A/N: Yahoo! Three chapters in one month! Go me! Go me!

Chapter 21: Plots and Plans

To say Rein was mad when she found out what Ginny tired to do would be a serious understatement. It would more appropriate to say that she was engulfed in righteous fury.

"She did what?" Rein inquired quietly.

"She tried to dose me with Eratos." I replied, squirming where I sat in front of the fireplace. Seeing Mrs. Weasley angry is scary, I thought as Rein ranted on about how 'some girls just don't have an ounce of integrity', but Rein can give her and Voldemort a run for their money!

"…and of course I'll have to return the favor in kind."

"What do you mean?" That evil glint in Rein's eyes did not bode well for Ginny.

"You'll see. Where did you say she lived again?"

"The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole. Why? You're not going to visit her… are you?"

"No… I thought I'd send her a friendly little Howler, that's all." She answered airily. The tone of her voice told me she was up to something, but I figured that a Howler couldn't possibly be all that life-threatening.

"Oh. Normally I wouldn't agree with this sort of thing – you don't even know her, after all – but she does kind of deserve it."

Rein smiled at me. "Yes, Harry, she does."

It was halfway through dinner before I found out exactly what Rein had been planning, although why Ginny sent me a Howler has yet to be explained.

HARRY JAMES POTTER, it bleated as I helped myself to a second roll, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PLAYING AT, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, YOU SHOULD JUST STOP! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY HER TO WRITE ME SAYING THAT SHE'S YOUR GIRLFRIEND? AND ACCUSING ME OF TRYING TO TRICK YOU WITH A LOVE POTION? PERHAPS YOUR LITTLE FAN GIRL DOESN'T KNOW, BUT I AM NOT A SLYTHERIN! NOR AM I A HUFFLEPUFF! I KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND! AND WHEN I FIND YOUR LITTLE FAN GIRL, SHE'LL BE IN A WORLD OF HURT FOR WHAT SHE DID TO MY FACE! AARGH!

The Howler then proceeded to shred itself into confetti above my plate. Ah well, I was finished anyway… Snape simply raised and eyebrow and asked if my post was always this opinionated before returning to his dessert. I sighed. Do I want to know what Rein did to Ginny's face? The darkly amused look that Severus was sporting suggested that I'd find out whether I wanted to or not.

"Professor?"

"Harry?"

"My birthday is next week."

"Your point?"

"Well… I was just wondering if it would be alright for me to have some friends over."

"I assume by 'friends' you mean Granger, Weasley, Longbottom, and Weaslette?"

"Yes, as well as Fred, George, Lee, and Rein."

"Hmm… You'll need a chaperone to insure against mishaps, but I suppose that is feasible. If you've finished all your summer homework, that is."

"I was thinking that maybe Remus and Mina could help you chaperone. And I promise to keep Neville away from the lab and Hermione away from the library. If she shows." The last part was said rather quietly, but Snape heard it anyway.

"Are you and Miss Granger not getting along?"

I sighed. "We had a bit of a row, and Ron told me in his last letter that she said that we're not friends anymore. I'm not sure if she still feels that way."

"I see."

"So… I'll write up and send some invitations then. Question."

"Yes?"

"Do I send Rein's invitation to Ambrosia Place? I know you said she was going to France…?"

"Yes. Send it to Ambrosia Place. The owl will find her if she isn't there."

"Can I use a couple of your post owls? It's a bit much for Hedwig, especially if she needs to carry responses."

"Of course. Let me know when you send them and who's coming. I'll need to adjust the wards for the day."

"Yes sir."

xxx

Planning for the party was exhausting. I spent the better part of Wednesday planning out things to do and drafting invitations. I'd gone through several horrifically bland incarnations before I gave up trying to make my handwriting legible and simply settled for a spell that would make the parchment proclaim whatever I wanted it to. On Thursday I stuffed the invitations (which were charmed black with gold flecks) into their coordinating envelopes and sent the owls on their merry way. There were invitations for Rein, Mina, Gred, Forge, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Remus, Viktor Krum, Lee Jordan, Daphne Greengrass, and Blaise Zambini.

Hermione was the first to respond. "I guess we're not friends after all." I murmured as I discarded Hermione's hastily written response. Remus' response ("I'd be honored to share your birthday with you, Harry.") came at lunch that same day, and Viktor's came just before dinner. Fred, George, and Lee sent their responses together.

Our Illustrious Leader, it began, let us first say that we, Messrs. Weasley, Weasley, and Jordan, are deeply honored to be invited to celebrate with you this day of days.

What George means is of course we'll come – what, you thought we'd say no? And miss a chance to meet your new girlfriend? Ha!

I have to agree with Fred – I want to meet this lady friend of yours. You should see what she did to Ginny's face! Anyone that can pull off a stunt like that is ace in my book!

Now as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, we, the proprietors of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, would like to bestow upon you, our most generous benefactor, our Deflagration Deluxe, Non-Explodable Luminous Balloons, and Reusable Hangman, free of charge.

Like we would charge you anyway! I mean, you're you!

Oh Fred, you have such a way with words.

Shut up Lee, you prat.

Takes one to know one.

Like I was saying, we will definitely be in attendance.

Perhaps we should come early to help set things up?

Sounds like a plan, Lee.

Expect to see us around the noon hour on the thirty-first.

-- Gred, Forge, and Lee

Ron and Ginny sent their responses together (which weren't nearly as long as their brothers'), and Luna sent me a letter asking if she could bring her puffskein along. Daphne accepted, as did Rein and Mina, but Blaise did not.

Dear Potter,

I regret to inform you that, due to unforeseen circumstances, I will not be able to attend your birthday extravaganza. My step-father has recently taken violently ill, with no foreseeable chance of recovery. The Healers have given him a week to live, and it would be poor form for me to leave him in this time of need.

Best wishes,

Blaise Adim Zambini

Somehow, I rather doubted that he was going to spend the day at his step-father's bedside, but I still sent him a response expressing my condolences for his loss. After all, I mused, the man is dying.

On Monday I received another letter: Blaise could come after all.

It turns out, he wrote, that we had to have the funeral this past Saturday. The body was decaying so quickly that if we'd waited any longer, there would have been nothing left to bury.

"How convenient." Snape said when I told him the news. "How convenient indeed."