The Gift From Death Year 3

Chapter 14: Third year Part 10

After lunch everyone was back in the living room waiting for Harry to change the memory.

"It's only vital point's from now on." Harry said sitting down, "We might even be done by moonrise." he added. "And I made the connection from Sirius to one of the photo's I had of my parent's wedding. The next one is of christmas." he grinned.

"It's also after Hagrid told us about Buckbeak being put on trial." Hermione said, "Hagrid also told us a little about what it was like in Azkaban."

"I can sum it up in one word: Horrible." Sirius shuddered. Most people smiled sympathetically at him.

"Let's start then." Harry smiled.

On Christmas morning, Harry was woken by Ron throwing his pillow at him.

"Oi! Presents!"

"Polite Ron." Ginny giggled. Ron just grinned.

Harry reached for his glasses and put them on, squinting through the semi-darkness to the foot of his bed, where a small heap of parcels had appeared. Ron was already ripping the paper off his own presents.

"Another sweater from Mum... maroon again... see if you've got one."

Harry had. Mrs. Weasley had sent him a scarlet sweater with the Gryffindor lion knitted on the front, also a dozen home-baked mince pies, some Christmas cake, and a box of nut brittle. As he moved all these things aside, he saw a long, thin package lying underneath.

"What's that?" said Ron, looking over, a freshly unwrapped pair of maroon socks in his hand.

"Dunno..."

Harry ripped the parcel open and gasped as a magnificent, gleaming broomstick rolled out onto his bedspread. Ron dropped his socks and jumped off his bed for a closer look.

"I don't believe it," he said hoarsely.

It was a Firebolt,

"Woo hoo!" James cheered.

identical to the dream broom Harry had gone to see every day in Diagon Alley. Its handle glittered as he picked it up. He could feel it vibrating and let go; it hung in midair, unsupported, at exactly the right height for him to mount it. His eyes moved from the golden registration number at the top of the handle, right down to the perfectly smooth, streamlined birch twigs that made up the tail.

"Who sent it to you?" said Ron in a hushed voice.

"Look and see if there's a card," said Harry.

Ron ripped apart the Firebolt's wrappings.

"Nothing! Blimey, who'd spend that much on you?"

"Well," said Harry, feeling stunned, "I'm betting it wasn't the Dursleys."

"Definitely not." Sirius said looking at Petunia, she blushed.

"I bet it was Dumbledore," said Ron, now walking around and around the Firebolt, taking in every glorious inch. "He sent you the Invisibility Cloak anonymously..."