Harry's Birthday Surprise

Hermione sat alone in Ginny's bedroom, watching Hedwig fly farther and farther into the sky. Worry gnawed at her heart. Would the letter arrive without interception? Had it given anything away? How would Harry react? This last thought made her heart flip-flop. Harry.

Hermione remembered the look in Harry's eyes during the last few days of term. The rare times he had actually allowed eye contact, Hermione could see his well of grief, and it shattered her heart. She wanted to say something, do something to ease his suffering. Even then she knew her feelings for him were changing.

When Hedwig became nothing more than a formless dot in the sky, Hermione pushed herself away from the small window. For most of the summer so far, she had been staying at the Burrow. Now that the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, had given full recognition to the return of Voldemort, his administration was supporting Dumbledore and his army, the Order of the Phoenix. Fudge had set the Order up in a secret location, which was rumored to be very large and efficient and also very hidden. Neither Hermione nor Ron nor Ginny could figure out where the headquarters were. Try as they might, they couldn't strain their ears enough to hear the middle-of-the-night whispers between Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. Of course Extendable Ears were strictly forbidden, and, sadly, unavailable without a trip to the twin's new shop in Hogsmeade.

If truth be told, they were almost relieved not to be able to hear anything much. Their trip into the Ministry of Magic had been horrific and deadly. They weren't too eager to meddle with the Order's affairs so soon.

"I know what we can do!" Ginny said brightly on the second week of holiday. The others turned their weary faces to her.

"Let's throw Harry a real, loud, birthday party." Her face was glowing. Hermione saw Ron open his mouth to protest, but she jumped ahead of him.

"What a wonderful idea, Gin! That would be loads of fun. Don't you think so Ron?" She could see Ron slowly changing his mind. He seemed to want to do whatever Hermione wanted to do lately. It was another thing that worried her.

"Dunno. Do you think Harry will be...up for something like that? I mean, with Sirius and all?" Ginny's face fell. But Hermione snapped in her bossy tone,

"It's just the thing for him! He needs his mind off his troubles. He needs to see what it feels like to be a normal, sixteen year old wizard!"

Ginny smiled at her and nodded. "Exactly."

"Okay, now...Ron, I think you should be in charge of refreshments..."

The party was in full preparation now, and Hermione felt herself becoming more nervous than ever. Would her stomach still flop over every time Harry settled his green gaze upon her? Would she still feel the need to restrain herself from grabbing him by that impossible black hair and snog him to death? Hermione felt her cheeks burn to the tips of her ears.

"Mione?" She wheeled around at the sound of her name being called.

"Oh, hi Ron." He stood there, in the doorway, holding two large cases of butterbeer. He had grown even taller if possible, but his muscles had started to fill out, making him look solid, older. When her brown eyes met his, it was his turn to blush.

"Erm, I just got these. For Harry's party, you know." Hermione smiled and nodded, quite glad to know Ron could not read her mind as visions of kissing Harry flashed across it once more.

"Anyway, I was wondering," Ron continued, shifting the boxes in his arms. "Do you...would you like to come downstairs with me? To put these away, I mean?" He had reached a shade of scarlet now as he stammered.

"Sure Ron. I'll be there in a minute." He smiled at her.

As she waited a moment to join his footsteps on the stairs, Hermione knew that whatever happened, this was going to be quite an interesting summer.