Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Lord

Chapter 2: Birthday wishes

Harry woke up and found himself in a strange bed. He noticed that there was very little light in the room, which made no sense because he was usually awakened by the burst of sun that came through his window every morning. It took him a minute to rub the sleep out of his eyes and stretch himself out a little. When he was done he remembered where he was and what had happened. He was at Headquarters. He didn't know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, and he immediately remembered his dream from the night before. He remembered that Sirius was dead, and that he, Harry, was now in his old house. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he hastily tried to brush them away as there was a knock on the door.

"Harry, mate, are you awake yet? Mum's got lunch ready and she told me to come see if you were up," Ron said through the door. Harry realized that he must've slept much later than he normally did if it was already time for lunch.

"Hey Ron. Lunch sounds good right now."

"Well, I guess it should, seeing as you haven't had any breakfast yet. I'm surprised mum let you sleep through breakfast! Normally she would've had a fit and tried to get as many kippers down you as she could," Ron laughed. "I guess she'll probably have enough time to do that today anyway."

"Yeah, probably. Let me get some clothes one, and I'll be right on my way." He picked a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from his trunk before hastily dressing and moving out into the hall to follow Ron down to the kitchen. Harry felt a big grin grow on his face as he realized that he would finally be able to eat normally again. The Dursleys hadn't starved him, in fact he had gotten more food than in previous years due to Moody's threat. Still, it wasn't as if he had been allowed to eat his fill, and he was very much looking forward to Mrs. Weasley's good cooking as he stepped through the door into the kitchen. The kitchen, which was very full with people smiling at him. He didn't even have time to prepare himself before he was caught by the blast of noise.

"Surprise!" they all screamed in unison. Harry was taken aback. Surprise? Wasn't that something that was normally yelled at a birthday party? He caught sight of the cake on the table, and then his face split into a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He had just remembered that it was his birthday today. They had remembered it. He looked around the room and saw all of the Weasleys and their bright red hair. Including Percy. He also saw many of the members of the order: Tonks, Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Moody, Dumbledore, and Professor McGonagall. He also saw that Hermione was there.

"Harry! Come make a wish and blow out the candles on your cake!" Ginny squealed at him. He walked over to the cake, took a deep breath, and blew, just barely putting out all of the candles before his breath ran out. Everybody clapped, and he wondered why he had ever thought that there would have been an upside to not being a wizard. This moment was perfect. Except... Sirius. He should have been there. The grin slowly faded from his face, but nobody noticed as they had started cutting up the cake. Harry found a piece of cake on a plate that had been thrust into his hand by Mrs. Weasley. He suddenly didn't feel hungry. He didn't want to be around people. He just wanted to be alone, and think about Sirius. He quietly slipped out the kitchen door and headed upstairs to the room where he knew Buckbeak was being kept. He quietly opened the door, and walked into the room.

He saw the magnificent creature leaned up against the far wall. It had turned its head to look in his direction as he had opened the door up, and now it was staring intently at him. Harry made a polite bow, and Buckbeak dipped his head in answer. Harry moved forward to pet the creature, his cake forgotten on the floor. After stroking the beast absentmindedly for a few minutes, he sat down on the floor and leaned back against it. Buckbeak, sensing his depression, gently draped a wing over Harry's shoulder. Harry looked down and sighed, staring at his hands. He began to think through what had happened. He should have been able to do something. He should have been faster.

Harry knew immediately after the battle at the ministry that he had been duped. He should've worked harder at Occlumency. He wouldn't have seen the vision of Sirius, wouldn't have made the rash decision to go to the ministry if he had just worked harder at Occlumency. He should've used the mirror to contact Sirius, instead of Umbridge's fireplace. Kreacher wouldn't have been able to keep him from talking to Sirius if he had just thought to use the mirror. He should've worked harder at his studies. Maybe there was a charm that they had learned in class one day that he could've used on Sirius to keep him from falling behind the curtain.

He had had so many chances to save Sirius that night. He just wasn't able to. It was Harry's own inadequacy at magic that had led to Sirius's death, of this he was sure. If it had been Hermione in his place, she would've been rational. She would've set into Occlumency with all of the vigor that she did anything else. She wouldn't have let Sirius die. It was his fault. He had caused at least four deaths now. His parents had died because Voldemort wanted to kill Harry. Cedric had died because Harry insisted that they take the trophy at the same time, and share the win. Sirius had died because Harry was stupid enough to let Voldemort trick him into going to the Ministry of Magic that night two months ago. How could he live with himself?

Harry was so engrossed in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the door squeak open again. He didn't notice as Ginny crept into the room, and he didn't notice her give a polite bow to Buckbeak, which he returned. Only when she sat down next to him did he notice that she was there.

"Oh. Hi Gin. I didn't notice you come in. Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. What are you doing up here, anyway? You should be down at your party." She looked concerned. Her red hair had developed a wave, and it looked very pretty as it fell down past her shoulders. Wait. Pretty? When did that happen? Harry had never thought of Ginny in that way before...

"I couldn't take it being around all those happy people here." He thought about what he was saying. He knew he wouldn't have ever told Ron or Hermione what he was thinking right now. They would worry too much. But before he could stop himself, his mouth continued, spewing forth everything that he had been thinking for the last two months.

"Sirius is dead. It's my fault he's not here. He should be here, in his house, celebrating my birthday with me. He would've been if I had just trusted Dumbledore and learned Occlumency like I was supposed to. I wouldn't have fallen into that trap that Voldemort set for me. I should've known it was a trap. Hermione even told me it might be, but I wouldn't listen. And Cedric should still be here, too. If I had just listened to him and taken the trophy on my own, he would still be here. But no, I had to be too proud. I had to force him to take it with me. Even a Slytherin would've saved his life. They would've taken the trophy for themselves and Cedric would've been alright. And then there were my parents. Killed because of me. Killed because it was prophesied that I might have the power to bring about Voldemort's downfall."

He realized at once that he had said too much. He had not meant to say anything about the prophecy to anyone. Ever. But now he had. He sat silent after his outburst, waiting to hear what Ginny would say. She'd think he was an idiot for worrying about things like this. Tears sprang to his eyes at the thought of all of the people around him that had been killed. He tried to blink them back as he felt the knot in his throat grow. He was now rendered speechless, and he just waited for her to yell at him, tell him to get over it, tell him he shouldn't be so stupid...

The yelling never came. Instead of yelling at him, she did the thing that he had least expected her to do. She put her arms around him, and hugged him tightly. He was completely surprised at the gesture. That someone that he had always thought of as Ron's little sister could be so compassionate was something that he was completely unprepared for. He realized that tears had started rolling down his cheeks, and just as he was about to look away, he could see that Ginny was crying too.

"Back in second year, I had such a bad time with Tom. Harry, he tricked you as an old, mature wizard. But what you don't realize is that not only did he trick me, he forced me to do things. He forced me to open the Chamber of Secrets, he forced me to set the Basilisk on my friends. You might have made a mistake, but you didn't kill Sirius, or Cedric, or your parents. Voldemort and his followers killed them. But when I was being controlled by him, it was me that was doing the hurting. Can you imagine the guilt that I had from that? I petrified Hermione! But then, the more that I thought about it, the more I realized that nothing bad would've ever happened if it weren't for him. Harry, you didn't kill Cedric, or Sirius, or your parents. Voldemort killed them. And maybe there was a chance that you could've saved them, but don't blame yourself that they're dead. It isn't your fault," she said. Her body trembled with sobs, and they just sat there, laying against Buckbeak, holding each other until they calmed down.

Ginny sniffed. "Harry... I..."

"Thanks Ginny."

"Oh!"

"I needed help. You gave it to me. Thanks." He kissed her on the forehead. Maybe just a little to long for a platonic kiss, but neither of them really realized it.

"Maybe we should, er, go back down to the party. They'll be wondering where we are," Ginny said. She had just thought over what had happened, and her face was beginning to turn beet red. She hurried out the door. Harry followed her back down into the kitchen, where the party was still going. Nobody noticed as they came back in, and it seemed as if no-one had noticed they'd been gone. Harry walked over to where Ron and Hermione were talking. Well, Hermione was talking. Ron was just staring at her, his face a slightly darker shade of red than was normal.

"So anyway, of course I had to read up on it. I found out that they had both had feelings for each other for quite a while, and neither of them realized it. They were both afraid that they would ruin their friendship by saying anything," rambled Hermione, apparently not noticing Ron's face growing steadily more red.

Was Hermione flirting with Ron? Harry didn't know. He fought a quick internal battle about whether to let her keep going at it, or to come rescue Ron. He decided on the latter course of action.

"Hey guys! What are you talking about?" Harry asked politely.

"Erm... We're um... Talking about some wizarding couple from a while ago... Yeah... That's it..." Ron looked like he was at a loss for words.

Hermione started playing with her hair, then stopped, changing her gaze from Ron to Harry.

"We're talking about Proteus and Persephone. No, not the Proteus and Persephone from Greek mythology, I'm talking about someone different. They actually went to Hogwarts around the time of the founders. They were best friends, and they relied on each other greatly. Persephone became infatuated with Proteus. She tried dropping hints, but Proteus seemed not to respond. She gave up, not wanting to jeopardize their friendship. About a year later, Proteus became infatuated with Persephone, but desisted for the same reason. It took until their seventh year to realize that they both felt the same way about each other. They finally got together, got married, and, as they say, lived happily ever after.

"I was just telling Ron about an essay I wrote for extra credit for Professor Binns comparing and contrasting the relationships of Proteus and Persephone, and Romeo and Juliet. I think that they make a good comparison, because while Romeo and Juliet were also infatuated with each other, they realized it immediately and had a whirlwind romance that ended quite quickly," she said very quickly.

Harry snorted. He had figured that Ron and Hermione might have something for each other, and were caught in a situation like Proteus and Persephone. He decided that it was time that he left Hermione to have at Ron, and so, spotting Lupin, Tonks, and Moody talking to each other, he left them. Ron gave a kind of whimper as Hermione launched off in another direction.

Harry walked across the room to talk to the three adults, and they turned to greet him as he came.

"Happy birthday, Harry!" said Tonks.

"Yeah, happy birthday Harry," agreed Lupin.

"Birthday, Potter. Actually, I'm glad you came over to talk to us. We were just talking about you," growled Moody. Tonks flinched. Harry had the distinct impression that Tonks would rather Harry had not known of their discussion. Moody didn't seem to notice as he continued, "We were talking about you becoming an Auror." At this, Harry's face lit up.

"Really? Do you think I have what it takes to become an Auror?" Harry was almost afraid of the answer.

"Certainly. I don't think I've ever seen anyone your age take on Death Eaters the way you did. You're good at your defense, Potter, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The Aurors are probably already thinking about ways that they can convince you to go into the training," said Moody, smiling, as Lupin beamed at him.

"Harry, I could tell that you were especially good at Defense Against the Dark Arts when you were able to take my meager teaching and turn it into a Patronus. I've never seen anyone else that could do what you've done." Lupin glowed. He looked like he had been wanting to tell Harry that he had been his star pupil for some time.

Tonks chimed in, "Yeah, you are good. And it'd be nice to have someone as good looking as yourself to work with." Harry felt his cheeks beginning to burn, and was saved the embarrassment of having to try to hide his face by Fred and George coming over and kidnapping him.

"Nice one Harry," said Fred.

"Yeah, Tonks was really coming on to you," said George.

"Not that we didn't expect it."

"Yeah, a strapping you lad like yourself will have girls throwing themselves at your feet when you get back to school."

"We know, don't we George?"

"Yeah, firsthand experience and all that."

"Happened to us in our sixth year, too."

"Not that we can really help it."

"It's the red hair."

"Anyway, mate, we really wanted to talk business with you," said George, changing the subject.

"Yeah, and let me tell you, business is booming."

"Anyway, we have a new invention that we thought you would like especially."

"Yeah, well, anyway, it's sort of like a reverse Sneakoscope."

"We actually got the idea from loverboy over there," he pointed at Ron, who was still being talked at by Hermione.

"Stupid git. Doesn't realize he has a good thing going for him. She's fun, smart..."

"Sexy..."

"Anyway, he was our inspiration for this."

"Basically, what you do, is you put it in your pocket,"

"And whenever anyone is especially happy or affectionate when they're talking to you, it will vibrate. Hundred percent silent."

"Unfortunately, we haven't worked out all the kinks yet. It still can't tell the difference between when someone actually likes you, and when someone is just happy to see you."

"We've found that it's kind of hard to test. Hard to get people to admit they like you..."

"We've been testing it on ourselves, because we like each other so much, but having only two test subjects isn't the best way to do things."

"Anyway Harry, we've got to get back to the store. Happy birthday!" he said, ruffling Harry's hair, before both of them Disapparated with a loud POP! Harry was about to look for another person to talk to when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw the twinkling eyes of Dumbledore.

"Happy birthday, Harry. I've been wanting to talk with you. Are you free right now?" he asked politely.

"Yes sir," responded Harry, bewildered.

"Good. Please follow me, then," replied Dumbledore, and with a swish of his cloak he had left the kitchen with Harry closely behind. They walked through the house for a few minutes, and at last they came to a door that Harry honestly couldn't remember ever seeing before. Dumbledore bent over and said the password ("Blood Flavored Lollipops") and the door swung open. He entered, and beckoned Harry inside, before closing the door. He then sat down at a desk at the other end of the room, and motioned for Harry to sit in the chair opposite him, which he did.

"Harry, I know it is your birthday, but today is the only day I have this summer that I can talk to you, and I have several important issues that I need to talk to you about. The first, is about Sirius's death." Dumbledore looked at Harry as if waiting until Harry was ready to continue. Harry said nothing. "I thought it would be easiest for you to cope with what happened if you actually knew what happened. Harry, Sirius was dueling with Bellatrix Lestrange as I'm sure you know. Unaware of his proximity to the Black Veil, he had let his guard down. Bellatrix hit him with a powerful repelling charm that Sirius tried to defend with a shield charm. The shield charm was insufficient, and he was struck in the chest, and forced back into the veil which he did not realize he was close to. I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to lose a loved one. Will you be okay?" Dumbledore looked at Harry, waiting for him to speak.

"I was depressed... And angry. Angry with myself, for playing into Voldemort's hands. Depressed at all the people I've been losing. And I still am angry, and depressed, but I think that my friends have helped me past the worst of it," said Harry, purposefully leaving out that it was Ginny that had helped him past it. Dumbledore looked satisfied with this answer.

"Harry, I must say, you are possibly the most mature person for your age that I have ever met. But I still have more to tell you. Sirius left a will. Not surprisingly, he willed his full estate to you. That includes the considerable assets of the Black family, along with this house. His liquid assets have been transferred to your vault at Gringotts already. I have a request of you, though. Seeing as this house is now yours, I must ask your permission to continue to use it as the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix." Dumbledore waited. Harry thought it over. He had an irrational urge to say no, but he mastered it quickly. Then he had an idea.

"Professor, I'd like to make a deal with you. I will give you the deed to the house, if you allow me to join the Order," Harry said quietly. He waited for the answer, sure that Dumbledore would try to persuade him to change his mind to some other sort of compensation.

"No doubt that was what Sirius was hoping you would ask when he willed you this house. Under no circumstances would I ever normally allow an underage person to join the order. But seeing as how you have an uncanny ability to draw the Dark Lord to you, and also in accordance with the prophecy you can't be killed by anyone but him, I will accept your proposal," said Dumbledore, offering his hand. Harry was dumbstruck. He had been expecting a flat out 'no,' but he had gotten a 'yes' instead. He was elated as he shook the old wizard's hand, amazed at such a firm grip from an old man.

"Very well, Harry. I believe that we don't need to change the name on the deed, I have no doubts that you will uphold your end of the bargain. I have one last matter to discuss with you before you leave. During my battle with Voldemort at the ministry two months ago, we both realized that you can drive the Dark Lord out of your mind through the power of your heart. Of course, as this power is not always active, I believe that it would still be a good idea for you to learn Occlumency. You will therefore join me in my office every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. to study Occlumency. I will also at some point begin to teach you the counterpart practice, Legilimency. That is all I need to talk to you about for now. I suggest you go back down to your party, as I have several things that I need to finish up here. That is all."

Harry got up to leave, closing the door quietly behind him. He was in the Order of the Phoenix. Wait until he told Ron! He practically ran all the way back down to the kitchen, and when he got inside he found that the party was still going. He quickly glanced around for Ron, and found him sitting in a corner looking very uncomfortable.

"Hey mate, where'd Hermione go?" asked Harry.

"Er... She just left. I don't think she was impressed with me listening to her. Hey, where've you been?"

"Well, I went over to talk to Tonks, Moody, and Lupin, and then the twins cornered me for a nice little chat. Then... Then Dumbledore wanted to talk to me," Harry dropped his voice, "Ron, Dumbledore and I made a deal. Sirius gave me this house, which I am going to let him use, and he is going to let me join the Order."

"Bloody hell! How come you get to be in the Order?"

"I don't know. I guess Dumbledore thinks I can handle it. He said I have an uncanny ability to end up fighting Voldemort anyway, and I think that he thinks that it would be better for me if I had some more information," finished Harry.

"You'll tell me, won't you?" asked Ron. He looked like it would break him if Harry didn't say yes.

"Yeah. Hey, what have you guys found out so far? Your letters said you'd tell me everything that you know as soon as I got here, and I really haven't found a chance to talk to you yet." Harry just realized that he hadn't asked anyone what Voldemort had been up to. He looked down at Ron questioningly, as Ron tried to decide where the best place to start was.

"You... Are you sure that you want this on your birthday?"

"I'm more sad and depressed now than I think I've ever been, because of Sirius's death. And still, I'm having the best birthday of my life. Does that tell you something?"

"Er... Right then. Well, what we've been able to hear from the newspapers and the new Extendable Ears is that You-Know-Who is being less secretive." Seeing Harry's look of confusion, he elaborated. "Fred and George put piercing charms on the ears, so they can get through mum's imperturbable charm. Anyway, back to You-Know-Who. He's brought the Dementors under his control, and he is trying desperately to do so with the goblins, the giants, and several other species. He's been attacking people, Harry. Blimey, I mean a few kids from school have already been killed. We think he's come back to Britain, and the Order thinks that he might have a way of hearing that prophecy that you smashed two months ago," Ron finished, looking at his friend. Harry's breath caught in his throat. Could Voldemort still have a way of hearing the prophecy, short of kidnapping Dumbledore? It wasn't possible, was it? Surely, smashing the prophecy had destroyed it for good, right? Harry was bewildered. He was saved the unpleasant thoughts by the arrival of Hermione.

"Hi guys," she said, looking more than a little tired.

"Hey Herm."

"Hi."

"So. I've been meaning to talk to you two. Have you finished that essay for Snape on the properties of Werewolves' blood?"

Harry groaned. He hadn't done much homework over the summer yet. He had taken up most of his time sulking somewhere, thinking of the many varied ways in which he could've saved Sirius...

"Not me. I try not to do homework over the summer," said Ron. Harry turned his laugh into a hacking cough. Hermione didn't notice.

"Well, come on then. I'm going to work on it right now. You two should come too. I expect that you don't really want a detention with Snape for not doing your homework?" It was Ron's turn to groan. He looked like he had been beat. He lowered his head in submission.

"Fine. Just let me go get my stuff. Harry, are you coming with?"

"Yeah," Harry replied, and they both set off towards their room.

"I'll meet you in the living room, then," said Hermione brightly. Ron grumbled.

"I swear she likes it. She likes homework. How are we friends with her again?"

"Well, there was the troll, see. She helped us get through our homework for the last five years, came to watch all of my Quidditch games, and most of yours, too. She helped us get through to fight Quirrel. We were scared and sad when she was petrified, she helped save Sirius third year, and there is no way I could've gotten through the Triwizard tournament or O.W.L.s without her. She's always been there for us, and we've always been there for her. Oh, and then with you, there's that mad crush you have on her," said Harry, trying not to laugh as Ron's face turned a color to match his hair.

Ron mumbled something that sounded like, "It was a rhetorical question," and then opened the door into their room. Harry followed him, and rummaged around in his trunk for his materials. He then followed Ron out the door and back down to the living room, where Hermione was waiting for them. He sat down, and got to work, looking up occasionally to see Ron rubbing his temples, or Hermione sucking on her quill. He finished about the same time that she did, so he asked her to look his essay over.

"Pretty good, Harry. Except the use in the Wolfsbane potion is for focus, not for aim. I know they sound the same, but they are a little different. Other than that, it looks good," she said, handing him the parchment back. When she had finished Ron's without needing to make a single correction, they all decided to go to sleep. It had been a long day, and Harry was looking forward to his nice warm bed. So, they all went upstairs, saying good night to Hermione, and then Harry and Ron went into their room. They changed into their pajamas, locked the door, and fell into their beds. Harry was asleep in seconds.