Chapter 9 - Christmas Surprise
Harry woke up to Ron yelling in his ear. "Hullo! Harry!" Harry pushed Ron away and put on his glasses. Quickly they unwrapped their presents. Harry and Ron both had sweater, handmade, by Mrs. Weasley. There was other little trinkets and candy from other people.
When they were done they went downstairs to join Hermione and Avalon, who were sitting by the fire. Avalon immediately jumped up and went behind Hermione's chair with a grin stretching from ear to ear. Hermione had a similar smile.
"Ron and Harry," said Hermione. "Avalon and I have a surprise for you."
Avalon came forward with to packages. "We hope you like them." She handed them to the boys.
Ron and Harry ripped them open. They were wand-servicing kits!
"Thanks!" Ron and Harry said together as they opened the kits.
Realizing they need their wands to actually polish them they ran back upstairs. As they came back down someone knock on the portrait-door. Avalon immediately ran for it. They heard her talking to someone. Ron started to get up to see whom she was talking too. She came back before he could with four long, slender looking packages in plain paper brown wrapping.
She sat down in her seat next to Hermione. "My two uncles, my godfather, and - err - a family friend wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas," said Avalon, in a semi-fast voice. She was obviously excited. "I told them I only wanted things for my friends." If possible her smile from before was even bigger. "My Uncle Remmy's presents will come later. My Uncle Seven seemed reluctant but agreed. My godfather, Al, agreed to my idea also. And my uncle's friend, Siry, was for it too. Al though decided I need a present of my own too." She sniggered. "Ironically they all got us the same thing. Spoils it for me though since I know what they are." She looked at the name on the packages and then handed them to the correct friend.
Ron ripped his opened and Harry was sure he'd faint any moment. Hermione let out a yelp as if something had bitten her. Slowly Harry opened his own package. What it was totally amazed him. It was a Firebolt. He understood Ron and Hermione's reactions. He looked it over. Had everything like it did when he saw it at Diagon Alley.
The superfine handle of ash, the registration number, tails twigs of birch, and when you picked up and let it go it hovered at the exact height for you to get on. Harry went through the list in his mind. He had read the information on it enough times and knew it by heart. It was just unbelievable to have it in his hand and in the flesh - so to speak.
"Are these real?" asked Ron. He was the first one to speak.
Avalon nodded. "As real as you and I are."
Ron looked like he agreed. Then he reached over a pinch Hermione's arm. She screamed and slapped his hand. Rubbing her arm she glared at him. "Sorry, just had to make sure we're both real," somberly Ron said, who rubbed his own hand.
There was another moment of silence and more examining of brooms.
Hermione shook her head. "We can't accept these. It's not right. We're your friends, but . . . its too much."
"Probably with the amount these brooms cost you and your family will end up living at the burrow with me and mine," said Ron.
"Saves us the extra time of going all over to visit then," said Harry distantly, looking at his broom still. They all laughed; it broke up some of the awkward tension.
Ron stood by his hovering Firebolt. Almost instantly he got a mischievous look on his face.
"Don't you dare think of it Ron," said Avalon and Hermione together. "No flying inside."
"I think I might have to agree with Hermione," said Harry reluctantly, though he would love to ride the Firebolt.
Avalon shook her head vehemently. "Nope, sorry, not returns. Besides, you only know my family by their nicknames. Even Hedwig couldn't find them. So you can't send them back, and there is no way I'm going to tell you their proper names or where they are." She eyed Hermione. "And don't even think of looking for a spell to make me tell you."
Ron beamed at Avalon. "Right then, we'll have to find a perfect time to tests these out, of course. Since we can't fly them inside."
"I was thinking we could test them out on the pitch," suggested Avalon. "It'd be nice. No one is here, really, and can't disturb us." Everyone knew whom she meant.
So they decided to ask Professor McGonagall for permission to use the Quidditch Pitch to test out their new brooms. The prospect of riding a broom used by professionals made everyone happy.
When they entered the Great Hall they found all of the tables on the sides, except one where Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, Snape, and the caretaker, Filch. Not many students had stayed behind. Only a nervous first year, an older Slytherin, and of course themselves.
Dumbledore greeted them as they sat down. "Happy Christmas! I trust that you're all please with your gifts." There was twinkle in his eye that made Harry think he knew more than he was suggesting. Harry was right. "That is why you may use the pitch until term starts again."
Ron looked excited and Hermione had a smile on her face. Harry was thrilled. Avalon looked at Dumbledore and seemed to share a secret smile with him.
"Un-er-Professor Lupin didn't go home did he?" asked Avalon after a pause.
"I'm afraid he's not feeling well right now," said McGonagall. Harry noticed a very faint smile from Snape.
Harry was going to ask McGonagall something when there was a loud bang. Snape had reluctantly pulled a cracker. A witch hat resembling the one Neville's grandmother wore lay before him. He heard Ron and Avalon snort trying to hold back laughter. Snape pushed it away and Dumbledore promptly picked it up and swapped it for his own. Then the headmaster declared that they should eat.
To everyone's surprised Professor Trelawney came to join them. Harry heard Ron tell Hermione she resembled an insect. Dumbledore greeted her as he stood up. She replied happily and he drew up another chair with his wand. She protested saying that it'd make thirteen. McGonagall couldn't take it and commanded her to sit down. The two women professors exchanged looks. Trelawney sat down reluctantly.
The feast was pleasant after that. Harry made sure not to eat too much because they were going to the Quidditch Pitch to fly on their new brooms.
Harry, Ron, and Avalon stood up together to wait for Hermione, who was finishing her pumpkin juice.
"Ah!" Trelawney cried. "You three stood up at the same time. That means you'll be the first ones to die."
"Rubbish," said McGonagall. That seemed to stop Trelawney from saying anything further at the table about death.
Harry felt at ease as he mounted his Firebolt. He did a test run around the pitch first to get used to it. It seemed to rely more on thought than grip.
"Race you, Potter," challenged Ron, who had the biggest grin on his face. This was probably one of the happiest days of his life.
"You're on, Weasley," replied Harry.
"Wanna join us Granger and Rastaban?" Ron yelled to them. The boys laughed at referring to each other by their last names.
The girls zoomed over, Hermione a little more cautious than Avalon. "Join what?" asked Hermione looking suspicious of their attentions.
"A race," explained Harry. "Want to join us?"
"Sounds like fun," said Avalon with a smile. "C'mon Hermione. It'd be great." She nudged her friend who had to catch her broom handle to keep from falling off.
She rolled her eyes. "All right," agree Hermione.
The four arranged themselves into a straight-line at one end of the pitch. The winner was whoever made it to the other side first.
"Ready," said Ron, "set, GO!" Off they went.
At first they were even. Hermione was the first to slack off, still not fully use to her broom. Then Avalon followed shortly afterwards. It was neck and neck with Ron and Harry.
"Give up Harry! You're only going to lose!" taunted Ron.
"Never!"
Something flew past Ron. It was Avalon making a come back. She turned back a waved at the boys. She was only a broom length in front of them.
"Ah, no!" said Ron trying to push his broom to go fast. Harry was doing the same. He took a quick look back to see that Hermione wasn't to far behind.
Avalon was almost to the finish line. Ron and Harry were trying to beat her. All of the sudden she stopped and sat up straight and rigid. The boys thought it was a ploy but decided against it when she went limp and fell to the side.
"Avalon!" cried Ron, stopping mid air, nearly causing Hermione to collide with him.
Harry dove after her. She was near the ground when Harry decided he couldn't fly right to her and catch her. He dove past her and waited. He positioned his broom so he was right under her. He caught her in his arms, but the force of her knocked both of them off his broom to the ground ten feet below.
Ron, who had Avalon's broom in hand, and Hermione dismounted their own brooms and ran to their friends. "Are you ok?" asked Ron.
Harry nodded. "I'm fine, but I think she needs to see Madam Pomfrey." Ran came forward and picked up Avalon.
"Blimey, she's heavy!" said Ron. He received a glare from Hermione who apparently didn't care for the comment.
"You're just weak," said Harry. Ron took Avalon's feet and Harry took her arms. Hermione gathered their brooms and walked with them to the medical wing.
Harry woke up to Ron yelling in his ear. "Hullo! Harry!" Harry pushed Ron away and put on his glasses. Quickly they unwrapped their presents. Harry and Ron both had sweater, handmade, by Mrs. Weasley. There was other little trinkets and candy from other people.
When they were done they went downstairs to join Hermione and Avalon, who were sitting by the fire. Avalon immediately jumped up and went behind Hermione's chair with a grin stretching from ear to ear. Hermione had a similar smile.
"Ron and Harry," said Hermione. "Avalon and I have a surprise for you."
Avalon came forward with to packages. "We hope you like them." She handed them to the boys.
Ron and Harry ripped them open. They were wand-servicing kits!
"Thanks!" Ron and Harry said together as they opened the kits.
Realizing they need their wands to actually polish them they ran back upstairs. As they came back down someone knock on the portrait-door. Avalon immediately ran for it. They heard her talking to someone. Ron started to get up to see whom she was talking too. She came back before he could with four long, slender looking packages in plain paper brown wrapping.
She sat down in her seat next to Hermione. "My two uncles, my godfather, and - err - a family friend wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas," said Avalon, in a semi-fast voice. She was obviously excited. "I told them I only wanted things for my friends." If possible her smile from before was even bigger. "My Uncle Remmy's presents will come later. My Uncle Seven seemed reluctant but agreed. My godfather, Al, agreed to my idea also. And my uncle's friend, Siry, was for it too. Al though decided I need a present of my own too." She sniggered. "Ironically they all got us the same thing. Spoils it for me though since I know what they are." She looked at the name on the packages and then handed them to the correct friend.
Ron ripped his opened and Harry was sure he'd faint any moment. Hermione let out a yelp as if something had bitten her. Slowly Harry opened his own package. What it was totally amazed him. It was a Firebolt. He understood Ron and Hermione's reactions. He looked it over. Had everything like it did when he saw it at Diagon Alley.
The superfine handle of ash, the registration number, tails twigs of birch, and when you picked up and let it go it hovered at the exact height for you to get on. Harry went through the list in his mind. He had read the information on it enough times and knew it by heart. It was just unbelievable to have it in his hand and in the flesh - so to speak.
"Are these real?" asked Ron. He was the first one to speak.
Avalon nodded. "As real as you and I are."
Ron looked like he agreed. Then he reached over a pinch Hermione's arm. She screamed and slapped his hand. Rubbing her arm she glared at him. "Sorry, just had to make sure we're both real," somberly Ron said, who rubbed his own hand.
There was another moment of silence and more examining of brooms.
Hermione shook her head. "We can't accept these. It's not right. We're your friends, but . . . its too much."
"Probably with the amount these brooms cost you and your family will end up living at the burrow with me and mine," said Ron.
"Saves us the extra time of going all over to visit then," said Harry distantly, looking at his broom still. They all laughed; it broke up some of the awkward tension.
Ron stood by his hovering Firebolt. Almost instantly he got a mischievous look on his face.
"Don't you dare think of it Ron," said Avalon and Hermione together. "No flying inside."
"I think I might have to agree with Hermione," said Harry reluctantly, though he would love to ride the Firebolt.
Avalon shook her head vehemently. "Nope, sorry, not returns. Besides, you only know my family by their nicknames. Even Hedwig couldn't find them. So you can't send them back, and there is no way I'm going to tell you their proper names or where they are." She eyed Hermione. "And don't even think of looking for a spell to make me tell you."
Ron beamed at Avalon. "Right then, we'll have to find a perfect time to tests these out, of course. Since we can't fly them inside."
"I was thinking we could test them out on the pitch," suggested Avalon. "It'd be nice. No one is here, really, and can't disturb us." Everyone knew whom she meant.
So they decided to ask Professor McGonagall for permission to use the Quidditch Pitch to test out their new brooms. The prospect of riding a broom used by professionals made everyone happy.
When they entered the Great Hall they found all of the tables on the sides, except one where Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, Snape, and the caretaker, Filch. Not many students had stayed behind. Only a nervous first year, an older Slytherin, and of course themselves.
Dumbledore greeted them as they sat down. "Happy Christmas! I trust that you're all please with your gifts." There was twinkle in his eye that made Harry think he knew more than he was suggesting. Harry was right. "That is why you may use the pitch until term starts again."
Ron looked excited and Hermione had a smile on her face. Harry was thrilled. Avalon looked at Dumbledore and seemed to share a secret smile with him.
"Un-er-Professor Lupin didn't go home did he?" asked Avalon after a pause.
"I'm afraid he's not feeling well right now," said McGonagall. Harry noticed a very faint smile from Snape.
Harry was going to ask McGonagall something when there was a loud bang. Snape had reluctantly pulled a cracker. A witch hat resembling the one Neville's grandmother wore lay before him. He heard Ron and Avalon snort trying to hold back laughter. Snape pushed it away and Dumbledore promptly picked it up and swapped it for his own. Then the headmaster declared that they should eat.
To everyone's surprised Professor Trelawney came to join them. Harry heard Ron tell Hermione she resembled an insect. Dumbledore greeted her as he stood up. She replied happily and he drew up another chair with his wand. She protested saying that it'd make thirteen. McGonagall couldn't take it and commanded her to sit down. The two women professors exchanged looks. Trelawney sat down reluctantly.
The feast was pleasant after that. Harry made sure not to eat too much because they were going to the Quidditch Pitch to fly on their new brooms.
Harry, Ron, and Avalon stood up together to wait for Hermione, who was finishing her pumpkin juice.
"Ah!" Trelawney cried. "You three stood up at the same time. That means you'll be the first ones to die."
"Rubbish," said McGonagall. That seemed to stop Trelawney from saying anything further at the table about death.
Harry felt at ease as he mounted his Firebolt. He did a test run around the pitch first to get used to it. It seemed to rely more on thought than grip.
"Race you, Potter," challenged Ron, who had the biggest grin on his face. This was probably one of the happiest days of his life.
"You're on, Weasley," replied Harry.
"Wanna join us Granger and Rastaban?" Ron yelled to them. The boys laughed at referring to each other by their last names.
The girls zoomed over, Hermione a little more cautious than Avalon. "Join what?" asked Hermione looking suspicious of their attentions.
"A race," explained Harry. "Want to join us?"
"Sounds like fun," said Avalon with a smile. "C'mon Hermione. It'd be great." She nudged her friend who had to catch her broom handle to keep from falling off.
She rolled her eyes. "All right," agree Hermione.
The four arranged themselves into a straight-line at one end of the pitch. The winner was whoever made it to the other side first.
"Ready," said Ron, "set, GO!" Off they went.
At first they were even. Hermione was the first to slack off, still not fully use to her broom. Then Avalon followed shortly afterwards. It was neck and neck with Ron and Harry.
"Give up Harry! You're only going to lose!" taunted Ron.
"Never!"
Something flew past Ron. It was Avalon making a come back. She turned back a waved at the boys. She was only a broom length in front of them.
"Ah, no!" said Ron trying to push his broom to go fast. Harry was doing the same. He took a quick look back to see that Hermione wasn't to far behind.
Avalon was almost to the finish line. Ron and Harry were trying to beat her. All of the sudden she stopped and sat up straight and rigid. The boys thought it was a ploy but decided against it when she went limp and fell to the side.
"Avalon!" cried Ron, stopping mid air, nearly causing Hermione to collide with him.
Harry dove after her. She was near the ground when Harry decided he couldn't fly right to her and catch her. He dove past her and waited. He positioned his broom so he was right under her. He caught her in his arms, but the force of her knocked both of them off his broom to the ground ten feet below.
Ron, who had Avalon's broom in hand, and Hermione dismounted their own brooms and ran to their friends. "Are you ok?" asked Ron.
Harry nodded. "I'm fine, but I think she needs to see Madam Pomfrey." Ran came forward and picked up Avalon.
"Blimey, she's heavy!" said Ron. He received a glare from Hermione who apparently didn't care for the comment.
"You're just weak," said Harry. Ron took Avalon's feet and Harry took her arms. Hermione gathered their brooms and walked with them to the medical wing.