Harry and Ron were already digging through the pile of presents at the foot of Harry’s bed when Mrs. Weasley stuck her head through their bedroom door.
“Happy birthday!” she chirped. “Do you like them?”
Harry had just discovered a pair of newly knit socks in the Gryffindor colors of maroon and gold.
“Thanks, Mrs. Weasley,” he smiled appreciatively at her.
A pleased grin spread over her face. “Everyone is downstairs waiting for the two of you. This is the most important birthday you’ll have, Harry, and it should be celebrated properly.”
“We’ll be right down, Mum,” Ron assured her.
She nodded and closed the door.
“You think I could wish for Voldemort’s agonizing death and be done with it?” Harry asked Ron.
Ron chuckled. He’d obviously gotten used to Voldemort’s name, probably thanks to Hermione.
“If only. But at least you’re finally of age.”
“Yeah,” replied Harry apathetically, continuing to look through the presents.
Ron and Hermione had pitched in together to get him new Quidditch gloves, in hopes that it would persuade him to return to Hogwarts. Harry shook his head at Ron and he frowned in disappointment. Ginny had given him an album of clippings from all of the newspapers that had been hailing him as a hero. There was a large box of Pumpkin Pasties from Lupin and Tonks. Hagrid had sent over a package of rock cakes. And, of course, the twins had been quite generous, sending over loads of treats from Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes. The Dursleys had even sent something, but Harry found that it was only the Quidditch Through the Ages book that he’d left in his room at Privet Drive.
Downstairs in the kitchen, a lavish celebratory breakfast awaited Harry. He and Ron entered to a chorus of birthday greetings. They joined Hermione and Ginny around the table, Harry smiling at the room at large.
Harry noticed Malfoy and his mother at the far end of the table. Malfoy looked very unenthusiastic about all of this birthday business. He had always hated when Harry had gotten attention. Of course, so had Harry himself.
However, Malfoy’s discontentment delighted Harry, so he would enjoy this birthday as noticeably as possible.
“The food looks great, Mrs. Weasley,” he said loudly.
“Thank you, dear,” she smiled.
Luci came into the room a few moments later. As she passed Harry, she put a hand on top of his head and said cheerily, “Happy birthday, Harry.”
It was as if her touch had sent warmth trickling down his entire body. He grinned up at her and he wanted to say, “Thank you,” but the words somehow got lost on the way to his mouth.
She returned his smile and went to sit beside Malfoy, who was still shooting murderous glances in Harry’s direction. The two of them instantly started bickering about something, but Harry couldn’t hear their voices over the festive chatter around him.
The food didn’t only look great, but it tasted great too. Mrs. Weasley had really gone all out for Harry’s seventeenth birthday. He’d also received more presents than he ever had on any single occasion in his life.
During the evening, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting in the drawing room together. Hermione was attempting to put together a map for Harry that would guide him to his parent’s house in Godric’s Hollow and then to Voldemort’s orphanage. She had reminded Harry that he could have looked in various history books to find the location of Godric’s Hollow, and even the exact spot whereon the house sat, if he’d only made the effort.
At present, she was sporadically sighing in frustration, but when Harry and Ron offered to help, she growled at them that they would only make things worse. So they were playing a game of hangman instead.
There was a soft rap on the frame of the door, which stood open.
They turned to see Luci, who looked very small in the overly large doorframe. Harry’s heart did a somersault.
“Sorry,” she said. “A late birthday present.” She held out a small black box.
Harry stood and, feeling more lightheaded than the situation warranted, came over to take the box from her.
His hand brushed hers and he felt goose bumps erupt all along his arm.
“What is it?”
She shrugged. “I’m just the messenger.” But there was definitely a twinkle in her eye.
Harry felt a ridiculous rush of disappointment at the realization that this gift wasn’t from her.
“Thanks.”
“Happy birthday… again,” smiled Luci, and then she was gone from the doorway.
“Well, let’s see it,” said Ron, when Harry was seated again.
Hermione watched as Harry began to open the box. “Maybe you’d better not, Harry.”
“Why not?”
“It could be anything… from, well… anybody.”
“It’s fine,” Harry sighed.
With Ron and Hermione watching curiously, he opened the small box. Inside, they found a large, rather unique key. Harry picked it up to examine it. It was scarlet in color, with an ornate handle shaped like a phoenix. He turned it over in his hand. There were no engravings or anything that might tell Harry what this key would unlock.
“Is that a phoenix?” asked Ron, leaning in to get a better look.
Harry nodded.
“What does it unlock?” asked Hermione.
“No idea.” Harry turned it over again, studying the handle.
Ron frowned. “No instructions?”
“Nothing,” Harry replied.
The three of them tried a few spells on it. It did nothing and told them nothing. Finally, they gave it up as a bad job, and Harry returned it to its box and slipped it into his pocket.
“Guess you’ll just have to ask Luci about it,” shrugged Ron.
“Guess so,” Harry agreed.
Hermione still seemed deep in thought and very mistrustful of this present.
Harry tried to concentrate on his game with Ron, but he couldn’t get the mysterious birthday gift out of his mind.
Eventually, Hermione said, “Harry, I don’t know where your parents are buried.”
Harry looked up. “There’s nothing in the books?”
Hermione shook her head. “No, sorry.”
With a sigh, Harry replied, “Hagrid knows. Will you get it out of him?”
Ron and Hermione nodded.
Just then, Ginny sauntered into the room. Hermione hastily handed the finished map to Harry and announced that she was going to bed.
“Me too,” agreed Ron.
“It’s a bit early, isn’t it?” Harry asked them.
“Not at all,” replied Hermione, though she seemed a bit flustered by this question.
Then she hurried from the room, Ron close behind her, calling, “Good night!”
This left Harry and Ginny alone in the drawing room. It was the first time that they’d been alone since Harry had called things off. For some reason, it felt as if there was a cloud of awkwardness floating over their heads.
Harry had stuffed the map into his pocket and Ginny had sat down beside him, in the chair that has previously occupied Ron.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Harry cleared his throat.
“How was your summer?”
He knew they’d already discussed their summers. That was a stupid question.
“Missed you.”
Harry grinned. “Yeah.”
Neither of them said anything for a moment.
Then, Harry began, “Listen, Ginny, I need to tell you something.”
She looked up at him.
“I’ve got to go visit my parents’ old house, so I’ll be a bit late getting back to Hogwarts.”
Ginny’s face contorted in surprise. “Why?”
“It’s just something that I need to do.”
“By yourself?” she asked, concern evident in her voice. “But… what if…”
Harry smiled teasingly. “Are you worried about me?”
“Of course, I am,” she pouted.
He put his hand over hers. “I’ll be careful.”
Ginny gave him a doubtful look.
“I promise. And I won’t be gone long.”
She nodded in accord, and then she leaned over the table and kissed Harry softly.
He looked at her in surprise.
“I know we can’t be together,” she said quietly. “But I just needed to do that one more time.”
Harry nodded, but he wasn’t sure how to respond.
“Night, Harry,” said Ginny, and she left the room.
Harry sat alone in the drawing room for the rest of the evening, studying Hermione’s map. Before going to bed, he tried to find Luci to ask her about the key, but he was told by Tonks that she had gone out. When he had asked where to, Tonks had changed the subject.
The morning of the Apparition examinations had finally arrived. For their continued safety, Wilkie Twycross was coming to Grimmauld Place to test Harry, Ron, and Malfoy.
Malfoy seemed to believe that taking the test alongside Harry and Ron was somehow degrading.
“Think your luck will see you through this one, Potter? We all know you can’t rely on talent.”
On their way to the drawing room, where they were to be tested, Harry and Ron had met Malfoy on the landing.
“Shut up,” snarled Ron.
Malfoy snickered. “Can’t stand up for yourself, I see.”
Harry narrowed his eyes. “Now if you thought that was true, Malfoy, you’d have the guts to face me alone, but you never have, have you? Are you lonely without your mates? I’m sure Crabbe and Goyle are lonely without you.”
Malfoy let out a low hiss and began to retrieve his wand.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Harry felt his heartbeat increase significantly, and it had nothing to do with Malfoy and his wand.
The three of them turned to see Luci approaching.
She addressed Malfoy. “I leave you alone for one second and you pick a fight with Harry?”
Malfoy glowered. “How do you know he didn’t start it?”
Luci glanced sideways at Harry and then looked back at Malfoy.
“Did he?”
Frowning, Malfoy replied, “I’m tired of you babysitting me!”
“Yeah, well, whose fault is it that you need a babysitter?” she reminded him.
He glared at her. “I hate being here.”
Luci’s expression softened and she said gently, “I know you do.”
She paused, looking up at him, and continued, “But shall we discuss the alternative?”
Malfoy recoiled at this question and gave her a defeated look.
“Behave,” she said playfully to the three of them, and then said softly to Malfoy, “And go pass your test.”
Then she started up to the second landing, where her room was located. Harry watched her go, his head filled with what seemed a bit like fog.
A few minutes later, the three boys, along with their instructor, were standing in the drawing room. In front of each of the students stood a large ring, the same as the ones they’d used at Hogwarts for practice.
“Now then,” said Twycross, clearing his throat. “We’ll go one at a time, and I’m sure I’ll be issuing three licenses this afternoon.” He smiled encouragingly.
Then, gesturing to Ron, he said, “Go ahead, Mr. Weasley.”
The others looked at him expectantly. The presence of Malfoy seemed to derail Ron quite a bit.
Clearing his throat, Ron closed his eyes. Malfoy coughed obnoxiously.
Ron’s eyes shot open. He threw a scowl at Malfoy and then closed them again, trying to concentrate.
He had just disappeared when Malfoy gave another loud cough. This caused Ron to reappear, without his left leg, in the ring in front of him. He toppled over. Malfoy laughed aloud.
“Now, Mr. Malfoy, please refrain yourself,” Twycross scolded impatiently, as he righted the problem.
Once he was back on his feet, Ron was allowed to try again.
This time, he succeeded. Harry clapped him on the back encouragingly, while Malfoy glared.
Twycross was making notes on a clipboard. “Well done,” he commented to Ron, who was grinning happily.
Next, it was Harry’s turn. Twycross told Ron that he was excused, but Ron said that he’d stay until Harry had passed as well.
Harry, feeling suddenly nervous, stared at the center of the ring.
“Cold feet, Potter?”
Harry met Malfoy’s gaze.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Malfoy sneered back in response.
“Don’t forget “ you’re only here because I allow it,” said Harry, casually.
Malfoy scoffed. “That’s what you think.”
Harry gave him a questioning look, but Malfoy just continued to sneer.
Glaring, then turning away, Harry concentrated on the ring once again.
After a moment, he felt himself being pulled into that narrow tube. Almost immediately, he emerged, gasping for air. But he wasn’t inside of the ring. In fact, he didn’t know where he was.