Authors Note: Wow, I was sat here the other night typing up an essay and my inbox kept beeping with reviews. I was practically bouncing in my seat. Thank you! Thank you all for being so nice about the story, and sharing your views! hugs reviewers Hope this lives up to your expectations.

Spoilers: All 5 books

Disclaimer: Is there anyone out there who actually believes that I own the rights to Harry Potter? No? Good.

Chapter Two: Happy Birthday to Me!

It wasn't quite midnight but Harry had the windows of his bedroom wide open and a wide selection of bowls of water, owl snacks and kitchen leftovers laid out on his desk. He didn't want to be unprepared this time, and he had a feeling there would be more owls than usual. His friends would certainly send him something, the school definitely would, the order possibly and then there were the members of the DA who had been writing to him sporadically over the holidays, at least a few of them would likely send him something.

Considering the amount of mail he had received since the breaking news of Voldemort's return he wouldn't put it past the wizarding public to have decided that now he was a hero again, and not a deluded madman, that he deserved birthday presents. Not that he'd complain too much about getting extra presents but still, he didn't really like the idea of all those strangers writing to him.

At least he was assured that nothing harmful could get through the wards around the house. Professor Flitwick had apparently made sure of that since it wasn't unknown for people to send malicious owls, like Hermione and the bubotuber pus back in fourth year. He most definitely didn't want to see what Voldemort or his Death Eaters might decide were appropriate birthday greetings.

There was a definite sound of wings getting closer as Harry counted down to his sixteenth birthday. He'd barely finished wishing himself a Happy Birthday when the first, an incredibly imposing and unfamiliar Eagle Owl swooped in, followed by rather more owls than he usually saw. Ah, he thought sardonically, fan mail.

He sighed, and then smiled slightly. At least he could confidently say that for once he had gotten more birthday presents than Dudley. Thankfully most wizarding owls were smart enough to understand when he asked them to be quiet and form a more orderly line; the only exceptions being Pig, who was as usual on the owl equivalent of a sugar high and Errol, who as usual seemed to be mostly dead. Harry carefully carried him over to his usual spot beside Hedwig to recover.

The Eagle Owl was still staring at him regally so he carefully took the proffered parcel and very politely offered it a choice from the selection of treats on his desk. It might have been his imagination but the owl seemed quite impressed, he could have sworn she gave him that same reserved look of approval that McGonagall favoured. He opened the letter and began to read.

Hi Harry!

I sent Hecuba off early so she should reach you on time for your birthday; she's my Gran's bird. Gran said to wish you a happy birthday so happy birthday Harry! She was very impressed with my Owl results (for Gran at any rate!), especially defence, said my Dad would've been proud of me. She knows someone on the marking board but she isn't telling me anything, says I have to wait and see. Anyway, I was wondering if you were going to keep up with the DA next year? I hope you do, I've never done as well with any other defence teacher. I'm staying with Ron and Hermione for now which is okay, though Hermione is already planning a study schedule for next year. Anyway I hope you like this present, I thought really hard about what to get you and I think you'll like it. Happy Sixteenth Harry!

Neville

Harry opened the wrapping paper to see a beautiful book in scarlet trimmed with gold, with the Gryffindor lion on the front. He opened it to find a large picture of Hogwarts as seen from the first year boats on the lake, lights flickering up at him. He turned the page; there was a picture of the Gryffindor table at the sorting, with Harry and Ron laughing while Hermione frowned at them.

He turned the pages eagerly, the head table, with Dumbledore twinkling madly, evidence of the Weasley Twins pranks, various Quidditch shots, of Harry catching the snitch while a sulking Malfoy tried desperately to catch up, even a shot of the match with Harry conjuring the patronus. He turned the page and, to his delight, found not only a picture of McGonagall berating Malfoy and his goons as they sprawled in a heap, tangled in their 'dementor' robes but also one of Malfoy as 'the 'Amazing Bouncing Ferret.' Harry wondered if he could get another copy and frame it for Ron's birthday.

There were simple ones of him and his friends studying by the lake before the OWLs, or celebrating the end of them in the Three Broomsticks, ones from key moments in his Hogwarts career, the First Task of the TriWizard Tournament, the abortive Duelling Club match where Malfoy conjured the snake, even the results of Malfoy trying to hex him on the Hogwarts express at the end of last year, all there. It was a wonderful. He had to have gotten the pictures from Colin but it was clear that a great deal of thought had gone into the gift.

Harry opened his trunk and reverently placed the book with the one of his parents. It was definitely his newest treasured possession.

He turned to Errol, who was by now sitting up and hooting weakly, looking slightly shell-shocked that he had once again survived a delivery. He smiled, if Owls were sorted Errol would probably be a Hufflepuff, he never gave up. Harry stroked him in thanks and helped him over to the choicest of the Owl Treats, where Errol gave him a grateful peck as he removed the box he had carried. As usual there was an assortment of letters from the assortment of Weasleys, which he opened first.

Dear Partner

As you turned down (you idiot!) our generous offer of the very finest in Dragonhide jackets, in a colour of our choice we decided to spread the wealth with something that perhaps you will appreciate a little more (you'd better!). And so, along with the usual assortment of useful and entertaining products from our private stocks we included a little something else. Enjoy.

May all your pranks be wicked, and the blame never cast your way.

Gred and Forge

Owners Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes

Harry smiled as he looked into the wooden box with the triple W logo of the twins carved into it. You could always count on the twins for the finest and most inventive of prank supplies, though he was rather curious as to their other choice of present. He opened it and gasped. Beautiful black dragonhide wand holsters. Top quality. One to strap on his arm and one his calf.

Now these were dead useful. He knew Aurors used them, as they were a definite plus when duelling, giving more ease of movement and speed in drawing. You could even hide a second wand on your person. At least now he had a way of keeping his wand on him at all times that wouldn't set off the Dursleys or even risk him 'losing a buttock.' If Moody came to get him this time then he'd have nothing to complain about. He'd definitely have to thank the twins when he saw them.

Bill had sent a book on 'Curses, Counter-Curses and Curse breaking,' which sounded interesting. Charlie had sent one called 'Interesting Beasts: How to Survive When They Don't Love You Back' which included pictures of evasive manoeuvres and lists of the best spells to use against them, with a little note saying that with Hagrid in the school and the Dark Lord outside it they'd probably need it. Mrs Weasley had sent some homemade sweets and a birthday cake, and Mr Weasley a tie pin in the shape of a Gryphon, which apparently had a few small protection spells on it. He immediately pinned it to the tie in his trunk. It looked quite good.

Pig was apparently tiring so Harry felt it safe to catch him and open the letters from his closest friends. He began to read.

Hey mate!

Happy Birthday! Hermione said something about you being sweet or getting sweets or something as a Muggle custom but I didn't really get it (honestly Ron, its 'Sweet Sixteen,' its an important birthday for Muggles) Well anyways, according to Dad we should be seeing you soon, which will at least get you away from the ruddy muggles. Bet they're not being very sweet. You should feed them some of Fred and Georges new sweets, they make you really sickly sweet to everyone, they want to call them Anti-Snapes. Can you imagine if we fed them to all the Slytherins?

Hello again Harry, I'll take over for a bit since Ron's busy laughing his head off at the thought of a sweet Malfoy. How are your extra studies going? I must say I think it was an excellent idea of yours to go everything before the start of term, I feel a lot more prepared now, though I've heard that fifth year is nothing when you compare it to sixth. I'm still not sure I'm ready.

Ha, she's been sending us all crazy trying to organize study sessions and homework sessions! I don't know how much more ready she can possibly be! At least I don't have to worry about not having done my holiday work right, she bullied me around so much I've actually got it all finished. Mum was gobsmacked when she found out! (I didn't bully you Ron!) She did mate; you know what she's like! Anyway Happy Birthday!

Ron and Hermione

The parcel for once didn't contain a text book but a planner, which he opened very warily but it didn't seem to be enchanted to screech things at him like those annoying homework diary things she'd given him and Ron before. A little note tucked inside said she hoped it would be useful when planning the DA meetings. Ron's was a wizarding version of Tic Tac Toe, with a note saying that Harry had to be able to give him a better run for his money at that than at chess. He'd smiled at that.

The note from Ginny was interesting, telling him that Ron didn't seem to be putting his heart into complaining about studying or spending all his time in library like he used to, maybe because he'd finally cottoned on that the more time he spent around work and books, the more time he spent with Hermione. She'd sent him a selection of sweets and a few chocolate frog cards he hadn't got.

He turned to look at the rest of the patiently waiting owls. 'Are any of you from people at Hogwarts?' he asked. A significant number of them flew forward. Alright, he thought. Here goes. He reached out to a random bird and began opening gifts. Most of them were from members of the DA, though he wasn't surprised to find that Zacharias Smith and Cho Chang were among those who hadn't sent anything. Many of the others had, though.

Although a lot of them had sent sweets or joke items he also got a variety of other things. Terry Boot had sent him some Raven Quills, and his girlfriend Susan Bones some coloured inks, including one in Gryffindor red which sparkled with gold. Ernie Macmillan had sent a book on becoming an Auror while Justin Finch-Fletchley sent one on teaching. Seamus had sent him a T-shirt with a Lion on and Dean some wand polish and a note full of innuendoes that made Harry grin. Luna had sent a subscription to the Quibbler while Lavender, Parvati and a few of the other girls that he didn't know very well had given him a gift voucher for Gladrags Wizardwear.

There were all sorts of little gifts, all accompanied by notes wishing him a Happy Birthday and most of which also asked about the DA. Dobby had sent socks again only this time one was red and had a spell book on it and the other was a golden yellow with a wand on. Oh well, even Dobby's idea of footwear was a lot better than Vernon and Dudley's cast-offs.

He stacked the pile of opened presents haphazardly by his bed, deciding to leave sorting them out until he woke up in the morning and turned to the rest of the owls. 'Anyone from the Order?' he asked and this time a smaller selection came forward. Moody had sent a copy of a book that was required reading for trainee aurors, Tonks a selection of Hair dyes and Lupin a ring he'd found that apparently used to belong to his parents. Harry had just stopped and stared at that.

It was his fathers Gryffindor class ring, which he'd given to Lily when they started dating. According to Lupin she'd rarely taken it off until the day James had replaced it with an engagement ring and had later lost it when the chain she'd worn it on had snapped. They'd had their initials engraved in it on the first anniversary of their first date. Harry felt tears spring into his eyes as he read Lupins note. He had so very little of his parents, and to have something that had meant so much to both of them…it was one of the best presents he'd ever had.

There was a pompous looking owl that kept trying to get his attention which Harry had decided had to be from the ministry but he decided against opening that and instead turned to the group of owls from unknown persons. A lot of them contained outrage on his behalf that the wizarding world had treated him so badly, which Harry snorted at since he was fairly sure he recognised at least one of them's writing from his former hate mail.

Many of them included cloying or ingratiating remarks on his heroism. Some of them were downright alarming - he held up a lacy pink thong with one finger and decided not to even read the note. As for the ones who had sent him silk boxer shorts he was almost afraid to find out why they had been sent, and decided the safest bet was probably to wash them anyway. Still, some of the notes were earnest commiserations on what had happened or simple thanks for his actions. Those letters he kept. And at the very least he'd gotten another little pile of presents out of it! As a matter of fact, he had to rate this as one of his best birthdays ever, really.

Finally, and with a certain amount of dread, Harry turned to the official looking Ministry owl. He didn't have a lot of reason to welcome owls from the Ministry, so it was with the air of a man reaching out for a ticking time bomb that he untied the letter from the owls leg. He took a deep breath, reminded himself that Gryffindors were supposed to be courageous and slipped his fingers under the seal.