Happy Birthday, Harry!

A book lies wrapped up in someone's arm. He seemed to have fallen asleep after reading the book. The cover revealed that it was "Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone". There were signs of tear stains on the pillow cases. He had clearly cried in his sleep.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Harry! Harry! Harry! Wake up! Time to make breakfast. Don't make me repeat myself!"

An irritated woman's voice could be heard outside his door. It was the house keeper.

Sluggishly Harry wakes up from his bed. The Harry Potter in the book also had a life like this one. But Harry Potter lived in England. He was a wizard. And he was only 11 years old. But Ren Harry who had the same name as Harry Potter lives in Country X. And he was just a normal college student. There was nothing magical about his life. Except that he was actually a girl. But made to cross-dress as a man for as long as he remembers.

"Happy Birthday, Harry Potter. It's 31st March today. Happy birthday to myself as well. Guess we share more than a name."

Harry smirked to himself and left to do his daily chores.

Ren Harry the first young mistress of the Ren family has to live cross-dressed as man because when she was born in a starless night. Thinking that it was an ill omen her mother had declared her as boy so that her father would not abandon her. But nobody could change the fact that she was born on a starless night. Even her mother grew to hate her fearing that she will bring an ill omen one day.

They had called in shamans and soothsayers. And they had declared that if the inheritance of the family and legacy was transferred to another child, the ill omen could be evaded. And thus, when the younger son was born, the family of Ren rejoiced and the younger brother was seen as the saviour of the family. The moment he was born there was much fanfare and he was officially made the heir of the family even though he was younger than Harry by 7 years.

Harry was made to live in the basement. And even though she was the first born and was seen as a male-child by others but nobody paid any attention to him. She was just considered an extra-baggage. The shame of the Ren family.

But today was going to be different. She felt different. It was her 17 th birthday. She had been waiting for this.

Though her parents didn't like her. Her maternal grandmother adored her. Only her mother and her maternal grandmother knew that she was actually a girl. And it was her who had gifted her an early birthday gift: Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone.

Her grandmother had told her to come find her on her 17th Birthday. And Harry was excitedly looking forward to it.

She completed her chores and didn't care that no one wished her on her birthday.

By 1pm. She was ready to visit her maternal grandmother. As she was walking out of the house, her mother called.

"Harry, where do you think you're going? Dressed like up like that. You look like a thug. "

Her leather biker jacket ,her ripped jeans and combat boots. Her unshevelled short hair didn't do anything to tone down her rebellious look.

"I'm going to grandma's. She asked me to come."

"She's spoiling you too much. I don't know why she even likes you even when she does not talk to me. Hmmph."

"Ummm... It's my birthday today. I guess that's why," Harry replied disinterestedly.

Her mother and her grandmother had never got on well after her mother had eloped with her father. And it had become worse after her mother believed in the ill-omen and nearly got rid off her. It was her grandmother who had suggested the idea of making her cross-dress as a man to keep her safe from the Ren family.

"Hmmm. Fine then. Go."

She knew her mother won't even care about her mother. Sometimes she can't believe that she was her mother. But it didn't matter as long as she had her grandmother.

She took the local bus and headed for her grandmother's place. It was 2 hrs away from her house. Her grandmother lived with a few servants. She wasn't exactly rich. But she had everything. Sometimes, Harry thought that her grandmother must have a pot of gold buried somewhere.

When she reached there, she was greeted warmly by the servants.

"Young master, Harry, your grandmother has been waiting for you. She's in the garden"

Harry made her way to the garden and she saw an old woman wearing a floral print dress taking care of a flower plant. Harry could never tell which flower was which. She could only different flowers with their colours.

"Ah, my dear Harry, Happy 17th Birthday! Come to grandma. Grandma has something nice for you."

She smiled as she indicated to small table with documents on it.

"What is it grandma? You finally getting married again after grandpa left you," Harry mischievously laughed and teased her grandmother.

"This grandchild of mine never learns. Still making fun of this ancestor when all I have done is pour love into you the moment you were born," she admonished Harry.But she was clearly laughing.

She liked this grandchild the most unlike her other pretentious grandchildren of the Ren family.

"See what grandmother has got you for your birthday," she said excitedly.

"Grandmother!" Harry said exasperately. "This! This! What is the meaning of this??!"

Grandmother only beamed.

Harry vividly remembered what she read last night. She remembered how Harry Potter had been living a miserable life until his 11th birthday. When Hagrid told him that he was a wizard and even gave him a cake. It was the best feeling. Harry had empathised with the Harry Potter in the book because they had the same name.

But now, she felt like she was actually Harry Potter. Because the document stated that her grandmother was giving her inheritance to her. And it was not just this measly house she was roofed under. Yes, measly. Because the document said that her grandmother was RICH! NOT JUST RICH! BUT FILTHY RICH. The Ren family had no idea that her grandmother was this rich. So many buildings under her grandmother's name. So many companies too.

Seeing her grandchild's awestruck expression she said,

" Happy Birthday, my dear Harry. A small gift from grandmother."