Lady Celestial Stars wonderful story

Part 198

: The Gift That Never Should Have BeenChapter Text

Harry had not gotten back to the school till well into the evening and he had a few people waiting for him in the suites he shared with Sirius. Namely, a few of the Order members, the Weasleys, Dr. Clark and...the McFinns.

Obviously Speckerton had allowed McFinn to possess his body again, but even without being told, Harry could see the glow and the change in Speckerton's eyes.

"Merry Christmas, Sport." said Officer McFinn throwing his (Speckerton's) arms around him. "How was the family Christmas?"

Harry chuckled. "I'm grateful that I kept to just talking to my Great Grandmother. The others were sort of put out by somethings I decided to change right then and there."

"Such as?" asked Mr. Weasley handing Harry a mug of hot chocolate.

"Oh, no drinking wine before three, and no more soirees every other week. They don't need to have that many parties...if they want to throw one, by all means, go elsewhere and do it on their own sickles." said Harry taking the mug and sitting down beside Mrs. McFinn. "Wine at breakfast...I ask you! No wonder they're all...uh..."

"I think a best term than almost anything is: Alcoholics." said Leroy with a smirk.

"They're not...they just...like to flaunt the wealth that our forebears have accumulated." said Rudolph uneasily. "I know my father didn't stand for such things, drinking wine that early in the morning..."

"They've had free reign for a while now, Rudy, they'll have to get used to being reined in again." said Leroy carefully. "They seemed to like the present that Monster gave them."

"Yeah, anything sparkly and one of a kind, they seem to enjoy." said Rudolph snickering darkly. "Now, let's get onto some good presents for you!"

Harry had received the usual mince pies and Christmas jumper from Mrs. Weasley (this year it was green and sported the Hogwarts Crest on the front) a new broom servicing kit from Hermione, some Filibuster fireworks from Ron, several defense books from Remus and Sirius and some freshly baked cookies from Mrs. McFinn. Dr. Clark only offered him an IOU for his Christmas present, as he was unsure what to give a young wizard, he would need some more time to think about it.

Rudolph and Leroy had already given Harry several fancy new dress robes for various occasions at Paradise Castle, but they had mentioned there was one present they couldn't risk bringing out into the cold winter air. They handed Harry a simple terra cotta pot with a bit of dirt inside.

Harry looked down into the pot and frowned. "Two things: Are you sure there's something here, and are you sure this isn't for Neville?"

Rudolph and Leroy smiled. "Oh, there's something there, and it's for you. Touch the top of the dirt...think of any sort of plant you want."

"Within reason, no creating something straight out of some fantasy." said Rudolph quickly.

Harry quirked his brow but did as he was told. As soon as his finger left the dirt, a sprout sprang up from the ground and before their eyes, it grew and grew until it was a micro-version of an elm tree.

"It's a cutting from a plant called a Chameleon Bush. Every day it's something new, creatures or people come along and brush up against it, either they're thinking of something to eat or trying to find a certain plant. This plant then changes to see to the desire of whomever it touches." said Rudolph.

"But why?" asked Dr. Clark. "What would cause a plant to develop that tendency...er...ability?"

"Two reasons, it uses that to pollinate with other plants, and it can transport it's seeds from one area to another. That plant is not all that picky about what other plant it pollinates with, it only needs a bit to make seeds and then if something were to come along and want some fruit...." said Leroy.