Professor Minerva McGonagall had, previous to this, thought she had known everything that might ever happen in a school.
She had not, however, expected to be confronted by a young Harry Potter, still in ill-fitting pajamas (his pants were showing out the back, and he looked to have pinned them up to get them that well-fitted). And, of all things, he was carrying his blanket, all bunched in a ball.
"Have you had a nightmare?" Professor McGonagall asked gently, "On Christmas of all days?"
"No, ma'am," Harry Potter said gently. "But I received a present, and I don't know who it's from!"
"And is this why you're here?" Professor McGonagall asked, not understanding why he wouldn't be glad to have a present, and perhaps a new friend.
"Ma'am, I was hoping you could check it, for spells or poisons or what not." Harry Potter said.
Professor McGonagall snatched the - she could now see - box covered in blanket from her student. "Mister Potter, I hope you don't think Hogwarts so poorly defended that someone could..." she said, as she bustled into her office door.
"Someone's tried to kill me, Professor." Harry said clearly, "And someone else dosed that poor Slytherin girl with a potion."
"And how would you know that, Mister Potter," Professor McGonagall said sternly.
"It's a standard muggle trope, and on top of that, it's the only way i've read about. Add that to the idea that Snape used it himself, and his specialty is potions... and I think I made a reasonable guess." Harry Potter said.
McGonagall unwrapped the box. "Oh, Albus!" she said, her eyes filling with tears.
"Who?"
Professor McGonagall regained some of her sternness, "This is gifted from the Headmaster, but I daresay you'll want it anyway."
Harry was abruptly aware of Professor McGonagall's cat-bright eyes, studying him.
"Will you test it anyway, just to be sure?" Harry Potter said, trying for young and innocent, not older-than-he-looks and crafty.
"Of course, but now you're just being silly,"Professor McGonagall said. Twenty minutes later, Harry had his box and blanket back. He turned to leave, when McGonagall said, "Oh, no you don't. I spent twenty minutes of my holiday checking your gift. You're going to at least show me what it is."
Harry blinked, turning around in a bit of confusion, "I'm sorry, I truly thought you wouldn't care." He opened the box, and something slithered out over his hands. He bent down to pick it up, and found himself looking at the bare floor. "Where is it?" Harry asked distractedly, not noticing McGonagall's expression.
"Why, it's right there." Professor McGonagall said, "Just bend down, and use your hands."
Harry did, in fact, use his hands, picking up the - Harry shrieked as his hands disappeared, flexing them to be sure they were still attached. When he spoke, his voiced was hushed, "What is it?" Harry asked.
"An invisibility cloak. It was probably your fathers."
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