Eleven plus one.
Harry sat cross-legged on his bed, the soft glow of early morning filtering through the small window. The room was quiet, save for the distant sounds of the church waking up.
On his lap rested a small pile of neatly wrapped packages—gifts from his friends. He hesitated for a moment before carefully untying the first one, a small box wrapped in deep blue paper.
Inside was a collection of enchanted quills from Luna. The note attached read:
"I don’t know if you need these, but I thought they were interesting. The blue one writes in moonlight ink! Happy Birthday, Harry. —Luna"
Harry smiled, brushing his fingers over the quills before setting them aside.
The next package was from Hermione, wrapped with precise, crisp folds. He unwrapped it to reveal a book—Magical Theory: An Advanced Approach. There was a note tucked inside:
"You’re brilliant, Harry, and I thought you might like a more in-depth look at magical theory. I hope you’re having a wonderful birthday! —Hermione"
Harry chuckled. Hermione and her books.
Next was a package wrapped in messy, crinkled paper—obviously from Ron. Inside was a large box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans and a worn-out deck of wizard’s chess pieces.
"Figured you might need some practice. Don’t let the pieces boss you around too much. Happy Birthday, mate! —Ron"
Harry grinned.
The last package was smaller and wrapped in soft cloth. When he unwrapped it, he found a tiny, delicate charm on a thin leather cord. It was shaped like a raven, wings outstretched, with a smooth, polished surface.
There was no note, but something about it felt… familiar. Comforting.
Harry ran his fingers over the charm before slipping the cord around his neck.
As he leaned back against the pillows, he let out a slow breath.
For the first time in years, his birthday didn’t feel like just another day. It felt like something real.
Something that belonged to him.