Not mine JKR's

Chapter 2

Happy Birthday

It was just over three hours later that they returned from their impromptu visit to the Orphanage, stuffed to the gills with ice cream. The welcome had been warm once the staff there had got over the initial shock of their surprise visitors. Harry would have been happy to stay longer, but someone had tipped off the press. Unwilling to talk to them he promised that he would return, and discuss renovating and enlarging the building with the Members of the Board another time.

"You're a good man Harry," Ginny said as they sat in the living room together. "You made their day."

"There was plenty of times that I wished someone had done something like for me, when I was growing up. It may have been rundown and cramped, but the place had a warmth to it. I wish I'd been placed there rather than with the Dursleys," he said running his fingers through her hair and finding a large patch of melted ice cream. "I think you need a shower."

"Well I didn't start the fight, Ron did."

"But you didn't have to join in though did you?"

"What miss the chance of a food fight, and not have my mum shout at me afterwards. How could I resist." She said grinning from ear to ear at the memory. "I'll go and have a shower, so long as Ron hasn't used all the hot water."

"Go on you grubby little urchin. I'll see you in a bit, and we have plenty of hot water." This left him alone with Hermione who had become quiet and withdrawn while staring hard at the unlit fireplace.

"Do you want to talk about it Hermione?" he asked after a few minutes of strained silence. She shook her head and then lifted her eyes to look at Harry, and started to open her mouth, but as quickly closed it again. Harry said nothing, waiting to see if she would continue.

"Harry how do you live with it?" she asked suddenly. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have bought it up. It's my problem I can sort it out myself." Her mask had slipped and he could see the real pain behind her eyes.

"Hermione we're the best of friends. Ask me anything you want, shout at me if it'll help. I won't mind, I promise you." She took a deep breath and looked away again back at the fireplace.

"How do you deal with the fact that you've killed people?" Even though he had been expecting the question, it still made him wince.

"I don't know that I have."

"I'm sorry Harry you don't have to answer. It's just that seeing all those children without parents, made me realise that some of them might be orphans because of me." This was a most unpleasant truth that Harry hadn't considered before, and he tried not to think too deeply about it.

"It's possible I suppose, but not very likely. Besides if some of them are the children of Death Eaters then its better that they be brought up without all that pureblood bigotry." He could tell that he hadn't convinced her. He hadn't convinced himself. "If I'm honest with myself I only deliberately tried to kill two people, the rest just happened. The first was that Santangelo person on Capri. He didn't leave me any choice in the matter, despite me saying I only wanted the cup he insisted on fighting me. I haven't really thought about that much since, which isn't all that surprising considering the cracked skull I ended up with."

Harry stood up and sat down next to Hermione wondering if that confrontation could have gone any different, and deciding that he might have been able to subdue him, but then he might have been killed himself.

"What about the second time Harry?" she asked her voice no more than a whisper.

"It was that bloke I hit in the back with a Reducto curse outside the restaurant. I never gave him a chance, but he was about to kill Hagrid and Grawp. I wasn't going to let that happen, not for anything. Looking back I suppose I could have stunned him instead, but it's no good second guessing yourself after the event. That lesson I have learned."

"Would you do that again?"

"In a heat beat."

"I'm not sure I could."

"And those two guys who leapt out from behind those logs could have killed any of us. How would you be feeling now if Ron had died instead of them, and you could have prevented it." It was a low blow, but Harry thought the point should be made. He put his arms around her shoulders. It was this simple act that released the dam of emotions that had been building up for the past month. With great shudders her body shook as tears fell down her face in a continuous stream.

Harry's experience of crying females was not good, but somehow this felt right, and he didn't need to do anything but sit there. He wasn't sure how long they had been there when he saw the flicker of a shadow, and he twisted his head to see Ron standing in the doorway.

"Been there long, mate," he asked.

"Long enough."

"Right we better swap places then," he said getting up off the sofa.

"Thank you Harry," Hermione managed to say between breaths.

"Anytime, I know you'd do the same for me. Now Ginny and I got up late this morning local time, so I think we'll have an early night, and that way we can get back into the right time zone quickly.

"That doesn't make any sense Harry, it must mid afternoon for you. There's no way you could get to sleep this early." Hermione even in her emotional state couldn't stop her logical side from trying to correct him. Harry knowing her as well as he did hoped that it would distract her from her thoughts.

"I never said anything about sleeping. I just said we'd have an early night."

"Will you stop it Potter. That's my sister you're talking about," Ron shouted.

"That's Mrs Potter to you. Now be good you two," Harry said laughing, glad to see Hermione eyes laughing at Ron's reaction.

XXXXX

Despite his joking, he and Ginny had found it very difficult to get to sleep the previous evening, so the next morning Harry entered the kitchen yawning and bleary eyed, alongside a similar sleep walking Ginny.

"Good morning my great friend Harry Potter, and the wonderful Mistress Potter, did you sleep well?" a lively Dobby greeted them as they sat down. Ginny made some sort of non-committal grunting noise, at least that's what Harry thought it sounded like.

"What we had was good enough Dobby," he answered watching Ginny try to chew on a piece of toast with her eyes shut. He began to feel a little more awake half way through his second cup of tea and third piece of toast.

"Are you excited about tonight's party?" Dobby asked.

"Sorry Dobby, what party is that?"

"Your birthday party of course," Dobby said looking shocked that he didn't know about it. Harry thought for a moment he was sure it wasn't his birthday today.

"It can't be Dobby, it's not my birthday. Is it Gin?" she just shook her head and began to stare off into the distance again. What was it about the Weasley's and getting up in the morning, none of them seemed to be able to manage it.

"Oh dear," Dobby said a stricken look on his face, "Dobby didn't know that he wasn't supposed to tell, bad Dobby." And he began to look around the kitchen for something to hit himself with.

"Dobby what have I told you about punishing yourself?" Harry said firmly.

"That Dobby is not to, but I'm a free Elf and can punish myself if I wish to."

"Not if you want to continue working for me." The look on the Elf's face was one of abject horror. "Besides Dobby I hate surprises, you've done me a favour. So where is this party being held?"

"At the Burrow, my great friend Harry Potter. They decided to have it tonight, because of the award ceremony that they are holding for both you and all your friends on your birthday." Harry felt his chest tightening, and even Ginny began to pay attention when she heard that.

"They're holding the award ceremony on my birthday? What bright spark in the Ministry came up with that idea?"

"I expect they thought it would be a double celebration for you," Ginny said.

"But I don't even want to go and now their going to spoil my birthday as well".

"I don't think you can get out of it," Ginny said.

"I won't go. They can't drag me there against my will. It's my birthday."

"So you want me to go without you then?" Harry looked at Ginny realising that he wanted the World to know what she had done, and be rewarded for it. He didn't give a damn for himself, he had is own very personnel reasons for getting rid of Voldemort, and they had nothing to do with fame and awards.

"No of course I don't. You deserve to be recognised, and so do the others" he said grasping her hand. "I'll be there right behind you trying to keep out of the way."

"Ha, like that's going to possible," she answered laughing reaching over and kissing him.

"You do that deliberately don't you? You heard me coming and immediately thought let's upset Ron's appetite," Ron sat down looking distinctly put out.

"Don't be daft Ron nothing's ever upset your appetite. We do it because we love each other," Ginny answered putting an extra emphasis on the word love, "and of course anything to wind you up, dear brother of mine."

"Morning Ron," Harry said with a grin. The breakfast had worked its own brand of magic and he was feeling more wide awake. His amusement at Ron, who could be so easily wound up, was interrupted by his shoulders being squeezed.

"Thanks for listening Harry. I slept right through last night." Hermione whispered in his ear, and gave him a peck on the cheek.

"I'm glad somebody did," Harry said noticing that her eyes were looking much less haggard.

"Here we go again," Ron suddenly said as a couple of owls flew through the magical enhanced window. Those two were only the start as letter after letter was dropped, by a constant stream of owls ducking and diving to avoid each other. Dobby was franticly scanning each letter as fast as he could, and to Harry's surprise destroyed at least three of them before the torrent of birds finished.

"Blimey is it like that every morning?" Harry asked when he was sure that there was going to be anymore.

"No that was a probably the quietest it's been," Ron said sorting the letters by name.

"You're having me on. There's twice as many letters here as I opened yesterday."

"Afraid not mate."

"It'll probably be worse tomorrow," Hermione added.

"Why?"

"The Daily Prophet has several pages dedicated to our visit to the Orphanage yesterday." She turned the paper round she was holding to show the front headline. 'Harry Potter makes Orphans Day'.

"All we did was take them some ice cream. It hardly warrants this sort of coverage."

"Harry you and Ginny have been missing for nearly a month, as far as they're concerned everything you do is headline news, and it's no good looking like that. You're going to have to get use to it for the next few months. It'll calm down eventually," Hermione said

"Besides my dear," Ginny said wrapping her arms round him, "what you did yesterday has highlighted the poor conditions those children were in."

"I suppose, so when were you two going to tell me about my birthday party tonight? Never mind this bloody award ceremony," Harry asked. He was determined to have a go at somebody this morning, and Ron and Hermione were available.

"The party tonight was going to be a surprise. Who told you?" Ron asked.

"Never you mind," Harry wasn't going to implicate Dobby, who was looking nervously from the other side of the kitchen. "Ok tonight was meant to be a surprise, but what about this award thing, on my birthday!"

"You must have an invite. We all got one," Ron said looking surprised that he didn't already know about it.

"This invite didn't come by post did it?"

"Err right, I guess you haven't found it yet have you," Ron said realising the problem.

"I guess if I don't reply. I don't have to go then," Harry said in triumph.

"I replied for both of you," Hermione said sticking her head out of the paper for a moment. "I said yes for you both."

"Perhaps I didn't want to go," Harry said.

"Well of course you don't want to go. That's why I accepted for you," Hermione said in her no nonsense voice.

"You can't get out of this Harry," Ron said. Harry had already come to that conclusion, but he hated the fact that it was all out of his control.

"Well I don't intend to enjoy myself," he said sulkily.

"That's alright Harry we don't expect you to," Hermione said with that infuriating look, which said I know exactly what you're thinking, but I don't care.

"Come on Harry lets take the mail through to the study, and we can spend some time opening them," Ginny said.

"Ok," he replied picking up some of the mail. For the rest of the morning the pair of them waded through a never decreasing pile. Now that he knew what he was going to do with all the money it was a much more pleasant task, and he found a growing satisfaction as the galleons mounted up. Even the odd death threat failed to change his mood, and the pair of them laughed at the growing pile of marriage proposals.

Harry and Ginny had an afternoon nap to reset their body clocks. All four of them then apparated over to the Burrow, despite the fact that Ginny didn't have a license yet. Harry felt overwhelmed by the greeting as he entered the kitchen. Every single Weasley was there, including the very heavily pregnant Fleur who was sitting down looking happy but uncomfortable. The amount of noise, and the usual chaos that surrounded you, when the Burrow was full, took Harry a little while to get use to after a month of near solitude of just him and Ginny.

The meal was up to the usual high standard and it wasn't long before Harry felt the familiar fullness that he only seemed to get at the Burrow. Everything was cleared away, after they had finished their desserts. Harry's had been an extra large helping of treacle tart. In fact he wondered if he was going to have any other sort of dessert at the Burrow, but he wasn't going to say anything though in case he never got it again.

Ginny he could see loved being back in the family home again, and she got big hugs from Bill and Charlie, and even Percy greeted her more warmly than Harry would have expected, from the normally reserved Weasley. And if truth be told Harry was more than glad to be back here as well. He wasn't sure before the final confrontation that he would be alive to see the Burrow again.

"Could I have your attention please," the still pompous sounding voice of Percy said as he tapped his glass with a fork. The whole Weasley family and Hermione, then moved and stood in front of the cleared kitchen table. This left Harry and Ginny standing alone together, bemused and not a little worried at this strange development. "It has come to all our attention that the recipient of today's birthday celebration, is rather difficult to buy for. After all what do you get the man who has everything?"

"He already has fame," Bill said.

"A modicum of wealth," Charlie added.

"Lets not forget two great business partners."

"And reliable tenants," Fred, and then George said.

"Then there is zee long list of 'eroic deeds," Fleur said.

"A large house, with a Quidditch pitch," Ron grinned at him, as he said this.

"And a large extensive library," Hermione finished with a beaming smile.

"And most important of all, my only daughter," Mr Weasley said with a small smile.

"So what do you get a man who already has everything? The answer of course is birthday cake," Mrs Weasley said. She then moved to one side to reveal a three storey cake with two little figures on the top layer, surrounded by lit candles, and added. "It's really a cross between a birthday cake and a wedding cake."

"It's wonderful, thank you," Harry said taken aback by the presentation. He then quickly blew out the candles before the figurines began to melt.

"Now this isn't all we got for you," one of the twins began

"We noticed last Easter that your house was lacking…"

"In a full range off alcoholic products."

"So we all clubbed together."

"To rectify this alarming oversight."

"After all with a life time sentence to our dear sister."

"A life time of drinking seems the only way out," the twins finished together, ducking in tandem as their mother tried to clip them both round the head.

"Would the guest of honour like to make a reply?" Percy asked. Harry looked at Ginny who gave him a look of pure love that made his insides squirm.

"Well there was one thing you didn't mention, and it's the most important to me. I belong to a wonderful family that has shown me nothing but kindness and love since the first day I entered this house, despite all the baggage I brought with me in being Harry Potter. I can never repay you for that." Fred and George then made loud retching sounds at this comment.

"There was something else you missed," Ginny said an evil grin on her face. "You failed to mention that Harry is sex on legs." There were cries of anguish from all of her brothers at this statement, but they were drowned out by Fleur's high pitch laughter at their reaction. Hermione, and then Mrs Weasley joined her, and Harry thought that they weren't going to stop, until Fleur suddenly let out a little yelp.

Minutes later Mrs Weasley confirmed that the baby was on its way.

There was a frantic rush as an overnight bag was collected, and some last minute items fetched to put in it. Then Bill and Fleur took a prearranged Portkey to St Mungo's.

"Right then," Mrs Weasley said her eyes a glow at the thought of becoming a Grandmother. "Ginny, Harry you better cut the cake, and we can eat it while we wait for news."

"But it could be hours before anything happens," Harry said as he picked up the knife.

"Not with magical births Harry," Hermione said. "They rarely last more than a couple of hours from the first twinge of labour. I was born at home on the library floor. My dad had to deliver me, it was lucky he had some basic medical training. The mid wife didn't arrive until two hours later."

"No doubt to find you reading a book," Ron finished for her, causing a round of laughter.

"I just don't know how those muggles manage. I've heard that they can be in labour for a couple of days. It just doesn't bear thinking about," Mrs Weasley said shuddering. "Now who has the camera?"

"I do mum," Charlie said as he got into position. Harry handed the knife to Ginny, and placed his hands around hers. Together they slowly cut the bottom layer of cake while the photo was taken. With great efficiency the cake was dismantled and devoured by the Weasley clan. Harry laughed to himself as he saw Hermione force Ron to put the second plate he had picked up, back down again.
"How are you now George?" Harry asked, remembering that he had been in St Mungo's with a badly hexed leg just a few weeks ago.

"Oh it's all cleared up now, but we took a few pictures of it, if you want to see them?"

"Another time maybe," Harry answered, not wanting to ever see them. "So how's business doing, now the war's over."

"Well joke sales are at an all time high, but defence items have fallen through the floor," Fred said

"And we blame you and Ginny for that, but we forgive you," George finished.

"That's very generous of you," Harry said grinning, but Fred's next statement wiped it right off his face.

"So Harry tell us what went on between you and he-who-must-not-be-named, nobody really knows?" The question was asked a little too loudly just when there was a dip in the conversation, and the whole room suddenly went silent.

Harry though barely noticed, he had caught Ginny's eye, and in an instant knew he couldn't talk about it. They hadn't really discussed it in any detail between themselves. He knew it was impossible to talk about it to anybody else, even the Weasley's. The memories were just too raw and vivid, even now with his eyes open he could see Ginny writhing in agony, as Voldemort with blazing red eyes tortured her and taunted him. The fear and the helplessness that he had felt that day returned with a vengeance. He closed his eyes willing the image to go away as his whole body started shaking, but it just intensified as the echoes of her screams rang in his mind.

"Harry, I'm still here, it's not real." Harry opened his eyes and saw Ginny right in front of him, concern all over her face. He grabbed onto her making sure that she was real, and breathed in deeply. It took him a few minutes to regain control of himself, and as he looked around the room he saw anxious faces looking at him.

"I'm sorry everybody," Harry said after taking a deep breath. "I hadn't realised that question would effect me like that."

"Fred, you should be ashamed of yourself," Mrs Weasley shouted across the room. Harry could see though that Fred was more than ashamed, he was mortified at the pain he had caused Harry. The expression looked totally alien on his normally fun loving face.

"Molly its ok," Harry said cutting her off before she launched a full scale assault. "Someone was bound to ask me that one day. I'm just glad I was among family when they did, rather than that blasted award ceremony I have to go to. Fred don't worry about." Fred nodded in relief, and stood there in silence.

"I knew I'd forgotten something," Mrs Weasley said distracted from tongue lashing her son. "Ginny we have to get you a new gown for the Ball that's after the award ceremony.

"There's a Ball afterwards, when were you going to tell me that," Harry said looking at Ron and Hermione.

"Well after your reaction this morning we thought we'd wait until you calmed down a bit," Hermione said. Harry wanted to storm off again, but found that he didn't really have the energy, and Hermione was looking worried. Maybe it was time to just go with the flow, rather than fight the current.

"Ok fine we'll go to the Ball as well."

"Oh good, Ginny I've discovered this little shop in Diagon Alley that resells second hand Ball gowns. There should be a really wide choice for you," Mrs Weasley said warming to the subject, now that Harry was relatively happy to go.

"Oh no you don't Molly, you and Ginny are going to buy the best gown there is, no matter what it costs, and we will pay for it," Harry said putting his arm around Ginny's shoulder.

"But Harry there's no need. We have plenty of money now, and very little in the way of expenses."

"Molly if I have to go to this Ball, then I want everybody there looking at Ginny. I want all the women there spitting in envy, and the men gnashing their teeth that she's with me."

"You want me to be a trophy wife is that it?" Ginny said he eyes flashing dangerously.

"For one night only, yes a trophy wife sounds just about right. I want the papers talking about you the next day, not me."

"Fat chance of that, and what if I don't want to be the talk of the papers the next day?" she retorted.

"With the dress you and your mum are going to get, how can you not be. I want both of you to have a good time, without worrying about the cost, do it for me please."

"But Harry do you have any idea how expensive some of these gowns can be," Mrs Weasley said. "They can go for a ridiculous sum."

"I don't care if they cost the price of a small house, Ginny was the true hero that day, and I want it to be recognised," he said. Harry thought he might have got through to both of them, after a lifetime of just getting by. The idea of spending without worrying about the cost had a scary appeal.

"Ok Harry, we'll try, and mum I need to get Harry a birthday present as well."

"Don't buy anything too expensive for me though. If you're going to buy an overpriced dress we'd better save a few Knuts." Harry said with a cheeky grin, and then ducked behind George, as Ginny swung a mock punch at him. Fortunately he was saved by Bill apparating back into the kitchen with the biggest smile that had ever graced his scarred face. He stood there for a while looking at all the expectant faces around him, until Mrs Weasley could bear it no more.

"Well tell us Bill."

"It's a boy, just short of seven pounds, and in perfect health," he said.

"And Fleur how is she?" Mr Weasley asked.

"She's fine, but because it's her first baby they're going to keep her in overnight."

"Do you have a name yet?" Ginny asked.

"Alastor Harry Weasley," he answered, "Fleur was greatly affected by Moody's death, and wanted to honour him."

"Well with a name like that he's going to be a fighter," Mr Weasley said. "Now Molly where's the champagne."