your trial."
"Now that you mention it, I do remember a birthday party when I was staying here after your brothers rescued me from the Dursleys before my second year, but I don't remember anybody mentioning your birthday at Grimmauld Place."
She looked down. "Er, everyone, including me, was very worried about your trial and sort of forgot."
"I'm so sorry. It was my fault."
"NO IT WASN'T! It was Fudge and Umbridge's fault!" she stated firmly. "Anyway, while you were at the ministry, mum remembered and apologized.
"They should've given you a party after the trial," said Harry.
"Yeah, the 'Harry Got Off, and by the way Happy Late Fourteenth Birthday
Ginny' party."
"I feel like such a git," commented Harry. "I didn't even get you something last year either, even after the D.A. and even the ministry. I should've gotten you something then!"
"You arrived the day after my birthday, Harry. A year after your trial. Besides, I never got you a present before."
"You gave me one this morning.
"I also got you something besides that," countered Ginny with a smile. Anyway, you'll have your chance in a few weeks to make up for the six birthdays I've had since we met."
"How about I start right now?" asked Harry, lowering his head to kiss her.
After their walk, Harry and Ginny, along with Ron and Hermione, went to Harry's house for their normal training.
"Any luck figuring out the next location we should visit?" Harry asked Hermione.
"Not much. I know the city, but I need to find the address. If only I could use my computer."
"Why don't you go home after we're through here?" suggested Harry.
"I can't go today," replied Hermione, "It's your birthday."
"Which is why Ron and I are going to the ministry to take our apparition tests once we're done here so we have licenses. There's no point in you staying around the Burrow for that. I don't want another extra day of innocent people dying because of my birthday."
"All right Harry," Hermione responded, "I understand."
After they got back to the Burrow and ate lunch, Ginny went with Hermione to the Granger residence while Harry and Ron went to the Ministry to take their tests.
Three hours later, a few small pops were heard at the Burrow when Harry and Ron appeared with smiles on their faces and a small piece of parchment in each of their hands. "We're here! We got our licenses!" Harry called happily when they didn't see anyone around."
"Thank God you're here!" shouted Mrs. Weasley's voice from the kitchen. "There was an attack at Hermione's house!" she explained in a panic. "Ginny's hurt! Hermione said you might be able to save her!"
"Can we apparate together?" asked Harry, now in full alert mode. "I don't know where she lives."
"I've been there," said Ron. "I'll take you." They took out their wands, Harry grabbed his friend's arm, and together they disappeared.
Harry found himself facing a scene of horror. The block had several damaged houses and cars, and several bodies were lying on the street. "Let's find Ginny!" shouted Harry, as they started to walk quickly.
"Harry!" they heard Hermione's voice from behind them. They turned and ran to where she was. She had several minor cuts, and her clothes were torn and filthy. Hermione explained, "Ginny took out six Death Eaters before she fell! I don't know what curse she was hit with, but it looks bad! Try to do what she did for you!"
Then he saw her unconscious form lying on the ground. She was pale and truthfully appeared to be dead if not for her chest rising and falling. He quickly dropped to his knees, tears forming in his eyes as he held her tightly. He kissed her face as he declared, "You can't die! You haven't had your birthday yet! Dammit! Why isn't anything happening? His tears started falling on her as he held her even closer, desperation filling his mind. He remembered thinking, "Let me die instead of her!" and then everything went blank.
He awoke to find Ginny kissing him awake again. "Ginny," he said when they separated. "I thought I'd lost you."
She helped him onto his feet and countered, "You saved my life again."
Hermione explained, "It wasn't working until you started crying on Ginny. I wonder if your bond makes your tears act similarly to phoenix tears for each other. Anyway, you both glowed green and you passed out for a few seconds. Ginny kissed you awake."
"Hermione," asked Harry, realizing that her house was the target of this assault. "What happened? Are you and your parents all right?"
"Y-Yes," the brunette answered. "I was showing Ginny how to use the computer when we heard a loud explosion outside. We looked out the window and saw at least twenty Death Eaters marching toward my house, destroying anything or anyone in their path. I made a portkey for Ginny and my parents to take to the Burrow."
"Naturally, I refused to leave her alone to face them," added Ginny.
"Anyway," continued Hermione, "After my parents were gone, Ginny and I made our way outside to fight the Death Eaters. Harry, Ginny was incredible, dodging and shooting like we've been practicing, and managed to take out five of them right away."
"I bat-bogey'd and petrified them," she bragged.
"I only got four," continued the brunette, "but then I heard one of them shout, 'it's the Weasley girl, Potter's tramp,' their words, not mine. After that, they all ganged up on her. I did my best to defend her. She got one more of them before being hit. I caught the one that got her with a flock of birds followed by a stupefy. Then the Order arrived, took out a few more, and the cowards left once the odds were more even. I sent Mrs. Weasley to the Burrow and Mr. Weasley to the ministry to look for you, Harry. That was about five minutes before you arrived. Then I noticed the sign in the sky. She pointed above her house, where a Dark Mark was displayed with the words, 'Happy Birthday Harry!' underneath it.
Harry looked even more enraged than he had the day Dumbledore died. He simply stated, "I need to be alone. Ron, Hermione, take care of Ginny!" and disappeared with a small pop.
Chapter end