Lost and Found (Drarry)

Part 22

Parseltongue- Harry speaking ; snakes speaking

'mind talking/ communicating'

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Harry used the dragonhide gloves he got from a random Slytherin to move the Invisibility Cloak. (The gloves were really expensive, Harry almost planned to return it to the sender, but that would be impolite, since he is basically the monarch of Slytherin, and that would open a whole can of problems he had no problem avoiding.) The attached note confirmed his suspicions; the cloak belonged to his father, and somebody decided that a family heirloom that now belonged to him would make an amazing Christmas present.

The note was also dozed in dozens of the same sickening aura, and so it was burned as soon as the context was delivered.

As of right now it was in a cabinet next to his bed. It was rarely used, since Harry didn't have many positions, but it was the best fit until a better place could be found. He didn't know a lot about warding, only read the theory, but this would be great practice. Besides using the most basic ward, Harry made sure to try some muggle methods as well. The lock he bought for himself to keep his belongings safe from the Dursleys when summer arrived was used as an extra precaution.

Satisfied for now, Harry started to pack everything up and stored them in his trunk. Each piece he put away brought a bigger smile on his face, heart filled warmth and eyes brimming with tears. Why anyone would waste a single knut on him was beyond him, but he appreciated the gifts.

Since the twins already delivered Harry his breakfast, he decided to just walk around the castle. There was hardly anyone around in contrast to the bustling corridors during terms.

As Harry strolled out of the dungeons, he felt warm magic envelop him. He stopped short in surprise. This was... the first time he was fully experiencing it! He snapped his eyes to the walls around him. Ever since Harry entered Hogwarts, there was this... magical presence he felt. He could never pinpoint where exactly it came from, but as the months passed, he got the general idea it was the castle itself. Harry was always surrounded by people or objects or, well, anything really, and it affected the warm hug he felt from time to time.

But now, alone in the dungeons, he felt it fully for the first time. It was as if he was sitting in front of a fireplace, flames high and mighty, but comforting him as a mother would comfort her child.

Hogwarts was old, thousands of years old, and yet she never lost the effect he had on the children under her care. She was a safe haven, and today Harry was feeling the effect for the first time. Sicily slithered happily around his robe, enjoying the warm glow.

Could Harry's day get any better?

***

It was proven it could. Harry and the Weasleys spent a happy afternoon having a furious snowball fight on the grounds. It was a terrifying experience for the twins and Ron to be badgered with a dozen flying snowballs that came from the partnership of one Percy Weasley and Harry Potter. But in their defense, who would have thought the studious prefect and the scrawny specky git would make such a good team? Cold, wet, and gasping for breath, they returned to the fire in the Gryffindor common room, where they watched Percy chase Fred and George all over Gryffindor tower because they'd stolen his prefect badge.

Then rolled around the time for dinner. Hogwarts' feast was truly the most amazing experience anyone could ever experience. As Harry entered the Great Hall, he saw that the four house tables were gone. In their place was one big round table decorated with green, silver, and gold.

Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner, or at all really. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce – and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table. They were nothing like the Muggle ones the Dursleys bought and went off with a bang and and out came plastic toys and feeble paper hats. Harry pulled a wizard cracker with Fred and it went off with a blast like a cannon and engulfed them all in a cloud of blue smoke. In the inside exploded a rear admiral hat and several white mice. He quickly rounded them up and put them in his pocket. They would be a nice snack for Sicily and Hedwig. Up at the High Table, Dumbledore had swapped his pointed wizard's hat for a flowered bonnet, and was chuckling merrily at a joke Professor Flitwick had just read him. Yet Harry had an inkling subconscious suspicion that he was also discreetly watching him... But that was a worry for another day.

Flaming Christmas puddings followed the turkey. Percy nearly broke his teeth on a silver sickle embedded in his slice. Throughout the meal, Harry was weighed down with a stack of things out of the crackers, including a pack of non-explodable luminous balloons, a Grow-Your-Own-Warts kit, and his own new wizard chess set. Some of the white mice had escaped and Harry had a nasty feeling they would become part of Mrs. Norris's Christmas dinner. Or maybe they would be Sicily's since she disappeared a while ago. Oh well. 

***

As Harry laid down in his bed, he couldn't help but think today had been the best day of Harry's entire life. The amount of presents, the feeling of comfort from the castle itself, spending time with friends, and having some of the best meals he had in a while. He thought of Hedwig in the Owlery, gnawing on the mice he set out for her. The luminous balloons around the canopy of the bed he attached them to set out a soft glow, shining like colorful gems. He got a sudden urge to have some chocolate, and so he sat up and reached for the pack of 100 Chocolate Frogs he had received. While unwrapping the packet, he caught the sight of the note tied to it. Written in a messy scrawl with a few what looked like drops of water on the parchment, was:

Dear Harry,

A very Happy Christmas!

It has been so long since I last saw you, and I can't believe you are now in your first year at Hogwarts! I am so sorry I haven't been able to communicate with you for the last 10 years. I just couldn't find a way to reach you.

Apologies, I'm rambling and I doubt you even know who I am. However, due to...certain circumstances..., I can't reveal who I am without causing interference, which will be best to avoid. 

I can tell you this- I used to be a friend of your father and mother. They were my dearest friends and I hold them close to my heart. James Potter was the biggest mother hen the world had ever known and Lily Evans, before and after she became a Potter, was the brightest witch of her time.

Oh cub, I've missed you so much. I can't express the regret of staying out of touch for so long, but believe me when I say my hands were tied. There was nothing I could do to even visit you, all thanks to a certain goat....

But you need not to concern yourself with this. I must sound completely out of my mind. You don't have to reply, not at all. If you have read me rambling this far, then I thank you for taking the time out of your day to do so. Stay safe cub. I wish you the best.

R.L. (Moony)

Rocketing into the night sky, shining so brightly was none other than something known as curiosity. Specifically Harry's curiosity. Yeah..., there was no such thing named as sleep within 100-meter radius of the green-eyed wonder.

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***

I want to start off by formally apologizing to everyone who waited so long for this update. The last few months have been crazy for me- I literally had no time to sit down and think of the next part to write. Thank you all for waiting patiently while I got myself together. 

On another note, I have officially reached 36.2K reads and 1.2K votes!!! A big thank you to all my readers. I literally couldn't have reached this milestone without you guys. I find it so hard to believe that people are actually enjoying this fic. 

As a special, give me some one-shot ideas to write! If you haven't already, check out "Different Scenarios". It is a one-shot book that mostly focuses on Harry Potter with a sprinkle of MHA/BNHA. It will be greatly appreciated as well. I will post 5 different shots based on ideas I like best. Leave your ideas down below and I will get back to you as soon as possible. 

xAna