HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

The list of those remaining on campus was posted on the bulletin board in the common room, but Ian, Kevin, and Aris's names were not on it.

Kevin looked a little embarrassed and scratched his head as he said to Severus, "My mom insists I go back, saying my grandma misses me... Actually, I think staying at school is quite fun."

Aris adjusted his glasses: "I need to go home and consult some family books to verify a few conjectures about ancient rune variants."

Ian was much more direct. As he stuffed several books on advanced herb cultivation into his suitcase, he said to Severus:

"I'm going back home for Christmas and I'm bringing you gingerbread made by my mom. She makes it especially delicious, and the icing isn't too sweet. Oh, and I also ordered some things, which should arrive before the holiday. Remember to receive them."

Severus simply nodded to indicate that he understood; he was already used to spending Christmas alone.

The "home" in Spider's End is no more desirable than an empty castle bedroom, and is even worse.

Staying here is at least peaceful; I can read and brew potions undisturbed, and I can also go to the House of Requirement to take care of the magical plants that don't need to hibernate.

On the morning of the day I left school, the Hogwarts Express whistled in the cold wind.

The three of them carried their luggage and mingled with the flow of students heading towards the lobby.

Ian continued his incessant nagging to Severus: "...The fireplace in the common room is the warmest spot. Remember to drink the eggnog the house-elf gave you, and don't keep eating hard bread... Also, we left you a gift on your bed, remember to open it!"

Aris, unusually, added a few more words: "I left a summary of notes on the seasonal valence changes of commonly used potion ingredients, which I've tucked into your 'Potions and Elixirs' book. It might come in handy."

Severus stood by the pillar in the somewhat deserted foyer, watching his friends blend into the noisy crowd and eventually disappear into the doorway leading to the platform.

He tightened his slightly thin old robe and turned to walk towards the cellar.

The torches on the stone wall cast his lonely shadow long.

Back in the empty dorm room, sure enough, I found three neatly packaged small packages on his bed.

Kevin's gift was wrapped in extravagant silver star-patterned paper, tied with a green bow, and inside was a pair of thick, warm gloves made of dragon skin, along with a hastily written card:

"I know your hands get cold in winter (and the potions room is chilly too!), this is super warm! Bought it at the Quidditch souvenir shop on sale! Don't be put off!"

Aris's gift was a simple, dark blue cardboard box containing several rolls of parchment, a practical quill pen and ink bottle set with features such as automatic ink absorption, leak-proof design, and quick drying, as well as a box of high-quality, smudge-proof universal ink.

There were no cards, but everything was arranged meticulously, in keeping with his usual style.

Ian's gift was the largest, wrapped in thick kraft paper and tied with ordinary hemp rope.

The contents were a mixed bag, but all were very useful: several secondhand potion books with slightly curled edges but intact pages, covering some advanced extracurricular content.

A large box of brand-new glass bottles of various sizes, corks and labels; several well-sealed tin cans, labeled with high-quality dried fern leaf powder, evenly cut sap grass segments, and a small can of precious, shimmering scarab beetle powder (with a note: Don't ask how I got it, it's legal anyway).

At the very bottom, there was a thick, dark green wool sweater, finely knitted and warm to the touch, without any fancy patterns, and the size seemed just right.

Severus picked up the gifts one by one and looked at them for a long time.

The dragon leather of the gloves was soft and had a faint smell of new products. The parchment and stationery were of excellent quality and clearly carefully selected. The potion ingredients, especially the scarab powder, were not cheap even in Knockturn Alley.

And that sweater...

He reached out, his fingertips tracing the soft wool, and finally picked up the entire sweater. It was light, yet very warm.

He silently changed into it, and the size was indeed just right. The hem and sleeve length were perfect, and the neckline was neither too high nor too low, so it wouldn't rub against his chin.

The sweater blocked out the cold, damp air that was typical of the cellar, bringing a strange, dry warmth.

On Christmas Day, the hall was decorated in a magnificent golden light, with twelve towering Christmas trees adorned with enchanted ornaments and real icicles.

The long table was laden with roast turkey, Christmas pudding, honey-glazed ham, and mountains of colorful firecrackers.

There weren't many students staying on campus, and they were scattered around the faculty seating area, creating a more relaxed and casual atmosphere than usual.

Severus sat at the end of the Slytherin table, quietly eating his dinner.

The dark green sweater was very comfortable to wear under the school uniform.

He didn't go to pull the colorful firecrackers; he just watched the others laugh and joke.

Professors Flitwick and Slughorn worked together to set off a giant firecracker. With a bang, a singing fairy hat and several lively white kittens burst out, eliciting laughter from everyone.

After the dinner, he returned to the cellar alone.

The only sounds in the common room were the crackling of the fireplace and a few dim lights.

He walked to the dormitory window. Outside, the water of the Black Lake was dark, and occasionally the shadows of giant squid tentacles would slowly glide by.

In the distance, the lights of Hogsmeade village flickered dimly in the light snow.

He stood there for a while, then turned and walked to his old wooden box, unlocked it, and took out several small bottles carefully wrapped in soft cloth from the bottom.

The bottle has a simple label with small, neat lettering.

He went to Ian, Kevin, and Aris's beds and placed the corresponding bottles under their pillows.

Kevin was given a bottle of "energizer (modified mild version)" with a small note in the corner of the label: suitable for those who stay up all night writing papers, side effects (mild tinnitus) have been reduced.

Aris was given a bottle of "precision writing ink (spill-resistant, quick-drying, erasable)," along with a small roll of blank, specially textured parchment suitable for complex rune sketches that require repeated revisions.

The bottle given to Ian was slightly larger, containing a clear, light green liquid. The label read "Comprehensive Wound Treatment and Magic Stabilizing Potion (Experimental Version, for External Use, Can Be Taken in Small Amounts for Pain Relief)." Below that, in smaller print, it stated: "Additional soothing effect on burns from common magical plant sap and minor magical backlash."

After putting away the gifts, he returned to his bedside, took out the secondhand potions book Ian had given him, and began to read it by the light. His sweater was neatly wrapped around him, and the dormitory was quiet except for the soft rustling of the pages turning.

The snow outside the window seems to be falling heavier.

The Christmas holidays came and went, and students gradually returned to school, making the castle bustling again.