Harry Potter Breaking The Chains

"Tonks, I'm hurt," Harry responded clutching at his heart. "Here I am on my birthday, and you were content just to follow along in the shadows without coming out to wish me a happy day. I don't know if I'll ever recover."

"Harry, you prat, you know I'm not allowed to reveal myself like that," Tonks retorted, swinging a punch at his shoulder.

"Oh yes, heaven forbid you break protocol," Harry teased.

"What's got you so chipper this morning?" Tonks asked.

"Why it's my birthday, my dear Tonks. Need I any other excuse?" Harry asked feigning hurt.

"So you think that since it's your birthday you can just go and do whatever you want?" Tonks questioned.

"More or less," Harry returned brightly.

"Alright, I'll let you get away with your fun just this once," she relented. "How did you spot me, anyway?"

"Oh I've known you've been following me for weeks. I've been keeping my eyes open and my ears too," Harry grinned. "I've thought about springing a trap on you for awhile now, and today seemed like just the right day to go for it."

"Moody would be so proud," the young auror mock praised.

"As well he should be," Harry said pompously, puffing out his chest, doing his best impression of Percy as he talked about his job. He shifted gears and asked her seriously, "So how have you been, Tonks?"

"I don't know," she started, then paused. "It's been a hard month. I've been worried mostly, I guess, for you and Remus and everyone. I miss Sirius, but I never got a chance to know him very well. Sure he and my mom were cousins, but he was in jail for half of my life. I have a couple memories of him from when I was younger, then the past year. A death of anyone you know will always hit you hard."

"I know what you mean," Harry replied gravely. "The truth of the matter is that I didn't know him that well either. I mean, I only had the past two years, and even those were mostly just sporadic letters. I only had half of last summer and the Christmas holidays at headquarters to really be with him. That was it." Tonks put a hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Harry gave her a sad smile in return. "It didn't really make it easier though. It only made me regret that we didn't get more time together and wish that there was some way for it to change."

"You just have to keep in mind all that you still have," Tonks interjected. "You've got a lot of people that care about you, Harry. You may not get along with your relatives, but you've still got a family, just not in blood."

"Yeah, you're right." Harry's full smile returned. "I've still got a lot to live for. Remus is the one I'm really worried about. He lost everybody once before, and now he's lost Sirius for the second time only two years after getting him back. I wish there was something more I could do for him."

"You're a good kid, Harry," Tonks said fondly. "You and Remus are good for each other. But don't you worry; I'm keeping my eye on him too. If he thinks he can get away with moping about, he's got another thing coming."

"Thanks Tonks. It's good to know someone's looking out for him."

"You can count on me, Harry," she said, flashing him a dazzling smile.

"Well, should we continue our morning jog?" Harry finally asked.

"After you," she replied.

Harry handed her back the invisibility cloak and turned to continue his jog when her voice caught him "Oh, and Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Happy birthday!"

"Thanks." He gave her a bright smile before turning back and jogging away. Tonks slipped the cloak back over her head after making sure no one was watching. After a moment she continued after him.

Harry finished his jog and regular workout routine with a spring in his step. As he came back up to his room, he was greeted by a handful of owls bearing various parcels. Harry quickly went around relieving each owl of its burden. He offered each owl a treat and some water before finally turning to his small pile of packages.

Pig had delivered a present from Ron with a note attached. It was a short note wishing him a happy birthday and apologizing for getting mad at him for writing to Ginny. In a generous mood, Harry decided to forgive and forget and made a note to write a thank you to Ron. His friend had sent him a box of chocolate frogs and a poster of the Chudley Canons. Harry shook his head at his friend. Ron was utterly devoted to the Canons and seemed intent on making sure Harry was the same way.

An unfamiliar owl had brought him a somewhat weighty rectangular package with a note attached. Harry opened the letter first and found Hermione's script on the page. She had wished him a happy birthday and told him that she hoped her present would help him. He tore open the packaging and, unsurprisingly, unearthed a book and a pamphlet. The book made him grin while the pamphlet caused him to huff in annoyance. The book she sent was to help him out with the magical contract for the DA. "The 5 Stages of Grief" pamphlet made Harry want to yell out in frustration. How could Hermione think a stupid little booklet would help in a situation like this?

Remembering his earlier vow to himself, he decided not to let it get to him and moved onto the next package. Another unfamiliar owl delivered a present from Remus. The note he sent asked him to meet him in the park today at 3:00. His former professor had sent him a book on defense and a wizarding photograph of himself, James, and Sirius. 'The true marauders,' Harry thought to himself. The photo was housed in a plane wooden frame. He decided to look up a charm to do engravings. He rather liked the title he had thought up.

A Hogwarts owl came bearing a gift from his half-giant friend, Hagrid. Harry hoped that Hagrid hadn't sent him any homemade food again. His friend meant well, but his food always ended up winning the battle against Harry's teeth. Harry tore open the package to find a dagger. He reckoned it was about a ten inch blade and had a dragon theme to it. A dragon coiled itself around the hilt of the small blade; its eyes sparkled with red sapphires. The sheath also had carvings of dragons on it. Hagrid always did love dragons.

Harry smiled at the gift. It was unconventional, sure, but it wouldn't have been a gift from Hagrid if it was normal. He didn't know how much use he'd get out of it, but Harry rather liked the gift. He looked at the note that was sent along with it written in Hagrid's messy scrawl. He had wished Harry a happy birthday and told him not to let his relatives bother him. He said that he had an interesting term lined up for the students this year which made Harry cringe. Hagrid's idea of interesting generally meant life-threatening to everyone else.

Errol had brought a package from Mrs. Weasley. Her cooking was legendary, and Harry was not disappointed to find homemade fudge and a small cake. Harry set it aside for the moment. After he opened all his presents he would put it in the fridge in his trunk to preserve the food.

The twins had also sent him an owl with a box full of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes products. Harry decided to hold off opening any of those just yet. He didn't fancy having anything explode in his face just yet. They had sent him a letter wishing him a happy birthday and telling him about their business plans. They were apparently opening a shop in Diagon Alley in September. They told him that as their financial supporter, Harry would own 10 of the company. Harry resolved to write them back to tell them that 10 was too much. If he thought they'd let him, he would have tried to talk them out of giving any of the company to him, but he knew he wouldn't get away with it, so he decided to try to talk them down to 5 instead.

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