114 Mail-Order Gifts

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Powerstone Goal: 56/400

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After playing for a few hours I leave Aria in Hermione's care while I go and check the presents I got from others. Hermione has gotten pretty attached to Aria already so I think it will be fine.

Before heading to my room I stop and knock on the door to Luna's room. She opens it without speaking instead stands there smiling at me. She is wearing a baggy red sweater and green pants with a wreath in her hair.

I give a kind smile ignoring the wreath "Hello Luna, I just came to give you a gift." I pull out the book 'New and Possible Discoveries, The Magic of Magical Creatures' and hand it to her.

Her face brightens past its usual smile "Thank you, Soren. Here, I have a gift for you as well." She quickly turns and runs to her bag and pulls out a vine?

She trots over happily and hands me a crown made of a solid-looking vine "It's a mistletoe vine."

My eyes narrow "Aren't mistletoe's poisonous?"

She tilts her head as she looks at me oddly "Just don't eat it silly."

I nod "Ah, yeah, of course… Well, thank you."

Seeing she isn't going to speak I say goodbye and move on with my day.

Getting back to my room I see a small pile of presents that Shy has dropped off. None of them look particularly large which is good, don't want to work Shy too hard.

I walk up the first and begin opening them since I want to get back to everyone quickly. The first is from Auntie and Uncle Ted. They got me a weird quill, and a revealer to pass invisible notes. I assume this was Uncle Ted's idea. A good idea I might add.

I got them a vacation to Korea, which is where they currently are. If not I'm sure I would be endlessly harassed by the two-way mirror Auntie got me last year.

The next is from Daphne Greengrass, her present is just a small palm-sized box. I got her a ruby pendant with a single use of Fiendfyre on it, a pretty damn good present if you as me. It was pretty expensive getting an alchemist to help store my spell, even while using the black market Inside the small box is a comically small bow.

I stare at it oddly at the bow until I see a note on the bottom of the box. "Kalliergo?" I mutter under my breath.

At my word the bow magically grows to full size in an instant. I curiously stand up and measure up to it, it perfectly fits my body. I smirk at the present, it's honestly pretty awesome, too bad I have never used a bow.

From Uncle Lucius and Aunt Narcissa I got a small dial that looks like a pocket watch. But it is a small instrument called a threat meter. You can only get it on the black market, only the Ministry of Magic officially owns one. It does as it is named, it tells you the current level of danger, green, yellow, and red with three ticks each.

As I stare at it goes from green to yellow stopping on the second yellow tick. My brow raises as I look at it, an impressive item indeed. What a good servant Lucius Malfoy is.

From Theo I got a Veritaserum, he attached a not that said it was his first success and he wanted to share it with me. Coincidentally, I got him a copy of the book that Snape gave me last year. It was really useful for me so I'm sure it will serve him better.

From Katie, Dean, Seamus, and Neville I got candies. Which is fine since I got them the same.

After I have opened all the presents I put away the stuff and head back. I was worried about the bow but it shrunk once again when it left my hands. The rest of the day went by rather quickly, but it was incredibly enjoyable. I tried hard to enjoy myself tonight won't be as delightful.

Once the sun has fallen I sit Aria down and kneel to her level. She looks confused but stays still nonetheless.

"I will have to leave for a while." Before I even finish my words a sad expression crosses her face.

Patting her head I take Sin off my neck "This is my best friend in the world. His name is Sin, he will be taking care of you while I am gone." Sin comes to life in my hands causing her to jump a bit.

After her initial shock, she leans forward observing the animated piece of cloth with curiosity. Sin waits for her to touch him before latching on to her 'standing' on her arm.

"Can he talk?" She asks curiously.

I shake my head "No, but he can understand you."

Seeing her tilt her head I continue "He is SUUPPEERRR strong so no bad men will be able to come near you."

"But what if the bad men come after you?"

"You don't have to worry, all the bad men are scared of me," I say with a small smirk.

"Are you strong too? Like a superhero?" She asks with glittering eyes.

I stand up as I pat her head "Something like that." I turn to the nightstand and place the carousel on it and wind it up. I originally got this for Ron since it helps people fall asleep and the more important part (for Ron), it silences snoring.

I lay her down as Sin expands to become a blanket. "I'll be back before you wake up."

She nods as she snuggles up to Sin who snuggles up to her back. I give her head one last pat before I turn around to the door. As I look back for the final time I speak to Sin through my mind.

'If anyone enters with bad intentions, or tries to harm Aria, kill them.' I feel my scar begin to ache as I am standing there.

'Sis is in trouble…' I think to myself.

The bottom corner of Sin flaps indicating he understands. Knowing that the child is safe I step out from the room and begin my path to Hogwarts. With my sister's life at stake, I refuse to stay out of this fight.

I can feel the dementor that is supposed to be protecting Sis is outside the Hogwarts barrier. I quickly dismiss it with a thought as I pass it nearing the lake.

If any part of my sister is harmed I will not stop at killing Salazar Slytherin. I cover myself in my cloak and step through the wall. With the cold breeze on my face fog begins to leak from my legs as they begin to vanish.

I take flight towards the lake where the pipe outlets in my human form, hidden by my fog. As I near the lake I can feel that the barrier protecting Salazar's hideaway has been destroyed. I assume Flitwick managed to find a way to crack it.

I hover in front of the grate separating the lake and the chamber of secrets. As I look down I notice there is a shadow beneath the dark lake that spans hundreds of meters. It seems to be staring at me as I am not invisible, just shrouded in darkness.

I ignore it as I land inside the massive pipe and step towards the iron bars. As my hand touches it I feel that they are enchanted, I won't be able to phase through them. I rub my chin as I way my options. The likelihood I will be seen is high so I want to enter through a known path.

As I am thinking of blowing it up two massive tentacles reach past me grabbing the iron grate. I inadvertently step back away from the bars. With an awful sheering sound, the tentacles tear a massive hole in the grate.

I peer over the edge of the pipe down at the lake below "Thank you." I give a wave as I speak.

With my thanks, the tentacles retreat back into the lake and vanish from view. I sigh as I turn around and step into the back entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.

'Giant squid is very strong. Noted.'