Chapter Text
An imposing white owl moves in through the open window in the kitchen of Privet Drive number four, barely missing the Christmas decorations and landing in front of Petunia Dursley. Petunia looks at it with disdain, but removes the letter from its foot nonetheless. The owl remains on the kitchen table, unmoving and staring at Petunia. Vernon enters the kitchen, closing the door to the hallway behind him with a loud sound. He sees the owl and immediately screams “Boy, come here. NOW!”
A young boy hears the call and hurries down the stairs of the house he had wished to avoid for another 5 months. It is almost Christmas time, and while he had hoped he could have remained at Hogwarts and finally have a Christmas without his Uncle’s usual Christmas ‘presents’, it was for naught as he had been send back to Surrey by the headmaster because of the weakening blood wards. Opening the door to the kitchen, he eyed is Aunt and Uncle with something akin to fear in his eyes. Then he saw the white owl, and wonder who had send it to Privet Drive, as he had been very careful to tell no-one where he lived and to ask his friends not to send him any post, as to not further upset his relatives.
“WHO did you tell where we lived? Didn’t I tell you that this house was not to be infested by OWLS,” screaming this word Uncle Vernon looked at the owl that was still stoically sitting on the kitchen table, “GIANTS, or other FREAKS!?” Spit flew out of Vernon’s mouth while he talked to Harry, as he struck out his hand and slapped him in his face. “ANSWER ME!” “Yes, Uncle Vernon.” Harry spoke, not looking at his Uncles but at the points of his worn sneakers. Vernon tried hitting him again, but he ducked and avoided another blow to his face. Aunt Petunia stood, looked at him as he was a piece of filth, and threw the scroll of parchment to land in front of his feet. Harry hesitated to pick it up.
“Open it, and tell me who dared to send this creature” Petunia’s hand waved at the owl, as if she wanted to scare it away, “to our perfectly clean house!” Harry had to do his best not to snort at that comment. The house was perfectly clean because he had been cleaning almost non-stop for the two weeks, since he had arrived from school. At some point, he had almost wished his potions professor, Snape, could have seen him, if only to stop his comments about the lazy, pampered Boy-Who-Lived. He carefully picked up the scroll, almost as if he expected another blow from his Uncle. He broke the ornate seal of the scroll without paying attention to the details of the image and opened it, to read the first line.
‘Dearest mister and misses Dursley,´
“It...” Harry hesitated and his voice wavered for a moment, as if unsure if it was wise to speak the words, “a letter to you.” Uncle Vernon’s face grew redder even, almost matching the red Christmas decorations while Aunt Petunia grassed the scroll of parchment out of his hands. Her eyes widened as she read the words written on the parchment.
‘Dearest mister and misses Dursley,
I am hoping this letter finds you well, and that you are currently enjoying the start of the Christmas season with your family.
I am writing you, for my son, Draconis Lucius Malfoy, Is a year mate of your nephew, Harry James Potter, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Due to your background, you might be unaware of this, but each year my family hosts a Christmas party for the high society witch and wizard, and their respective families. This year, I would be very pleased if your nephew would be able to attend our party for the first time as a friend of my son. The party is to be taking place between Christmas and the New Year, on the evening of the 29th of December.
Harry would be welcome to come to our manor from the afternoon of the 30th of December. We could return him to you on the 1st of January or he could remain with us until he, my son, and his other friends will return to Hogwarts on the 4th or January. I am hoping to hear from you soon.
If you are not aquinted with owl post, I am sure your nephew can assist you with sending your reply with Osis (the owl). Osis will wait for you to make your decision and respond to this letter, before departing to Malfor Manor.
With the best wishes for the holiday season,
Lucius Malfoy,
Lord Malfoy of Malfoy Manor,
Member of the Wizengamot,
Member of the Board of Governors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’
Harry did not dare to look at his Aunt while she was reading the letter. He did not have time to look at it beyond the content of the first line and had no idea who had written a letter to his guardians and send it by owl post! It could not have been the Weasleys, for he had warned Ron not to do so. The parchment had been smoother that what he was accustomed to work with at school, and the letter had been written in a neat script, with long strokes of dark green ink. He did not know any more wizarding families that he would be close enough to that they would write his Aunt and Uncle a letter. As he looked up at Aunt Petunia through his dark hair, as if to hide to motion, he saw her mouthing the words of the letter although he could not make out the content of it.
It took a while before Aunt Petunia spoke again. “Boy, you are leaving on the 28th to go to your friend and you are NOT COMING BACK.” While she put emphasis on those last words, all Harry could do was wonder why Ron’s family had written to his house against his explicit instructions to Ron and the twins not to. At the same time, he was happy. He only had to stay at the Dursleys for four more days and then he was leaving, a whole week earlier than he had been expecting. And he was going to Ron’s place before returning to Hogwarts! He couldn’t have gotten a better gift for Christmas.