Happy Birthday Harry
Harry awoke with the sun streaming in the window. Harry peered at the clock 7:45 he was officially of age. He sat up rubbing his eyes then got up grabbed some clothes and went to shower. After Harry showered and dressed he looked into the mirror "happy birthday messy head" the mirror said.
"Er thanks" Harry said as he left headed for the kitchen. As he rounded the corner into the kitchen, he almost ran smack into Mrs. Weasley. "Good morning" She smiled back at him. "Good morning and happy birthday, have some tea dear, I am headed to wake Ginny now to help me cook you a birthday breakfast." She left the room before Harry could protest, knowing all too well she would win. Harry helped himself to some tea thinking he would warm it with his wand.
"Morning Harry, happy birthday." Hermione said gruffly setting a perfectly wrapped box next to him.
"Er…thanks" he knew that was about all he would get out of her before she was fully awake.
The two sat there not talking when Mrs. Weasley came back into the kitchen grumbling, "Tell me you're not getting up will you." As she headed over to the sink getting ice water. "I will be right back you two, Mr. Ronald thinks he can lie in all morning" then she was gone.
"Oi! What was that for" Ron hollered as he jumped up sopping wet. Mrs. Weasley had dumped the chilly water over his head.
"Wake up! We have a long day and you are going to help. Now dry off and get dressed. I want you down stairs in 10 minutes young man" she slipped back down stairs. Harry was laughing, as he knew exactly what had happened. Hermione even had a half smile perched on her scowling morning face.
Ginny walked in just after her mum with an unusually large smile on her face. "Good morning everyone," she planted a kiss on Harry's cheek. "Happy birthday" Harry smiled even bigger even though he was starting to get tired of the extra attention.
"Ginny dear, how about you go gather some eggs."
"Alright" she said not looking forward to it. "Harry would you mind helping me?"
"Sure"
"No" Mrs. Weasley was looking at Harry. "It's your birthday; you just sit there and relax."
"I don't mind Mrs. Weasley; I could use some fresh air any how."
"Well only if you want to." She smiled at him as he walked over to the door. Ginny was already waiting for him holding the door "and Harry one more thing."
"What's that?"
"You're an adult now feel free to call me Molly" she smiled.
"Um….ok….if it's all the same I would like to call you Mrs. Weasley still"
"Anything you want dear." Harry walked out the door. "So polite she murmured, watching him sprint over to Ginny.
Overall, the day so far had gone pretty well for Harry. Tonks popped in around lunch giving Harry a wand polishing kit and some chocolates. Harry had gotten an owl from Hagrid with a box of pumpkin tarts. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley gave him a tin of fudge. He got a book titled Mysteries of Magic from Hermione. Ron gave him a chess strategies guide and Ginny said he would receive her gift after dinner.
As he sat there fiddling with his wand polishing kit, Harry thought about the danger facing him, Ron and Hermione. The Horcruxes. The more he thought about where they could be and what they were, the more hopeless it seemed. Why had Dumbledore given him such a burden? Finally, it hit him. A vision flashed in his head. He had a plan. He knew exactly what to do.
Just as he started putting away his stuff Ron cam in. "Hey Harry what's up?"
"Ron can you get Hermione? I have a plan that I think will help us with the Horcruxes."
"She is helping mum fix dinner" Ron closed the door "what is it?"
Harry wanted to tell them both, but figured Ron would fill her in later. "Well originally figured we would just go out looking." Ron just nodded, Harry continued "What if Voldemort died more than once?"
"Harry, are you saying we keep finding and killing him, forgetting about the Horcruxes?" Ron looked quite lost now.
"Yes and no. He would use the Horcruxes, and that would give us time to."
Ron sat there staring for a second "Wouldn't he just make more Horcruxes?"
"I don't think he can. Splitting your soul once makes it unstable, much less several times."
"I don't know Harry. That would mean he would come back repeatedly. Harry you are not a murderer. I don't see how you are going to be able to do it even once."
Harry started gritting his teeth "Ron I am prepared to kill Voldemort as many times as it takes. He has to pay for all he has done. Death is an easy way out for him." Harry waited for Ron to
respond, but there was nothing. "It would be easier for the Ministry to control the death eaters while he was gone and…" Harry though for a few moments he relaxed his jaw "I promised to destroy the Horcruxes; I didn't say how I would do it."
"Harry you have gone mental."
"No I have not. There's more…" he stood up, walked over to his trunk, and deposited his kit. "We have to find a way to get the order to help us, without letting them know what they are doing."
Ron stood up "How in the bloody hell are we going to do that?"
"We just need them to find out everything they can about Riddle and his connections. I am sure Lupin will be more than happy to help. I will ask him tonight."
"I dunno mate, I think we should talk to Herms first. Oh and mum sent me up to get you, dinner's almost ready."
Harry dropped the subject and the two friends headed downstairs. Remus was in the living room, chatting quietly with Mr. Weasley with a butterbeer in his hand. He looked up as Ron and Harry entered the room "Hi Harry how has your day gone?"
"It's been great, thanks"
"Well happy seventeenth." He handed Harry a multi colored bag. The words HAPPY BIRTHDAY scrolled across the middle in green letters. "I hope you like it"
"Thank you Remus" Harry pulled out the top layer of tissue that was crammed in there, revealing a small wooden box. He slipped the box out, setting the bag aside as he sat on the sofa. The box was polished oak with gold trim. Carved on the top were the letters H.J.P. Harry traced the letters with his finger for a second. He slid the clasp open and slowly opened the lid. The inside was lined with green silk, and the inner lid had a small oval mirror.
"It's a pensive box Harry. Put your memories in the box and store them for later. When you want to study them just look into the mirror."
Harry smiled "It's great, thank you." He stood up and gave Lupin a one armed hug.
"Dinner is ready, let's eat" Mrs. Weasley hollered from the kitchen.
Harry lagged behind "Remus can I talk to you for just a second."
Remus stopped "Arthur We will be right in"
"Sure thing I will tell Molly"
"Is everything alright Harry?" Lupin looked concerned
"Yeah, thanks for the gift I really like it…." Harry looked around "I need to talk to you about what Dumbledore wants me to do. I can't tell you all the details but, I need your help."
"Sure Harry, whatever I can do. How about we have some lunch at Grimmauld place tomorrow and talk."
"That would be perfect." Harry said as Remus ushered him toward the kitchen.
After a huge dinner followed by cake singing and a few winks form Ginny, everyone retired to the garden to have some butterbeers and chat. Ron and Hermione sat by themselves chatting; Hermione kept shooting Harry un-approving glances.
Ginny stood up pulling on Harry's hand "Let's go for a walk I want to give you your present" Harry smiled at her and nodded. The two excused themselves and headed toward a small patch of woods near the pitch. Neither of them spoke until they were out of everyone's earshot, Ginny broke the silence "Sorry I haven't been able to spend much time with you today. Mom has had me busy most of the time."
"I know and I feel bad everyone went through so much trouble." Harry looked at his feet.
"It was no trouble Harry. I would have done it anyhow even if it wasn't your birthday." She squeezed his hand a little.
"Ginny, for the first time I feel like I have a chance defeating Voldemort…" his tone went solemn, "I want to know how you feel about something and I want to know the truth. Promise me you will tell me the truth" He stopped just short of the woods and turned to her, looking her in her bright brown eyes.
"I promise Harry" she shifted her weight and grabbed both of his hands expecting the worse."
"I-I uh…" he couldn't get the words out.
"Harry just say it" she stomped her foot.
"Well you know I have to kill Voldemort…"
"Yeah Harry I know. What are you getting at?"
"That will make me a murderer" he lost contact with her eyes and looked at his trainers. "Are you sure you want to be with someone like that?"
"Harry, I love you and he has to be stopped. He is way too dangerous, and under the circumstances, it won't make you a murderer, it will make you a hero." She pushed his head up so they locked eyes again. "You will be a hero, my hero, everybody's hero"
"I don't want to be a hero; I don't even want to be fam-"
She kissed him before he finished. "I know you don't, but the fact remains you are and always will be famous and you will always be a hero. Mine Harry. You have been ever since you saved me from Tom Riddles diary. You are not killing him because you want to; you are doing it because it must be done."
He looked away again. "I am worried about something else too. I am worried about how I will feel after it's done. How will my conscience feel?"
Ginny stood there biting the corner of her mouth. "If it makes you feel better, you will have everyone's support afterwards."
"I know, but that won't make me feel better now will."
She giggled "Well then Mum will have to do a memory charm then won't she."
He smiled "Thanks Ginny you can always make me feel better." Then he kissed her and wrapped her in his arms.
"Oh I almost forgot you present." She said stepping back reaching into her back pocket. She pulled out a small slip of paper and handed it to Harry. Harry read it and smiled widely.
Snogging coupon: Good for 1- fifteen-minute snogging session. Some Restrictions apply.
"What are the restrictions" Harry chuckled
"Mostly we have to be alone, and you can't use it here"
He looked at her with a fake pout on his face "Why not?"
"Because Mr. Potter Mum has in-appropriation detectors set up every where. She thinks we might do something" She had a huge hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Let's get back" she gave him another kiss, then turned and pulled Harry back toward the house.
"Hey Ginny I don't get it if she has in-appropriation detectors how come she didn't detect that kiss?"
"Less than a few seconds. They don't pick up small kisses."
"I have a suggestion. How about fifteen minutes of small kisses" he was grinning.
"Not going to work, but nice try Mr. Slick."
"Oh alright." He had that fake pout on his face again.
She squeezed his hand "Happy Birthday Harry"