Christmas Eve was approaching quickly, and in Britain, this season was more than just a time of celebration—it was also one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, with massive discounts luring shoppers to the stores. As he had done in years past, Kreacher ventured to Regent Street, intent on taking advantage of the sales.
Albert, meanwhile, had made his way to Diagon Alley to prepare gifts for his friends. The alley, always brimming with magic, now shimmered with festive cheer. Every shop window was adorned with Christmas decorations, and the joyful melodies of holiday carols drifted through the cobbled streets.
After purchasing and sending his gifts via the Owl Post Office, Albert returned home. There, he began rummaging through a stack of old books in the family library.
More than an hour passed before he uncovered two particularly interesting tomes. One was titled "How to Brew One Hundred Common Potions", a timeworn volume published in 1893. It contained several unfamiliar concoctions not taught in school, such as quick-dye potions for hair and simplified versions of age-enhancing and age-reducing potions. These variants were easier to produce and required cheaper ingredients, though their effects only lasted about fifteen minutes.
The second book resembled a notebook filled with annotations from top students in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. With the help of these detailed notes, Albert was confident that any diligent student could master the Stupefy spell on their own—a stunning charm that rendered its target unconscious.
On Christmas Eve, Albert went to bed early. After all, Christmas Day promised plenty of joy: gifts in the morning and a grand feast by noon.
When he woke the next morning, Albert was greeted by a pile of presents at the foot of his bed. Kreacher, ever dutiful, had brought them into the room. Among them was a brand-new set of clothes—a gift from Kreacher himself.
There were also thoughtful presents from Albert's classmates. Hermione had gifted him a fine set of new quills, Harry had sent a box of assorted sweets, and Ron had chosen a collection of history books along with transfiguration notes from his brothers, Fred and George. Neville's gift was a soothing tin of spiced black tea, no doubt lovingly prepared by his grandmother.
One gift in particular surprised Albert. Professor Sprout had given him a copy of her personal herbology notes from her student days, expressing hope that he would go far in the study of magical plants.
Thankfully, Albert had sent each of his professors a box of chocolates in advance—just in case—avoiding what would have been a rather awkward situation.
Of course, he had also gifted Kreacher a set of new clothes, hoping the old elf might finally part with the ragged shirt he had worn for decades. Kreacher was visibly moved. For the first time in a very long while, he felt that someone genuinely cared for him.
At noon, Albert and Kreacher sat down together to enjoy their Christmas meal: roasted goose, an array of side dishes, and festive pudding. One might wonder—what is Christmas like at Hogwarts?
Unlike the quiet, warm celebration Albert shared with Kreacher, Christmas at Hogwarts was an entirely grander affair. He remembered it well—it had been the best holiday of his previous life.
The Great Hall was magnificently decorated. The walls were draped with garlands of enchanted greenery, and towering Christmas trees sparkled with silver snowflakes and glowed with the light of hundreds of candles.
When Harry woke that Christmas morning, the first thing he saw was a neat pile of presents at the foot of his bed. Wrapped among them was a long, mysterious package. He was momentarily stunned—he hadn't expected to receive anything at all.
After exchanging holiday greetings with Ron, he began to open his gifts. "Blimey, a Ptolemy card!" Ron exclaimed. "Albert must be incredibly lucky—I've hardly seen him eat Chocolate Frogs at all!"
Harry, too, had received a gift from Albert—a magnificent pair of enchanted flying scissors. "He always thinks outside the box," Harry said with a smile. "He feels like an uncle sometimes."
Ron grinned, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I can't wait to see what this long one is!"
"Huh?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "You got one too?"
"That means they're from the same person!" Ron said, eyes wide with excitement. "Now I'm really curious!"
The two tore into the packages together. As the wrappings fell away, they gasped in unison.
"A Nimbus Two Thousand and One?!"
Harry's face lit up with joy. It was the newest model—sleek, powerful, and wildly coveted.
Ron, meanwhile, was nearly speechless. "Merlin's beard! A Nimbus 2001… My dad said each one of these costs at least 500 Galleons!"
As Ron held up the broom, a small card slipped out from the wrapping. Harry caught it before it hit the floor.
It read: "A gift from Albert Black."
Harry turned to Ron, his eyes wide. "Didn't you say Albert's family wasn't doing well? Where on earth did he get the money for this? A thousand Galleons—that's enough to live on for a whole year!"
Ron shrugged, still stunned. "I don't know… Maybe from the reserve vaults old wizarding families keep. Some kind of noble inheritance?"
Then he frowned slightly. "Still, I feel kind of embarrassed. I never imagined Albert would give us something so incredible…"
"Same here," Harry admitted. "I didn't think I'd get anything at all—but Albert's gift completely caught me off guard."
Just then, Ron turned back toward Harry. "Wait—you forgot one. There's still a gift you haven't opened."
Harry blinked, then noticed the small package he had overlooked.
He unwrapped it carefully. A glimmering, silvery substance spilled into a shimmering heap on the floor.
Ron gasped. "That's an Invisibility Cloak!"
Harry draped the cloak over himself and discovered a note tucked inside, written in a hand he didn't recognize:
"Your father left this in my care before he died. It's time it was returned to you. Use it well. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas."
Later that evening, dressed in a hand-knit sweater from Mrs. Weasley, Harry joined the Weasley twins and others for the grand Christmas banquet at Hogwarts. The feast featured no less than a hundred roasted turkeys, mountains of roast potatoes, and a holiday spirit unlike any other.
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