"Sean and Harry's are better than ours," Fred said, rubbing Harry's sweater. "Clearly, Mom puts more effort into the ones for non-family."
"Why aren't you wearing yours, Ron?" George asked. "Come on, put it on. It's nice and warm!"
"I don't like maroon," Ron grumbled half-seriously, tugging the sweater over his head.
"No letter on yours," George pointed out. "Guess she thinks you won't forget your own name. We're not that daft—unlike her, always calling us 'Gred' and 'Forge.'"
"What's all the racket about? Oh, Mr. Green."
Percy Weasley strolled over, clearly trying to cozy up.
He was holding a package, obviously in the middle of unwrapping his Christmas gifts, with a bulky sweater already slung over his arm. Fred snatched it up.
"'P' for Prefect! Put it on, Percy, come on, we're all wearing ours!"
"I—don't—want—" Percy mumbled, but the twins didn't care, shoving the sweater over his head and knocking his glasses askew.
"You two!" Percy chased after the Weasley twins.
"Alright, that's not the point..." Ron said helplessly, nudging Harry.
Harry, oblivious, was about to open a box.
"Harry, wait till we're back at the common room," Sean cut in quickly, guessing what it was.
"Oh—right..." Harry snapped out of it, shooting Sean a grateful look.
His mind was buzzing with the thrill of sharing secrets with his friends—Sean definitely knew more than the rest of them. But he'd almost forgotten he only wanted Sean in on it, not the whole crowd.
The afternoon tea spread was fire-roasted turkey sandwiches, crumpets, jam-soaked pudding, and Christmas cake. Sean didn't feel much, but after scarfing it down, Harry and Ron were ready for a nap.
"That was just lunch..." Ron said. "I heard dinner's got eight hundred barrels of mulled mead and the Weird Sisters performing..."
When Harry pulled out the Invisibility Cloak, everyone went quiet.
It was silvery-gray, liquid-like, pooling on the floor in a shimmering heap.
"This... was my dad's," Harry said, clutching the note, dazed.
"He must've loved you so much, Harry. You should try it out yourself first," Sean said, and Ron's fleeting jealousy vanished.
Yeah, Harry needed to use it himself.
Looks like Harry's sneaking out tonight, Sean thought. If he remembered right, this night prowl would lead Harry to the Mirror of Erised.
Sean wasn't too curious about the Mirror himself—he'd already gotten the magic he wanted most.
Christmas break hit, and the young wizards were going wild with fun.
But Sean always had bigger things to do, so he slipped out of the common room.
"Harry, Harry... don't you think Sean's been talking more lately? Like just now, he doesn't usually go on like that..." Ron elbowed Harry.
"Has he? Maybe..." Harry nodded.
Sean's odd behavior tied into why nearly all the professors had mysteriously vanished.
In the headmaster's office.
Dumbledore was all smiles, especially after watching a certain Potions professor stare at the kettle for over ten minutes, a sly glint growing in his eyes.
"Oh—" Dumbledore sighed suddenly.
Snape instinctively glanced at the door, then shot Dumbledore a death glare.
"You should get that throat checked, Albus," he said darkly.
"The person I want to see isn't Pomfrey... it's your letter, Minerva," Dumbledore said, his beard practically twitching with glee.
Minerva McGonagall nervously took the letter from an owl that swooped in. It was a notice from the Ministry of Magic, announcing the ceremony was about to start and requesting everyone's presence.
Not just her—Professor Snape, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and others got the same letter.
Dumbledore read his, his gaze seeming to pierce through Hogwarts' ancient walls to the wizard so nervous he'd turned into a cat to dash over.
"Black cats—what do you think of black cats as the lucky statue on the third floor?" Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling.
"Your taste is as dreadful as ever, Albus," Snape said coldly.
"A lucky black cat," McGonagall nodded slightly.
"Exactly—" Dumbledore clasped his hands, chuckling with delight.
He neither confirmed nor denied, just gave Snape a knowing look.
At the gargoyle guarding the headmaster's office.
A black cat leaped into the air, transforming mid-jump into a young wizard in a black robe.
Sean didn't have the password this time, but as he reached for a Cockroach Cluster to try, the gargoyle eagerly sprang aside.
The wall behind it split open, revealing a spiraling staircase slowly rising upward.
"He's here—oh my goodness—" the Fat Lady darted into a portrait frame in the headmaster's office.
"Elegance, my lady, especially in crucial moments," Sir Cadogan said gallantly, riding his stout pony to comfort her.
Madam Violet donned a grand white gown, pulling the Fat Lady over as they anxiously watched the door.
Then, the brass knocker shaped like a griffin was pulled.
A head appeared, followed by a black-robed figure.
"What a thrilling moment—" Dumbledore stood, wearing the same robe from the Start-of-Term Feast, a purple cloak trailing to the floor, and high-heeled boots with buckles.
Behind his half-moon glasses, his bright blue eyes sparkled.
"And now, I shall read—"
...
"Now—I declare—the 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Ministry of Magic Joint Special Adoption Decree' takes effect immediately!"
Dumbledore winked at Sean.
Then Sean was swept up in an elegant, almost scampering hug from Professor McGonagall.
He'd once scampered like that himself—now, the sound of the wind in his ears grew louder.
Professor Flitwick clapped enthusiastically, while Professor Sprout beamed like a winter sun.
...
Sean wasn't sure how he left the headmaster's office, only that a gentle rain was falling over Hogwarts, and he stood in the castle, with a place to shelter.
On the headmaster's desk, a list had a name updated:
[Sean Green, Guardians: Minerva McGonagall; Severus Snape]