Author's Note: Just a short little chapter today. Six and seven are fairly short too, actually, if I'm remembering correctly. Then they start getting longer through the rest. I really ought finish stories before I start posting more often; it's nice already knowing exactly what's coming up next without worrying about my characters surprising me with inconvenient plot-twists and temper-tantrums when they don't get their way...

Enjoy!

-Emmete

CHAPTER FIVE

The morning of his fourteenth birthday, Harry Potter woke early and lovingly looked through his cards and gifts a second time. As per tradition, a small flock of owls had flown in and out of the smallest bedroom at number 4 privet drive around midnight.

From Hermione, he had received four bars of specialty muggle chocolate in different flavors and, naturally, a book. For once, Harry was more eager for the book than the chocolate, and had even read the first chapter in Magically Ellite: Tales and Tidbits of Beaxbatons, Durmstrang, and Hogwarts before bed. From Ron, he'd gotten Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, a handful of Chocolate Frogs, and the summer issue of Quidditch Quarterly (which looked suspiciously thumbed around the corners and edges, as though it had been read already). The best part by far had been the short note that had told him Arthur had gotten the World Cup tickets, and the Weasleys would be coming soon to take Harry away from the Dursleys for the rest of the summer.

Ginny had sent him what at first glance appeared to be a leather-bound journal… without its pages. He had been rather puzzled until he read her note.

Harry –

I know the twins have been writing you along with Ron
this summer, so I figure you're getting quite the collection
of letters. I know neither of us have the fondest memories
of diaries, so I reckoned this was better: just place a letter against
the inside seam, and it will magically seal in place like
diary pages. The first time you open it, just hold your wand
to the clasp and say 'open.' Once it is open, you can reset
the password the same way by touching the inside clasp. I
know how important your privacy is to you. Happy Birthday!

– Ginny

He thought it was brilliant, and told her as much in the letter he sent back. He then made her note the first "page" before adding in the rest of his letters from the summer in the order he had received them in. Then, he had opened the present from the twins. He had expected to find prank items and sweets, and so was surprised to see two polished wood boxes, each roughly the size of a photograph. Thankfully, theirs too had included a note.

Happy Birthday Harry!

This is from both of us, plus Bill who helped strengthen the charms
and made it so only you and the person you give the second box to
can open them respectively, plus Charlie, mum, and dad who all
pitched in a bit when they heard the idea. What you've got here are
vanishing chests. Basically, what you put in one pops into the other
after you close the lid. Now this pair is a bit small (turns out they
aren't a cheap purchase, go figure) and not the strongest, but they're
plenty big enough for letters or pictures. They'll need about a day
to 'recharge' after use when sending non-magic items, and Bill reckons
that they'll handle magical items now that he's worked his magic (ha!)
on them as well, though he's guessing a good week to recharge in
that case. We told the family that it was for that Durmstrang pen-pal
you've been going on about all summer, but we thought that Snuffles
might enjoy a little gifty. Whatever will make you happiest. Miss you.

Always Got Your Back – Gred and Forge.

It was amazing, more amazing than Harry had words for, and made even more precious both by Fred and George's thoughtfulness and by the way the entire Weasley family had contributed. He'd never even met Bill and Charlie! His thank you note back had been gushing and emotional, but he couldn't quite bring himself to care.

Before all that, though, there had been another letter from Shadow, and the timing could not have been more perfect. After having fallen asleep in the early hours of the evening, Harry had found himself trapped in a nightmare about an old house, an old man, and a blinding green light before Hedwig's sharp tapping at the window had woken him up. Shadow's letter had warmed him up in a way a mountain of blankets couldn't have, and with it he had been able to welcome his birthday in with a smile.

Harry had sent Hedwig off to Sirius with the second vanishing chest and a note explaining how it worked, a little guilty that she had barely taken time to rest, though she hadn't seemed to mind. Now, looking around at his cards and gifts while he waited for his aunt to wake up and call him to make breakfast, Harry decided to work on his reply to his pen-pal.

Shadow –

I had just woken in the middle of the night from a jarring nightmare to find my owl at my window with your last letter. I have never felt as warm and cared for on any birthday I remember as I did last night. Thank you.

I am fourteen now. I wonder if my relatives remember; it has been years since they acknowledged my birthday. I can still remember the first birthday cake I ever received—although how anyone could forget turning eleven to the sounds of a half-giant breaking down the door, I've no idea. He brought me my Hogwarts letter—the letter that told me magic existed. That was probably the best day of my life, finding out I was a wizard. I don't think any cake has ever tasted as sweet, though I've gotten several in years since. Yours was the first letter of the night this year, but several more owls came today with cards and gifts. I didn't have the sort of family you grew up with, but I've started to build one of my own, I think. There's nothing more precious than feeling loved.

Your parents sound amazing. Your family must all be so proud of each other. I understand the humble feeling for your mother; my own mother died to protect me. That sort of love… it leaves you in awe, doesn't it? My father… he died that night as well. He was trying to save both of us—trying to give my mother time to take me and run. My life would have been so different if they had lived.

I must admit, I am a little jealous of your brother. Obviously, I never felt that sort of family connection with my cousin, and my parents didn't have any other children. I think… I hope, I suppose, that I may get some idea of what it's like to be a little brother, in my own way. My best mate has a big family, and two of his older brothers—twins—have always sort of kept an eye out for me. We haven't always been particularly close, but they pulled me aside at the end of the school year, and they've been writing me this summer, as well. They've always sort of been waiting in the background, ready to have my back when everyone else turns away. I think they're in my life to stay, and it feels good. That whole family has sort of taken me in; I'm very lucky.

I, um… I've told them about you. About our friendship. They can see how much I care about you—about what you think of me—and they worry. They want me to be happy, though, more than anything else (something that has taken some getting used to), they just worry I'll get hurt. I understand how it might seem strange to them, that I feel so close to you after only a few letters… I suppose it might be that it's just easier write something down than to say the words out loud to someone's face. I can't say I believe that's all it is, but I'm certainly no expert on these things. I think… someday I'm going to want to tell you who I am. I'm scared of what that might change between us. With our friendship. You can tell your friend that he's not the only one with concerns, if you think it will help put him at ease.

I'll get to see the twins soon, finally—and my best friends. The twins' little brother is the one who invited me to the World Cup. I only just heard that they have tickets for sure. I'm leaving my aunt and uncle's house in less than a week, and won't have to come back until next summer!

You never did say if you've been to any professional Quidditch games, yourself.

Thank you for your friendship; it is a gift that I treasure.

-Survivor

Hoping that Hedwig would find Sirius and return soon, he set the letter aside and pulled Hermione's book towards him, eager to learn what he could about Shadow's school.