In Daylight's Shadow

Chapter Four

Remus walked towards the front door of the Burrow, He had both of his hands placed squarely on the backs of Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter, ushering the two towards Harry's sixteenth birthday party. Remus was immensely proud of Harry. Ever since Sirius' death, Remus had begun to feel like the last link Harry held to his parents; the last adult Harry could speak to as something of a father. He didn't want to replace what Sirius had been in Harry's life, but he did feel the need to re-assure that boy that, should he need to talk, he would always be there.

Remus had at first been puzzled by Harry's request to include Neville in his birthday celebrations. After a few nights mulling over the issue, though, he slowly came to the conclusion that Harry saw Neville as a dim reflection of himself; the carefree boy he could have been, where he not slated by destiny to destroy evil.

As they stepped onto the stoop bordering the front door, Remus gently pushed the two boys forward, stepping back slightly as he gestured for them to enter. Harry reached out for the handle, and swung the door open. At first, he couldn't see anything in the dark room. As his eyes slowly adjusted, he thought he could make out a shadowy figure standing near the dimly glowing fire. He was about to call out when the lights flashed on, and several people lept up at him from out of the shadows. Neville recoiled slightly as a raucous cheer filled the room.

"Happy Birthday!" the collected mass shouted, and Harry grinned widely at his collected friends. He was surprised to see so many people crammed into the Weasleys family room, but he'd had learned long ago never to try to apply to the physics of a muggle upbringing to the nuances of a wizard's home. The room was draped in shimmering banners with various birthday greetings, and one, which Harry assumed the twins had made, which simply read, "16! Hair down there?". Whenever an adult looked at that particular banner, the text shifted quickly to a simple "Happy Birthday!"; only resuming its more risqué form when viewed by younger eyes.

As Harry waved to the group rising slowly from the hiding places, he prepared himself for the barrage of hugs and kisses that were to ensue. Having lived the first eleven years of his life barely experiencing any affection, he still felt a little uncomfortable at the immanent prospect of physical sentiment. Molly Weasley strode over and wrapped her arms around him. She pulled him tightly to her chest, he felt his reservations melt slowly away into happiness. After a few minutes his arms and ribs where hurting slightly from so many hugs, and, from the looks of it, he thought, Neville was not faring much better. After he had finished sharing a quiet word with Minerva McGonagall, he looked up t see Hermione and Ron standing in front of him.

"Happy Birthday Harry!" Hermione squealed as she pulled the boy into the tightest hug yet. "It's so wonderful to see you."

"Happy Birthday mate," Ron started once Hermione had released her prisoner. "We decided to wait till the older ones had a chance to say hello. You know how impatient they can be."

Harry grinned and gave Ron an affectionate punch in the arm. As Ron started to quietly explain to Harry something about an engagement they had to attend to later on, Harry noticed Ginny creep up silently behind his two friends. Smiling to her, he gave a small wave.

"Hello Ginny."

"Happy Birthday to you Harry," she said, then leaned in to him and gave him a small kiss on the check. "And hello to you Neville," she continued, facing the other boy.

Neville smiled back and thanked her, then excused himself as he made his way over to talk to Kingsley Shacklebot, who had promised Neville he would share an amusing anecdote about his parents with him. Harry was catching up with Ron, Hermione and Ginny when Bill Weasley walked over to join them.

"Harry!" he said, putting his arm on the boy's shoulder. "I'm sure you're a bit overwhelmed at the number of people here. Just wanted to mention that after the presents we're going to need a minute of your time." He nodded officially towards Ron and Ginny. "So don't go getting yourself lost". He gave Harry a wink and walked back to stand by his father. Harry turned to Ron.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"Oh," Ron started, dropping his voice noticeably, "you'll see soon enough."

"Come on now Ron!" Hermione said, turning to face him. "Tell us what's going on!"

"Not now!" Ginny said, giving Harry a shove in the back, sending him into the middle of the family room. "It's time for presents!"

Nearly an hour later, Harry was sitting next to Neville on the plush purple sofa in the corner of the family room, rubbing his overstuffed belly and sipping quietly on a butterbeer. The round oak table in front of him sagged somewhat under the weight of his unwrapped presents, and paper of various color and shape littered the floor. He had been shocked to have received so many gifts. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had presented him with his own hand for the Weasley clock, which they where going to affix to the wooden face a little later in the evening. Ron and Hermione had pooled their resources and gotten him a small, practice snitch, with a matching leather carrying case from Ginny. Bill and Charlie both gave him new books (Spellbreakers and Dragons, Drake's and Doxies: A Guide to Magical Creatures respectively), while the twins had provided him with an assortment of new troublemakers of their own design. Kingsley Shacklebot had presented him with an Auror grade cloak, and Mad Eye Moody, though scowling slightly, presented him with his very own Magical Atlas. There was also a new blanket with the Gryffindor crest boldly emblazoned across the middle, given him by Professor McGonagall, as well as a book of N.E.W.T. level potions, a gift from an obviously displeased Severus Snape. Interestingly, Professor Dumbledore gave him a massive box of sweets, which Harry noticed, happily, was missing a few selections. Remus gave Harry a worn copy of Animagi: Secrets and Techniques for a Complete Transformation. Opening to the front cover, Harry had been surprised to see four signatures above the title, written in simply blue ink. Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail.

"It's a book the four of us put together when we researching the transformation," Remus had explained. "I thought it might be your turn to have a try."

The most unusual gift he had received, though, was a parchment that now sat just to the side of the other presents. As the presentation had been drawing to an end, Remus stood, cleared his throat, and spoke to Harry.

"Well Harry, I know of a few people who would want to be here with you today. I don't want to spoil your evening for you, but there is a matter of some urgency that requires your attention. After the incident at the Ministry of Magic, Gringott's unsealed the Black family vault to retrieve Sirius' will. They where intrigued to see it had recently been amended, naming you his sole beneficiary. If you'd just sign this parchment, you will be the legal owner of both one half of the fairly vast Black family vault, and 12 Grimmuald Place."

He had smiled broadly at Harry, and, producing a quill, walked over clutching the parchment in his hand. Harry had been at once happy and sad as he slowly signed his name on the appropriate line. He would gladly have given the entire lot back if it meant he could still have Sirius. As he was finishing, Remus leaned in, and whispered in his ear.

"Trust me Harry; he wanted you to have it. I knew him better than anyone, and there was nothing in this world he loved more than you."

Harry had fought back a tear, and thanked Remus.

"What about the other half of the estate?" Harry had asked.

"Oh," Remus had replied, blushing slightly. "Sirius left that to me. He said if anyone deserved that kind of money, it would be me."

Sensing the darkening mood, the twins had, quite stealthily, uncorked a small bottle, and poured the contents at the feet of Nymphorda Tonks. Suddenly, Tonks was leaping about the room, as her feet sprouted hundreds of tiny legs, and carried her away. Amid the laughter, Harry saw Dumbledore pull out his wand and send the appropriate counter-curse at Tonks. She stopped careening about the space, and, grinning, gave both a twins a solid punch in the arm.

Harry was now holding the parchment in his hands and scanning it with his eyes, as Neville looked appreciatively at the new Toad collar he had been given by the Weasleys, who somehow knew his birthday was the next week. Harry had never seen so much money. The account his parents had left him had been enough to ensure his comfort; the amount he now possessed could guarantee extravagance for the rest of his days. He was about to ask Remus what he planned to do with his newly inherited fortune when Molly Weasley stood up and tapped a spoon to the glass in her hand.

"Right then," she said, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Who's up for a game?"

"What shall we play?" asked Arthur, joining his wife in the center of the room.

"Whizzbanging!" shouted the twins in unison, rubbing their hands together.

"What about Teething Tiddlywinks?" asked Minerva McGonagall.

"I think it should be charades," said Ginny quietly.

"Well, since its Harry birthday party," Mrs. Weasley said as she raised a hand to silence the rising voices, "I think we should let him decide."

Harry chose charades, mostly because it was the only game he had actually heard of. The group split into two teams, children on one side of the room and the adults on the other. Harry turned to Hermione, hoping she knew more about wizard party games than he did.

"Is this any different than muggle charades?" he whispered.

"Not terribly," she whispered back to him. "The only difference is that instead of movies or books, you have to act out spells or famous wizards. Other than that, it's the same as what you're used to."

Harry nodded. He was glad to see the coin flip gave the opposing team the start, seeing as he had no idea how to go about acting out a spell. After a lot of cajoling, Albus Dumbledore stood from the center of his team and strode confidently to the middle of the room.

"Just to clarify the rules;" he said, "each team has two minutes to guess at the actions of its own player. After that, the opposing team may confer and venture one guess, assuming the performers own team failed to correctly identify said players movements. Now, who from your team would like to give the clue?"

Ron stood up immediately, and crossed to Dumbledore, who bent down and let the boy whisper in his ear. As Ron pulled away, Dumbledore gave him a wry look, then turned back to his team.

"Begin!" shouted Bill, looking at his watch.

Dumbledore's face immediately lost all expression, and he raised his right hand and flicked it deftly into the air.

"Spell!" his team shouted at him. Dumbledore nodded, then held out two fingers on his right hand.

"Two words!" came the reply. Dumbledore nodded again.

Harry was trying very hard to restrain his laughter as Dumbledore began to pantomime the spell he had been given. First, the old men jumped into the air and kicked his legs back under him, throwing his arms out into the air. His team looked on in silence. Shaking his head, he tried the maneuver again, this time adding in a flourish with his head. Even this trick garnered no response. A puzzled expression moving over his face, Dumbledore paused for a moment to think.

"Get on with it!" screamed Tonks, shaking her fists in the air.

Dumbledore shot the girl a glance, then his whole face seemed to brighten. He held up one finger and looked at his team.

"First word, first word!" Molly Weasley shouted quickly.

Dumbledore tapped four fingers onto his wrists.

"Four syllables!" Molly snapped.

"Twenty seconds," said Bill silkily tapping his watch.

Dumbledore tapped his first finger against his wrist. Without waiting for a response, he straightened and threw his arms straight out to his sides, and began batting them against the air.

"WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!" shrieked Snape. All eyes fell on the potions professor, who tried very hard to blend into the chair he was sitting on.

"Very well done Severus," said Dumbledore, smiling broadly. "That's one point for us. Your turn to send an actor," he said as he motioned to Harry and his team. Everyone wanted Harry to go, but after a quick conference, and Harry's admission that he didn't quite understand all the nuances of the game, Neville volunteered to take his place.

Dumbledore leaned and whispered in Neville's ear, then walked back to his seat looking quite pleased. Neville went a shade of white.

"Go!" shouted Tonks.

The next two minutes was a mass of confusion. All Harry's team could ascertain was that Neville was acting as some kind of wizard. He had started by throwing himself to the floor, then rising quickly and kicking one leg high into the air. Greeted with only silence, this had been followed by a lot of stumbling about, then a good deal of Neville patting his chin. Neville was looking fairly pekid as Tonks finally called time. Even the other team had no idea who Neville was supposed to be.

"Well?" Ron asked. "Who were you supposed to be?"

Looking slightly dejected, though grinning mischievously, Neville said in soft voice "Professor Dumbledore."

The house quite literally shook with laughter.

The game continued for a half an hour. Harry was glad when his team was announced the winner, even if it was by a single point. He felt particularly proud of himself for acting out the door sealing spell Colloportus with ingenious "sounds like" hippopotamus. Harry and Neville were being congratulated by Kingsley Shacklebot when Harry felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to find Charlie leaning over him. He noticed, to his dismay, that all of the other children seemed to have left.

"Harry, Neville," he whispered, his voice barely rising over the conversations filling the room. "Follow me. Its time."

Harry looked at him quizzically for a moment, then stood up. Neville took a little more time, looking fairly nervous as he too rose, and then both of them followed Charlie out into the hallway.

"Where are we going?" Harry asked, as the three made it onto the first flight of stairs.

"All in good time Harry," Charlie replied, leading them onto the second landing and down the short, narrow corridor to a large brown door at the edge of the house. He stopped outside the door, and turned. "Don't worry; it's not going to hurt."

Neville gulped as Harry opened the door. Stepping inside, he saw all of the Weasley children, other than Percy, and Hermione sitting at tall, black chairs around a table. The room was almost as big as Ron's bedroom, and was lit by a series of small lamps. The children at the table looked at him solemnly.

Motioning for them to sit at the two empty chairs at the head of the table, Bill addressed them.

"Now," he said, his voice saturated with a sense of regality, "allow me to formally welcome you to your own Weasley birthday initiation. This is an ancient and proud rite of passage, and, before we allow you to partake of it, we must make sure you are worthy."

Harry and Neville sat down, looking in turn at the faces around the table. Charlie spoke next.

"This is an event passed down from to our father, from his father, and his before that."

"A sacred and unifying bond," Fred ventured, his voice grave.

"One that can never, under any circumstances, be broken," George finished.

"It usually takes place on the eve of a Weasley's fifteenth birthday," said Ron softly. "But, seeing as the noble Weasley blood does not flow through your veins, we thought it best to wait a year."

"But we have judged you worthy," Ginny said as she looked at Harry.

"So," Bill spoke, as all the eyes at the table looked at him, "let the ceremony begin!"

The table was quite as Bill stood up, and removed from his pocket a small glass bead. He passed it in turn to his siblings, from oldest, to youngest, until Ginny passed it to Harry.

"What do I do?" he asked, staring at the yellow orb.

"Pass it to Neville!" Ron said. "It's not bloody Arithmancy."

Bill gave Ron a stern look, and Harry stifled a laugh as he passed it to Neville. Neville stared at it for a moment, then passed it quickly back to Bill. Bill set the glass on the table, and, extracting his wand, hovered his hand over the object.

"We welcome you to our family!" he said as he smiled at Harry. "But there is one thing you must do to gain entrance..."

Harry raised his eyebrow to Bill. There was a long moment of silence, then, in unison, the Weasley children let out a jubilant yell.

"Firewhisky!" As their voices joined, Bill flicked his wand over the glass bead, and it grew into a large jug of Old Ogden's Firewhisky. Charlie conjured up nine glasses, and began to pour the thick, brown liquid into them.

"That's what this was all about?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Of course!" Bill laughed. "What were you expecting, a blood ceremony?"

Neville chuckled and reached for his glass. Harry looked at his, then grinned and took it.

"To Harry!" Charlie proposed.

"Here, here!" came six voices back to him. All those at the table lifted their glasses and drank.

The whiskey was smooth, but it burned slightly as it went down the back of Harry's throat. It reminded him of the Johnny Walker Red Uncle Vernon drank.

"Seeing as we're all here," Fred said, breaking the temporary silence

"We feel there's something we should mention," George finished.

"Of course Bill and Charlie already know."

"They do indeed Fred."

"But I'm sure they won't mind hearing it again."

"I should hope not."

"As a reward for our ingeniousness."

"And grace,"

"And bravery,"
"And never ending goodness."

"Oh will you just get on with it?" Charlie said, refilling his glass.

"Well, these things work better with a bit of a build up," Fred said dejectedly.

"As we where saying, were invited, and have proudly joined"

"The Order of the Phoenix," they finished together.

Charlie and Bill smiled as the twins finished and rested back into their chairs. Ginny smiled at both of them.

"That's wonderful boys," she said, turning to Ron. "Isn't it Ron?"

Ron looked at Hermione for a minute, then at Fred and George. "Congratulations you two. I guess that just leaves me out of the loop," he finished glumly.

"And me," Ginny chimed in.

"You two shouldn't worry about it," Hermione said, sliding her hand up to Ron's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll be a member soon enough."

"I'm just tired of having things kept from me," Ron said gruffly, crossing his arms as he did.

"Me too," Harry said simply.

"Well," said George, sensing the tension rising, "fortunately for you, we more youthful members,"

"And dare I say more attractive..." noted Fred.

"Hold no reservations about sharing some information with you."

"What would you like to know?"

Bill and Charlie frowned, but George quickly turned to face them.

"We won't tell them anything that could put them in danger," George explained.

"But they certainly have a right to know what the Dark Lord is up to," Fred finished.

"What is Voldermort up to?" Harry interrupted, waylaying the inter-Weasley fight. "Has there been any Death Eater activity this summer?"

"Not a great deal," said Fred, turning back to face Harry. "A few reports of missing muggles, but he seems to be lying fairly low since the ministry."

"Do we have any idea what he's up to?" asked Hermione.

"Not yet," said Fred.

"Well, whatever it is he's planning," said Neville quietly, "we'll be ready for him, won't we?"

The table broke out into chorus of agreement.

The group spent the next ten minutes discussing the status of the Ministry of Magic and the upcoming year at Hogwarts. Ginny bemoaned her luck for having to take her O.W.L. exams that year, despite the assurances of all those at the table that she shouldn't have a problem. Hermione even offered to draw up a study chart for her. The group was discussing the possible Quiddich cup outcomes when there was a soft knock at the door. Bill waved his wand quickly, and the empty glasses and bottle of firewhisky disappeared from view.

"Come in!" shouted Bill.

The door opened, and Albus Dumbledore strode inside. The dancing candles in the room seemed to reflect his features intently, and his blue eyes shined in the dim light. With a smile, he nodded at the table.

"I'm sorry to break up the festivities," he said, motioning to the group, "but Harry and I have an appointment to fulfill. The others have gathered downstairs to give him a send off."

"Oh, right," said Harry, having briefly forgotten Dumbledore's promise to speak with him at the party. He stood up. "Sorry guys, but it's kind of important."

"Not to worry," said Charlie. "There will be many more occasions like this one." He winked at Harry.

Harry followed Dumbledore out of the room and onto the stairs, followed by Bill, Charlie, Ginny, Fred and George. Ron and Hermione were the last to leave. As Ron moved to extinguish the candles, Hermione looked at him suddenly.

"You know," she said matter of factly, "I've been here dozens of times, and I don't think I've ever been inside this room. What is it when you lot aren't using it to scare Harry?"

"Oh," Ron said with a laugh. "This used to be our play room!"

Dumbledore and Harry made their way into the family room, where the gathered adults gave them a polite round of applause. The rest of the children soon filed in behind him. There was silence for several moments, as all the eyes in the room turned on Harry. He didn't understand what to do until Ginny kicked him in the back of the shin.

"Ouch!" he moaned, stepping forward. He noticed everyone was still watching him. "I mean, um, thank you all for coming tonight. I had a wonderful time." He paused "It means a lot to me to know I have so many wonderful friends."

Harry blushed deeply as the room clapped politely, then Dumbledore moved into the middle.

"My friends, we must take our leave of you. Feel free to bid your farewells." He turned to Harry. "I'll be just outside, take all the time you need."

He turned and, with a quick nod to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, walked out of the front door.

Bill and Charlie shook his hand in turn, and twins wrapped him in a friendly hug. Kingsley Shacklebot and Tonks wished him a happy birthday again. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley assured Harry they would make sure his presents made it safely to his home in Little Whinging, and Harry was nearly choked to death by one of Molly's trademark squashes. Harry was only just recovering from the assault when Severus Snape strode up to him, his black hair shimmering noxiously in the light.

"Mr. Potter," he said, grinning sadistically. "I just wanted to remind you briefly of my arrangement for N.E.W.T. potions last year. How were your O.W.L. results?"

"Oh," Harry shifted uncomfortably, "well I didn't quite make 'O', but I was hoping..."

"Your hopes are of no consequence to me, Mr. Potter," Snape said, frowning deeply. "You will not be taking N.E.W.T. potions with me." He turned on his heels and marched to the door, only stopping briefly to offer a sickly "Oh, and Happy Birthday", before he swept out of the Burrow.

"That git!" Ron said as the door closed behind Snape. "Of all the things to say on your birthday!"

"Don't worry about it Harry," said Hermione. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will be able to do something to change his mind."

Harry smiled weakly and gave the girl a hug. Turning to Ron, he asked.

"So when are you two going to Diagon Alley for our school shopping?"

"Well," said Ron, looking at the floor, "I was going to wait to find out when Hermione was going." He continued, slightly flustered, "I mean so we could all go together. You know, the trio and all that? So, when are you going Hermione?"

Hermione paused for a moment. "I won't be coming home from Prague until the 27^th, so I had planned on going the 28^th. Will that work for you two?"

Harry and Ron both nodded.

"Oh," said Harry, turning to Neville, who was looking at the ceiling. "And Neville is going to come along too."

"And me!" said Ginny, stepping forward.

"Right, because when I said trio, I meant quintuplet," Ron said. He was greeted by a solid jab in the head from Ginny. "I'm only teasing!" he protested, rubbing his skull.

"Good then. Well...I um...better be off. Don't want to keep Dumbledore waiting too long!" Harry said, turning to the door. He was greeted by ten arms reaching out and hugging him, shouting "Happy Birthday" loudly in his ear. He shook himself free, told his friends he would see them soon, and walked over to Remus, who was standing next to the front door.

"Happy Birthday again Harry," he said, grabbing the boys shoulders. "I really am very proud of you."

Harry smiled, and moved in to hug the older man. Remus was slightly taken back, and the hug was formal enough to be quite comical, but he didn't mind.

"You'll make sure Neville and Hermione make it home safely?" Harry asked, pulling away.

"Of course I will Harry. Now you'd better get going. Don't worry, I'll be seeing you soon."

Harry moved to the front door. He stood in front of the green oak, turned, and, smiling broadly, waved at his friends.

A loud blast of "Happy Birthday!" followed him out the front door.

The rest of the guests broke up fairly quickly, all citing the late hour, until only the Weasleys, Remus, Neville and Ginny were left sitting about the fire, chatting happily. Glancing at his watch, Remus stood up quickly.

"Goodness!" he said, walking over to Neville. "I'm supposed to have you home in five minutes! Come on, we'd better hurry." He looked at Hermione. "I'd better make sure you get home safely as well."

The three of them moved to the door. Neville gave everyone a smile, and gave Ginny a quick hug before he stepped outside. Remus was speaking briefly with Arthur about an event the following day, so Ron stood next to Hermione.

"It was really nice to see you Ron," Hermione said, hugging him.

"I'm really glad you could come," he replied. Suddenly, he leaned him and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Sorry for not mentioning it earlier, but you look really beautiful."

She looked at him with wonderment for a moment, until Remus strode over and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Let's get going then Hermione. Bye all!"

Absent mindedly shaking her head, she turned and followed Remus out the front door.

Ron excused himself from the room quickly as the Weasley clan dissipated. He made it up to his room without a word from any of his family members about the evening. Though he was sure he would get an earful the next day, he was glad to have the memory all to himself for the moment. As he slipped into his bed and lay against the cool sheets, he could only think about how wonderful she smelled; like lilacs on an April wind.