Gathering up his newly acquired items and setting them in his section of the dorm room, Harry makes his way down to the great hall for a hearty Christmas morning feast, full of delectable treats. After finishing his meal, Professor Flitwick speaks with Harry. "Happy Christmas Mr. Potter, I believe I have some news for you. Would you care to come with me to my office?"
"Happy Christmas to you as well Professor, and yes I'll come to your office." Harry responds, wiping his mouth and standing up from his now finished meal. Harry follows Professor Flitwick to his office, the diminutive Professor humming seasonal tunes the entire journey. His spirits were remarkably high, and Harry hopes that it is more than just the Christmas spirit infecting him.
"Ah, yes here we are. Before we start in earnest, I do hope you liked my gift for you." Professor Flitwick says, his smile beaming across his face.
"Oh yes Professor, I liked it very much, thank you. I've been doing my exercises indoors, but getting to run around outside will help my endurance far more." Harry says, sitting straight up.
"Good good! Now then, I have something very exciting to tell you. I had mentioned previously that your relatives had their trials just before Christmas break. They have been sentenced and truly no longer have any claims of guardianship over you. Your Uncle is to receive twenty years in muggle prison, and your aunt is to receive fifteen. Your cousin is to spend the next two years in a juvenile detention facility, followed by finishing his education at a school for underaged delinquents." Professor Flitwick says.
"While it's good to hear that I won't be going back to them, I can't say I'm particularly excited by the prospect of them going to prison. They weren't nice to me, I understand that. But isn't it enough for me not to go back to them?" Harry asks.
"Dear boy, what they did to you was actually criminal, and they have been punished accordingly. The fact that you feel bad for them however does speak wonders of your character. You're a good man Mr. Potter. As it stands however we will be shortly entering the interviewing phase for potential guardians for you. At the moment there are three names that are in the running, and while my familiarity with them is somewhat lacking due to them not having been members of my house while they were in school, I have no doubts of two of them treating you well. The third I will withhold judgment on." Professor Flitwick says, looking over a document in his hands.
"May I know who they are?" Harry asks nervously.
"Of course dear boy, I'm simply making you sweat. First we have Amelia Bones, your friend Susan Bones' aunt. She was a friend of your parents, and is currently working as the head of magical law enforcement. Since she has full custody of Susan, who is by all accounts a remarkable young witch she has a precedent of being capable of raising a child. There is currently a worry about how her work schedule would interfere with her care for you, but that is to be monitored. The second is Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, the parents of Draco Malfoy from your year. I'm aware of your history with the boy, and will suggest that perhaps they be given a much lower priority, but Narcissa is among your closest living relatives, being the great-niece of your great-grandmother. Finally Andromeda and Theodore Tonks, who were very good friends of your parents, Andromeda being the favored cousin of your father's best friend. She is also Narcissa's sister, so she also shares a distinction of being a relative. They have a daughter who graduated from here last year, and I believe is on her path to becoming an Auror." Professor Flitwick explains.
"I see. Well, I suppose just keep me updated. Will I get to meet them before a final decision is made?" Harry asks.
"Of course dear boy. At the end of the day you will be the one who makes the decision. It is just our job to make sure that you make a properly informed decision about who you live with. We need to make sure we do not move you from one abusive environment to another, but we also want you to live a happy life, and find yourself a family that will love you, and that you will love in return." Professor Flitwick says.
Harry smiles and nods. "Thank you for everything sir."
"There is no need to thank me Mr. Potter, it is both my duty and my pleasure to do so." Professor Flitwick says, a wide smile on his face. "Now, I believe you have a holiday to enjoy! Happy Christmas!"
"Happy Christmas Professor." Harry says, before walking out of Professor Flitwick's office. Harry couldn't help but find a skip in his step on his way back to the Ravenclaw tower. This had been far and away the best Christmas he had ever had, but every minute of the day found it becoming better and better.
Making it up to his dorm room, Harry had one person left he needed to spread some of his Christmas joy to. "I'm going to write a letter." Harry said aloud to the no one that would hear. On cue though, as though the words were a spell themselves Hedwig appeared at the window near Harry's bed, her white feathers gleaming with the soft twinkle of snowflakes that have fallen on her in her flight.
"Happy Christmas Hedwig! Sorry to trick you, I don't actually have any mail for you, but I do have some treats." Harry says to his inordinately intelligent bird. Harry gently feeds her some bits of bacon he had saved from his breakfast while stroking her. She coos gently with his strokes, in a manner that conveys 'Yes, I like that very much.'
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