Thanks for everyone sticking with my story still, it's been really quite fun to write in my spare time. I have plans for the next few chapters already so stay tuned and feel free to leave a review with any thoughts or suggestions! Also, I've never added a disclaimer that I do not own anything to do with the Harry Potter world, that all belongs to the lovely and brilliant JK Rowling.
Three days later Sirius was discharged from St Mungo's having been deemed well enough to get by on his own now. He looked healthier already, having been given multiple potions to perk him back while he was staying there. Harry had also found Sirius munching down meals he had ordered from the hospital kitchen almost every time he had visited him in the hospital, which was quite often every day. He ate comparably like his Animagus form, which was a big black dog. He gnawed on food in a dog like way and always ate rather quickly. Hermione raised her eyebrows each time she caught him doing this but Harry thought it was amusing. He hadn't forgotten the conditions Sirius was used to living in, he recalled a time where he had lived off rats even.
Harry knew troubled times lay ahead of him, he hadn't forgotten the prophecies words, destining him to face off against Voldemort again someday. He knew Death Eaters would be out in the world causing havoc, and that Embry who he had thought he could trust was likely one of them. There would come a time as well in the next few weeks when Harry would have to go back to Hogwarts for his 6th year. Normally he would be looking forward to this, but now he would be leaving behind Sirius again who would likely dive back into work for the Order of the Phoenix. He was a free man now, no longer bound to Grimmauld place where he was safe, Harry knew he would be out in the action like he so craved. He cared deeply for many of the order members of course, but the thought of Sirius specifically being in any danger again after losing him once gave Harry anxiety. They had used the fact Harry cared for Sirius so much before already, he knew they'd do it again if they had the chance.
He pushed these thoughts away though, except when he dwelled restlessly on them at night when everyone else had gone to bed. Despite what felt like impending trouble looming in his future, Harry was having the best summer he'd had in a long time. He'd only spent a day with the Dursley's, he still couldn't believe he'd managed one miserable day with them before he had escaped Privet Drive. Bill and Fleur were present often at the Burrow and Harry had taken quite a liking to Bill. Mostly of all of course was he had his godfather back, and was enjoying watching him live freely.
Just that morning infact, he had been surprised by his godfather having been released. He'd gone down to the kitchen in the morning with Ron, to find him sitting at the table with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley having breakfast. To his surprise they all joyfully wished him a happy birthday, Mrs. Weasley waved her wand and a banner shot out and spread across the wall.
Harry had forgotten his birthday was today. He knew it had been coming up, but having been so preoccupied the past week he had lost track of the date. He smiled at them all, especially Sirius. He couldn't help but think that his birthday being today may have influenced Sirius to push to be released.
"Thanks, everyone." Harry said gratefully, taking a seat at the table next to Mr. Weasley and Sirius. Hermione, Ginny, and Ron slowly trickled into the kitchen shortly after wishing him a happy birthday as well.
"Tonight, we're having dinner to celebrate, and everyone will be here!" Mrs. Weasley said cheerfully, dishing a plate up for each of the new arrivals to the table.
Sirius said he had a few things to attend to that afternoon but assured Harry not to worry and that he would be back that evening. Harry had asked if he needed any help and if he could tag along but Sirius politely turned him down. He said he would love to have Harry come with but it was just busy work getting his affairs in order for his new life. Harry reluctantly agreed to stay behind as the twins showed up and offered up a game of Quidditch in the fields.
Hermione and Ginny trudged up the hill with them as well, Hermione packing a book with her for reading when Quidditch inevitably got boring for. Harry raised his eyebrows at her with a smirk, his eyes looking from the book and back up at her. She blushed slightly elbowing Harry playfully in the ribs before taking a seat over in the grass below where they would be playing.
They played for a few hours in the field taking turns at different positions, and trading out turns on Harry's Firebolt. Bill and Charlie eventually trudged up the hill with brooms slung over their shoulders to join the game. Charlie was as good as Harry had always heard, he flew competitively good to Harry even when on a much older broom than Harry's firebolt. Ginny took to the field with them towards the end of their game and Harry was extremely impressed with her flying as well. She definitely had a lot of Charlie and the twin's Quidditch blood in her. He made a mental note to make sure she turned up for Quidditch tryouts this year at Hogwarts, smiling as she zoomed around impressively. He looked away quickly as he saw Hermione raising her eyebrows and smirking at him from where she was sitting. Harry supposed it was only fair after he had just teased her the same about her book. ]
The sun was growing lower so they headed back down to the Burrow's back yard where some changes had been made. One large and long table had been set up in the garden with many chairs lining it. A red table cloth covered the table, with a gold runner placed over the top of it, Gryffindor colors of course. Many plates of food were lining the middle of the table, all of Harry's favorites and a large Birthday cake sat in the middle of the table on a large tier.
"Mrs. Weasley… this is insane… thanks" Harry blurted out to a busy Mrs. Weasley who was still placing plates upon the table.
"No problem Harry dear, we're just glad to have you here with us on your birthday!" She said giving him a quick squeeze before bustling back into the kitchen to grab things.
Harry quickly observed why they were eating outside, all the people attending would never fit in the Weasley's small kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Charlie, Bill, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny alone made eight people. Lupin, Tonks, Hagrid (whom nearly crushed Harry in a large hug when he saw him), Kingsley, Hermione, and Harry himself added to make a full table. Sirius strode into the backyard a few minutes later taking a seat next to Harry.
"After dinner, I want to show you something." He said quietly, leaning in so only Harry could really hear him. Harry nodded, curious to what he would want to show him.
Dinner was an incredibly fun affair as everyone ate and drank together, the back yard filled with laughter. Fred and George told stories of Weasley's Wizard Wheeze's and how the lady who owned the building next theirs despised them. According to them this only made it even more fun to annoy her. Sirius was soon in a deep conversation with the twins, having taken quite liking to the two of them. They were in deep conversation about Hogwarts pranks, when Lupin joined in. Fred and George were telling them of a map they had found in Filtch's office that they really owed their success to. Lupin and Sirius exchanged a look with each other, a smile breaking out on each of their faces as they revealed they were two of the writers of the map. Fred and George's mouths fell open as they reached out and shook Lupin and Sirius's hands in admiration. Harry exchanged a look with Ron who snorted as he watched the twins goggle at Lupin and Sirius.
"I haven't seen those two gits look at anyone with that much respect before, not even mum and dad." Ron said quietly leaning in closer to Harry as he said it, and Harry laughed as Hermione rolled her eyes. Suddenly though Mrs. Weasley stood up at the end of the table and cleared her throat breaking up the different groups of talk that had broken out around the table.
"I just wanted to say, Happy Birthday to Harry, and raise a toast to him." She said raising her glass of fire whisky and smiling fondly down at him. Everyone followed suit raising their drinks into the air and knocking them together in celebration, Harry caught Sirius's eye and he winked at him raising his drink again in his direction with a smile. Harry was humbled, looking around at everyone in thanks. He may be the chosen one, destined to deal with Voldemort but right now that was far from his mind. He felt like the luckiest person in the world, and that things couldn't get better than this.