Eventually the house elf promised by Augusta popped up and they made their way into the informal dining room. Harry saw that Augusta was with an elderly man and Harry assumed that this was Neville's famous uncle Algie. Looking at the table, Harry saw that a large arrangement of party nibbles had been set up with plates and the children were told to help themselves buffet style. Harry was happy to see such a large selection and picked a few different sandwiches to try, as well as salad and cakes.
After the food was cleared, the presents were passed out. Neville opened Susan's present first and saw that she had bought him a book on medicinal uses of Herbology and a child's medi-wizard kit. Although slightly practical, Harry could see that Neville loved the book; he had remembered in his last life how the boy had at one point bemoaned how he didn't have any skills apart from Herbology, which is wrongly considered useless by many.
Harry's present came next. Opening in the gift-wrapped box, Neville looked confused before he read the card Harry had written and added, "Wow, Harry, these are great!" He looked at the ball with renewed wonder now that he knew what it was.
Harry smiled. "Well, this way we can talk all the time, even at Hogwarts," he said.
The girls looked at the note and ooh'd and ahh'd once they understood what the crystal orb was.
Neville moved on and opened Hannah's gift; she had bought the box a rare hybrid plant, a miniature pineapple-apple tree. Once grown, it would never be over four feet tall, and the fruits would be the size of golf ball at largest.
"Thank you," Neville said, looking slightly overwhelmed by the sheer fact he had not only friends, but friends who knew him and what he liked.
"It's okay Neville, that's what friends are for," Harry said, pulling Neville into a one-armed hug.
"Yeah Nev, I'm just happy you liked my present. I thought it was too practical," Susan said, smiling.
"Honestly, it's great," Neville stroking the cover of the book.
said, Augusta, who had been watching, smiled at the children. "Thank you all for making the day special," she said. "Now, I do believe it's time for birthday cake."
Singing happy birthday to Neville, Harry was surprised that the day had passed so quickly. He had an hour before Sirius or Remus would arrive to collect him. Spending the remainder of the time playing a few games of exploding snap, Harry was happy to have seen his friends. He had missed them, even though they were so young in comparison to him - at least mentally - Harry found he still liked them and enjoyed their company.
~ Meanwhile at Grimmauld Place
"Have you noticed anything off with Harry?" Remus asked, thinking about the boy's complex emotions.
Sirius hummed. He had forgiven Remus for his part in his incarceration and loved the man like a brother, but if it came down to it, he would always pick Harry. The boy was his son for all intents and purposes. When he blood-adopted him as part of an old magic godfather ritual James and Lily had chosen, he had developed a deep bond and love for the child. Even after being separated for so long, as soon as his magic was cleansed, that bond had flared back to life. Sure, they were still getting to know one another, but Sirius knew, no matter what, he would pick Harry. "Like what?" he asked casually, trying to keep his emotions in check as he knew, especially since being cleansed, that Remus could smell emotions on a person if he tried or if they were strong enough.
Remus caught on to how wary Sirius was. "He's the most amazing child I have ever met," Remus said, making Sirius relax slightly, "but, I don't know, I sometimes think he knows more that he should, even with his memory."
Sirius considered this. "I think that with everything he has been through, that maybe he has secrets he's not yet willing to share."
Remus smiled at how well Sirius had taken over parenting - he was instinctual. "You think he will tell us?" he asked.
"I think he wants to tell us, but he's waiting until he's ready," Sirius said, thinking about the time he had caught Harry looking at him before he realised himself and pulled away.
"You're probably right," he said, before he smirked. "You know, I saw him do a sixth-year spell perfectly the other day. Wordlessly."
Sirius snorted. "Please, I caught him wandlessly floating a book to himself. I don't think he even realised he had done it. It just zoomed to his outstretched hand when he was reading. He checked it then sent it back with a flick of his wrist." Remus felt his eyes go wide. guessing he didn't notice you?"
"I'm
"No. I think he forgets sometimes or gets distracted by whatever he's searching for."
"Searching for?" Remus asked.
"All of his books are similar: they're all Dark, but they all relate to the same branches of magic. He must be searching for something - nobody reads that much or that obsessively without a reason," Sirius said. He didn't mention the branch of Dark magic, soul magic, as he didn't want to worry Remus. He was going to have a talk with the boy soon if it continued; he may have decided to be more open with Dark magic, but soul magic was dangerous.
"How advanced do you think he really is?" Remus asked in wonder - controlled wandless magic was extremely rare. It had been in the Potter family before, but to have it you had to have a large magical core as magical abilities like wandless magic take a lot of core magic to manifest, let alone master. If Harry had done so before the age of twelve, then Remus was more than impressed, he was flabbergasted.
"Honestly, I have no idea. And I know for a fact he's trying to hide it from us, so I can't even begin to guess."
"If we keep showing him we love him no matter what, I don't think it will take him long to come to us," Remus said. "I'm just glad it wasn't just me thinking he was hiding something."
Sirius smiled, glad he still had his friend. "He'll talk when he's ready."
~
31st July 1992
For the first time in his life, Harry didn't force himself to stay awake and wish himself a happy birthday. After he had been picked up yesterday, he had been surprisingly tired and had gone to bed early to make sure he would be awake and ready for today, his first proper birthday. His friends had given him his gifts as they all left and instructed him to open them today, so Harry knew that he would definitely have presents, real presents, for the first time. In his last life, everything he had received, he realised now, probably came from his own money. He didn't doubt Remus and Sirius had gone over the top as well, so he was looking forward to a day of celebration without any strings or manipulations.
Waking up, Harry pulled on a pair of light grey denim jeans and a navy shirt. His hair was getting longer and now reached past his shoulders, so he pulled it up into a messy bun. As it was his birthday he wanted to be comfortable, not restricted by more formal clothes. It was half eight, so Harry walked down to the kitchen.
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