Chapter 19
Socks
"They're cute together, aren't they?" said Perce, as they strolled.
"Merlin, yes they are. They're probably one of the most famous couples in Hogwarts." Subash grinned. "I heard the Hufflepuff common room went crazy when Parker sneaked in and turned Pattinson's nose into a balloon on his birthday, and popped it."
Perce chortled. "Talking of birthdays — you still haven't told me who told you about my birthday." His eyes narrowed.
"Why are you pressing?"
"I assumed it was my dad because he's certainly the only human who would remember, but when I asked him last summer, he looked as ignorant as a rock." Perce said. "So now, spill the beans. I want to — why on earth are you laughing, you cabbage-loving flobberworm?"
"Oh God — wait — wait a second —" Subash laughed. It took one punch from Perce to cease his fits of laughter. "Okay, okay, well — we wrote to your dad around last December, hoping your birthday hadn't passed already, since there's a very high chance you forgot about it."
"Why in Merlin's name would —"
"You were literally eating up the library. We were worried you forgot even your name, and one day McGonagall would call you 'Jordan!' and you would be staring at the wall like a bread loaf —"
"Oh for Merlin's sake, you're exaggerating. I spent only about — six hours a day, on average. That's alright."
"Kill me."
"But go on, you were talking about a letter to my father?"
"I wasn't narrating a bedtime story. We wrote to him and he told us, that's it. Oh and he also added that it's impossible to surprise you — I entirely forgot to write to him telling how bloody baffled his son was, I think Roger did —"
"Wait, my dad told you?" Perce stopped in his tracks.
Subash carried a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Yes, you realize that now? Oh Merlin, I so love your father."
"Yes, I hate him too. Alright now, I'm writing to him. Come with me."
Subash laughed till the point Perce threatened to hex his hair off.
"I had actually planned to surprise you all on my birthday. That stupid Ravenclaw —" Perce sighed as he led Subash to the common room.
"That's an anti moron or whatever you call that."
"Oxymoron."
"Okay, you moron."
Perce punched him again.
"What was your grand surprise anyway?"
"Not saying." Perce received a cold glare from his friend.
Subash failed in trying to extract any information from Perce. The exchange ended in a groan from the former. The walk was not a long one; they entered the common room after uttering the password ("Salazar"). Subash promptly seated himself in one of the couches, while Perce picked up a spare quill to write his letter. Subash was prepared to protest in hunger, since he expected nothing less than two scrolls of parchment from Perce as he expressed all his emotion and feelings of betrayal. Before he could open his mouth, however, Perce had folded the parchment. Stunned, Subash then peeked to read what Perce had penned.
"Dear loving father,
I HATE YOU.
Yours sincerely,
Perce
P. S. No birthday gift for you this year."
Subash guffawed. "Merlin, that's cold."
Perce just raised his eyebrows.
"Your father is cool though. Alright come on now, I'm starving." Subash said.
"Wait there's another letter I —"
"Oh please do it later. I'm starving, Perce, starving."
Perce gave a look of annoyance. "You won't die if you're five minutes late for a meal."
Perce proceeded to draft another letter, amid objections from Subash. The latter was staring at the fire, occasionally turning to see Perce dip his quill into the ink bottle. Five minutes passed, and Subash felt he indeed could die. When ten minutes had passed, he got up, and walked over towards Perce.
He saw that at least eight inches of parchment had been filled. "Owls do carry books, you know. You could just send the book, you don't need to reproduce it on fresh parchment."
"Shut up, Subash."
"I pity your pen pal. Who is it?"
"Tarfen Filster, an ex-Auror who stays a few houses away from mine. He teaches me a lot of stuff. I'm determined to learn to defend and use that spell Selwyn Sr. keeps using at me."
Subash sighed. "Hey Perce, my stomach wants to talk to you."
Perce closed his eyes, shaking his head hopelessly, just as Subash's stomach rumbled.
"It swore at you," he said.
December brought the merriness of Christmas to Hogwarts. Only a few students decided to spend their holidays at Hogwarts, branding upon it a deserted look. There were to be no compromises, though — preparations were in progress for another grand Christmas. Perfect, magical icicles were already hanging along the Great Hall's walls. It was rumoured that Dumbledore was enchanting the high ceiling to shower snowflakes on Christmas Eve.
Perce and Roger, like they did the previous year, signed up to stay at Hogwarts. Subash bid them farewell, citing his parents' insistence on his presence at home for his holidays. "Well, I'm their only son. But trust me, I'd rather be at Hogwarts," he had said.
A few days before Christmas, Perce and Roger had an unexpected encounter with Jake, who for once did not have Drake by his side.
"'Lo there!" greeted Jake, smiling.
"Hey Jake," Perce said.
"Where are you off to?"
"Wherever the great walls of this castle lead us," said Roger dramatically.
"If you aren't heading for the bathroom that's right ahead, I'd like to join," Jake said lightly.
"Thank yourselves Subash isn't here," muttered Perce.
"Subash?" Roger asked.
"Yes. He has this strange affinity for bathrooms. But anyway," Perce sighed, and continued walking aimlessly. "Who wants to join me in the library?"
Roger coughed. "Right, so Jake, why didn't you go for the Quidditch trials?" he said unusually loudly.
"Oh, er — I was just — sick that day, what about you?" Jake had a slightly confused expression.
"I did," Roger sighed. "Didn't get selected."
"Okay, okay, I was kidding." Perce chuckled. "But damn, that was sad. I was there that day."
"Subash made it in, didn't he?" Jake asked.
"Yes, he's now Slytherin's beater. Kishner graduated." Roger responded.
Perce sighed again. "I'm bored."
"What are you giving me for Christmas?" Roger asked him.
"Dunno, the same chocolates? You liked them last year."
"Perce, you don't just tell people what you're giving them. Don't you like suspense?" Jake shook his head.
"Er — right."
Roger chuckled.
Perce then asked: "I was thinking I should give Dumbledore something for Christmas. Maybe even Langrange and McGonagall?"
"Uh — okay..." Roger looked unconvinced. "What would you give them? A book on Transfiguration or Dark Arts?"
"Don't be stupid. They don't need books. In fact, they could write books."
"Quack." Jake said. Roger and Perce stared at him.
"Oh no, go on, I just felt like quacking." Jake said.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Perce had a concerned frown.
Jake spoke offhandedly. "Yes, I am. I might have these insane urges to portray my talent in some fields. Never know when that talent may gush out," he paused. Nobody spoke for a few moments. Then Jake spoke again:
"Imagine Dippet coming in front of the school and quacking."
"Okay, stop." Perce said, half-laughing. Roger was bursting with laughter.
Jake continued, very animatedly, almost acting it out: "And then suddenly the door opens and a horde of ducks come pouring in and off goes Dippet with his eternal friends."
"You need help," said Perce, chuckling. Roger somehow couldn't control himself, and was leaning against a wall.
"Okay — okay — that was — very random —" Roger managed to say. It took a few seconds before he regained control.
"I think I know what to give Dippet now," Jake said. "A rubber duck for Christmas. The old man will be delighted." Roger started laughing again.
"Okay," Perce cut in, grinning. "Since you've taken care of Dippet's needs, what should I gift Dumbledore?"
"Gift? Are you talking about Christmas?" They heard a familiar voice. "Hey, Perce, it's been a long time — and hello, you're Roger and Jake, I know that — about Christmas, I always get socks from my parents, I don't know why — it seems like a tradition now — Geoffrey gave me a nice hat though, it really covers most of my hair —" he motioned his hand to his violently curly, dark brown hair that extended to almost a foot above his head.
Perce sighed.
"— you don't know Geoffrey, he's like my only friend, everyone else stays away from me — but really, I talk much less nowadays, I'm more silent — but Geoffrey is much more silent, and he picks up fights — people call him spoilt, but he's my friend —"
"Er —" Jake tried to cut in.
"— but we were talking about Christmas, and Dumbledore — Perce wants to gift Dumbledore? I think that's very thoughtful —"
"Here you are, Luke!" said another voice. Surprisingly, Luke stalled his monologue momentarily.
"Geoffrey! People, meet Geoffrey Goldman, my best friend. Geoffrey, this is Perce, my friend from the first day in Hogwarts, I don't know where's Subash though, maybe home, but anyway — this is Jake Fawley — no — Jake Elladore, he and Drake Fawley have rhyming first names — and this is Roger Smith."
Geoffrey Goldman had an aloof smile as he walked towards them. Perce noticed that he had small, black eyes that darted swiftly among the three of them, thin lips, and smooth black hair. He did not look at all like one who would easily mix with people. Neither did he present a willingness to be amiable.
"Pleasure," he said in a tone that couldn't be less pleased. "Come, Luke, we need to do Slughorn's work now."
"Oh yeah, I completely forgot about it — Sluggy would've killed me, he already hates me potions work — I'm just not as good as Perce —"
Goldman placed an arm on Luke's shoulder, and Luke stopped talking.
"Okay, okay, I'll stop, let's go now." said Luke, and bid the three Slytherins farewell.
"That was a — storm," Jake commented. Perce and Roger nodded in agreement. "He did not pause at all." Perce and Roger nodded again.
"I think I know what I'm going to give Dumbledore for Christmas," Perce said.
"What?" Jake and Roger asked together.
"I am going to take a leaf out of Luke's parents' book, and gift our Deputy Headmaster a pair of socks," he said, smiling happily.
"Socks." Roger repeated.
"Yes, socks." Perce grinned again. "Books? No point. Chocolates? What if he doesn't like them? So, no. A magical object? No point again, he doesn't need it to do magic. A pet? He has a handsome Phoenix — oh yes, I read about Phoenixes, and the bird he has fits into the description perfectly —"
"He has a Phoenix?" Jake asked. Roger whistled. Both of them knew that domesticating a Phoenix is nearly impossible.
"Yes, he does. I saw it when I went for detention."
"That's so cool — I mean, not your detention, the fact that he has a —"
"Understood." Perce smiled. "Anyway — then I thought of clothes. They stay for long. He has many hats, stylish robes — can't deny it — and I've seen him wear mufflers too. Luke gave me the idea of socks — so why not?"
"I mean," Roger hesitated. "He could conjure that too."
"Uh — he could conjure anything for that matter. But I want to give him something that he would actually find a use for."
"I never imagined that someone would do such an analysis just for one freakin' Christmas present," Jake blurted. Roger shook his head.
Perce laughed. "You can have socks too, both of you."
Just as promised, on Christmas Day, Jake, Roger, and even Subash received thick, coloured woollen socks, covered in artwork related to magic — wands, magical creatures, cauldrons, or even broomsticks. For Dumbledore, however, Perce sent a pair of socks covered in small Phoenixes. To Tarfen Filster, Perce gifted socks embroidered with symbols of the Auror Office of the Ministry of Magic.
In turn, Perce received a fair number of books, along with a cake from his father, made by Toby. That was promptly consumed by the many admirers of Toby's cooking, mainly including Perce's dormitory companions.
"Toby is THE BEST," Roger declared, when the topic came up the next day. "Poor Subash. I sent him a letter yesterday describing the cake and I think he was quite mad."
Perce laughed. "So that was what he was talking about. I thought it was strange, his letter said he had a crush on Toby and that he wanted to shift to my house."
Roger burst out laughing.
"I think that's a nice idea though. You guys should come over during summer." Perce added.
"That would be very cool!" Roger said, smiling. "Is that Subash's letter?" he added, trying to peek into the letter Perce had in his hand.
"No, it's from Dumbledore," Perce muttered.
"Wow — what'd he say?"
"Have a very merry Christmas, Mr Jordan.
I hope you may find a use for this, it is rather dear to me.
P. S. The socks are fantastic, you are thoughtful."
"I agree, you were very thoughtful. No one's been that thoughtful in the history of thoughtfulness." Roger remarked. "What did he give you?"
"A box that I'm not able to open. It's in my trunk." Perce sighed. "It has a beautiful symbol though, Slytherin's."
"You're going to spend the rest of the year trying to open it, aren't you?"
"Any doubts?"
"Okay." Roger sighed.
Nobody could drag Perce out of the library for the rest of the Christmas holidays, except his own hunger. He was seen, if at all, only in the Great Hall gobbling down food.
On one particular day, while he was entering the Great Hall with Roger, he once again came across Luke Jefferson.
"Good morning, Perce, and Roger — just had my breakfast, heading back to the Gryffindor dorms and planning to just do nothing all day. Did you see my new socks? Got them for Christmas — I told you —"
And once again they spotted Goldman come towards them, stopping Luke's speech.
"Hello, Goldman," Perce said. Geoffrey Goldman simply looked at him without expression, before talking to Luke:
"Let's go, Luke."
"Okay, bye, Perce and Roger, see you later —" Luke was being tugged away by Goldman. "I'm coming, Geoffrey —"
"That was quite cold," Perce muttered to Roger, who nodded.
As they were walking forward, Goldman's foot came in the way — seemingly unintentionally — and Perce stumbled, landing on his palms.
"Whoa, hey!" Perce cried, dusting himself as he got up.
Luke tried to talk again, but he was already being pulled away. Goldman did not turn back.