I don't own Harry Potter. If I did i would have a really nice house in Scotland

Chapter – 9 Happy birthday Harry.

Harry, Hermione and Remus travelled back to Oxford, returning to Hermione's house around mid-afternoon. The house was deserted, and Harry began to worry so he reached for his wand. The three walked through the house until they arrived at the back garden.

"SURPRISE!"

In the back-garden Harry saw Mr and Mrs Granger, Mr and Mrs Weasley. Fred and George, Ginny and Ron Weasley.

"Really Harry?" Fred said.

"Wands out?" George replied.

"Would have thought you had enough trouble with the Ministry."

The Weasley boys took turns shaking Harrys hand.

"Happy birthday Harry." Mr Weasley said. "Percy would have liked to have been here, but he is working in the Ministers office right now and it would have been difficult for him to get out of work."

"To come to my birthday party?" Harry asked.

"Yes." Mr Weasley. "You are persona non grata in the Ministry right now."

"Happy Birthday Harry dear." Mrs Weasley pulled him into a bone crunching hug. "I am so pleased you are safe."

"Thank you, Mrs Weasley." Harry said with a smile.

"We would invite you to the Burrow of course, but well, we aren't there."

"Where are you Mrs Weasley?" Hermione asked.

"I'm afraid I can't say dear, Professor Dumbledore will explain everything to you when he is ready, I'm sure."

"Hiya Harry." Ginny said pulling him into a hug and giving him a little peck on the cheek.

"Erm. Hey Ginny. How are you?" Harry stammered.

"I'm fine Harry." Ginny told him. "We're staying in London." She went on.

"Sounds nice." Harry said. Ginny was still holding on to his arm.

Hermione, who was talking with the twins, saw what was happening and made her way over to them to slide her arm into Harrys. "Hello Ginny." Hermione said brightly. "Has Harry told you our news yet?"

"No?" Ginny said then thought for a moment. "Oh, that's right, you've both been made prefects, congratulations."

"Thank you." Hermione said with a smile. "But I was talking about our other news. Oh Harry, don't say you forgot to tell Ginny that we are a couple now." She went on. To hammer her point home, she gave Harry a peck on the cheek.

"Oh, I see." Ginny stammered. "Right. Well. Erm, congratulations." She managed to force a smile. "I have to go talk to Ron."

Ginny scurried away as the twins came over.

"Did our ears deceive us?" Fred began.

"Did you just say that you and Harry are a couple, Hermione?" George asked.

"But surely not!" Fred said feigning shock. "This is going to cause merry hell in the Gryffindor common room."

"Dean Thomas's book!" George went on. "That little cockney bugger is going to get everybody's money."

"But we need to discuss matters of great importance with Harry." Fred said.

"Did you know that we don't have a captain for the Quidditch team?" George asked.

"And on that note, I'm going to show Mr Weasley the TV." Hermione said leaving.

"Forgive the subterfuge Harry." Fred said.

"We needed to talk to you about your investment." George went on.

"What investment?" Harry asked bewildered.

"Your Triwizard winnings of course." Fred told him.

"We've used it to start a mail order business." George said.

"We predict in three years you will have made your stake back and probably twenty percent more." Fred said.

"We want to get contracts drawn up, but we haven't had time." George told him.

"Or the know-how." Fred admitted. "We don't know about contracts."

"Guys, talk to Remus." Harry said. "Ask him to put you in touch with Ted Tonks, he's my solicitor."

"Thank you, Harry." George said.

"But what are we going to do about a quidditch captain?" Harry asked.

"Professor McGonagall will pick someone." Fred said. "I hope it's not me."

"Or me." George added.

"Or me." Harry agreed. "I've got enough to be getting on with."

It was an enjoyable afternoon. Mr Granger fired up the BBQ and they were eating burgers, sausages and steaks. Mrs Weasley was fascinated by the cooking on a charcoal grill and the food prepared by hand (Or by food mixer) and Mr Weasley was fascinated by everything inside the house. As the afternoon wore on, Harry was guided to a bundle of presents on a table in the corner of the garden. There were gifts and cards from Neville and Dean from school and a large box of odd socks from Dobby. Mr and Mrs Weasley presented Harry with a box of sweets and homemade biscuits, Remus gave Harry a series of books on fighting the Dark Arts, and oddly, Harry thought, a complete set of a muggle book series known as Lord of the Rings. Ginny gave Harry a scarf made from Gryffindor red. She had knit it herself and Ron's gift was a new broomstick repair kit.

Mr and Mrs Granger gave Harry a watch. "Every young man should have a decent time piece son." Mr Granger said.

"Thank you." Harry said his eyes welling up.

Hermione gave Harry a wand holster made of Dragon Hide. It would attach to his wrist and his wand could be drawn into his hand by flicking his wrists.

Sirius pulled Harry to one side.

"My gift is this." He said handing Harry a parchment scroll. Harry unrolled it and read it quickly. "What it basically does Harry, is emancipates you." Sirius explained. "You would be legally an adult, meaning you can perform magic whenever you needed to without worry about the Ministry. It also means that you don't ever have to go back to the Dursleys."

"But how?" Harry asked.

"Ted sorted it out for me." Sirius said. "Because your magical guardian, meaning me, is unsuitable to look after you and as the muggles are clearly not fit to look after you, your age today means you can branch out on your own."

"So, does that mean I can't go to school?" Harry asked.

"No, you can still attend Hogwarts. That is an age thing, not a status thing." Sirius explained. "You sign on the bottom of the page and we send it off to the Ministry and bobs your uncle."

"And Vernon isn't." Harry quipped. "Pass the quill." He signed the scroll and handed it back to Sirius.

"I'll get this sent off, be back in a bit." Sirius told him transforming into a dog and trotting away. Harry turned back to the party and he could see Ron coming towards him, looking unimpressed.

"I want to talk to you." Ron said.

"Ok." Harry said. "What's wrong."

"Hermione." Ron said. "You stole Hermione from me."

"How could I steal Hermione from you?" Harry demanded. "You've never shown the least bit of interest in her."

"YOU KNEW HOW I FELT!" Ron shouted. "YOU KNEW HOW I FELT AND YOU DID IT ANY WAY." Ron took a step towards Harry fist raised.

"Calm down Ron." Harry said holding up his hands. "I didn't know you felt so strongly, but even if I did, does Hermione not get a bloody say in this?"

"YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING YOU FUCKING RICH CUNT!" Ron screamed and punched Harry right in the face.

"Petrificus Totalus." The binding spell hit Ron from behind. Fred had his wand pointed at his brother. "Now, now Ronnie." Fred said. His gaze steelie eyed. "That is not how we behave in polite company."

"We're sorry Harry, Hermione." George said. "I am ashamed of our brother."

Mr Weasley came over. "What on earth is going on here?" He demanded. "Why is Ron petrified?"

"Ron attacked Harry." Fred said.

"That can't be." Mrs Weasley interjected. "Harry and Ron are the best of friends."

"It's true Mrs Weasley." Harry said his nose bleeding. "He found out me and Hermione are a couple and he hit me."

"No dear." Mrs Weasley corrected him. "You and Ginny are going to be together."

"I think Harry just told you he and Hermione are together." Mrs Granger said.

"Perhaps for now." Mrs Granger said. "But we all know this will just be a passing dalliance."

"It's not!" Harry insisted. "I Love Hermione!"

"Oh, come now dear," Mrs Weasley said. "You are 15. You don't know what love is."

"Yes, I do." Harry said. "When you grow up without love you learn to recognise it when it comes to you."

"I think things have gotten a little bit out of hand dear." Mr Weasley said. "I am sorry about this Harry, Hermione." He turned to Ron, still petrified. "You have disgraced your family today by your actions Ronald. I am deeply disappointed in you." He turned back to Harry and Hermione. "I think we should go." He reached out for Harrys hand, who took it somewhat tentatively.

"Thank you, Mr Weasley." Harry said.

"Did you mean that Harry?" Hermione asked after everybody left. "That you love me?"

"Of course, Hermione." Harry told her taking her hand. "I love you with all my heart."

"And I love you too." Hermione replied kissing Harry soundly.

It was just before midnight in the Ministerial Hall of Records. The night shift had been working for two hours and to say night shift was quite generous. It was merely an elderly muggle born wizard named Jason Compton. Mostly his job was to file the appropriate records of deaths and births that happened over night. So far, there had been two deaths and four births. A nice easy night and Jason sat with his feet propped up on his rickety desk reading the evening addition of the Daily Prophet. There was a pneumatic tube above the desk that lead to the owlery and a scroll dropped out of the bottom of the tube. Jason lazily bento forward picked up the scroll and read it.

"Morganas tits!" He swore. Jason didn't know what to do. For thirty years scrolls came down the tube and he filed them. But this? "Exemplum" He cast, and the scroll duplicated itself. He carefully filed the master scroll in the appropriate place. A bright light shone from the scroll showing its contents have been activated. Next Jason placed a note on his desk.

Be back soon

And left the hall of records. It took nearly half an hour for Jason to shuffle through the halls of the Ministry. Fifteen floors he had to climb to finally reach the Office of the Minister. In all his time at the Ministry he had never ascended past the entry hall. He entered the outer office and was surprised to find an aid still working. He was relived, if he could hand this over to someone else, he could not be held responsible. "Working, late are you?" Jason said announcing his presence.

"The night shift called in sick." Percy said looking up from his desk. "Can I help you Mr…?"

"Compton." Jason replied. "Jason Compton. Hall of records."

"What can I do for you Mr Compton?" Percy asked.

"It's this here scroll, came in just over half an hour ago. " Jason said handing it over. "That's a copy, the original has been deposited, just, perfect and regular as per regulations."

"And what about this particular scroll brings you all way up here?" Percy asked taking a swig of coffee.

"It's a memo about Harry Potter." Jason explained. "Anything about Harry Potter is to come straight up here."

"Ah I see." Percy said taking the scroll. "Thank you, Mr Compton. I will make sure your line manager is informed of how helpful you have been."

"If it's all the same to you mate I would just as soon you didn't." Jason said with a wave.

'Strange fellow.' Percy thought taking another sip of coffee. He read the scroll and spat coffee across his desk. "Holy mother of fuck!" He swore. Percy didn't know what to do. Should he call the Minister at home? And Dumbledore! He had to make sure Dumbledore knew. 'All the lines of communication are monitored.' he thought. 'patrons maybe?' He discounted that as well. 'The melling phone! Of course.' Percy copied the scroll for a second time placing his original in his 'In' try. He picked up his copy and jogged from the outer office to the Ministers privet owlery attached, the scroll to an owl and sent it on it on its way. Next, he pulled a mobile phone from the inside of his pin striped robes and pressed 2 on the speed dial.

"Do you have any idea what the time is? Aberforth demanded.

"I have some news the Professor needs to know." Percy said.

"All right. Let's hear it." Aberforth.

It was 230 in the morning and Harry was sleeping alone. Hermione couldn't risk sneaking into his room every night. She didn't want to make her parents mad. Harry understood. Tiny sparks of magical energy began rippling across his naked torso, he still hadn't gotten around to buying pyjamas. The blue flashes began increasing in intensity and brightness. Harry began to stir, but it wasn't a reaction to pain so much as a funny sort of tickle.

In the Headmasters study one of the 'Harry monitors' began to vibrate lightly and Dumbledore wasn't there to see it.

The lights where changing colour now, it was almost impossible to discern. The furniture began to shake with the raw power in the room.

In Little Winging there was strange lights flashing in the sky above Privet Drive, like lightning. But there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Back in the Headmasters study a second instrument began spitting out puffs of red smoke.

Harry was now floating two feet off the bed. His whole body now engulfed in a ball of pure magical energy. The room was shaking more violently. Books were falling from the shelves and the light in the ceiling began to flicker.

In Privet Drive the lightning was converging on number 4. The lightning was striking the house and the garden at an astonishing rate. But strangely did not cause any damage.

In the headmasters study the first instrument had vibrated itself of its table and was currently making its way across the floor. The second instrument was now billowing a steady stream of thick red smoke.

By now The Grangers had been woken by the shaking of their home.

"Hermione, the hell is going on?" Mr Granger asked.

"I don't know." Hermione said. "But we should stand back."

A massive electromagnetic pulse shot through the town of Little Winging. The epicentre of the shock wave was Number Four privet drive, streetlights exploded as the protective wards around Harry Potter's former home came crashing down.

By Now Dumbledore stood in the centre of his study. Instruments going haywire, red smoke from one doo hicky, A shrill squeal coming from another thingamy bop. But most worrying still, was the 'Harry Monitor' was still and quiet on the floor.

"Sweet merciful Merlin." Dumbledore muttered.

Harry's eyes flung open, as the light bulbs smashed in the room. "My god! The power!" He said as he crashed to the bed, unconscious.

Hundreds of miles away in a castle cave, Lord Voldemort, a wizard so evil people dare not say his name fell to his knees and screamed in shear agony.

Authers Notes: Thank you every one for your likes and follows. I'm getting about 5 or 6 a day. It warms my hart.

Thank you to Gin-Sensu for being my awsome Beta. You make my shit look good!

Loads of reviewers this chapter. You all make me so happy so thank you!

Akane Mosoa: You are right that is what Dislexia is. This is incredibly difficult for me and I am doing it partly as a way confront a fear and partly because I need some thing to do on Lockdown. As to your comments about Ted/Edward Tonks. My Beta picked it up on the Harry Potter Wikki that Ted's real name is Edward. So as a solicitor he would use his full and formal name Edward Tonks, but his friends call him Ted/Teddy. Hope this clears up any confusion. Also Thanks for your reviews and welcome to the show. Hope to hear from you again.

Jkarr: Ted is a nice guy. But because he is a solicitor I had to promis him a certin amount of page time to appear hear, so it's safe to say we haven't seen the last of him. If that is as Hermiones defence attorney… well Spoilers

Crusader345: Thank you for the review. I know I would have thaught Umbridge would have been more explosive hear. I was really quite surprised by her restraint, but I don't think it will hold for long.

Karatekid-Ninja: First off brill nom de plum! Thank you for your review. I'm glad you think my story is well thaught out, because, can you keep a secret? I don't have a clue whats going to happen when I sit down to write. I have kind of a rough idea of where this is going but it's takeing some supriseing twists and turns along the way. Hope you keep enjoying it.

Thank you all for reading. Stay safe and healthy.