Hidden In The Shadows Part 1- Harry Potter Story

Surprising Gifts

Estella finally let herself get out of bed Christmas morning. She bounced around the Slytherin girl's dormitories, shaking the green four poster beds. "It's Christmas!" she woke Tracy.

"Yes Penny, we know. Now let us bloody get some rest," the brunette groaned.

Estella pouted. "Fine. But you'll miss out on the fun." She rolled her eyes as her friend fell back asleep. She left the present she had bought for Tracy, a basket of sweets and some pranks from Zonko's, at the foot of the bed and skipped down into the common room. To her surprise, a head of pale blond hair flowed in the dim green light. Estella grinned. "Merry Christmas Malfoy."

Draco shot up from the couch and scowled at the redhead. "Go away Blackwood. Find your bloody Gryffindors."

Estella brushed off the insult, she felt like nothing could affect her today. "Now is that anyway to talk to someone who was so thoughtful to get you a present?" Draco looked stunned as Estella tossed him a small package. "Go on, open it," she pressed.

Draco shook his head. "Nice wrapping Blackwood," he commented dryly, noting the silver snakes twisting across an emerald background. He ripped open the package and revealed a Remembrall.

Estella grinned cheekily. "I figured since you wanted Neville's so bad.."

Draco glared at her. "I'm flattered. Though you must be so happy Saint Potter gets to be the Quidditch hero."

Estella ignored the faint pang of jealousy. "Well maybe you'll have to be the next Seeker," she grinned at her cousin. "You might fall off your broom though so make sure to get insurance."

Draco turned pink. "Get out of here traitor," he snarled.

Estella wisely decided to exit the room. She quickly ran up to the Gryffindor common room, stopping in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"I assume you want entrance my dear?" the lady sighed.

"Yes please," Estella looked up pleadingly, making sure to conceal the snake on her robes.

The woman peered at her carefully. "Who are you here to see?"

"Harry Potter and Ron Weasley," Estella widened her eyes hopefully. "Please I want to see them open their gifts."

The woman in the painting sighed, flinging her curls. "Only because it's Christmas. Now let me sleep," she swung forward irritably. Estella beamed and stepped into the hole into the common room. Her grin faltered.

Everything was painted in scarlet and gold and a large fireplace roared on one wall. Soft sofas and furnitures were scattered everywhere and parchment littered the tables. Estella repressed a laugh as she saw Fred Weasley's socks thrown carelessly on the table. The girl ran a finger along the side of a chair and wondered what it'd be like to live somewhere so free and comforting. Strangely enough though, it didn't quite feel like home, maybe she was always going to be meant for the dark side, Estella thought glumly. She shook her head, clearing it from her thoughts and quickly darted up the stairs to the boy's dormitories. She pressed her ear to the door eagerly, and picked out Harry's and Ron's voices.

"Hermione have best not gotten me a bloody book."

Estella rolled her eyes and pushed open the door. "Don't worry," she snorted. The boys jumped at her sudden entrance.

"Merlin's beard Penny, you can't ruddy do that," Ron exclaimed sending his presents flying.

Harry looked at her in surprise. "How did they even let you in the boys dormitories?"

Estella shrugged mischievously "I asked nicely."

Ron rolled his eyes, grumbling under his breath. "Have you opened your presents?"

Estella looked slightly embarrassed. "No," she fiddled with a lock of her hair "I usually wait a while, to make it last longer."

Ron looked at her oddly while Harry snorted. "I opened mine from the Dursleys just to get it over with. They sent me a fifty cent piece and said the postage costed more."

Estella burst into laughter. "I'm sorry Harry," she wiped a tear from her eye. "That's awful."

"That was them being rather pleasant actually," Harry shrugged. "Besides Mrs. Weasley sent me a sweater to make up for it," he gestured to the emerald shirt.

Ron groaned. "She does that for all of us. Bit tiring really."

Estella laughed. "Have you opened Hermione and Is gift?" she grinned mischievously, taking a seat on the floor.

Harry held up the books he and Ron had unwrapped. "What.. exactly are they?" the black haired boy asked sheepishly.

"They're ruddy blank." Ron exclaimed, holding his upside down.

Estella rolled her eyes "you're going to break it Ronald." She grabbed it from him and took a spare quill from the nightstand. "You write a word," she scribbled "Quidditch" on the first page. "And all the information on it from our first year textbooks comes up." Several paragraphs appeared underneath her handwriting, describing the game.

"So it's like a glossary?" Harry examined his book curiously while Ron looked overjoyed.

"I never have to go to the library again!"

"It only gives information from our textbooks this year," Estella reminded him.

The ginger boy glared at her. "Stop ruining the moment."

Estella snorted. "Well Hermione said to tell you she hopes it means she can stop being your personal tutor."

Harry looked between the two and wisely changed the subject. "You should open your gifts Penny."

"They're down in the Slytherin common room.." Estella was cut off as Fred and George Weasley burst through the door.

"Oi Ronniekins!" Fred exclaimed. "Tried on mum's jumper yet?"

George blinked at Estella. "Blackwood what are you doing here?" He raised an eyebrow slyly. "Did you naughty snake have a sleepover?"

Estella felt herself turn scarlet. "I did NOT!" she exclaimed hotly. "I'm just here to see Ron and Harry open their presents."

Fred rustled her hair teasingly. "Whatever helps you sleep at night Slytherin."

George shook his head at her in mock disapproval before turning to Ron. "I believe someone's not wearing dear Mummy's present.."

Ron turned a faint pink "Aww bugger off," he grumbled.

"But maroon's such a nice color," Fred pulled the jumper over Ron's head.

"Why don't you guys see if Percy's wearing his?" Estella quickly put in.

The twins looked at her in surprise.

"Wow."

"Who knew a Slytherin could be so smart?"

They turned to the two other boys. "We like her!"

Estella turned red again as Fred paused in the doorway. "Oh and Blackwood, your evil friend Davis made us bring your presents to the common room, said that she couldn't stop you from being tarnished by us idiots."

Estella snorted as the twins trotted off to torment the older Weasley brother. "Tracy knows me too well." She sprinted downstairs to grab her presents and came back to see Ron and Harry standing in awe over a shimmering cloak. Estella recognized it instantly. "Merlin's pants," she breathed. "Harry, that's.."

"An invisibility cloak," Ron finished, flabbergasted, his sweets forgotten.

Harry handed Estella a piece of parchment numbly and she read the words aloud. "Your father left this in my possession before he died. It's time it was returned to you. Use it well." She looked at the boy who lived. "Oh Harry."

Harry ran the cloak through his fingers, disappearing under the material. He seemed to shake something from his mind as he stood. "Well

didn't we want to explore the restricted section?"