Chapter 76: Unboxing Christmas Gifts
The next morning, Kyle awoke to find a small mountain of presents at the foot of his bed. Most were snacks—chocolates and sweets—and there were quite a few more than he'd expected.
"Being a good student really does have its perks," Kyle murmured, setting the snacks aside and eagerly moving on to the rest.
Hagrid's gift was the largest, resembling a small wooden barrel wrapped in thick brown paper. "Could it be... a Mooncalf?" he wondered with a mix of hope and dread as he carefully unwrapped it. Thankfully, it wasn't. Hagrid had given him a Lady's Mantle, the barrel serving as a makeshift planter filled with soil. Fresh dew on its leaves suggested Hagrid had just dug it up in the Forbidden Forest.
In return, Kyle had gifted Hagrid a model of the Dragon used during the Triwizard Tournament—a little figurine that could fly low, spit fire, and even move around. He was sure Hagrid would love it.
Cedric's gift was a signed copy of Quidditch Through the Ages, with signatures from the Chudley Cannons. Kyle took one look at the team's signature and promptly set it aside with a grimace. Not my team, he thought with mild disdain.
Cedric, on the other hand, would likely be thrilled with Kyle's gift to him: his prized, autographed bat from the Wimbourne Wasps. He had even sent a special request to Mrs. Weasley, asking her to mail it for him. Mrs. Weasley had sent a reply scolding him for not coming home over the holiday and promising a good telling-off come summer. Kyle wasn't worried. A handmade apron and a stellar report card would ensure she forgave him without a fuss.
Kanna had knitted him a pair of wool mittens, each bearing his initials, and her knitting skill was surprisingly refined. They fit perfectly and would go well with the sweater Mrs. Weasley had given him. For Kanna, he'd picked out a handbag enchanted with an anti-theft charm—practical and stylish.
Fred's gift was a bottle of disappearing ink, and George's was a collection of Chocolate Frog cards, neatly stored in a transparent card holder. For them, Kyle had chosen Elementary Alchemy, a textbook from Beauxbatons' alchemy course, hoping it would aid them in their recent experiments with playful inventions.
His roommates hadn't forgotten him either: Mikel gifted him a finely crafted gold brooch, while Ryan presented him with a wizard chess set.