Chapter Text
“What have you got there, Harry?” Neville asked when Harry pushed Ron and Hermione apart so he could sit between them. Honestly, he was fine with them dating, but he didn’t want to watch them consume each other for breakfast every morning.
“I honestly have no idea.” He sighed as he dropped a heavy black book on the Gryffindor table. “When I woke up this morning it was lying on the edge of my bed, wrapped in christmas paper. Maybe one of the house elves mixed up the dates for christmas or something.”
“It’s not another piece of you know who now, is it?” Ron eyed the black book suspiciously, before turning to his full english breakfast again. Harry really didn’t want to know why the redhead was that hungry in the early morning.
“It’s not.” Seamus said surprised as he picked it up and studied it more closely. “It’s an advent book. I know because that’s how my mom courted my dad. It’s a bit like those muggle advent calendars that count down to christmas, only instead of chocolate you get a message or a present every day.”
“Ulgh, who would want some sappy quote or trinket instead of food?” Ron huffed as he stuffed his face with more baked beans.
“Maybe people who are romantic, Ron?” Hermione snapped at him, but she smiled as soon as he started to look sheepish. Harry rolled his eyes.
“What kind of messages?” Dean asked before Harry got the chance. “Spells? Or love letters? Is it standardized?”
“No, I think this one is an original.” Seamus pondered as he flipped through the pages. “It’s custom made, very old magic. You’re a lucky man Harry. Someone took the effort to write you twenty one messages leading up to christmas in one of the most expensive books one can buy. That’s a lot of effort, even if it’s just a fan.”
Seamus leaned across the table and handed Harry his book back. Harry picked it up and studied it again, more closely this time. “How do I know it’s not cursed, or out to kill me?”
“They can’t be, it’s part of their magic.” Seamus replied. “It’s why they were especially popular during the first and second wizarding war. Even the most suspicious witch or wizard can’t be wary of them, because they’re made by Santa’s elves.”
“Don’t be stupid Seamus, Santa doesn’t exist.” Hermione huffed from behind her transfiguration textbook.
“Yes he does!” Neville exclaimed suddenly, joining in on their conversation so fast he accidentally sprayed the table with pieces of toast. Harry quickly picked up his book and held it against his chest for safekeeping.
“Or he did, at any rate. He was an old wizard up in lapland, who traded in protective amulets and trinkets for kids that he called joy-givers. When he died he ordered his elves to keep making small things to bring the wizarding world joy, and that’s why you know their magic is always safe. Murder isn’t very joyful, you see, and they can’t go against their master’s wishes.”
Hermione seemed stunned for a moment by the fact that Neville knew something that she didn’t. Harry looked down at the black book again. When he studied it more closely he could indeed make out a stamp in the corner on the back. The fancy lettering in the logo appeared to say something about elves and a guy named Santa.
His curiosity tickled and his suspicion erased, Harry opened the book.
Dear Harry,
I still think I must be mad to give this for you, because you are an absolute idiot. But you are an absolute idiot with your heart in the right place, and sadly that is a rarity these days. Trust me, I know.
Don’t think too much of what you’ll find in here. My only goal is to help you get out of bed in the morning, or to make you laugh. You don’t do that nearly as often as you should, which is a shame because it’s a wonderful thing to watch.
I know you are daunted by the upcoming christmas, the upcoming year and whatever it is that lies beyond that, and though I can’t possibly take your hand and guide you through it (not just because your hands are sweaty, but also because you are way too proud to accept any help) I do hope that this book can make you look forward to your future a little bit more. Because you should. Having a future is a privilege which it should be celebrated, not feared. And I know for a fact that you will have a bright future, no matter how unlikely you might think that is now.
Happy first advent day Harry,
A stranger
A stranger. When Harry read the message again he couldn’t help but feel like the person who had written it was not a stranger at all. They sounded more like a close friend.
“Any idea who gave this to you, Harry?” Harry was startled by Hermione, who had been reading along over his shoulder.
“No.” He quickly shut the book before others could start reading it. The gift felt too personal to share. “Like I said, I woke up this morning and it was just there, on my bed.”
“D'you reckon Goldstein wrote it?” Ron asked, referring to one of Harry’s three roommates. “I mean, he has the money, and I’m pretty sure I saw him looking at your butt yesterday.”
“No,” Harry shook his head. “Goldstein writes much more posh than this. And he’d never use the word idiot.”
“True. I heard him call Malfoy a cretin last week. Still don’t know what it means but it got Parkinson and Theo very defensive.” Neville shrugged.
Seamus pulled a disgusted face. “You don’t think Malfoy made this now, do you?”
Harry stopped to think about that for a moment, but before he could say anything Ron had beaten him to it. “Absolutely not, Malfoy hates Harry. And besides, the ministry confiscated his entire inheritance at his father’s trial. If this is really expensive then he can’t afford it.”
“Maybe Smith, then?” Dean offered, though he didn’t sound like he believed that was an actual option.
Harry shook his head. “I can’t imagine Smith writing this, he never stopped sulking after I beat him during that quidditch match in oktober.”
“So not one of your roommates then…” Seamus mused. “Maybe one of the girls? I know Susan always speaks very fondly of you, and her aunt is rich.”
“But Susan wouldn’t call Harry an absolute idiot. Can’t be her.” Hermione dismissed the idea with a shake of her head. The Gryffindors continued discussing who a stranger could be until it was lunch time and the news of Cho and Marietta finally getting together took over the gossip mill.
But Harry couldn’t help but ponder on the matter for hours as he lay in bed that night. A stranger….
Who on earth could that be?