It was eight o'clock in the evening and Teddy was finally asleep thanks to Mrs. Tonks who was now reading the Evening Prophet and drinking some tea at the rocking chair beside her grandson's crib. Harry was busy putting the trash out with Kreacher after the day's cleaning. Grimmauld Place was looking less and less like it originally was before. After dusting off his hands he sent Kreacher to prepare more tea as he takes a cold shower. It was unusually warm today, almost uncomfortably so.

Harry changed quickly as he was looking forward to some tea and some cakes sent by people (most he did not know) as a token for defeating Lord Voldemort. Cakes and so many other things just to say. However, upon landing at the bottom of the stairs, to his surprise and annoyance, the doorbell rang. The doorbell's gloomy sound was echoing in ever corner of the once Noble House of Black. Right on cue, Harry could hear Teddy's cries from upstairs.

Who could be calling at this time? It wasn't late but he didn't expect anyone. Nevertheless, with a sigh Harry opened the door, hoping it wasn't bad news.

"Hey there, my main man! Just the chap we were looking for." It was George and he was with a cheerful looking Ron and a grave looking Percy.

After welcoming the Weasley brothers with some fraternal hugs Harry asked, "What are you guys doing here?"

Before anyone could answer, Mrs. Tonks appeared on top of the stairs carrying a tearstained-face Teddy. "Who's here, Harry? Who rang the doorbell and disturbed the baby?"

"Good evening, Andromeda!" George said with a wave.

"Sorry about that, Mrs. Tonks. It won't happen again," replied Percy, eyeing his brothers sternly who didn't seem to notice his gaze.

"Alright. Just Floo in next time, you know how horrible that doorbell sounds. Why are you here anyway?"

"We're here to take Harry out." Ron said.

"Okay. Well, you're big boys. Do whatever you want just don't get caught acting foolish, alright?" Mrs. Tonks said. "Now off you go and leave me in peace. Say goodbye to your godfather, Teddy."

The baby gurgled and both he and his grandmother disappeared in the nursery.

"Take me out where? Look its almost nine, I'm tired from cleaning the house all day and Kreacher's already made me some tea. You guys are free to join me. Anyway, I'm seeing you tomorrow, aren't I?" Harry said.

"Of course, Chosen One! Who would want to miss your birthday and mum's cooking?" George piped out. "But this is different. We're taking you out for some real drinks to celebrate the end of your seventeenth! Maybe that'll cure you from sounding like a housewife."

"Besides, mate, I don't think tea with Kreacher sounds like the ideal thing as your year ender," Ron added.

"I actually think tea's good right now," Percy said. He still looked uncomfortable and unsure about his brother's idea of a celebration.

"Shut up, Perce," George said. "Look, you guys seriously need to loosen up. C'mon. This is a one-time offer, Harry."

"Fine. Just let me get dressed. You guys might as well drink some of Kreacher's tea so as not to insult his efforts. He's in the kitchen."

"Alright!" Ron cheered.

"That's, my boy." George winked at the hesitant looking Harry and the three redheads headed to the kitchen to be greeted by an old but rather happy to see them house elf.

"Ready to Apparate, Harry?" George asked a huge grin on his face. It was clear that he was the most excited one for this event. Whatever it was, Harry thought.

"Yeah, but where to? Surely not the Three Broomsticks?" Harry asked. Where does one get 'real drinks' anyway?

"Oh no, mate. We're taking you somewhere safe," Ron said

"What do you mean safe?"

"Safe as in a place where no one would recognize you." Percy said. "Which is if I'm not mistaken, a Muggle pub?" Percy looked at George's direction.

"No more questions for tonight. You'll side-along with me, Harry." George placed an arm around Harry who still felt unsure. He honestly did not have any idea at all as to what would happen tonight.

"Trust us, mate. It'll be fun. I promise," Ron said with a reassuring pat.

Three minutes have passed and the Weasley brothers and Harry were standing outside a homey looking pub on a deserted but secure looking street.

"I'll be back to pick you up," Percy said. Harry thought the oldest Weasley would disapparate from sight but instead he was walking towards a café at the end of the street.

As they entered the pub Harry noted that the place looked friendly enough and much bigger and much better maintained than the famous Leaky Cauldron. The wooden floorboard shone from the decorative yellow lights that brightened the place. The furniture was made out of polished wood as well. There were two pool tables at the middle of the room, a jukebox and some foosball tables. The walls of the place were filled with wooden frames of what looked like different shapes of shells in it. There weren't much people except some three middle aged men sitting by the bar.

"There they are!" Ron pointed at the far corner of the room, where a large booth that was occupied by no other than Harry and Ron's dorm mates and a guy with dreadlocks. In the flesh were Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Lee Jordan looking much better from the last they have seen them. They already had some cold bottle nestled between their hands.

It was a pleasant surprise. Harry couldn't have rushed any faster to greet his fellow Gryffindors with brotherly hugs and the widest grin. The group settled in the booth comfortably and had no trouble steaming up the conversation.

"Oh, man. It's really good to see you guys! How are you?"

"Great! Been up to Hogwarts to help out with the rebuilding a couple of weeks ago. Bet it looks like its same old self by now," Seamus said talking a swig from his drink.

"Yeah, it does. Gran and I went on a holiday in the south. My uncle who lives there introduced me to some Herbologists. It was pretty cool and fun. We even went diving!" said Neville. And Harry thought his friend looked like his old happy self again.

"So are you guys planning to go back to Hogwarts?" Ron asked.

"Oh yeah. We all are," replied Neville. "Gran wants me to finish my studies and I think she's right, I'm looking forward to it actually. Hogwarts would never look the same to me but given the chance to experience it after the war, I would take it."

"True that. How about the girls? Did Hermione mention anything?" Dean asked.

"Being Hermione she will come back whatever the cost. The Patil twins are finishing. From what Hermione said, Padma, the Ravenclaw one wants to be a Healer and there are heavy NEWTS requirement for that. I guess the rest of them are coming back. Come to think of it, I don't know anyone who isn't." Ron replied.

There was a short awkward silence. The mention of twins tensed the air especially for George who was trying his best to pretend he wasn't affected by looking out of the bar window with an impassive mask. Also, the topic of their fellow Gryffindor batch mates made them ponder of the people who are not coming back to Hogwarts because they have passed away in the war.

Dean finally broke the silence sharing about the holiday trip he, his stepfather, mother and sisters took in Spain. "Anyway, how 'bout you, Harry? What have you been up to?"

"Oh, swell! McGonagall didn't want me near Hogwarts no matter how much I insisted to help. So I did my best in the other damaged areas. Also, I have Teddy and Mrs. Tonks over in Grimmauld Place so it's been a couple of sleepless nights. But it's alright, Teddy's really great."

"Probably the reason why he acts like a housewife," George said sniggering. "Barely leaves the house unless it's something to do with rebuilding, buying nappies and milk, or mum inviting him for some soiree."

"Wouldn't blame you," said Neville to Harry. "After everything that happened you deserve some quiet. We all do."

"Not that quiet though. Let's not leave fun out of it, yeah?" said Lee who and casted a knowing look to George.

"Absolutely! Now, Harry, lets get some alcohol in you and maybe teach us to play some of these Muggle stuff in here, eh?" George said. And with a call to a small blond bubbly waitress the orders were made.

They had a quiet round before chips and crisps were served. Dean ordered pizza, which the rest of the group never tasted except for Harry and Seamus.

"Wow, this thing tastes magical! I don't know about you guys but I think the one with pineapples tastes the best!" George commented happily indulging himself with another slice.

Dean taught them how to play pool while Harry busied Ron with the foosball table. The few Muggles around the place, including the employees in the pub didn't seem to be bothered with the quiet ignorance of the things around them by some members of the group. George experimented on the jukebox asking Harry for help with the Muggle money and song selection. The rounds of drinks didn't seem to end in Harry's opinion and he couldn't help but accept each drink that Ron, George and Lee thrusts on his hand.

"Do you even know what this is called?" Harry asked George as the redhead gave him a peculiar black colored drink that smelled strongly like rubbing alcohol. Harry's head started to feel heavy and his limbs languid.

"Ugh, not sure. But the tender man –"

"Bartender."

"Yes, him. Well, he told me that one's a winner. Go ahead, Chosen One!"

And the night went on and on for Harry but it seemed as if it were only a few hours before he felt his rationality glide and his consciousness with it.

"Harry, wake up. Wake up! How much did you give him to drink, Ron? I am so telling mom on you!"

"Hey, it wasn't all me! George was in it too. It was his idea! And it wasn't like Harry was not participative."

"Participative?! If I know he didn't even know what he was walking into. Look at the state of him! I'm calling Hermione."

"No! C'mon, Ginny. Give me a break. It was all good fun."

Harry wasn't sure if he was hearing the siblings' bicker right for he felt like a hammer was transplanted in his head to continually pound his brain into pieces. He was sure of a few things though. He knows that was on his bed back in Grimmauld Place. He knows the blinds of his window was open because he can feel the warmth of the sun on his face piercing his lids with its red hues under closed eyes. Speaking of eyes, Harry thought it seemed to take so much effort to open them. He was trying to recall his last memories from last night but his mind didn't seem to function well as he found himself drawing blanks.

"I think he's awake. Harry?" Ginny's hand felt his forehead as if Harry was a sick kid. Harry replied with an elusive mumble. "Harry, you need to wake up. It's almost noon and mum's going to want you in the house by then."

"Yeah, mate. Don't want to miss your own birthday party now, would you?"

"Go away, Ron. I'll handle him from here."

With a smirk on his face Ron apparated to the Burrow. He wasn't sure it was wise to leave his younger sister with Harry alone but Harry didn't seem to be in the state to do something mischievous.

"If you won't wake up, I'll throw an ice cold water over your head. I haven't got all day to baby you, Potter."

The stern voice did it. Harry hesitantly pulled himself up with the help of Ginny who handed him his glasses. For the first time ever, his glasses didn't help clear his vision. Everything was too blurry if that was possible. As soon as he was on his feet Harry ran for bathroom, feeling the walls for support and heaved at the toilet. He wasn't sure if it was Ginny he was hearing or his ears were just ringing.

"I'll prepare your bath." Ginny said giving him a last caress at the back after a few minutes of hurling.

"Let's take the Floo. I don't think I'm in the right state to Apparate yet and you definitely can't side along with me. We'll get splinched." Looking better than the mess he was this morning, Harry gave his redhead helper an apologetic smile.

"Serves you right for accommodating my brothers."

"It was actually fun when it lasted. I just wished remembered how it ended."

"You'll have Ron and George for that. Not so sure with George though. I didn't see him in breakfast today. Knowing him, he's probably worse than you were."

"Maybe. Hey, Gin."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for helping me today. Couldn't have done it without you."

"Shut up, Potter. The idea of my mom's wrath would have been enough motivation. And Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Happy Birthday."

Ginny's lips landed and his. It was like his seventeenth birthday present from her again only much better and with no Ron to interrupt them.

Mrs. Weasley had outdone herself again. With the help from Mrs. Tonks Harry's cake beat all his previous ones. It was a huge letter H decorated with the colors scarlet and gold with the numbers one and eight hovering on top. The feast was intimate with the Weasleys, Grangers, Lovegoods, and the remaining members of the Order. Bill and Fleur just arrived from their honeymoon both looking happier and tanned. And to Harry's surprise even Professor McGonagall, Professor Slughorn and Hargid were there to wish him well.

There were no obvious traces of the after effects from last night's events. Only George, Lee, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny knew. Although Harry suspected Mr. Weasley knew too but if he did he didn't show signs of disapproval unlike Hermione.

"You could have killed him, Ron! There is such a thing as alcohol allergy and alcohol poisoning, you know!" Hermione hissed.

"Alright, I'm sorry you're upset but, Hermione, he's alright. So drop it okay?"

Hermione did drop it when Mrs. Weasley was casting suspicious glances towards them.

The afternoon was spent with playing Quidditch and playing with Teddy who was still mimicking Harry's features. Teddy enjoyed the sounds of Exploding Snap while Ron and George played, giving a happy gurgle once in a while. Hagrid took a fancy of tossing the baby on the air giving both Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Tonks heart palpitations that slowed a little when Harry assured them he had a Levitation Spell and Shield Charm on the baby.

At night they enjoyed a beautiful and colorful fireworks display engineered by George and Lee. Every one was on their backs on the grassy field some few meters from the Burrow.

This is the best birthday yet, Harry thought. He looked around field at the people he held dear as they gaze happily up at the adorned sky, the vibrant lights reflecting on their eyes.

AN: I'm sorry that this one's late. Been pretty busy with work and to be honest I had difficulty finishing this one but I made it through. Yay! I hope you guys enjoyed this. And also, I just wanted to say thank you for the support, wether from the follows, reviews or just simply taking the time to read my work. I know I have minor errors but I hope you don't mind it much. Reviews are always appreciated! Thanks! ~ E