Harry twitched slightly when Dudley's snores dwindled for a moment, replaced by a loud sneeze, but relaxed once again when he could hear him snore once more.

"Lumos", he muttered, and the tip of his wand lit once again.

'Non-magic people (more commonly known as Muggles) were particularly afraid of magic in medieval times, but not very good at recognizing it.

On the rare occasion that they did catch a real witch or wizard, burning had no effect whatsoever.

The witch or wizard would perform a basic Flame-Freezing Charm and then pretend to shriek with pain while enjoying a gentle, tickling sensation.

Indeed, Wendelin the Weird enjoyed being burned so much that she allowed herself to be caught no less than forty-seven times in various disguises.'

Harry carefully dipped his quill in the
ink-pod and slowly wrote, making sure no ink landed on the sheets.

If the Dursleys were to get even an inkling that Harry had smuggled some of his books from the cupboard under the stairs, well, he'd be dead.

Finally, his History of Magic essay was complete.

That only left charms and DADA, though it unfortunately meant that he would have to smuggle more books.

He lifted the thin blanket off him and got up, hiding the book in an ingenious hiding spot he had discovered, under loose floorboard.

Sitting down, he glanced at the alarm clock.

1 am.

He'd been thirteen for an entire hour and hadn't even realised it.

He idly stared through the window, suddenly wishing that his dear owl Hedwig, the only living being in this house who didn't loathe him, were here, to share this day with him.

Still, Hedwig usually took at least two days to return from a hunt.

He spotted a black shape in the sky.

Probably some bird or helicopter, it was hard to tell from such a distance.

However, the black shape gradually grew bigger and bigger, and Harry realised with a jolt that it was heading towards him.

He sprang up, opening the window just in time to allow three owls to enter.

He recognised the large, beautiful snowy female as his own owl, Hedwig.

The second one, the even larger ebony male, was Crystalline's owl, Christopher.

Last of all, was a handsome, but unfamiliar tawny owl.

After relieving the three from the packages and letters they were carrying, Harry poured some water into Hedwig's empty pail for them.

There were four packages and five letters.

He decided to read the first one, which turned out to be from Ron and Crystalline.

'Dear Ael,

How are you? Hope the Dursleys haven't been assholes.

Don't mind Ron's language. He doesn't have any manners at all!

I'm not the one scribbling in someone else's note, right Harry. If anyone's ill-mannered, it's our dear Catulus.

I'm not the ill-mannered one Harry! Don't listen to anything this moron tells you.

She really is a hypocrite isn't she. Wasn't she the one telling me not to insult anyone.

I never said/wrote that! I just told you to keep a check on your swearing.

Right, anyway Harry, Christopher (who names their owl Christopher)

Christopher is a perfectly respectable name for both humans and owls, right Harry?

Anyway, Christopher has my birthday present for you Along with a Daily Prophet clipping you'd like to see.

And my present too. And don't forget to see the Daily Prophet clipping!

love

Catulus & Delphinus' (italics means blue ink and bold means black)

Sure enough, in the envelope, there was a clipping of the Daily Prophet.

MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE

Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw.

A delighted Mr Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse-breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank".

The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend.

Below in the photograph, all of the Weasleys, along with Crystalline were waving at the camera.

(Although the picture didn't show it), all of them with flaming red hair and a smattering of freckles, except for Crystalline, with her blonde locks and piercing grey eyes.

His eyes drifted off to a lumpy parcel from Crystal. It was long and mostly thin, but spread out at the end.

Like a broomstick.

Picking it up, he unwrapped the parcel, and turns out he was right.

It truly was a broomstick.

It was sleek, black and silver, no twig out of place.

On the shiny handle, were engraved the words Nimbus 2001.

This was the second fastest broom on the market, only outstripped by the firebolt.

He really would treasure it.

Next he opened Ron's present, which surprisingly contained two books.

Shouldn't that be something Hermione would send him, but his confusion was cleared the minute he saw the titles.

'Quidditch Through The Ages' & 'Flying With The Cannons'

He couldn't help but smile.

He decided to read Hermione's letter next.

'Dear Aelurus,

How have you been doing this summer? I hope the Dursleys weren't too horrible.

Sorry for not have contacted you sooner, but I didn't know how, since my parents and I are in France so I can't go to Diagon to access post owls and I didn't know where they were here.

I've been learning loads. I even redid my entire witch burning's essay to fit in everything I've learned.

I didn't know how to get you your gift, but then suddenly Hedwig turned up.

I think she was making sure you got gifts for your birthday.

Such an intelligent creature she is!

Hey, did you hear that the Weasleys went to Egypt. Cat too since she's been staying with them.

They must be learning loads!

PS: Percy became headboy. Ron doesn't seem too pleased about it

Anyway, Happy Birthday!

Love,

Sciurus

He placed the letter on top of the one from Ron and Crystalline and proceeded to unwrap the next present.

Turns out it was a broom servicing kit. Why were his friends sending him Quidditch themed gifts?

A note fell out of Hermione's package.

'Yes, we're all sending you Quidditch themed gifts because we want you (and Crystalline) to try out for the Quidditch team this year.

You don't have a choice by the way.'

He burst into laughter. That was so like them.

Last of all were two letters and a package.

One of the letters was obviously his new school list, judging by the Hogwarts seal.

The second was from Hagrid.

Dear Harry,

Happy Birthday!

Think you might find this useful for next year. Won't say no more here. Tell you when I see you.

Hope the Muggles are treating you right. All the best,

Hagrid

He tore off the top layer of paper and glimpsed something green and leathery, but before he could unwrap it properly, the parcel gave a strange quiver, and whatever was inside it snapped loudly—as though it had jaws.

Harry froze. He knew that Hagrid would never send him anything dangerous on purpose, but then, Hagrid didn't have a normal person's view of what was dangerous.

Hagrid had been known to befriend giant spiders, buy vicious, three-headed dogs from men in pubs, and sneak illegal dragon eggs into his cabin.

Harry poked the parcel nervously. It snapped loudly again. Harry reached for the lamp on his bedside table, gripped it firmly in one hand, and raised it over his head, ready to strike.

Then he seized the rest of the wrapping paper in his other hand and pulled. And out fell—a book.

Harry just had time to register its handsome green cover, emblazoned with the golden title The Monster Book of Monsters, before it flipped onto its edge and scuttled sideways along the bed like some weird crab.

"Uh-oh," Harry muttered. The book toppled off the bed with a loud clunk and shuffled rapidly across the room. Harry followed it stealthily.

The book was hiding in the dark space under his desk.

Praying that the Dursleys were still fast asleep, Harry got down on his hands and knees and reached toward it.

"Ouch!" The book snapped shut on his hand and then flapped past him, still scuttling on its covers.

Harry scrambled around, threw himself forward, and managed to flatten it. Uncle Vernon gave a loud, sleepy grunt in the room next door.

Hedwig and Christopher watched interestedly as Harry clamped the struggling book tightly in his arms, hurried to his chest of drawers, and pulled out a belt, which he buckled tightly around it.

The Monster Book shuddered angrily, but could no longer flap and snap, so Harry finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He placed the parcels under the loose floorboard, and gently placed the letters on top.

For the first time, Harry James Potter was truly happy on his birthday.