A Taste of Magic

Chapter 41: 41st Course - Roughly and Smoothly

"Hi Harry!"

Harry smiled when Lavender tackle-hugged him, stumbling a couple of steps but hugging her back with equal enthusiasm. "Hi Lavender! Welcome back."

"Did you have a nice holiday?" she asked as she broke the embrace.

Harry nodded as he hugged the Patil sisters. "I did actually! You won't believe who came to spend it with me. Nicolas and Perenelle!"

"The Flamels came to spend the holiday with you?!" Hermione gasped as she hugged him too. "That's amazing!"

"Yeah, it was a lot of fun," Harry said, thinking fondly of the recently passed holiday. They were in the clubroom and the rest of the students were returning from the holiday break. As people filled the tower again, Harry went to the clubroom for a bit of peace and quiet as well as baking some small hand pies for his returning friends. Lavender had accurately guessed Harry would be there so after she and the others dropped their things off, came looking for him.

"I'm glad you had a nice holiday," Lavender smiled.

"Thank you. Oh by the way," Harry gave her a look, "did you teach Hedwig about pillow fighting?"

"Me? No, I didn't!"

"Uh huh. Did Marigold or Clover?"

Lavender giggled. "Yes, they did."

"You taught an owl how to pillow fight?" Padma laughed.

"Not just an owl," Parvati said. "You know what she's like. If any owl could learn it and like it, it'd be her."

"Oh she likes it alright," Harry said with a fake weary sigh.

Lavender giggled even harder. "She sure is cute when she's doing it, isn't she?" She walked to the cabinet to get some napkins and plates.

"She sure is," Harry smiled.

Before Lavender could open the door, the cabinet burst open and she shrieked, the shriek becoming muffled as she got hit full in the face with a pillow. Hedwig flew around Lavender's head, cackling with glee, and waggled her tail feathers. Lavender ran around the clubroom yelping while Hedwig chased after her, thwapping her with the pillow she clutched in her talons.

"Not fair!" Lavender laughed, ducking. "I'm not armed!"

"There're pillows in the cabinet," Harry said and laughed when Lavender managed to pull one out on her next circuit around the room, fending Hedwig off and chasing the owl around herself.

"You two look ridiculous," Parvati laughed. "Wait, hold on," she said, backing away when Hedwig and Lavender shared a look. Parvati ran squealing when owl and girl chased after her, belaboring her with their pillows.

"Help me!" Parvati shrieked as she ran.

Padma fished out a pillow and tossed it to her. "There, I helped!" She shook her head as Parvati caught the pillow and fought back. "She's insane if she thinks I'll fight against Hedwig."

Hermione smiled as she watched. "How was spending the holiday with the Flamels?"

"It was really good," Harry said sincerely. "They're really nice and funny. They also play fight and argue a lot. With each other and the professors."