Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 283 Discussion of Christmas Holiday Plans and Gift Preparation

Chapter 283 Discussion of Christmas Holiday Plans and Gift Preparation

In mid-December, Hogwarts seemed to be under a spell, growing more festive with each passing day. As the Christmas holidays approached, thick wreaths of holly and mistletoe hung along the corridors at intervals, cold armor was polished to a gleaming shine, and occasionally, a few lines of a Christmas carol would be hummed in a deep, somber tone. A faint, pleasant aroma of roasted gingerbread and pine permeated the air.

Even the weather seemed to cooperate, with soft snowflakes often drifting outside the window, adorning the castle and grounds in a silvery blanket. The Black Lake was covered with a thick layer of ice, shimmering like a large, sparkling diamond in the sunlight.

Although there were still many courses to study, the students were mostly filled with a relaxed and joyful sense of anticipation. Their conversations largely revolved around Christmas gifts, holiday plans, and a grand Christmas dinner.

The Ravenclaw common room was also filled with a warm and cozy atmosphere. The fire in the fireplace crackled, making it anything but quiet. Instead, it was filled with the noise of people, almost like the Gryffindor common room. Several younger students were trying to use magic to make a pile of wool socks knit themselves, resulting in a chaotic mess. In a corner, someone was playing wizard chess, the pieces loudly blaming each other. And many others, like Cullen and his roommates, were nestled in comfortable armchairs, sipping hot cocoa and discussing holiday plans.

"So, Karen, you're finally sure you're coming home for Christmas?" Wesley asked, curled up in a large armchair, tossing a chocolate frog in his hand.

"Yes, it's confirmed." Karen nodded, holding a long parchment list filled with items that needed to be bought and made. "I stayed at school last year because of Quirrell, so the school is quite quiet this year. Besides, I spent most of the summer in France. I need to go back and spend some quality time with my family this Christmas. And Lily has been mentioning it several times in her quill pen correspondence." A gentle smile appeared on his face as he thought of his sister.

"That's great," Fabian said with a hint of envy, but then his voice became excited. "My parents are taking me to Romania to see my grandma this Christmas. It'll be my first time meeting her, and I only just found out. She didn't approve of my mom and dad being together. I heard it's freezing cold there in winter, and you can see a giant ice dragon sculpture." He adjusted his glasses. "I hope I remember to bring enough warm clothes."

“I’ll stay at the school,” Ernesto said casually, but a subtle hint of disappointment could be detected if you listened closely. “My parents and grandfather are going to a very boring pure-blood family Christmas party in Switzerland, the theme of which is probably the same old stuff about how to better maintain the purity of one’s bloodline.” He pursed his lips. “I’d rather stay in the quiet of the library.”

Wesley patted him on the shoulder: "It's okay, Ernesto! Last year Cullen stayed on campus, this year it's your turn, but there are quite a few people staying! You can have a snowball fight together, and maybe even sneak into the kitchen to make something delicious! Filch can't be keeping an eye on everyone at Christmas, can he?"

This naturally led to the topic of Christmas gifts.

"So, what about the gifts?" Fabian asked. "We'll definitely be exchanging gifts, right? And there are gifts for our families too. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so I'll need to confirm my location. If I arrive in Romania early, I'll write to you to let you know."

"No need to write letters, we can just use Karen's communication pen, but we still need to use Owl to send things." With that, Wesley immediately perked up. "I bought my dad a set of the latest Sweep series model brooms. He keeps talking about wanting to try flying—although I doubt he'll fall off."

I bought my mom a magic yarn that automatically knits; she loves knitting sweaters!

Ernesto thought for a moment. "I ordered a set of wand care tools for my mother. As for my father, I haven't decided yet." He paused, then looked at his roommates. "As for you guys—perhaps I could get you some less dangerous copies of rare books from your family collections? You can tell me what kind you're looking for?"

"That's fantastic!" Karen and Fabian exclaimed in unison. Wesley's eyes lit up. "Cool! Is it valuable?"

Ernesto gave him a helpless look: "Knowledge is priceless, Wesley."

Everyone laughed.

Karen looked at her list, which was filled with ideas for Christmas gifts.

“It’s for my father,” Karen said. “I’m going to make a super-precise model of the Auk, with magic, and that it can move on its own. I think he’ll be very interested in his miniature baby.” He couldn’t help but smile as he imagined his father’s expression when he received the gift, trying to explain it to him using engineering principles.

"Give my mother some smart herb pots that can adjust automatically. She likes to grow medicinal herbs on the windowsill now, and Mrs. Perenaar and she are talking more and more often, often discussing this kind of thing. These pots can fine-tune the soil moisture and nutrients according to the plant's condition, and can even release a faint magical fluctuation that promotes growth. She should like something that is both practical and has a touch of magical convenience."

"As for Lily—" Karen's smile deepened, "I've prepared a little witch magic toy set for her that I saw in France before." It's definitely not one of those dangerous things, but something truly safe and fun: a wand that can only cast simple, harmless spells, several magic bracelets that change color and pattern with music, a plush book with moving and talking animals inside, and a soft hat that won't break and will subtly change color depending on her mood."

"Sounds really good!" Wesley exclaimed. "Much better than my brother's screaming dolls."

"And for you guys," Karen said, looking at his three roommates, "I'm planning to upgrade our communication quills again, optimizing power consumption and transmission stability. Also, I'll add a little gadget for each of you—" He trailed off, "It's a secret for now, but it'll definitely be related to our hobbies."

Wow!

"I can't wait!"

"Thank you, Karen!"

Just then, the door to the common room opened, and Roger Davis walked in with an amused expression. "Hey, guess what? Professor Lockhart was just in the hall trying to use magic to hang glowing self-portrait ornaments on the biggest Christmas tree, but he miscast the spell and turned all the Santa hats hanging on the walls into colorful parrots. Now those parrots are flying all over the hall, singing a 'Twelve Days of Christmas' off-key!"

A burst of laughter erupted in the common room. In the now tranquil Hogwarts school, Lockhart's comical antics had become a daily spectacle.

A relaxed and pleasant atmosphere filled the air.

The discussion continued, becoming increasingly detailed. Karen scribbled on the list, calculating the materials he needed to purchase in Hogsmeade Village and which parts he would need to make himself in the workshop. He was also considering what gifts to prepare for his teachers, Professor Nico and Professor Castor, and Mrs. Perenaar, who were far away in France.

Outside the window, snowflakes drifted silently down, while inside the castle, it was warm and bright. The holidays were approaching, and the castle exploration had temporarily come to an end. Longing for home and anticipation of the festival intertwined, creating a simple yet genuine sense of happiness. For Cullen, neither profound magical research nor the secluded castle exploration could compare to the satisfaction of carefully preparing a gift for family and friends. This pervasive festive anticipation throughout Hogwarts made him feel especially warm.