Chapter 3 : Birthday Surprises

Harry knocked on the door. Mrs.Weasley answered it. As they entered inside, Mrs.Weasley welcomed Harry with a hug. Bill did the same with Fleur. His face was kind of alright now except his face was not as the same as before. Ginny was standing near the staircase as she did the first time he came to their house. She was smiling at Harry. Everyone were having their dinner. Harry was hungry and joined Hermione and Ron at the dinner table. It was as usual. But Harry preferred Cabbage soup. Ron exclaimed, “Bloody hell! How was the trip?”
“Yes it was fine but” said Harry and he explained the whole thing about fake Lupin to him.
“So you think its Fenrir Greyback?”, asked Hermione.
“Yes”, Harry nodded.
“How can he be there?” asked Ron.
“No idea”
“Do you need another helping dear?”, asked Mrs.Weasley
“No thanks”, responded Harry immediately.
Ginny was looking at Harry and Harry felt bad that he did not have a talk with Ginny.
“Ginny had your dinner?”, he asked since he had nothing else to ask.
“Yes, two gnomes”, replied Ginny with an angry look.
Harry tried not to laugh. After eating he left the dining table and went to his room saying that he has some things to sort out. He went inside his room that was supposed to be Fred and George’s room. He had a glimpse of his trunks that was already brought up there. He heard a click at the door and found out that it was Ginny. Ginny caught Harry and kissed him.
Ginny said, “I see the chosen one not having time to speak with his chosen one”
Harry said, “I am sorry Ginny. I didn’t mean to. I can’t speak to you normally in front of your parents”
“But you did every time!”
“But that time I was not going out with you”, interrupted Harry.
They both kissed again and stopped immediately when the door opened. Ron came in along with Hermione.
“So that was the thing you wanted to sort out. snogging!” laughed Ron.
“I would have appreciated if you had knocked on the door Ron”, replied Ginny.
“And I will appreciate it if you leave this room so that we can have a private moment with Harry”, said Ron.
Ginny looked at Harry for defense that Harry would consider her as the first person to talk privately. Harry had no answer.
Ginny however replied, “I will stay. Harry wouldn’t like me to leave”
Hermione gave Harry a send-Ginny-away look.
Harry said, “Ginny we can have a chat later”
Ginny looked as if she was petrified. She went out and slammed the door behind. Harry felt really bad at that.
“Sorry Harry we have to talk to you”, said Ron.
“Its ok. What?”
“You know that Hogwarts is closed this year”
“Not exactly closed. There is a trial taking place to decide about Hogwarts”, said Hermione.
“But I am sure it will be closed this year”, argued Ron
“No the ministry is concerned about their children and their studies.”
Harry got frustrated about this being the topic they wanted to discuss that made him kick out Ginny.
“So?”, said Harry with a frustrated look.
“Harry have you decided about what you told us at school?” asked Hermione
“Yes I have decided about it and I will do it”
“Harry it will be dangerous for..” Hermione gave a pause when Harry cast her a look and continued,”for students like us”
“I don’t care. I am doing it and I don’t want you two to join it”
”Harry we are joining you even if it costs our lives”, said Ron.
Harry gave them both a glimpse as if he is seeing them for the first time and said, “I will think about it”
“Harry one more thing we got to talk about”, said Ron
“What?” said Harry.
“Its Bill’s wedding”
Harry had forgotten about it, not really, but he didn’t have it in his mind.
“When?”
“A week after your birthday”
“Ok. What is the condition of Bill?”
“Normal. We didn’t see any bad effects till now”, said Hermione
“Mom says that there is nothing to worry about”, said Ron.
“Yes” replied Hermione with an unsure look.
“Fred and George are coming tomorrow” said Ron.
“That’s great” said Harry
“Harry we can have apparition tests soon”
“When?”
“I will let you know when my dad comes. He still has not got back from his office”
“Ok”
“Goodnight Hary” both said.
Harry slept well for the first time in the summer holidays. He woke up early in the morning. He went down to see Lupin. Tonks was with him. Mad-eye Moody was gone.
“Hello Harry. Good morning”, said Lupin.
“Good morning! Professor Lupin” said Harry.
“Sir did you think about what I said yesterday night”?
“Yes I did Harry and I think he got my hair when I went to the diagon alley”
“Yes what happened?”
“One guy was keen on my hair and was talking about it being dull and that it needed some lotion to grow back. He would have taken it that time”
“Do you too think that its Fenrir..?”
“Yes Harry I think its him”
Arthur Weasley came inside the house. Harry was sure that he was in the garden. He gave Harry a smile. “How are you doing Harry?” asked Weasley
“Yes fine Mr.Weasley”
“Go on have your breakfast Harry”
Harry had his breakfast with Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Ginny was still sad about the incident the previous night and didn’t talk to Harry. However Harry tried to talk to Ginny.
“Ginny care for a walk with me?”
“No”
Ron gave a laugh at this. Ginny left the dining table and sat in a chair that was distant from the dining table with her hands on her chin. Hermione frowned at Ron. The day passed on so soon.
That evening Fred and George arrived. They gave Ginny and Charlie a weird look as both of them were sad about something.
“Hello Harry, having a good time?”, asked Fred.
“Yes I think so” replied Harry.
“Ron can’t find his good time I guess, isn’t it Ginny?” said George
Harry was sure George was trying to cheer her up. But it turned out to be worse when Ron spoke.
“Yes surely not as hers. She is missing her five boyfriends”
Ginny got up and went upstairs.
Hermione yelled “Stop it Ron!”
Harry gave Ron a bad look for which Ron gave an apologizing look.
“What is the noice over here?”, said Mrs.Weasley who just came out of the kitchen.
“Fred and George, when did you two come? I didn’t notice you coming”
“Too bad you haven’t mother. Where are the to-be couples?”
“They have gone out for shopping”
Fred and George turned at Harry “ I guess I am right tomorrow is your birthday We have got a wonderful present for you.” Said Fred.
“Oh! Professor Lupin is here. I didn’t see them and Tonks too” said George.
“Too bad you haven’t” said Tonks imitating George.
Harry was happy that Tonks had come back to her true self, cheerful as ever. The last year she looked so dull and looked as if she would cry anytime if she got a chance. But this time she was cheerful and vibrant now being with Lupin.
That night Fleur and Bill returned. Harry wondered about Bill’s face. It was full of stitches and he felt bad about it. He tried to talk to Ginny but she didn’t respond so he left straight to his bed.
When he woke up he found Ron and Hermione waiting with some presents. They both wished him and gave Harry their presents. He opened them up quickly and found that Hermione had given him an armor that looked much like a soldier’s wear.
“Its good against jinxes Harry” said Hermione with a wink.
Ron’s present was a shielding hat. He had seen it in Weasley Wizard’s Wheezes last year.
“I got it from Fred and George’s shop”
Harry knew both does the same work and good against jinxes and spells but he knew that it doesn’t work much and he shouldn’t rely on it. But he thanked them and asked, “Where is Ginny?”
“She was the first one to come here Harry. But she left when Ron came” said Hermione.
Harry gave Ron a questioned look.
“No I didn’t say anything” answered Ron at Harry’s questioned look.
“Go and meet her Harry” said Hermione.
Hermione was pretty good in giving advices and so he listened. He went out to meet Ginny and he found her near her room. Ginny this time didn’t ignore Harry. She just looked down. Harry went up to her and asked “Aren’t there any presents from my girl?”
Ginny said “Yes Harry. I just wanted to give it to you alone when no one is watching us.” She gave a gift box to Harry. Harry knelt down and opened the box to find a miniature doll of Ginny and another of himself holding their hands and dancing to some sweet tunes.
“Harry this will let you know how I feel of you. This miniature Ginny doll will change her expressions according to mine. Happy Birthday to you Harry”.
Harry could see the miniature Ginny smiling at the miniature Harry. He smiled at Ginny.
“This is the best gift I got today” said Harry much to Ginny’s pleasure.
“But this is advance magic. How did you do that?” questioned Harry.
“I asked Fred and George to do it for me” said Ginny.
“Do they know about our...?”
“Yes we know everythin Harry” came in two voices. It was Fred and George.
“Yes they know” confirmed Ginny, “But can’t we two have privacy here in our own house?”
“Yes you can Ginny. But too bad we had our extendable ears with us” laughed George
“Happy Birthday Harry”, said Fred.
“Oh! Yes Happy Birthday” said George, “Fred can you do the honor?”
“Yes brother” Fred took out a funnel like rubber thing that was so small.
“This Harry” said George pointing out at the thing Fred took out from his pocket, “is EVD”
When Harry and Ginny gazed weird looks at them, Fred continued “Extendable Voice Device. We created it this year and it was a success.”
“What does it do?” enquired Harry.
“Like the extendable ears, you can throw your voice anywhere Harry. But you have limits in using it. You can throw it out into the entire room or the entire hall if you are strong at it”
Ginny was pleased and applauded. Her applause was silenced by a loud cheer downstairs. Harry thanked the Weasley twins and put the EVD in his mouth.
He entered the room again to find Ron and Hermione chatting to each other.
“Did you meet her Harry?” asked Hermione
“Yes I have” boomed a voice inside the room.
“Who spoke that?” asked Hermione with a frightened look.
“I did” said Harry taking the EVD out of his mouth.
“That’s great Harry! I bet Fred and George gave it” said Hermione.
:”Yes”
“For one moment I thought this room was haunted” said Ron. Harry and Hermione laughed.
“Did Ginny give you any present Harry?”
“Yes she did” said Harry hiding the gift inside his shirt, “I will show you both later”
Just then an owl came and Harry quickly removed the parcel it was holding. It was from Hagrid. Hagrid as usual sent rock hard homemade cake. Harry had a feeling not to eat it that time as he was sure that something special is awaiting for him downstairs for him to eat.
Harry went downstairs to find Ginny looking astonished. She really looked as if she was petrified this time. He thought Fleur would have been the cause as she was standing next to her. Everyone wished Harry one by one. Even though Charlie had wished him, he had a sad look on his face. Bill and Fleur were the final ones to wish.
“ ‘Arry we got a surprise for you” Then a young girl with silvery hair much like Fleur came out of the kitchen doorway. The last time Harry saw her she seemed like she was a 8 year old. This time she seemed like a 15 year old. Her breath taking beauty filled the entire room. She walked up to Fleur and did not dare look up at Harry.
“’Arry this is Gabrielle.... do you remember her?”
“Hi Gabrielle” said Harry not avoiding Gabrielle's eyes and not hearing what Fleur said.
“Hi Haary” said Gabrielle.
Gabrielle moved towards Harry almost sweeping off the air as she moved. She came to Harry and gave him a present. It was a fine art work. There were mermen and a girl tied with ropes to a stone. A boy was there who was shown fighting the mermen. Harry knew what it depicted. It was the second task he played at the Triwizard Tournament when he saved Ron, Hermione, Cho Chang and Gabrielle Delacour.
“I made it myself” said Gabrielle
“Thanks” said Harry.
“She learnt ‘eenglish quickly unlike me” said Fleur.
Gabrielle moved off bringing in live air to Harry. The next moment he saw Ginny and she was forcing a smile. He turned back to see Ron and Hermione facing them. Ron gave a fake smile and Hermione was forcing a smile as Ginny. Harry had really great surprises for his birthday. Harry saw Fred and George give a smug look and did not bother to look at them again.
“Time to spot some breakfast birthday boy” said Mrs.Weasley. Harry then began to wonder whether he is celebrating his final birthday and wondered whether he would be alive to see his next birthday.