"In that case, this might as well be a good thing."
Upon hearing Ron's words, George blinked, "Maybe by the end of the school year, you might get a nice report card."
"Stop gloating." Ron yawned.
"What are you guys talking about?"
At this time, Harry came out of the dormitory, and Fred and George quickly changed the subject.
It's fine to tease Ron, but they wouldn't say that in front of Harry.
Harry walked over to Ron and greeted everyone, "Merry Christmas, Fred, George, Kai... Kael? When did you get here?"
He was a bit surprised, not expecting to see Kael in the Gryffindor common room.
"A few minutes ago." Kael said with a smile.
Ron just realized there was an extra person around, "Sorry, I didn't even see you... Thank you for the gift, I really like that wizard chess set."
"And the Quidditch ball model you gave me," Harry said, "it's fantastic."
"I'm glad you like them." Kael said with a smile.
After being brought to the Gryffindor common room by Fred and George, Kael didn't think about going to the Room of Requirement anymore. Instead, he spent the morning playing wizard chess and Exploding Snap with them.
Ginny and Percy were also there, and everyone welcomed Kael warmly.
It was just that Percy was a bit too formal, shaking hands with Kael seriously, as if he were hosting a Hufflepuff delegation.
Kael even momentarily wondered if he was dressed too casually... Had he known, he would have worn his Phoenix Socks.
By afternoon, Harry and Ron were pulled to the library to do homework by Hermione, while Kael, Fred, and George took the secret passage to Hogsmeade.
Each shop was decorated beautifully and prepared Christmas gifts for the customers entering their stores. Zonko's offered blooming magical fireworks, while Honeydukes gave out candy canes...
These gifts hung on the Christmas tree at the entrance, and you could grab them just by reaching out. If you forgot, the owner would remind you.
The only downside was that they didn't offer services to "protect Hogwarts students from being discovered".
While at the Three Broomsticks, Kael had just taken a few sips of Butterbeer when the door next to him was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
The next second,
Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid... Astronomy's Sinistra... a total of seven or eight professors walked in one after another.
They also noticed the trio.
Professor McGonagall paused for a moment, then calmly walked past them as if she hadn't seen a thing.
"Ms. Rosmerta, three pints of honey wine, cherry syrup soda..."
The trio quickened their pace in drinking their Butterbeer, wanting to leave there fast.
But when they were about to pay, the bar owner, Ms. Rosmerta, shook her head,
"No need, Minerva has already paid for you. Would you like anything else?"
"No, thank you!"
The three bowed their heads and hurriedly left the Three Broomsticks.
Caught red-handed sneaking out of school and even treated by a professor... How should I put it, it was quite embarrassing.
They lost the mood to keep having fun and promptly returned to the castle.
"I forgot, it's Christmas today."
After coming out of the secret passage, Fred grabbed his hair and said, "The professors obviously wouldn't stay in their offices grading papers."
"We shouldn't have gone to the Three Broomsticks!"
"Luckily, Professor McGonagall didn't say anything..."
Kael was somewhat regretful, knowing that the professor was treating, he should have ordered something more expensive.
Like the signature drink at the Three Broomsticks, Ogden's Golden Honey Mead that costs ten Galleons a cup, Kael always wanted to know what it tasted like.
...
At the Christmas banquet at Hogwarts, everyone ate with relish.
Few people stayed at school this year, so seating separately would seem too sparse, thus leaving only one table in the auditorium for both students and professors to sit together.
Dumbledore led everyone in singing a few of his favorite Christmas carols, and as Hagrid drank glass after glass of eggnog, his voice grew louder and louder, until only his voice filled the hall.
Fred sat next to Kael, pointing at Percy's Prefect Badge, chuckling nonstop. The letters on it had changed to "Dunce" at some unknown time, but Percy didn't notice at all, and kept asking the people around him what they were laughing at.
Malfoy didn't go home this year either, and was sitting across from Harry, loudly mocking his new sweater. Surprisingly, Harry didn't retort.
The banquet was plentiful, especially the Christmas pudding specially made by the house-elves this year.
They were like Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, each bite had a different taste, very distinctive.
After finishing these puddings, Professor McGonagall was the first to leave the table, followed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Kael originally wanted to leave as well but was called by Dumbledore.
"If you have time, could you come to my office?"
"Of course, Professor." Though Kael was a bit puzzled, he nodded.
The two left the hall together, chatting as they headed for the Headmaster's Office.
This year Kael didn't manage to buy the latest "The Five Hundred Ways to Knit Wool Socks," so he sent Dumbledore a large bundle of wool instead.
However, Dumbledore seemed quite happy and inquired where Kael got the high-quality wool from.
"It's wool from snow fleece sheep, Professor," Kael said. "Mr. Scamander happens to have a herd in his suitcase. I collected some when I went to visit in August."
"Newt has them?" Dumbledore asked in surprise, "Are there many?"
"About thirty or so."
Dumbledore was even happier after hearing this.
When they reached the eighth floor, the gargoyle leapt to the side from a distance, and Dumbledore led Kael into the Headmaster's Office.
The furnishings here weren't much different from before, except there was a large bunch of yarn on the table. The Mirror of Erised in the corner had several woolen garments, and a half-knit scarf hanging on it.
This Hogwarts headmaster seemed genuinely enamored with knitting clothes, and wasn't limiting himself to just socks and gloves anymore.
Kael guessed that the sweater inside his robe was probably self-knit.
"Professor, is there something you needed me for?" Kael inquired.
"It's not me, it's Fawkes." Dumbledore sighed, "He really liked the Cloak Grass and Solanum Melongena you sent."
"Fawkes?" Kael instinctively glanced at the perch by the door.
An old, wrinkled bird stood on it, with newly grown light red feathers... looking quite ugly.
"Are you reborn?"
Kael walked over.
Little Fawkes nodded, then picked up a small bottle and placed it in Kael's hands.
"What's this..." Kael picked up the bottle, finding it filled with a small pile of dark powder.
"It's the ash left after a phoenix's rebirth—Fawkes's Christmas gift to you." Dumbledore's voice carried a bit of heartache.
He didn't expect Fawkes to hold such a grudge... It was just that he didn't take it out during the holidays, and it remembered until now, leaving not a bit of ash for him.
Letting Snape have it was one thing, but Kael was only thirteen—could he really grasp such high-end stuff?
What a waste.
Dumbledore sighed once more.
...