Change Is Good

"Harry picked up the top parcel. It was wrapped in thick brown paper and scrawled across it was To Harry, from Hagrid. Inside was a roughly cut wooden flute. Hagrid had obviously whittled it himself. Harry blew it - it sounded a bit like an owl.

A second, very small parcel contained a note.

We received your message and enclose your Christmas present. From Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. Sellotaped to the note was a fifty-pence piece.

'That's friendly', said Harry."

He showed it to Ron who laughed a bit at the "muggle" money, then Harry idly slipped it into his pocket and picked up another present.

***Some years later***

'Hey pet, listen to this. Says here that everyday 50 pences can be worth quite a bit'.

Petunia put her towel away and came through, peering over his shoulder as Vernon scrolled down the page on his new laptop computer.

'What do you mean?' she asked.

'Well, just look' he replied, pointing to the screen.

'See. If you find this design here, that could be worth ten quid. And this one, that's twenty'.

Quite impressed she glanced down the list.

'Oh Vernon, look there. That Kew Gardens one can be worth up to two hundred, maybe even more!'

He looked to the one she was pointing at.

'Oh we should start collecting. Just think, picking up a coin like that in our change. I'm going to tell our Duddy as well, he always comes home with change in his pockets'.

Vernon was still looking at the design. He frowned.

'Pet...That design...'

His face was getting redder by the second. Petunia stepped back startled.

'Dear...?!'

'THAT'S THE SAME BLOODY COIN WE SENT TO THE FREAK!'