"Yes, I'm definitely not on par with Dumbledore right now, so I have to keep practicing." Ian was working on the additional decorations, and he filled the base of the tree with an assortment of candy boxes.
The candies within had all been meticulously inspected by "Inspector Prince," and his money bag was tainted with the sinful sweetness, which made him work all the more energetically.
"These candles are really hard to light; if you're not careful, they'll all go up in flames..." Michael and William were practicing their [Fire-Making Spell] with the candles that needed to be set up.
"Isn't it possible that the fire needed isn't the one you're using?" Hagrid, having been praised all the way by the two little wizards, hesitated to directly criticize William and Michael.
"Of course, we know that."
William's expression wasn't surprised.
Michael followed with a serious tone, "Ian said we need to seize this chance to practice, while also creating a condition for him to report more losses to the professors."
They were knowingly doing wrong.
Hagrid, who was usually straightforward, was suddenly taken aback. He noticed the little wizards' sneaky plan but felt that this behavior hadn't risen to an immoral level.
After all, it's just a bit of candy and candles... Perhaps Ian's goodwill with Hagrid was already very high, or maybe Hagrid didn't know that these candles were also magic materials. In any case, he awkwardly scratched his nose and began to switch the topic as if nothing happened.
"Are you all going home for Christmas this year?"
This is a choice the little wizards face every Christmas.
"William and I are going back, Ian isn't," Michael answered for all three, watching Ian hang some small icicles on the Christmas tree.
"Every year, there are many little wizards who choose to go home, but quite a few also stay to celebrate." Hagrid seemed to be very considerate of any possible feelings of loss Ian might have. He remembered that Ian was an orphan from an orphanage, possibly thinking that Ian had nowhere to go because of this.
However.
Ian was enthusiastically creating ice sculptures. He hid a sculpture of himself in each Christmas tree and even climbed onto the ceiling to start creating spontaneously.
Forget about feeling lost—he didn't even hear the others discussing anything.
"During the Christmas break, you can come find me to play." Hagrid shouted to Ian on the ceiling, always worrying the little wizard might fall from above.
"Of course, no problem. I'll come find you after I finish my tasks." Ian immediately responded, and he hid many copper Knuts on the ceiling.
At tomorrow night's banquet.
He would be Hogwarts' real Santa Claus.
What?
Why not use Golden Galleons?
The main focus should be on the sense of ceremony! Not how much money the little wizards receive! Can the sense of ceremony be measured by money? As long as the little wizards have some copper Knuts falling from the sky, they will definitely be happy!
"You could hide a Golden Galleon in there, letting a lucky person gain more joy and surprise." Hagrid looked up, starting to give Ian pointers on decorating the ceiling.
"Great idea!"
Ian looked down at the place he often sat, and promptly hid a Golden Galleon above that location, causing his two roommates to exchange glances, wanting to speak but stopping themselves.
"Fantastic Christmas idea!"
Hagrid didn't know about Ian's little stunt, happily praising Ian's spontaneous creativity.
"Santa Claus should thank us."
Ian jumped off the ceiling directly, and cast a Wingardium Leviosa on himself in mid-air, so when he landed, he drifted down lightly like a feather.
"What's left now is the work of the little elves."
He clapped his hands.
Maybe he had been in the "laboratory" for too long, Ian was very diligent and happy in arranging the halls, and after saying goodbye to Hagrid, he rare took a day off.
"What are you sitting here for! Let's rollerblade!" Ian, with his ice-skate shoes made, ran to the edge of Black Lake and saw Aurora sitting on a rock, staring at Black Lake in a daze. Without saying a word, he transformed Aurora's shoes into ice-skate shoes and led her skating on Black Lake.
"What are we doing?"
It wasn't until they were on the Black Lake that Aurora reacted.
"Enjoying life."
Ian imparted some motivational words.
Leading Aurora into deep thought again—she learns really fast; initially clumsy, she quickly mastered the technique and became more graceful than Ian.
Like a black swan on the lake.
Of course, this black swan would be better if she wasn't so abrasive when speaking.
"Aren't you going to keep skating? Are you discouraged by me?" Aurora saw Ian stop and cautiously spoke to him.
"I can wait for you; I can pretend to skate worse than you." The German girl was straightforward, but her blunt words embarrassed Ian.
"Just taking a break."
Ian went back to the shore and started adding inscriptions to his ice skates—yes, his shoes were specially treated initially.
"This is life; when you realize you're no match for someone, you must deeply reflect on one question... whether your cheating isn't big enough!"
Ian's competitive spirit made him invest heavily in his shoes.
The day quickly passed amidst laughter.
Before sleeping at night.
"Ian, aren't you really going to come to play at my place during Christmas? My house has lots of magic props." After freshening up, William once again invited Ian.
Michael had already mentioned several times what fun things he had at home before speaking—wanting a friend to come over seemed to be a heartfelt wish for every child.
"I have a project unfinished; next year, next year for sure I'll share the joy!" Ian felt traveling back and forth took too much time; initially, he planned to stay at Hogwarts to study. Of course, now, there was also the concern that after the Christmas break, Voldemort might accidentally disappear.
If Voldemort tried to ambush Grindelwald during the break and Grindelwald killed him instead, where would Ian find such good soul fuel?
"If that scene really happens soon, I must ensure I'm there in time." Ian wanted to slyly burn Voldemort's lingering soul.
He doesn't know if Voldemort would agree.
"If he doesn't find me, I'll assume he agrees." Finally confirming tonight Quirrell hadn't moved, Ian lay in bed and closed his eyes full of anticipation.
Tonight.
Christmas Eve was approaching.
It was time for him to enter the Misty Illusion Realm again.
From the drowsiness of falling asleep to his mind regaining clarity, Ian slowly opened his eyes, once more returning to Teacher Morgan's familiar ancient castle. Only, this place, which felt familiar, had an unexpectedly strange surprise.
For example, Teacher Morgan wasn't sitting on her bench.
Or Ian seized the rare opportunity, hurriedly ran forward to sit on Teacher Morgan's bench, comfortably savoring the throne's comfort.
But the next moment.
Without warning.
"Roar!"
Ian suddenly heard a powerful roar echo outside the castle, the frightening sound even shook the entire castle like an earthquake.
The tremor even caused Ian to fall off the bench.
He landed hard on the cold floor.
This was definitely no coincidence.
"Hiss! Did Teacher Morgan discover me sitting on her chair, angrily unleashing a witch's roar that shook the earth?" Ian hurried to the castle's entrance.
And then.
The crouching Giant Dragon and Teacher Morgan's darkened expression both came into his view.