days at Hogwarts

Saturday, October 12.

Loren came back from the Owlery with a pleased smile on his face.

The package ordered from Tuofan Garment Store has been successfully signed for, but the size of the gift box is a bit large. The postman who had traveled a long distance with the package was very resentful. The postage was doubled and he was fed several pieces of dried rat meat on the spot before he calmed down.

Unfortunately, the package could not be seen by Hermione for the time being. After signing for it, Loren stuffed it into the pendant and walked towards the castle humming a tune.

The entrance hall was crowded with little wizards who were going home for the holidays. They were standing at the bottom of the steps dragging their suitcases, craning their necks to wait for the Thestral carriage to arrive. Neville was standing behind the crowd, wearing a grey windbreaker that fell below his knees, smiling and saying goodbye to his friends. There were two boxes beside him, one for himself and one for Hannah, looking very manly.

Hannah also stayed in school in previous years, but this year the situation was different. She had to go back to attend the Christmas party at the Leaky Cauldron.

The Leaky Cauldron hadn't been lively for a long time. Old Tom, like the furniture in the bar, aged quickly when it became deserted. He looked gloomy and depressed. Experienced old wizards all knew that this was not a good sign.

Hannah's family is a relative of the bar owner Old Tom, and they plan to attend the party together this year to have some fun.

Seamus and Dean stood in front of the two men with serious expressions. They solemnly warned him, "Neville Longbottom, you must remember that you are not returning home for the sake of family reunion. You are going back to gather intelligence for the entire Dumbledore Army. If you get any news about Voldemort and the Death Eaters from your parents, contact us immediately using the communicator!"

"..." Neville looked helpless.

"You're leaving now?" Loren came up to them and said teasingly with a smile, "The banners and streamers in the common room were put up by Prefect Longbottom with great effort. Aren't you going to stay and see them glow on Christmas Eve?"

"Then I'd like you to enjoy my portion as well."

"Prefect Longbottom has improved his emotional intelligence. He doesn't even blush now."

"..."

Neville didn't know how to respond. He smiled shyly, and his baby fat faded away, revealing some of his simple and honest face as a child.

Loren saw the skinny Thestral pulling the carriage slowly approaching from afar and patted him on the shoulder: "No more kidding, the carriage is here, be careful on the road, see you next semester."

"You too, stay safe in school and see you next semester."

"Merry Christmas in advance."

"Merry Christmas."

Rolf and Luna also left with them.

Luna originally planned to stay at school, but Rolf persuaded her to go home and spend time with Mr. Lovegood, not wanting her father to spend Christmas alone.

Luna felt sorry for her old father and nodded in agreement.

Rolf then said that there were only two people in her family, and it would be too lonely, so it would be better to spend Christmas at their home, where his family is more lively.

Luna hesitated.

Rolf said seriously that his grandfather was a famous expert on magical animals. When he was young, he traveled around the world and took down a lot of notes and information, which might contain clues to those rare magical animals. When he arrived at his house, it was very convenient to consult experts and read information.

Luna was impressed by the Scamander family's excellent academic environment and agreed to go to their house during the Christmas holidays to do academic research on magical animals.

Rolf praised her intellectual spirit and happily worked with her to collect several scrolls of questions on unconfirmed magical creatures such as the Scimitar-Horned Snorkeller and the Tormentor Fly.

Loren expressed disgust at this behavior of abducting a little girl and cheating her husband at the same time.

As for himself?

He was the one who was abducted.

……

After watching them get in the car and drive away, Loren, Seamus and Dean turned and walked into the hallway.

The aisle has been decorated exclusively for Christmas, with ribbons tied to the holly branches, a patchwork of red, green and yellow, and mistletoe hung at regular intervals. The men and women who are about to part stand under the mistletoe and nibble on each other, making the scene look somewhat brutal.

Loren looked over with interest, learning the posture while talking to Seamus and Dean beside him: "Why don't you two go home this year?"

"I am of mixed race, so my mother is more comfortable with me staying in school."

"I'll stay with Seamus."

"..."

Loren looked at the green mistletoe and couldn't help falling into deep thought.

Are heretics blessed by mistletoe?

Seamus was completely oblivious to this and kept on talking happily, "I wanted to stay for the past two years, but I was afraid my mom would break my legs. Now, whatever adventures you have over the Christmas holidays, we'll be there for you!"

"That's right!"

"Your plan may fail." Loren dashed their expectations.

"why?"

"Harry's planned adventure is at Professor Slughorn's Christmas party, and neither of you are members of the Slug Club."

"!!"

Seamus and Dean paused and looked at each other in silence, filled with resentment and injustice.

Standing right under a branch of lush mistletoe.

Loren glanced secretly above the two of them and silently quickened his pace.

……

Go through the foyer and walk further along the corridor, and the auditorium is in front.

Loren walked inside while thinking.

If Hermione asked him what he was doing later, he could say he was seeing Neville and Rolf off, and it wouldn't be a lie.

The doors of the auditorium were opened and closed, and hot heated air escaped.

Two students were walking towards them, one of them looked very familiar, with light blond hair and the Slytherin logo embroidered on the chest of his magic robe.

Draco walked by with a calm expression, nodded slightly to him, and then continued to talk to Theodore Nott in a low voice, and the two figures gradually walked away.

"It's going to be a lively Christmas..." Loren thought.

Walking into the hall, Hagrid had already moved in the twelve Christmas trees that were indispensable every year, standing neatly by the wall, with beautiful fairies flapping their wings around the Christmas stars and scattering glittering powder. Banners and mascots of the four colleges were hung on the walls, bright colored paper was posted on the windows, and candlelight reflected the gold foil, sparkling brightly.

Some students who stayed on were sitting near the long house table, playing cards and chess, tasting snacks, and Harry and Ron were playing a wizard card game, using Chocolate Frog cards as their hands.

Loren came and sat down next to the girl.

Hermione raised her head, but didn't ask him what he had been doing. Instead, she leaned her head on his shoulder and gently bumped it: "You're not going home for Christmas again this year. Mom will nag you again."

The fluffy hair brushed across my cheeks, feeling itchy.

Warm air wafts out from the fireplace, mixed with the sweet aroma of snacks, and the festive atmosphere gradually becomes stronger.