Chapter 5: Christmas Fun

Thanks to my beta, darrelldeam, for all his help in making this easier to read for you, my readers. All mistakes are still my own.

I had a friend growing up that talked like Millie, only with an American accent. And this was her reason for doing so.

Also, I want to thank those that are commenting and leaving kudos for this story. I knew it wouldn't be very popular so every single one of them are precious to me.

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It was Christmas break and the only ones left in the tower were the four Weasley boys, Millie, and Harry. The Weasleys were off having a snowball fight with some of the other students that stayed at the castle and Millie and Harry were sitting by the fire in the common room.

"Hey, Millie, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. Why do you say 'yeah' at the end of your sentences?" Harry asked shyly hoping he didn't offend his older friend.

"Noticed that did ya? I was wondering when you'd ask. Don't worry everyone asks sometimes or other. It isn't something most Brits do. Well, when I was growing up, we had a French family living next door, they didn't speak English very well. They had a girl my age that was learning. She would end a lot of her sentences, that she was unsure of, with 'Oui?' or 'Yes?' so I started answering her with 'Yeah' to make sure she understood. I never grew out of it, yeah," Millie answered with a smile. Many of her friends were annoyed with it at first, but it grew on them.

"Oh, I guess that makes sense. Hermione did tell me she didn't know anyone who talked like that. What happened to your friend?" Harry asked, wondering if the girl had just moved or something. That happened to him once.

"She moved away when I was ten," she said, confirming Harry's thoughts. "However, we spent a lot of time together growing up. So, like I said I never grew out of it. My mum tried to make me stop, but I never did. I like it, it makes me different," she said with a shrug. It didn't bother her to talk the way she did. If others didn't like it, they could stuff it.

Just then Hedwig pecked on the window and Harry got up and let her in. She fluttered to the back of the chair he just vacated and stuck her foot out. Harry took the small package off her leg and opened it. It was from the Dursleys. Harry had sent them a note earlier wishing them a Happy Christmas and he guessed this was their reply.

He slowly opened the package and inside a note that stated, 'We received your message and enclose your Christmas present. From Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia.' Taped to the note was a fifty-pence piece. He just stared at it, not sure how to take it.

"Oh, those… those… people," Millie said knowing this was an insult. She got up and hugged Harry close and said, "Don't you worry about those wankers, we'll set them straight this summer, yeah." She, for one, couldn't wait to show them what for. People like that, that picked on kids, didn't deserve being nice to. She was going to show them how foolish it was to abuse a magical person. Didn't they realize that Harry would be a grown man one day? He might retaliate. Stupid Dursleys.

Harry nodded against her shoulder, still unsure how to react to this insult. On one hand, it was one of the better presents he had ever received from the Dursleys, on the other, it really was rude. Finally, he just shrugged it off as being the Dursleys and not worth his time to ponder over. He put the pence in his pocket and forgot about it.

"So, Millie, how are we going to be doing the tutoring this summer? I mean, are you going to come to my house? Or should I go to yours? Maybe we should meet up in the Surrey Library? They should have all the books we need there, and they don't mind if you stay all day," he said knowingly, he had spent many hours hiding from Dudley there. They returned to their seats and faced each other. The chairs were quite comfortable and the fire nice and warm on this cold winter's day.

"Yeah, I think the library would be best. I have all my old books from when I was your age, but they would have references that I don't," Millie said nodding in agreement. "But I'm going to meet your… relatives and tell them what for before we do that, yeah." A hard gleam was seen in her eyes. She really hated abusers and wanted nothing more than to make them hurt.

"Millie," Harry said tentatively, seeing the determined look in her eyes, "don't hurt them. I mean, I know they are wankers, but they are still people. And as much as I'd like to repay them, I still have to live there. Maybe, you could… ummm, scare them a bit. Make them understand that you're an adult and can do magic. But they were really mad when Hagrid put a pig's tail on Dudley."

Though it had been funny at the time, after a while, Harry couldn't help but feel sorry for his cousin. That and he had had to listen to the invectives for an entire month after that. Even though it frightened them, they ignored Harry. They didn't keep their voices down when they complained. If they ever found out he couldn't do magic outside of school they'd stop ignoring him and the verbal abuses would fly again.

He didn't know when he was going to get over the fact that they were never going to accept him as family. He had a feeling there was always going to be a part of him that hoped… And Harry didn't want to be starved again.

"Don't worry, little firstie, I'm not going to hurt anyone," Millie said, breaking him out of his stupor. "It's not in my nature, yeah. I'm just going to put the fear of Merlin in them. Let them know that they can't be mean to you anymore," she said, ruffling his hair. She could see this was really worrying him. She'd keep her wand to herself unless they threatened him physically.

He batted her hands away for the millionth time and they settled down to discuss what he would be learning over the summer.

Christmas morning came with snow floating outside. The view from the window was beautiful. It was like something off a postcard, it was so nice.

There was a small pile of presents at the end of Harry's bed. He didn't open them yet. He and Millie had made plans with the Weasley boys to all open their presents together by the tree in the common room. So, Harry quickly got dressed and gathered his gifts and woke Ron telling him he was going downstairs, and that Ron should join him.

Millie was already dressed and waiting, her own presents already under the tree. It was a huge tree that was fully decorated and made the whole common room smell of pine.

"Happy Christmas, Harry," Millie said as she took Harry's bundle and joined it with hers.

"Happy Christmas, Millie," the young boy replied as he followed her to the chairs by the fire. It was toasty warm but the flames. Almost too warm with his winter clothes.

They were going to open one at a time and take turns between all of them. Even Percy agreed to join. So, the two sat and waited for the Weasley boys. Soon enough four sets of footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs.

"Happy Christmas, everyone," the twins bellowed. They had Santa hats on their heads and were still in their nightclothes. "Alright there, Harry?" they asked as one. Something they did often.

"Alright. Happy Christmas, Weasleys," Harry said and watched as they placed their gaily wrapped articles with the rest.

"Happy Christmas, Harry and Millie," Ron and Percy said following their rambunctious brothers more slowly.

"So, let's open some presents, yeah," Millie said, taking control as the oldest. She started handing them out one at a time.

Harry received lots of candy from his study group and was glad Millie reminded him to make sure he got something for everyone, even if it was candy. From Hermione he got a book 'Quidditch Through the Ages', so he didn't have to check out the one in the library. Millie got him another jogging suit to replace the one she got earlier in the year, because he had grown a few inches. He received a wooden flute from Hagrid. Mrs. Weasley sent him a package with a nice jumper and some fudge. He made a mental note to send her a thank you.

Millie got a lot of candy as well, plus many books and magazines on fashion. She too received a jumper and fudge from Mrs. Weasley, though she had to wonder why. Her parents sent her a variety of clothes and some weird puzzle block that had different colors on all side, which you mixed up and then tried to put back the same. It was harder than it sounded. The Weasleys were fascinated by it and Millie said they could give it a try when she was done.

There was a package that had not tag on it, but Harry remembered bringing it down, so it was handed to him. When he opened it a silvery, silky cloth slithered into his lap. He had no idea what it could be, so he unfolded it and saw it was a cloak. He put it on and heard the gasps around the room. "What?" he asked.

"Harry, look down," Millie said, her eyes wide with awe.

So, he did and when he didn't see his body he yelled in a panic, "Where's my body?"

"Calm down, yeah. It's an Invisibility Cloak. However, who would give a kid the means to get in trouble? That's the question," his older friend said as she felt the cloak between her fingers.

"There's a note," Fred said picking up the piece of parchment that had fluttered to the floor.

'Your father left this in my care. It is time I returned it. Use it well,' the note said. It wasn't signed.

"Use it well," Millie exclaimed, hardly believing that someone would send this to a child. "How are you supposed to use it well?" she asked, thinking of all the trouble someone could get into being invisible. Harry was a good kid, but he was a kid.

"Don't know," Harry said with a shrug. "Maybe I'm supposed to hide from Snape and Filch with it. It doesn't say who sent it." he smiled to show he was joking, but only partly.

"Well, I don't trust that at all. Let me see if it is safe, yeah." And Millie approached Harry wand at the ready.

Harry fearing that Millie might take the cloak that belonged to his dad, slowly backed away from his friend. He trusted her not to damage it, but she was just so responsible she might think he was too young for it.

"Don't worry, Harry, I'm just going to check it to see if there are any spells on it," she said seeing his fearful face.

Harry trusted her, so he stood still and waited for her to finish. The Weasleys looked on still in various states of shock. The twins were jealous, what they could do with a cloak like that. Oh, they weren't maliciously jealous, but mildly so. Ron was also in that frame of mind but realized that it was something that belonged to Harry's dad and that was calming him down. Percy just nodded in agreement with Millie; it was the responsible thing to do.

"Just as I suspected, there's a tracking charm on it and it seems there's a compulsion charm on you. I'm going to remove them and then we're going to tell McGonagall. I don't think she'll take the cloak if you promise not to wander the halls at night," Millie said, not at all satisfied in knowing she was correct.

"Okay, Millie, I trust you," Harry said a little downhearted that his precious gift might be taken away. It was the only thing he had from his parents and if McGonagall took it, well…

"Cheer up, little firstie, if she doesn't want you to have it, I'll hold on to it for you, yeah," Millie offered putting her arm across his shoulders.

Harry beamed at that; Millie would make sure that he'd get it if he asked for it.

So, Millie removed the charms and after everyone finished opening their presents and taking them upstairs, she and Harry went to find McGonagall.

They started with her office and were happy that she was in, finishing up some papers.

"Happy Christmas, Professor," Millie said after they were bid to come in on their knock.

"Happy Christmas to you as well, Ms. Foster and Mr. Potter. What brings you to my office on a holiday?" their Head of House asked as she looked over her glasses at the two.

"Harry received an anonymous gift, which is a family heirloom. It is an Invisibility Cloak. The problem is it put a compulsion charm on Harry and had a tracking charm on the cloak," Millie explained keeping a hold of Harry's shoulder, so he knew she was there for him.

"Charmed you say? Well, that is unsettling news. May I see your cloak, Mr. Potter?" the Deputy Head Mistress asked, trying for a gentle yet firm voice. She knew who sent the cloak, but not why it would be charmed. Sometimes she wondered about that man.

Slowly Harry handed his professor the cloak and tried to keep a firm grip on it. McGonagall gently removed the item from his hand and ran her own test. There was some magical residue that was not part of the cloak's makeup, but all charms had been removed. She looked at the wary young man whose eyes had yet to leave the treasure from the past. She sighed, she knew the responsible thing to do would be to take the cloak and give it back to him in future years but seeing that look on his face she didn't have the heart.

"Mr. Potter, I would have your word that you will not use this cloak for breaking the rules," she stated firmly. "That means no wandering the castle at night and no using it for pranks, like your father did." She had a fond smile remembering all the trouble James and his friends got up to with this item.

Harry nodded so hard they feared for his neck.

"A verbal response, if you please," the professor said, trying to catch his eye.

"Oh, yes, Professor. I promise to only use it in case of emergency," Harry said in earnest, looking her straight in the eye, hope blossoming in his chest.

"Very well, if I see you break even one rule, I will have to take this from you and only return it when you have shown you can be responsible," the professor said as she handed back the cloak.

"Yes, ma'am, I understand." Harry took the cloak and held it to his chest, making up his mind to keep it in his trunk, for now. He'd ask Millie to put a locking charm on the trunk so no one could take it.

"See that you do. Go and enjoy the rest of your Christmas you two. Breakfast will be starting soon. I suggest you put that away first," the professor said, waving them away.

"Yes, ma'am," they both said and after wishing their professor a good day, they left the office.

"See I told you it would be okay," Millie said, ruffling Harry's hair. He was so excited that he didn't even protest. They got to the common room and noted that the Weasleys had already left for breakfast. Millie followed Harry up the stairs and to his dorm. "I want you to promise me that you won't use this to wander around the castle at night," she said, once again.

"I promise, just like I told McGonagall. Can you put a locking charm on my trunk?" Harry asked as he put the cloak on the bottom of the trunk, after rewrapping it in an old shirt of Dudley's.

"Sure, kid, do you want it to open to your magical signature or by password?" she asked, knowing how to do both.

"Magical signature would probably be best," Harry said thoughtfully, thinking someone could get the password easier.

"You got it."

After the cloak was secure, they went to breakfast and enjoyed the rest of the day with the few students that stayed over.

That night when everyone was asleep, Harry quietly went to his trunk and unlocked it. He took the cloak out and wrapped it around himself. He felt closer to his father now.

"Hey, Dad," he said, looking out the window. "I got your cloak today and I know, from what some of the professors say, that you probably want me to play pranks and stuff. But I think I'll just hold this close for now, so it'll remind me that you're real. Maybe, in a few years, I can use it for pranks, but not this year.

"I have a friend you see. She made me promise not to break any of the rules. She is a great friend and she's going to help me with my studies and scare the Dursleys. So, I don't want to disappoint her. I'm sure you understand." Harry then settled on his bed and slept with the reminder of his father.