Chapter Eight
Harry lay awake in bed. Voldemort had been angry, very angry that afternoon. Harry didn't know why but the pain had left him shaking as Hermione and Draco stood over him, the panic clear on their faces.
He'd thought this was over. The never ending worry and pain of Voldemort's and his minds connecting. For weeks now, Harry had held Onto the memories of Gemini killing Dumbledore, of Severus telling him that he loved him, that they'd be a family again.
That had to change now. Harry couldn't risk Voldemort seeing it; it would cost Severus his life for sure.
The clock on Harry's bedside table said it was a little past three in the morning, everyone should be asleep.
Hermione's words, begging him to work on closing his mind echoed through his mind as he crept from his room, the invisibility cloak wrapped tightly around him.
Harry had never taken a memory from his mind before. He'd seen others do it and knew you needed a Pensive or a vial but that was about it; it wasn't exactly something they gave you lessons on in Hogwarts.
The Malfoy library, however, put the one at Hogwarts to shame and would certainly have what he needed.
He hated sneaking around all the time, the constant need to hide everything, even from his mother. When all this was over he would tell her and Danica and his friends everything, no more secrets, not ever; apart from possibly for birthdays.
Harry poked his head round the door, to the room where Sirius lay now in fresh, white pyjamas. There was a house elf sleeping, curled up on a pillow next Sirius on the bed.
It had been both a blessing and a curse to have Sirius so close by. Harry loved seeing him more often, the walls covered with an ever growing number of pictures. It seemed far more real how alone they were in the world, when not even the hospital was going to be safe any more.
Danica had taken to drawing her and Remus as wolves, running through forests with Padfoot. She'd drawn several with a stag running with them as well, but Lily and Remus had burst into tears when they saw them so Danica had decided that wasn't such a good idea.
The house elf didn't stir when Harry closed the door to Sirius's room and took off the cloak, leaving it on the chair nearest to where he was working.
Memories were in a small, neatly labelled, section that was tucked in one corner. It wasn't difficult for Harry to find the spell needed to remove memories from a mind, and one to create the best vials for holding them.
Harry flicked his wand and a shining crystal vial appeared on the sideboard.
Harry could feel his hand shaking as he placed his wand to his temple. The book said you had to picture the memory firmly in you mind. If you wanted to remove it, it had to be detached from all other things, floating separately in your mind, whereas if you wanted a copy, you needed to attach it to another thought.
Harry didn't need a copy though. He needed to make sure that Voldemort never saw even a glimpse of these memories, which means he had to forget. He wondered what it was like, to lose a memory?
Harry shook his head. He had to focus, this had to be done and putting it off was just making him lose yet more sleep.
"Animus Retinentia." Harry muttered under his breath, pulling a long silvery thread out of his temple with his wand tip and dropping it into the crystal vial.
It sat shimmering brightly on the side board. He felt sad looking at it, although he couldn't quite remember why. It was fussy, blurred in his mind; he knew by morning it might not even be that much.
The memories would go to Dobby, who could put them with the letters. That way, if the worst happened, Danica and Lily could still learn the truth even if Harry no longer knew what that was.
He threw on the invisibility cloak and said an almost silent goodnight to Sirius before padding back to his room and falling into a rough, fit full and unresting sleep.
The next morning he awoke to Daphne, Draco, Pansy, Hermione, Neville and Danica jumping on his bed and smacking him with pillows.
"Get off!" Harry laughed, trying to drag the pillow from under his head so he could fight back, "You're all so mean!"
"Harry Birthday!" Danica called loudly, giving his cheek a kiss.
"Thanks." Harry beamed, sitting up.
He was so glad to see his friends, even if it was for a little more than just cake and presents. He didn't have to worry about that right now though.
They left him alone, briefly, so that he could pull on some clothes and then the seven of them could wander down to the dinning room together. Danica insisted on Neville giving her a piggy back, which led to Lily yelling at them for trying to go down the stairs, muttering about them going to break their necks.
Danica hopped from Neville's back and walked down the stairs by herself before jumping back on the second he was off the last step.
In the dinning room, Lucius was already sat at the head of the table, sipping fresh coffee and looking over the Daily Prophet.
"Anything important?" Lily asked, sliding into the seat next to him.
Lucius shook his head and sighed to her, "No, just more unrest. A few more articles on the horrors of muggle borns and a whole gossip column on the evils of werewolves."
"Well we do love to cause trouble." Lily said sarcastically.
They stopped the conversation as soon as Danica, Harry and his friends walked in.
The table was already groaning with food, piled high with pancakes, waffles, fresh fruit, toasted malt loaf and enough toppings to open an ice cream shop.
"Harry, happy birthday." Lucius beamed as Harry slipped into his seat.
"Remus and Tonks said they'll be along for your dinner." Lily told them, "As will Andromeda and Ted."
Harry grinned and loaded his plate with several steaming waffles, signalling for the others to start eating as well.
"Tea or coffee Harry?" Lily asked, "Or hot chocolate?"
"Hot chocolate ple…" Harry stopped short as there was a small knock on the door.
Corvus stood awkwardly, barely peering around the door.
"Yes Corvus?" Lucius asked politely.
Corvus seemed to be struggling with so many people staring at him all at once, "I was wondering if I could join you?"
Harry didn't wait for a response from one of the adults, he nodded and smiled at the pale faced boy, "Yeah sure. Of course, come on in."
Corvus looked highly surprised that Harry had allowed him to join them and walked slowly into the room, sitting at the table next to Daphne at the end.
"So where were we?" Harry grinned, "I think it was discussing the huge pile of presents you are all going to give me."
"Oh we were meant to bring presents?" Pansy asked in mock confusion and a perfect queen's English accent.
"Well no one told me." Daphne smirked.
"You are all very mean." Harry said, giving a sniff, "And that's the second time you've made me say that this morning!"
"Eat up and then presents." Lily told him firmly.
Harry grinned, tucking into the indulgent breakfast.
It didn't take them long to all finish and make their way to the relaxed sitting room that they all preferred to the formal one.
Harry received several more books, more drawing supplies, and a new, very warm Slytherin jumper. Hagrid had sent a small Mokeskin pouch that wouldn't open for anyone but him. Harry slipped it around his neck straight away.
"Thank you so much!" Harry beamed, "Really!"
Corvus cleared his throat, turning bright red as Harry's attention turned to him, "I… I have something for you."
He pulled out a shoe box, that had been wrapped in the lining paper from one of his draws, "It sits on its side." Corvus showed Harry.
Harry took the box and opened it. Sitting inside were six small origami figures, to represent Harry and his friends. For someone who had never seen their Patronuses, he'd done a very good job of guessing animals to represent them all.
There was a stag for Harry, a rabbit for Daphne, fox for Draco, otter for Hermione, bear for Neville and a sparrow for Pansy.
Corvus had painted the back drop as a heather covered hill side with a stream, so that each little white figure wouldn't look out of place.
"This is really beautiful, thank you." Harry smiled, finally looking up from the scene.
"I know it's not much," Corvus shrugged, "I just couldn't get out or have money or anything and I wanted to get you something, you don't have to keep it or anything."
Harry clutched at the box protectively, "I want it. It's brilliant, look guys."
Harry showed the box to everyone else in the room, who all ooed and ahhed their approval.
"Where did you learn to do this?" Neville asked, handing the box back to Harry.
Corvus turned cherry red, "Umm… Thomas. Thomas taught me." he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rather squished origami raven, "He made me this years back, during our first year, and I said it was cool, that I wanted to learn. It just takes practice."
"Thank you." Harry said again, "I'm just going to put everything in my room, I'll be back in a moment."
"I'll help." Lily said, picking up and armful of books.
Harry placed his presents on the long couch that sat against the wall, just under the window to sort later. Lily placed the books she was carrying on the pile and went to sit on Harry's bed, pulling out a small box and showing him.
"One more present." she said softly.
Harry walked over, shaking inside. He knew what it was, even if he didn't know what was in the box.
Sixteen things, 'presents' from James, already sat attached to their black ribbon in a box under his bed and now there was only one spot left.
"I always knew that one day they would run out, I didn't think it would be so hard." Lily laughed sadly.
Harry sat down next to her and took the box. He lifted the lid carefully and took out the very old pocket watch.
"There's some old tradition of giving wizards a watch when they come of age, so it seemed fitting to leave this one until last." Lily explained.
"It's perfect." Harry said, wiping his eyes, "It still works."
Lily nodded, "It was James's grandfather's before it was his, and now it's yours."
Harry slipped down from the bed and dug out the box from underneath. He ran his fingers over the ribbon and its trinkets.
A gold rattle handle, a picture of James, Lily and baby Harry just born, half of James's glasses that survived the destruction of the house, a scale from his set of scales for potion making, his chard wedding ring, a tie clip, an old family broach, the handle of his morning tea mug, the name tag from their cat's collar, a small silver broom that was part of a statue once, James's Head boy badge, a tip from one of his favourite quills, a copy of the Potter family seal, a Dragon scale from their honeymoon, his Quidditch player badge and a glowing marble Sirius had given him at school together.
All tiny, silly things that most people would of just thrown away, especially as they were nearly all broken or burned, but they meant everything to Harry.
"I want to keep the watch with me." Harry said quickly, "I can't take this, so I want to take the watch."
"You can do whatever you want with it Harry." Lily said kindly, "I thought you might."
Harry smiled, he knew she would understand but still felt rather guilty some how. He couldn't imagine a birthday without a gift from James, but next year he was going to have to bear it, if he made it that far.
The horrible thought floated into his mind, wondering if running out of gifts meant he wasn't going to see another birthday.
Harry shook his head, he mustn't thinking like that, it wasn't going to help anything after all.