I do not own anything. I'm just translating. The characters belong to the great J.K. Rowling. The story belongs to the amazing Brigi. Her e-mail: tbwtpbe at hotmail .com

My Beta reader, Makurayami Ookami fixed THIS chapter.

Please review! Pretty please!

Enjoy

THE BOY WITH THE PIERCING BLUE EYES

Chapter 7 – Birthday without candles

Snape sighed.

"I must admit, it was great." He said almost regretfully.

He still found it hard to praise Harry, although the boy made great progress in the field of Occlumency.

Harry opened his eyes, though he couldn't see anything new. He'd already reached the level to be able to clearly see with closed eyes. He saw the same as before: his Potions teacher with lowered wand. He could control his mind completely though it was thanks to Marie too. She took him to a yoga performance where he slept while the girl listened to every word the speakers said. The girl elbowed the boy to wake him up and sometimes Harry felt guilty about it.

The girl grabbed a lot of flyers and brochures and they started practicing yoga though Harry could imagine a more pleasant form of being together. While the girl relaxed to find the peace of body and soul her lover tried to endure the smell of the different incenses. One time he blew the smoke so loudly that Marie realized: Harry's not interested in this. She was very offended that Harry only pretended to like it and didn't say anything. Harry was angry too because he though only he had the right to be offended. He thought this was as unnecessary as Divination classes in Hogwarts. After a few days he realized that things wouldn't work out on their own, so he had to do something. With a bouquet of flowers, some incenses and sweets he tried to ask for forgiveness. She opened the door gruffly but the sight of about twenty different scented incenses made her laugh. They fell into each other's arms and so peace came back.

As much as he hated this whole yoga thing, he must have learnt something. He noticed that it was easier to relax during Occlumency. He was no longer nervous, didn't try follow the teacher's instructions desperately like before, and it made him peaceful.

Snape was also pleased with his performance. Previously, he had to scold him when he didn't pay attention, but it was not a problem anymore. The summer Occlumency-course was a success.

"You can defend yourself without a wand, Harry." Snape said. After the ominous night he didn't let Harry have his wand with him. He didn't want to experience another harmful spell from the boy.

"Against me, of course." He added stiffly. "For tomorrow we will practice like I were Voldemort."

"How is that different?"

"Voldemort penetrates the mind, tears the memories apart and reaches for the ones useful to him. This is why the process causes physical pain."

Harry shuddered.

"Don't be afraid, I'll be careful…the first time…" He said with an evil grin.

The boy grinned awkwardly.

"Of course. When can I have my wand back?"

"We'll see. You're better now, so maybe you can protect yourself with it tomorrow."

Harry nodded obediently.

"Why are you grinning?"

"I'm just feeling good." The boy said with satisfaction. "Today's my birthday, you know."

"Oh… really?" The teacher asked stunned. "I didn't know…" He muttered more to himself and wondered how he didn't notice this important information. He didn't find anything regarding this in Harry's mind.

"Praise me!" Harry begged as though he wanted satisfaction after hiding the information. "Just this once!"

"Alright, alright, you hid this well from me." Snape gave in.

The boy smiled with self-satisfaction.

"You can go."

Harry ran to his room but left both doors open so his teacher could see into the room. It was filled with owls again.

"And where did these come from?" He asked in the doorway.

The boy looked up briefly then closed the window.

"From the others. But I had no idea there will be so much. Hi!" He welcomed a familiar bird. It was the twin's owl. It had a huge paper bag which landed on Harry's bed and the owl joined Hedwig.

Harry reached for the bag eagerly. He tore it open and a pile of candy and magic stuff came out with a letter.

Dear Harry,

We wish you a very happy birthday and hope you could make use of these things! We tried to send one from everything so you'll have everything you like. Eat, drink and use them well!

George and I surveyed the picture you sent about yourself and your girlfriend and found that you have a beautiful girl! Very sweet Muggle girl! I wish I could meet her! (Doesn't she have any twin sisters?)

Harry laughed.

We're happy that everything is okay and that you're not bored. Enjoy the rest of the summer. Then you can be a bad boy with Ron at school. Because –as George said – as long as there is a Weasley in Hogwarts everyone must beware!

Good luck!

Take care!

Bye: Fred.

p.s.: I say hi too, Harry, just Fred didn't let me speak. – George.

Harry smiled and put the candy on the bed. Snape's eyes widened when he saw all the chocolate, candy, chewing gum and lollipop, and frowned when he noticed the different firecrackers, itchy ointments the twins sent.

"So this is how you get all these."

The boy didn't look up.

"We use them only if absolutely necessary. Say, if an Umbridge wanders into school."

Snape smiled involuntarily. He too remembered what it was like when Umbridge became the headmistress. Of course, his Slytherins behaved; they didn't cause mischief. The other three houses made up for them too.

"Here." Harry said with his mouth full and offered the man a handful of chocolate frog and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beam.

"No thank you." The professor said with a grin.

Harry shrugged and reached for the next letter.

Hello Harry!

"Hello Neville." He muttered.

Happy Birthday! My grandmother baked the cake but I helped a little and I hope you'll like it! I told her about you and she found you a nice guy and she's glad that I have friends like you. You know, she's very proud that I improved a lot in school and it's thanks to you and the others. I learned a lot at the DA sessions and I'm very grateful. I hope we will continue next year.

Be good and take care!

Bye: Neville Longbottom

PS: I'm sending back the third volume of your book, thank you very much.

They'd owled each other since the beginning of the summer. They've been closer since the incident in the Ministry and the prophecy helped too. Harry didn't say anything about the prophecy; of course, he didn't want to scare him. And he was happy that the boy improved this much thanks to the training. And he sent each volume of the Defense books he got from Remus and Sirius. Harry went to his bag and put the book back in it and then pulled out the next one he wanted to send. Then he opened the box of the cake. It was a white chocolate cake with nuts and cream stripes on it.

"Oh!" He said. "You must try this!" He showed the box to Snape. The man looked at it curiously and smiled again. Harry ran to the kitchen to get a knife, two forks and two plates and returned. He closed the door so his greedy cousin wouldn't find the sweets.

He cut the cake eagerly and gave Snape a large piece.

"Eat while you can! If these" he looked at the direction of his foster parents' room…"find it they will take it!"

"Why would they?"

"They don't like when I receive gifts from my friends. They want me to get nothing. They don't buy me anything and don't like the idea that I might mean something to someone. They think even the food wizards make is poisonous… Superstition. Come on, let's eat!"

Snape looked at him sadly and tasted the cake. He shuddered pleasantly.

"Who sent it?"

"Neville."

The man almost choked.

"Longbottom?"

"He didn't curse it, don't worry." Harry said with a laugh when he saw Snape was reluctant to eat more.

While the teacher fastidiously ate the delicious slice of cake, Harry finished half of the cake. He sighed satisfied and drank the pumpkin juice the twins sent.

"Next."

The letters from Ron and Hermione came with the same owl again. They sent a large package too. Harry found a chocolate cake made by Hermione and her mother. Despite the fact that she was a dentist the cake was quite sweet and creamy. And he received lots of pictures of his friends. In one of them Ron was looking at the rollercoaster in horror. Another one was on a beach. Ron was standing in shorts a bit shyly while Hermione waved proudly in her bikini. Harry grinned at the sight of the pictures and his heart was filled with warmth.

In addition, he got a bunch of stuff like quills, invisible ink, books. Ron sent him a book about Quidditch. It was filled with tips, tricks for a seeker. Harry put the book under his pillow to start it before he went to sleep.

He cut the cake and gave a slice to his teacher and they ate that too.

"God, I'm going to explode." He leaned over the bed. "But I still have more letters…!"

Hagrid sent to usual home-made cookies which Harry didn't want to try. He informed Snape about Hagrid's culinary knowledge too. McGonagall's letter arrived too. It contained the details of the new school year, and the list of the books.

Mrs. Weasley sent a letter, though she knew Ron would send one too. But she wanted to send her home-made dishes too: fruits bread, muffins and donuts. She still thought the boy was starving, and didn't know that Snape's presence made everything a little better.

Harry gathered all the sweets he received and hid everything in the usual place, so Aunt Petunia won't find them. He placed the letters on the table to answer them later. At this point something hit him. He didn't get anything from Remus. He looked around the room but there were no more owls in there.

"Is… Remus okay?" He asked his teacher a little anxiously.

"I haven't heard anything bad… Why?"

"Because he didn't send anything…"

"Don't be selfish, Harry! You received so many sweets!"

"No… it's not why I said that. It's just… weird… He always writes."

He couldn't sleep well that night. Remus' silence made him worried. He always sent letters, if nothing else, a letter on the behalf of the Order. However he hadn't sent anything recently…

He had a bad feeling but Harry still decided to go to the outdoor event with his girlfriend to see the bands perform. He managed to get rid of his worries and Snape promising to investigate things had a calming effect too.

After the concert he spent some pleasant and intimate minutes with his girl and went home late. He knew that Dudley wouldn't be home until midnight because he went to a competition in the next town. His parents accompanied him to cheer. So he could stay a little longer; as long as he arrived home first they didn't care.

After saying goodbye to his girlfriend, he ran though the streets of Little Whinging. He had to stop at an intersection and looked at himself in the mirror of a window. He realized that he didn't use any charm to change his appearance. He pulled out his wand, hid behind a tree and hid his scar on his forehead. He turned his hair black and his eyes became blue.

He was about to go when two long, strong arms caught him and pulled him to the ground. Harry kicked and struggled when he realized it was not a surprise or mischief.

"Help!" He screamed loudly but a large hand covered his mouth instantly.

He bit and kicked instinctively with as much power as he had but to no avail. He just hit himself each time.

"I've got you, little brat!" An evil, deep male voice whispered. "You damn little freak, that's your gratitude? We've fed you, taught you for twelve years, and you just leave? Ouch!" The attacker shouted.

Harry kicked him hard.

The man faced the boy and slapped him so hard that he fell and cracked his lips and eyebrow. Harry touched his bruised chin and felt paralyzed by terror. He dropped his only weapon and felt completely defenseless. This feeling continued accumulating when a dark figure picked his wand up and showed it to the others. Death Eaters! And so many of them! He had no chance against them without a wand…

"The Dark Lord should have killed you instantly!" He yelled furiously. "Instead he took you in and you just left! Now you will die! The Dark Lord will be happy to kill you! Come on! Get up!"

Harry didn't understand this and it just made him more terrified. When he regained some strength he started shouting again.

"Help! Please help me! They want to kidnap me!"

The men tried to keep him down but he protested vehemently. He managed to kick one of them in the stomach and broke one's nose. He stood up and started running. But he didn't last long, because one of the men grabbed his ankle and he fell.

"You're not going anywhere!"

He struggled to free himself when he saw someone apparate twenty feet away. It was Mundungus Fletcher who raised his wand, threw curses and ran to them. Harry felt a hope; he might be able to get away.

Then he felt terrible pain. A Death Eater stabbed the left side of his hip with a short dagger.

The world slowed down around Harry, he only saw blurred figures. His face was gaunt and pale, reflecting the surprise he felt. The attacker pulled the dagger out and laughed with satisfaction. The view cleared for a moment and Harry saw the three Death Eaters attacking Mundungus. The man was hit by a spell and was sent flying backwards. With his last strength he looked into Harry's eyes and realized that he couldn't help him any longer. He made one last attempt against his attackers.

Harry cried one last time:

"Mundunguuuuuuus!"

"We can't find him anywhere!" Snape took off his coat. "Lupin and I searched the whole area but found no trace of him! What should we do headmaster?" He asked irritably.

But Dumbledore couldn't answer because the door opened again. Kingsley and Mrs. Figg helped the bloody Mundungus Fletcher in. The man was motionless.

"Dung!" Tonks screamed who was leaning on a crutch.

"Quickly! Take him to the dining room and lay him on the table." Mrs. Weasley tried to stay calm. "Charlie!" She ordered one of his sons. "Bring a pillow and a blanket. Bill, bring the medicines from Tonks' room! Fred, George bring me some boiled water!"

Everybody did as Mrs. Weasley said; Kingsley, Remus and Snape laid the wounded man on the large dining table.

"He's still alive…" Remus claimed.

"He has some serious injuries… What could have happened?"

"He was on duty tonight, Remus." Dumbledore said quietly. "He was looking after Harry."

"So you think that… Harry was kidnapped?"

Mrs. Weasley screamed.

"Relax!" Dumbledore asked everyone. "Molly, please." He pointed towards the injured man.

The woman understood the hint and with the help of the other two young witches she started tending to the man.

They were new members of the Order. One of them was tall and slim, and had long blond hair.

"Phiona!" She spoke to the other one, who was a little shorter. She had ebony hair with red lines in it. "Please help!"

They took off the bloody clothes and started cleaning the wounds.

The others watched them silently. Arabella Figg brought several bowls filled with clean, boiled water; Hesita Jones cut clean clothes to wipe the wounds.

The twins – whose hair was shoulder-length now – stared and hissed every time they saw a bloody injury. Their father put a hand on their shoulder to reassure them then left the room. Bill followed him like he wanted to comfort him.

Remus looked the worst. He was pale like he used to be when the full moon was near. It was because of Dung and Harry that his heart beat so widely. If Mundungus was in such a state then what state could Harry be in? He looked at James who was comforting the crying Lily. Sirius' eyes were filled with desperation and anger and it seemed like he wanted to help somehow.

Dung started whimpering and everyone stepped closer despite Mrs. Weasley's protest. Even those who were in the lobby or in the corridors ran into the room.

"Mundungus." Dumbledore started. He placed his hand on the man's forehead and the injured man opened his eyes.

"Headmaster…" He said weakly.

"Mundungus, we know you went through horrible things" The old wizard silenced him. "But still, we have to know what happened. Harry's missing; we have to find him as soon as possible. Have you seen anything?"

The man nodded weakly, closed his eyes and relaxed his body.

Dumbledore raised his wand, whispered a spell and a blue light appeared around the man. A funnel-shaped column appeared above his head and it began to take shape. It was like a movie.

They saw Harry's frightened face and all of them hissed. The boy's lip and eyebrow was already bleeding. He struggled desperately. He shouted and asked for help, when he saw Mundungus their eyes met. Those present all felt like the boy was looking into their eyes. They all felt the fear the boy felt at that moment.

But Harry couldn't enjoy the hope he felt for long. A shiny, sharp dagger flashed in the night and stabbed the boy's hip.

Tonks – putting aside all manly features – screamed and put her hand in front of her eyes and let her crutch fall. Everybody moaned. Dumbledore handled the best. But he fell out of his calm demeanor when Snape - who was taking care of the patient – dropped a vial. It broke into pieces and its contents drained the carpet.

All this happened in the moment when Harry himself began realizing what happened. The boy's eyes widened in pain, silent words left his lips. He started losing consciousness.

Snape stared at the beautiful blue eyes like he was bewitched. He was paler than a dead man. He backed away without blinking and puzzlement appeared on his face. He shook his head and stumbled backwards.

"No… no, it's…"

The others looked at him curiously.

"Severus!" Dumbledore raised his voice.

However, the Potions Master looked like he was mad. He glanced at the fire in the fireplace and looked at the flames for a moment then back at Harry. He put his hand in front of his mouth in horror and ran out of the room. Some people wanted to go after him but Dumbledore raised his hand.

"Leave him alone!" He said. "Thank you Mundungus." He turned to the patient and cancelled the spell.

Remus' legs trembled. He supported himself on the table. He felt weak so he dragged himself to the nearest chair and slumped down on it. Struggling with the tears he buried his head in his hands. The ghosts following him all cried on each other's shoulders.

The others were shocked as well.

"Alastor." The headmaster said. "Please gather all available members of the Order. Everyone must know about this. We have to prepare for the worst. Harry has been kidnapped by Voldemort's minions. If the Dark Lord manages to hurt him, I'm afraid, according to the prophecy we won't be able to stop him…"

That's it. It was a short chapter so I decided to do it today. The next one won't be this easy. It's longer.

Please review….

I just want to know if you like the story or not…

Bye

Hermina