The Headmaster's Only Mistake

Hallowe'en

The soft song of a phoenix started to fill the room, lulling Harry to sleep with a smile on his face.

···

Two days later, Harry was sitting at the Slytherin table for breakfast, quietly chatting with Alexandra and Rhysand while also turning to his friends from time to time. He was quite happy, as he was quite sure nothing of importance would be happening until Halloween, and he was finally allowing himself to relax. 

However, he was proved wrong when a long parcel tied to three owl landed in front of him with a howler attached. 

Harry wasn't particularly nervous about the howler, as he had been raised by Remus and Sirius who enjoyed sending each other howlers when they were having a row, as well as the fact that Sirius, Pandora, and, surprisingly,  Severus and Narcissa, also found great amusement in sending howlers during their monthly 'family' gatherings.

Harry simply picked it up, ignoring the wild variety of stares he was receiving, and opened it, allowing Sirius' voice to fill the hall.

"HARRY JAMES POTTER! I HAVE DECIDED TO SEND YOU YOUR FIRST HOWLER. EXCITING, ISN'T IT?  REMUS TOLD ME TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT MONTH, OR BETTER YET, UNTIL NINETEEN-NINETY-NINE, BUT THAT'S QUITE BORING. I WANTED TO SEND ONE A WEEK IN, BUT I DECIDED NOT TO. ANYWAYS, CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT INTO SLYTHERIN, I ALWAYS KNEW YOU'D DO GREAT THERE. I EXPECT YOU TO SEND A HOWLER BA-" he was cut off by the voice of Remus in the background.

"SIRIUS, YOUR GOING TO TRAUMATIZE ALL OF HOGWARTS WITH YOUR HOWLERS. UM, SORRY HOGWARTS POPULATION FOR THIS TOSSER."

"SHUSH, REMUS, THE STAFF MUST BE USED TO IT BY NOW, I'M SURE WE SENT MINERVA, POPPY, FILIUS AND POMONA ENOUGH WHILE WE WERE IN SCHOOL TO ENSURE THAT."

"I WASN'T TALKING ABOUT THE STA-"

"ANYWAYS, THERE'S ANOTHER LETTER WITH THE PARCEL, IT'S NOT A HOWLER DON'T WORRY. DON'T FORGET TO HOWLER BACK, WE MISS YOUR VOICE. ALSO, PETUNIA HAS BEEN ASKING ABOUT YOU, SO WRITE TO THEM TOO."

"REMEMBER TO DO IT THE MUGGLE WAY." Remus called out.

With that, the howler self destructed itself, ashes sprinkling themselves softly on Harry's hair, which he quickly cleaned. The Hall was quiet for a few moments before a soft giggle was heard from the Hufflepuff table, which was enough to break the dam.

Every student from every table, along with the staff, with the exception of Ronald Weasley and Albus Dumbledore, was practically rolling on the floor, clutching their stomachs and trying to catch their breath.

"Is that- oh gods- is that n-normal in your household?" Alexandra asked, wheezing.

"Oh yeah, happens all the time." Harry nodded, taking a bite out of his toast.

"Happens at all the family gatherings, too." Draco told them from his place across Harry.

This brought new peals of laughter from those who had heard.

Harry took hold of the long parcel as he stood up.

"I'm going to the common room to open this. Does anyone want to come?" he asked to his Slytherin friends. Draco along with Daphne and Tracy stood up as well.

"What do you think it is?"  Tracy asked, eyeing the package.

"Probably a broom." Draco answered.

"A broom?" Daphne repeated, eyes wide.

"Well, I'm on the Quidditch team, aren't I? And it has the shape. Besides, Uncle Severus said he would write to my guardians for it." Harry explained. Daphne and Tracy nodded as they rounded a corner.