Escaping Darkness [Book 1 of Through Darkness and Light]

Chapter 29: Inheritance

“Should we open presents now, while we’re waiting?” Mrs. Weasley suggested. Harry paused in his pacing, his nervousness causing Draco’s head to spin. He decided against snapping at Harry to relax, knowing that doing so would just cause the other to become even more nervous. Instead, he answered Mrs. Weasley, shooting her a grateful grin.

“Yes, that sounds good,” he replied. She winked at him, before clapping her hands.

“Alright then…let’s get this show on the road, everybody!”

Harry blinked, suddenly finding himself alone. He hadn’t heard Mrs. Weasley speaking, so it surprised him when everyone took off for some reason. But within minutes, they were back, each bearing a parcel. A slow smile broke over his face, as his tension drained away.

Draco sensed amusement, and he grinned. “What’s so funny?” he asked, as he came in from behind Harry. His Inima turned, smirking.

“If you had told me that one year, I’d be opening gifts not only from Pansy, Goyle, and Blaise, but also from Draco Malfoy, I’d have died laughing,” he chuckled. “I’m still getting used to the idea that you guys are here to stay.”

Blaise smirked as well. “I wake up every morning, thinking the last several months were nothing but a nightmare…and yet here we are. One heck of a nightmare, hm?”

He threw up his arms in defense against the pillow Hermione flung at him. “Kidding!” he cried, as she armed herself with another pillow.

“Harry, open my gift first,” Pansy urged, successfully averting a pillow fight. He winked knowingly at her, before complying.

All eyes turned to Harry, as he grinned, examining the book. “101 Useful Spells for Everyday Use,” he read aloud. “Thanks, Pansy! Congrats, Hermione. You’re normal after all, since you’re not the only one who gives books for presents.” He too ducked, as the pillow meant for Blaise was instead aimed at him.

“You don’t want to find out if I know any of the spells in there,” she threatened. Harry chuckled.

“Teasing, ‘Mione.” He accepted the next package, from Goyle. Over the next fifteen minutes, he unwrapped another book on various defensive spells, from Goyle; a book on offensive spells from Blaise (it was obvious the three had coordinated their gifts, and Harry was certain they would indeed prove useful in the days to come); a box of various Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes products from the Weasley twins; a broom servicing kit from Ginny; and the usual box of sweets from Mrs. Weasley.

Hermione and Draco’s gifts were the last ones he had to open. Harry glanced at Hermoine, as she leaned forward, handing him her gift. He unwrapped it, the smile on his face fading as he looked down at it. For a moment, he looked up, gazing into her eyes, before nodding. Draco frowned at the tears he’d spotted, and scooted closer, peering at the gift. Oh, he thought.

Harry was just opening the cover of a muggle-style photo album. Hermione had used her memories, and some of the Weasley clan’s memories, as well as some of Harry’s, to put it together. He hadn’t known at the time why she’d wanted those particular memories; now, he did.

“I remember that day like it was yesterday,” Harry whispered, gently touching a picture of him and Ron waving happily from the window of the Hogwarts Express. It was the day they’d met, and Mrs. Weasley had just finished admonishing the twins to leave him alone, and not bother him just because he was Harry Potter. The picture was from her perspective, and Harry smiled fondly at his and Ron’s young appearance. His smile softened, as Draco put a comforting arm around him.

Everyone was silent, as Harry slowly passed through the pages. Memories came back to him as he looked at each picture.

Each of them was covered in dust, but each wore happy grins, having defeated the troll with limited damage…