Chapter 156: The True Function of the Invisibility Cloak
Dinner had come and gone, and the end of term was just around the corner. Tomorrow, on the 17th of December, the winter holidays would officially begin for first-years.
Due to scheduling delays, the first-year students remained on campus three days longer than the upper years, who had left the previous Friday. But the delay gave them the chance to witness the full splendor of Hogwarts dressed for Christmas.
In the Great Hall, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were busy adorning the room with holiday decorations, while Hagrid cheerfully hauled in one enormous fir tree after another.
The result was spectacular. Glittering holly and mistletoe draped the stone walls. Twelve massive Christmas trees stood tall, some shimmering with icicles, others lit by floating candles.
Not satisfied, Professor Flitwick waved his wand and conjured a spray of golden bubbles that settled delicately among the branches. Professor McGonagall gave a rare nod of approval.
This year's Christmas felt different from the rest. As usual, Penelope Clearwater had gone home, and even Kate, whose parents were rarely present in her life, had left to visit them for the holidays.
With Hermione also having gone home, Alexander Smith realized he was now surrounded almost exclusively by boys. In fact, including himself, only three students remained in the Ravenclaw dormitory: Alexander, Ron, and Harry.
A little pitiful, if he were being honest.
With the castle so empty, Harry finally started to enjoy wandering its halls again. Together, he and Ron explored Hogwarts freely—leaving traces of mischief and footprints in the snow wherever they went. The Philosopher's Stone, Quirrell's suspicious behavior, and the recent drama with Quidditch had temporarily faded from Harry's mind.
When not roaming the corridors, the pair claimed the best seats by the fire in the common room, poking bread, pancakes, and mushrooms over the flames with forks and thumbing through whatever random books they found.
In the blink of an eye, a week passed—and Christmas arrived.
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Christmas Morning – Ravenclaw Dormitory
When Alexander awoke, he found four gifts neatly stacked at the foot of his bed.
Kate and Penelope had sent him Muggle novels—clearly books they knew he hadn't read. Exactly his style.
Hermione had gifted him a pair of woolen gloves. She'd noticed he never wore any, even in freezing weather.
Harry had gifted him a copy of The Mad Magic of Eccentric Wizards, apparently under the assumption that Alexander was a bookworm. In truth, he would've preferred an obscure fantasy novel, but the thought counted.
As Alexander examined the gifts, a loud gasp came from the other side of the dormitory.
Harry had just unwrapped it.
His long-awaited Invisibility Cloak.
Harry had peeled back the paper, and a shimmer of liquid-silver spilled onto the floor like flowing water. Ron gasped and leaned in with awe.
"Invisibility Cloak," Ron whispered reverently. "Put it on. Let's see!"
Harry stared at the cloak, then at Alexander, who sat still, deliberately silent. Harry could tell—this wasn't just any invisibility cloak.
This was the Invisibility Cloak. One of the Deathly Hallows.
He ran his fingers along the shimmering material. It felt almost like woven moonlight, cool and slippery to the touch.
A folded note fell from the cloak's folds. Harry snatched it quickly. But Ron, peeking over his shoulder, had already read it aloud.
> "Your father left this in my care before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. Merry Christmas."
Harry's hand trembled slightly. He knew this wasn't just a magical heirloom. It was James Potter's cloak—the legendary Hallow that Death himself once granted.
Regular invisibility cloaks wore out over time. They were made with Disillusionment Charms, Demiguise hair, or sleight enchantments. But not this.
This was eternal.
Still, Harry kept his expression neutral. He didn't want Ron to realize the full significance of what they held.
Ron shrugged. "That handwriting is really weird… kind of swirly. What's the big deal?"
"Nothing," Harry said quickly, tucking the note into his pocket and holding the cloak close.
He doesn't understand… but I do, Harry thought. If I have the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone can't be far behind.
---
Ron had grown more excited about Harry's gifts than Harry himself. He eagerly rummaged through the growing pile, hoping for something equally impressive.
But nothing quite matched the Invisibility Cloak.
Hagrid had gifted Harry a hand-carved wooden flute. Hermione gave him a box of Chocolate Frogs. Anthony Goldstein had sent him a magical music box that played the Ravenclaw anthem in seven different tempos.
More odd little trinkets followed—thoughtful, but forgettable.
Finally, only three gifts remained.
Ron sheepishly opened his—a bright green hand-knitted jumper and a large tin of homemade fudge.
"Another Weasley sweater," he muttered. "Mum says everyone gets one."
Harry slipped his on immediately. "It's warm. I like it."
But then came the last two gifts—and Ron's mood darkened.
They were from Draco Malfoy and his father, Lucius Malfoy.
Draco had sent Harry a miniature enchanted model of a Golden Snitch, which flitted around the dorm like a real one.
Lucius's gift, however, was far more extravagant: a small, enchanted bag with a Seamless Extension Charm—a Traceless Stretching Charm, to be exact.
"You can use it to carry all your presents," Draco had added smugly, via enclosed note.
Ron forced a laugh. "Haha… My mum said she'd send mine for me. It's… the thought that counts, right?"
Harry tried to reassure him, but it didn't help.
It wasn't until Harry bitterly muttered, "My aunt and uncle didn't send me anything. Not even old socks this year," that Ron managed a smile again.
Together, they packed Harry's gifts into the magical bag. The cloak, however, he hid carefully beneath the covers.
---
After the others left, Alexander stepped forward.
He picked up the cloak.
To most, it shimmered. To Alexander, with his magical vision, it seemed to vanish entirely.
Even from a magical perspective—it had no aura.
It wasn't just a high-level item. It was something beyond magic.
Ordinary cloaks, even expensive ones, could obscure sight, scent, and even sound. But they wore out, lost power, became frayed over decades.
This cloak didn't just hide you. It made you unfindable.
From what Alexander had studied, even Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye couldn't see through it—not because it was too powerful, but because it didn't radiate anything to detect.
This isn't really an invisibility cloak at all, Alexander realized.
Its purpose was never invisibility—it was immortality.
The true power of the Deathly Hallow wasn't concealment, but protection from death itself. Legends said that as long as you wore it, Death could not touch you.
You would not die of age. You would not die at all.
Harry Potter, unknowingly, now carried with him more than a legacy—he held a shield against death itself.
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(End of Chapter 156)
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