Okay not many notes here.
Thanks to my Betas for this, and enjoy, lots of fluff and stuff
Please please please review
Chapter 11 - Birthday Time
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Slowly Harry awoke to find a soft pair of arms wrapped around his waist and a head resting on his chest.
"Mione what are you doing here?" he asked, half hoping she wouldn't wake up and move because Harry had a terrible feeling that if she did, the warm tingle running through his body would stop.
Harry watched in delight as slowly Hermione opened her eyes and looked at him staying firmly in his arms, "I fell asleep," she mumbled.
"So you did, but unfortunately, we really need to get up."
Harry smiled slightly before sitting up holding Hermione's body close to him afraid to let go of her. It was then that he noticed the small pile of presents sitting next to his bed.
"What are all these?" he asked picking up the nearest one.
"Well today is the 1st of August," Hermione answered, "You were unconscious during your birthday, they are your presents from Sirius, Ron, Hagrid, Mad Eye, Tonks, Kingsley, Lupin and me." During her list she had been ticking off her fingers as if each one had a name on it.
"All those people got me presents?" Harry asked turning the book shaped present over in his hands looking for a name.
Hermione just nodded her head, "Go on open them."
Harry gave Hermione a quick hug before moving back on the bed so he was leaning against the head rest then pulled her up next to him, he then pulled all the presents into his lap and studied each name before placing two back on the table, at this Hermione gave him a curious look.
"I want to open yours and Sirius's with the two of you." Harry explained before picking up Ron's present and removing the paper.
Harry was more then surprised when a book fell into his lap, curious Harry ignored the book for a moment and instead picked up the attached note.
Harry,
Happy birthday. Hope you're having a great time, it's got to be better then mine. Hermione has left to spend sometime with her parents and the twins have been spending more and more time in their room. Anyway I hope you like the book mate hopefully we can try some out on Malfoy.
Ron.
Harry finished reading the note in surprise and looked up at Hermione, "With your parents?" he questioned.
"Only the order knows I'm here. Dumbledore wants to keep it quiet, he's worried that if it gets out Voldermort will come after my family and me. Which means that we have to turn up at Platform 9 ¾ as normal." Hermione explained as if it were the most obvious thing. "So what did Ron get you?"
Quickly Harry pick up the book and studied the title, "Jinxes for the Joker." He said out loud, Hermione frowned but thankfully didn't say anything she just nodded her head.
Slowly Harry worked his way through the presents until only Lupin's remained to be opened. Kingsley had given him a hidden sheath for his sword so that he could carry it with him at all times. He had received a wand holder that strapped to his forearm, when you clenched your fist in a certain way, your wand fell into your hand ready for use, from Mad-Eye. From Tonks he had got a book on Auror training and the requirements, he would need to obtain at Hogwarts. And from Hagrid he had got a bag of wizard sweets and a note saying he would receive the rest of his present when he had finished his work for the you know what. Harry took the you know what as the Order, he happened to know that Hagrid was currently on a mission for Dumbledore trying to recruit the giants.
Tentatively Harry picked up Lupin's present and carefully began unwrapping the small box. At last the several layers of paper folded away to show a box about 15cm long and 10 cm wide. Slowly he lifted the lid and pulled out two mirrors, each had a strange inscription on the back, the front was smoky and failed to reflect anything, apart from that they looked relatively plain.
He looked at Hermione to find her holding a note, "It was in the paper." She said answering his unspoken question.
Gratefully Harry took the note unfolded it and began reading,
Harry
I hope you are having a good Birthday, I would have liked to visit Hogwarts and see you but unfortunately I was otherwise occupied, I hope you find these mirrors useful (one is for Hermione). Prongs, Padfoot and I developed them when we were at Hogwarts, they allow you to communicate with any other connected mirror (Padfoot and I also have one) to activate it just speak the name of the person you want to talk too to the mirror. Theirs will vibrate and glow until answered. To answer your mirror just say "Mischief", to close the connection just say "Managed"
Once again Harry have a wonderful birthday, I hope your training is going well.
Moony.
P.S. DO NOT CONTACT ME UNTILL YOU ARE GIVEN THE ALL CLEAR..
Harry finished reading the note and carefully passed it to Hermione so she could read. Quickly he read the back inscription once again and noticed that the beginning of the inscription of the first one spelt Hermione's name backwards, looking at the back of the second he realized that it had his name on it. Giving Hermione hers he slowly turned his over in his hands as spoke Sirius name to it. After only a moment Harry found the face of his godfather staring back at him smiling.
"Harry." The image of Sirius exclaimed in the same way the real Sirius would.
"Hey Sirius." Harry replied smiling, only mildly surprised that it had indeed worked.
"I see you've opened Moony's present."
It took Harry a moment to realize what Sirius meant by the comment, "You knew?" he asked in shock. By the sound of the letter he had received Moony was deep undercover.
"Of course I did! Though we may have changed over the years we are still Marauders!" Sirius replied his voice slightly indignant. "So why are you calling?"
"Well I was wondering if you could come and see me cause I have a feeling I won't be allowed out of here for another day and I wanted to open your present." Harry answered slightly apprehensive about how his request would be answered.
Sirius's response was immediate, a large grin spreading across his features, "Sure. I'll be there soon, I just need to sort some thing out with Dumbles." With that the connection was broken and Harry was left staring at his reflection.
A comfortable silence descended upon the two friends as Harry waited patiently for his godfather to appear and Hermione intently studied the mirror she had been given. After 10 minutes the silence was broken by the sound of steady footfalls coming down the corridor. As Harry and Hermione turned their attention towards the door, a large black dog bounded into the room and up to the bed Harry was currently situated on.
"Hey Padfoot. Do you think I can see Sirius?" Harry asked laughing as the dog stuffed his wet nose into his palm.
The dog pulled back and a moment later Harry was faced with grinning version of his godfather, "Well then, here you go!" Sirius exclaimed tossing Harry the small box.
On reflex Harry's hand snapped out and caught the gift, snatching it from the air with a skill that confirmed the natural skill of a seeker that ran through his blood.
For a moment Harry just studied the box trying to guess what was inside before he finally gave in to the numerous promptings of Sirius and began to peal away the wrapping revealing an expensive looking black mahogany box.
Glancing briefly at first Sirius the Hermione meeting each in the eye before slowly lifting the lid to find a black cuff adorned with different coloured gems each giving off a soft light ands arranged in a lightning bolt fashion. Curious Harry looked at Sirius waiting for some sort of explanation.
"It's the Mela-Anna-Agorech-Estel. Each crystal is connected with one of your friends, when they are in danger the crystal will glow and in turn, so will the cuff if one of them dies then the crystal will become dull and lifeless." Sirius explained studying his hands intently.
"So which crystal is who?" Harry asked
"That's easy," Sirius replied smiling, "I'm black, Ron is red, Remus is white, Dumbles is blue, "Hagrid is brow and you are green."
Carefully Harry studied each gem before a thought occurred to him, "But Sirius, there is no stone fore Mione!" Harry stated both confused and slightly upset
"Ah yes finding a stone for Hermione was difficult what with the uniqueness of her power." Carefully Sirius pulled a black velvet pouch from his rode, "Hermione must put some of her own essence into the crystal then you must place it in its spot." He motioned for Hermione to open her hands, carefully he placed the pouch in her hands.
"The crystal in there is highly powerful and is keyed to pick up whoever's essence it first comes into contact with. All you need to do is tip the crystal into your hands and it will seek out who you are and pick up on that so it knows you. However you must keep your mind open, I know this is going against what you are probably being taught but the crystal must get to know you not just what you want it to." Sirius explained not giving Hermione a chance to argue.
Slowly looking away from Sirius Harry's eyes found their way to Hermione meeting her warm brown gaze. Slowly she upended the pouch allowing a small clear crystal to tumble onto her hand never once moving her eyes from Harry's emerald orbs.
After only a second a flash of white light enveloped Hermione pausing for a moment before disappearing. Slowly Harry looked at Hermione to find her smiling and holding a now opaque crystal, however the strange thing was that the crystal seemed to be a mixture of red, blue, yellow, green and white while at the same time it seemed to hold no colour.
When Hermione looked towards Sirius waiting to be told what would happen next it took a long moment before he spoke, "Give the crystal to Harry," he spoke softly all the magic in the room making him wary.
Carefully Hermione placed the crystal into Harry's palm taking a moment to stare into his eyes wishing for just a second that she could loose herself in them before briskly reminding herself who she was thinking of. Smiling lightly Harry to looked deeply into her eyes thinking exactly the same thoughts though it took him several minutes to shake them off.
Sirius waited for several long minutes to pass until he was sure Harry was concentrating before he spoke "Now, Harry when you place the crystal into the center of the socket you must concentrate on your magic, imaging using it to join the crystal and band together."
Smiling Harry closed his eyes drawing the familiar feeling of magic into his fingers, slowly placing the stone in one of four empty sockets. He imagined his magic encircling the join sealing it tightly so nothing could move the crystal from its place. Briefly a small white glow formed around the outside of the crystal, joining it perfectly with the cuff.
As the light faded from the crystal, Harry turned the cuff over in his hands admiring it for a brief moment before placing it around his wrist, "Sirius, why are their empty three empty sockets?" Harry asked quietly.
"They are so you can add people if you wish to, but you must understand, think long and hard before deciding this because once a person has a crystal in the cuff you can't take it back. It is like a joining. Every person who is in the cuff is joint to you by an ancient magic, by having a part of the people you love close to you, you can draw on that magic if you become desperate. Now I would love to stay and talk but I'm afraid I can't today Dumbles and the others are waiting for me, and I really must be getting back to- well…" he trailed off glancing sheepishly between the two teens making the nature of his business clear.
With that he stood giving Hermione a quick hug and letting a hand rest on Harry's shoulder for a moment before walking to the end of the hospital wing and disappearing into a hidden passage.
Quickly looking away as Sirius disappeared from view Harry grabbed Hermione's wrist and pulled her to him catching her around the waist as she tripped over her own feet.
"Sorry," he mumbled as she climbed into the bed next to him, "You know I love you don't you? Don't ever doubt that Mione! You're the best friend I have and the only person who really knows me."
"I know Harry. You're my best friend too." She answered quickly kissing his cheek, "Here I got you this." She said nervously retrieving a small box from the bedside table, "It's not much but when I saw it I couldn't stop thinking of you. When you are upset the eye is supposed to change to show you images or scenes that will make you happy. With the war starting I figured you could use it."
Harry smiled slightly before opening the box to reveal a gold ring sitting on black velvet. The ring it self was more than strange. The band formed an angle between the two edges of an emerald green eye, however the pupil was a black slit like a cats and not only the iris but also the white of the eye were green.
Smiling he thanked Hermione before slipping the ring onto his right hand barely noticing that the ring adjusted to fit him perfectly before pulling Hermione into a tight embrace.
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okay this is roughly what the ring looks like. I've got a perfect sketch in my book but I don't have a scanner to put it on the comp therefore I had to do quick image in photoshop (which my sis changed a whole heap of settings on and I only know how to fix half of them) anyway it's just a rough thing if you think you can improve the description then feel free to.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/JayaMioneDurron/ring.jpg
