Chapter 114: The Christmas Lucky Bird
Hogwarts.
Gryffindor dormitory.
Harry and Ron were tearing into their presents with glee.
As he unwrapped, Harry breathed, "I never thought I would get this many presents. I thought I would not get any at all."
The first package he opened was from Hagrid, a roughly carved wooden flute. Harry figured Hagrid must have made it himself. When he tried a note, it sounded remarkably like an owl's hoot.
To his surprise, there was even something from Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon.
A coin.
A fifty-pence piece.
"That is… friendly, in their way."
Hoo.
Hearing the sound, Ron did not even look up from the large parcel he was unwrapping. "Harry, is Hagrid's flute that fun? Let me try it."
"Er, I did not blow it."
A beat later, the soft thump of wings filled the room.
An owl swept inside and dropped a gift box in front of each of them, then chose a random bedpost and settled there without fuss.
Used to owl post by now, the boys dove into the new packages.
"These are from Leonardo. Mine is a broomstick repair kit. He thinks of everything," Harry said, running his fingers over the tools and already reaching for his Nimbus 2000.
"Mine is a portable lunch box that expands and shrinks," Ron read from the card. "It is Leonardo's own work, keeps food warm for ages. Wow, the space inside is huge."
"This means I will not have to worry about late-night snacks when I get peckish."
Ron stowed the lunch box with a satisfied grin, then sighed a little enviously. "Hufflepuffs have it made. Their common room is right by the kitchens. If they want a bite, they just eat."
"Harry, do you think if I were not a Weasley I might have been sorted into Hufflepuff…"
He had only torn one corner off the bulging parcel in his lap when he gave a wry smile. "Mum's knitting. The Weasley family specialty. Why is mine always maroon? It is such a strange color."
"Oh, and Mum told me she knitted one for you, too, Harry, and one for Leonardo as well. I wonder if he will like it."
The owl on the bedpost ruffled its feathers.
Not bad at all. Warm and handsome too.
Mrs Weasley's work was excellent.
The owl that was Leonardo cocked its head and eyed the sweater in Harry's hands.
Bright green. Eye-catching. At least it was not topped with a fluffy bobble hat.
Harry looked genuinely delighted. It was the first time he had received brand-new clothes. He had always worn Dudley's old things. He popped one of Mrs Weasley's homemade fudge squares into his mouth, then unwrapped a Chocolate Frog from Hermione and stuffed it in after.
"Look, Ron. What is this?"
Harry opened the final parcel. A silver-gray something, liquid-like, slid onto the floor.
"No way. Is that…"
Ron scooped it up with reverent disbelief and spread it wide. "An Invisibility Cloak."
"Merlin, if someone gifted me an Invisibility Cloak, I would eat a feast for every meal forever in their honor."
At Ron's urging, Harry swung the cloak around his shoulders.
"You really vanished."
A folded note slipped to the floor by his feet.
"Your father left this in my keeping before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. A very merry Christmas to you."
Harry stared at the words, stunned. He had no idea who had sent it. But it had belonged to his father…
The owl's dark eyes went to the cloak around Harry's shoulders.
Tsk, tsk. The Deathly Hallows already, this early.
Legend said it came from Death's own gift, which was why it was truly and permanently invisible. Not like ordinary cloaks woven with Demiguise hair that faded with time and use, nor the brief invisibility of a Disillusionment Charm.
Well then. With this cloak, Harry could finally start down the main path and chase the Philosopher's Stone.
Leonardo's pupils tightened. Using an owl's excellent sight, he fixed on an open Chocolate Frog box.
Time to nudge things along.
He snapped his wings and dove for the pile of frogs.
"Merlin's beard, that owl is stealing our sweets."
"Stop it."
Leonardo slid past their flailing hands, flicked a Chocolate Frog so the collectible card fluttered neatly into Harry's waiting fingers, and then, to their dismay, flew off with one frog clenched in his beak.
Ron gaped. "I have to tell Fred and George. They will never believe this…"
Harry looked down at the Chocolate Frog card he had caught. The face was Albus Dumbledore. His eyes dropped to the text: defeated the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, discovered the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and, in alchemy with his partner Nicolas Flamel…
Nicolas Flamel?
"Nicolas Flamel."
"Right, Harry. Before the holidays, Hermione told us to keep looking into him," Ron said, fishing a Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean from Hermione's box, chewing, and then quietly spitting it out.
"No, look at the card," Harry urged, shaking Ron's shoulder and shoving it into his face. "I knew the name sounded familiar. I just could not place it. It was here all along."
Ron peered properly at last. "Dumbledore. I have several of these…"
"Merlin's woolly socks. Nicolas Flamel."
He clutched the card, eyes glued to the name, as if afraid it might run away.
Then he whipped around to Harry. "That owl is our lucky bird. George told me, If you meet a lucky animal on Christmas Day, you have to honor it, feed it every day, and you will have full bellies and good fortune for life."
"Harry, we have to find that owl."