Child of Hogwarts: Part I

Chapter Ten - A Birthday Party

CHAPTER TEN

A Birthday Party

At dinner the following evening, Dumbledore and McGonagall surprised Harry by asking what he would like to do for his twelfth birthday. Harry looked up at them from his plate of stew, thrown by their interest.

'Er – what day is it today?' he asked.

Snape, who was seated across from Harry tonight, gave him a slightly mocking sneer and answered immediately. 'Thursday.'

Harry frowned at him, but did not dare roll his eyes. 'I meant, professor,' he said in a voice of forced politeness, 'What is today's date?'

'It is the 30th of July, Harry,' the headmaster put in, before Snape could retort.

Harry was surprised. The summer had flown since he'd been at Hogwarts. He gave a little shrug, spooning his stew around. 'I don't mind, sir,' he said to Dumbledore. 'I don't really need to do anything special.'

Dumbledore and McGonagall both looked highly scandalised. Harry didn't quite understand their concern – after all, his birthday had hardly been a cause for great celebration in the past. He'd never had a party, or indeed even a birthday cake. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had always celebrated Dudley's birthday with even more attention and fanfare than Christmas morning, but Harry would probably not have even known when his birthday was if they hadn't had to memorise them in year two of Muggle primary school.

'Of course we'll do something to celebrate!' McGonagall said immediately. 'It's not every day you turn twelve, Harry,' she added with a smile. Snape looked like he might sick up his stew. He coughed noisily, fumbling for his wine and taking several bracing swallows.

'Goodness, Severus, are you feeling quite well?' Dumbledore asked politely from across the table. Severus shot him a dirty look from behind his goblet.

'Perfectly well, thank you, headmaster,' he replied in clipped tones. Harry hid his smile with another bite of stew. Dumbledore winked at him.

'So, Harry,' the headmaster said, turning in his chair, 'What would you like to do? We could have a bit of a party in the grounds, or you could have a few friends to the castle if you'd like.'

Harry brightened immediately, thinking of his two best friends. He had owled back and forth with Ron and Hermione, but he really would like to see them. He didn't want to put the headmaster or Professor McGonagall to any trouble... but they both seemed to want him to do something special for his birthday.

'Would it be alright if Ron and Hermione came to visit, sir?' he asked tentatively. 'We wouldn't be any trouble – I promise.'

Dumbledore smiled, nodding cheerily. 'Of course, Harry. I think that would be more than satisfactory. I'll floo Molly and Arthur straight after dinner, and perhaps they can arrange for Ms Granger to travel from their home with Mr Weasley tomorrow morning. You can all spend the night in Gryffindor Tower, if you'd like.'

Harry nodded eagerly. 'That would be great, sir, if it isn't too much trouble.'

'It is no trouble at all, Harry,' Dumbledore assured him.

Harry dug into his chocolate gateau with vigour, excited at the prospect of seeing Ron and Hermione for his birthday.

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Albus smiled at the excitement on Harry's face. He'd barely been able to keep from skipping down the corridor as he walked back to the study with Albus and Minerva, already excitedly plotting activities for his day with his friends. Minerva left them on the third landing to see to Gryffindor Tower, which had been closed up for a month as was custom during the summer holiday. She advised Harry to get a good night's sleep, still a little anxious that it was only a few days since he'd been ill, and quietly told Albus to make sure the child went to bed at a reasonable hour.