The Andersons' original Christmas holiday skiing plans were canceled, and Luke and Sansa will come over to spend Christmas with them. No one in the family complained about it, as they weren't particularly enthusiastic about skiing itself.
On Christmas Eve, Albert saw Herb lingering outside Nia's room, seemingly considering whether to place a gift on his daughter's bedside table.
"Santa Claus isn't popular anymore." Albert gestured for Herb to put the Christmas presents next to the Christmas tree downstairs.
"I already told him about this." Daisy, dressed in her pajamas, looked helplessly at the two people in the hallway and shook her head to remind them, "You should also go back to sleep. Don't stay up late; you have to get up in the morning to open your Christmas presents."
The next day, Albert was woken up early in the morning by Nia.
There was no way around it; Tom's cat face was right up against his, instantly waking Albert from all sleepiness.
"I couldn't find the Christmas present you sent," Nia said, reaching out to ask for it back.
"It's here, I haven't had time to put it next to the Christmas tree yet." Albert reached out and pushed Tom's face away, then sat up and took a beautifully wrapped box from the drawer and handed it to Nia.
"And mine?" he asked. The two siblings had been exchanging Christmas gifts for a long time.
"By the Christmas tree downstairs." Nia opened the package, picked up the badge, and asked, "It's very pretty. By the way, what kind of bird is this?"
"A phoenix, you can also call it a firebird or a phoenix. It's said that Headmaster Dumbledore owned one. However, I've never seen a phoenix." Albert took a small bag of dried fish from the drawer and handed it to Tom, saying, "And your Christmas present."
As he spoke, he tore open the wrapper, pulled out a small dried fish, and waved it in front of Tom, easily attracting its attention.
However, just as Albert was about to put the dried fish into his mouth, Tom's face came close and he made an anxious meowing sound.
"That guy is so mean, Tom, we're not playing with him anymore." Nia put the badge in her pocket, picked up the cat, grabbed the bag of dried fish, and went downstairs, leaving Albert alone with a dried fish.
"A white Christmas!" Albert got out of bed, went to the window, reached out and pulled back the curtains, gazing at the falling snowflakes outside, and exclaimed.
As Albert went downstairs, his gaze involuntarily drifted to the Christmas tree, where a pile of small packages lay. Nia was already sitting at the dining table unpacking her own packages, so… the rest were all his?
Albert walked to the Christmas tree and began unpacking the packages:
A few books, a few greeting cards, and a Quidditch poster—yes, a gift from the Weasley twins. Albert didn't know who the guys in the poster were, but he planned to take it back to school and put it in his dorm. The poster probably depicted the team the twins supported. A small bag of candy—Albert glanced at it; it was from Shanna, thanking him for his help at the start of the semester. Lee Jordan gave him a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
There was also a copy of Metamorphosis Today magazine, but it was an older issue. Albert glanced at the sender and realized it was from Professor McGonagall.
Albert was curious: Professor McGonagall would also give him a Christmas present?
And then a scarf?
"How is it?" Nia asked nervously. "I picked this color."
"It's very pretty." Albert wrapped the scarf around his neck. It was warm enough, a gray and white children's style. Well, he was only twelve years old, still a child, so there was nothing to complain about.
The rest were either candy or books. Albert wasn't surprised to receive books; it had always been like this.
Breakfast was exceptionally lavish, but the Andersons didn't eat immediately. Instead, they waited for Luke and Sansa to arrive. Around 10:30, the family of six enjoyed breakfast while listening to Christmas carols. After eating, they nestled on the sofa, watching TV and chatting about lighthearted topics.
Nia had hoped that Albert could perform some magic, but after considering it, Albert did not agree.
To be honest, he still didn't understand what the Ministry of Magic's Threads were all about. Although he had asked others, no one really knew how the Threads worked either.
Normally, the notice about the ban on using magic outside of school should be received before the summer vacation for first graders.
However, Albert didn't want to take the risk; it would be unwise to try to exploit legal loopholes without any preparation.
Although you don't use magic, you can still do many things, like play wizard chess or chat about interesting things.
However, when it comes to Wizard Chess, no one is a match for Albert.
After Herber lost another game, he temporarily gave up playing Wizard Chess with his son.
Fortunately, Daisy brought out a large bowl of freshly fried fries from the kitchen, giving him a perfect excuse to end the game.
"Tom, don't tease Shera, or you'll get pecked." As Albert went to wash his hands, he picked up the short-haired cat from in front of the owl, muttering, "Did I name it wrong? It should be called Jerry. Tom and Jerry, what a great combination."
"Shera sounds better," Nia couldn't help but remind her.
When Albert returned after washing his hands, a scream was heard. Tom, with his mischievous claws, had finally been pecked hard by the owl.
Sera clearly wasn't going to let Tom off the hook, chasing after him and pecking him fiercely. Tom, looking disheveled, could only hide under the sofa in the end.
Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
Sansa pulled some owl food for Snow before bending down to pick up Tom from under the sofa and soothe his wounded heart with dried fish.
"Tom is getting fatter and fatter." Nia took out the birthday present Albert had given her and showed it to the others.
"It's good for cats to be a little chubby," Sansa said with a smile, scratching Tom's chin. "Don't you think so, Tom?"
"When will it be able to fly?" Nia poked the griffin. "And, does such a creature really exist in our world?"
"Yes. But they're supposedly in some unknown place." Albert was putting fries with ketchup into his mouth.
"That's how all the wizards are. Why do they hide like rats?" Daisy sat down next to Herb, the two of them leaning against each other.
"After all, there are few wizards, and most ordinary people fear power beyond their comprehension," Luke replied.
In fact, many people both fear magic and envy others who possess it. Then, for various reasons, they regard those who possess magic as monsters and find excuses to persecute them. Humans are such creatures.
Tom was lying on the table, staring at the toy with outstretched wings, and poking at it with his claws.
"Albert, have you read the book I picked out for you?" Daisy suddenly asked.
"I've finished reading it. It's a very good book," Albert nodded. "It's just a pity that what's in a book is just what's in a book."