Umbras ? Harry Potter

chapter ten

Crookshanks's fur suddenly stood on end. A shrill, tinny whistling was filling the room. The Pocket Sneakoscope had become dislodged from Uncle Vernon's old socks and was whirling and gleaming on the floor.

"I forgot about that!" Harry said, bending down and picking up the Sneakoscope. "I never wear those socks if I can help it. . . ."

The Sneakoscope whirled and whistled in his palm. Crookshanks was hissing and spitting at it.

"You'd better take that cat out of here, Hermione," said Ron furiously,sitting on Harry's bed nursing his toe. "Can't you shut that thing up?" headed to Harry as Hermione strode out of the room, Crookshanks's yellow eyes still fixed maliciously on Ron.

Harry stuffed the Sneakoscope back inside the socks and threw it back into his trunk. All that could be heard now were Ron's stifled moans of pain and rage. Scabbers was huddled in Ron's hands. It had been a while since Harry had seen him out of Ron's pocket, and he was unpleasantly surprised to see that Scabbers, once so fat, was now very skinny; patches of fur seemed to have fallen out too.

"He's not looking too good, is he?" Harry said.

"It's stress!" said Ron. "He'd be fine if that big stupid furball left him alone!"

But Harry, remembering what the woman at the Magical Menagerie had said about rats living only three years, couldn't help feeling that unless Scabbers had powers he had never revealed, he was reaching the end of his life. And despite Ron's frequent complaints that Scabbers was both boring and useless, he was sure Ron would be very miserable if Scabbers died.

Christmas spirit was definitely thin on the ground in the Gryffindor common room that morning. Hermione had shut Crookshanks in her dormitory, but was furious with Ron for trying to kick him; Ron was still fuming about Crookshanks's fresh attempt to eat Scabbers. Harry gave up trying to make them talk to each other and devoted himself to examining the Firebolt, which he had brought down to the common room with him. For some reason this seemed to annoy Hermione as well; she didn't say anything, but she kept looking darkly at the broom as though it too had been criticizing her cat.

Hermione finally tore them from their thoughts when three owls arrived at the window, bearing packages from Ciara. Hermione went to open the window, allowing the owls to fly in and drop their parcels.

"Looks like Ciara sent us Christmas presents!" she exclaimed, her voice brightening.

Ron eagerly grabbed his package and ripped it open. "Cockroach Clusters! That bitch!"

"Ron!" Hermione said sternly to him. Ron paid no mind and continued opening.

"And a new jumper!" he said, holding up the navy jumper with delight. "Finally something not maroon!" A few other items from Honeydukes and Zonkos was also included with the others.

Hermione carefully unwrapped her gift, her eyes lighting up as she saw the titles of the books. "Oh, Ciara knows me too well!" she said, a broad smile spreading across her face as she gently ran her fingers over the covers. "These are perfect!"

Harry took his time opening his presents, his eyebrows rising in surprise when he saw his name on a package. He pulled out a new broomstick servicing kit and a book on advanced defensive spells. "Ciara got me something too?" he said, genuinely surprised. He examined the items for a moment, touched by Ciara's thoughtfulness.

"That will be perfect for your new broom!" Ron said out to Harry while shoving his face with a cauldron cake.

Harry then noticed a small bit of parchment with the chocolate frogs he was given.

Harry,

I am very sorry for the gift, as I bought it before your quidditch match. You may be able to return it, or maybe keep it for a new broom? Anyways, Merry Christmas, and sorry again.