Chapter Four
The next morning Harry was, once again, woken by Danica bouncing on his bed. He smacked her with a pillow but it didn't stop her.
"Up! Up! Up!" She shouted down his ear.
"Let me guess you want more ice cream?" He muttered to himself.
"No!" She said as though he was stupid, "I wants to wear my pretty growdy up dress." She jumped down off the bed and started pulling fruitlessly at the covers Harry had tightly wrapped around his arm.
"You know the first spell I'm going to learn is how to lock a door from baby sisters!" He grumbled.
Danica rolled around on the floor laughing, "Come on. Uncle Remus is still here and he says he's going to make me fly!" She ran from the room clattering down the stairs to her mothers waiting arms.
Harry wondered if making Danica fly involved throwing her out a window.
He reached on to the bedside table for his glasses and dragged on some clothes. He walked bleary eyed down the stairs.
There was a large banner over the bottom staircase that read 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!"
He smiled and made his way to the dinning room. One end of the table was covered in presents, the other covered in all manner of breakfast foods. Krecher stood by his chair beaming with pride.
"Happy Birthday Master Harry." He said pulling Harry's chair out for him before sitting in his own. Lily and Severus were also at the table. Danica between them smiling at he large glass of chocolate milk that she was blewing bubbles in when her mother wasn't looking. Remus and Sirius sat on the other side of the table leaving the head of the table seat for Harry.
Harry sat down, "Thank you Krecher. This all looks amazing!"
Harry helped himself to toast, bacon and two pain au chocolat as well as a large glass of chocolate milk for himself.
" 'Appy mirfday to eww. 'Appy mirfday to ewww, 'appy mirfday dear Harryyyyy! 'Appy mirfday tooo yooooooouuuu!" Danica sang loudly clapping at the end.
"Thanks." Harry grinned, passing her a pain au chocolat which she quickly pulled open and licked the chocolate out of.
"Happy Birthday Harry." Lily said smiling to him.
"Yes Happy Birthday, Here's to you!" Snape said raising his coffee cup in Harry's direction.
"Here here, Happy Birthday." Remus and Sirius said almost together.
Harry laughed and let the love around him fill him with happiness. He's always liked it best when everyone was together, for as long as he could remember. There was a time he could just remember a couple of years before Snape and his mother married when Snape moved out and everyone was sad, he didn't know why but he had been so happy when it was over.
Harry pushed the bad memories to the back of his mind and ate his breakfast and then helped himself to seconds. Danica ate seven pain au chocolats before Lily noticed and took the last one off her.
"Right Harry presents now or when the Malfoys come over?" Lily asked, helping Krecher to take the plates through to the kitchen while stopping Danica from licking the last smears of chocolate.
"Now, please." Harry said trying to not get to excited.
Lily smiled, "Well this one first." she said handing over a large parcel.
Harry ripped the paper off quickly.
"Oh cool a new chess set! Gem figures and everything this is awesome!" Harry turned over the carefully worked cherry wood board, "This is going to be brilliant!"
"Well you said you wanted a new one as your old ones were starting to show cracks even after fixing themselves and starting to get a little forgetful." Lilly smiled, "And we know how much you enjoy playing."
Harry smiled and opened several more presents including a new set of dress robes, a new eagle feather drawing quill and several new sketch books with different coloured paper. He also got a perfect size two pewter cauldron which Severus assured him was the best you could get (on top of the other one he'd already gotten for school) and Harry was sure it must have cost him a small fortune.
"Last one!" Danica said handing over the last small present.
"This one is from us." Remus said gesturing to Sirius.
Harry looked at the small matchbox sized present and opened it slowly sure it was moving in his hand. He looked over to Sirius and Remus who he was sure were grinning far too much.
As soon as he'd finished pulling the wrapping paper off the small cube, which looked like it had been crushed, began to shake uncontrollably and started to grow. It exploded outwards leaving a full sized broomstick on the table in front of him.
"Oh wow! A Nimbus two thousand! Thank you!" Harry said running his fingers over the smooth polished wooden handle, "This is amazing!"
"Sirius Black, Remus Lupin! I told you no brooms especially ones that are that fast! You know that first year students aren't allowed brooms." Lily said half angry and trying not to laugh.
"Hey you looked over the parcel and you said it was fine!" Sirius laughed with his hands held in surrender, "And he doesn't have to take it to school."
Lily sighed, "How did you even manage to squish a broom down like that?"
"I imagine, dear, that may well be a case of what you don't know you can't be considered an accomplice in." Snape said with a smirk.
Remus and Sirius nodded. Danica laughed at their faces.
"Right, criminals, help get ready for the party. Severus on Danica duty, washed, hair curled and dressed in a party dress. Harry do whatever you want. It's your Birthday! Draco should be arriving at around three o'clock. You two with me."
Harry smiled and started gathering up his presents. He took them up to his room and dumbed them all on his bed for the time being. He set up his chess board and had a quick game. The pieces were helpful and friendly and took orders well.
There was a knock on the door; a knock Harry expected. Lily walked in and sat down on the floor beside him.
"The chess set seems to work well." Lily said picking up on of the pieces and looking over it.
"It's brilliant." Harry smiled
Lily put the piece back and wrapped her arm around Harry, "Not sure if you still wanted these, every year, like this." she said.
"I do." Harry said as firmly as he could, "Severus is my dad in so many ways; he raised me, dealt with my temper tantrums and Danica is 110% my sister. But I have to remember James, my dad." Calling James his 'dad' was strange to him and although he wished not to admit it it became more strange every year.
Lily smiled, it was a sad smile, buried in painful memories and fears. She handed him a small parcel; not much bigger than an inch.
He opened it up and turned over the slightly charred badge. It was a bright red for Gryffindor, Head Boy, written in a bold text although a lot of the H was burnt away.
"Thank you." Harry said running his fingers over the letters, "I can't believe you found this."
Lily wiped away a few rouge tears, "I want him to be alive to you. You were so young, he was so young." she was properly crying now.
Harry wrapped his arms around her and shed a few tears as well. He stood up and opened a box tucked carefully under his bed. In it carefully preserved and attached to a ribbon in order where ten other small trinkets and memories. Lily once she was well enough had gone with Sirius and picked through the remnants of their old house. They had found 17 things that belonged to James, damaged and worn but memories none the less; they'd also found the handle of the gold rattle James had gotten Harry for his first birthday.
They had stored them carefully in a box decorated with every picture of James they could find, attached to a black ribbon. Lily gave him a one gift every year. She knew that one day they would run out but not for a few years yet and until then it was something to celebrate.
When Harry was very young he didn't understand the presents but for the last few years they had been his most prized possessions.
Lily wiped her tears away, shaking her head and pulled out her wand, "Why don't I show you how to attach this one to the ribbon? Go get your wand." She said with a smile.
Harry jumped up and dug out the box that contained his wand. He sat back down with his mother, the wand felt like part of his arm already.
"Ok, move like this." She said showing him what to do; three small taps on the badge, "and practice the wording. Coniungere."
"Coniungere." Harry repeated.
"Perfect." Lily said trying not to burst with pride, "I'll hold them in place." She took the ribbon and the badge, holding them together lightly.
Harry took a few deep breaths, "I'm not sure about this." He said worried he would damage the badge.
"You'll be fine." Lily reassured him.
He took a few more deep breaths, "Coniungere." Harry said clearly tapping the badge three times as shown.
The badge glowed for a few moments before attaching itself securely to the ribbon.
"Hey look I did it!" Harry said happily.
Lily wrapped him in another hug, "I'm so proud of you! Right; now I think Severus is going to need a hand with Danica in the bath or you might just find yourself with a leaking ceiling." She laughed. She stood up and left the room, "Oh Harry? Put something other then that scruffy top and jeans on before the Malfoys arrive." She call behind her laughing gently.
Harry looked down at the stained, worn t-shirt and slowly widening hole in the left knee of his jeans. He sighed and agreed that at least trying to make an effort would be good. Draco wouldn't care but Narcissa and Lucius always looked so smart and polished. Harry had never been one for large parties. He normally just had a friend or two and their families over for dinner.
Most of his friends were away on a summer holiday before their children went off to Hogwarts; not that Harry minded it just being the Malfoys. Draco had been his best friend for years and Harry's biggest current worry was whether or not they'd be in the same house at Hogwarts.
Come three o'clock there was a sharp knock on the door. Krecher opened it, wearing a clean white pillowcase, Draco darted into the house and gave Harry, who was waiting on the stairs, a hug.
Krecher welcomed Narssisa and Lucius into the house and took their cloaks.
"Lily, how are you?" Narssisa asked giving her a kiss on each cheek.
"I'm fine, how are you?" Lily asked hugging her friend.
"I'm very well." Narssisa beamed.
"Hello Lucius." Sirius said shaking his left hand, Lucius's right hand was tucked firmly behind his back.
"Wait till you see your birthday present!" Draco said excitedly.
"Can I have it now mum?" Harry asked.
"Well I don't wish to be carrying it around with me all evening." Lucius smiled.
"Everyone into the dinning room." Lily said, "Severus! They're here!" She called up the stairs.
"So what did you get for your birthday?" Draco asked taking a seat at the table.
"I got loads, a new broom, Nimbus two thousand, mum was not impressed and I got a new chess set. It's amazing! We should have a game later." Harry said excitedly, his words spilling over one another.
Narcissa took a seat next to Draco; Lucius stood awkwardly with his back towards the wall. Remus and Sirius followed them into the dinning room and took their seats around the table.
Severus came down, dressed smartly, carrying Danica. He put her down and she did a little spin.
"Pretty dress!" She sang happily before climbing up on to her chair. Her dress was a pale blue, embroidered with flowers and leaves. It puffed out from the waist and made her 'feel like a princess'.
"Lucius I believe you have a present?" Lily grinned, "Close your eyes Harry."
Harry squeezed his eyes shut and covered them with his hands for good measure. There was a clunk on the table in front of him.
"You may look now Harry." Lucius said.
Harry opened his eyes and gasped, before him in a carrying cage was a beautiful young snowy owl.
"Your mother said about getting you an owl for Hogwarts." Narcissa said giving him a hug, "She's a good one and so beautiful."
Harry reached his fingers through the bars and gave her soft feathers a stroke.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Harry said.
"What are you going to call her?" Draco asked giving her a stroke.
"Don't know. I like what you called yours, Armilda," Harry thought through the magical books he'd read. "Hedwig. I think I'll call her Hedwig." Harry smiled, "Has a similar meaning."
Harry took Hedwig and Draco up to his room leaving the parents to talk boring grown up stuff down stairs. They had later enjoyed a huge afternoon tea including a two tiered strawberry and toffee cake. Danica had gone to bed; full of cake and cucumber and ham sandwiches.
"What did you get for your box?" Draco asked sitting down on Harry's bed.
Harry took the box from under his bed and showed Draco the Head Boy badge.
"Are you worried about what house you're going to be in?" Draco asked looking at the badge.
"Sort of," Harry shrugged, "Mum and...James were both in Gryffindor but Dad was in Slytherin. Not sure where I want to end up. I guess I don't really care."
"I know I'll be in Slytherin. Nearly all my family has been. I hope we end up in the same house." Draco smiled.
"Me too. I can't imagine that you and me wouldn't be in the same house. I attached this badge myself, with magic. Mum showed me." Harry said, brimming with pride.
"Wow well done." Draco said impressed, "What wand did you get? I got a 10 inch Hawthorn with unicorn hair. Haven't used it yet though."
Harry went over to his wardrobe and pulled out his box, "11 inch holly Phoenix feather." He showed Draco the wand, "There's something I have to tell you about it though. Promise to keep it a secret? Even from your parents? I just don't want it getting back to Mum and Dad that I was worried."
Draco nodded. Harry stood up and made sure that the door was shut tightly before sitting back down next to Draco.
"The phoenix that's tail feather is in this wand, my wand, it's brother was in… You-Know-Who's wand. The wand that killed my father, tortured my mother and tried to kill me." Harry whispered, "That has to mean something. What if it means that I'm evil as well?"
"Oh Harry. Don't read into it so much." Draco said, "Holly is a good wood right? And your mum was unicorn hair, Dad dragon heart string and Ollivander only uses three cores so you had to either pick mum or dad or go for phoenix feather. And I guess it was this phoenix feather because You-Know-Who was such a big part of your childhood. I don't think it means anything." Draco said reassuringly.
"But getting two feathers from one bird is really rare I...I just…" Harry tried to explain.
Draco shook his head, "Honestly, wands are just weird. They aren't totally understood by anyone. If I thought it meant anything I'd tell you. Promise." Draco said holding out his pinky finger.
Harry nodded, and shook Draco's finger with his own; feeling a bit better.
"Lets play chess." Harry said. Draco nodded and the boys settled into many games of chess, the thoughts of linked wands long forgotten.