I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year
Chapter Five
Harry's 12th Birthday - Part II
The Weasleys, Molly, Arthur, Fred, George, and Ginevra, all arrived at 3pm. Charlie was in Romania, and Bill was on assignment in France for the goblins so both sent along a gift. Percy had declined his mother's invitation citing a need to study for the coming term, and to his mother's disgust he had conveniently 'forgotten' a gift. Arthur carried all the presents from his family in a basket he levitated behind him. Molly had brought a veritable feast, and had thankfully warned Severus she was doing so. All he had to provide was the cake and ice cream.
Next to arrive were Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy. Narcissa who tended to wear extravagant clothing of silks and laces from Paris, and satins from Egypt, had toned down her wardrobe to a more sedate fashion that resembled clothes for women that were popular during the Regency. For Harry's birthday she wore a fine muslin cream coloured afternoon gown with a straight neckline, a light pelisse of green satin, and with her she had brought a cobweb-knot shawl for those odd chills she had been getting of late. Lucius wore a fine suit of brushed wool in grey and light green that would allow him to mount a broom if he was called into a game of Quidditch.
Minerva arrived last and with her she had brought birthday presents from Albus, Remus, and beside her was a pretty little girl wearing dried radishes for earring, a pale pink pinafore over a summery cotton dress of white, topped off with shockingly pink trainers. Her hair was of the palest gold, nearly white in the light, and hung in straggly curls down to her hips.
Introductions were made and everyone learned that the girl was Luna Lovegood who would attend her first year at Hogwarts when term began. Harry seemed enchanted by her guileless smile, large and expressive blue eyes.
"Happy birthday, Harry," said Luna walking up to the birthday boy who had been smartly dressed by his father in dark trousers, and a white cotton shirt. Harry's choice had been the shorts he had worn down at the beach, and the shirt. Therefore, Severus had re-dressed his son.
"Thank you, Luna." He glanced upward as her eyes travelled somewhere above his head. "What're you looking at?"
"Nargles," she smiled. "I've never seen such protective ones before. They must know you're special."
Harry frowned slightly. "How do you mean special?" He was ready to show this odd girl he was not at all what others expected him to be.
"Ohhh," sighed Luna, "just that you're creative, Harry. Are you an artist?" Luna looked away from the Nargles and in that instant Harry was irrevocably pierced by her beautiful blue eyes.
Ginny Weasley, who had monopolised conversation with the hero, glared at Luna. Severus, seeing sparks fly between his son and the odd little girl, rolled his eyes. Was not Harry just a little boy, oh so recently?
"I sometimes draw," replied Harry shyly.
"My mama did too," she sighed sadly. "I haven't a creative bone in my body. Could I see some of your drawings, Harry?"
Minerva watched as Luna followed Harry over to a bookshelf where he had his drawing journal. They sat on the floor as Harry flipped through and showed the little girl his drawings.
"I am afraid that Luna has ensorcelled your son, Severus," Minerva chuckled softly and handed him the gifts she had brought.
"So it would seem," muttered Severus. He added Minerva's gifts to those resting on a table he had conjured for the purpose.
"You look very pretty, mother," Draco said to his mother with absolute sincerity. She did. In fact, to him, Narcissa looked… motherly.
"Thank you, Dragon," replied Narcissa as she brushed back the fringe her son was now allowing to grow long. "Have you enjoyed your visit so far?"
Draco nodded, and leaned against the arm of the chair his mother sat in. "I made a sand castle with Hermione yesterday, then me and Ron and Harry all played Catch the Snitch for a few hours. Right over the ocean, too!"
"Oh my! How thrilling! I do hope your godfather was generous with the Sun-Resist Potion," replied Narcissa.
"Yeah. Uncle Severus does all that father stuff now," said Draco with authority. "He even made us all take naps before the party. We didn't need them, though."
Narcissa smiled. "Of course you didn't, Dragon. Such a grown, young man. You're far too old for naps."
Lucius chuckled as he brought a sparkling, non-alcoholic cider to his wife, "You did purchase all of your supplies for the next term, Dragon?"
Draco nodded. "I did, father! I also bought a present for Harry. What did you and mother get him?" he asked with glittering eyes.
"Never you mind, young man. You will discover what your mother and I have for Harry when everyone else does," chided Lucius.
Draco shrugged. "Okay." He then glanced over at Hermione who was sitting next to Ginny Weasley. Her hair had been loosely braided at her nape and fell over her shoulder. Hermione looked sweet in a sky blue dress of gauze muslin. It flared out at the waist over a petticoat of stiff cotton with a long, decorative hem adorned by satin ribbons of shaded blues threaded through the lace. She also wore pretty leather sandals that matched her dress. She was a plain girl, thought Narcissa as she looked where her son looked, but she dressed well.
As for the little Weasley girl although her clothing was clean she wore a pair of functional over-alls over a blouse of pin-tuck cotton with puffed short sleeves. On her feet were trainers, also clean, but obviously had belonged to an older brother.
"I think Hermione needs some cider," declared Draco.
Lucius nodded in approval to his son. "By all means, Dragon. Molly has a large pitcher of sparkling cider and I am certain she will pour some for you both."
Draco smiled up at his father. He then leaned forward, and kissed his mother's cheek before dashing off to the kitchen.
Molly Weasley was not alone in the Prince Lighthouse kitchen. She had recruited her twin sons Fred and George to help in setting everything out on plates or platters. Arthur was in the front yard supervising the set up of tables for everyone with the help of Ron, Harry, and then Severus had joined them.
Soon, Molly was floating the plates, glasses, pitchers of apple cider, and platters of a wonderful buffet onto the large table for food. Fred and George were using their magic to set the two smaller tables with all of the plates and silverware.
Everyone gathered in the front yard for food, and the spectacular view of the sky as it drifted from the afternoon sun, towards dusk. Lucius announced, at Minerva's behest, that he had taken upon the position of the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"What about the curse?" asked Fred as he pulled apart a roll to dip into the aus jus from his roast beef.
"I'm just beginning to like you, Mr. Malfoy," mused George. "It'd be a shame to lose you at the end of the year."
"That's only if you're a good teacher," added Ron.
"My father's a great teacher, you pillock!" defended Draco sharply.
"Dragon!" warned Lucius. "There is no need for casting aspersions. Apologise."
Draco glared quickly at his father, then to Ron. "I'm sorry."
"What curse?" asked Harry worriedly.
Fred replied, "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named cursed the position so no one would remain more than a year as the DADA teacher. Something terrible would happen to them."
George chuckled, "Like you killing Quirrell, Harry!"
"George!" gasped Arthur.
Harry blanched, then scowled at George, "It wasn't funny, George! I didn't do that on purpose! He hurt my dad!"
"Accidental magic propelled by defence of another, Mr. Weasley," glowered Lucius. "Something I might remind you that you… guessed… incorrectly upon your final."
George ducked his head. "Sorry, Harry."
"What about the curse, though?" persisted Harry. "You are a good teacher, sir. I think I'd really like DADA if you could stay longer than a year, and nothing bad happened."
Severus interjected, "You need not be concerned about such a curse causing harm to Lucius, Harry."
"Indeed, Mr. Snape," added Minerva. "The Board of Governors approved the hiring of a Curse-Breaker to deal with the curse." She smiled at Arthur. "William did a very thorough job, Arthur."
"Cool!" crowed Ron.
"Dad, Bill got rid of the curse?" asked George with a grin.
"Good old, Bill," smiled Fred.
"He is a Curse-Breaker, lads," replied Arthur proudly. He did not mention that he had suggested hiring Bill a few times to Albus since he did not want anything in the school that might harm his children. "Congratulations on the job, Lucius."
"Thank you, Arthur," nodded Lucius.
"When does Harry get to open his gifts?" asked Ginny who had tried to sit beside Harry only to be thwarted when Luna sat on the other side of the boy.
Harry piped up, "We're going to play Quidditch first, Ginny. Us against the adults. Hermione, will you play?"
Hermione glanced up from her vegetables, and gave Harry a horrified look. "No! There's no way I'm getting on a broom, Harry!"
"I'm going to referee," said Luna. "Otherwise there would be too many of us against the adults." She leaned towards Harry. "May I have your cherry tomato, Harry?"
"Uhm…" he looked at the little cherry tomato sitting on top of the salad in a bowl by his plate, "Sure, Luna."
"Thank you," she grinned, took the tomato, and popped it into her mouth.
For no reason he could explain, Harry wanted to see Luna eat another tomato. Ginny saw Harry's wide eyes, and she felt a swirl of jealousy flare in her belly.
"We'll win," said Ginny taking Harry's attention off Luna. "Luna doesn't need to play since we have you playing, Harry." She smiled brightly at him. Harry blushed and ate a forkful of mashed potatoes. When Harry looked up Ginny had a Cherry tomato at her lips. She smiled at the birthday boy, and popped the tomato into her mouth. She bit down, promptly grimaced, and spat the partially macerated remains of the tomato on the ground next to Harry. "Sohhy," Ginny mumbled. "I hate tomatoes."
Harry's eyes dropped to the limp tomato on the ground by his chair with Ginny's teeth prints in its once hard flesh. It leaked gelatinous seeds from its wound.
"I don't think I like 'em anymore, either," muttered Harry. He looked away from Ginny, and went back to the more enjoyable prospects of his food, and a story from Luna about something called a 'Snorkack'.
The game of Quidditch, played down on the beach and over the ocean, consisted of the kids, Harry, Draco, Ron, Ginny and Fred versus the adults, Severus, Minerva, Arthur, Lucius, and George as opposing teams. The twins had split up to even out the teams. When Severus declared that the 'identical clowns' were up to mischief, he changed Fred's clothing to all red, and George's clothing to all green. Of course, halfway through the game they tried to exchange colours, and were blown off their brooms and right into the ocean by Severus's counter-ward against any spells to change what he had done.
An intermission was called by Luna, and everyone banded together to help the soggy twins from the ocean. Molly cast a drying spell on each of her sons, Lucius recovered their wayward brooms, and the game then continued.
Harry and Severus were each Seekers for their teams and both managed to make Molly cringe with their flying skills as they dove, dodged Bludgers (made of wood not iron but still nasty), and each did their best to keep the Quaffle from dipping through the opposing team's goal if it got in their way.
The game ended when Harry dove too deeply and flung himself right into the ocean. Severus dove right after his son, and learned that Harry had never learned how to swim. If Severus had not prevented it Harry would have sunk like a rock.
Severus Apparated with Harry right from the water, and they were soon joined by everyone else up at the house. Once Harry was dried off, and checked for possible injury, he was ushered to the living room. Cake and ice cream was served to one and all, and Harry began to open his gifts.
Charlie Weasley the second eldest and the dragon handler in Romania had sent Harry a carving of a magnificent Opaleye Dragon. The carving was of wood that had been burned by dragon's breath fire, and polished to a very high sheen. It was opalescent in its sheen, and it was very unusual in that it was a carving that did not move, breath fire, or even fly. Harry thought the carving was perfect and walked around to show it to everyone. Severus had then placed it upon the top shelf of a set of bookshelves he had set aside for Harry's books, collections of shells, and tumbled glass he had found on the beach, and a collection of animated dragons of the wizarding world he had bought at a toy store in Port Murem.
Bill Weasley, the eldest Weasley, and the Curse-Breaker that had broken the curse on the Defence Against the Dark Arts position sent Harry a slim book of spells that were designed for checking food for poison, and for checking objects for evidence of spells that might cause trouble.
"Useful," mused Severus as he put the book away on Harry's shelves, "if you wish to become paranoic."
"Paranoia served you well as a spy, did it not, Severus?" smirked Lucius.
Severus sneered at his friend. "A sensitivity to the way a mad wizard thinks, Lucius, was my best weapon against him."
Lucius chuckled. Harry took their attention away from their little discussion as Fred and George Weasley handed him a box wrapped in a riotous paper of calamitous colours that careened about sickeningly on the paper. Harry ripped the paper off just so he did not have to look at it. Opening the box revealed another box that was chocolate-colour covered and topped by a ribbon that was a match to the awful paper. Harry opened that box to reveal three rows of beautiful, and delicious looking truffles. He reached for one, and Severus caught his hand.
"Dad?"
"What is in the chocolates, Misters Weasley?" he frowned darkly in suspicion.
"Nothing that will hurt him," began Fred.
"That we know of, sir," George added beneath his breath. Severus scowled.
"They are all mixed with tiny substances to cause multi-coloured puking, drool that is minty fresh, and caramel that causes fainting," elaborated Fred.
Severus took the box of debilitating chocolates from its outer box. "Evanesco!" The chocolates vanished. Harry's face dropped sadly. That had all sounded sort of fun! "Reprobates," Severus growled. "Do not experiment on my son." He turned to Harry. "If you wish I will buy you some harmless truffles to replace these, Harry."
"S'ok, dad. I think I'll open another present instead." Ginny Weasley stood up, and carried the present she had bought over to Harry. He smiled, took the flat box, and ripped it open. Inside it was a scarf with the Quidditch colours of the Chudley Cannons. Harry withdrew it. "This is a… nice scarf." It was, but Harry did not care for the colour orange.
"Mum spelled it with a one-time colour change, Harry, so you can change the scarf to the colours of any Quidditch team you like," said Ginny. She could tell that orange was not a colour the birthday boy liked. Ron was the only boy she knew that liked orange. Ron had orange pyjamas for Merlin's sake!
Harry brightened as he thought of other colours for the scarf. He did not have a favourite team, yet, but maybe he would by the end of the year. He folded the scarf, and handed it to his father. Severus gave it barely a glance.
Molly had knitted Harry a red and gold jumper with a golden Snitch on it. He slipped the jumper on. No one had ever made anything for him! Arthur handed Harry a red and white striped bag filled with a variety of sweets from Honeydukes. Delighted with the sweets he grabbed a caramel and popped it into his mouth. Severus reached over his son's shoulder, and snatched the bag from him. Harry let out a yelp as the bag of sweets flew for the kitchen.
"You may have three a day, no more, Harry," dictated Severus as he sent the sweets to a high cabinet his son would not be able to reach.
"You're no fun, dad," sighed Harry. He had lost his fun chocolates from the twins and now his sweets from Mr. Weasley.
Severus smirked, "Thank you for being so observant, son."
The adults chuckled knowingly.
Ron Weasley brought up his present next, and dropped himself right beside Harry on the lounger so he could watch him open the gift. "I spent my entire allowance on it, Harry. You'll love it, and your dad won't take it away, either." Ron beamed, and Harry grinned as he tore into the orange wrapping paper.
Inside the box was another box, wooden, with red trimming. Harry opened the lid to reveal a shining, gold Snitch. He was a little puzzled because he already had a Snitch; a silver one that his father had given him.
"It's just for Seekers, Harry. Two man Snitch. You and your dad can play with it," Ron smiled in satisfaction.
"Cool! Thanks, Ron!"
Albus had sent Harry a pair of red and gold striped socks, Remus Lupin, of whom he had only heard stories of, had sent him a photo album of his parents wedding. Harry was unsure how to feel about the gift. It was thoughtful; he knew that, but he did not know anyone in the photographs that danced and laughed and ate across the pages. It was odd, very weird, to see his parents alive, and not the ghosts he had barely seen twice in his life. Severus only Summoned the photo album when Harry had pushed it aside in favour of a gift from Minerva.
The Potions Master held the album, for only a moment, in his hands. He did not want to see the images of Lily. He felt a curse for damned Lupin at the back of his throat for daring to send something like the album to Harry. He bit back the curse as he did not want to ruin his son's party. Putting the album up on one of the near empty shelves he turned back at the sound of tearing paper.
"Oooooh!" sighed Harry happily. Minerva had given Harry a large block of painting paper. He only could draw, though. He was about to say so, but then Lucius levitated a large, wrapped box towards Harry.
"You might find what is within to be of use, Harry," smirked Lucius. Narcissa smiled serenely.
The box was wrapped in silvery blue paper with a large, elegantly draping bow of shimmery green. For some reason Harry wanted to draw out opening this gift and he did so by first undoing the ribbon, then the paper. Underneath the paper was a satiny looking box that when Harry opened it was stuffed with a froth of white tissue. As Harry removed the tissue he revealed a wooden box that held a rainbow of paints, brushes from fat to thin, and an unusual quill with a pencil-lead type point. The feather was of a short, raven feather.
Narcissa spoke, "Lucius and I thought of the paint set once Severus told us of your desire to draw. When Lucius spoke to Minerva she thought it would round out our gift by getting you the block of painting paper."
Lucius added, "Your father showed me a few of your drawings, Harry. I think the Painters Guild might consider offering you a place when you reach your majority."
"Painters Guild?" asked Harry.
Hermione replied, "All the artists that painted living portraits or moving paintings hanging in Hogwarts belong to the Painters Guild, Harry. It would be wonderful if you became that good."
"Dad?" Harry looked over his shoulder at his father. "You think my drawings are that good? I mean, good enough to show Mr. Malfoy?"
"I believe your drawings to show a notable talent, Harry," nodded Severus.
Harry smiled down at his trainers. He was beginning to learn that his father was restrained in his praise towards anyone. 'Notable talent' meant that his father thought he was the best, and he was proud of him.
"Here, Harry," said Draco as he squished down on the lounger between Harry and Ron. Ron elbowed Draco, and Draco elbowed him back. Both were whacked on the head by one of Harry's Muggle Batman comic books by Professor Snape.
"OW!" "HEY!" protested both boys.
"Behave," warned Severus.
Harry chuckled softly. Ron scooched sideways just enough so he was no longer touching the Malfoy boy.
Draco handed Harry a rather elegant envelope trimmed in gold with a touch of curlicues at the corners. Harry studied the envelope, and gave Draco a questioning look. "Just open it, Harry."
Harry slit the envelope open and pulled out four tickets. He read one of them aloud, "Tasmanian Brooms Racing, 1992." He glanced up with excitement sparkling in his deep green eyes. "Brooms racing? I've never heard of it."
"It's exciting!" enthused Draco. "Father and I go every year but this year I thought you and your dad could go with us, and any other two you want to bring."
"Hermione, Ron…" he then looked over at Luna. He felt sadness clutch at his heart that there was not a third ticket for her.
Lucius saw the forlorn look he gave to Luna. "I see no reason Miss Lovegood could not join us, Harry."
Harry's face brightened. "Luna, do you want to go?"
Luna smiled beatifically at Harry, "That would be fun especially with all your friends."
"I wanna go, too!" shouted Ginny. "If Luna gets to go then I should go, too, cause I'm a friend of Harry's!" She glared hotly for just a moment at Harry, then smiled, "Aren't I, Harry?"
Harry suddenly was not so sure about Ginny Weasley. However, he doubted his father would want him to appear rude in front of all his guests. He quickly stuffed the tickets back in the envelope, and muttered, "Sure you are, Ginny."
Ginny gave Luna a smug smile, but the odd blonde was not even looking at her. The youngest Weasley slumped with a grunt back into the sofa where she sat with her brothers Fred and George. Fred leaned over to his sister.
"You're too young to be flirting, little sister," he chided as softly as possible so no one else heard.
Ginny glared at her older brother, and firmly kicked his shin. Fred let out a yelp at the pain.
Molly rose to her feet by her husband, and looked pointedly at her daughter. "Ginny, come help me in the kitchen."
"But Harry's not done…"
Molly crossed her arms over her bosom. "In the kitchen, now."
Ginny knew that tone from her mother; she was in trouble and there was no way to accede to her mother's authority. Jumping to her feet, she trotted into the kitchen. Molly was soon right behind her. As Harry accepted a present from a shyly smiling Hermione, Severus glanced towards his kitchen as he sensed a subtle wave of magic. Miss Weasley, he decided then, was going to be a troublemaker in his class; unfortunately, he suspected much of the trouble would come about as she continued to try and capture Harry's attention.
Harry had opened his gift from Hermione and was wide-eyed as he held the large book on his lap.
"It's a beginner's introduction to runes, Harry. Runes are used in potions and in the creation of charms," the little witch declared.
"This is terrific, Hermione," gasped Harry. "I can't wait to read it and learn it all. Thank you!"
Luna was the last to give Harry his present, and hers was in a small box. Harry opened it to find an interesting bracelet of woven dried herbs and leather. He studied it, and was puzzled by it.
"I didn't know much about you, Harry," explained Luna, "except you'd be a friend so I made this for you. The dried herbs are sage, rosemary, and thyme, and the leather is exactly seven inches. It's a charm to keep your Nargles happy so they won't take your things and hide them."
Harry slipped the bracelet on. It was rather grown-up looking. He liked it. "This is really nice, Luna. Thank you so much."
"You're welcome, Harry," she glanced just above his head. "See? The Nargles are happy, too!"
Harry's birthday ended with an unexpected show of fireworks designed by the twins. Silver sparkling sharks leapt from the ocean to chase after colourful leprechauns, and pearly cherubs. A sinuous dragon that went directly towards everyone on the cliff had everyone gasping and backing away… just in case.
Luna went back home with Minerva, Draco returned home with his parents, the Weasleys including Ron, all went back to the Burrow. Hermione was the last to leave through the Severus Floo to her parents home in Sutton, a borough of South London.
Severus checked his watch, the old, slightly battered pocket-watch he always kept with him. He then closed it with a snap, un-clipped the fob from the button on his waistcoat, and with a slight smile he ascended the stairs to Harry's bedroom.
Harry sat on his bed with his knees up supporting the journal his father bought him at Scriveners in Diagon Alley. He had drawn in it every chance he had. A few of his more serious drawings he had given to his father, and he expected those were the ones Severus had shown to the adults. Nothing special just some birds, a few shells, the beach, and then he had done a drawing of Severus weeding the garden. Harry had really liked that drawing because the image of his father was so unlike the stern teacher he was used to.
Harry smiled at his current drawing of the odd little girl with the radish earrings, and lopsided smile. He glanced at his bracelet, shook it, and he could smell the herbs drifting about him.
Putting down his drawing journal, he scooted off his bed, and went over to the window seat. He pushed open one of the three windows, and welcomed the sound of the ocean, and the sea breeze into his room.
This was home.