Changing Directions

Chapter 5 – Birthday Surprises

Well I've started work on it already. Thanks again to my reviewers, and please review more.

I also have a beta now for the story – she will rename nameless until I can get her to pick a name for herself that I can use. She will be reviewing each chapter now before it's posted, so there may be a slight delay between chapters. I'll probably post this one without her intervention, but after that – she has the power!

So in this chapter we get to see more interaction between Harry and Neville, and also the training sessions start. New character, woohoo! Now as you all know all of the HP characters, the universe and so forth belong solely to J.K. Rowling. Apart from the few things I invent of course. And I'm not going to bother with the whole "slash" warning, because if you had a problem you wouldn't be reading this now. Or you're incredibly dull. Either way it's wasted!

What I forgot to mention last week was that Haverstone Lane, The Fellytone, and James Waterbucket are all mine. Do you recognise Mr Waterbucket from a previous chapter? Hee hee ;-)

So on with the show maestro:

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After the late night practice session, the gang were hoping for a lie in that morning. Fate, and Remus, however, had slightly different plans.

Just as Harry was finally having a nice dream for once, involving Neville and a small stay in the Infirmary, a loud klaxon went off throughout all the bedrooms. Startled, each teen woke with a start and went grabbing for their wands. Moments later, a Stinging Hex was thrown at them simultaneously from somewhere in their rooms, and Harry was the only one who had his wand ready in time to shout "Protego!" and deflect the curse back towards the door. Remus' loud voice came echoing up the stairs. "Come on, training session one is about to begin! First Floor Study!"

Harry reluctantly got out of bed, all the while mumbling about "bloody werewolves and slave-drivers", and quickly got changed. Before heading down the stairs, he waved his want, practically grunted an incantation ("Tempus") and was appalled when the glowing figures in front of him read '5:30'. Practically falling down the stairs from exhaustion, he stumbled into the first floor study.

What he saw would have been quite funny, had he not been in such a state himself. Standing in the room, in various stages of dishevelment, were Neville, Ron, Ginny and Hermione, all wincing as they walked from the hexes they obviously failed to deflect. As Harry opened his mouth to say something, they all looked at him with glares of such force that Harry just closed his mouth again. Just then, Remus came striding through with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Well, only Harry passed the first test –" Hermione cut him off with a disgruntled growl – "and the three of you did not. You should have been ready for anything. Wands by your sides at all times waiting to deflect an attack. Anyway, hopefully by the end of the summer you will be.

"I'm going to go over what we will be learning now. Today won't be too strenuous, but after today things will get harder, tougher, faster." As Remus said this, three people walked in from behind him and took up almost flanking positions around the room.

"These are your instructors. To my left, Miss Trott - " Remus indicated a woman who was very tall, with imposing eyes and a crooked nose – "she is an accomplished Legilimens and Occlumens, and will be teaching you both. Well, at least attempting to."

"To my right, Kingsley Shacklebolt. He is an experienced Auror, and will be teaching you duelling methods as well as some Auror-level spells. While they may in fact be slightly above your level, we recognise that you can't really continue using Stunners and Jelly-Legs curses on Death Eaters.

"Directly in front of me, and behind you, is Mrs Jones. She will be teaching you defensive magic and warding, as well as hopefully guiding you through an Animagus transformation. So, any question?"

Harry immediately knew Hermione's hand would shoot up, and so it did. "But Profess- Remus, how can we fit all of this into the time we have? And aren't some of these spells going to be illegal, like the Animagus transformation? What if we fail at Occlumency, wouldn't that make us even more exposed to Voldemort?"

At the last word Ron and Ginny flinched. Neville surprisingly remained steadfast. Maybe having faced off with his most powerful Death Eaters gave him more backbone than anyone realised.

Remus smiled indulgently at Hermione. "We will be working long days, and the studies may even continue into the start of school year. And don't worry - " he said, cutting Hermione off before she could even speak – "we won't be taking too much time from the start of your NEWT courses. Mrs Jones is a qualified instructor, and the ministry knows you are learning. Because of the fact that Voldemort would, er, desire to have any of you captured so badly, your transformations will be sealed. And you will not fail at Occlumency. You might fail at Legilimency, but I highly doubt that."

Hermione visibly relaxed, and sat back in her chair. Remus began again, "You will start each day from between 5 and 5:30, and a different surprise will greet you each morning. You have to react to it as best as possible. And they will be unexpected. I wasn't a Marauder for nothing you know." At that he winked at the group.

"Now, right. I want you to move through the house quickly. Examine each room for threats, and if you find any, deal with it. How you do this is up to you. Although, the house is rather large. Good luck!" With that, Remus and the three instructors left the room.

Harry turned to the rest of the group, who were looking at him expectantly. "Why are you all looking at me?"

Hermione just rolled her eyes and huffed. Drawing her wand, she conjured a piece of parchment, and tapped it three times. On it appeared a level by level map of the entire of Grimmauld Place. "Right, the house is split down the middle in the way that rooms can be accessed. See the stairs running along the west and east sides of the house? There. If we start from the top, in the very middle of the house and split up. One team takes the east side, one takes the west side. Ron and Ginny come with me. Neville go with Harry."

The four other teens gaped at her for a while, before Ron piped up, "Blimey 'Mione! When did you become a general?"

Hermione huffed again at him. "Honestly, Ronald, it's common sense. Now –" she flicked her wand and muttered "Replicatus; Personnae Reveleo" and instantly four more copies of the map appeared – "I've made this like the Marauders map as well in a way. All five of us will show up and it will flash if any of us are in serious danger and need someone to come and help. It will also show up anyone else in the rooms." Surely enough, there were little figures standing in their room with name tags, as well as other people wandering about the house. "Once you've checked a room and it's all clear, shout 'All Clear!'; it will turn green on the map."

"Hermione, " Harry cut in, "How on earth did you manage to do that?" Hermione simply smiled mischievously and said "I don't just learn my school work you know in the library. Let's go!"

As a group they headed to the top of the house, and right to the middle. Hermione simply nodded at them, and each group went off in their own directions.

Harry and Neville immediately headed off into the attic, and Hermione, Ron and Ginny into a small study. When the two men got into the attic, both looked around; wands drawn. Harry cast a revealing spell on the entire attic while Neville tried opening several suspicious looking trunks. Neville was about to cry "All clear!" when Harry put his hand on Neville's shoulder and whispered something into his ear. When Neville had shut up, neither boy noticed that Harry's hand lingered a bit longer than it should have for the purpose it was meant. Suddenly, Harry raised his want and shouted "Accio Invisibility Cloak!" When a cloak came whizzing to Harry, Neville shot a remarkably powerful stunner at the source of the cloak. Moments later, Tonks lay unconscious on the floor. Harry quickly bound her with ropes to a chair. When he was certain she couldn't move, he left, shouting "All clear!"

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"Are they trying to give us a heart attack do you think?" Neville asked Harry a half an hour later. They had done two floors already, and gone toe to toe with a Dementor-Boggart, four time-released hexes and several Kappas. Two Aurors had been bound and gagged since Tonks, and they were half way through their map.

"Probably Nev. They wanted to make it hard on us didn't they, and this is definitely hard."

"But it's not even half-six yet! Don't you need food or something?"

Harry sighed. "If you're hungry then we can go get you something after we finish the floors." Neville blushed.

"Oh I, er, didn't mean for me. I was just hoping you were doing OK." Harry stopped walking and turned to face Neville.

"Oh! Thanks, but I'm OK." The two of them looked into each others' eyes, both almost drowning in them. Until two stunners came their way. Without thinking, both boys ducked and rolled, and bound their attackers. Their surprise was immeasurable when they say Professors McGonagall and Vector lying their, eyes darting around.

Neville went to unbind them, but Harry stopped him. "Nev, if this was a real situation, they could very well be under the Imperius curse, or a Polyjuice potion. We can't let them up now. Sorry professors!" Harry moved quickly down the hall without looking at them again.

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Ron wasn't faring too well with the curses. Having already been struck by several stunners and hexes, he had taken to sandwiching himself between Hermione and Ginny. "For God's sake Ron, " Ginny said, exacerbated, "Why is it you can't seem to defend yourself these days?" She had already had to deflect both her and Ron's curses over the last few rooms, and was getting pretty fed up of it. An hour into the exercise, and one floor left, they had secured most of the threats.

"Well I'm sorry if I'm not on top form this very, very early morning. And that Jelly-legs curse this morning was really strong."

"Moan, moan, moan. Maybe next time there's a big important fight, you should let 'Mione take care of it and stay at home knitting and tutting at the clock." Hermione sniggered behind her hand, before Ron's glare shut her up.

Just as they turned the corner into the main library, books from the shelves attacked them all at once, and four boggarts emerged from different points. They all screamed (Ron the highest) and starting firing off curses.

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On the other side of the house, Harry and Neville's map started flashing greatly. Harry started to run towards the other end, but Neville grabbed his hand. "No Harry, it might be too late by then. Take the Floo in this room!" Harry looked sceptically at it for a minute before deciding he didn't really have much choice. Grabbing Floo powder, he shouted "Main Library!" and disappeared, only to reappear in the attic at the top. Moments later Neville came trundling through.

"Oh God, what happened?"

"They redirected the Floo, sneaky bastards. Come on we have to run."

Setting off at a great speed to the main library, they got there to see the three youngsters doing battle with numerous books, a giant spider, Professor McGonagall with a bad school report, and 16 year old Tom Riddle. The other Boggart came charging at Harry, transforming into a Dementor as it came. Immediately Harry and Neville cast the Riddikulus charm on the boggarts, watching them go up in a puff of smoke. Then, turning on the books and casting god knows how many Impediment Jinxes, they managed to subdue the library from hell.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked as he pulled Ron and Ginny up from the ground.

"We're fine. Ron wasn't, he was just about to wet himself I think." Harry sniggered, and Ron fired off his glare at Harry, who promptly shut up. Hermione starting thinking to herself 'Where on earth does that look come from?'

"Come on then, we just finished our section and you only have one room left."

All five of them set off and went into the Kitchen, to see Moody and Remus looking very pleased.

As Remus got up and started to say "Well done - " he was cut off by a Stunner and Body Bind striking him at once, but Moody was too quick and summoned their wands before they could curse him.

"Well I must say I am impressed. That is the end of the test. Had you let Remus continue talking, you would have been Stunned and incapacitated. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" (all five teenagers jumped) "You did well. Now, that was your exercise for the day. Oh by the way, happy birthday Potter, Longbottom." With that, Moody left their wands on the table with two small packages, and walked out of the room.

"Oh God, it's our birthdays today! I completely forgot."

Hermione eyed him suspiciously while Neville looked surprised that Harry seemed to know when his birthday was. "How do you know it's my birthday?"

Suddenly Harry looked very uneasy, and tried to evade the question. "Well, you know, I just must have heard from somewhere. So let's get breakfast then!" Picking up the packages and handing Neville the one with his name on, he busied himself with getting food.

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As soon as they had eaten, Harry went upstairs for a shower, with Neville and Hermione waiting in the queue impatiently. After all three had showered, the two birthday boys journeyed downstairs and walked into the front room. Sitting down on the sofa, they were about to start a conversation at the same time when various Chameleon charms and Invisibility cloaks were removed and all shouted a great big surprise. Just as Neville and Harry pulled their wands out, the sofa transformed into the form of Professor McGonagall and they were sent plummeting to the ground.

"What's going on?"

"Well Mr Potter, it looks as though we are being forced to participate in this pointless birthday ritual in yours and Mr Longbottom's honour. Feel privileged that I haven't cursed the two of you into one of your failed potions." Came the sarcastic reply from the Potions Master.

"Oh come now Severus, these occasions happen so rarely. Happy birthday Harry, Neville." Dumbledore said majestically over his horn-rimmed glasses.

Just as Harry was about to reply, Fred and George appeared in the middle of the room somehow.

"Harry! How absolutely – "

" – wonderfully – "

" – superb to see you! Hope – "

" – everything is going – "

" – OK for you. Happy – "

" – birthday!"

Harry simply looked at them in bewilderment. He was fortunately saved from having to say anything because at that point Mrs Weasley came striding in lambasting them about more Sbŵriel Cymraeg products finding their way into her kitchen.

All in all many different people turned up, including most of the Hogwarts professors, most of the Order's inner circle, Mrs Figg and Mrs Longbottom, as well as all the Weasleys and Hermione's parents showed up as well. Harry received a lot of DADA tools from the Aurors, as did Neville. Hermione bought him a copy of "A History of Hogwarts: Revised Edition" and placed a charm on it so that whenever it detected him it would squeak in, what Neville thought was a very cute irresistible voice "read me! Read me!" and would do so until he did. Ron bought him a book called "Gay wizard living in a Straight World: how to help your Hetero's cope" which was as good a sign of acceptance as any so he was greatful. Dumbledore gave both him and Neville various protective amulets, which all looked very expensive. Moody had given them both Dark Mark detectors, both prototypes with notes saying "Don't let Dumbledore know about these. But keep your wits about you back at school." Both pocketed them very quickly and swallowed their thank you's upon seeing Moody's face. Mr and Mrs Weasley got them both a shaving kit, and some books on house keeping, to which Ron rolled his eyes at knowing that he had received the exact same thing on his 16th birthday. What really surprised everyone was how Neville and Harry had exchanged gifts; they had bought each other magical music boxes with music that changed depending on the owner's mood.

Party celebrations continued on into the night, and Harry had been given slightly too much Firewhisky by Bill, Fred and George. Charlie saw Harry stumble off into the garden alone, and decided to follow just to make sure he was OK.

"Harry, are you alright?"

Harry turned to look at Charlie, grinned, and almost shouted "Oh yeah Charlie! I'm fin-ne. Absolu-utely fine!"

"You're drunk."

"Am not. I don't get drunk. Cause I'm the BOY-Y WHO LIVED-ed. I'm not allowed." Harry responded in all seriousness. Charlie simply laughed.

"OK, I just wanted to make sure you were alright. Will you join the party later?"

"Yeah sure. Hey Charlie?"

"Yes Harry?"

Harry paused. "Your brother thinks I fancy you!" Charlie was stunned for a moment, before responding.

"Well he's an idiot isn't he."

"I mean, you're cute. But you're like a brother to me. W-will you write to me more? I-I'd like that I think." Harry was blushing by now from a combination of embarrassment and intoxication.

"Sure I will. Just remind me in the morning to make sure you didn't ask me out of drunkness!" Charlie sniggered.

"But I'm Not DRUNK!"

"OK Harry, OK. You just have a good time now. It's your party after all."

"I never had a birthday party before." Harry said morosely.

"Well how's this one shaping up?"

Harry paused again before responding. Then a huge grin spread across his face, and he turned to say "Pretty good. It's nice being a youngster for once," before promptly falling flat on his back.