The Package.
Ron could not believe his eyes when he saw Harry and Hermione together in the Great Hall the next morning, both looked tired, like they had been up all night but perfectly cheerful. Indeed, by next morning Harry thought that meeting a three headed dog had been an excellent adventure and was keen to do it again. In the meantime Hermione was just as keen if not more to find out what was in the package they believed the dog to be guarding. Her brown eyes twinkled as she listed off all the books to Harry that she might find the answers in, 'Hogwarts: A History... or ... no wait... what about? '
Harry chuckled as he basked in Hermione's enthusiasm. Ron was staring at the exchange with a look of complete confusion, he thought that they hated the know- it- all, his forehead wrinkled as he tried to figure out what was going on and what exactly he had missed. Then suddenly he snapped to attention, he had just remembered what he had missed, the fight between Harry and Malfoy. Ron glanced at the Slytherin table as he sat down, the blonde didn't look bruised or bloody like he expected, in fact, Ron thought he looked really happy. This thought filled Ron with dread as he turned to look at Harry who was still whispering with Hermione he realised Harry looked really happy too! Ron's confusion spread and he could not stay quiet anymore.
'Harry?' he asked
Harry looked at the red-head and saw confusion etched all over his face.
'What's up mate?'
'Erm..' said Ron as he stole a quick glance at Hermione out of the corner of his eye. Hermione huffed and glared at Ron as she crossed her arms across her chest,
'What Ronald?' she demanded.
Bloody hell, thought Ron, just like my mum.
'Erm I was wondering what you guys were talking about' and then as if suddenly remembering, 'and what the bloody hell happened with Malfoy?'
Harry smiled at this as he remembered what had happened but then he filled Ron in on the stry that Draco had come up with.
'That bloody Git!' Ron bellowed.
'Sssh Ron,' said Harry as he stole a worried glance towards Draco, he needn't have worried, Draco had his head bent and was silently chuckling in to his Cornflakes, he knew what Ron had just been told and found it amusing how annoyed the firey tempered red-head was.
'Sssh Ron, let me tell you the rest.'
So Harry filled Ron in (carefully omitting Draco's part) on the three-headed dog and about the package that seemed to have been moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts, and they spent a lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection.
Draco was wondering this himself just as the morning's post arrived. As the owls flooded in to the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a long thin package carried by six large screech owls. Draco was just as interested as everyone else although his face was a mask of complete indifference. However, he could not hide his amazement when the owls soared and dropped the package right in front of his Gryffindor friend. Draco had to stifle a chuckle as Harry's bacon flew everywhere with one piece hitting him squarely in the face, just then, another owl dropped a letter in to Harry's lap. Draco watched as Harry opened the letter with interest. Harry's smile covered his face, his green eyes glittered like emeralds in the morning sun. Draco's eyes narrowed as Harry passed the letter to Ron, 'git' he muttered as Ron's mouth hung open, 'didn't he realise how idiotic he looked.
Harry and Ron left the hall quickly, Draco got up to follow them, he was desperate to know what his friend had received . If only the weasel wasn't there he could just ask. When had life become so complicated?
He ran to cut them off and snatched the parcel from Harry. He would have to apologise later. He felt the package as a look of realisation crossed his face. 'That's a broomstick,' he said chucking it back at Harry. Draco's head was a mixture of emotions, he was jealous, of course he was, he was also really happy for his friend but the most confusing and the strongest emotion was that of worry for his friend;
'You'll be for it this time Ha..Potter, first years aren't allowed brooms.'
Before Harry could reassure his friend Ron spoke,
'It's not any old broomstick...'
As Ron continued Harry felt like smacking Ron around the head with the broomstick , he glanced at the reddening face of Draco as he tried to catch his eye.
Just as Draco was trying to think of a scathing reply to the little weasel he noticed Harry trying to catch his eye. Why was it that this boy could alter his mood some completely. He could quite happily thump the weasels big red face but he didn't want to disappoint Harry, although Harry knew the real him he knew he could only push him so far.
Harry noticed the change in Draco's eyes and visibly relaxed, he liked the fact he had such a calming influence on the taller boy.
Just then Professor Flitwick appeared, Harry tried not to laugh at the look of horror on Draco's face when Professor Flitwick's eye fell on Harry's broom. 'Yes,yes that's right,' said the Professor, 'What model is it?'
'A Nimbus Two Thousand sir,' said Harry and he looked up into Draco's silver eyes, 'And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it,' he added with a smile.