The Stone

Chapter Nineteen

Once the holidays had started, Ron, Bella, and Harry were having too good a time to think much about Flamel. They had the dormitory to themselves and the common room was far emptier than usual, so they were able to get the good armchairs by the fire. They sat by the hour eating anything they could spear on a toasting fork - bread, crumpets, marshmallows - and plotting ways of getting Malfoy expelled, which were fun to talk about even if they wouldn't work.

Ron also started teaching Harry wizard chess whilst Bella sat and watched. This was exactly like Muggle chess except that the figures were alive, which made it a lot like directing troops in battle. Ron's set was very old and battered. Like everything else he owned, it had once belonged to someone else in his family - in this case, his grandfather. However, old chessmen weren't a drawback at all. Ron knew them so well he never had trouble getting them to do what he wanted.

Harry played with chessmen Seamus Finnigan had lent him and they didn't trust him at all. Bella kept laughing when they didn't do what he wanted making him blush and get more frustrated. He wasn't a very good player yet and they kept shouting different bits of advice at him, which was confusing: "Don't send me there, can't you see his knight? Send him, we can afford to lose him"

On Christmas Eve, they all said goodnight - Bella and Harry sharing a hug like they always do, they were the closest out of all four of them- and went upstairs to bed. They were all looking forward to tomorrow, from the food to the presents, it was going to be a great day.

"MORNING BOYS!" Bella screamed rushing into their dormitory and waking them both up. Harry shot up and fumbled around for his glasses whilst Ron groaned and stuffed his face further into the pillow." Happy Christmas! Ron get up you lazy ass!"

Ron groaned whilst Harry scrambled out of bed and pulled on his dressing gown. "Will you look at this? I've got some presents!"

"What did you expect, turnips?" said Ron who was now awake and turning to his own presents which were bigger than Harry's. 

Bella chucked Ron the present she had got him which was some sweets and the Muggle board game 'Twister' before walking over to Harry. 

"I didn't know what to get you, so I hope you like this," she handed him her present and sat on the edge of his bed watching as he ripped it open. His expression turned from to confusion to shock and tears had filled his eyes. 

She had found all the photo's she could find of his parents, both when they were young and when they were older and made a scrapbook of them and added different loving quotes to fill the blank spaces. On the cover said 'James and Lily Potter' in fancy writing. 

"I-I-I love it! Thanks, Bella!" Harry gently placed the book to one side and embraced her tightly. When they pulled away, he pressed his lips to her cheek, surprising them both. 

Bella blushed. "It's alright. Glad you like it,"

It fell silent then as they all opened their presents together. She and Harry must have had the same idea because he got her a scrapbook filled with pictures and memories that had happened this year and a charm bracelet with a Hogwart's castle charm. Ron had gotten her some candy, Hermione got her a book, and Hagrid gave them all the same present. It was a roughly cut wooden flute, and when Harry blew into it, it sounded like an owl.

"That's friendly," said Harry breaking the silence and Bella looked up to see him holding an envelope with a fifty-pence piece taped on the back

She raised her eyebrow. "Is that what your aunt and uncle got you? Man...wait until I meet them"

Ron was fascinated by the fifty pence. 

"Weird!" he said. "What a shape! This is money?"