A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Chapter 255 Christmas, Different Experiences

The three of them returned to the common room. Hermione was unusually quiet, but she had already made up her mind to tell Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt.

Harry received a brand new Firebolt this morning. She had heard Harry mention the name of this broom more than once. Firebolt is known as "the fastest broom in the world". It is not currently in mass production and has no price. Just thinking about it, you can guess how outrageous the price is.

Harry described more than once how, during his intensive training in Diagon Alley, he would admire the mesmerizing curves of Firebolts in the window of the Quidditch boutique with Professor Hyp—this had become one of Harry's sources of emotional support as he endured the rigorous training.

Hermione, however, believed that Harry and Ron were completely unaware of the danger, and that the broom was likely sent anonymously by a dark wizard, carrying an unknown curse. Especially after their first-year experience of Quirrell tampering with a broom, she couldn't understand why Harry would be so careless.

"What if it was sent by Sirius Black?"

Hermione only joined the conversation when Harry brought up the bizarre gift Professor Hyp had given him: "The professor gave you a Dementor?"

"It's a Dementor doll!" Harry emphasized. "It's exactly the same as the real thing, with that sudden chill and terrible memories..." He shuddered.

"Didn't you look at the card inside? Maybe it has instructions," Hermione guessed, but she couldn't figure out what use it would be.

Harry shook his head. "I only opened it for a glance and then quickly closed the box... To be honest, I'd like to trade with Ron." He looked at Ron, who beamed. "Professor Hyp gave me a whole set of comic books."

Harry couldn't help but ask Hermione, "What gift did the professor give you?"

Hermione said, "It's a chestnut wood memory disk."

"Chestnut wood... what?" Harry asked, bewildered.

"It's hard to describe in words. Wait, I'll show it to you. Also, Harry, bring your Dementor doll over too. Let's examine it together. The professor definitely has his reasons."

A minute later, they gathered together again.

Harry stared blankly at the chestnut wood memory disc. "This is... an art piece plate? I've seen something similar at the Dursleys' house; they give it to important clients."

"Oh, of course not. I'm just showing you. Professor Hyp hopes I can offer more suggestions... possibly in class next semester," Hermione said, tapping the chestnut wood plate with her wand. The intricate runes lit up, and silver sand condensed into clouds. Hermione closed her eyes and carefully recalled the patterns before reaching out and touching the clouds with her finger.

Fine sand fell softly, and a familiar 3D image appeared before Harry and Ron's eyes.

"Merlin's beard, this is—we're in the Chamber of Secrets, in the Chamber of Secrets..." Ron's eyes widened.

"It's a replay of our past memories," Hermione whispered.

Harry was also transported back to a year ago by the scene in the chestnut wood dish, but this was the first time he had examined that experience from a different perspective. He couldn't help but ask Hermione, "Did I just jump down like that?" He measured it and found that the Slytherin statue was about five or six times his height. If he had jumped off course, he would have been half-dead from the fall before the basilisk's tail swept over him, and then been eaten by the basilisk.

“We’re both pretty brave,” Ron said nervously to Hermione, looking at his own clumsy attempt to lure the basilisk. “Um, Hermione—can I try?” This was the first time he had called Hermione by her name since the argument outside Hagrid’s hut.

Hermione pursed her lips. "Of course. You can choose another memory, one that's more memorable to you; that will be even more effective."

Harry was glad they were talking again, because in his experience, Ron and Hermione were supposed to give each other the cold shoulder for another day or two.

"Let me think, it's very memorable..." Ron muttered, tapping his wand on the edge of the chestnut wood plate. Soon, a new stereoscopic image appeared—the background was quite blurry, but you could vaguely see a car crashing straight into a tall tree, a Whomping Willow.

The branches of the Whomping Willow began to lash wildly, striking the car with a relentless, pounding sound, like a violent storm. The car barely managed to move forward, making two muffled thuds, before the doors suddenly swung open, throwing out luggage and two people—Harry and Ron.

"Aside from the time in the secret room, this is probably the experience that made me feel like I was going to die the most." Ron examined the little figure on the plate. "But there are still many blurry parts. I can't remember what the car looked like anymore. I hope it's doing well in the Forbidden Forest."

Harry tried it too, "I happen to have something to show you, Voldemort's true appearance..."

A moment later, Ron and Hermione finally saw the scene from their first year when Harry faced Voldemort alone—Quirok lifted his garlic-smelling scarf, turned his back to Harry, revealing a deathly pale face with two long, thin, snake-like nostrils beneath his eerie red eyes.

Ron and Hermione gasped, grabbing Harry's arms nervously on either side. Harry couldn't help but grimace, "Hiss~" he complained, "When I told you guys about this last year, you weren't this dramatic, were you?"

“That’s different, Harry. We only heard you describe it verbally before, but this time we saw it on screen.” Ron said, trembling. “He…he was terrifying. Didn’t the Man of Darkness have a nose?” His focus was always on the strange.

Harry almost burst out laughing, but he quickly composed himself and tried to be as objective as possible: "Uh... he really is quite ugly, and for a while I had nightmares about him a lot."

The three then looked at the box in front of them, a gift from Professor Hyp to Harry.

Ron couldn't help but confirm, "Are you really going to open it? The look on your face when you first opened it almost scared me to death." He explained to Hermione, "Imagine you're happily unwrapping a gift, and then you see your companion suddenly fall off the bed, pale as a ghost..."

Harry glanced at Hermione, who nodded at him. "We definitely need to make sure."

Harry took a deep breath and opened the gift box—

At first glance, it was just a relatively exquisitely designed Dementor doll, nothing special. But the next second, a chill ran through their bodies. The doll seemed to come alive, and the Dementor's robes began to flutter. They even saw this scene: a gray, rotting hand emerged from under the black robe, like a corpse that had been soaking in water for a long time...

Before he could suffocate, Harry quickly closed the box, panting, "You all saw it." Ron looked utterly dejected.

"The card," Hermione suddenly said.

"What?"

"A card, Harry, there's a card under the Dementor doll."

Harry and Ron exchanged glances. Harry perked up a bit. "So, if we just have to be patient one more time, we'll find out why Professor Hyp gave me this thing?" He actually suspected that Professor Hyp was mocking him for being a coward, but it seemed unlikely.

However, he remained uneasy until he confirmed it.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "I don't think I need it." She took the box, opened it slightly, just enough for her hand to slip inside, and explained as she fumbled around, "The professor would never give a dangerous gift... I've got it!"

She easily pulled a card from the box, and Harry and Ron stared at her in disbelief. "Hermione, you're so clever."

Hermione waved her hand. "Oh, I was just—I was just overthinking it. You've all misunderstood." She read the contents of the card aloud—

"Harry, I heard you sought out Professor Lupin to learn the Patronus Charm. Perhaps that can help you."

Also: The doll is under a spell; as long as you don't make eye contact with it, you won't be affected.

She looked at the two of them: "That's all the information above; it's already explained very clearly."

"Wow, that's cool!" Ron said. "We can try again."

Harry breathed a huge sigh of relief. He nodded and opened the box. A chill ran through him again, but he immediately closed his eyes, and the terrifying, damp cold vanished abruptly. He heard Ron's excited voice: "It really worked! Just look away!"

Harry opened his eyes and watched Ron constantly turning his head back and forth, glancing at the Dementor doll, then quickly turning to one side, then back again... His appearance was so comical that Harry finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

……

Malfoy Estate.

Draco Malfoy is unpacking his gift. Inside the box, which is inscribed "From Felix Heap to Draco Malfoy," is a neatly stacked set of comic books. He is familiar with the title of the comic book—"The Adventures of Mick the Wizard of Oz," a book that has been quite a topic of discussion for some time.

His mother, Narcissa Malfoy, walked in. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. Narcissa gently put her hand on Draco's shoulder. "Draco, it's time for lunch. Have you finished opening your presents? What did Pansy give you?"

Draco muttered, "A suit."

"Oh, our Draco has grown up," Narcissa said with a smile, her gaze falling on the book in Draco's hands. "Whose gift is this, a... a comic book?"

"A professor at the school," Draco said, turning the page.

……

Longbottom House.

The old house has been revitalized; the dull tapestries have been cleaned and refreshed, revealing their original golden-red hues. Almost every few steps, you'll see a small Christmas tree adorned with brightly colored ribbons.

A round-faced boy is trying to hang a string of small golden balls on the Christmas tree.

"Nar, Nar!" Alice Longbottom called from afar, "Your Uncle Algi and Aunt Annie are here."

"Come here right now, Mom!" Neville responded, standing on tiptoe and taking more than ten seconds to finally hang the ball on the Christmas tree. A fine layer of sweat had already formed on the tip of his nose.

When he turned around, Alice was standing behind him, looking at him serenely.

"Mom—" Neville blushed, feeling ashamed of his behavior.

At the dinner table, a large family of relatives sat together, celebrating Frank and Alice's return. Halfway through the meal, Uncle Algier, with his gaunt face and goatee, exclaimed, "Good! Very good!" He downed two large glasses of strong liquor, his face turning as red as if it were on fire.

He looked at Neville: "Kid, I heard you've improved a lot lately. Show us what you've got!"

Neville shrank back nervously behind Alice. Alice patted him on the shoulder, and Neville stepped forward. He drew his wand, and the tip of the wand suddenly flashed red, and a spell flew out.

"A silent spell!" Uncle Algi exclaimed in surprise, nearly falling off his chair. "No, Frank, don't help me—I don't have that ability at his age!"

Neville scratched his head and grinned sheepishly.

……

Muggle world, London villa district.

"Justin, it's eleven o'clock now. When the guests arrive, remember the excuse we came up with."

"I know," Justin, with his curly hair, said, looking rather unhappy. "The reason I didn't go to Eton is because I'm not in good health and have to hire a tutor. I also have to go to places with fresh air every year to relax... Mom, don't you think that's a lame excuse? Every time they see me, I'm always full of energy."

"Well, we have a little wizard in our family, and I'm even more disappointed than you that he can't go to Eton. But—" Mrs. Finley winked mischievously, "after the guests leave, tell me all about your school days. I still can't believe Lockhart was a fraud; his books were so good..."

Justin subtly rolled his eyes.

……

Hogwarts. Felix walked out of his office, the usual lavish Christmas decorations lining the way. Ribbons woven from holly and mistletoe stretched down the corridor toward the Great Hall, and the armor in the castle gleamed from polishing.

He entered the Great Hall, where four long wooden tables had been moved to the wall, leaving only one table in the center of the room, large enough for a dozen or so people. Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick were all present. Filch had even changed into a worn-out tailcoat.

"I hope I'm not late," Felix said with a smile.

"Merry Christmas, Felix! I love the wool socks you gave me; there are twelve colors in total, so I can wear them in different colors now," Dumbledore said happily. "We're still waiting for the students to arrive. They probably think it's the usual time, but they're actually a little earlier—"

"To pass the time, we're taking turns telling jokes; it's Severus's turn."

Felix turned to look at Snape, whose face was expressionless and filled with resistance.

(End of this chapter)