CHAPTER 11: BIRTHDAY SURPRISES

11.1

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HARRY

Harry rubbed his eyes and looked again. No, there was no doubt. Emblazoned on the ceiling of his room were the words: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR HARRY. The words sparkled and glowed. It was his birthday! He jumped out of the bed. The door opened and the next moment he was held in a tight embrace. "Happy Birthday, son," James and Lily spoke together. Harry held on tightly, feeling secure and snug in the warmth of their love.

They would have stood like this for god only knows how long had not a scream from outside made them disentangle from each other. "Sirius!" James exclaimed as he rushed out of the room followed closely by Lily and Harry. All three of them stopped short at the sight of Sirius battling an entire army of owls. For it was true, owls carrying gaily covered packages in their beaks were streaming in through the doors, windows, chimney…every opening actually. And this stream seemed endless if the overcast sky was any indication.

"God! What will the muggles think?" Lily asked desperately as she sank down on the floor. The three men in the room looked at each other speechlessly as one owl after another dropped their packages at Harry's feet….

11.2

Lucius sat ramrod straight in his chair looking at the books arranged neatly in the shelves. He took a long breath, the smell of books always calmed him down. When the Dark Lord and the other Death Eaters had been at the Manor, he had constantly worried about the safe-keeping of this room. Once when they had been recently married, Narcissa had complained about the amount of time he spent with his books. A small smile escaped his lips as he recalled the tantrum she had thrown. Just like the tantrums Draco threw when things were not going his way. Then the smile disappeared as a now familiar sense of self-disgust rose within him.

"What were you thinking Lucius….Narcissa and Draco almost died because you could not keep your ambitions in check…..you groveled before a power-crazed half-blood maniac…..what did you teach Draco……"

Abruptly, he got up from the chair, Severus' voice echoing and re-echoing in his brain. Was it true? Had he let his family down to such an extent? He took another long breath, waiting for the comforting smell to calm down his nerves. He had been shocked when Narcissa told him of what the Dark Lord had set Draco to do. Salazar damn it all! To ask a young boy of sixteen to murder somebody in cold blood! How could the Dark Lord do it? Did his failure elicit such a punishment? Had Severus not taken that unbreakable vow and killed Dumbledore, the stain on Draco's soul would have been indelible. And Severus, what foolishness was this of his to remain in that unguarded house of his? Anybody could simply walk in and use the killer curse. Why was Severus being so suicidal? No doubt, it was because of that girl, Evans. Lily Evans, why hadn't she been able to understand Severus' devotion? Because devotion it had been . He had seen it in Severus' eyes. It had been very unlike the way he himself had looked at Cissy. There was always awe and admiration in Severus' eyes, as though he was unable to believe that such a beautiful girl could actually talk to him

Lucius took a deep breath. His thoughts were going round in circles. He couldn't afford to do it today. Today, he ought to have a clear head, the vultures might arrive at any point and he should be prepared for them.

Had he taken the right decision? Parkinson, Goyle, Crabbe…all had left. But Draco had insisted that he wanted to complete his schooling from Hogwarts. Had been pretty adamant about it too. Lucius picked up a book, randomly, his fingers slowly caressing the parchment. Yes, Severus was right. He had let down Draco pretty badly. Sometimes, in Draco's unguarded moments, he could see the bewilderment in his eyes. Now was the time to show him a different side of his father's personality. This project of Dumbledore was nothing but hogwash. A chance to grind the noses of the Death Eaters. But Rudholphus was right. If they were to stay over here, they had to accept it. This time there could be no excuse of Imperious. Salazar, why had the Dark Lord risen again? The Malfoys had been doing so well. Fudge was virtually in his pocket. And he could have persuaded him to pass laws and ordinances that favoured the Purebloods and went against those imposters, the Mudbloods who came from their rotten world and tried to become a part of the Wizarding world. He shook his head. All that was past. If he wanted to make the Malfoys powerful again, he'd have to go along with this farce and wait for the right opportunity. And this time, he was not going to put his faith in a measly Halfblood.

11.3

Harry looked at the table in amazement. There, in its centre, was a huge square cake, with four fairies at its four corners. All of them were fluttering their wings and shaking their small wands. Stars shot out from their wands and they all opened their mouths to wish him a happy birthday. Their voices sweet and melodious filled the air.

"Liked it, Harry?" His mother asked him, coming from the kitchen.

Harry could only nod dumbly. Inevitably, his thoughts had moved to the days when he drew pictures of cakes on papers hoping that one day Aunt Petunia would be kind enough to bake him one, even if it was just a small one, so that he could have a proper birthday like Dudley's. Aunt Petunia never did bake one and the drawings faded over time though the ache they produced in his heart did not fade one bit. And by the tears that were gathering in his eyes, had not faded till date.

His horror was immense. Merlin, he was entering his twentieth year and he was crying like a young baby. What will mum think?

"Harry are you alright?" Lily asked, anxiously. And he could not help it…he threw his arms round her and held on.

"Harry, oh Harry….," she murmured, her voice wet with tears too.

"What's the matter?" James' voice, sharp and anxious, made Harry step hurriedly away.

"Is everything alright?" James asked looking first at Harry, who was trying to wipe away his tears surreptitiously, and then at Lily whose eyes were bright and damp.

"Nothing," Lily gave a shaky sort of laughter. "Just overwhelmed by the thought of celebrating Harry's birthday."

The lines of anxiety on James' face eased a little. "Surely that is a cause of happiness and not of tears."

"Yes, of course," Lily waved her hands vaguely. "It was pretty silly of me."

"Of course it is. What is there to cry for?" James asked his wife and then turned towards his son. "Are you alright Harry?"

Harry nodded and gave a sheepish smile. "There is a good boy." James said, smiling at him. "Now come on, lets unwrap more presents."

Harry looked up at the steady line of owls still entering the house. Sirius and James had cast a camouflage charm over the sky so that to the muggles only the blue sky and some clouds were visible and not the owls swooping down from all side.

"I think, its time we got ready." Sirius said, entering the room.

"Ready?" Harry looked inquiringly towards his dad. "Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes," James replied. "The Ministry wanted to celebrate your birthday in style. We are going to London."

"But…but…" Harry looked up in dismay. Over the past days, he had attended so many parties that he was tired of them. Oh yes, initially it had been fun. To be thus honoured, to see the pride in his parents' eyes but now all he wanted was some time alone with his mum and dad. At least on his birthday, there should have been nobody else.

Perhaps Lily read Harry's dismay in his eyes because she came forward and hugged him. "The Prime Dominie himself requested it Harry. We could not say no."

"Oh. Professor Dumbledore." Harry had not have any conversation with him since the happenings at the Great Hall. Wrapped up in his family and friends, he had not really paid much attention to anything else. Even in the parties, he had seen Dumbledore's twinkling eyes a few times but had not really gone to talk to him. Dumbledore himself had been busy, usually surrounded by important officials. Today perhaps he could talk to him.

He smiled at his parents. "Lets get ready."

"Lets have the cutting of cake first." Lily said.

"And then we have a special present for Harry." James said, winking at Sirius.

"Oh yes." Sirius said, laughing. "I hope Harry likes it."

A little later, after cutting and eating the cake (he had never tasted one like that, Harry decided), Harry was surprised when James and Sirius presented him a small, white pig, a red ribbon tied round its neck.

"Liked it, Harry?" James asked, as he poked the pig at its side.

Harry looked at the squealing bundle. "It is pretty unusual."

James ruffled his hair. "I got to know that you lost your pet, Hedwig. Thought you'd like a new one."

For a moment the image of his snowy white owl flashed in front of Harry's eyes. The pets had not returned. He looked down at his new pet.

"Thank you," he said and coughed to clear the chocking in his throat.

11.4

"…not theirs but hers…"

Lucius' words reverberated in the small room, in his ears, in his head…..

Images flashed. Lily on a swing, her braid flying in the air. Lily biting her lower lip while reading a book. Lily her eyes fixed determinately on a vial as the potion changed colour…only one eye of the newt, Severus. Lily laughing gaily with her friends. Lily standing with her arms thrown across her parents. Lily sniffing as she remembered some hateful comment made by her sister. Lily beautiful in her bridal wear.

No…the moan burst from his lips. How many times he had seen this vision? It was strange, when boys his age were experimenting, whispering about their conquests, he had always dreamt of being married to Lily. Such adolescent talk had always left a stale taste in his mouth. He had never enjoyed the whisperings in the dormitories. Sometimes he had even felt revulsion at the more explicit accounts. How could one cheapen one's loved one like that? Your Pure Pristine Perfection, this is what Lucius used to call Lily when in a mood to tease him.

A streak of light shot thru his head, white and blinding, making him almost fall off the chair. He clutched his head and bit his lips, so tightly that it drew blood. The tremors racked his body. He ought to have really known better. In a life full of imperfections, how could he have expected a perfection like Lily?

He had been very young, in fact only five, when father had taken them to a wedding party. The groom probably held a senior position at the factory that dad had worked in. What ever the fact, dad had been very particular about the fact that their clothes and shoes be absolutely clean if not down right gleaming. And mum had miraculously made them absolutely spotless. He had been astounded because he had not really comprehended at that time the power of the small stick that he had at times seen in mum's hands. It was still ingrained in his memory, the sight of that church, all decorated, the sonorous voice of the priest who read the vows, the music, the dancing couples in the party….even his parents had danced, losing their worries in that one moment of gaiety. Of course, there was food too. His eyes had almost popped out when he had seen the dishes laid on the table. All this was before Hogwarts and he had till then never seen such a vast array of dishes. And the cake had been huge. He had tasted each and every dish and his parents, indulgent for once, had allowed him. It had been a magical day for him before magic entered his life. The groom had kissed his bride and she had blushed and laughed. So when he started having those absurd dreams, it was always Lily whom he saw blushing as he put his lips on her cheeks.

A small, wry smile appeared on his face. Beautiful things did not happen to people like him. They happened to people like Potter. Handsome, rich, loved, indulged Potter. A favourite of his teachers and his parents. Potter who never knew what it was to want something with so much intensity. Another bolt of light. He gasped and coughed as blood trickled from his mouth. Lily laughing and blushing like she did in his dreams but Potter's arms holding her, Potter's lips on her cheek…. Another shudder, another convulsion, yet more blood….

11.5

Lily looked at Professor McGonagall in some confusion. "I don't understand Professor."

Minerva McGonagall looked at her former student with a certain degree of pride. "It is very simple, Lily. I am offering you the post of the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts."

Lily looked at the party flowing round her. She could see Harry conversing with Ron Weasley. Both of them were determinedly not looking at the dancing floor. She looked back at her former professor. "What about the person teaching it previously?"

McGonagall's mouth set in a disapproving line. "I'd prefer to forget the nightmare it was last year. Those Death Eaters Carrows held the position then."

Snippets of a conversation came back to Lily. "Yes Harry did mention it but he also said that perhaps Remus might be offered the job."

"There is no doubt the Remus Lupin is a very capable teacher," Professor McGonagall spoke primly, "but I want the best person for this post and there is no one more suited for it than you."

Lily's bewilderment was palpable in the next question. "But why me? I mean it has been more than a decade, in fact, almost two decades since I was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and was fighting against Death Eaters. Surely a lot of charms and techniques have evolved since then, things that I am totally ignorant about."

"Lily, you defeated the darkest, most evil wizard of the time." McGonagall's voice was full of pride. "Surely there is nobody more suitable than you to teach this to the students."

A shiver passed through Lily. Once again she remembered the horror that had burst on her in the form of Voldemort. She remembered little of those moments except her over whelming desire to save Harry.

"Lily are you alright?" McGonagall was looking at her anxiously. She nodded weakly, not trusting herself to speak. Her eyes traveled once again to the scene round her. Molly Weasley was now talking to both Ron and Harry. As she watched, Harry made some animated gestures and all three of them laughed. She could not help but experience a small twitch of jealousy. The scene was so natural, a mother laughing gaily with her two sons.

"Lily?" McGonagall's voice reminded her that the elderly lady was waiting for an answer. She thought of the offer. Would she like to teach?

"Why not potions?" She counter-questioned. "I was always good in that."

McGonagall pursed her lips. "Slughorn is a fairly competent teacher." Her tone made it clear what she thought of him otherwise.

"Professor Slughorn is still teaching?" Lily spoke excitedly, ignoring her former teacher's disapproval of her colleague. "I remember enjoying his classes very much."

"He had retired but the year before last Professor Dumbledore offered him the position again and he accepted."

"That's good. I remember he used to encourage me and Severus tremendously….wait a minute, wasn't Severus the Potions professor, er..I'm sure Harry did mention something like that."

"Yes he was. But this year, he wouldn't be teaching any of the subjects." There was an odd note in McGonagall's voice that Lily couldn't quite place. "There are only two posts that are vacant: DADA, and Transfigurations."

"But Professor, didn't you teach Transfigurations?" Lily asked, having a sudden vision of the professor turning herself into a cat in her first class.

"I did." McGonagall nodded her head. "But this year as the Head-Mistress of Hogwarts, I won't be able to teach the subject. I have offered the post to Remus Lupin."

"Remus?"

"Yes." McGonagall said, looking rather pleased. "I told you I want the most competent teachers. And who best to teach the subject than a man who is transfigured every month."

"I've often felt," she continued, "that students ought to be taught about the essence of transfigurations, to what extent or degree the essence of the original object is retained even after its transfiguration. Whether there is a difference when it is a voluntary transfiguration as compared to when it is enforced. Whether it is different when it is natural as compared to when it is magical. Whether there is a difference when the objects are animate or inanimate. Lupin is the ideal candidate to explain these many differences, he lives through a transfiguration every month.

Lily smiled inwardly. Her former teacher had not lost any of her passion for the subject.

"Did he accept it?"

"Yes. He was glad to." McGonagall peered at Lily from behind her glasses. "Was that troubling you? Is that why you haven't said yes to my offer?"

Lily flushed. "Well, he was pretty worried about getting a job. And now with marriage and a child to support…."

McGonagall gave her a warm smile. "It is nice to see such concern, Lily, even after all this time."

"It seems very starange at times." Lily's voice faltered off. She looked at where Harry was still chatting gaily. Wonder what was so engrossing.

"I really don't know," Lily wrung her hands a little. "With Voldemort, you see, it wasn't pre-meditated, all I knew was that I had to save Harry. Whatever happened was an instinctual response to the situation, it…it…wasn't a well thought out plan, strategy…or curse…" She stopped, unable to express herself.

McGonagall was looking at her in pride. "This is what I want you to instill in the students, Lily. Every instinct in their body should make them fight whenever faced with Evil."

Lily's mouth hung open. "I doubt whether it can be taught Professor."

"I've faith in your abilities." Her former teacher replied and then before Lily could protest any further, she added. "Have a look at the syllabus, Lily. If you think you wouldn't be able to handle it, let me know."

"I also thought," McGonagall continued as Lily contemplated in silence, "you'd like to be near Harry when he starts school once again."

"School?" Lily sat up straight.

"Yes. He has to finish his graduation still." McGonagall said in a voice that said clearly that defeating a Dark Lord was no excuse for not finishing your education.

Lily looked at Harry who had now been dragged onto the dance floor by Ginny Weasley. She had not thought about it at all. Harry's schooling, his education, practical problems of the world…whether they were ready or not, the world had moved on. The Professor's proposal suddenly sounded very tempting. Her eyes shifted to James who was dancing with Tonks. Yes, she needed to have a talk with her husband.

11.6

Draco looked at the Daily Prophet in distaste. They had printed a special supplement in order to commemorate Potter's birthday. Pictures of a grinning Potter were everywhere. He felt a violent urge to tear the parchment into tiny pieces. He picked up the supplement and then stopped as the conversation that he had had with Uncle Reg came back to him, his regret that he had let a slight dictate his entire life.

He sat down at the table. That day when uncle Reg had said that, Draco had discussed everything with him. Things that he couldn't discuss with either of his parents. Why had that slight from Potter hurt him so much? A hand not taken, why had it mattered so much to him? He looked at where Potter and Weasel, smiling to the heavens, had their arms around one another. Poor, miserable Weasel. What did he have in him that Draco didn't? Violent, rage overtook him again as he shred the supplement to pieces. But even amongst the pieces, he could feel their smiles, mocking him…

Draco put the pieces under his feet and ground them. The action brought no relief. He felt all the more agitated. And ashamed. What had he done? Didn't he learn anything from that conversation with Uncle Reg? Would he also live his entire life as a response to an action? With a quick wave of his wand, he cleared away the pieces. So Potter had not accepted his hand of friendship? Why had he let that bother him so much? Hadn't he made friends. Pansy, Vince, Greg…okay they had become a little offensive during the last year. But the last year was like that. Too much fell apart. He picked up Pansy's letter, smiling at her tiny handwriting. The parchment brought back many memories. The notes that they had passed during the classes. Had it been love? Perhaps not. He looked back at the parchment. Pansy was imploring him to come to Durmstarng. She had enrolled in that school along with Zabini. Had he made the right decision? Should he have also left Hogwarts? A cold fear clutched his heart. Vince, Greg, Pansy…all three will not be with him this year. Wonder whether his other house mates were coming back or not! Suppose he was the only Slytherin of his year. His stomach contracted painfully and he ran towards the toilet.

Later, he brushed his mouth thoroughly, trying to remove the lingering taste of vomit in his mouth. Had he taken more than he could chew? Certain things had become clear to Draco during the last few months. Sometimes in his sleep, he still heard the Mudbloood's screams. And then he'd wake up, trying to stifle his screams and feeling a hot flush of shame. At that time, his sweaty body would secrete such a smell that he had difficulty breathing. He put his head in his hands and moaned. Should he go to his father and explain to him that he'd rather go to Durmstrang? But then what would his father say? After all they had discussed this issue pretty thoroughly. Mother and father had tried to dissuade him, it was he who had been adamant on going to Hogwarts. Father had even written to Dumbledore regarding his decision to enroll in that programme of his. Now what was he going to tell his father? That he had changed his mind. No, for the first time he had made a decision that was solely his. He wasn't going to change it.

Setting his shoulders resolutely, he moved towards his table. He was going to send an owl to uncle Reg.

11.7

"I had a very interesting conversation with Professor McGonagall yesterday." Lily said, as she settled down to have her breakfast. Her husband and son looked at her expectantly.

"She offered me the post of the DADA professor at Hogwarts."

"Wow Mom, that's great! It is the coolest position." Harry exclaimed, his eyes behind his glasses, shining in excitement

Lily smiled at her son's enthusiasm and then looked at her husband. James' mouth was set in a firm line. The smile disappeared from Lily's face.

"Excuse me," James said, stiffly, and left the table.

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Thanks to callie 258, duj, graynavarre, mondtaenzerin, The Queen of Confusion, excessivelyperky, goagainstthegrain, A. Person, Katherine Grace, and Tasteless for their comments and views. Let me know what you feel about this chapter.

To my Anonymous Reviewers:

A. Person: Thanks for your words of encouragement. Hope you continue to like the story.

Tasteless: Thanks for pointing out your problems with the story. One clarification: A person also stutters when in shock or surprise. Further, Shacklebolt is speaking in a normal voice which has been magically enhanced.

Updates will take some time but I am not going to abandon any of my fics.

13/ 11/ 08