By the afternoon, Kael finally returned to Hogwarts.
The Thestral carriage didn't return to its starting position but landed near Hagrid's hut.
"I was just wondering when you'd come back."
Hagrid came over and patted the Thestral's wing, "How does it feel?"
"It could entirely replace the train as the transportation for the start and end of term," Kael said with a smile.
"The board won't agree," Hagrid said regretfully. "Breeding Thestrals is a massive expense, much more expensive than the train."
"True," Kael nodded.
The Hogwarts Express can't compare in speed and comfort to the Thestral carriage, but it's economical and practical, able to transport all students at once when needed.
The board certainly wouldn't switch it, Kael was just speaking offhandedly.
Before returning to the castle, he handed Hagrid a small bottle of Dragon Blood as payment for the Thestral ride.
Though the bottle was sealed, the Thestrals' sharp sense of smell detected the scent of Dragon Blood, and they immediately became agitated.
Hagrid tried to control them, but the effect was not obvious, and he was quickly surrounded by three Thestrals.
However, by this time, Kael had already returned to the castle.
The Hufflepuff Common Room had only one person, who was frantically catching up on homework.
"Long time no see, Wendy," Kael said in greeting.
Upon hearing the noise, Wendy looked up in surprise, "Is the train here so early this year?"
"Oh no, I didn't come by train," Kael explained. "Where are Conna and Cedric?"
"Conna's in the library," she replied. "I don't know about Cedric; he went out early this morning, probably with some Gryffindors."
"Thanks, I know now."
"You're welcome," Wendy said before lowering her head again.
The consequence of two weeks of holiday fun was that she still had five subjects worth of homework to complete; she wasn't sure if she could finish it today.
Kael looked at her sympathetically, then turned and walked into the dormitory.
The small room was filled with various gifts, and Kael picked some that interested him and started unwrapping.
This year, Professor Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley both sent sweaters as gifts.
Mrs. Weasley sent a russet sweater, while Professor Dumbledore's was light yellow with brown stripes, and the design was more novel, evidently having been specially studied.
It seemed like he really wanted to open a shop in Hogsmeade.
As for the other gifts, they were basically various books and candies.
Halfway through unpacking, Kael heard a knock on the door.
Conna then pushed open the door and came in.
"I heard from Wendy that you're back."
"Yes," Kael said. "I came back early because I didn't take the train."
"Need help?" Conna asked, looking at the gifts around.
"Absolutely, you're just in time," Kael made room for her.
"Where did you go for the holiday?"
Conna found a place to sit and started unwrapping the gifts while curiously asking, "Cedric said, the letters we sent you all ended up at your dorm, but you weren't there."
"I was at Nicolas Flamel's house," Kael explained, "The owls couldn't find my location."
"Were you in Paris?" Conna asked.
She remembered Kael had gone there once during a previous holiday and stayed for a month.
"Didn't go that far; this time, I was in Devon," Kael replied.
With Conna's help, soon most of the gifts were unwrapped.
Conna picked up the last box, which had no name, but she recognized the handwriting as Snape's.
She curiously opened the box...
Inside was a bare old quill and a small bottle.
Conna looked up, and while Kael wasn't paying attention, quietly tossed the broken quill under the bed.
"Kael, Professor Snape sent you a bottle of Joyful Potion."
"What?" Kael was somewhat taken aback.
Snape actually sent him a Magic Potion? That was quite unusual.
Previously, he thought Snape might send him a broken quill... just enough to pair with last year's moldy parchment.
"Look," Conna handed over the Magic Potion Bottle.
The bottle wasn't big, and the potion inside was a beautiful peacock blue color, under sunlight it showed bubble-like patterns.
"Really Joyful Potion?" Kael whispered.
Admittedly, the characteristics matched, but he was still a little incredulous.
Could it be that Snape drank Mikel's potion?
"Of course, it's real."
Conna said happily, "When I gave Professor Snape his Christmas gift, he said he would surprise you."
"Christmas gift?" Kael asked. "What did you give him?"
"A set of Magic Potion Grinding tools," Conna said, "and also that very sweet coffee from Madam Puddifoot Tea House."
Kael's heart tightened.
"So the coffee you bought wasn't intended for Professor Dumbledore?"
"No," Conna said matter-of-factly, "Previously you said, the Headmaster and Professor Snape recommended that very sweet pudding.
I just thought he might like sweet things too."
"Did he like it?" Kael asked.
"Probably," Conna thought for a moment and said, "He asked me the next day where it's sold."
"Did you tell him?"
"I did," Conna replied, "I told him it's what we drank at Hogsmeade's Madam Puddifoot Tea House."
Kael took a deep breath and quietly put the bottle of "Joyful Potion" away.
No need to wonder anymore, this stuff is definitely fake; he certainly wasn't going to drink it.
Kael still wanted to live to see graduation.
Besides, in the coming days, he'd have to avoid Snape, and stock up more on Bezoars for antidotes.
Those were sold in Hogsmeade, and they weren't expensive; Kael planned to stock up a hundred pieces.
After finishing unwrapping gifts, it wasn't long before evening came.
The other students returned as well, bringing holiday cheer, chatting and laughing as they entered the Common Room.
The start-of-term banquet was as lavish as ever.
Dumbledore walked into the Auditorium in a flowing purple robe, light-footed.
"Kael, have you noticed, the Headmaster looks quite happy," Cedric whispered while holding a roasted potato.
Not only him, almost everyone had noticed, the Headmaster seemed happier than usual.
"Maybe he got some good news."
Kael glanced up.
Dumbledore seemed to be saying something playful to Professor McGonagall beside him, making her laugh nonstop.