Chapter 71: “Christmas”


    The morning farce provided Matthew with some crucial information.


    First and foremost, the book was not as all-powerful as he had previously believed. Perhaps Professor Slughorns initial assessment was correctit was indeed a feeble and enigmatic dark magic item that had attacked the toad in the Leaky Cauldron Inn and Draco. After the encounters, it had lost its power.


    Perhaps Matthew held a special significance to the book, causing it to refrain from attacking him.


    In any case, Matthew no longer needed to worry about losing his life inadvertently.


    During his conversation with the book, Matthew also discovered something else: he could learn about events happening around him through various means, but not from the book itself. It couldnt even ess its own memories.


    In order to tempt him, the book presented three conditions.


    However, Matthew didnt need to know the source of all the attacks at Hogwarts, as he already had plenty of clues. The true face of Grindelwald didnt interest him either as for learning powerful magic from a self-aware book.


    Matthew believed that any wizard with a sound mind wouldnt fall for such a im.


    If the book truly understood him, it wouldnt have proposed these three unappealing conditions to Matthew.


    With the book safely locked away in the drawer, Matthew felt a sense of relief. Finally, after enduring the troublesome affliction that had gued him for four months, he could see a glimmer of hope.


    As Matthew entered the Great Hall for dinner, he noticed significant changes.


    Twelve sparkling Christmas trees surrounded the hall, ribbons danced in the air, and enchanted snow fell gently from the ceiling, warm and dry.


    What caught his attention most was the rearrangement of the tables. The long table had been reced with arge round table capable of seating thirty to forty people. Grindelwald, Rosier, Slughorn, Flitwick, Sinistra, Professor Sprout, and Mr. Pringle sat around the table.


    The remaining seats were reserved for the students. The number of students from each grade who stayed at Hogwarts was almost exactly thirty.


    As the students hesitantly gathered in the hall, they looked on in surprise at the spectacle before them.


    Merry Christmas, children! Headmaster Grindelwald greeted them with a smile. Vinda came up with this wonderful idea to make our Christmas more festive. Sit down, everyone!


    They proceeded to find their seats, chatting in small groups. Matthew sat far away from Professor Grindelwald.


    Within ten minutes, everyone had arrived.


    Professor Grindelwald announced to kick off the festivities, First, some Christmas presents!


    He waved his hand, and colorful firecrackers rained down from above. Onended in front of Matthew, who gently pulled it. An explosion followed, engulfing Matthew and a few others in light green smoke.


    Simultaneously, a heavy bearskin hat fell into Matthews hands, and he ced it on his head. Instantly, he felt warm and a sense of weight pressing down on him.


    Mr. Pringle excitedly pulled out a colorful firecracker, which erupted into a shower of more than ten fleshy bones. Mr. Donald rushed over eagerly to collect them.


    Meanwhile, Professor Grindelwald led a group of girls in singing his favorite Christmas carols.


    Professor Slughorn downed arge ss of eggnog, causing him to hup, while Professor Rosier cast a disapproving nce at him.


    The Christmas feast turned out to be even more extravagant than anticipated. Twenty plump roasted turkeys, piles of roasted meats and baked potatoes, lifelike tree trunk cakes, bowls of emerald green peas, and tes of prosciutto and small sausages adorned the tables.


    For Matthew, it was his first experience of such a grand banquet. After the turkey, a red Christmas pudding was served.


    As Hermione took a bite, she suddenly covered her teeth and spat out a silver sickle coin. Oh my God, she eximed, I nearly broke my teeth.


    Professor Grindelwald led the apuse, and the entire hall joined in, apuding Hermiones unexpected find. In Muggle and Wizard traditions, silver coins like the sickle are ced in puddings at Christmas. Whoever discovers the coin in their slice is said to have wealth and good luck in theing year.


    Professor Slughorn raised a cup of eggnog, his face flushed, while Professor Rosiers pointed ck top hat sat crookedly on his head, disying hisck of decorum. Professor Flitwick stood on a stool and sang loudly.


    The entire hall felt like a big, joyous family at that moment.


    The dinnersted two hours until everyones stomachs filled with abundant food. Professor Grindelwald had left half an hour earlier, and some students began to scatter after his departure.


    Justin Finch-Fletchley, Matthews neighbor at the Hufflepuff table, also started to leave, clutching various trinkets he had acquired from the colorful firecrackers.


    Matthew picked up his heavy bearskin hat and followed suit. Fletchley! he called out.


    Hello, Wickfield I can barely walk anymore, Fletchley replied wearily.


    During the banquet, the two had chatted casually, seeming to have be acquainted with each other.


    Me too, Matthew nodded.


    The Slytherin and Hufflepuffmon rooms were in the basement, so they walked together briefly.


    After about half a minute, Matthew casually asked, I recall on the first day of your Christmas break, you were scolded by Professor Sprout and Professor Rosier. What happened?


    Justin Finley looked ufortable as he replied, Yes, I was at the Three Broomsticks Inn that day and identally fell asleep. When I returned to the castle, I waste


    So Matthew inquired calmly, Did you happen to see a witch wearing a thick ck scarf in Hogsmeade that day?


    The witch in the thick ck scarf The witch in the thick ck scarf Justin Finley muttered, his eyes bing somewhat unfocused.


    Suddenly, he clutched his head in pain, dropping the trinkets from his hands onto the floor, Im sorry, Wickfield I I dont remember anything.