Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling; therefore none of it is mine.
Later that afternoon found Harry wound up in four blankets, curled on the couch, under Mrs. Weasley's watchful eye. Ron had accidentally let slip that the kitchen downstairs was being prepped for Harry's birthday party and Mrs. Weasley was their way of keeping Harry from peeking. Harry, though, had absolutely no intention of going downstairs to peek. There was no way he was going to ruin his very first birthday party.
Eventually, after Harry had exhausted his pile of books and was becoming fidgety, both Hermione and Ginny approached him, while Ron had a whispered conversation with his mom.
"C'mon Harry," Hermione demanded as she led him from the sitting room, "close your eyes."
Harry shook his head adamantly. He couldn't close his eyes without being haunted by memories. He wasn't going to let those ruin this day for him. Harry had also become partially afraid of the dark, unless of course it was a dark cupboard. In a cupboard he knew he was safe and the dark didn't seem to scare him as much. In an open space, there were just too many unknowns.
Hermione guided Harry downstairs and together they stood in front of the kitchen door. Harry took deep breaths and tried to prepare himself for his first birthday party. Dimly, he was aware of Mrs. Weasley, Ron and Ginny shifting anxiously behind him. Harry took one last deep breath and pushed the door open.
"SURPRISE!"
Harry stepped back in fright and cowered into Hermione's form. Both Snape and Sirius crossed the kitchen. Snape reached Harry first and swept the boy into a hug.
"Potter! Pott-Harry. Harry, listen to me. You're safe; no one wants to hurt you. You're okay. You're safe. Please, Harry, believe me. There is nothing here to harm you."
Snape gently released Harry who was captured in Sirius' hug. After a quick whispered conversation, Harry was released and he moved to stand slightly behind Snape. Shacklebolt approached Harry quickly with a gleaming kitchen knife and Harry latched painfully onto Snape's robes. Snape leaned down to mutter into Harry's ear.
"Shacklebolt is not going to hurt you, Harry. He just wants a piece of birthday cake." Snape sneered to express his distaste of birthday cake, but surprising accepted a small piece after it was cut. Before long, there was only a small piece of cake left, which Harry looked at longingly before returning to his sanctuary, the shadow caused by Snape.
Snape leered down at Harry. "Where is your piece of cake?"
"My… piece?"
"Did I speak troll? Yes, your piece of cake. Surely you desire a piece? No one here will forbid you from having it."
Harry hesitantly walked up to the table. After looking around numerous times to make sure everyone was involved in a conversation, Harry's arm darted out quickly and grabbed the last piece of cake. He hurried to crouch behind Snape where he crammed the piece into his mouth and smiled up at Snape.
"Thank you, sir."
"There's nothing to thank me for, Potter. Congratulations on becoming 16."
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Harry was even more surprised when he was presented with birthday presents. Harry was just about to open them when he felt the first throb of pain in his scar and he quickly excused himself and bolted from the room. When a blood-curdling scream echoed from the hallway, Sirius, Remus, Snape and Dumbledore rushed out of the kitchen, barring the door from letting any one else exit.
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After escaping from the kitchen, the pain in Harry's scar had intensified and Harry could not hold back a scream of pain. He tried to drag himself up the stairs and into his bedroom, but the going was difficult as he had one hand against his forehead desperately trying to relieve the pain. In the background, Harry could here feet pounding up the stairs and as he lost consciousness he felt warm, strong arms wrap around his body and he knew everything would somehow be okay.
-----
Sirius lifted Harry off of the stairs and carried him into Harry's bedroom.
"Harry seems to be having a Voldemort induced attack. Can you see how his scar is red and puckered?"
Snape had noticed. Snape had also noticed the dull ache that was steadily increasing in his left arm. Harry had started tossing on the bed and as the pain escalated in Snape's arm, Harry arched off of the bed and threw up. Sirius quickly cleaned Harry with a flick of his wand and tried to gather Harry in his arms, but Harry was too hot to touch.
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"The dark lord is angry."
All heads swiveled around to stare at Snape who was slumped against the window gripping his arm.
"This isn't a summons but a punishment. Someone has displeased him greatly and he is warning us all."
Dumbledore and Snape exchanged a look and Snape headed for the door to the hallway but Harry's voice startled him into turning around.
"Stop it! Stop hurting him… please." Snape walked closer to Harry.
"Who is he hurting, Potter? Tell us. Who is the dark lord torturing?"
A triumphant scream rang through the room.
"I know you can hear me, Potter! Who is the dark lord with?"
Harry's mouth fell open in surprise and a voice eerily unlike Harry's rang from his mouth.
"Where are you, Potter? Can you hear me? Do you see what you have caused? These deaths are your fault. Every person I kill is your fault. You are a menace and a disgrace. Get the hell out of my head!"
Harry and Snape screamed as pain exploded from their bonds to Voldemort and Snape slumped on top of Harry as Harry's eyes dropped shut.
Wow, sorry it's been so long since the last time I uploaded, but yearbook is a 27 hour job in a 24 hour day. I'm glad so many people are enjoying this story, but I would just like to point out that under no circumstances am I forcing anyone to read it, so if you don't like it, don't read it. lol Honestly, I don't mind if you send me a review telling me you don't like it, but reviewing and calling me names a) doesn't bother me in the the slightest, and b) makes me laugh. Anyway, when Sirius and Remus call Harry "foal", it's just a term of endearment, not me mistakenly trying to call Harry after his father's animagus form. Love you all and keep reviewing.