CHRISTMAS

Harry had been eagerly waiting for this christmas from the very first day he woke up at the Dursley's once again. This was the christmas where he would be getting the invisibility cloak of his dad. He very well knew that this was a nudge by the great Dumble's so that he could go down the path of glory and adventure thinking that he was well hidden from prying eyes but after knowing the detail in which Dumble's had studied the Hallows Harry knew that even if he would be truly invisible he was not safe.

After his talk with Hermione they went on to studying together in the common room every evening, leading to him personally witnessing the shocking speed in which Hermione can memorize not only a spell or recipe but also learn the exact wand movements without external guidance. Even though they were studying together in the library previously it was mostly self study but in the common room where they could discuss, it was a whole new show.

Harry remembered the half blood prince's diary that had deviated from the standard norm and instead of blindly following instruction Snape had rather gone for perfection, he himself had planned to use their natural advantage to do similar things. The book he had found was only for the students who had already passed the OWL's so harry was sure that before them not even snape was intelligent or creative enough for modifications but the witch in front of him will be successful, he was confident.

After completing the theory portion for the first five years of school in detail Harry felt that they should now try and see if based on their understanding of the basics they can modify the higher level spells and potions into something better either for the elite or the general public. Hermione was slightly opposed to the idea but upon hearing harry's insistence on the matter she decided to give it a try.

Both of them spent the next month leading up to the christmas holidays in trying to solidifying their hold on the basics followed by continuous practice of healing magic. Hermione was all set to return home for the holiday's and had insisted harry to come with her but harry had politely refused. It was now a week before christmas and Hermione was all packed to leave for the two week holiday. Harry and Hermione exchanged hugs in the common room and then she left for Hogsmeade.

Daphne too was going home, as tradition was very valuable to all noble houses and christmas was one of the important and magical nights according to customs. Daphne was very reluctant to leave as she knew Harry did not have a proper family to return to, her father had even sent a formal invitation to harry so that he spent his christmas with them but harry had politely declined replying that he had no wish to leave Hogwarts until the end of term but he did not forget to kiss her goodbye before she left, which made her very happy.

Neville too had returned home and Harry had made sure to write him a letter and keep it in his bag wishing him a merry christmas. The common room was mostly empty with only the weasley's and him staying back, and because he was not such good friends with Ron yet, he was left alone but this also gave him a opportunity to befriend his absolutely favourite seniors, the weasley twins. They had went on to become a hope of happiness not only for himself but the whole wizarding world when the British magical society was about to crumble down after Voldi's return.

Previously he had waited till the fifth year before he showed any support for them, monetarily, but this time he was sure that he will help them as much as he could from the start. One reason was because they were different kind of geniuses, something that the society, any society be magical or muggle, did not accept easily, the weird type. It was this restriction and prejudice that often lead to death of such geniuses before they could ever flourish but they had still overcome it in the end with just a slight push.

This week Harry spent meeting with the twins and discussing certain prank ideas like the one they were going to pull of at the christmas morning on Quirrell, but Harry already knew it so he not only suggested the idea he also participated. This had lead to the breaking of ice between the three and so harry had decided that the day after christmas eve he would put forth the idea to support them financially so that they could build their products.

It was finally christmas morning and Harry had finished his morning routine and sat in the common room with a cup of hot chocolate waiting for the weasley to come down so that could open the presents together. He knew that he won't be getting the hand knitted sweater by Mrs. Weasley this year and was a little sad as he always felt a lot of motherly comfort from everything that she made. The brothers all came down and then they opened their presents.

Harry unlike the last time did not have only one gift but rather four. As was expected he had the unnamed parcel by Dumble's which contained the invisibility cloak, but he was not about to show it to others so he did not open it. Hermione had sent him a first year transfiguration book along with the note that she had found out three possible corrections and she wished for harry to be the first to know, she also sent him muggle sweets that she knew harry enjoyed. Daphne had sent him a box of cookies and a scarf with the initials D and P and both emerald green and royal red color with a note saying, with love. Daphne's parents had sent him a family heirloom, a locket as was tradition.

The atmosphere was very festive as the brothers were laughing and opening their own presents and teasing each other on the sweaters that their mother had sent. Harry had grown close to the twins so he extended the sweets that Hermione had sent to share with everyone. The twins however were very snoopy and as he moved away to give it to Ron they already seen the locket but were tact enough to only ask me after we were alone. I told them about my betrothal but asked them to keep it quiet and as I knew they were only interested in teasing me and had no interest in prying.

The day ended with a wonderful dinner in the great hall and after a meal of turkey sandwiches, crumpets, trifle, and Christmas cake, everyone felt too full and sleepy to do much before bed except sit and watch Percy chase Fred and George all over Gryffindor tower because they'd stolen his prefect badge. Harry went to sleep with a sense of joy that was very scarce for him.