I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.

The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 41 – Holi-dazed

The door to the second year boys' dormitory opened with a bang.

Ron started from a deep sleep, dragging his covers up to his chin. "Blimey Hermione," he said grouchily. "Can't you just let us sleep? Also, what are you doing here!"

"Waking you, obviously," she replied with a slightly sharp tone. "We have a lot to do today so you might as well get up. Oh and Happy Christmas by the way." She looked about the room. All but one of the beds had their curtains open. The others were empty, their owners having left to go home for the Holiday. Ron had slept with his curtains opened. The remaining bed had the curtains drawn.

She rapped one of the posts gently. "Harry, are you awake?" she asked softly, ignoring Ron's snort of indignation.

"How come he gets a polite wakening?" Ron asked sourly.

"If your curtains were drawn, I'd be polite as well Ronald," she said.

"How does that make any sense?"

"Proper manners receive proper responses."

A thin arm poked out of the curtains, groping about for the nightstand. "I'm awake," Harry said sleepily. He finally found his glasses sitting on Percy's carved owl and he pulled his hand back in, slipping his glasses on. He drew the curtains back and smiled at his two friends. "Happy Christmas!"

"Aren't you going to ask why she barged in?" Ron asked him.

Harry shrugged. "I figured it was for something important."

Hermione smirked triumphantly. "It is. The Polyjuice Potion is ready."

Ron grinned; his mood forgotten. "Excellent. Then we'll get Malfoy to confess and he'll be out of here by tomorrow."

"Only if he's guilty," Hermione said. "Though I do believe he is a prime suspect." She watched Harry flounder in overlarge pajamas that looked very threadbare. "What are you doing Harry?"

Harry had pulled the stack of presents from the foot of his bed to the side and picked up a package that had sat beneath the owl. "Giving you a place to sit so you don't have to stand there," he said gesturing at the clear spot at the end of his bed. "And this is your present. I wanted to give it to you in person this year!"

Hermione blushed as she sat on his bed, eagerly taking the package from him. She tore the paper open and opened the slim wooden case. "Oh wow Harry!" she exclaimed, looking at the quill care kit that lay before her. The different tools needed to maintain good quills were organized neatly in the case: a sharp knife for trimming, oil for keeping the feather protected, cleaning clothes, and bottle cleaners.

Harry smiled to himself. He had seen Hermione gush over the one Percy had and used his as much as she could. It had been easy to find a nice one for her. He decided to open her gift to him while she was there and he was similarly enthused. The luxury eagle quill felt light in his hand and it looked incredibly fancy, coming with its own cap and protective roll. "Looks like we thought of similar gifts!"

Apparently, he and Ron were on the same wavelength as well. Ron happily set up his miniature model of Chudley Stadium by his Cannon. The stadium glowed with the team colors and played a grander version of their fight song when touched. Harry received Flying with the Cannons from Ron, a book detailing the long history of the Quidditch team from founding to present day.

For the second year in a row, Harry had more gifts than he ever received in the entirety of living with the Dursleys. He still used and cherished all the gifts he received last year, save for the sweets of course. Admittedly the quills Alicia got him had been worn to nothing and their enchantments faded but he could not bear to throw them away. His handwriting was considerably better after her thoughtful gift. Percy's owl held his glasses at night. His gloves helped him catch the Snitch. The Never-Lock from the twins kept his things secure. The Weasley jumper kept him warm. The flute gave him music. The cloak made his nightly excursions a secret.

He still used his light globe to help him sleep, usually with his rabbit in his arms. They made him feel safe at night.

This year, the gifts were as amazing to him as the ones from last year. He could tell they were chosen with care and he still thanked anyone listening that he had such wonderful friends that cared for him.

Alicia had given him a Potions handbook, one that she recommended for anyone with a passing interest in potion making. She knew it was one of his weaker classes, due to a rather belligerent instructor, and she knew it would help him stay up to par. Oliver had gifted him a set of elbow and knee guards. The twins had given him a box of fireworks they favored. Mrs. Weasley's jumper was as wonderful and warm as always. Hagrid's treacle was a little on the harder side but would be fine after some softening. Percy had given him a magical glasses cleaning kit.

Luna's gift was a delight. She had drawn him the tapestry of the field of flowers for him. The colors shifted on the parchment and he smiled with delight at how wind would blow through the picture, that the time of day would change making it look like shining day one moment and nebulous night the next.

Angelina and Katie had given him a gift together and he would have cried if he was alone with it. It was a large quilt, similar to the one he used the most in the common room. Made from squares of different shades of red checkered with gold, it was far larger than him, perfect for rolling up in. One side was cool and the other side warm and he felt calm and happy when it was draped over him. He loved it.

His happiness helped chase away the anxiety from what was to come later.

-0-

"Hello Harry, a word if I may?"

"Sure," Harry said, following Alicia willingly to a corner in the common room. "How was your holiday?"

She sat on the window sill and patted it, indicating for him to sit beside her. "Oh it was lovely, thank you." She hugged him and pecked him on the cheek. "Thank you for the portable scales by the way, such a lovely gift! How did you know I needed a new set?"

He smiled happily. "I heard you mention how yours fell apart during class one day. I also heard you say you didn't like the school ones because you felt the metal reacted negatively with some of the more delicate reagents and ingredients."

"I'm going to have to mind my words around you," she smiled. "Such a good listener." Her smile faded and she gave him a serious and calculated look. "How was your holiday?"

Harry tried to keep his face calm. It had been a bit of a disaster. The Polyjuice Potion had worked for him and Ron. They were able to infiltrate the Slytherin common room and subtly ask Draco questions. They discovered that the last time the Chamber was open, a student had died. They also learned Draco had no idea who the Heir was. They also heard him say all sorts of foul things about Half-bloods and Muggle-borns but they knew that he was a foul git already.

However, they had almost been caught. When they managed to shake off pursuit and get back to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, they found a Hermione with whiskers, fur, cat ears, and a tail. The Polyjuice Potion was not meant for human to animal transformations and she had accidentally used a bit of cat fur instead of a person's hair.

Thankfully Madam Pomfrey did not ask too many questions when they took Hermione to her but the looks were enough to make Harry feel especially bad. He knew Hermione wanted to take the risk and he did not convince her to do anything, but he still felt responsible.

To make matters more confusing he ran into Dobby again, for the first time since the summer. The House Elf confessed that he was responsible for the Bludger as well as blocking Harry on the platform back at King's Cross Station. It was all for Harry's benefit, somehow. Before Harry could get more information, the House Elf had fled. Dobby did say one thing of worth before he did. That everything that was happening had happened once before.

"Fine," was all Harry said in reply.

Alicia stared at him for a moment then looked down at the book in his hands. "I see you're making use of my potions book to you."

"Oh I love it. It's got loads of information. I feel like I've learned a lot from it already."

"That's good," Alicia said. She then plucked it from his hands and opened it to where he had placed a bookmark. She put her finger to his lips to interrupt his protest. "Hmm, interested in the properties of Boomslang skin? That's rather advanced for a second year if I recall."

Harry resisted the urge to wipe away his nervous sweat. "It uh…looked interesting."

"It certainly is. Especially if you mix it with crushed Bicorn horn."

"Powdered," Harry corrected absentmindedly. Then he realized what he said and groaned out loud.

"I knew it." Alicia leaned in, her eyes boring into him. "That's what I was smelling off you and Hermione towards the end of last term. What are you two doing making Polyjuice Potion?"

"We, uh, well," he coughed, "would you believe me if I said it was for a Potions project?"

"No," she said flatly.

"Defense Against the Dark Arts project?"

She snorted. "Maybe if we had a real teacher, but no. Try again."

"I mean, technically it's for school. As in, we were trying to help with the whole…Chamber problem." He looked down at the ground.

She just stared at him. "Harry, you don't want to mess around with that stuff. It's tricky to make and disastrous if made wrong."

"It was made well," he could not help saying.

She rolled her eyes. "Not by you I bet. No offense dear but there's a reason why I help you a lot in Potions." She looked around the common room. "Where's Hermione?"

Harry looked through a wall in the direction of the Medical Wing.

Alicia followed his line of sight and groaned. "What happened?"

"I'm not saying she drank any, and I'm also not saying she didn't accidentally use the…wrong kind of hair."

Alicia leaned back with crossed arms. "You two are idiots."

Harry nodded glumly.

"You could have done something terrible and extremely permanent."

He nodded again.

She reached out and put her hands on his face forcing him to look at her. "Harry, do you remember what I said to you after our first match this year?" She felt him nod. "What did I say?"

"That I'm an idiot," he said dutifully. "That I shouldn't listen to Oliver when he's being a Quidditch fanatic. That if I am going to do anything stupid and or dangerous I should really check with you or Angelina or Katie first. Oh, and that I'm an idiot."

"Good boy, you remembered that I called you an idiot twice." She sighed heavily. "Harry, you know I care a lot about you and your safety. There are reasons you don't do things like that without help."

"I know," he said quietly. Then he tried to smile. "In my defense, you weren't technically around when we allegedly drank it, so I couldn't have asked you. It would have taken Hedwig too long to fly to you and back."

Alicia could not keep the smile from her face. "Damn it all, if that isn't something I would say to exploit a loophole." She pinched his cheeks hard. "This is for listening like me instead of listening to me." She released him and waved her wand, summoning a quill and parchment. She wrote down a few things onto the parchment and gave it to him.

He looked down at it, rubbing his cheeks. "What's this?"

"A combination of ingredients that help reverse Boomslang skin effects a little faster. It's a Spinnet Family recipe. Take it to Madam Pomfrey, it should help whatever Hermione did not do, allegedly." She poked him in the chest emphatically. "That is a Family secret so I hope you understand what I'm risking."

He tried to give it back. "I don't want you getting in trouble with your family."

She regretted her choice of words, wincing slightly as she pushed it back. "I won't get in trouble and if I do, I can handle myself. I just want you to know what we're willing to do for you. You have to be careful, okay?"

Harry did not know how to respond aside from hugging Alicia as hard as he could.

Her cheeks were bright as she hugged him back. "Okay okay, get off me, I have a reputation to protect," she said but her smile betrayed her true feelings. "Hurry up and go. And tell Hermione that she and I are going to have a talk when she gets back."

-0-

Katie and Angelina's eyes widened at Harry launching himself at Alicia. He threw himself from a few feet away, hugging her tightly on the couch.

"What did you do to him?" Angelina asked suspiciously.

Alicia pretended to look offended. "What makes you think I did anything? Maybe this is how Harry always greets me and you two aren't around to see it. Maybe he likes me more than you two."

Harry looked at the girls with shining eyes. "Hermione…got sick over holiday and Alicia told me a remedy to help her feel better. She took it and Madam Pomfrey said she's going to get better a lot sooner!"

Alicia sighed. "Harry, don't ruin my fun next time." She coughed when Harry squeezed her mid-section harder. "Okay, ruin my fun all you want," she giggled.

Katie smiled. "I'm glad to hear Hermione will get better soon. Getting sick is no fun, especially over holiday."

Harry leaned close to Alicia's ear and whispered, "Hermione told me to tell you thank you and that she's not looking forward to the talk."

"Now you're keeping secrets from us?" Angelina said with a faux pout.

"I never keep secrets from you dearest friend," Alicia said. "Harry was just telling me I'm the superior hugger but he wanted me to say so to spare your delicate feelings."

"Oh is that right?" Angelina crossed her arms and looked away. "Fine then Rabbit, I see how it is. Maybe you can just hug Alicia all you want forever now."

"Give her the look," Alicia whispered to Harry.

It took only a scant few seconds for Angelina's resolve to crumble and she had pulled Harry into her lap.

"Shameless," Katie said shaking her head at Alicia. "Utterly shameless."

"He certainly is," Alicia agreed. "We should try to curtail this behavior before it gets worse."