𝘝𝘖𝘐𝘊𝘌𝘚. harry potter world ¹

𝘹. 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦

     THEY CERTAINLY COULDN'T SAY THAT IT WASN'T AN INTERESTING CHRISTMAS. Buckbeak had been put up for trial and Hagrid was barely hanging on. So, the four friends had agreed to save the Hippofriff's life and had teamed up to write a convincing appeal.

     It was the third year in a row that Rory spent Christmas at her home, at Hogwarts. (She hadn't been welcomed back at her house since her first year anyways). There was something magical about Hogwarts at Christmas; everything was dark and gloomy, but it was the good kind. It was the kind that made her want to put on a fuzzy jumper and sit by the fire with a good book. The one that was broken by the glistening decorations and whimsical laughter. 

     Hermione and Rory awoke to a pile of presents sitting at the end of their beds, and after their own exchange of presents, they began to open the others scattered around; her aunt and grandma had sent some home-made clothes that they had sewn themselves, Mrs. Weasley's annual jumper was there too, grey this time with a big white R; Hermione had gifted her come more muggle books for her collection and Ron a basket full of their favourite sweets; Harry had played it safe and bought her some new gloves. . . 

     (There was no letter from Esmeralda). 

     Her mother hadn't sent anything, yet. She could do fine with just a simple card, an acknowledgment. Like always, she was grateful for all the presents and the people who not only cared for her at this time of the year, but all year around. (Esmeralda we're looking at you). There was still time.

     After opening all of their presents and sharing some of the sweets that Rory's grandmother had sent her, they made their way to the boy's, and from the stairs they could hear muffled laughing. (What motivated the laughing was a mystery to them, but it had to be pretty funny, because it was endless).

     "What're you two laughing about?" asks Hermione.

      "Don't bring him in here!" exclaims Ron, hurriedly snatching Scabbers from his bed and stowing him in his pajama pocket at the same time Hermione ignores him and leaves Crookshanks on one of the beds.

     Rory wasn't listening or trying to get them to calm down. In fact, she wasn't even focusing on anything they were saying. She was wide-eyed, and jaw-dropped, eyes fixated on a magnificent looking broom lying on Harry's bed. Rory didn't leave under a rock, and of course new that it was the Firebolt; how Harry had managed to get one was something she didn't know.

      ''Dios santísimo, Harry!'' (Not the old lady expressions).

     "Oh, Harry! Who sent you that?" 

     "No idea," he says. "There wasn't a card or anything with it." 

     "What's the matter with you?" asks Ron. 

     Rory turned to Ron who was staring at Hermione, she was frowning, uneasy glances dance from the broom to Harry. "I don't know, but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?" 

     Ron sighs exasperatedly. "It's the best broom there is, Hermione.'' (Yes, keep up Hermione, come on).

     "So it must've been really expensive. . ." 

     "Probably cost more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together," said Ron happily. 

     "Well. . . who'd send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him they'd sent it?"

     "Who cares?" said Ron impatiently. "Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?" 

     "I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" exclaims Hermione shrilly.