Violet Summer: The Philosopher's Stone

Chapter 15: Christmas Holidays Part Two

 Later in the evening, Harry, Ron, and Toni had finished their lavish Christmas feast in the Main Hall. The hall was adorned with magnificent decorations, and the three of them had indulged in an abundance of food and laughter before retiring to the cozy Gryffindor common room for the night.

Settling by the fireside, they delighted in the holiday treats Hermione had gifted them. Despite their satiated stomachs from the feast, the allure of sweets was difficult to resist. Ron, feeling particularly full, loosened his trousers to accommodate the extra room. Just as they were about to indulge further, Harry suddenly rushed up to his room, eager to show Toni a gift he had received for Christmas. Ron hurriedly followed, excited to share in Harry's surprise.

Moments later, Harry returned to the room, a wide smile lighting up his face as he presented Toni with a delicate silk cloth. Without any explanation needed, Toni knew exactly what it was the moment her eyes fell upon it—an invisibility cloak. Her gaze swept over it in astonishment as her fingers gently traced its fabric.

"Brilliant, isn't it?" Ron exclaimed in admiration.

"Extraordinary," Toni whispered, barely containing her awe. "But who sent it to you?"

"I'm not sure," Harry replied. "There was only a note saying it belonged to my father, with no name attached."

"Hmm," Toni murmured thoughtfully. "Well, whoever sent it must have possessed it for a long time. Put it on! I want to see!"

Harry beamed with excitement as he draped the cloak over his shoulders, tucking it in snugly. All that remained visible was Harry's disembodied head floating before Toni. She couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, but her amusement quickly transformed into sheer amazement. She recalled her uncle speaking of such a magical item, emphasizing its rarity and recounting that he had only seen one once, long ago.

"That is an incredible gift. Incredibly useful to have," Toni remarked, her eyes shining with appreciation. Harry nodded, removing the cloak and meeting Toni's gaze.

"I may have a couple of ideas," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Toni's curiosity peaked at his response, though she made an effort to conceal her heightened interest.

Ron punctuated the conversation with a hearty yawn that reverberated through the common room. Toni and Harry exchanged glances, realizing how late it had become. With a unanimous decision, the three of them concluded it was best to call it a night and made their way to their respective dormitories.

Upon entering her room, Toni was abruptly interrupted by familiar rustling sounds emanating from beneath her bed. Her eyebrow arched in curiosity before she slowly approached the source. Kneeling down, she lifted the draping blanket to reveal Pepin, her mischievous niffler, gleefully playing with the large coin her father had given him for Christmas. A wide smile spread across Toni's face as she scooped him up, his tiny paws clutching tightly onto the precious coin.

"Pepin! Where have you been?" she inquired, settling herself on her bed with him in her arms. The niffler, his eyes glimmering with mischief, rubbed the coin as if it held some secret enchantment. "I wish you had come here sooner. I haven't seen you in months. You can't keep disappearing like that."

Pepin gazed up at her with apologetic eyes, rubbing the top of his head before stashing the coin back in his pouch. Slipping out of her grasp, he curled up on her pillow, silently imploring her for a snuggle.

"Not right now, Pepin. It's nearly ten o'clock, and I have somewhere to be," she whispered softly. "But you stay here. You have that coin from Father, so there's no need to sneak off to wherever you've been going."

In response, Pepin leaped from the pillow and hurried over to her, muttering under his breath, as if attempting to communicate. His expression seemed different from his usual mischievous self, displaying a hint of panic. However, Toni didn't have the time to decipher his antics. She gently pulled him away, tucking him snugly under her blanket alongside the coin. Pepin found quick solace in the shiny treasure, snuggling up to it.