Chapter 82 - Back to Hogwarts
The next day after our visit to Gringotts, I received an owl from Hogwarts during breakfast.
The large brown owl landed proudly near my plate and stretched its leg toward me. I untied the letters while Mom placed another toast on my plate.
Dad asked, "Who is it from?"
"Hogwarts."
"More school things already?" he asked.
"Let me check," I replied.
Harry and Dudley immediately leaned closer to look.
The first letter contained the results of my accelerated fourth-year examinations. Since only my papers had needed checking, the results had come much earlier than normal.
I opened the letter calmly. It showed Outstanding grades in every subject. Both practical and theoretical.
Dudley nearly choked on his tea after hearing it.
"Every subject?" he asked.
"Yes."
Dudley groaned dramatically.
"You're not even human anymore."
Harry looked genuinely happy.
"That's brilliant, Arthur!"
Mom smiled proudly and rubbed my shoulder gently.
"I knew you would do well."
I smiled too. Honestly, the exams had never truly been difficult for me. Especially now that I no longer needed to purposely slow myself down.
The second envelope contained my adjusted study schedule for the fifth year and the list of books required for O.W.L. preparation.
I read through it carefully while eating breakfast.
Looks like my next big examination would truly begin now.
Then I also wrote a letter to Percy Weasley. Since Percy would also be sitting for his O.W.L.s in June, he was the perfect person to ask about preparation materials.
I politely asked if he could recommend extra books, notes, or useful study guides.
Honestly, Percy was many things, but when it came to studying, he was basically a machine.
A few days later, I returned to Diagon Alley alone to buy the books and supplies needed for fifth year. The bookstore was less crowded. Few students and parents were present.
I bought everything on the list carefully. I also bought the extra materials suggested by Percy.
Soon enough, the remaining holidays passed peacefully. Before we knew it, it was finally time to return to Hogwarts again.
The train ride back was mostly normal, as the train was relatively empty. By evening, we finally returned to Hogwarts.
The castle looked the same as always, grand and ancient under the cold winter sky. Snow covered parts of the grounds, and warm lights shone through the castle windows.
The rest of the day back passed quietly. It started with dinner where students talked about holidays and gifts.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent most of the time whispering about the cloak now that it no longer had tracking charms or compulsion spells on it.
Harry especially looked very excited.
"So now nobody can track it?" Ron asked.
"Nope," Harry replied proudly.
Hermione adjusted her books and frowned slightly.
"You should still be careful with it. It is alarming already that someone had charmed it."
Harry grinned, unconcerned, "Now I can finally explore the castle properly."
Ron burst out with excitement and even Hermione smiled a little in anticipation.
That night, after curfew, Harry quietly opened his trunk inside the dormitory. He wanted to check on the invisibility cloak again. Ron was already half asleep nearby.
Harry reached inside his bag confidently then froze.
The cloak was not there.
His smile disappeared instantly.
He searched the bag again.
Nothing.
He checked under his clothes.
Nada.
He pulled out books, parchment, chocolate frog boxes, spare quills, socks, and nearly everything else inside.
Still nothing.
Now panic truly started rising inside him.
"No no no no…"
He grabbed another bag and checked it completely and re-checked his trunk with no positive result.
By now, Ron had sat up groggily.
"What's happening?"
"The cloak!" Harry whispered harshly. "It's gone!"
Ron woke up immediately after hearing that.
"What?"
Harry searched everywhere desperately. Under the bed, in the drawers, between folded robes, even inside his pillow cover.
But he got nothing.
Harry's breathing became faster.
The cloak could not simply disappear.
Had somebody stolen it?
Had somebody followed him?
Had the charms truly all been removed?
A hundred thoughts entered his head together.
Then suddenly-
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Something hit the dormitory window softly.
Harry turned immediately. Hedwig sat outside the window proudly.
Harry rushed over and opened it.
The snowy owl flew inside gracefully and landed on his bed. Something small was tied to her leg. She gave an annoyed hoot at being ignored for several seconds.
Harry quickly untied the note and he opened it.
The message was short.
"I have taken it from you. It is safely with me. Don't think about roaming at night again.
- Arthur."
Harry stared at the note silently for several seconds.
Relief flooded through him first as the cloak was not stolen and nobody dangerous had taken it.
But immediately after that came anger.
"Arthur took it?" Harry whispered.
Ron scratched his head.
"Well… at least it's safe?"
Harry looked annoyed now.
"He could have asked first!"
Ron wisely decided not to comment further.
Harry sat down heavily on the bed while Hedwig pecked his hand impatiently for attention. He absentmindedly patted her.
Honestly, Harry felt conflicted.
Part of him was relieved while another part of him was irritated.
That cloak belonged to him and Arthur had simply taken it without warning.
Harry looked toward the dormitory door for a moment. He seriously considered marching straight to Arthur's dormitory immediately and demanding it back.
But then reality hit him.
It was already after curfew.
And without the invisibility cloak, sneaking through Hogwarts at night was a terrible idea.
Especially after everything that had happened during the past few months.
Harry sighed deeply.
Ron fell back onto his bed.
"You can ask him tomorrow."
Harry grumbled something under his breath.
Still, he knew Ron was right.
He folded the note carefully and placed it beside his bed.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow he would find Arthur and demand an explanation properly. And get his cloak back too. Hopefully.
Though deep inside, Harry already understood that Arthur had taken it for his safety.
That was simply how Arthur was.
Protective, careful and sometimes unbelievably annoying.
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End of Chapter 82 - Back to Hogwarts