Chapter 8: Christmas At Last!

Harry woke up to find a huge pile of presents at the foot off his bed. He put his glasses on and found Ron and Hermione beside his bed.

"Sorry," Ron mumbled and gave Harry a heavy present. He opened it and found out it was the new Gryffindor Quidditch strip. Harry had been the only one without one because every house was getting a new one and Proffesor Snape hadn't issued him one. Harry stared delightedly at it.

"Thanks!," Harry exclaimed.

"It's from both off us because I couldn't think off one for you," Hermione explained hurriedly, "Sorry".

Harry got up and hugged them both,

"Don't worry," Harry replied, and handed them their presents.

"Thanks," they both said as they opened theirs.

"Wow!!", Ron cried,looking as thourgh he might faint, "I've never seen so many Chocolate Frogs!! Thanks".

"No problem," Harry replied. Hermione was more in shock than Ron had been. She hadn't expected that she would get the Standard Book Of Spells Grade 6 and Hogwarts:A History,Volume 2 and when she saw them she did faint.

Harry pulled out his wand and muttered,

"Enrevate". Hermione got up and stared at the books for a few seconds before racing down the stairs to get her favourite armchair by the fire and indulge herself in them.

"Thanks Harry," Hermione shouted as she flew down the stairs. Ron and Harry laughed,the first time in ages. Ron pulled the screen across Harry's bed so Harry could get dressed. 5 minutes later Hedwig came in with a parcel, it read:

To Harry

Happy Christmas

From Sirius

Harry had forgotten that Sirius had gone away on a "holiday" to help one of Dumbledoor's spys. In the parcel was a new penknife. This penknife was alot stronger and had 3 blades and a skeleton key.

Their was also a large cake that Harry could see Sirius hadn't made. Ron was amazed,

"Wicked!!!" He had said when Harry opened it, "I wish I had one, all I got was a lousy jumper and some mince pies from my relatives."

"Talking about your relatives doesn't your Mum usually send me a jumper as well?" Harry asked,"I'm not trying to act selfish or anything but it does feel a bit strange that every Christmas apart from this she has sent me one".

"Oh well," Ron answered,"that's Mum for you."

Harry and Ron walked down the stairs and sat in the Common Room for a bit till Fred and George challenged them to a snowball fight.

"Your on," Ron had said before Harry could say anyhthing.As they clambed through the portrait Harry caught a glimpse of what page Hermione was on.It was 367.

*

Harry hadn't really joined in the fight except for hurling a snowball at a very cheeky squirrel.

"Look around mate,"Ron chuckled before ducking just in time to avoid a snowball.

"Darn,"Fred said,"oh look over there,it's that stupid Ravenclaw seeker,Cho Chang."Before George could explain that Harry would not be pleased,Fred had conjured up the biggest snowball Harry had ever seen and blasted it at Cho.Harry took out his wand,pointed it at Cho and shouted,

"Impervius!"This conjured a shield around Cho.The snowball collided with the shield and vanished.

"Thanks Harry,"Cho said before kissing him.

"Don't worry he probably would have missed but just to be on the safe side I conjured the shield,"Harry said blushing a bit because everyone had seen Cho kiss him.Cho took out her wand and muttered:

"Accio present".A biggish parcel came hurtling at them and stopped dead in Harrys arms.

"Happy Christmas,"Cho said.Harry wondered what it could be as it was so big.It felt the same weight as Harry's Firebolt had first felt before he had opened that but wasn't the same shape.

"Go on then,open it,"Ron said impatiently.Harry ripped open the paper and found a pink,glowing ball with a strange dial on the top.

"It's a Love Ball,"Cho explained,"It glows pink when your true love appears".The ball was glowing a very bright pink at the moment.

"The dial tells you what direction he/she is in,"Cho carried on.The dial was facing in Cho's direction.

"This is great,"Harry said,"Thanks alot."Harry kissed Cho and took out his present for her.He had kept it under his cloak because he had meant to find Cho after the fight.The present wasn't wrapped,but an Impervius Charm had been put on it so it didn't get stained in the snow.Cho was head over heels about it,

"Wow Harry,how'd you afford this?"Cho asked.

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it,"Harry replied.

"I'll go try it on now,"Cho said.

"Meet me at the staue of the hupbacked witch on the fouth floor in ten minutes,"Harry whispered to Cho.

"Ok,"Cho replied and ran off down the path to the front doors.

"I've gonna put this Love Ball away I'll see you later,"Harry said to Ron and ran back to the castle to find the humpbacked witch.