When the Snow Melts

Lost and Found

Author's Note:  A fair bit of warning, this chapter is the longest yet. Also, where the hell is my lucky pencil? Never mind – found it.

Christmas break was going better than he had anticipated. With Dobby's help, he was slowly covering greater and greater distances during his outings. Today, his plan was to explore Diagon Alley in hopes of finding the perfect gift for his friends. He felt guilty about shutting them out like he had.

He had considered buying Hermione some sort of medical textbook. Ever since his illness, she had been fixated on the idea of merging Muggle and Magical Medicines, meeting frequently with Madam Pomfrey to discuss several improvements to the infirmary. Harry smiled recalling the exasperated expression on the woman's face as Hermione discussed the possibility of IV usage for administering potions to an unconscious patient.

Something shiny caught the sunlight and he glanced over at the jewelry store he passed every day on his way out. It was a charming little place with large windows out front to display some of their more beautiful pieces. While a book would have been fine, Hermione had just saved his life. Surely that warranted something a bit more meaningful? Not fully committed to the idea, he decided that it couldn't hurt to look.

A few pieces caught his eye, but he balked at the price tag and moved further in. The only things that weren't outrageously priced were also horrifically gaudy. Was it even possible to find something elegant yet affordable?

He wandered over to a dusty display case toward the back of the room; the sign above the case proclaiming, "50% Off." Everything was a jumble inside and he struggled to make heads or tails of what exactly he was looking at.

"Can I get a look at that one?" he asked, gesturing to the bit of what he thought might be a butterfly wing.

The shopkeeper took is his disheveled appearance with a sneer, failing to recognize who he was as he shuffled over. It had been happening a lot lately. Hell, he hardly recognized himself in the mirror at times. With his pale skin and hollow features, he almost looked like a corpse. Certainly not the smiling Boy-Who-Lived who was frequently pictured in the Daily Prophet. Secretly, he was enjoying the anonymity.

A jangling sound cut through the silence of the store as the man inspected key after key in irritation. He held one of them up with a triumphant expression before opening the case.

"This one?" the man inquired, struggling to extricate the butterfly from the other pendants hanging from the same hook. With an exasperated sigh, he pulled the whole mess out, twisting and pulling until all the tangles had been worked out.

His breath caught as he noticed another piece that had been set aside - a silver dragon with its wings spread wide, its body wrapped tightly around a long sword.

The butterfly was perfect for Hermione with its diamond encrusted wings of silver. He could picture her wearing it at some fancy dinner party. But that dragon... If he was getting Hermione a fancy gift for saving his life, he may as well get Draco one too. After all, Draco was catching all sorts of hell from his fellow Slytherins because of it. According to Ron, he had been eating alone ever since. Harry couldn't help but feel responsible.

"I'll take them both," Harry announced, leaving a small pile of galleons on the counter as he snatched up both pendants and headed for the door.

He could hear a choking sound behind him as the shopkeeper struggled to overcome his shock.

"Would you like a box?" he finally gasped.

"That would be lovely," Harry responded, turning around with a smile.

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The Malfoy's were sitting down to enjoy a nice, elaborate family dinner. He knew Mother had spent weeks planning every aspect of his grandmother's stay. It seemed she was always trying so hard to impress the woman that she hated with such passion. The candles were lit, the silverware was gleaming, the house-elves were having a panic attack in their attempt to live up to the Lady of the House's exacting standards. Everything seemed to be coming together perfectly.