Harry Potter and the Alucinor Dicio

Disclaimer - I am not in any way associated with J.K. Rowling or Scholastic books. I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 18 - Gifts from the Heart and Visits to Fallen Friends

Harry was woken up on Christmas morning by Ron , who was throwing his balled up wrapping paper at Harry's head. “ Get up Harry! Presents!” Ron exclaimed like a three year old boy. Harry rolled over to see a large pile of gifts at the foot of his bed. Ron, having done his duty by waking Harry, returned to his own rapidly dwindling pile of presents.

“ Oh, Harry thanks for the book! Beating the Bludgers – A Study of Defensive Strategies in Quidditch , it should be right useful this year!” Harry smiled at Ron, and turned to begin opening his own gifts.

First was his Weasley jumper, green, as usual. Harry pulled it on over his pajamas, and reached for a piece of the fudge that had accompanied it. Next was Lupin's gift, a smaller version of the foe glass Harry had seen in the fake Moody's office in fourth year. Fred and George had predictably sent a large package of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes product. Ron had given him his usual box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans, and Tonks had given him a box of chocolate frogs. From Rowen, there were two packages, the first containing a leather wand holster with Harry's name stamped on the inside band. The second was a book , Rare Potions and How To Brew Them. Harry was astonished, as he figured this was probably more from Snape than Rowen. Snape, giving me a gift, who'd have thought? Harry leafed through the book casually, noting that it contained the strengthening potion as well as others.

At that moment Hermione came in with a wrapped gift. “ Happy Christmas Harry! Happy Christmas Ron!” Hermione beamed at both of them. She noticed the book in Harry's hands and reached out to take it. “ Harry who gave you this?! It's a very hard to find book, you know! I'll be able to use this to make our own supply of Strengthening Potion , even the instructions for Veritaserum are in here!” Harry chuckled at this typical Hermione reaction.

“ Yeah, Rowen gave it to me. Although I imagine you'll be doing most of the brewing, Mione.” Hermione looked up from her reading. The gift lay beside her, forgotten on the bed, as she lost herself in the pages of the book. Harry nudged her. “ Is that for me, then?” she looked up, embarrassed that she had forgotten.

“ Well, I'll just be going... downstairs for breakfast!” Ron jumped up, grabbing his Quidditch book on the way out. Harry grinned at his obvious attempt to leave him and Hermione alone.

“ Yes it is Harry.” Hermione spoke as though she hadn't heard Ron. “ I hope you like it. It's nowhere near as nice as what you gave me, but I tried.” she smiled nervously in his direction as Harry unwrapped the gift.

Inside the wrapping was a small amulet made of a metallic green stone. It was attached to a leather band, to be worn around the wrist. Imprinted on the stone was a symbol of a stag. Harry fingered the stone looking up at Hermione.

“ The stone is Malachite, it promotes the purification of dreams and draws out negative energy. It has also been said to be a powerful healing stone and it's supposed to enhance psychic energy as well. The stag, well I mean obviously your Dad, but it's really funny, I looked up the Potter family crest when I was looking for a symbol, and it has three stag heads on it. So I decided to put it on there.” Hermione blushed as she spoke. Harry just held out his left hand, silently asking her to put it on. She did, and Harry enveloped her in a hug.

“ Thank you Hermione, you must have ordered this ages ago! I love it.” Harry placed a soft kiss on her mouth. He pulled back to grin at her. “ Do you want your second gift now?” Hermione glared at him with a look that clearly said ' you didn't have to get me two!'. Harry reached under his mattress and drew out a small red box. Inside was a pair of beautiful earrings, gold and in the shape of lightening bolts. Hermione laughed when she saw them.

“ Went with the old fall back of jewelry, eh Potter?” she teased him gently as she put them on. Harry laughed softly at her.

“ They're charmed you know, if you are in pain, I'll know and I can come to you.” Hermione's expression softened upon hearing this and she leaned in to give Harry a slow sweet kiss. Harry jumped up afterward, grabbing her hand and dragging her along with him.

“ Let's go eat, I'm starving! A man cannot live on love alone, you know!” Hermione hit his arm , laughing at him as they headed downstairs. Once downstairs, Harry and Hermione were greeted by fierce hugs from Mrs. Weasley and Christmas greetings were exchanged.

“ Thanks for the jumper Mrs. Weasley!” Harry said as he sat down and started serving himself breakfast. Mrs. Weasley just brushed this away, encouraging Harry to heap more eggs onto his plate.

“ Did you receive anything from the Dursley's Harry dear?” Mrs. Weasley asked in a concerned tone.

“ No, Mrs. Weasley. They haven't sent me anything for a while.” This was the second year in a row Harry hadn't received anything from his mother's family. Harry was not upset about this at all, however, as their presents usually consisted of rubbish only good for portkeys anyway. Mrs. Weasley shook her head, exasperated that such people were responsible for such a good boy as Harry, and simply encouraged him to take more toast.

Over the next few days Harry and Hermione could often be found in each others company, usually in the library, as Hermione read Harry's new Potion book and Harry looked through the book Rowen had given him to study over the break. It was actually a highly useful book, which included several spells such as spells to bind magic. Harry practiced this on Ron, much to his and Hermione's amusement, as it took Ron two hours to figure out why his wand wasn't working.

There were other spells in it as well that covered a range of subjects, such as inducing visions and techniques to help closing one off from other's psychic penetration. Harry grimaced as he read this, thinking of the time and pain it could have saved him last year.

The next few days of holidays were spent in a warm passing of reading in the library, games of Exploding Snap, and wizard's chess in front of the fire. The group had taken to using Sirius' old room to congregate in, as it was much improved since Harry re decorated it. Harry thought he would feel depressed, being in Sirius' old room, but he surprisingly felt closer to his Godfather in there.

Harry was in here alone one day, practicing his relaxation techniques, when he was interrupted by a knock on the door frame. Harry looked up to see Lupin framed in the door. Harry smiled and told him to come in.

Lupin sat in the armchair across from Harry's. “ Harry, how are you? It feels like I haven't seen much of you lately.” Harry instantly felt guilt wash over him, he hadn't been seeing Lupin as much as he could, but he'd been busy with training and Hermione. This, however was no excuse, especially as Lupin had lost the last of his friends when Sirius died.

“ I'm sorry Lupin. It just feels like I've been so busy with training and Hermione and school and everything. Hey.. perhaps you could help out during my training hours? I mean you'd have to be around Rowan, but I would get to spend time with both of you at once!” Harry thought that this was an excellent idea, as Lupin was bound to be helpful in training, also it would give him and Rowen a chance to get past their issues.

“ Well, I mean- Of course I'll help, Harry.” Lupin stated reluctantly. “ However that is not the reason I came in, Dumbledore will be going to see Minerva today, and he was wondering if you and Hermione would like to accompany him.” Harry's heart fell at the thought of seeing his injured Professor.

“ Well I wouldn't presume to answer for Hermione, but I would like to go.”

“ Answer for me in regards to what?” Hermione asked as she walked in, dropping down on the sofa. She looked from Harry to Lupin.

“ In regards to seeing Professor McGonagall today. Dumbledore is going to St. Mungo's.” Harry replied.

“ Oh, of course! I would love to see how she is doing!” Hermione immediately got up to go see about transfiguring some flowers for the Professor.

And so it was that later that afternoon, Harry found himself following Dumbledore through the halls of St. Mungo's while holding on to Hermione's hand. As they walked along, Dumbledore explained that Minerva had woken up just the day before, and although very weak seemed to show signs of improving.

Once in the hall outside Professor McGonagall's room, they were greeted by a healer. He introduced himself as Alex Hopper, and asked them to sit at a bench in the hall.

“ Alright, Professor McGonagall did wake up yesterday, as I'm sure you know, sir. She is by no means out of the woods yet, however. The Cruciatus curse used on her was particularly powerful. That being said, she is recovering remarkably for a women of her age, especially considering her injuries from last year.” Dumbledore nodded along, listening intently to Healer Hopper. “ I would like her visits to be restricted to 30 minutes only, as she needs a great amount of rest to rebuild her strength and magic supply.”

“ Will she be able to be removed to Hogwart's hospital wing eventually, do you think?” Dumbledore questioned.

“ I believe that if she improves steadily, she could be safely moved sometime in February. This does not mean she would be able to return to duty, however. I doubt she will be able to resume teaching until next year.” Hermione let out a gasp when she heard the length of time it would take their Professor to fully recover. Dumbledore just nodded thoughtfully, as Healer Hopper headed down the hall.

They walked into her room, Hermione carrying a large sleeve of flowers. In a bed by the window lay a very frail Minerva McGonagall. Gone was the forbidding demeanor that usually surrounded their professor, in it's place was an air of extreme vulnerability. The woman in the bed, seemed so small, surrounded on all sides by flowers, bright splashes of color that seemed to only make her paleness more pronounced. She smiled a weak smile as they walked in however.

“Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, how lovely to see you both.” she glanced behind them. “ Albus, am I mistaken or don't you have a school to run?” she spoke in a weak thready voice that wouldn't frighten a child. Dumbledore just chuckled in her direction.

“ Well, yes, indeed I do, Minerva. However, I thought it would be unfortunate to let Harry and Hermione come here unaccompanied.” Dumbledore pulled up three chairs with his wand. Hermione bustled about placing the flowers they had brought into a vase, and placing them on the window sill.

“ So , Harry, Hermione.. how has Albus been doing teaching my classes? I know he cannot possibly cover the material as fully as I do, as he tends to get distracted very easily!” McGonagall's eyes twinkled slightly as she spoke.

“ Oh no, Professor!” answered Hermione seriously. “ He has been doing very well, but I have heard several students mention how it just isn't the same without you!”

McGonagall blushed at this, clearly pleased by the thought that her students were missing her. “ And you Mr. Potter? I trust that you've been working sufficiently hard to ensure my Quidditch cup stays where it belongs?” Harry groaned.

“ Honestly, I'm beginning to think that there is a Gryffindor captain ghost, as all the captains seem to be seized by the same demonic need to drive us into the ground!” McGonagall laughed softly at this. Harry proceeded to tell her about Ron's appointing Ginny a new chaser, along with Dennis and Colin Creevey, who were amazingly fast since they were so small and wiry. They then discussed the new beaters, who funnily enough turned out to be Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. “ Not nearly as big as most beaters, but they're both good fliers, and have a dead on aim that more than makes up for it.” Harry commented. After a short while it became apparent that Professor McGonagall was becoming fatigued. Harry and Hermione went out after calling their goodbyes, giving Dumbledore a moment alone to say goodbye. Once out in the hall, they sat down at the bench, Harry placing his arm around Hermione's shoulders.

Hermione was in the process of commenting on how wonderfully McGonagall's recovery was going, when they saw a familiar figure approaching.

“ Neville!” Harry called out to him in greeting. Neville turned at the sound of his name, heading down the hall towards them.

“ Harry, Hermione! How are you? Visiting McGonagall?” Neville glanced towards the door. “ I've seen Dumbledore around here a lot , the few times I've been visiting my Mum and Dad over the holidays. How is she?”

Harry and Hermione told Neville that she had awakened , and seemed to be steadily improving. Neville's face brightened up a bit. “ Glad of that I am. The school just doesn't seem the same without her does it?” Just then Dumbledore came out into the hall, greeting Neville and indicating to Harry that they should be going. Harry and Hermione said goodbye to Neville and they all headed back to Grimmauld Place.

The last few days before the end of the Holidays passed as all end of Holidays do, very quickly. It seemed to Harry that before he knew it, they were back in their dormitories, awaiting the start of classes the next day. Harry thought about the peacefulness in which Christmas had passed, grateful for the time, although he knew it would be short lived.

A/N: Okay! I wrote this before HBP came out, and I was sure that Katie graduated with the twins... so I thought there would be three new chasers! I know, I could have changed it, but it's mentioned again later, and I'm lazy. So there. Pretend Katie graduated, cause in my little world she did.... Thanks go out to My beta, Alex, who has been pushing me along with this story. Enjoy and review, please.