The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 41: Holi-dazed

The door to the second year boys' dormitory opened with a bang.

Ron started from a deep sleep, dragging his covers up to his chin.  "Blimey Hermione," he said grouchily.  "Can't you just let us sleep?  Also, what are you doing here!"

"Waking you, obviously," she replied with a slightly sharp tone.  "We have a lot to do today so you might as well get up.  Oh and Happy Christmas by the way."  She looked about the room.  All but one of the beds had their curtains open.  The others were empty, their owners having left to go home for the Holiday.  Ron had slept with his curtains opened.  The remaining bed had the curtains drawn.

She rapped one of the posts gently.  "Harry, are you awake?" she asked softly, ignoring Ron's snort of indignation.

"How come he gets a polite wakening?" Ron asked sourly.

"If your curtains were drawn, I'd be polite as well Ronald," she said.

"How does that make any sense?"

"Proper manners receive proper responses."

A thin arm poked out of the curtains, groping about for the nightstand.  "I'm awake," Harry said sleepily.  He finally found his glasses sitting on Percy's carved owl and he pulled his hand back in, slipping his glasses on.  He drew the curtains back and smiled at his two friends.  "Happy Christmas!"

"Aren't you going to ask why she barged in?" Ron asked him.

Harry shrugged.  "I figured it was for something important."

Hermione smirked triumphantly.  "It is.  The Polyjuice Potion is ready."

Ron grinned; his mood forgotten.  "Excellent.  Then we'll get Malfoy to confess and he'll be out of here by tomorrow."

"Only if he's guilty," Hermione said.  "Though I do believe he is a prime suspect."  She watched Harry flounder in overlarge pajamas that looked very threadbare.  "What are you doing Harry?"

Harry had pulled the stack of presents from the foot of his bed to the side and picked up a package that had sat beneath the owl.  "Giving you a place to sit so you don't have to stand there," he said gesturing at the clear spot at the end of his bed.  "And this is your present.  I wanted to give it to you in person this year!"

Hermione blushed as she sat on his bed, eagerly taking the package from him.  She tore the paper open and opened the slim wooden case.  "Oh wow Harry!" she exclaimed, looking at the quill care kit that lay before her.  The different tools needed to maintain good quills were organized neatly in the case: a sharp knife for trimming, oil for keeping the feather protected, cleaning clothes, and bottle cleaners.

Harry smiled to himself.  He had seen Hermione gush over the one Percy had and used his as much as she could.  It had been easy to find a nice one for her.  He decided to open her gift to him while she was there and he was similarly enthused.  The luxury eagle quill felt light in his hand and it looked incredibly fancy, coming with its own cap and protective roll.  "Looks like we thought of similar gifts!"

Apparently, he and Ron were on the same wavelength as well.  Ron happily set up his miniature model of Chudley Stadium by his Cannon.  The stadium glowed with the team colors and played a grander version of their fight song when touched.  Harry received Flying with the Cannons from Ron, a book detailing the long history of the Quidditch team from founding to present day.

For the second year in a row, Harry had more gifts than he ever received in the entirety of living with the Dursleys.  He still used and cherished all the gifts he received last year, save for the sweets of course.  Admittedly the quills Alicia got him had been worn to nothing and their enchantments faded but he could not bear to throw them away.  His handwriting was considerably better after her thoughtful gift.  Percy's owl held his glasses at night.  His gloves helped him catch the Snitch.  The Never-Lock from the twins kept his things secure.  The Weasley jumper kept him warm.  The flute gave him music.  The cloak made his nightly excursions a secret.