Chapter 5
Harry woke to two read headed people jumping up and down on his bed.
"Happy Birthday Harry!" Ron and Ginny yelled at the same time. Harry sat up with a huge grin on his face. They bounded on him to give him a hug. Then a healthy pillow fight followed with peals of laughter echoing throughout the room and into the hallway.
"Eh-Hem," called a voice from the doorway. The three of them stopped and became still at the sound of the deep voice. "Is this the way a wizard that has come of age supposed to act?" joked Remus. The three of them threw the pillows they were holding at him. He didn't even try to stop it physically or with magic. He laughed as the younger people laughed loudly once more.
"Oh, Okay! So you can act whatever way you like since it's your birthday and all." He went over to Harry and gave him a hug. "Happy Birthday Harry."
Harry felt overwhelmed again. Last year his birthday was great because he'd had so many presents and people remembered. This year, he felt more thankful not only because people remembered, but because he was able to share it with people he cared about and who actually cared for him. He only wished Hermione was there with him. But he'd learned at a young age to be thankful for every little thing he did have, and at that time he did have Remus, Ginny, Ron, Tonks and Mad-Eye in the house with him and he knew that he'd see the rest of the Weasley soon as well.
"Come on. Why don't you lot get ready and have some breakfast. Part of my present is for you to be able to explore the grounds today." The three started practically squealing with delight. Of course boys don't squeal, but Ginny did and Harry and Ron whooped with delight. "But," they groaned. They knew there was a "but" somewhere. "Only for a few hours. Lunch will be ready when you get back. Don't worry about stepping out of bounds. There are wards so that you won't be able to accidentally step out."
"Can we bring our brooms?" asked Harry who'd been dying to ride his broom over the grounds since he first arrive.
Remus hesitated a bit, then gave in. "Oh, alright. But you are not to go too fast or do anything that will put you in danger." He knew he sounded a bit fatherly, but he couldn't help it. He felt he had a responsibility to James and Sirius, they were after all the only real family he felt he had.
Ginny squealed and ran to the bathroom before Ron knew what was happening. "Oh! Bloody hell. She did it again."
"No cursing from you, young man." Remus scolded Ron, but with a hint of smile in his voice.
"Sorry, Remus. She always beats me to the bathroom and she'll take forever in there," Ron complained.
"Maybe not. I don't think she'll hold of on the idea of being able to ride her broom," Harry countered.
"You'd think so. But I'm telling you. Girls take their time in the bathroom going through I don't know what kind of ritual, but it takes them forever."
"Well, I'll leave you two to ponder on what girls do in the bathroom. I will go check to see if Tonks hasn't burned the kitchen."
After Remus walked out, "So, what do you want to do on this your illustrious day?"
"I dunno. I'm just happy I'm not alone for the first time in seventeen years I am actually going to share my birthday with others."
"Will Ginny and I do for company then?"
"Are you implying I wouldn't want to be in your company?"
"No, not really. I just think you'd wish someone else was here too."
"Yes, I do wish Hermione was her if that's what you're getting at." Ron gave him a huge grin. "Oh, get off it. I don't miss Hermione in the same way you miss Lavender I think." Ron gave a mocked gasped.
"You and Hermione, haven't you know?"
"No Ron. And I don't know if I'll tell you if we do."
"That's all right mate, I'll know."
"What? How would you know?"
"You won't be as grumpy!" He laughed and threw one of the pillows at him.
"Are we still playing then?" asked Ginny from the doorway.
"You're done?" asked Ron who was very shocked at the short amount of time it took her to get ready. "Why do you always take forever at home and you're so fast away from home?"
"Please. Do you really think I take that long in the bathroom? I just sometimes take my time to annoy you and the twins."
"Why you little---"
"Uh-uh. Don't finish it. I'll tell mum on you."
"Fine! Next time I'll just barge in the bathroom if you take more than 15 minutes." He walked away sulking and made his way to the bathroom.
"I guess I'll go wait downstairs with Tonks. I'll see you guys in a bit then?" She grinned up at Harry. Even with her height she still had to look up a bit to see his face.
"Later Ginny." He chuckled.
The three of them made their way out on the grounds after they'd had their breakfast. Ron was still a little angry at Ginny, but he knew that he and the twins probably deserved it for all the times they gave her a hard time and teased her. With that in mind he started to let the anger drain.
"What should we do first?" asked Harry.
"Dunno. It's your birthday, you tell us."
"We can't play quidditch with just the three of us, but what if I let the snitch go and whoever catches it first wins."
"Well, you do have an unfair advantage with that idea Harry. You have to do something to allow us some kind of handicap."
"What if I put on a blindfold over my eyes?" The two gasped.
"Are you serious?"
"Well, it was part of my training with Merlin. I suppose I need some practice, don't you think?"
"Okay, here you can use my headband I suppose."
They put the headband on Harry and took his glasses away to be certain he wouldn't be able to see much even if he could see through the blindfold. Harry let the snitch go and told them to lift of from the ground.
The snitch immediately disappeared from view. Ginny and Ron were flying around trying to catch a sight of the little golden ball. Harry lifted up and stayed still in the air. He concentrated hard on hearing the snitch and using his empath on the surrounding environment to make sure he didn't run into the trees. He tried to visualize where everything was until he heard a low swishing sound. He knew it was one of the trees nearby that was speaking to him in their own language.
At first he was a little surprised. He knew that Merlin's sister Rhia was able to communicate well with nature and Merlin had been able to master it himself, but he didn't think he would be able to do anything at the early stages of his training.
The tree warned that he was getting too close to him and that he'd have to move to the right a bit. Harry tried to thank him and made swishing sound to do so, but he wasn't sure he did it right until he heard a respond that told him he was welcome. He then went back and listened closely. He heard a whirring sound from the snitch's wings in motion. He followed the sound. It became louder and louder.
Ron wanted to get the snitch, but even with his eyes open he couldn't see the bloody ball. He looked to the east and then to the west. Tried north and then south and no sign of it. He didn't feel back because Ginny wasn't doing any better.
He almost stopped to warn Harry when he was getting too close to the tree, but somehow Harry managed to avoid hitting the tree and was now flying around in the open sky above them. He was making a steady ascend and made a sudden left. His speed was increasing and instead of looking for the snitch, he'd been mesmerized by the way Harry was flying without the use of his eyes.
Ginny stopped as well. She was getting scared. Harry was going faster now and then took a quick change and started to descend. He could hit the ground. Fear rose up and she tried to swallow.
They now both stared openly instead of trying to find the snitch. They didn't see that Harry's hand was outstretched trying to reach the golden ball itself. They were more worried about him hitting the ground. Then Harry gave himself a sudden burst of speed and caught the snitch. He pulled up in time before he hit the ground.
Ginny almost fainted and Ron just goggled at him. He took the headband off and landed on solid ground.
"That was bloody amazing, Harry!" Ron praised him.
"Merlin Harry. You almost made me pee in my pants." She ran to him and gave him a fierce hug. "I don't ever want to go through that again!"
He smiled at them sheepishly. "I guess I won, eh?"
"How did you do that? How did you know where the snitch was with your eyes closed when Ginny and I couldn't even see it with both of our eyes? Mind you, we even both have 20/20 vision." He handed Harry his glasses.
"It's one of those things I'd been practicing." Ron clapped him on the back.
"That was bloody brilliant. If you weren't family, I'd exploit you."
"Harry? How did you know to avoid the tree?" asked Ginny still waiting for her heartbeat to slow down to normal.
"I sort of heard him talking to me."
"You what? Bloody hell Harry, first snakes and now trees?" He shook his head as if it was just too good to be true.
"It's one of those things that runs in the family I suppose. Merlin said his sister was really good at it."
"I think that's enough excitement for one day," Ginny cut it and gave Ron a conspiratorial look.
"Oh, right!" Ron caught her meaning. "I'm starved. Let's go see what Remus prepared for lunch. Do you think he actually does the cooking?"
"I'm not sure. I haven't seen any house elves, but my room is always clean and food is always prepared somehow. If it's a spell, we'd do well to learn all of it."
"Yeah, I suppose learning how to prepare a meal magically would be something Ron would definitely benefit on, better yet, Lavender should learn them."
Harry looked at Ron questioningly. "So, is it serious then?"
"Are you kidding?" Ginny supplied in mocked shock. "I think the only thing that Ron is serious about is food and Lavender and I'm not sure what comes in first." Ron glared at her in response. Harry chuckled.
"That's great, mate." It was Harry's turn to give Ron a clap on the back.
When they reached the kitchen they couldn't find Remus, Tonks or Mad-Eye anywhere. They called out and Ron suggested they look for them. He volunteered to take the top floor and suggested Ginny take the second while Harry check the first floor. Harry agreed without question. He decided to check the dining room first. As soon as he opened the door a resounding boom was heard.
"SURPRISE!" came from everyone who'd been waiting for him patiently to enter the dining room. He was then flooded by people shaking his hands, hugging him or kissing him. The Weasleys were there along with all their girlfriends or fiancés. All the Gryffindor seventh years were there. Dumbledore and the Hogwarts staff were also there including Snape who was smirking at him. Then he caught her eyes, the beautiful cholocate brown eyes he'd been dreaming of seeing since they'd parted at King's Cross.
She started walking towards him slowly at first and then faster and faster until she was running and was wrapped into his open arms. Everyone seemed to understand and gave them some room.
They'd forgotten the crowd of people, the decorations and the food that looked as if it was set for a grand feast at Hogwarts. The balloons filled the sides of the walls and the cake, if Harry had even glanced at it, was a quidditch field with little miniature gryffindors flying around.
"This is the best birthday present I could ever have," he whispered and kissed her as if he would die if didn't touch his lips to hers.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for your reviews. Let me know what you think of this one.