Erised Revisited

6. Birthday Reflections

Harry walked into the great room, barely seeing who was there or what any of them were doing. The large table in the middle of the room was full of different foods and beverages, and he began to wander around it absently, not really bothering to notice or caring what he was nibbling on.

"Hello, Harry. It's been a while."

Harry turned to find the friendly face of Remus Lupin and offered a weak smile to him. Lupin was dressed better but looked sadder than the last time Harry had seen him. Smiling to himself ruefully, Harry guessed the same could be said of him.

"Hullo, Professor. How are you?"

Professor Lupin managed an uncertain smile. "Fine. Fine. I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch, but I've been busy with... certain arrangements."

Harry shrugged the apology off. "I haven't done much at my end either, so no bad feelings from me. I would like to do better with that though."

"No doubt you'll be sick of me by the school year's end."

Harry could not keep the excitement from his voice or the genuine grin from his face. "You'll be back teaching? Defense?"

The Professor's smile became more certain at Harry's reaction. "Yes. It seems I now have the full backing of the Minister of Magic, if you can imagine. Actually, I didn't really want to go through the whole spectacle again, but Dumbledore assures me there will be none and insisted that I at least try."

"I'm glad. You were the best. 'Are the best,' I mean to say."

The older Wizard chuckled softly. "Ah, well, considering who my competition is in that particular field as far as your past instructors, I can't argue. However, I hear that you might be seeking the job."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Not hardly. The DA was just a necessity. Now that we have a proper teacher, I don't really see that it needs to continue."

Professor Lupin fixed Harry with a shrewd stare. "Hmm, I am tempted to insist that you be my assistant, but I wouldn't want to ruin your sixth year for you. It's always the most fun. No OWLS. No NEWTS. Old enough to get into loads of trouble, too young to know better or to care or both. Do try to have fun this year Harry, as a personal favor to me."

"Yes, sir."

Mrs. Weasley, who now seemed fullyrecovered from the stairwell scene, interrupted, "Remus, might I borrow Harry for a moment?"

"Of course, Molly. I'll talk to you later, Harry. There are a few things we need to discuss, but best to wait until after the party I think."

"Later then, Professor." The added emphasis again brought smiles to them both. Harry was turned away from Professor Lupin and steered towards a door that he did not recognize. Mrs. Weasley knocked loudly.

"Enter," answered a familiar woman's voice.

Mrs. Weasley gave him a gentle nudge. "Go on in, Harry. You shouldn't be but a few moments."

Harry entered the small room to find Professor McGonagall sitting in a comfortably plush seat. She looked at him over the top of her glasses as he closed the door behind him. Wordlessly she motioned him to the identical chair opposite from her.

Professor McGonagall straightened formally. "Mr. Potter, you are well?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Can you guess why I am here?"

Harry wondered what he could possibly have to answer for to her over summer holiday. "Uh, my run in with Draco?"

"No, Mr. Potter." Harry could swear he saw a twitch at the side of her severe mouth threatening a smile. "Unless you are referring to the altercation at the end of the last school year, I don't know what you are talking about. I am here on Gryffindor business."

"Gryffindor business?"

"Gryffindor Quidditch business."

"Oh... Oh! The new Captain! Who is it?"

"It's you, if you want the job."

"Me? I thought it would be Katie. She has more experience."

"No, she doesn't. She may be a year older, but you were the first first-year to join the house team in a very long time. This means she joined the team the same year you did. In any event, I think you are a better choice."

Harry was pleased with the offer, but it did not excite him as he thought it should. Professor Lupin had just finished telling him to have fun. He'd watched Oliver and Angelina drive themselves and others to the edge of madness with their captaincies. Flying was his refuge. When everything else was rubbish, he could always escape into the air above the pitch. It had been Hell when he had been banned from Quidditch the previous year. He could tolerate everything else as long as he could occasionally fly and forget. What Professor McGonagall was offering was very flattering, but it threatened to make his greatest refuge against the world and place it on a list of fairly weighty responsibilities he already had. He remembered Professor Dumbledore's tear.

"I want...I think...I think Ron would be better for it. Er, no offense."

"Mr. Weasley? And why would you think that?"

"Ron's lived and breathed Quidditch his whole life. He knows every play and every drill ever flown on a pitch. And you know Keeper is a better position for Captain. As a Seeker, I have to find and catch the Snitch. I'm libel to miss seeing it if I have to worry about what else is happening in the game. A Keeper has to pay attention to where the Quaffleis at all times, so he naturally has to know what is going on everywhere on the pitch.

Harry scratched at his ear and spoke sheepishly, "And I have to admit that I simply don't want it, so I might not give it my all. I do want us to win, no matter who ends up as Captain"

"I see."

"Sorry Professor."

The elder witch smiled warmly. "No need to be sorry, Harry. I think your decision is the right one for you - and the team. Mr. Weasley is a fine choice, but we won't tell him he was not the first choice, alright? This is one of the reasons I do this privately. You're not the first to turn down the Captaincy, and it would not do to undermine the new Captain with thoughts that he or she was not the first on the list."

"Yes, Professor. I understand."

"Well, back to your party then and Happy Birthday, Harry!"

"Thank you, Professor."

Harry smiled at her and left the room, feeling lighter than he had when he had entered. It was remarkable how exhilarating saying 'no' to a new responsibility was. His good mood had returned once again, and he felt a lot more sociable now.

Fred and George were the first to approach him. Harry stifled a snicker at Fred's purple robes. George's lime green and bright orange ones were a visual treat as well. They handed him a small, plain brown package.

"Thought you might like these, seeing as you're having so much fun with our Ears," George whispered conspiratorially.

Seeing Harry holding the package at arms length, Fred laughed. "Don't worry. It won't explode. Rather not draw attention to the contents just yet."

Harry still opened the gift cautiously. As the top of the box came off, Harry squinted to protect his eyes from whatever happened to be inside. He opened them with curiosity as it appeared to be a regular pair of black glasses. In fact, it appeared to be his pair of black glasses, so much so that he had to check to see that he was still wearing his.

"Uh, thank you?"

Fred explained, "Oh, I know they don't look like much, but they're actually a prototype companion for the Extendable Ears. They're Extendable Eyes."

George continued, "Yeah, we made them look like your own glasses as much as we could, so no one would know when you're wearing them."

Harry regarded the gift with fresh interest. "How do they work? Like Omnioculars?"

Fred shook his head. "No, you can't record anything with these, play it back and such. You can look around corners though and increase the distance you can see up to a few hundred yards. We tried to allow it to look through things, but the lenses kept melting, rather painfully I might add. It takes a bit of practice, but you simply will the Eyes to go look where you want them to and off they go. We even thought to include the corrective part of your regular glasses."

George winked at Harry. "Should be smashing for those bloody boring History classes, you can just give your eyes a walk around the school. Or if you happen to be missing an answer on an exam in that or some other class...well, there you are."

Fred fixed Harry with a pointed stare. "However, we have charmed so as not to allow you to spy on a certain white-robed, red-haired, all-too-female relative of ours. At least while she's less than decently attired."

Harry blushed furiously and sputtered, "I wouldn't... I couldn't..."

Fred laughed. "Couldn't you? Oh relax, Harry. We are mostly certain that you wouldn't, at least without her permission, but just the same though, a precaution. Unlike a certain prat who shall remain Percy, we enjoy being a part of this family, and Mum would surely kick us to the curb if... well, no need to finish that thought, right?"

Harry swallowed. "Oh God, no, please don't."

George smirked at Harry's discomfort. "Right then, give them a go and get us a report in a few weeks about how they work."

Harry pocketed the new glasses and kept his old ones on his face for the time being. He again visited the table of food and began picking at it. He looked up while munching on a carrot stick to see Ron walking towards him with a familiar look on his face. It was much the same look he wore when he received the prefect badge. He's seen McGonagall. Right, now, Harry, be surprised and supportive.

"Are you alright, Ron?"

Ron suddenly seemed to see him and broke into a huge grin. "Harry! I just... That is, McGonagall just..."

But then he stopped talking and directed an expression of fear and sympathy towards Harry. He's worried as to how I'll take it. Isn't this a sticky one? I can't congratulate him because I can't know yet, and he's too concerned as to how I'll handle it to tell me. Just have to force it out of him.

"McGonagall was here? What did she want? Are you in trouble? Am I? Oh, the Malfoy thing! She wanted your side of it, didn't she? Before I get expelled for swatting him.Damn, I knew I wasn't going to get away with it."

"Hunh?What are you - No Harry, she wanted to... What I mean is, she offered... Oh Bloody Hell! I'm the new Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team!"

Harry breathed an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Ah, excellent! So I'm not expelled?"

"Well, no," answered a confused Ron.

As nonchalantly as he could manage, Harry said, "Oh, good. Did you want some pumpkin juice? I was just going to get myself a glass."

Ron was dumbfounded. "Harry did you hear what I said? I'm the new team captain."

"Oh that. I heard. Did you want the juice or not?" Harry kept his face straight as long as he could as he watched the different emotions wash over Ron's face. When the third angry scowl appeared, Harry burst into laughter.

"Congratulations, Ron. You deserve it. You'll be brilliant!"

"You're a bloody- You had me going."

"I meant to."

"So you're okay with it? My being captain?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" answered Harry earnestly.

Ron shrugged. "Thought maybe you might want the position."

Harry responded with the truth, "I've thought about it a few times, but, really, I'll have more fun just playing and leave the important Quidditch stuff to you, Captain."

"Really?! Excellent!"They shook hands and even risked a quick uncomfortable embrace. Ron's impossibly huge smile faded to a blank stare as he saw something over Harry's shoulder. Harry turned to see what it was.

Dean and Ginny had entered the room hand in hand. Dean nodded nervously over to Ron and Harry in acknowledgement. Harry nodded back. He felt an odd hostility towards Dean, but it diminished when he remembered that he was purported to kiss like a 'wet mop.' Then he felt kindlier to Dean as Harry himself was also rumored to be not so wonderful in that area.

Ron was not so similarly disposed. "If that bastard tries to do anything other than hold her hand, I'll give him a thumping."

"What do you have against Dean? Like you said, at least he's a Gryffindor."

"Yeah, well, I've been thinking." Oh, damn, this is going to be good. "And I don't appreciate how Dean went behind my back to get to Ginny."

Harry snorted in disbelief. "What the Hell was he supposed to do? Ask your permission?"

"Well, yeah."

"You're serious?!" Harry was incredulous.

"Well, yeah."

"And you would have answered how?"

"I'd be warmer to the idea than I am now," answered Ron sarcastically.

"You realize if Ginny sees you acting this way she'll just stay with Dean longer?"

"I know you're right, damn it all, but I can't help it! She doesn't belong with him."

"She's a smart girl, Ron. If she doesn't, she'll figure that out." And already has, but you'll mess that up if you keep on like this!

Harry looked back over to Dean and Ginny just in time to see him whisper something to her to which Ginny nodded. Ginny's eyes caught Harry's, and she looked apologetic, perhaps for the contribution she made to the stair scene or perhaps for something else. She and Dean turned to go outside. Ron started after them, but Harry barred his way.

"Leave them be."

"She's my sister. I have -"

"Oh, Ron! You look wonderful!" Harry closed his eyes in thanks on hearing Susan's voice. He turned to the direction of her voice with his eyes still closed. As he opened them, he had to bite back a laugh of irony as well as a gasp of surprise. Susan was wearing a very familiar looking set of lacy, black dress robes.

"Wow, Susan! So do you!" Harry did a double take at Ron as he was acting as if he'd never seen the outfit before. Why is he okay with Susan wearing that thing and not Hermione? Weird.

"Hey Harry. You look great too. Happy Birthday!"

Harry smiled, trying to keep his eyes above her neckline. "Thanks, I think I'll see if I can help in the kitchen. Talk to you two in a few minutes."

Though Susan did not fill the lacy thing out quite as well as Hermione had, it was distracting enough to take Ron's attention away from going after Ginny and Dean. A grateful Harry gave Ron a look of amusement, and Susan a slightly longer look of something else, before turning away and leaving them to that private little world of theirs.

"I suppose you recognize Susan's robes?" Hermione's voice asked before he made it to the kitchen.

Harry turned to face her. She looked extremely elegant in her maroon robes. She seemed very curious as to how Harry would answer.

He smiled and shrugged. "You looked better in them. You know, I never got to apologize for embarrassing you in the shop."

"No need. I mean I imagine I might have done much the same to you or Ron."

"I doubt it. If you had seen me or Ron in that thing, your reaction would have been pretty different."

Hermione bit her lower lip and laughed through it. "Mm, you're right there."

"I like this outfit though, very nice. You look great."

"So do you. Ginny knows her stuff, my robes, your shoes. Where is she?"

Harry nodded towards the door. "She went outside with Dean."

Hermione put a hand to her mouth in shocked surprise. "Oh... Oh no! She's going to...Here? Now?"

"What?" Harry guessed that she thought Ginny was going to break up with Dean. He thought so too. Strangely, he was not as upset about it as Hermione seemed.

Hermione smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Harry. Can't say, confidential you know."

"I understand. I .." Harry was cut off by an excited shriek from across the room. Both he and Hermione turned to the sound to find Susan enthusiastically hugging Ron in the far corner.

"What's all that about?" asked Hermione in a manner that implied distaste - but there was something else in her voice too.

"I imagine he's either given her herbelated birthday present or told her he's the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain."

"He is?!"

"Oh, drat! I imagine he would have wanted to tell you himself. He just found out a few minutes ago. McGonagall was here."

"And are you alright with that? I mean, you've been on the team longer."

"I'm alright with it," Harry said with a mysterious smile.

Her eyes narrowed, boring into him. "McGonagall offered it to you first, didn't she?"

"How the-?! Good God, Hermione, if you weren't a witch, I would accuse you of being a witch. You are scary sometimes. Please don't tell Ron."

"Of course I won't. Why did you turn it down?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't want to turn the game into a job, and besides, Ron deserves it."

Another shriek sounded from the corner and again Susan hugged Ron and kissed him about the face while something golden swung from her right fist.

"And that would be the birthday present," commented Harry.

Hermione responded darkly, "Looks like Ron is having a great birthday, too bad it's yours."

"I'm doing okay. I'm glad for the distraction. Remember, I didn't want a big fuss made. Are you okay?"

"Of course I am. I - Oh look, Ginny and Dean are back!"

Harry turned to look where Hermione had nodded and saw the two entering the room. Both looked happier than when they had left. Harry saw Ginny and Hermione share a look, and then Ginny wiped at her mouth as if it were dirty or wet and waved it away. Hermione barked a short laugh. Harry had to bite his own back or else the ingenious witch by his side would no doubt be onto him. Dean looked much more relaxed than he had and made for the table of food.

Harry cleared his throat to make sure there was no laugh lurking to escape. "So what's going on there?"

"If I'm not mistaken, Ginny and Dean have just broken up."

"Oh, pity." Harry thought he had sounded cool enough on the matter, but Hermione slowly turned her head with a questioning look.

Harry looked away from her, which just so happened to be towards the kitchen, inspiring an out for his discomfort. "I was going to go ask to Mrs. Weasley if she needed help in the kitchen. You want to come too?"

Looking past his shoulder she responded, "Not yet. There's Luna. I need to ask her about practice tomorrow."

"Right. Later then."

Mrs. Weasley refused to let Harry help so he mingled as best he could. The guests continued to arrive until even the enlarged Great Room of the 'Weasley Castle' was crowded. All the Weasleys, except Percy, were there. Even Charlie was in from the Continent. Bill had brought Fleur who was thrilled to see Harry again. Several members of the Order had shown up, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Tonks, Mundingus Fletcher, Moody, and Professor Lupin had stayed for the party as well. Besides Hermione, Neville, Luna, Dean, and Susan, a few other Hogwarts students also showed including the rest of the remaining Gryffindor Quidditch team, Katie, Andrew, and Jack.

Andrew and Jack had cornered Harry and were talking excitedly about the coming Quidditch season.

"- rubbish last year, but we've been practicing hard. I mean we were just subbing for Fred and George and really weren't prepared for being on the house team."

"Right you are, Jack. That drill you came up with for us batting a Muggle football back and forth was brilliant. We weren't worth a half knutwhen we started but now we can keep the thing in the air for hours. I think Bludgers will actually be easier as they are supposed to fly. Then of course there's my new broom -"

Harry smiled and nodded amiably, but stopped paying attention when he saw Ron approach Dean. He cringed inwardly. There was no telling what was about to happen. When it came to Ginny, Harry was convinced Ron was completely unstable, despite his improvements in every other area of behavior. Dean smiled broadly as he turned to face Ron. To Harry's absolute shock, instead of punching Dean, Ron also smiled and took Dean's hand in a lively shake. Harry let out the breath he had not realized he had been holding. He excused himself from the Beaters' conversation, much to their disappointment.

He approached Ron and Dean slowly, still fearful of a sneak attack by Ron on Dean. Both his roommates turned to greet him. The air was completely free of tension. Harry relaxed further.

Dean extended his hand to Harry. "Hey, Harry. I haven't wished you a Happy Birthday yet."

"Thanks, Dean. Everything alright here?Having a good time?"

"Brilliant! Thanks. Ron was just telling me about being named captain of the team. I - Oh, bugger, Harry, I'm sorry. I suppose you don't want to hear about that do you?" Harry predicted he would have to get used to the looks of sympathy such as Dean was giving him.

Harry smiled at Dean and then over to Ron. "Why wouldn't I? I'm very happy for Ron. Best thing that could have happened for the team really. It's going to be a great year. No more Umbridge. No more Quidditch ban. Professor Lupin will be back."

Ron spoke excitedly, "Professor Lupin'scoming back?! That's excellent. How did he manage that?"

"He has the backing of no less than the Minister of Magic on the matter," stated Harry in an important, almost Percy-like manner.

"Susan hasn't said anything about it. I'll have to thank her." Ron looked over to Susan, who happened to be giggling away with Ginny, apparently discussing Susan's robes.

Dean looked that direction as well. "Mm, thank her for me too. She looks quite thankable."

"Easy there, Dean. That's my girlfriend, you know." There was no anger in Ron's voice. He actually seemed to enjoy someone coveting something of his.

Dean chuckled. "Well, I told you to thank her for me. I didn't offer to do it myself."

Ron laughed in return. "Bloody good thing too -- you and Ginny might not be together anymore, but that doesn't mean you can have a go at my girlfriend."

"You're not with Ginny anymore? When did this happen?" Harry had decided to play dumb with this information.

"Earlier today. We both felt it was better to just be friends."

"Oh, pity." Harry again tried to sound cool and thought he did a better job of it than he had with Hermione, but for some reason Ron gave him a gentle nudge with his elbow. Harry looked at him curiously, and Ron looked back as if he was trying to get some silent point across.

Dean broke the silence with a gasp. "Oh Lord! Is that Hermione?! She - She's gorgeous. When did that happen?"

Ron responded forebodingly, "Hey Dean, don't you think you ought to give it a rest? You did just break up with my sister. Today in fact, remember?"

Dean kept staring at Hermione, who was chatting with Luna. "Ginny and I are friends. It's not like either of us is pining away for the other. I'm going to go say hi to Hermione. I mean can you believe how great she looks? Catch you guys later."

Ron stood silent for a moment staring daggers at Dean's back. "That bastard!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "What's your problem with him now?"

Ron pointed angrily. "He just dumped my sister, and now he's after her best friend?"

"He didn't dump your sister. They ended it mutually and amicably. Hermione does look great. She's going to attract that sort of attention now, and probably even more so when we get back to school. Better get used to it."

Ron fixed Harry with a disbelieving stare. He was clearly not happy that Harry was so accepting of the situation. "But - I mean - It's just that - Hey! Do you fancy her?"

Harry gave an exasperated snort. "Haven't we covered this already? No. I don't."

Ron shook his head and started to turn away. "Right then. I'm going to find Susan. Later, Harry."

Harry rubbed at his eyes, feeling a headache coming on.

"Are you okay?"

Harry moved his hands to see a concerned Ginny looking at him. "Fine. Your brother is truly a monumental piece of work."

She smirked. "All my brothers are, but I assume you're talking about Ron?"

"Yeah, I am."

"What's he done now?"

"Uh - Hmm -" The headache was growing by the uncomfortable second. If Ron is upset about Dean being attracted to Hermione then how badly will Ginny take it?

Since she wasn't getting an answer out of Harry she looked around the room to find Ron who was sitting near Susan but looking elsewhere. She followed his gaze and saw Dean talking closely with Hermione.

Ginny shrugged and turned back to Harry. "Sorry about earlier."

"Uh, earlier?"

"The business on the stairs."

"Oh that. Don't worry about it. I don't understand what was so funny though."

"I suppose you had to see it from my vantage. That look of utter horror on your face was priceless. Is the thought of being married to me really so horrible?"

"I'm sixteen today. The thought of being married to anyone is really so horrible."

"I suppose I can accept that."

"If it helps though, it is slightly less horrible considering you as the bride."

"Gee, thanks."

Mrs. Weasley's voice interrupted them, "Alright, everyone time to eat!"

The guests all took their assigned seats and began dining right away. Considering the cook was Molly Weasley, the food was plentiful and delicious. Ron's mood had improved greatly as the seating arrangements prevented Dean from being near Hermione. Dean had been seated next to Ginny as her mother had not heard the news about the recent break up. Ginny and Dean did not seemed put out by the arrangement and chatted away with each other happily. Harry's own mood was not improved by his placement at the head of the table but he resolved not to dampen the mood of the table with his uneasiness. The general feeling of the table was festive and the meal passed quickly into short speeches of congratulations to Harry for his birthday, Ron for his Captaincy, and Professor Lupin for his new/old job at Hogwarts.

After dinner, the gifts came in an avalanche and Harry was overwhelmed with the generosity of everyone. Hermione, unsurprisingly, had gone the book route and given him a book on Legilimencyand Occulmency and a study guide for NEWTs with emphasis towards courses required for Aurors. The Order members presented him with an official Auror training manual. Mrs. Weasley did not bother to hide her displeasure regarding this gift, or Hermione's book on the same subject. Ron had bought him a hard case for his Firebolt which was magically expanded inside to hold a set of practice Quidditchrobes, which Ron had also supplied. The robes were charmed to change colors to the wearer's preference of professional teams. Ron had left them in the orange of the Cannons. The case was also charmed to clean its contents. Ron made a comment about getting one for himself, now that he was Captain. The Quidditch team presented Harry with a set of actual Gryffindor robes, explaining that he would be able to keep these when he graduated. There were suspicious, broken threads in the general shape of a 'C' on the left breast. A questioning eyebrow at Katie caused her to turn beat red and look away.

With all the Quidditch gifts, the after dinner conversation naturally evolved in that direction. Ron was talking excitedly to anyone who would listen about his plans for the coming season. As Harry listened to the litany of Ron's plans, he reaffirmed to himself that he had made the right choice not accepting the position, but wondered whether he would regret suggesting Ron in his stead.

Behind him, Harry overheard an echo of his thoughts as Fred whispered to George, "Blimey, listen to Ron go on. He'll be worse than Wood and a bloody prefect to boot. If he gets to be Head Boy, he'll be as unbearable as Percy ever was."

There was a short pause and the twins answered the fear in unison, "Nah."

Harry chuckled to himself and turned to look at Ron. His view was blocked by the sizable bodies of Jack and Andrew, who were rapturously hanging on Ron's every word. Harry turned a bit more and was able to catch Ron's reflection in the same glass of the clock he had used as a mirror on the stairs. Harry heard just a bit of what Ron was saying about his training regime, and how if they followed it, the Cup was theirs.

Looking at Ron in the reflection and hearing him talk about the Quidditch Cup, Harry remembered back to his first year when he had dragged Ron to look into the Mirror of Erised. It seemed that all of Ron's deepest desires were coming true. He was a prefect, which made being Head Boy quite possible. He was now the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, and Harry thought they had a great shot at winning the Cup again. Everything Ron had seen in the Mirror was now his or within reach. It had seemed so impossible to Ron back then. Harry smiled and felt genuine happiness for his best friend.

But then the smile fell from his face, and he looked down into his empty hands as he remembered what he had seen for himself. His parents and all of his relatives had been standing behind him and smiling with unconditional love. That dream was impossible. In fact, with Sirius gone, it was even further away now. A wave of melancholy washed over him, and he shut his eyes tight to stop the moisture that seemed to be growing against his will. He clenched his hands into tight fists trying to will away his emotions. Mr. Weasley'sloud laughter caused him to look up. The older man caught Harry's eye and winked with a smile. Harry nodded back solemnly. Next to her husband, Mrs. Weasley held up a plate containing a huge slice of cake for him. Harry shook his head to refuse the offer and continued to look around the room. He saw many more faces, all wishing him well.

He stood and walked over to the clock. In its glass, he saw his reflection. Behind him, he watched the two dozen or so people milling about the room, all there for his birthday. The room was noisy with sounds of laughter, warm conversations, and music. The ghostly reflections of the party guest showed many instances of hugging and handshaking. These people were truly happy to be in each other's company - and to be in his company, no matter how foul his mood.

Harry had no idea how long he had been standing there before Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked up behind him to either side, looking very worried. Mr. Weasley spoke, "Are you okay, Harry? You didn't look very good a moment ago."

Harry smiled, really smiled, as he realized that, though there were some absences that he would always miss, he had his dream from the Mirror too.

"I've never been better."