Once every one got settled in Gawain's large house, business went on as usual. Poppy and Severus spent large amounts of time in the basement potion's lab working on a few experimental projects. Hermione spent long hours in the library, and everyone enjoyed getting some sun in the yard.
Remus found a weekend job working at a bookstore and Minerva, unfortunately had gone back to Hogwarts to work on the letters, though she still slept at "Lily Town", as the children had named Gawain's home because of all the lilies he had planted in the yard.
As July 30th turned into July 31st, nearly four weeks after Severus had brought Harry to them, Hermione noticed that Harry had turned over…by himself, after not moving for weeks. Gawain jumped into action mode. "Hermione, get Poppy and tell the Weasleys to gather in the sitting room. Ron, Ginny, tell Sirius to get in here and one of you go get Minerva at Hogwarts. She should be ready to leave by now, but get her anyway."
As soon as Poppy reached Harry's bedroom, out of breath from running up two flights of stairs, she whipped out her wand to begin checking him over. Minerva arrived soon after her. "He should be awake. His magic levels are still far above where they should be for a boy his age, but then again, he's got extremely powerful parents." She sat on the edge of Harry's bed and gently nudged his arm. "Harry, could you open your eyes for us? No one is going to hurt you here. I promise."
First one emerald eye opened, then the other. "Glasses." Sirius handed Harry his glasses and some water. After he got a few sips with Poppy's help, she pulled out several vials filled with various potions.
"You'll like these, Harry. Severus made them taste like chocolate." Harry raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"Moony said that it really does taste like chocolate. And who are we to argue with him on his favorite food?" Sirius grinned.
That coaxed a smile out of Harry, who downed all eight of the potions Poppy gave him. She helped him sit up so that he could drink some more water out of the bright green straw that Severus had conjured.
"We're going to ask you a few questions now, to see exactly what was going on while you were unconscious. Do you know what your full name is?"
"Harrison Orion Abraxas Black Malfoy." Poppy's eyebrows shot up.
"Do you know what today is?"
"My birthday."
"Could you hear everything that we said while you were in an unconscious state?" Harry nodded.
"Do you want someone to stay in here with you until you fall asleep again?" Severus asked. Harry nodded again, and pointed his finger at Severus, Gawain, Sirius and Minerva.
Harry slept most of the next few days, but he was feeling well enough to attend a small birthday party on August 7th. After a wonderful dinner made by Molly and the house elves, everyone gave Harry his presents.
"This is from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Charlie," Hermione read the tag before handing the package to Harry.
Harry squeezed it. "It's squishy!" He carefully tore the Quidditch themed paper to reveal a quilt. This wasn't just any quilt, though. One side was made of soft black, red, green, and gold patches with the Black family crest in the middle, while the other side was made of a shiny green material and had the Malfoy crest in the middle.
"The green parts are Welsh Green- Egyptian Fireball skin. Bill said that they were having so many problems with her that they had to put her down and they gave him the skin. It's spell resistant."
"Hermione went on and on about how practical that was, but I think it's wicked cool." Ron threw another package at Harry, who despite not being one hundred percent well caught it deftly.
"Ronald! That was uncalled for!" Harry sensed an argument coming on, not that his two best friends arguing would be anything new to him.
"Hermione, Ron was just making sure that I'm ready for Quidditch this year." Harry looked at Ron. "Did I pass, Ron?"
"You passed. Now open my present!" Harry hurriedly tore the orange paper off of Ron's present. It turned out to be a neon green t-shirt saying "Go Gryffindor" in letters that changed from red to gold to orange to purple to silver.
Harry raised an eyebrow at Ron. "Shouldn't a Gryffindor shirt be red, Ron?"
"Well, yeah, but Ginny said that the green would look better with your eyes, and she paid for half. I wasn't going to argue with her." Ron shuddered at the thought. "And mate, please don't do that eyebrow thing. You look like Professor Snape."
Severus looked at his godson's best friend. "Is there something wrong with that, Mr. Weasley?"
"No sir."
Harry received "How to Deal with Nasty Relatives" from Hermione, and "1000 Ways to Annoy Hogwarts Professors: Marauder Style", which Fred and George were quick to point out was also from them.
"I could confiscate that right now, but I think I'll just settle for taking 150 points off of Gryffindor as soon as possible," Severus smirked.
"WHAT?!" Every current and former Gryffindor, including the Head of House, turned to look at Severus.
"I was joking."
"There's a first time for everything, I suppose," Sirius muttered.
"I'm going to give you your gift from me now so that I do not act upon my urge to smack your uncle in the head, as I know that you are, for some unknown reason, rather fond of him." Severus handed Harry a long, thin box. Harry opened the box to find a dark green cloak with black velvet trimmings. The Malfoy and Black crests adorned the two buttons at the neck.
"This is really nice, Uncle Severus," ever since he had woken up, he had been calling him that, "I love the color. "
"The shopkeeper told me that I had excellent taste in clothing and that I should use it a bit more for myself." Severus rolled his eyes at the absurd thought of himself wearing anything but black.
Harry laughed. "I certainly never associated you with good taste in clothing, sir."
"Cheeky brat. I wasn't going to let my favorite godson go around wearing that tattered cloak he wore last year. You've grown several inches since then, at any rate."
"I noticed. I'm actually taller than Ron now."
"That's a feat in itself." Minerva handed Harry a small package wrapped in golden paper.
"I bet this is a book."
"I've heard that that's what all of the cool great-aunts are buying their great-nephews these days."
"I see." Harry's jaw dropped when he saw what book it was." YOU BOUGHT ME "HOW TO MASTER YOUR INNNER ANIMAL"?" Harry looked at his father. "Does this mean she's going to teach me how to be an animagus?"
"Do you think I would have let her buy you that book if I wasn't okay with it, Harry?"
Harry jumped up and gave his aunt the biggest hug he'd ever given anyone in his life.
Later that night, after all of the presents had been put away, and they had all feasted on Molly's excellent cake, Minerva passed out their Hogwarts letters.
"I bet you a galleon that Harry and Hermione are the prefects, Ron," Fred whispered.
"That would be a really stupid bet, since I already know they will be. They both have better grades than I do, and Hermione's been a shoe-in since she stepped on the boat."
Ron turned out to be right. He was happy for them. Later that night, when just Harry and Ron were still up, Harry wanted to make sure that Ron was okay with it.
"Are you sure you're alright with me being a prefect, Ron?"
"Harry, I'm really lazy. You'll be much more dedicated to the task than I ever would be." Ron looked at Harry. "You know, with all the things that are going on this year, there's a good chance that one of us will die this year."
"Don't think like that, Ron. It wouldn't be you that would die anyway. It would probably be me."
"As true as that may be, Harry. I want you to do something for me, if its me that goes. I want you to take care of Hermione for me, Harry, and I want you to marry Ginny. I've seen the way you two look at each other when you think no one is watching. I know you like her. Give it a chance."
Harry couldn't speak. He put his hand on Ron's shoulder for a moment. "You know, you're much more perceptive than anyone gives you credit for." Harry smiled. "I will try with Ginny when the time is right, and I will take care of Hermione. I know how much she means to you… to both of us."
"Thanks. I just wanted you to know how I felt."