The Boy I Love -HEDRIC (2)

27.(H) that should be me

HARRY 

LV

He nearly went into cardiac arrest on Christmas morning.

Large round eyes peered up at him from the darkness. "Merry Christmas, sir! Dobby has brought you a present.”

His heart was still pounding from the shock, and Harry wasn't sure if he felt more fortunate or disappointed in himself that he hadn't thought to buy Dobby something too. "You didn't have to bother. I don't…”

“Open it!" he asked with a high-pitched squeak, handing him a small cloth bag. "Dobby hope you like it, sir. He has made them himself.”

Inside he found two pairs of Quidditch socks: one with little golden snitches and the other with broomsticks and quaffles. He expressed to Dobby how much he loved them, really! 

“I’ll wear them tonight at the ball,” he promised.

Dobby insisted that they should be used one of each.

"Hey, I've got something for you too," Harry said through a pang of guilt that led him to reach into his trunk for a pair of old socks that went below the knees. “They're red because… It's the color of Gryffindor and I think that would be the house you’d belong to. If elves went to Hogwarts as students…” 

Even though he knew that this was one of Dobby's favorite clothes, Harry didn't expect so much excitement when he received them. He was puzzled that they were identical and Ron, who was awake and had been watching the scene for a few minutes, came to his rescue and gave Dobby another purple pair that made the elf almost cry with immense gratitude. 

Dobby removed the ones he was wearing and contentedly put on one of each pair. "Harry Potter believes that Dobby would belong to the same house as you, sir?"

"Yeah, you’re brave. Also smart, so… It could be Ravenclaw too.” 

It seemed as if his answer truly moved Dobby, because he hugged Harry tight.

LVI

Mrs. Weasley's new sweater was green with a friendly dragon knitted in the front, and it almost made Harry reconcile with the creatures. Hagrid’s gift was a large box of his favorite sweets and something told Harry that Sirius was still concerned about his well-being or maybe he just wanted to help him in his pranks, because he sent a handy lock-picking knife that could either get Harry into trouble or be useful to defend himself.

Breakfast was amazing. 

"And we still have to wait for dinner!" Ron was pleased, grabbing another piece of pudding.

"Won't you save room for lunch?" Hermione inquired, over a cup of hot chocolate and some cookies decorated in the shape of a Christmas tree. "There's so much food. The elves in the kitchen must be working hard.”

“That's what Dobby said this morning. A lot of food is a lot of work.”

As a sign of appreciation, Ron and Harry tried a little bit of everything.

LVII

Harry ran into Cedric before lunch, who wished him a Merry Christmas and proposed that they meet later in the usual classroom. 

It was a good day and Harry did like the idea of spending time with him. 

Except that… 

Whatever was pulling him down, Harry tried to hide it when he walked in to find Cedric sitting at the desk, as it was customary. Their relationship was made up of one who was always early and another who was late. Cedric cast the known spells and Harry sat next to him, asking about his Christmas morning because he was afraid that his kiss would somehow feel off and maybe Cedric would notice.