Chapter 10 - What to do?
Luckily, it was still very early when Harry had returned to Hogwarts. He still had to be careful though; he didn't want anyone to see him (mostly Hermione) with a strange box at so early in the morning. Just to make sure that there were no students, Harry glanced around corners in the halls to check. Other than a few ghosts roaming from here to there, fortunately there was no students.
"Whew!" whispered Harry as he finally got up to Hermione's room. Right when he was about to open her door, he froze.
Wait a minute, thought Harry. This is way too obvious. There's got to be another way! I know, I'll visit Hedwig, he said as he dashed off into the direction of the hospital wing. She'll know what to do.
***
Much to the resentment of Madam Pomfrey (Oh all right! But not more than 5 minutes! You should still be asleep at this hour!), Harry sat down next to the bed that contained Hedwig and placed the box on the side. He smiled.
Her bed was the exact design and trim of the human hospital beds, but it was scaled down and made to fit just the right size of Hedwig. She hooted in glee when she awoke and saw him.
"Hello Harry," she said lazily, opening one eye and smiling.
"Hi Hedwig," whispered Harry.
"What on Earth are you doing up this early?"
Harry went ahead and told her all about the situation he was in. About how he got up early and went to the same place in Hogsmeade where he had gotten Hermione's Christmas present to get her a dress for tonight's Christmas Ball, all the way up to where he traded in his Firebolt broomstick for it.
"You didn't!" screeched Hedwig in astonishment.
"I did," confirmed Harry. "It was the only way I'd have to money for the dress!"
Hedwig was ready to scold him some more, but her tiredness and weakness, added to the fact that it was way too early in the morning for anything, stopped her from doing so.
"So what are you going to do?" she asked.
"That's where you come in," said Harry, looking at her positively. "I need to get this to her…"
"Well that's simple," replied Hedwig sarcastically. "I mean, it would be difficult, but I suggest that you just hand it to her."
"…without her or anyone else for that matter, finding out that it's from me," added Harry.
Hedwig stared at him the same way Ashley had stared at him earlier when he said that she didn't want her finding out.
"Harry…" she said soflty, "you sacrificed your broom."
He nodded.
"…so you could buy a dress for Hermione."
He nodded.
"…for a Ball that she is attending in which you are not accompanying her."
He nodded.
"…and you don't want her to know that it was from you."
He nodded.
"Well Harry," she concluded, still with the confused look on her face, "I don't know what you're up to or why you are doing what you are doing. But what ever it is, I'm sure it's for an explicable, yet very good reason."
Harry blinked. Just as he was about to say something, Hedwig continued.
"Take the box up to one of the school owls. Give explicit instructions to have him or her deliver it at lunch in the Great Hall. Make sure you are in there sitting with Hermione when it happens, and act like you have no idea about it. The more people around the better. Got it?"
"Got it," assured Harry. Motivated to have this done before students started to wake, Harry got up and was ready to leave.
"Thanks Hedwig," said Harry as he leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "Get better soon ok?"
"I will," said Hedwig, determined to getting more sleep. "I will…"
***
After doing exactly what Hedwig had advised, Harry went to his Head Boy room and plopped face down on the bed, fully relieved that it was finally over. Not to mention, he didn't get caught, which was the biggest thing that he was relieved for.
"I'm so tired…" yawned Harry as he turned and lay flat on his back to face the ceiling, his arms out to his side. His body was not used to starting the day so early. He assumed that a few hours made no big deal, but now he was feeling the effects on his body.
Harry's eyes shut in a lazy and wavering motion and once they did, his head drooped and relaxed to the side, his glasses shifting just a bit on the bridge of his nose…