Chapter Seventeen
When Harry woke the next morning he was looking straight into Hermione hazel eyes. She was bending over him, her hand on his shoulder shaking him awake. It took Harry a moment to remember where he was and what had occurred the previous night. "Wake up, sleepy head," said Hermione playfully. "Professor McGonagall woke me a few minutes ago and gave out to me for sleeping on the couch. Why didn't you wake me?" she asked irritably. "You looked so peaceful, I didn't have the heart to," Harry said sleepily not noticing the pink tinge in Hermione's cheek.
"Well you could've gone back to Gryffindor tower,' she retorted. She was folding the blankets and replacing them on the armchairs. Harry stayed on the couch lying back; he then sat up and wiped the sleep from his eyes thinking about what Hermione had said. "But I wasn't going to leave you alone on Christmas Eve, was I," replied Harry.
He stood up and helped put the cushions back. The two of them made their way back to Gryffindor tower and Harry had a shower. He then put on his best clothes, which he still didn't think were appropriate for Christmas and grabbed Hermione's present which he had also put under his bed.
When he made his way down the spiral staircase and into the common room he found Hermione waiting by the fire. She was in her clothes from last night and told him she would have a shower after the gift exchange. She had a wrapped object in her hand and was surrounded by other wrapped presents. "They must be for us," she said looking around her. "Nonsense," said Harry "I don't get presents from anyone. There's no one to get presents from," he finished. Hermione stood up and strode over to him. She pushed the present from her hand into his. "Here, Happy Christmas Harry," she said with a slight smile. Harry handed over hers and then went to sit on the couch. He opened the present and smiled when he saw a packet of Chocolate Frogs and also a black shirt. "Thanks,' he said. "Open yours.'
Hermione sat on the couch beside him while Harry examined the shirt Hermione had bought him. She knew he didn't have any good clothes and he was worried he wouldn't have anything descent to wear at Christmas. The shirt was probably more appropriate than a hoody or a tee shirt. He hoped that she liked his gift. He had bought her a book about the history of Hogsmeade, the little village situated on the outskirts of Hogwarts. He had also bought her a new feather quill, after she had lost her own one. "Thanks Harry. It's brilliant," she said enthusiastically. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around him in a very awkward hug. Harry had never been hugged in his entire life and was shocked when Hermione hugged him. He didn't move, he didn't even breath, Hermione quickly removed her arms from him though and an awkward silence fell between them. Harry didn't know what to say, if he thanked her she might think that he was an idiot. But she broke the silence by suggesting they should open their presents.
Harry was astonished to discover he had received some presents. He sat cross legged beside his presents, reached over and picked up the top parcel. It was wrapped in thick brown paper and scrawled on it was To Harry, from Hagrid. Harry ripped open the paper and found a roughly cut flute. He then picked up a package that looked as if there was more than one thing in it. He read the card To Harry, Happy Christmas. Thanks for the book, its great. A book I can read without falling instantly asleep! Well here is something from me and my mum also decided to give you something. Having a blast here. The twins are driving Percy mad. Again, Happy Christmas, Ron.
Harry opened the package to find a large box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. He also found some home made fudge. Harry was surprised to say the least. He had never really met Ron's mother yet she had sent him a Christmas present. Also it had been good of Ron to send him a present.
Hermione showed Harry the watch her parents had got her. It was a white gold watch and there were two crystals embedded in its face. It was only when Hermione had recovered all her wrapping paper did Harry realize there was one present left that must have been for him. He picked it up slowly. It was very light and soft. Harry unwrapped it slowly. Something fluid and silvery grey went slithering to the floor. Harry stood up and gasped as he realized what it was. Hermione stared at it also, obviously aware of what it was. "An Invisibility Cloak," she whispered. "They're extremely rare. Also they're very valuable," she finished warily.
Harry threw the Cloak around his shoulders and looked down at his feet. They had vanished. He took a deep breath and removed the Cloak from around his shoulders. "I wonder who sent it," he asked thoughtfully. He was trying to figure out who would send him something so valuable. Hermione stooped down and retrieved a piece of parchment that had lain beneath the Cloak. She read it and a sad look crossed her face. She held it out for Harry to take. Harry read it and immediately a strange sense of loss overtook him.
Your father left this in my possession before he died.
It is time it was returned to you.
Use it well.
A Very Merry Christmas to you.
The note was written in narrow loopy writing that Harry didn't recognize. The sense of loss intensified and Harry sat back down on the couch. "Are you alright?" Hermione asked quietly. Harry didn't know why he felt this way. His parents had died so long ago and he had never had time to grieve for them as he was only a baby when they were killed. He hadn't understood. He had lived so long without them and now he was faced with a valuable possession of his father's. He looked down at the cloak in his hands and realized he was gripping it, his knuckles white from the pressure. This was the only thing that he had of his parents. Hermione leaned forward and asked her question again. "Are you alright?" Harry slowly looked up from the Cloak and gazed into her face. "I…I…" he was about to tell her how he had never seen his parents and try to explain how he felt, but he couldn't. It was Christmas and he didn't want to dishearten her. "I'm fine," he said, in a voice not like his own.
Hermione stared at him and he got the feeling she didn't believe him but there wasn't much she could do at the moment. They talked about the sender of the Cloak for a few minutes, each making vague guesses as to who it could have been. Harry eventually folded up the Cloak neatly and brought it up to his dormitory with his other gifts. He donned his new black shirt and after a quick glance in the mirror came to the conclusion that he looked a lot more respectable. He made his way back down to the common room to find it empty, Hermione must be getting ready. He waited for a while until Hermione arrived down dressed in a pair of jeans with a light blue cardigan. It was only then that Harry realized he had never really seen Hermione without her school robes. "Er…you look nice," he said somewhat nervously. She smiled and they both made there way to the portrait hole and down to the Great Hall.
A huge magnificently decorated Christmas tree stood in beside the doorway. The four house tables had all disappeared to be replaced by one long table where the remaining students were seated along with Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick (seated on a few cushions) and Sprout. Hagrid was sitting beside Professor Dumbledore. Professor Sprout looked cleaner than Harry had ever seen her. There was no fertilizer, muck or compost on her robes and her hair was neatly tucked away beneath her hat. Harry noticed immediately that only two free seats remained at the table. The seat closest was between Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall facing the empty seat between Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout. "I need to speak to Professor Sprout about our Herbology essay," whispered Hermione quickly and made her way to the other side of the table. "Hello," said Professor Dumbledore delightedly as Harry sat down beside Snape who was glaring at him. "It seemed such a waste to have four tables, when we would all fit comfortably at one. And after all Christmas is a time of togetherness."
The table was groaning under mounds of roast potatoes, four roast turkeys and one huge leg of lamb. A boat of gravy lay in the middle of the table with large jugs with which they could scoop the brown liquid out. Cranberry sauce lay in the middle of the table with smaller teaspoons for use. Harry was a bit apprehensive to start eating. He had wanted to talk to Hermione but as she was sitting some distance from him and there was a turkey in his view he couldn't catch her eye. She was engrossed in a conversation with Professor Sprout. So Harry was left in a most uncomfortable position surrounded by two very silent figures. Professor Snape was piling food onto his plate. For a skinny creature he sure could eat a lot Harry thought.
Professor McGonagall had just finished dishing gravy onto her roast potatoes when she looked at Harry sternly; he hadn't touched anything on the table yet. He was looking at the dark rough texture of the table and looked deep in thought. She sighed irritably, reached over and started putting roast potatoes onto his plate. Harry was startled by her actions. "Really Potter, the food will not jump magically onto your plate," she said angrily but Harry thought he saw her hide a smirk. Snape gave them a bored glance and started a conversation with a very happy Dumbledore who was smiling contentedly as he watched Harry's futile attempts to stop Professor McGonagall piling his plate with food. The other teachers were laughing as well as Hermione and a Hufflepuff.
When Harry had assured Professor McGonagall he was going to eat something she let go of the long silver spoon she was holding and returned to her own plate. Harry ate his dinner in silence and when everyone was finished, dessert was served. Harry had a small bit of treacle tart. He then spotted some pumpkin pie and stood up to reach over to get the last slice. At the same moment Hermione stood up and reached over with her fork.
They stood staring at each other for a moment, a smile playing across both their faces. Staring into each others eyes anyone would think they were having a fierce staring contest. The smell of the pumpkin pie was wafting up to meet their eager noses. "I dearly love pumpkin pie," whispered Harry, trying to be mockingly threatening, but his lopsided smile failing him. "Then we're both in the same situation and I'm afraid I won't be sharing," Hermione replied, her eyebrow raised and in the same voice as Harry.
Just then Professor Dumbledore leaned over and speared the last slice of pie on the end of his silver fork. "There will be plenty of time for pumpkin pie in the future," he said, sitting back down in his seat, chuckling to himself.
I wasn't going to update this but the last line sort of finished the chapter if you know what I mean. I was feeling happy when I wrote the end of this so it sort of got fluffy.
I've been really busy and I'm happy I got this chapter out. Next chapter should be around the weekend.
Enjoy and thank you for reading and reviewing (cough cough)….sorry for the bad attempt at a joke.
Take care,
Radagast.
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