I don't own anything!

Of Crackers and socks

A soft pillow, sent from Ron's direction, woke Harry up on Christmas morning.

"Oy! Presents!" Ron was already tearing through his pile of presents, before Harry even had the chance to put his glasses on. Ron went on complaining about the maroon colour of his Weasley sweater. He would still of course wear his mothers' homemade sweater with pride later on.

Harry reached for his own home made sweater, and immediately pulled it on, on top of his pyjamas.

"Harry? Why did you give me a dress robe?" Ron suddenly asked looking puzzled. Harry just gave him a small smile.

He snacked on one of the homemade mince pies and almost choked on it, at the sight of a thin, carefully wrapped parcel. Ron who had walked over to pat Harry on the back, stopped.

"What's that?" he asked. Harry didn't answer. Why did he get the broom, his Nimbus wasn't broken or anything. He tore the wrapping of and couldn't help smiling, this was the broom he'd flown when fighting the dragon. It was a Firebolt. His Firebolt! Ron seemed to be in denial. He stuttered several times before finally managing to get out a sentence. "Who sent it, to you?" Harry looked through the wrapping, Sirius might have left a note this time. He finally found a small note in the corner of the wrapping.

Thought you might like having a really fast broom. You're a great flyer! Thank you for believing in me, everything will be sorted out soon.

Your godfather Sirius

Harry's breath got caught in his throat. Sirius had obviously not seen the note, which Harry had sent with Crookshanks. But he didn't care, Sirius had just written him a letter! Harry felt a huge smile lit up his face.

"Well? Who's it from?" Ron asked, irritated at having to wait. Harry sat at an angle, so Ron hadn't been able to read the note. "Sirius. It's from Sirius, he says he thinks I'm a great flyer." Harry finally answered. Ron furrowed his brows. "He's innocent, remember." Harry said, shaking his head at Ron's uncertain nod. Harry smiled at a sudden thought. "I bet you Hermione will tell Professor McGonagall about the broom." he sad to Ron who looked scandalised. "She wouldn't do that." he said. Harry laughed, shaking his head. "We'll see." he said, in an all-knowing voice. Ron looked nervous, all of a sudden.

"Harry. Um…you know how you seem to know all these things…well I was sort of wondering if you could see anything in my near future?" Harry looked at Ron surprised. Ron had a very serious look on his face.

"Well I…um…" he looked down on the floor in embarrassment, what was he to say? If he didn't say anything, then Ron would think he didn't want to do it for him. But what could he say? "Um…you're going to lose a friend." He finally said, thinking about Scabbers soon being history. Ron however just rolled his eyes at that. "I know that already. You told me on our first Divination lesson." he said, looking snubbed. Harry searched for something else in his memory. "You'll get the fright of your life soon." Harry said, thinking that Sirius might still come in to their dormitory to look for Scabbers. Ron didn't look to happy about that though.

"Sorry for asking." he said in a weak voice, looking around the room in suspicion. "What are you two moping about? You're not fighting on Christmas. Are you?" Hermione stepped inside, wearing her dressing gown and carrying Crookshanks.

"Don't bring him in here." said Ron, looking franticly for Scabbers, who was buried deep in his bed. Hermione dropped Crookshanks into Harry's lap, after Harry motioned for the cat. Ron sent him a glare, to which Harry just shrugged his shoulders.

"Who sent you that?" Hermione asked, after seeing the new broom. "Sirius." Harry answered absentmindly, scratching Crookshanks behind the ear. The cat was purring loudly in pleasure. Ron's pyjamas pocket was trembling. "Harry. We're not completely sure of his…" She trailed of at his angry look. "Well could you at least, let professor McGonagall have a look at it?" she asked, pleadingly. Ron looked surprised at Harry, who was smiling to himself. "Ok. That's a deal." Hermione relaxed. "When did you become friends?" She asked, looking at Him and Crookshanks. Harry sent Ron a look, but Ron seemed to be absorbed with the rest of the sweets sent by Mrs Weasley, to Harry. As if sensing that they were talking about him, the cat stood up in one smooth motion and stretched. Harry, who had a guess as to what the cat was up to, was still surprised at the speed of which the cat attached its claws into Ron's pocket. Ron who went into full panic mode, managed to catch Scabbers before the cat. He turned to yell at it, but accidentally stepped on poor Crookshanks tail, and fell backwards. The cat shoot out of the room, howling.

"RON! HOW COULD YOU! HE'S JUST A CAT!" Hermione screamed, a tear rolling down her cheek as she hurried out after her cat. "IT WASN'T MY FAULT!" Ron yelled after her, rubbing his sore bottom. "Fright of a life time, You couldn't have been more right." Ron muttered, making a face as he stood up. He had bumped into Harry's trunk on his way down.

The three of them had a very boring morning, as Ron refused to say he was sorry for stepping on Crookshanks, and Hermione refused to see it from his point of view. Harry had brought down his potions book, thinking he could read up on the subject, if the two of them were going to mope around all morning.

"Harry. What are you doing? You can't read a book on Christmas." Ron said, shocked. Harry shrugged, but put the book down after Ron suggested a game of chess. Hermione was silently glaring daggers at Ron over the top of her book, with Crookshank in her lap.

The Gryffindor trio made it down to the Great Hall, in time for lunch. The tables had all been moved away, leaving only a twelve-seat table, in the middle of the room. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout and Flitwick were all sitting round it, together with Filch and three Hogwarts students. "Merry Christmas!" Dumbledore called out to them as they approached the table. "Oh, and Harry. The socks fit very nicely." He said, much to Harry's embarrassment. Harry blushed not only because of the looks he received from the others around the table, but because Dumbledore looked genuinely happy about the present. His blue eyes were sparkling more than ever.

"Crackers!" Dumbledore offered the end of a silver one to Snape. Ron snorted up his drink through his nose at the sight that met them. "Oh, Harry! I completely forgot to tell you, what happened after you left with Professor Lupin." Harry had a pretty good idée. "Snape came in, saying he was to take over the lesson, and he asked Neville to step up..." Ron had to stop and laugh.

"Anyway, out steps this other Snape… and Hermione talks Neville through the whole repel the Boggart, blab, blab, blab. In the end, Snape stood there with Nev's granny's old hat and handbag! Can you believe it?" Ron was pointing at the hat on top of Dumbledore's head, laughing his head of. Hermione who sat besides him gave him a glare, but it was only half-hearted.

Harry stared at the sour looking Snape who was sending daggers at Dumbledore who was wearing a vulture stuffed hat. Suddenly Snape turned to look at him, with furrowed brows, Harry remembering how he'd been insisting on Snape staying for the lesson, looked away. Hermione seemed to remember as well, as she gave him a half glare, half smile. Luckily the food appeared, taking Harry's mind away from Snape's searching eyes.

"Sybill, this is a surprise." said Dumbledore suddenly. "Yes, yes. Big surprise." Harry muttered, sarcastically. The other teachers looked disapproving at his tone. "You're a good student, Harry. Never had such raw talent in my class before." Trelawney sniffed, before sitting down. Harry sneered at her, she was getting on his nerves. She had taken up the habit of calling him Harry, as he was her most promising student ever, and had earned the right! Harry didn't have the heart to tell her, what he thought of her calling him, my little seer!

"Oh, the terror!" she suddenly cried. Harry rolled his eyes. "Let me guess. The first one to rise will die…" Harry suddenly froze. The first one to rise. He and Ron had been the two first to rise the last time. And since he was immune to death or whatever, Ron had died first. She had been right.

"Harry! You alright?" Ron asked worriedly, looking scared. Harry took a deep breath and slowly turned to Ron. "But you're alive." he whispered. Ron went white, and Harry realised his mistake. Ron was about to rise when Harry bet him to it, holding him down. "HARRY! Get the bloody hell of me!" Ron shouted, looking wild. Harry realise what he was doing when Dumbledore came over and asked him to please release Ron.

"What do you mean I'm alive? Of course I'm alive!" Ron looked at his hands as if to prove that they still were solid. "Um…yes, I just had a dream. You know, you being my best mate and all…I'm scared of loosing you…that's all." Harry managed to get out. Trelawney who sat besides him nodded. "You should count your self lucky." she said to Ron, who looked as if he was about to jump on her. "Dreams of death by a true seer, often brings richness to the family of the diseased." Harry and Ron both slumped down in their chairs defeated. What did you say to that?

"Am I dead, Harry?" Ron asked, besides him. Hermione slapped him on the head. "Oy! What are you doing!" Ron exclaimed. "Checking." was Hermione's cheeky response. Harry started laughing, Ron's face was just to good to miss. "I'm surrounded by crazy people, that's what I am." Ron said aloud, shaking his head.

Everyone seemed to have forgotten about what Harry had said, by the end of the lunch. "You coming?" Ron asked Hermione. "No! Harry has something he wants to say to Professor McGonagall." she said looking at Harry expectantly. "Hermione! Can't you wait until we've had a go, at least?" Whined Ron. Hermione looked scandalised. "RON! The broom might be cursed! It might not be from Black! It might…" Harry walked away from their conversation and over to the professor.

"Um, professor. Sirius, um my godfather, sent me a broom for Christmas. Hermione would like it if you checked it for any curses." McGonagall looked shocked. "Black sent you a gift?" she asked. Harry nodded and summoned it. The hall went quiet when the polished Firebolt glided in. McGonagall looked at the broom with Quidditch cups dancing in front of her eyes. "Yes, I'll try and get it sorted as soon as possible, Potter. I appreciate you coming here and tell me on your own." Harry walked over to the still arguing Ron and Hermione. They had not even noticed the broom flying by on its own. "Come on then guys, stop arguing. It's Christmas." Ron nodded after saying it was all her fault.

"Harry. You promised!" Hermione said. Harry just pointed at McGonagall, who was holding the broom as if it was made of gold, she was leering at Snape who had turned away to face the wall. Hermione blushed and walked towards the door before them. Harry followed closely mirrored by Ron. Ha told her good, you did! Ron muttered as they followed her.

Harry just shook his head and wondered if Sirius had found the secret basket with Christmas food that Harry had smuggled out to the cave, with the help of Dobby, or if he was munching on a rat as they spoke.