A/N: Hello everyone I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to update this story again. But I have had two family members die in the last month. One of which was last week and on my birthday. So RL hasn't been very good lately. To everyone who is also reads my other story Arranged I am working on the next chapter of that but the writing was set back during everything that happened last week.
I hope everyone likes this chapter and as a side note with the next chapter the rating of this will go up to R.
So Read and Review please!
Chapter 8
Happy Birthday Harry
Harry and Hermione spent most of the day at the pool. The rest of the week went by much the same. Some of Hermione's friends came over; they all seemed very interested in Harry until Hermione told them he had a girlfriend. Harry had his dream about Sirius a lot less, but that may have been because Hermione was sleeping in his room every other night. And on one of these nights Hermione told Harry that she loved him and he told her that he loved her too. That night was one of the few nights Harry had a sound sleep where he only dreamed of good things, not death and destruction. But he also feared that because he loved Hermione and she loved him that he could be signing her death warrant. But he somehow pushed that thought out of his head because only good things happened when he was with her. And before Harry knew it, it was the day before his birthday. Hermione told him that she wasn't able to spend the night with him because she thought her dad was getting wise to them.
Harry said goodnight to Mr. & Mrs. Granger and he and Hermione walked to their rooms
"Goodnight Harry."
"Night Hermione, are you sure you can't stay the night?"
"Yeah we wouldn't want my dad to catch us. Night Harry sweet dreams."
Harry leaned down and kissed Hermione lightly on the lips and then walked to their rooms.
Harry lay in bed and watched the clock beside his bed.
11:55
He had five minutes till he was sixteen.
11:56
Time seemed to be going in slow motion.
11:57
He wished Hermione was in bed beside him.
11:58
Harry saw his bedroom door open and Hermione walk in.
11:59
He saw a small flame in her hand as she sat beside Harry.
12:00
"Happy Birthday Harry, make a wish."
Hermione had a cupcake in her hand that had a lit candle stuck in it. Harry sat up, closed his eyes and made a wish. He hoped above all hope that his wish would come true.
"Thank you Hermione." Harry leaned over and kissed her. "Are you going to stay?"
"Yes, is that what you wished for?"
"Maybe, I'm not telling." That wasn't what he wished for but he wasn't about to tell her what he did wish for. That was something that no matter how much he loved her he could not bring himself to tell her.
"Here eat your cake."
"Split it with me." Harry split the cupcake into two parts and handed one piece to Hermione.
They both ate their half of the cupcake quickly and when they finished Hermione hopped over Harry and took her spot beside him. Harry lay back down on the bed and Hermione curled up next to him like always. And soon they were fast asleep.
************
Harry woke finding himself on a bench in an all white room.
"Hi Harry."
Harry turned to see Sirius standing next to him. Harry put his hands on his head and started yelling.
"I WILL NOT HAVE THIS DREAM. IT'S MY BIRTHDAY AND I WILL NOT HAVE THIS DREAM."
Sirius walked over and put his hand on Harry's. Harry looked up, this had never happened in his dream.
"It's not a dream Harry."
"If it's not a dream than it's its…Voldemort playing a trick on me." Harry stuttered
"Harry, Voldemort's not even this creative. Plus when you spent the summer holiday with me and someone would wake up my mother she would start yelling about how she didn't want Hermione in the house. Mudblood I believe was her favorite thing to call her."
Harry knew this was true and he wanted this to be real so much but he still knew this could be a trick. He decided that if he said anything odd or unlike him he'd know that this was a trick.
"Ok so where are we?"
"Let's call it limbo. You see you're not dead and I'm not alive so we're in limbo. A place where the alive and dead can meet."
"So why do we need to meet?"
Sirius sat down beside Harry before he spoke.
"I need to tell you to stop blaming yourself for my death. I could have stayed back at the house but I didn't. It's was my fault I died not yours. You've got to believe me when I tell you this; you'll never beat Voldemort if you don't."
Harry just stared at him. If this was Voldemort playing a trick on him then why would he be telling him all this, Harry knew that this was a real as anything else in his life thus far.
"If I hadn't have gone then-"
"If you hadn't destroyed the prophecy then Voldemort would have found a way to get his hands on it and then we would be in a lot more trouble. Now look we don't have much time left. Harry I brought you a birthday present." Sirius stood up and pointed to one of the white walls, and out of nowhere two people started to walk toward them.
Harry knew who they were at once. He got up and ran to them.
"Mum, Dad!"
"Oh Harry, James look how much he's grown. Harry I'm sorry we didn't make it and you had to go and live with Petunia." Lilly pulled her son into a big hug.
"Well if someone hadn't gone after Peter he might not have had to live with those people." James was looking at Sirius as he spoke.
"Hey he killed my best friend and his wife what did you think I'd do."
"Oh would you two shut up." Lily snapped.
"But he is a chip off the old block though, plays quidditch like me too."
"He has my eyes James." Lily said as she looked Harry over.
Harry loved this, watching his parents and Sirius interact this is what it could have been like if the all were alive.
"Harry let me give you some manly advice. Stick to that Hermione she's a good girl, she's always right. She's like your mother."
"James that almost sounded like a bad thing." Lily said as she raised an eyebrow.
"It's not. But Harry you two are going to go through a lot but just trust the love between you. And remember she's a keeper."
"James you know that we're not supposed to tell him anything he doesn't already know. Plus I don't think it's a good idea to put those kinds of thoughts in his head." Lily scolded.
"Well sweetheart as far as I can tell he already has had those kinds of ideas for that girl."
"Hey I'd hate to break this up but it's time for us to go. Bye Harry, have a good birthday." Sirius walked up and gave Harry a hug goodbye.
"Bye Harry. Give a kiss to that girlfriend of yours for me. And tell her about the prophecy - you need to tell someone because I fear if you don't it might eat you alive."
James hugged his son one last time and when they pulled apart Harry could see a tear falling down his father's check.
"Oh my baby boy, I love you so much, you never forget that. James I don't think I can leave him again. I love you Harry, happy birthday." Lily had tears running down her face as she hugged Harry one last time.
She then walked into her husbands waiting arms. Harry had tears on his face too but he didn't care he didn't want to say goodbye.
"I love you too Mum, Dad, Sirius. I love you all." Harry felt like he was being pulled backward, he could see them getting farther and farther away until they were gone.
*****
"Harry what's wrong did you have the dream again?"
Harry woke to Hermione voice; he realized he was sitting straight up in bed his shirt wet from sweat. He was back in his room and Hermione had her hand on his shoulder. He looked over at her and even in the dark he could see the worry on her face.
"No. But I did just talk to Sirius and my mum and dad."
"What? Are you sure it…it wasn't Voldemort?"
"Yeah I'm sure." Harry started to tell Hermione what had happened in limbo. He did leave out the stuff about the prophecy though because he wanted to tell her in his own words. After he finished telling her what happened he kissed her light on the forehead.
"What was that for?"
"It's from my dad."
"I still think it's weird that they know about us."
"Yeah just a bit. Hermione there is something else I need to tell you."
"About your dream?"
"Well yes and no this happened before school ended." Harry said as he drew his knees up to his chest.
"Harry you can tell me." Hermione said as she took his hand in hers.
"I know I just need to find the right words."
"Okay."
"After Sirius died Dumbledore took me to his office where I destroyed some of his things by throwing them across the room."
"Harry."
"I know but I was upset. But that's not the point. Dumbledore told me what that glass ball was at the ministry."
"What was it?" Hermione questioned.
"It was a prophecy about me and Voldemort." Harry said slowly.
"Well since it broke I guess we'll never know what it said."
"No I know what it said."
"How?"
"Dumbledore was there when the prophecy was first made by Professor Trelawney."
Hermione made a snorted laugh.
"'Mione this one isn't like the ones she would make in class, this was a real prophecy that came true and is still coming true."
"So what did it say?" Hermione said as she started to bite her bottom lip.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have the power the Dark Lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies."
"Neither can live while the other survives." Hermione muttered.
She knew what it all meant, that she could loose Harry to Voldemort. She always knew that there was a chance but this made it to real.
"The thing is I was not the only boy to be born at the end of July."
"Then how come it's you not the other boy. And who is the other boy?"
"It's Neville. And it couldn't be him because Voldemort marked me not him." Harry picked up Hermione's hand and ran one of her fingers over his scar.
"Does Neville know?"
"No and I don't think we should tell him because he doesn't need to know something that doesn't apply to him."
"You're right but Harry you are going to…to." Hermione started to cry the thought of what Harry would have to do.
"I know so my life will contain a murder, either mine or me killing Voldemort."
"Harry you will beat him because I won't lose you now, I love you too much to lose you."
"I love you to Hermione." Harry put his arms around her and Hermione rested her head on his shoulder. "And I will beat him because I don't want to leave you. My dad was right."
"About what?"
"He said if I didn't tell someone soon that the prophecy would slowly eat me away. Now I feel better, it was starting to eat away at me."
Hermione held him tightly and he leaned into her and felt her breath on his chest.
"Lets go back to sleep `Mione."
"Okay."
They laid back down but this time they stayed very much wrapped up in each other. They both quickly went to sleep soon after their heads hit the pillow.
Harry woke the next morning to see the sun shining brightly in his room. He looked down to at Hermione, their bodies were so tangled together that he could not tell were his body started and hers ended.
"You finally awake Harry."
"Mmm yeah what time is it?"
"10:00 what do you want to do for your birthday?"
"Stay here with you." Harry leaned down and kissed her.
"Mmmm I'd love to but I'm starving. So how about you take a shower and get dressed and meet me in my room." Hermione got out of bed and pulled Harry with her then pushed him toward his bathroom.
Hermione then went to her room. Harry walked into his bathroom and brushed his teeth, took a shower, and then got dressed. Harry walked across the hall and knocked on Hermione's door.
"Come in Harry."
Harry opened the door and walked in. Hermione was in the bathroom putting on a little makeup. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she was wearing jean shorts and a bra. Harry sat down on the bed and watched as Hermione walked out of the bathroom. All Harry could seem to focus on was the white lace bra she was wearing. Hermione picked up the pink shirt that was hanging on the back of a chair and put it on but didn't button it up.
"Harry, earth to Harry."
"Hmm."
"Why are you staring at me like you've never seen me in a bra?"
Harry pulled his eyes away from her bra and looked into her eyes.
"I don't know I guess you just look sexy."
"Harry you've seen me in a bikini almost everyday what's so different about this."
"It's the fact that it's so forbidden and then that it's lace helps." Harry put his hands on Hermione's bare waist and pulled her to him.
"How am I supposed to button up my shirt with your hands there?"
"You're not." Harry lightly kissed Hermione's stomach.
"Harry come on I want to go eat." Hermione pulled back and started to button her shirt as Harry started to frown with each button that she did. Hermione grabbed Harry's hands and pulled him off the bed.
"Give me a piggy back ride to the kitchen."
"Yeah alright hop on."
Hermione hopped on Harry's back and he carried her to the kitchen. But right before Harry walked in Hermione put her hands over Harry's glasses so he couldn't see.
"Hermione move your hands I can't see I might run into a wall."
"No you won't just keep walking.'
"Hermione I don't think this is sa-"
"SURPRISE!!!"
Harry jumped back with shock. In front of him were Mr. & Mrs. Granger, Mr. & Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny. Harry couldn't believe that they had come here for his birthday. Hermione slid off Harry's back and then got on her tiptoes and whispered into Harry's ear.
"Surprise."
Harry started to smile he was really happy. The twins came over and patted Harry on the back as Hermione walked over and helped her mother.
"Happy Birthday Harry."
"Yeah Happy Birthday. Fred and I would like to thank you for helping us start our business so we have decided..."
"We? You mean me." Fred interrupted
"I mean you and me Fred, we both came up with the idea. It was really me." George said with a wink.
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
"Guys calm down what did you come up with?"
Fred and George looked at each other then at Harry.
"That you can get anything from our store for free." Fred and George managed to say together to Harry followed by a big smile. Then George nudged Fred.
"Oh right here's your present." Fred handed Harry a box.
"Open it." George said with an odd smile on his face. And they both watch Harry closely as he took the box.
"Harry don't!" Hermione came running over and took the box from Harry. "Maybe you should open this one outside." Hermione looked at the twins as she spoke.
"Just because we gave you an exploding present once doesn't mean we would give one to Harry." Fred eyes never left the box as he spoke and George just nodded in agreement.
"I think Hermione's right I'll just wait and open later outside, hopefully a safe distance away."
Hermione carefully set the box on the table. Fred and George turned and walked away mumbling something about `miss know it all always spoiling their fun'.
Mr. Weasley came over and shook Harry's hand and Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a big hug and kiss on the cheek. Then Ginny gave Harry a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Ginny move." Ron came over and pushed Ginny out of the way and gave his best friend a hug. "Happy Birthday Harry. How's your holiday been?"
"Not too bad." Harry gave a side ways glance at Hermione as he spoke. "You?"
"Been practicing quidditch with Ginny."
"Sounds like fun." Harry knew that what he just said wasn't right by the face Ron made.
"Harry, Hermione why don't you two give the Weasleys a tour of the house while we finish setting up."
"Ok Mum."
Harry and Hermione walked out of the kitchen followed closely by the Weasley family. They show them the downstairs area and then their rooms. Mr. Weasley constantly stopping to look at things and would mutter about the things that muggles come up with. When they all reached the third floor the twins mouths opened as they ran for the pool table and Ron and Ginny headed to the air hockey table. Mr. & Mrs. Weasley however just stood there staring at the sight in front of them until Mrs. Weasley sank into one of the arm chairs and Mr. Weasley started to ask Harry how things worked.
"Oh my Merlin would you look at all this muggle stuff, I've only seen most of these things in books. Now how exactly does this work?"
"The TV…well." Harry tried to find the right words on how to describe how the TV worked which is a lot harder than it seems.
Yet some how Harry figured how to explain how the picture got on the TV but what he didn't expect was all the questions about the remote control. It seemed that Mr. Weasley had more questions about the remote then the rest of the TV and trying to explain a laser to someone who has never heard of it before is not easy.
"Brilliant all you have to do is hit this button and the `channel' will change. You never have to get up!"
Thankfully Harry was saved from having to explain how the air hockey table worked when Mrs. Ganger called them down to eat. Harry and Hermione let everyone else go down the stairs first before they left the den Harry pulled her close.
"Thank you `Mione."
"Harry it's your birthday what did you think I was going to do?"
"I don't know but I'm so happy to have the people I love most in the world here -especially you." Harry leaned down and kissed Hermione lightly on the lips. "Now all we have to do is get Ron away from everyone else and tell him about us."
"Harry not today it would be too hectic, let's tell him when we go get our school supplies when it's calmer."
"Yeah okay." Harry leaned down and hugged his girlfriend one more time before they headed down stairs.
They reached the bottom of the stairs as Ron was walking back out of the kitchen.
"Hey what took you two so long?"
"Just cleaning up some of the stuff you guys took out." Hermione said with a smile as they walked back into the kitchen. "Come on everything's out back."
The back patio was covered in balloons, streamers and a banner that said
`Happy Birthday Harry'
That was magically hanging in the air. There was a long table with chairs around it and it was covered in food. Then there was another table that was small and round that had wrapped presents covering it. Harry went to sit at one of the chairs at the side of the table when Hermione made him sit at the head of the table because it was his day. Hermione took the chair to his left, Ginny sat beside her, Mrs. Weasley sat beside her daughter, and Mrs. Granger sat beside Mrs. Weasley. Ron sat to Harry's right, Fred and George sat beside him, Mr. Weasley sat beside the twins and Mr. Granger took the chair at the other end of the table. They all ate and talked happily, Mr. Granger had to answer endless questions from Mr. Weasley and every now and again you could hear the laughter at the other end of the table from the men. Mrs. Granger and Mrs. Weasley were exchanging recipes and the twins were talking about their business. Hermione and Ginny were talking about the latest gossip, while Harry and Ron talked about this year's quidditch team. Harry and Hermione would play glancing games with each other as the spoke to Ron or Ginny. After everyone finished eating Hermione stood and tapped her knife on the side of her glass to get everyone's attention.
"I would like to thank everyone for coming to Harry's birthday party I know what it means to him to have all the people he's love near him today. We've all known Harry for five years and we have all seen the ups and down's he's been through in those five years. But yet of all the things that have change the one thing that remains the same is that we are all better people for having Harry in our lives. He makes us laugh and cry, saved our lives, mine a few times, and helped some of us realize our dreams come true. And for that I would like to wish you Harry Potter a very happy birthday." Hermione's was followed by `here here's' from everyone at the table.
Harry stood up and hugged and lightly kissed Hermione on the cheek.
"Thank you." He whispered quietly in her ear.
"Well it's the truth." Hermione kissed him on the cheek again before he sat back down.
"Now how about you open your presents." Hermione leaned over to the other table and grabbed a present off of it and handed it to Harry.
The first present was from Mr. & Mrs. Weasley and it was a black knitted sweater with matching gloves and a scarf. The next present was from Mr. & Mrs. Granger and it was a disc man with a few CD's that he knew Hermione helped pick out. Ginny gave Harry a huge box of every flavor beans that Mr. Granger tried and unfortunately for him he got dirt.
Mr. Weasley helped by opening the box from the twins with his wand and after the blue smoke diapered Harry found that it contained a wizard radio. Ron had given him 16 chocolate frogs saying one for each birthday. Harry opened Hermione's gift last, it was a book called `The best quidditch moves ever made' that had to be at least a thousand pages long. Harry thanked everyone immensely for the gifts, and then Fred and George stood and put an invisibility and silencing charm over the back yard and let off some of the fireworks that had made them famous at Hogwarts.
"Open it." Hermione leaned over and told Harry in a soft whisper.
"Ok." Harry opened the book Hermione had given him and inside there was a written note that said:
Dear Harry
Happy Birthday
This is not your only present from me
The other I will give you later.
All my Love,
Hermione
Harry gave her a quick smile and wondered what his second present was and why she could not give it to him now.
Before he knew it, it was time for the Weasleys to go back to the Burrow and they all walked in the living room and all one by one stepped into the fireplace, which had become big enough to stand in, and disappeared into green flames.
After the Weasleys left Harry and Hermione took Harry's presents to his room while Hermione's parents cleaned up.
"So were you surprised?" Hermione asked as they entered his room.
"No I knew."
"WHAT?!? HOW DID YOU FIND OUT?" Hermione's eyes were bulging out of her head with anger.
"Kidding." Harry let out a roar of laughter as he watched Hermione. "Man you should have seen the look on your face. I really wish you would stop hitting me." Harry had tears running down his face as Hermione hit him in the arm.
"That's not funny; I worked really hard to get that to happen."
Harry tried to pull her into a hug but Hermione wouldn't let him.
"Oh come on `Mione. I was really surprised it's been the best birthday ever."
"Really?"
"Yes really. Hey what did that note mean? That was not my only present."
Hermione started to quickly blush
"You'll have to wait and see."
"How long will I have to wait?"
"Till tomorrow."
"Ok as long as I don't have to wait long." Harry pulled Hermione into a hug and this time she didn't fight him. Hermione leaned up and kissed Harry lightly on the lips.
"Happy Birthday."
Harry loved the way her breath felt against his skin, it was one of the few things that could calm him no matter what. After the kissed again one last time they headed back downstairs to find Mr. Granger stuffing the last piece of wrapping paper into the trash.
"Are you two ready to go?"
"Ah were we going?"
"Birthday surprise number two." Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and led him to the car sitting in the driveway. "Get in."
Harry climbed in and Hermione got in after him, Mr. and Mrs. Granger got in the car and soon they were on their way down the road. When the car finally slowed down and started to turn Harry saw their destination.
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