The Secret Origins

"Harry, wake up. Wake up!"

Harry rolled to his side and opened his eyes. He reached for his glasses, and the world was suddenly a bit too clear. He saw Hermione was standing above him, smiling, Ron behind her in his presumably new sweater, still rubbing his eyes. He was used to being woken up like this, but it was usually less... festive.

"What is it," he groaned.

"Sirius sent us some more letters," she said. "Well, he sent you a letter. He sent us cards. And there's a package, too."

Harry was very suddenly awake and alert. "Where is it?"

"Right here," said Hermione. She handed it over, but suddenly look hesitant. "Harry," she said. "Are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah," he said. "I'll be fine, Hermione. Why wouldn't I?" He opened the letter hastily, not waiting for an answer, and tearing it a bit in the process. His eyes quickly took in the first few lines, and he said, half without meaning to, "Could you - could you just leave me, alone, for a bit?"

"Yes, of course," said Ron, and he grabbed Hermione's arms and took her away.

Dear Harry,

I was thinking about your parents the other day and realized you may not know that you were intended to be raised Jewish. Your aunt abandoned the faith when that Dursley character came along, but your mother and father were very much believers (your mother was fully Jewish, but your father was only on his mother's side, in case you were wondering).

I looked it up, and Hanukkah, the celebration of light, starts on Saturday, the week before Christmas. I figured you might want to celebrate the holidays the way your parents wanted you to.

I am not Jewish, so I do not feel it is right for me to pass on the details of the celebration of Hanukkah. I'm sure your friend Hermione can help with that, if necessary. Attached are your Hanukkah presents - a Menorah, and your father's old prayer book. I hope you bring them to good use.

Happy holidays,

Sirius

Harry was shocked. He never knew. How could he have never known? It was as if he'd discovered a vital part of him, a missing piece in the hidden puzzle of his parents' life.

It explained some things. It also complicated others.

He opened the package. There was in face a little book, one side written in English, one side in a language he didn't recognize. It was a very square, harsh language. There was also something -

His hand touched something harder, something metal. It was probably the Menorah Sirius mentioned - and it was a candlestick with tentacles. Eight tentacles, four on each side, spaced evenly. It was golden, and beautiful, and old. It had character.

"Harry, what's going on?

"Harry?

"Harry?"

I don't even know.

doxy-phobic lycanthrope - I am really glad that you are so interested, however, I would probably recommend you looking up any Jewish terms, simply because, being a Jew in a Jewish environment, I might not explain them well enough.

Happy second day :)

JustGail