บท 246: 0245 Christmas
On Christmas morning, Harry was awakened by a bright light that pierced through the curtains and reflected from the snow outside into the dormitory. He felt a cold draft on his face and shivered. He struggled to sit up, propping himself up with difficulty on his thin pillow. After putting on his glasses, he rubbed his eyes and blinked several times to adjust to the dimly lit room.
The rest of his roommates had already left the school in the afternoon of the previous day, so now, in the dormitory, there was only Ron, who was eagerly unpacking a small pile of packages stacked at the end of his bed. Harry could hear the rustling of paper and the clinking of objects as Ron tore open the wrapping and examined his gifts.
"Don't just stand there, Harry," Ron said, turning his head when he heard Harry's movement. He beckoned Harry eagerly with a grin. "This is our only chance of the year. Come and see what we've got this year!"
"I'm coming," Harry muttered. He slowly lifted the covers and loosely buttoned up his pajama collar. He walked over in his slippers, dragging his feet on the wooden floor.
Most of these gift packages were left by their classmates in Gryffindor. Every year, in December, Harry and Ron would also find ways to prepare Christmas gifts for their friends in the house. Most of the gifts were not too valuable, such as stationery from Flourish and Blotts, candies from Honeydukes, prank products from Zonko's Joke Shop, or small items from Dervish and Banges. These were the mainstream choices for students to exchange Christmas gifts.
This year was no exception. Harry opened several packages, and most of the items were the same. Some of the gifts were even very familiar to Harry because he had asked the Weasley brothers to purchase them from Hogsmeade.
Of course, as usual, Mrs. Weasley's gift was not absent.
A crimson sweater with the Gryffindor lion pattern knitted on the chest, as well as a dozen homemade round fruit pies, some Christmas pastries, and a box of nut brittle. Harry could smell the sweet aroma of the baked goods and felt his mouth water.
"Mom gave me another sweater. And it's dark red again," Ron grumbled as he also complained about the almost identical sweater he was holding. He threw the sweater on the bed and continued to explore Mrs. Weasley's package. Within seconds, Ron picked up another sweater, this time in emerald green, with a puzzled expression on his face. "A sale on yarn? Why did Mom send me two this year?"
Harry's first-year sweater was green, so when he heard Ron's muttering, he looked up and blinked. Harry smiled. "I guess Mrs. Weasley probably sent Percy's gift to you, Ron. We can't fit into this size."
"Maybe she just wanted to lighten the load for Errol. Well, at least Errol will be a little happier to see one less package," Ron said. He unfolded the sweater he picked up, facing it towards himself. When he saw the weird pattern on the chest, Ron suddenly widened his eyes in surprise. "A snake! Did Mom make a mistake? Oh, wait, I understand–"
As Ron said this, Harry also understood what was going on.
"Mrs. Weasley prepared one for Professor Watson too?"
"Obviously!" Ron stared at the slightly twisted snake on the sweater, with a strange smile. "Clearly, Mom isn't good at knitting anything other than lions. Well, I hope Professor Watson doesn't laugh his teeth off when he sees it."
Ron's words were just a joke. He knew very well that Professor Watson was not that unfriendly.
"But why didn't Mrs. Weasley just send it directly to Professor Watson?" Harry still found it strange. However, at this moment, a note stuck inside the sweater answered Harry's question.
"Mom is afraid it would be too presumptuous to send it directly to Professor Watson, and she hopes that we can build a good relationship with him, so she wants us to deliver it," Ron read the words on the note with a speechless expression.
"That sounds like something Mrs. Weasley would do," Harry chuckled and turned around, squatting down to continue unpacking his own gifts.
At the bottom of the pile of gifts, a long package caught Harry and Ron's attention. This item didn't look like a gift exchanged between young wizards. It was wrapped in brown paper and tied with a string.
"What's that?" Ron exclaimed, throwing the sweater for Professor Watson on the bed and crossing over the open boxes to come to Harry's side.
"Merry Christmas, Harry, Ron!" Hermione's cheerful voice rang out from the doorway. During the Christmas holiday, the spell that prevented boys and girls from visiting each other in the dormitory tower would temporarily lose its effect. Hermione, who had already sorted out her Christmas gifts, walked into the common room in her pajamas. Even on this grand holiday, her hair was still messy, hanging on her shoulders like a brown curtain.
"Oh, why is no one paying attention to me?" Hermione said, pouting her delicate nose, as she saw the two boys squatting in front of the bed without acknowledging her greeting. She walked over, slightly annoyed, while taking a deep breath.
And when her gaze passed over Harry's head and saw the broomstick he was holding, she also gasped. She recognized it immediately.
"I can't believe it," Ron said hoarsely, staring at the shiny and exquisite flying broom in Harry's hand. His eyes were wide with awe and envy.
A Firebolt! It was exactly the same as the flying broom that Harry had been dreaming of and went to see every day in Diagon Alley. At that time, he had to do some hard work for Professor Watson in order to see it.
"Even among the girls, many people who have talked about it!" Hermione added, her voice trembling with disbelief.
The frozen faces of the two boys gradually showed joy, but Hermione's delicate eyebrows furrowed. She was not as happy as they were. She was worried and suspicious. "This broomstick is worth at least a few hundred Galleons. Who could have given it to you, Harry?" she asked, her tone serious and concerned.
"Need I say more, Hermione!" Ron said, as if it was obvious. He admired the dazzling broomstick handle as he gasped for breath and said, "There's only one person I can think of!"
"You mean Professor Watson?" Harry immediately realized.
Indeed, from the current situation, it could only be Professor Watson.
Professor Dumbledore was impossible. He was the headmaster and even if he favored Harry, he wouldn't spend such a large sum of money to buy a world-class broomstick for him. If this matter was known by the young wizards of other three houses, it would probably cause a huge uproar.
Professor McGonagall was also unlikely. She had already given Harry a Nimbus 2000, which was a very good broomstick in its own right. She was also very strict and fair, and she wouldn't spoil Harry with another broomstick.
At Hogwarts, the only staff member with such financial means and a good relationship with Harry was probably Professor Watson.
"What else is there to think about, Hermione?" Ron said, as if Hermione was being silly. He couldn't understand why she was not as thrilled as he was.
Noticing that Hermione's furrowed eyebrows still hadn't relaxed, Ron restrained his excitement and said, "Do you remember, Hermione, after the Chamber of Secrets was solved, Professor Watson gave me a commemorative coin of merlin and gave you a book. He didn't give Harry anything at that time, but he said he would give Harry a gift in the future!"
"Are you suggesting…?" Hermione was not pleased with Ron's irresponsible statement. Her face darkened as she bit her lip and said, "Are you saying that Professor Watson foresaw the appearance of a famous broomstick that would only be available for sale months later, Ron?"
"What's your suggestion then, Hermione?" Ron glanced at Hermione sideways. He was annoyed by her skepticism and lack of enthusiasm.
"We can go and ask him, Ron. It just so happens that we need to give him the sweater Mrs. Weasley knitted." Harry suddenly said, not wanting the sudden brightness of this Christmas morning to be overshadowed by Ron and Hermione's argument.
"Come on, let's go and find him."
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