Chapter 6

A Father's Gift

Hogwarts at Christmas, if you can believe, was even more magical than the school normally was. Snow would fall over the vast grounds giving that special wintery feel. Those spending Christmas inside the school, would while away the days having snowball fights, enjoying great feasts and waiting for that special morning, when they would receive gifts from loved ones. For Harry, Neville, Hermione and Draco, they all left in the early morning of a chilly December day, to board the Hogwarts Express, which would take them back home to their families. The ride back to London had been one that was pleasant and peaceful, where Draco and Neville would play a game of exploding snap, While Harry and Hermione finally had found the time to discuss what had happened to them all, just two nights ago.

"But why, why would they keep a 3 headed dog like that in a school?" Harry asked her. Ever since the night they had made the misguided attempt to pass through the 3rd floor corridor, the mystery of the giant beast lurking at the end of it, had plagued Harry's mind. The thing was, that all four of them had agreed not to talk about it until it was safe to do so. This was because they were very aware of how much trouble they would be in, if anyone had caught them or even heard about them being near that dog.

"Hard to say, I mean, it's clearly guarding something," Hermione said knowingly, while also looking over a book on magical beasts. She was determined to find the origins of three headed dogs, searching for a weakness for fear it would ever get loose.

"Guarding something?" Neville asked, his face covered in smoke from his many losses to Draco. Hermione looked up to see all three of the boys looking at her curiously.

"Weren't any of you paying attention?" Hermione asked them patiently, "it was standing on a trap door,"

"Yeah, Hermione, I was busy avoiding the heads," Draco said lazily, leaning back against his seat to get more comfortable, "In case you never noticed, there were three of them,"

"What's so important that they'd need a great big thing like that watching over it?" Neville asked, he had been the most shaken over the incident, plants and venomous tentacula he could handle, but rabid 3 headed dogs didn't really bring out the hero in him.

"This is Hogwarts we're talking about," Harry said, reaching down into his bag and pulling out a book entitled "Hogwarts, A History," and showed it to Neville, "The school has all kinds of stories and myths about it,"

"Anything on trap doors guarded by a Cerberus?" Draco asked, lounging out with his eyes closed.

"Nope," Hermione and Harry said together. Harry looked at Hermione, who blushed and said, "I thought it would shed some light as well, but I really don't think that dog has always been there."

"I could always ask my aunt if she knows anything about it," Draco suggested, "She's a Governess on the school board, I'm sure they'd notice if Dumbledore snuck a great big mutt like that in."

"Good idea," Hermione said brightly, "I'll be going to Diagon Alley before going home, I'll see if there are any books that can help."

"I'll stop Harry from going too far," Neville said bravely.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Harry demanded, making Draco and Hermione laugh.

What that meant, was that Harry tended to get more than a little obsessed if he couldn't work out a problem right away. History had dictated that something as mysterious as a three headed dog, that was guarding a trap door, in a school, was likely going to be too much for him to resist. He'd already been thinking of ways to approach the subject with Severus, knowing full well that he'd be coming for Christmas dinner. Remus also had a healthy knowledge of magical beasts, but that would lead to a lecture, and since Remus didn't work at the school, he wasn't likely to know it was hiding there. It was with slight sadness that Harry had wished Draco and Hermione a Merry Christmas before saying goodbye, He'd gotten so use to their presence in the last few months that he knew he would miss them. It didn't change the fact that he was so happy to see his mother, that he felt no shame in hugging her in front of the other students, even when Ron passed by and made a face at him.

Christmas at the Potter's was always such a busy affair. Neville would stay the night on Christmas eve while his Gran slept at their house. Remus wasn't always in the best shape, because he would be getting ready for the first night of the full-moon. Dobby would be running around the place, making everything look as festive as possible, while Lily threated over the Christmas dinner because she always wanted things to be perfect on the day. Harry couldn't recall a time when he had a bad Christmas, even that year when Lily had put Remus in charge of cooking the turkey, and due to an unfortunate fire accident, were all forced to have pasta with their roast potatoes. His Christmas' had often been filled with the usual cheer and joy, that anyone would expect from the day. When Christmas morning came, Harry's door swung open and a very excited Neville appeared, heavily laden with presents.

"Merry Christmas Harry!"

"Huh?" Harry muttered, half distracted with his wall again, "It's Christmas morning already?" He asked surprised.

"You've been up all night!" Neville said, knowing it was fact and not possible for Harry to lie about having not bothered to sleep.

"Must have," Harry said, suddenly feeling like he could really use a nap, "Merry Christmas," He told Neville, while trying to fight back a yawn, "Those for me?" He asked brightly.

"Yeah, there's some from Hermione and Draco as well," he said, happily putting the pile on Harry's bed, then turning to look up at the wall. A wall, that Harry had swapped spells and potion notes, for pictures of 3 headed dogs, a sketch of a trap door, a few newspaper clippings and a letter from Draco.

"They got ours, Hermione sent a note last night to say they'd arrived at her house, Draco's letter arrived a few minutes ago," Harry informed Neville, while plopping down on his bed and eagerly pulling the pile of presents to him.

"That's good, Draco said he'd be spending Christmas with just his cousin," Neville told him, scanning all the little notes that Harry had placed on the wall. "How did you get this much information from only knowing about the dog and trap door?" he asked.

"Well, to be honest I'd almost given up until Hermione sent that newspaper clip," Harry replied, while ripping open a present from Remus, which turned out to be a very good book on shield magic, "Have a read," Harry told Neville, who looked closer at the picture of a few irate goblins and read aloud.

"Employees at Gringotts bank, were baffled by a failed vault heist that took place at exactly 11am on Christmas Eve morning, Goblins were astounded to find that the vault, 713, had been broken into by dark witches or wizards unknown, the vault itself had been emptied on Halloween night, no comments have been made," When Neville finished, he looked at Harry, who was now eating one of the cauldron cakes that Draco had sent him for Christmas, and was wearing the new jumper that Peter had given him, and asked, "Right, and?"

"Read the letter from Draco," Harry said, his mouth half-full of cake.

"Dear Harry, Hermione just told me about the break in at the bank, I already knew because Andromeda and Ted were both called away last night. It's connected! I overheard Uncle Ted talking to Tonks about it, he said that Hagrid had been the one who emptied the vault, at first, they suspected him, but he gave what was in it to Dumbledore, bet you anything that's what the dog is guarding!"

"Which naturally will make you ask," Harry said, almost magically appearing behind Neville and making him jump.

"What was in that vault?" Neville said.

"No idea," Harry sighed, "all the pieces fit together, but until we know what the thing in the vault actually was, we can't figure out who would try to steal it,"

"You sound like you're planning to catch this person," Neville chuckled, Harry just smiled and shook his head, "Nope, it's in Hogwarts, no one is going to try and break into there, I just want to know what the fuss is all about,"

"And what kind of dastardly deeds are happening in here?!"

Both Harry and Neville fought a cringe against the voice they had just heard, both turning quickly and making sure the evidence on the walls couldn't be seen.

"Nothing, Uncle Peter," Harry said innocently, doing his best not to laugh at the horrible green suit that Peter Pettigrew was wearing.

"Ha, if you two aren't up to something, then I'm Minister for magic," Peter cackled, eying up Harry in the jumper, "Like it eh?" Peter asked with a smug smile.

"Yeah, it's really nice," Harry said brightly. He knew it was a nice jumper for one reason and one reason only, because Lily picked it out for Peter to buy.

"Far better than any book," Peter said proudly, obviously indicating the presents Harry had gotten from Remus and Severus. "Anyway, breakfast is ready, your mum wants you both down in 3 minutes,"

"Yes sir!" Harry and Neville said in unison, adding a salute for good measure, making Peter chuckle and say, "Don't let me keep you from your top-secret operations," then left the room, humming a festive tune.

"Can you smell beetroot?" Neville asked with a wrinkle of his nose, when Peter had closed the door.

"Dobby put some in Peter's shoes," Harry chuckled, "He bet me 3 sprouts that Peter wouldn't notice."

Neville laughed and wandered over to Harry's bed, scanning the pile of presents that lay open in a neat pile. Neville always thought it odd how Harry treasured everything he was given, noticing how he'd folded up the wrapping from the cauldron cakes. Anyone else would have thrown them out, but Neville knew that Harry would keep it, either for putting to good use or tucking away in a large scrap book he had, hidden under his bed.

"Merry Christmas boys!" Remus called, when Harry and Neville finally appeared in the kitchen a few moments later. There was a few moments of hugging and handshaking, the wishing of merry Christmas and so on, before Harry finally got around the table to hug his mother.

"Merry Christmas Sweetheart," She told him warmly, "Thank you for the scarf, I hope Augusta made you earn it."

"Oh, I did," Augusta said proudly, "Remember that day he came in with that lump on his head, my gutters have never looked so clean."

Everyone else chuckled, and Harry took a moment to look around the table.

Neville was sat with his grandmother, happily going through a new Herbology book that Lily had given him, because she knew Augusta would never buy Neville something like that. Remus was sitting next to Peter, doing his best to sound interested in the story that Peter was telling him. But when he looked at the empty seat that Severus usually sat in, he looked up at his mother curiously.

"He had to work, all that business with Gringotts," Lily explained, pressing her lips to Harry's forehead.

"Nasty business if you ask me, can't trust those goblins with nothing," Augusta said loudly, "they should be sacked and replaced with house elves, grand workers they are."

Harry was used to hearing Augusta going on about how everyone else was bad at their job. He did feel that was a bit rich for a woman who had never worked a day in her life, happily having spent her whole life living off the money that Neville's grandfather had passed on. So, it was with ease that he took no interest in the conversation and had gone into the wash room to find Dobby.

"You really shouldn't be working today," Harry told the little elf, finding Dobby happily putting some socks into the wash.

"The work never stops for one day Master Harry, Dobby has said this before," The elf said cheerfully.

"It's Christmas, don't make me order you to take the day off," Harry said jokingly, Dobby giggled knowing Harry would never give him an order, but stopped all the same to peek up at his young master.

"Did Harry Potter like his presents?" Dobby asked curiously. Harry knew that Dobby was eager to know if Harry liked the socks Dobby had knitted for him.

"Yup," Harry said with a wide grin, pulling up his trousers to show off the bright yellow socks with wands on them, "And I got you a present," Harry said brightly, passing Dobby a little package.

Considering it was only a new trowel for the garden, Dobby reacted as if Harry had given him a rare jewel. It was only when the crying was making Harry feel uncomfortable, that he slipped back into the kitchen, just in time to hear Peter say.

"What was in that vault, is strictly between Albus Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel!"

"Nicholas who?" Neville asked a bit too eagerly, something that Lily noticed and instantly put a stop to before Peter lost his right to eat Christmas dinner.

"That is none of anyone's business," She had said sternly, ushering Harry to his seat and putting a plate of food down in front of him.

"Agreed, what goes on in that bank or that school is of no concern of ours," Augusta seconded, But Harry and Neville both gave each other knowing looks while they tucked into their food, and they were both wondering the same thing, who was Nicholas Flamel?

"Severus told me that you're faring well in potions Harry," Remus said conversationally, "Not thinking about taking his job one day, are you?" He joked.

"No, but I think Draco might have his eye on it," Harry grinned, making Neville chuckle.

"Poor boy that Malfoy, given the history," Augusta said knowingly, "A bit risky making friends with him, given all the bad luck his family has had."

"Augusta," Lily chastised, "Andromeda and Ted have done wonders raising that boy, such a polite young man when he comes to the ministry."

Harry had spent a great deal of time telling Lily about his new friends and all the things he'd gotten up to in his first few months at school. He'd magically forgotten to mention the duel with Ron, fighting a troll and discovering a 3 headed dog, that he was now investigating the need for such a beast and was going to continue investigating this odd case, he didn't want to worry her. The curious thing was, that she'd mentioned having met Draco's aunt and uncle, even meeting Draco himself, but Draco had never mentioned meeting Harry's mother. Harry felt that there was a great deal of things that Draco hadn't told him yet, but trusted that in time, he would find out.

Christmas day had passed by without so much as a hiccup, the one hiccup being when Peter barked an order at Dobby, which led to Lily throwing Peter out of the house. The order had been to "Get out from underneath the table," but Dobby was only collecting his winnings from Harry, 3 sprouts for one prank on Peter was a better gift than Harry could have ever gotten from Dobby.

"I don't know why you put up with him," Augusta said, her speech getting a bit more slurred from all the sherry she had been drinking, "Rotten little man, always has been,"

When it was deemed that Harry and Neville were no longer able to be in the same room as Augusta, who when drunk tended to call Neville names, both boys retreated upstairs to Harry's room, where they discovered a package laying on Harry's bed.

"Present from Severus?" Neville suggested, looking at the silk wrapping around the squishy item.

"He already gave me that potions book," Harry frowned, picking up the label and reading it.

I thought it best to give this to you, when those who fear recklessness weren't around, your father left this in my possession before he died, it is time it was returned to you, use it well.

"Those who fear recklessness?" Neville asked, having read the label over Harry's shoulder.

"Mum, I think," Harry frowned, he then looked at Neville and said, "Get the door,"

Neville rushed across the room while Harry unwrapped the package. Inside it, was a strangely beautiful cloak that felt light as a feather. Without thinking about it, he flung it around himself at the same time Neville closed the door, and when Neville turned around, he gasped and leapt back against the door with a loud thud.

"Your body's gone!" He shouted, which instantly prompted Lily to call from downstairs, "Boys, keep it down, we're listening to the radio!"

Harry dashed over to the full-length mirror and gasped in shock when he saw that he was now just a floating head. With a quick pull, he dragged the cloak from his body, which reappeared instantly.

"Amazing!" Neville said approvingly.

"An invisibility cloak?" Harry asked himself, "When did my dad have an invisibility cloak?"

"You'd think Remus would mention that one," Neville said fairly, "these are really rare, no wonder Severus didn't want your mum knowing, she'd have it off you in a second,"

"Severus?" Harry asked, holding the cloak in both hands, admiring it closely.

"Well, he has to be the one who sent it, who else would know your mum was so paranoid about stuff?" Neville said, his theory being quite sound, "Give us a shot then,"

Until bed time, Harry and Neville took turns hiding beneath the cloak. It wasn't until their stomachs started to rumble that Harry found a new use for it. when he returned to his room with a few left-overs from the fridge, which had involved sneaking, invisible, past Remus, who was asleep on the couch, he found Neville had fallen asleep on the floor. Taking the time to be alone, Harry had stayed under the cloak while he sat at his desk going through a photo-album that his mum had once given him. Harry didn't believe that Severus would give Harry this kind of gift, he was just as concerned about Harry being reckless as she was. Strangely, he found himself not caring who had given it to him, because for the first time in his life, he had something that once belonged to his father.