A/N: Thank you all so much for all the reviews; I love them (: Well, Harry's twenty-two now...

Happy Birthday Part I

"Ginny?"

"What?"

"Do I look, okay?" He asked sheepishly.

"Harry, really? They don't care." Ginny smiled weakly at his nervousness as she put on her earrings.

"I know. But still…" He sighed, tugging at his dark jeans. He stared at himself in the mirror; he was so nervous. What if they didn't like his muggle style? How he wore his jeans well below his waist? His short, messy hairstyle? His shoes, his black belt, his black, button-up shirt? Maybe he shouldn't have the sleeves rolled up? Or the first three buttons open, revealing his chest, maybe it was too much?

"Harry." Ginny growled.

He cracked a small smile at her. He sighed and said, "I know, I'm crazy."

"You have no idea." She grinned, slinging a large black purse over her shoulder.

"Ready?" Harry asked, checking his appearance one last time in the mirror. Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry tightly.

He turned on the spot, not making a sound. He felt his palms begin to sweat as he looked at the familiar house.

"I love how easy apparation is for you, I barely feel anything when you do it…Harry, really?" Her eyes fell as she caught sight of him.

"I'm nervous, love, I'm sorry!" His eyes were wide.

"Says the man who defeated the most evil wizard in the world." Ginny smiled faintly.

"I've done so much, what if they don't want me?" He asked quietly, never before had he felt this nervous.

"Harry. They want you, of course. So do I." She grinned, her fingers wrapping around the collar of his shirt.

He leaned down, a slight smile at the corners of his mouth. She met his lips, kissing him gently. He deepened it, winding his arms around her small waist and pulling her closer.

She made a quiet noise of pleasure and he smiled into the kiss, his hand reaching…

"They're just snogging!"

"Ron, really?" Harry ripped away from his fiancé and glared at his best friend who returned it with a grin.

"Everyone's waiting for you." He stepped outside and Harry noticed he had cut his hair even shorter than before and he had his now very short bangs sticking out, styled, which surprised Harry.

"What did you do to your hair?"

Ron scowled. "Hermione's cousins are right pains, you know, and they're always hanging around her flat!"

Ginny snorted, taking Harry's hand and walking towards her brother. "I'm glad they gave you a haircut, though, it was getting a bit long."

"Now, you support Mum? Gee, thanks."

"She's been complaining about mine too, Ron, don't feel special." Harry ran a hand through his hair that was growing out near his old length and he was debating whether to cut it or not; it wasn't as messy as when he was a kid and had more of a shaggy, just rolled out of bed look.

"Oh, well, I feel better now. Maybe I should get a Mohawk, then what would the girls do?"

"I'll get one too." Harry smirked as they walked through the kitchen and the door where they were met with the rest of the Weasley family, minus Charlie who had left.

"You'll do no such thing." Ginny snapped and both boys burst into laughter.

Harry rustled Ron's hair. "I think they'd look good. We could work them. Mine would have to be red; very fierce."

"And mine would be…electric blue." Ron snapped his fingers, pointing at Harry.

"You two." Ginny growled, shaking her head as she sat down beside Hermione.

"What are they going on about?" Hermione asked.

"They want Mohawks."

Hermione's mouth fell open. "Red and blue? Absolutely not!"

"What, you two are always keeping track of us. Look at it this way: you could spot us a mile away." Harry nodded, liking his idea.

Ron snorted. "I should get tattoos like you too." He though wistfully.

Harry shrugged. "Sure, I know a guy who does a great job." He walked to Ginny, sitting beside her and draping an arm around her.

Suddenly, everybody else in the room seemed to reacting to Harry's appearance. It was as though they were frozen during the run of Harry and Ron's conversation. Bill stood up and shook his hand, as did Percy and his wife.

"Nice to meet you, Aubrey" Aubrey had long black hair and seemed far nicer than he was expecting from his first impression. She was, of course, very polite and spoke with more intelligence than Harry thought possible.

Harry stood up and gave both George and Arthur hugs. "Harry, you've got to come and see the shop. It's amazing the new stuff we've got. Happy birthday, by the way."

"I will, George and thanks." Harry grinned.

"Harry, it's so good to have you back. Happy birthday." Arthur told him while they hugged briefly.

"Thanks and I'm glad to be back." He answered, his eyes flashing over Ginny, who was laughing with Hermione several feet away.

Arthur noticed his stare and put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I'm beginning to understand why she was so unhappy during her sixth year. And why she's so happy now." The last part seemed to cancel out the first, but it didn't reverse the initial blow and Harry did his best to push his guilt away for the moment.

"Where's Mrs. Weasley?"

"Upstairs with Fleur and the kids. You'll have to meet them all."

"Jack, Michelle, Victoire…that's it, right?"

"Yes, thankfully."

The sounds of footsteps were heard and Mrs. Weasley appeared, tears streaming down her face. "Oh, Harry…" she engulfed him in a fierce hug and Harry returned, feeling once again at home.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley."

"It's Molly." She told him sternly, tears still falling.

"It's good to see you, Molly." He laughed.

"You're not as thin as I expected." She held him at shoulder's length, examining him, "and you finally have a shirt that fits, but your pants are falling off." She noted.

"Style, Molly." Harry told her, enjoying the fact that his return didn't trigger a bigger reaction. It was as though he had only been gone for the summer.

"Dinner should be ready soon. Fleur is on her way down with the kids, Harry has to meet them." She sniffed, wiping away a few remaining tears before going into the kitchen.

Victoire was a bright-eyed girl with long, strawberry blonde hair. She clearly had her mother's beauty in her and even at five she seemed to have the mischief of Fred and George. Jack was a quiet boy who apparently was only hiding the fact that he was a terror to all. He and Teddy led a campaign of mischief alongside Victoire, as though they were the future marauders of Hogwarts. Michelle was much less troublesome and had the same, cool attitude of her father and the personality of her mother, speaking in French just as often as she spoke English.

Harry had kept contact with Andromeda when he left, unable to abandon his godson. He visited once a month and always took Teddy to America for the day or stuck to the Tonks family home.

Uncle George was very popular among the young ones. He laid on the floor, playing games with them the entire time Molly and Fleur were in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Bill and Arthur were playing chess and Percy and Aubrey were talking by the fire, ignoring the rest of the family.

Hermione was on the couch, leaning against Ron. Harry and Ginny were in a similar position while the friends laughed together.

"A tattoo, maybe, but a Mohawk, really?" Hermione stared up at boyfriend.

"You should get a tattoo, Ron. Harry just got another one, not too long ago." Ginny gestured to Harry.

"You did? When?" Ron asked, playing with a lock of Hermione's hair.

"Last week when we were on vacation."

"I wanna see." Hermione requested.

"Okay." Harry separated himself from Ginny and began to unbutton his shirt.

"Haven't we seen enough of your body, Harry?" George asked from the floor.

"He's showing us his new tattoo." Ron announced.

Everyone looked at Harry as he shrugged off his shirt. In addition to his godson's name and his own nickname, he had an entire scene on his left arm, stretching from his elbow to his shoulder. It was all black and gray, the scene showing a wolf laying in a patch of grass, looking up to a full moon. In between the wolf and the moon, in neat cursive, was: 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good'.

George laughed. "Remus would have loved it, Tonks even more. Good thing only a few people know what that phrase really means."

"What does it mean?" Bill asked.

"Can't tell you. But Teddy will be told about it, I'm sure."

"I'll see to that." Harry smirked.

"Do you think it's wise to tattoo yourself, Harry?" Percy asked, looking with distaste.

"They're fine, Perce." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"All three of them. Wonder what Mum'll say." Bill mused.

"Here comes a chance to find out." Arthur smiled as molly and Fleur walked into the room.

"Harry Potter, are those more tattoos?" Molly gasped, staring at a shirtless Harry.

"You like them?" He asked, showing her the wolf scene.

She looked at it for a moment before smiling slightly, apparently happy he had at least done it with his family and friends in mind. "They're lovely. Dinner's ready. I made your favorite for your birthday, Harry."

"You shouldn't have, Mrs. Weasley."

"Molly, and yes, I should have."

Harry smiled and watched everyone file out of the room. Ginny came last, grabbing his hands and kissing him.

He held it until they were in the kitchen and then they broke apart before everyone saw, except Molly, who had several fresh tears falling down her face.

Dinner was served outside in the garden and they all helped Molly carry food out to the tables set up beneath the floating lanterns. Harry was shocked to see Hagrid walk into the garden before they had even finished setting up the food.

He pulled Harry into a wet hug; wet from Hagrid's rain drop tears as he sobbed about thinking that Harry could be dead and then wondering why he willingly left. Then, Minerva McGonagall showed up, giving Harry a stern look and then one of her rare smiles.

Harry felt his face grow hot when he caught sight of the small table of gifts. Molly noticed and patted his shoulder.

"You don't have to open them here." She soothed. This relaxed him a bit, but he knew he feel guilty if he didn't open them in front of them, like they wanted.

"Kingsley, I'm glad you made it." Molly and Arthur went to greet him as everybody began to sit down.

"Hello, Molly, Arthur." He walked to the long table and sat down beside Harry. "Happy birthday, Harry, it's good to have you back."

"Thanks, Kingsley."

"So, given any thought to becoming an Auror?"

"I'll have none of that, Kingsley." Molly pointed a wooden spoon at him.

Kingsley threw his hands up. "I'll be good, Molly," he chuckled.

He threw Harry a sideways grin; Harry snorted, smiling back.

"Sorry we're late, Molly. Someone was being difficult about cleaning up his cars."

Harry's face broke into a wide grin as a woman walked into the garden, clutching the hand of an excited four-year-old.

"Teddy!"

"Harry!" The little boy broke free of his grandmother and raced to his godfather's open arms. Harry scooped him up and hugged him.

"How are you, little guy?"

"Good. Guess what I got you for your birthday? Guess!"

"Hmm, I don't know."

"It's a-!"

"Teddy, don't spoil the surprise." Andromeda Tonks raised her eyebrows in warning.

"Okay." Teddy whispered. His hair was short and spiky. Today it was fire-engine red and his eyes were a brilliant dark blue.

Harry kept him in his lap as everyone settled into dinner. Harry devoted all his attention to little Teddy Lupin, playing games with him the entire time while others occasionally looked on at them. Ginny smiled at her fiancé while he played with his godson. Harry looked up and smiled at her. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

"I love you." He whispered in her ear. He hovered beside her cheek for a moment and smiled slightly when she shivered, taking in a sharp breath. He pressed his lips to her cheek again for a split second and then turned back to Teddy who had barely noticed the exchange.

Harry pretended to play for Teddy while he really glanced around the table, knowing people had seen the moment he had just shared with Ginny. Molly and Arthur both were watching their daughter with kind eyes. As was Bill and Fleur.

"Good evening all. So sorry, I'm so late, Molly, I got wrapped up in party planning."

Harry's mouth fell open as Jack came into the garden, his familiar hair sticking in every direction, now dyed a bright purple. Jack had always had a wild sense of style, having begged Harry to pierce his ears just like himself.

"Little Jack." He held his fist across the table where Jack was sitting and the two bumped fists, little Jack grinning wildly at the attention.

"So, Sky, I have several awesome bands coming tonight. They're flying in from America as we speak."

"Jack!" Harry shook his head.

"Relax, I've done so many specific confounding charms, they won't even notice magic if it's going on right in front of them, which it probably will. Right now, I have five, then we'll have karaoke and see how many shots the birthday boy can take."

"So, I have a ton of liquor being delivered, and I mean a ton."

Harry wasn't sure about having over a hundred people at his house, all getting ferociously drunk. But he knew there was no point in trying to stop it, so why not enjoy himself?

"What time should we come over?"

Jack checked his watch, a shimmering piece of silver with dozens of sparkling diamonds beneath the piece of glass.

"Three hours. That way the party will already be in full swing by then."

Harry sighed, knowing it would be a long night. But Sky absolutely loved partying and getting completely wasted, so he had no true issues with it. At least, part of him.

"So, Harry, Ginny, how was your vacation?" Molly asked casually.

"It was great." Harry answered between bites.

"Witch Weekly thinks so too." She held up the cover of the latest issue, where a muggle picture showed Harry and Ginny on the beach. Harry was looking through his white sunglasses right at the camera and Ginny was laying on the sand next to him, her body shimmering wet in the sunlight.

"I told you there were too many boats out there. They snagged it from a muggle magazine so it was someone after pictures of Sky." Harry looked at Ginny, who nodded.

"Well, they're only going to get worse if I play for England."

"Harry." Ginny warned.

"You're not thinking of leaving the team, are you? You waited for over three years." Jack asked, shocked.

Harry shrugged. "It might be more trouble than it's worth, but it's just an option. I didn't say I was seriously considering it."

This calmed everybody down, but Harry could tell it unsettled Ginny. He would devote his full attention towards music; she always considered Quidditch to represent Harry and music to represent Sky.

Dinner went smoothly and soon it was ten past eleven. Kinsley and several others had left long ago, and only Harry and the Weasleys remained.

"We should get going." Harry sent his gifts to the manor and he and Ginny said their goodbyes.

"Come visit, Harry." Molly whispered, hugging him.

"I will." He promised, feeling happier than he had in a long time.

A/N: That went well, huh? Leave a review please. The real party is up next :)