Harry Potter Contest Entry

This is my entry for the Harry Potter fan fiction portion of the contest. Along with my guest judges, Abby Minard and Colene Murphy, we'll be choosing a winner either Monday or Tuesday. If you'd like to enter, just sign up at this link and make sure you get your entry posted by the end of the day.

If you entered the House Cup Giveaway, I'll be pulling winners tomorrow morning and will try to post the results sometime after that.

Thanks to everyone who entered - I'm really looking forward to reading your entries!

-- Lisa

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The Best Birthday

Ginny Potter came through the door of her home in Godric’s Hollow to find her husband lying on the couch exhausted as their three children ran screaming around the living room.

“Sorry I’m late, Harry,” she said, scooping up three-year-old Lily, who had just begun to cry after James accidentally stepped on her Pygmy Puff. “I had to file a story on the Harpies win against Ireland for tomorrow’s Prophet.”

“Not a problem,” Harry replied, taking off his glasses and rubbing his temples a bit.

“You are okay, aren’t you?” she asked as her sons James and Albus flew past her with an armload of what looked like Weasley’s Wildfire Whizbangs. “Sunday is your day to watch the kids, after all.”

Harry only replied with a weak smile and nod as he rose from the couch to survey what his son’s were doing outside.

Ginny turned and breezed into the kitchen with Lily in her arms. She was grinning from ear to ear. The surprise hadn’t been ruined.

Today was Harry’s 31st birthday and Ginny had been planning a birthday celebration for weeks.  Last year, there had been a big to-do at the Ministry. Witches and wizards from all over the world were sending gifts and good wishes for Harry Potter’s 30th birthday. That vile Rita Skeeter even ran a cover story on him. “The Boy Who Lived Turns 30” – a not-so-flattering retrospective on Harry’s life, which included some very unfair criticisms about his role as Head of the Auror Office.

Big parties, famous people, cover stories. She knew she couldn’t match something like that. The only thing she had been able to manage was to pull together a small surprise party with family and friends. Everyone was coming in from all over Britian. It was obvious that everyone had kept the secret beautifully. Not one card or gift had arrived by owl today. Even James and Albus hadn’t let it slip yet.

Ginny set Lily down and with one great swoop, pulled the invisibility cloak off a great pile of boxes on the kitchen counter. Ginny had never been very good with cooking spells, so Hermione had suggested ordering in all the food. The Three Broomsticks sent everything up from Hogsmeade this morning, so Ginny only had to cover it with the cloak and her secret was safe.

She paused for a second as heard the sound of fireworks being let off in the backyard and Harry distantly yelling at his son’s. The boys were doing their part – keeping their father busy.

“Can you help Mummy bring the food into the dining room?” Ginny asked Lily. She placed plastic bottle of pumpkin juice in the little girls hands. Lily dutifully followed her mother, who was using a hover charm to bring all the boxes to the table.

When their dinner was unwrapped and laid out, Ginny started to decorate. Now these were spells she was good at. She ran sparkling red and gold streamers all around the room and conjured some glittering lanterns to float in mid-air.

“There we go,” she said. “It looks just like the Great Hall after Gryffindor won the House Cup. Now for one last touch.”

Lily watched as her mother waved her wand over a large box. A large cake in the shape of a snitch floated out and came to rest at the center of the table.

“Pretty,” Lily said pointing to the delicious, shimmering cake.

Ginny eyed the room nervously. Would Harry like it? It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

Harry was still outside when their guests began to apparate into the house. Neville and Hannah arrived from London. Luna used a portkey to come from her travels in Sweden. Hagrid had taken the train from Hogwarts. Ron, Hermione, Rose, and Hugo only had to walk across the street to get to the house. Bill, Fleur, and Victorie came with Teddy. Mr. Weasley arrived by himself, looking a little worn down, after all, it had only been two years since Mrs. Weasley passed away. George was the last to arrive. He burst through the fireplace in a flurry of emerald green flames.

“Didn’t ruin the surprise, did I?” he asked.

“No,” Ginny replied, “luckily Harry’s still trying to track down the last of the Wildfire Whizbangs.”

“Well, you’re welcome then,” George replied. “I made sure I sent over an especially tricky batch.”

“I’m sure the neighbors will appreciate that,” Ginny smiled.

At that same moment, the back door burst open.

“Found the last of them,” Harry called into the house, as James and Albus ran in after him.

“Surprise!” everyone yelled as Harry rounded the corner and saw them all standing in his dining room.

The look on Harry’s face made Ginny doubt for minute whether or throwing the surprise party had been the right thing. His eyes were locked on the lot of them and he appeared to be in complete shock.

After a minute, Ron blurted out, “Blimey, Harry, did we scare you to death?”

Harry finally broke into a smile. “No, it’s just that… well, I thought you had all forgot my birthday.”

“Oh, Harry,” Hermione said, moving forward to hug him. “You really can be very dense sometimes.”

Harry went around with a huge grin on his face, hugging and shaking hands. When she finally came to Ginny he kissed her and said, “I suppose this was all your doing.”

“Do you like it?” she asked anxiously.

“Of course,” he replied. “It’s my best birthday ever.”