Seems appropriate that I post a chapter about Harry's birthday on his birthday, doesnt it? He would be 35 today if he were real. Of course, he is real to some of us, isn't he?
Harry woke up in the room he shared with Ron at The Burrow and looked around sleepily.
Ron was still sleeping across the room in his own bed, snoring loudly, Hedwig's cage was empty and it was barely dawn outside from what he could see.
Yawning and stretching, he tumbled out of bed, fetched his glasses out of a bedside table and went to the widows to look outside.
The sun was rising over the English countryside and a light, cool breeze blew, which he closed his eyes and savoured.
"It really is good to be back, even if it's just for a little while..." Harry thought happily.
As he stepped away from the window and decided to pull out some fresh clothing to get ready for the day, he realised one very important fact.
It was his birthday today.
His seventeenth birthday.
He was of age in his own home world.
No more Trace, no more blasted Restrictions on Underage Magic for him...
A smile spread across his face.
" 's too bloody early to be awake..." he heard Ron mutter behind him.
"Oh, hush, Ron..." Harry went to fetch his wand and began to celebrate his birthday by causing his and Ron's possession to fly around the room and disturbing Pigwidgeon in his cage; a book of his narrowly barrelling into Hedwig who had just returned from her nocturnal wanderings (objecting rather loudly), turned Ron's hair pink and the orange robes on Ron's Chudley Cannons posters blue just for the pleasure of it.
"Oh yeah. It's your birthday, innit? Happy Birthday, Harry!" Ron struggled out of bed and gave him a high-five while stretching somehow.
"Thanks, Ron. Maybe we'd better go get ready for the day and see what we can do for it later." Harry picked up his things and began to head to a bathroom.
"Mum'll probably have something planned for later, you know. Maybe she'll even invite Lupin, Tonks and some others. It'll be great to see them again, won't it?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, It'll be great to see them too..." Harry agreed. "Anyway, time to go wash up..."
Later on, when Harry and Ron arrived in the kitchen, they found a pile of presents waiting on the table and everyone trooping in either helping to finish prepare the breakfast or beginning to serve what had already been cooked.
"Look, it's the Birthday Man!" Fred exclaimed. "Happy Birthday, Harry! We've got a day of fun and hi-jinks planned for you!"
"Rather weird looking man though..." George snickered.
"If you and George are doing the planning, I'm not sure I want to be involved at all..." Harry chortled and moved to help Mrs. Weasley serve the breakfast.
"No, no, Harry. No need for you to help. It's your birthday today. No work for you." Mrs Weasley waved him off.
Harry noted the rather large stack of wrapped presents on a table in the corner of the kitchen.
"Are those..." he started.
"Yours, yes..." Molly smiled as she put some rashers of bacon, eggs, a muffin and some toast on a plate for him. "There's plenty more food where that came from and you're going to eat a nice, solid meal before you tackle those presents..."
"I don't mind that at all..." Harry dug in with much gusto, not pausing in his eating until he was full.
Afterwards, he went straight to the pile of gifts, opening the gift at the top of the pile.
"Oh, that's from Arthur and I, Harry dear. He's sorry he couldn't be here this morning and he passes on his regards, but, well... work and all... Go on. Open it!"
Harry lifted the square parcel that she had indicated from the pile and opened it.
A gold watch with stars circling around the face instead of hands.
"It's a really nice watch, Mrs. Weasley. Thank you." Harry smiled as he examined it.
"You're welcome, Harry. It's tradition to give a wizard a watch when he comes of age. It's not new and it's a bit battered since it used to be my brother Fabian's and..."
"It doesn't matter." Harry went over to hug the Weasley matriarch. "I like it just the same. Thank you." he backed off, slipping on the watch. and admiring how it looked on his wrist.
He'd gotten a Sneakoscope from Hermione, a box of varied candies from Ron, a book of handy charms from Ginny, an enchanted razor from Bill and Fleur, gourmet French chocolates from the Felacours and an enormous box of the latest Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes merchandise from Fred and George.
All in all, a rather pleasant haul for his seventeenth birthday, he thought , as the Weasleys and Delacours commented on each gift.
"We'll have a birthday dinner for you later, Harry. Out in the gardens. Lupin and Tonks are coming, Hagrid will be here as well and Charlie will be here from Romania in time..." Mrs Weasley went off.
"You don't have to go to all that trouble. A normal dinner is fine. I-"
"It's happening already, Harry. She's been planning this ever since you showed up here. She won't be denied. It's best not to fight it." Bill snickered at Harry's expression.
As the rest of the Weasleys and Delacours chatted, Mrs Weasley pulled Harry aside.
"Harry, it's your birthday and all and I know that you don't really get along with him much, but... I think we should invite Dumbledore to the party. He'll be at the wedding tomorrow and you'll see him there anyway, but..." she started to rush, but Harry held up a hand to slow her down.
"It's okay, Mrs. Weasley. I don't hate him. We just... had a bit of a misunderstanding..." Harry said and Mrs Weasley actually snorted at that.
"A bit?" she chuckled.
"Well, perhaps not a bit, but you get the idea. Invite him. I don't mind. In fact I'd quite like to talk to him..." Harry shrugged.
"You're sure? You're okay with this? I really want you to enjoy your birthday. Dark times and all and with You-Know-Who attacking that place in Magix where those Trix were being held and allying himself with them..." she looked anxious.
"I appreciate it all, Mrs Weasley and I understand. I don't like that you're stressing yourself out so much about it but if it's really what you want to do..."
"It is." Mrs Weasley beamed and patted his cheek fondly, though she had to tip-toe a bit to do so as he was now rather much taller than she was. "I'll go get started!" she bustled away from him and Harry went to rejoin the rest of the household.
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" Roxy beamed at him when Harry answered his cell phone.
"Thanks, Roxy. Been hearing that quite a lot today." Harry smiled.
"So, enjoying your birthday so far?" Roxy asked him.
"Oh yeah. Got a lot of presents, had a nice breakfast and apparently, I'm having a party later." Harry said.
"I see. You'll be getting my gift when you come over here in a few days. Seems like you're having quite a lot of fun there. How does it feel to be seventeen?"
"I... I dunno... I don't feel like an adult, except that I can legally do magic here now without the Ministry wanting to put me on trial for it..." Harry shrugged. "It'll take time for me to adjust to that, I suppose. Then again, most of my time these days is spent between Magix and Tir Nan Og, where there are no secrecy laws..."
"I wonder why they keep the secrecy laws up, even though everyone on Earth knows that magic exists now, thanks to the Winx Club..." Roxy wondered.
"Can't spring it all on the non-magicals at once, I suppose. We're all allowed to have our secrets, after all..." Harry shrugged.
"I suppose so. Well then, you've got quite a busy summer. This birthday party of yours later today, then that wedding you're going to tomorrow, then you're coming here and we're going to the Young Royals Gala together, then training with my aunt..." Roxy counted them off on her fingers.
"How is the training with Queen Nebula going anyway?" Harry asked her.
"Brutal," Roxy shuddered. "Still haven't regained use of my wings yet, either..."
"Hey, Harry! Your party guests are arriving! Get down here!" Ron yelled from somewhere outside.
"Duty calls, my Princess." Harry said.
Roxy rolled her eyes. "Go on and enjoy your birthday. Eat an extra slice of cake for me."
"I'll be sure to do that." Harry smiled as he hung up the phone and got up to join his birthday party.
"Many happy returns of the day, Potter. I hope you're maintaining constant vigilance wherever it is that you are, on this planet or not..." Moody said as he passed Harry on his way into the gardens.
"I am, Moody. I can assure you." Harry chuckled.
"Good. Now that Voldemort can go to that Magix place, you need to be extra careful there." He wandered off to talk to Mr Delacour and Mr Weasley.
"It's been a long time, Harry, since I've spoken to you personally, Harry. You're not going to Disapparate away from me, are you?"
Harry turned around to see Dumbledore approaching him, dressed in robes and a hat of dark orange and cerulean.
Harry chuckled to himself at the colour combination.
"No, Sir, I'm not." Harry shook his head.
"Back to calling me Sir, are you?" Dumbledore observed.
"I am." Harry nodded. "Spending time between Magix and Tir Nan Og helped me tremendously. That is where I belong for now. Hogwarts taught me lots of things, but Red Fountain..."
"Ah yes. And your choice to stay there seems to have worked out for you quite well." Dumbledore looked him up and down. "You have filled out quite well. Not quite as... thin as you used to be, yet... not built as a Muggle bodybuilder."
"Lots of physical exercise involved in my classes there, Sir. Helps to build up endurance and all..." Harry explained.
"I see." Dumbledore nodded. "Well, I shall not keep you from the party. I am sure that you wish to partake of the lovely looking cake that Mrs Weasley is bringing there and frankly, so do I..." Dumbledore inclined his head towards Mrs Weasley, who was levitating what appeared to be a giant, beach-ball sized Snitch in front of her, which, Harry realised, was his birthday cake.
By seven o'clock, the party was in full swing and all the guests had arrived.
Hagrid in his best (and horrible hairy brown suit) had shown up, presenting Harry with a small, slightly furry drawstring pouch with a long string, apparently to be worn around the neck.
"See this?" Hagrid said as he handed it over to him. "Mokeskin. Put summat in there an' no one but the owner can get it out. Real rare, they are..."
"I'll be sure to use it and take good care of it, Hagrid." Harry smiled.
Hagrid waved him off with dustbin-lid-sized hand, before going off to talk to Charlie.
"So, how's it feel, now that you've been back with us Earthlings for several days and now that you're of age?" Ginny came up to talk to him as the twins told jokes to Mr and Mrs Delacour, who seemed to be quite enjoying themselves.
"It kind of feels the same." Harry shrugged. "Despite everything, I've not forgotten here, you know. I can't see myself coming back to live at the moment, but maybe if the Ministry gets its act together..." Harry shrugged. "And of course the problem of Voldemort is dealt with..."
"All that different magic you're learning... Impressive stuff, it is. I wonder if I could learn some of it..." Ginny said.
"Maybe, but I don't think you'd ever be able to become their kind of fairy of witch. Different kinds of magic, see. Wandless magic though... I'm learning it and so could you, I suppose..." Harry shrugged.
"We restarted that little... study group..." Ginny eyed her mother as she walked past, no doubt to scold the twins, who had brought Firewhiskey with them and were beginning to get a bit louder than usual. "...while you were gone. Since Voldemort is..." She cringed slightly as she spoke the name. "out in the open and all. Trading knowledge about spells anyone's discovered. Practicing and all that."
"Keep it going, then..." Harry said.
"Yeah... I'm going to go watch Mum. Seeing her scold someone who isn't you is always fun..." Ginny wandered off.
"Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks and Lupin walked towards him hand in hand.
"I heard you two got married while I was off having my adventures in Magix. Congratulations." Harry smiled at the pair. "Can't say I ever saw it coming though..."
"Thanks, Harry. And Happy Birthday." Tonks said, hugging tightly.
"Don't mind us. Today is about you, Harry. Speaking of you, I hear that you're dating a princess these days..." Lupin spoke teasingly.
"And if I am? You've got your own princess right there." Harry gestured to Tonks, who giggled.
"Smooth, Harry. I guess that Magix place really is doing something for you, after all..." she said.
"It is great to see you two again. Really, it is. Remus, I've not had much chance to talk to you when I've been here. That needs to change..." Harry said. "When I get back to Magix, I'll write you more. Hedwig has a special collar that will allow her to pass through the dimensions. She doesn't like it much, but it will only be for the occasional letter, at least until I can get you one of those magical cell phones..."
"There's no need-" Remus started, but Harry cut him off.
"Oh yes there is, Remus. You were my dad's best friend. Sirius' best friend. As far as I'm concerned, you're the last Marauder alive. That and the fact that you've always been good to me... what makes you think I wouldn't want you to be able to talk to me?" Harry asked him.
"I suppose..." Remus looked reluctant.
"Oh come on, Remus. Stop looking so down. It's a party! My birthday party! Here, have some more cake!" Harry passed him a plate.
"I'd like a slice too, if you don't mind..." Tonks perked up.
"Of course. More cake for everyone!" Harry said, laughing as he made his way back to what was left of his birthday cake.
Later that night, Harry sat up in bed, reading by wand light as Ron lay snoring in the bed across the room.
The party had been wonderful; a great diversion from all the issues going around them like Voldemort and what is Death Eaters were doing.
Afterwards, Dumbledore had stayed behind and too him aside in the kitchen to explain his gift, which was what he was reading now.
A collection of spells that Dumbledore had either invented or rare spells and charms that he had discovered over the years, accompanied with his notes on them, bound with a dark red cover and a gold lock that would open with a touch of his wand.
"I have held too much back from you, Harry. It's time I share with you some of the vast magical knowledge that I have acquired over the years. Consider it both your birthday gift and a token of apology..." Dumbledore had said.
Harry remembered taking the book and looking at it in awe.
"Holding information back... has gotten people hurt. I hope that you can learn from the knowledge and experience I put into that book and that you could let it guide you when appropriate..."
This book... written by Dumbledore himself... the knowledge contained within... for all his faults, Dumbledore was a very brilliant, talented wizard...
And then, Dobby.
Oh Dobby...
Apparently, the odd House-Elf had been eager to see him, so Dumbledore had called him from Hogwarts.
"The Great Harry Potter has returned at last! Dobby is happy to see Harry Potter, the wonderful, kind, noble, brave, Friend of Elves again! Dobby is even happy to see Her Owlness, Great Harry Potter's beautiful owl!" Dobby was practically bouncing up and down, tennis-ball sized eyes shining.
Hedwig had puffed up in pride at the Her Owlness part, seated at her perch on the windowsill.
"Don't you start, Hedwig. Don't." Harry narrowed his eyes at the snowy owl.
He actually missed Dobby more than he thought...
"Can Dobby come visit Harry Potter in new magical place sometime, Harry Potter Sir?"
"I don't know, Dobby. It's not like you can just cross over into other dimensions like that... can you?" Harry had asked.
"If Dobby was to become Master Harry's Elf, then Dobby could go anywhere that Master Harry goes, Sir!"
Harry looked at Dumbledore.
"I have no problem with it, Harry. Just touch your hand to his and concentrate on wanting him bound to you. Feel the magic flow between you..." Dumbledore instructed.
And just like that, Harry had had yet another bonded elf.
Though Dobby was infinitely more pleasant to be around than Kreacher...
So with Dobby actually bonded to his service, Dumbledore's gift (and the gifts he received from everyone else) and the day he'd had...
Overall, it had been a very pleasant birthday, he thought as he put away the book. Probably the best one he'd ever had.
A fter the one where Hagrid had told him he was a wizard, of course...
Lord Voldemort sat on his throne-like chair, running a thin, pale finger across the head of his snake familiar Nagini.
"Tomorrow, Nagini. Tomorrow." Voldemort spoke in a hiss. "Another major attack tomorrow and this one will spread the Aurors thin..."
"Every time I've launched a major attack against the Wizarding population, Potter..."
At this, Nagini let out an angry hiss.
"Always was there to save the day somehow. Even with that different magic of his, he still can't be in multiple places at once..."
Voldemort stood up.
"By this time tomorrow, the Wizarding population shall be in disarray and those who stand against me... They will all suffer..."
So... Harry's had a happier 17th birthday here than in canon, but I know a lot of you are waiting for the Bill/Fleur wedding. You'll just have to wait and see, hehehe...