At breakfast, Harry receives his birthday gifts - a [Sneakoscope], a new razor, chocolates, [Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes] merchandise, and a watch from Mrs. Weasley that he sincerely appreciates.

Harry begins to head upstairs with Ron and Hermione but is interrupted by Ginny, who asks him into her room. There she gives him a birthday present - a kiss that makes Harry forget the weight that is on his shoulders - until they are interrupted by Ron, and Harry is forced to walk out.

Out of range of Ginny's ears, Ron turns on Harry and demands to know what he was doing kissing her - and Harry promises that he won't do it again.

The Order of the Phoenix celebrates Harry's birthday in the backyard of the [Burrow], with decorations by Hermione and Mrs. Weasley (complimented by Harry and Ron). There Hagrid remembers Harry's eleventh birthday, gives him a [mokeskin pouch] as a birthday present, and learns Norbert was a girl - but the dinner is interrupted by the news of Rufus Scrimgeour's impending arrival, leading Lupin and Tonks to depart.

Arthur Weasley and Scrimgeour arrive, and Scrimgeour asks to meet with Harry, Ron, and Hermione in private.

Inside the [Burrow], Scrimgeour gives Harry, Ron, and Hermione the items bequested to them by [Dumbledore] - a [Deluminator], [The Tales of Beedle the Bard], and Harry's first [Golden Snitch]. He refuses the final bequest, though - the [sword of Gryffindor]. Harry's anger over this infuriates Scrimgeour, who all but attacks Harry until Arthur and Molly walk in, and he departs.

With Scrimgeour gone, the group wonders why [Dumbledore] left the items he did to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, passing them around the dinner table. Finally, the party ends and everyone heads to bed, with Hermione planning to meet Ron and Harry in their room after everyone is in bed.

In Ron's room late at night, he, Harry, and Hermione wonder why [Dumbledore] left them the items he did and discover the words "I open at the close" written on Harry's [Snitch]. Hermione also learns that her new book is one of children's stories, before the trio finally heads off to bed.

Along with Ron, Fred, and George, Harry (in disguise as [Barny Weasley] helps escort guests into Bill and Fleur's wedding. Among others they sit [veela] cousins, Tonks, Lupin, Hagrid, the eccentric [Xenophilius] and Luna Lovegood, the ever-insulting [Auntie Muriel], and to Ron's surprise, [Viktor Krum]. Finally they seat themselves as well, and the wedding begins.

Arthur, Molly, and the [Delacours] are seated, and the wedding begins. Bill and Fleur are bonded for life under a shower of stars and balloons, and the party is asked to stand so the tent can be converted into a reception hall.