Hey there everyone, I am so so sorry that it has taken me this long to get another chapter out to y'all. But I started a new job and have been pretty flat out with that and haven't had a moments peace. But now I have more time on my hands now that I have gotten used to my hours. So I should have more for you more often hopefully.
PLEASE ENJOY THIS CHAPTER.
Dumbledore looked at the faces around him, "So what do you think?" he asked.
"I think that it is a wonderful idea Albus and a wonderful birthday present." Fillius squeaked his excited agreement.
"But who will go with him Albus?" Minerva asked concerned with Harry's safety.
"Well I certainly cannot since I have much work to do but our guests will be going with Harry. I think it's best they get as much magical culture as they can, Severus will go as he is in charge of Harry this summer. Hagrid will be going since that is why Harry thought about it."
"Harry is such a selfless boy." Pomona gushed.
"Sometimes he needs to be selfish I think." Albus told her with a sigh.
"Now I think that Salazar should also go and get a feel for the newer Wizarding world and to spend some time with Harry as he is his heir."
"I agree." Minerva said and was followed through with nods and agreements from the others.
"Well then it's settled. We'll have a party here for Harry with his friends the day before his birthday and he can head off to Romania on his birthday."
"I will speak with the House Elves about what flavour cake Harry may like." Pomona offered.
"Speak with Dobby and Winky, they take care of Harry more often then the other elves." Dumbledore suggested, Pomona nodded and headed out of the room to speak with Dobby and Winky.
"And I shall take care of the invitations." Fillius spoke up.
"Very good Fillius, please have them sent out by tonight with a R.S.V.P for three days from now." Fillius nodded and headed off to his rooms to prepare the invitations.
"I will see about the decorations with Poppy if you'd like to help?" Minerva asked.
"I would be delighted." Poppy said and left the room with Minerva talking about decoration plans.
Albus smiled to himself, everything was working out all right so far for Harry but there was always something to foil Harry's happiness.
Harry panted as he reached the steps of the castle breathing heaving, Legolas already on the stairs not out of breath at all. He smiled at Harry as the boy held on to him to stay standing. Aragorn appeared next to him only slightly out of breath.
"I gather Legolas was first?" he asked Harry even though he knew the response.
Harry pouted at the King of Men, "It's not fair. He has longer legs."
Aragorn shook his head, "No matter how far behind us Legolas was he would still reach the destination before we would. He's an elf and elves are very fast yet stealthy. We wouldn't have heard him."
This just made Harry pout harder but his eyes lit up, "How do you know so much about elves. I presume that where you're from not many humans have the privilege of really knowing so much, only a small amount."
"Quite the curious little thing aren't you." Aragorn stated with a raised eyebrow, Harry smiled cheekily at the king, "Once we are seated comfortably I will see about telling you."
Harry leaped at the King and gave him a hug, "Thankyou." Aragorn briefly hugged the boy back before the embrace broke.
"Do you like knowledge Harry?" Legolas asked as he saw their Hobbit friends walking toward them, puffing.
"When I get to learn something new." Harry responded.
"We'll see what we can get from Gandalf for you alright." Aragorn told him.
Harry beamed, "Thankyou."
"Give up half way did you my friends?" Aragorn asked Merry and Pippin.
"Well we did just eat you know and have some whiskey." Merry told them, "Otherwise we would have beaten you."
Legolas and Aragorn laughed, "Perhaps another day then friends."
"Gimli stopped running before we did." Pippin told them, which caused man and elf into another fit of laughter. Harry looked on the scene confused.
"Would you like me to show you where the kitchen is?" he asked the Hobbits.
Eyes brightened at the mention of kitchen, "Oh yes please." They crowed.
"Alright then. Once the others get here we can head down to the kitchens. But while we're waiting would you like to meet the squid?" he asked those surrounding him.
"Oh yes please Harry." Pippin agreed excitedly and ran off toward the lake and waited for the others to catch up.
Harry shook his head at the energy that Pippin had and slowly walked over to the lake so he could show his new companions the giant squid.
Salazar made his way to the kitchens for something to eat since it had been since dinner the night before since he had eaten. He just hoped that the kitchen was in the same place as it always was.
Salazar let out a sigh of relief when he came upon the familiar portrait of fruit and reached a hand up to tickle the pear and watched as the door opened to admit him into the hustle and bustle that the House Elves were in.
One of the House Elves stopped what he was doing and came over to the Founder.
"Is there something Dobby can be doing for yous sir?" he asked.
"Yes please Dobby, it seems that I have missed breakfast and lunch is soon approaching and I am quite hungry. I would like some stew if it isn't too much of a bother."
"Of course it isn't a bother sir please sit down and I will get you some."
Salazar nodded his head in thanks and sat down at the small kitchen table that was sitting in the kitchen and got comfortable and waited for his brunch. His peace was short lived how ever when Pomona entered the room with a bright smile.
"Oh dear!" she exclaimed a hand to her breast in shock, "Forgive me Founder Slytherin. I had no idea you would be here."
Salazar waved a hand, "I missed breakfast it seems and I have grown quite hungry and please just call me Salazar."
"Then I must return the favour and ask you to call me Pomona. But lunch will be served in the Great Hall in half an hours time if you would like to wait until then." She explained to him.
"I would dear lady but I am rather ravenous and must eat something light now. I am only having a stew. May I ask what you are doing down here at this time?"
"Oh yes of course. I am here to talk to Dobby, he has taken quite a liking to young Harry and may know what kind of cake Harry enjoys. As his birthday is coming up we wanted to have a birthday for him before he left on his surprise."
Salazar blinked in shock, "His birthday, oh my. When is his birthday Pomona?"
"The 31st of July but we are having it the day before so that Harry can spend it with his friends before going on a trip to the Romanian Dragon preserve and Egypt with you as apart of his company."
"Is there anything that you can recommend for a birthday present?"
"All I can tell you is to give him something from the heart. I think that is the best solution."
"Here you are sir." Dobby said as he put the bowl of stew on the table in front of Salazar.
"Thankyou." Salazar sighed as he dipped the spoon in and took a delighted mouthful.
"Dobby there is something I need to ask you about Mr. Potter."
"What is you needing help with?" Dobby asked his bright eyes shining up at her.
"Harry's birthday is coming up and we would like to have a small birthday party for him and I was wondering if you would know what kind of cake Harry would enjoy. And please do not tell Harry any of this, it's a surprise."
"Oh Dobby is not telling anything to Mister Harry Potter sir. Mister Harry Potter sir would not like big cake, he would like chocolate eclairs instead or a small sponge cake with raspberry and cream in the middle." Dobby explained.
Pomona nodded her head, "I see, well then we'll just have to have many eclairs made and a sponge cake quite big but not overly so."
"Dobby can have it done Professor Sprout ma'am. When would yous be liking it by?"
"The 30th of July is when the party is. At noon."
"Dobby is having it done." He said happily and popped off to do some more work.
"Shall we make our way up to the Great Hall Pomona?" Salazar asked appearing beside her and offered an arm.
"Of course." She responded and took the offered arm and was escorted from the kitchen.
Harry watched as the squid chased the Hobbits with his tentacles playfully, the Hobbits laughed as they ran. Harry swished his feet around in the water with a bright smile on his face at his new friends' enjoyment. Though he noticed that they didn't go anywhere near the water.
"Do you not like the water?" he asked them as they ran by him again.
"We have no need to know how to swim, it isn't practical where we live." Pippin replied.
"Then what do you do for fun?" Harry inquired with a tilt of his head.
"We eat, drink, eat, sing, eat and drink." Merry explained.
"To me that sounds rather boring." Harry replied.
"Then what do you do for fun?" Legolas asked.
"I like flying, swimming, being with my friends and learning new spells."
"Flying?" Aragorn questioned.
"Yes, we can fly on broomsticks." Here he was looked at funny, "Pegasi, Thestrals and Hippogriffs just to name a few ways to fly. If you would like to fly I'm sure I could find some way to get you in the air."
Merry and Pippin shone like the sun, "Do you really think that you could do that?"
"Of course. I'd have to ask the headmaster the best way for you to fly but it will be done."
"Woo hoo." Merry and Pippin cheered.
"And what are you cheering about dear friends?" Gandalf asked as he, Gimli and Severus joined them on the bank of the lake.
"Harry is going to take us flying." Pippin exclaimed.
"Oh and how is he going to do that?"
"Well there is a broomstick, Thestral, Pegasi and Hippogriffs, what ever they are. But Harry is going to talk to the headmaster first." Merry explained.
Gandalf turned to look at Harry, "Perhaps I shall take you up on the offer as well Harry." He smiled at the teen.
Harry smiled back, "Of course. If others like to know about what I do and enjoy then I am more then happy to share it with others."
"I feel the need to interrupt here. Lunch is going to start in 10 minutes and it will take that long for us to get there if the staircase doesn't change." Severus stated.
It only took those words for the Hobbits to get moving and race at full speed into the castle. Moving faster then Legolas and Harry had back in Hogsmead. With chuckles the group followed the path they took and entered the castle.