My New Passion

20.

Harry Potter, Malfoy Manor.

Harry looked around, trying to spot a certain blond haired boy, before Tubbo pulled on his sleeve. "He's over there, Harry." Tubbo hummed, as Harry looked to where he was pointing. Draco was by the table with food and drinks, eating some of the dishes with a bored look on his face. "Thank you Tubbo. I'm pretty sure that's Ranboo over there." Harry hummed, as Tubbo smiled. "Thanks." They both parted ways, as Harry pulled a nervous Hermione and approached Draco while the Twins approached Ranboo, who was standing with his mothers. "Draco!" Harry called out, as Draco turned around. "Harry! Hermione! My you two look amazing!" Harry and Hermione smiled. "I know right? She looks gorgeous!" Harry agreed, as Hermione turned a little red.

"Oh stop it you two. It's just a dress." Harry smiled. "Right. But it's also because you're pretty." Draco chuckled, as he handed a glass of water for the red-faced girl. "Oh, looks like the Weasleys are here." Harry turned to the front door, where a gaggle of red heads have walked in. Harry smiled when he noticed their clothes, mostly ill-fitting or covered in patches. "Mr. Weasley! Mrs. Weasley! Over here!" Harry said, before he took out his wand. "Yes, Harry?" Molly asked, as the family approached them. She looks embarrassed. And scared. Andri hissed gently from the crook of his neck, making Harry hum. I noticed. He hissed, before casting a spell.

The spell helped make the clothes fit perfectly on all the family members, and get rid of most of the odd coloured patches covering the clothes. "There. It looks much better now." Molly stared at her family, before hugging Harry close. "I'm just repaying a favour." He hummed after they parted, staring at Fred who was admiring his clothes. "Thank you so much, Harry." Arthur said, patting his shoulders. "You really are impressive with magic." Draco hummed, as they watched the Weasleys start to participate in the little party, Lucius Malfoy looking rather amused with whatever Arthur was rambling about to him. "Thank you." Harry hummed, before Hermione and Ron pulled them to the centre of the party.

After the party, a few days later... (25th December)

After a quick Christmas breakfast with Remus and Sirius, Harry opened his door and flopped onto the bed. "My stomach feels like it's about to blow up." He hummed, before he felt reality shift. "Huh? Woah!" He yelped as presents fall onto his bed, one hitting him in the stomach. "Ow!" He groaned, before he sat up. Andri also poked his head out from his cage to see what the commotion was about. Harry smiled softly as he noticed the presents were all for him, apparated over by his friends.

Open them! I wanna see what's inside! Andri said excitedly, as he slithered over. Harry chuckled at his serpent's excitement, before taking one off his bed and started unwrapping it. He checked the sender first, smiling when it was Hermione's. He unwrapped it carefully, as it revealed a box. What is it?? Andri asked curiously, as he sat on his neck. Potions set. And it's a pretty good one too. Harry answered quietly, as he took out the equipment from the box. Must've cost her a fortune. Harry chuckled. Well then I hope my necklace for her is of equal value.

He set the potion set aside, before taking the present given from Neville off his bed. He opened the smaller present carefully, since Neville said it was a plant. When it was fully unwrapped, Harry chuckled. It smells nice! What is it? Andri asked. A plant named Angel's Breath. It smells nice and a very good plant to use in any potions. The only reason Snape doesn't have it at school is because it's very hard to keep alive, especially in a dark, damp space like his classroom.

An Angel Breath plant has to be in direct sunlight, watered nearly everyday and has to be in a magical environment. Although the Longbottom household is a fallen Pureblood household, it's still a home to Wizards and Witches. So it grows nicely there. Harry explained calmly as he set the plant on his windowsill, before sitting back down and grabbing another present.

Ron's present was filled with stuff from all of the Weasley family, a large bag of Every Flavour Beans and toffees from Ron, a few Filibuster Fireworks from the Twins, a book titled 'How To Be The Perfect Prefect' from Percy, a lone dragon tooth necklace from one Charlie Weasley and a thank you note from Bill. Harry also got a hand knitted sweater from Molly. He hummed as he slipped on the sweater and ate a toffee before putting the gifts aside and taking one of the last five presents from his bed.

He smiled when he realized the sender was Draco, before carefully unwrapping the present. As he did so, Tom had materialized next to him, hands playing leisurely around with his wand. He let out a soft whistle at the long, emerald green silk cloak Harry took out of the box. "That's so pretty. Your friend has quite a classy taste." He commented as Harry draped the cloak around his upper body. "It feels light too. Oh now I feel like my present for him is shitty." Harry muttered, as he took off the cloak and folded back into the box.

Meanwhile...

Draco carefully took the present sent by Harry, unwrapping it with a nervous air around him. Once he opened the box, he gasped. Holy Merlin. He thought quietly as he stared at the bouquet filled with different sugar flowers, in differing colours and flavours. He smiled, before taking a quick picture of the bouquet using a Muggle Camera that has been modified. (His father got one from Arthur, so he gave it to Draco since he doesn't want to ruin his 'Purebloods must not play with Muggle items' facade.

He has to send a thank you letter to Harry tonight. This is an amazing present.

Back to Harry...

As he kept the box inside his closet, an owl landed on his windowsill. "Well hello little one. What do you have there?" Harry hummed, as he spotted the small present around its leg. The owl hooted, before Harry gave it a piece of Andri's mice and untied the present from its leg. The owl then flew away, so Harry started to open the letter that came with it first. "Who's that from?" Tom asked, as he ate a toffee. "You. Well, future- wait, sorry, the real you." Tom hummed, before Harry opened the box. Inside, a simple silver chain necklace with a deer and a doe charm was sitting inside. Voldemort had mentioned that the charms had been casted with a powerful protection spell, one that can protect the wearer from even Oculumency.

Harry slipped the necklace on quietly, and if Tom and Andri saw him wiping a few stray tears, they didn't say anything.