The Christmas holidays began on 21st December. Students planning to return home needed to pack their belongings by the night of 18th, as the train was set to depart for London early the next morning, a Saturday.


    This year, the Weasleys were joining Scarlet for the holidays again, as Mr. And Mrs. Weasley were visiting Bill in Egypt. Ginny and Jessica shared their excitement about celebrating Christmas at Scarlet’s house for the first time. Alexis, naturally, would stay in the Red House as well, having no other place to go unless she opted to remain at Hogwarts. Harry would spend Christmas with Black but planned to join them later for their orphanage visit.


    Hermione, having overheard the plan, was outraged, practically choking and shaking Harry and Ron by their collars.


    “No way you’re going without me! I’ll bring gifts for the children, too!” Hermione huffed indignantly. “And you two didn’t invite me last year!”


    “We weren’t trying to leave you out,” Harry said, attempting to placate her. “We just didn’t think you’d be interested in visiting an orphanage. Besides, last year’s visit was a last-minute decision – it wasn’t exactly a well-thought-out plan. And you’ve been away from your parents for months, so we figured spending time with them would be important.”


    Ron, loosening the grip on his collar, chimed in, “I’ve basically been living with Scarlet anyway, considering our parents dumped all of us at Hogwarts every chance they got – last year for Charlie in Romania, this year for Bill. So yeah, I’ll go wherever Scarlet goes. And Harry barely got to spend time with Sirius last year – they needed some ice-breaking time. Honestly, we thought you’d just bury your nose in books over the holidays, even while you’re with your mum and dad.”


    Hermione flushed slightly. “I’m not that obsessed with books!”


    Harry and Ron exchange sceptical glances before shrugging in perfect unison, earning themselves another round of Hermione’s irritation as she tugged their collars again.


    Meanwhile, Fred and George sat at the end of the Hufflepuff table, finalising their invention plans, making what seemed to be an informal year-end report for the official patron, Scarlet, who had just wrapped up a morning meeting with her assistants in the same location.


    Scrolling through the papers in their hands, the twins began summarising.


    “Colour-up candy, done,” George ticked off another item.


    “Game table, also done,” Fred added. “Though Wizard’s Gambit still needs tweaking – there''s a glitch with the maps overlapping. But we’ve got over five hundred preorders already, including a few from alumni... interesting.”


    “And ‘Tweet-it-Owl'' notebook - we’re planning to roll out the prototype for the latest version during the holiday. With Mr. Lupin joining us for Christmas, we won’t have any issues using magic in the Red House. Kyle can take it to Japan, and we’ll test its global connectivity. This one has the History function, a nudge feature for receiving messages, group chat capability, and a capacity for up to a hundred contacts.”


    Alexis clapped her hands enthusiastically. “And users could buy extra skins from the store!”


    “That’s extra ‘Appearances’!” The Weasley twins retorted in unison.


    “Whatever,” Alexis said, her eyes sparkling with determination, “I’m totally gonna prove my fashion and design sense is, like, way better than you two! People are so gonna buy my skins over yours – it''s not even a competition!”


    “Oh, we’ll see about that!” Fred huffed, determination gleaming in his eyes as well.


    Scarlet was momentarily puzzled but quickly understood the argument among the three inventors when she explored the “store” page on the latest version of the notebook messenger. The default notebook design was plain, resembling an ordinary notebook. While there were a few free designs available, users could upgrade their notebook’s appearance to something fancier by paying a small fee – just a few Knuts. They payment process was simple: toss the Knuts directly at the page, select the desired design, and voilà, the notebook would instantly transform into a more stylish version.


    Alexis, unsurprisingly, was well-versed in these kinds of microtransactions, having encountered similar systems in games and apps from her previous life.


    It became evident to Scarlet that Fred, George, and Alexis were betting on whose notebook design would be the most popular. Each “Appearance” in the store prominently displayed the designer’s name beneath it, along with how many people had downloaded the design, adding an extra layer of competition.


    As Fred and George wrapped up their discussion on other inventions, Alexis left when a group of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw girls called her over – apparently, her wacky personality had earned her a solid group of friends among them.


    The Weasley twins wasted no time in finalising their newest creation: “Spill-an-Out Biscuits, done!” Both broke into giggles as soon as they mentioned it.


    Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “What’s so funny about this one?” She couldn’t help but notice they’d waited until Alexis had left to bring it up.


    “A few couples have broken up because of it!” Fred said brightly. “Some girls decided to test their boyfriends by giving them a Spill-an-Out biscuits to get an honest answer.”


    “And - surprise, surprise!” George chimed in with equal enthusiasm. “Turns out some boyfriends weren’t as truthful as their girlfriends thought, and the girls ended up dumping them!”


    Seeing Scarlet’s confusion, Fred leaned in to explain the latest Hogwarts trend. “If someone eats a Spill-an-Out Biscuits, they’ll either break out in pimples, fart nonstop, or keep burping until they tell the truth to whoever asked the question!”


    “We limited it to one question per biscuit - thought it’d be funny to see if anyone annoyed their mum or something,” George snapped his fingers with a grin. “Who knew so many people had juicy secrets hidden from their girlfriends? Honestly, it’s been quite the eye-opener!”


    “It’s a shame this is going to be a limited edition,” Fred shrugged, “Alexis made us swear we’d take the biscuits down after we get rid of Lockhead. She says it’s ‘totally invading people’s privacy, and no legit game maker should be doin’ that’.”


    George rolled his eyes. “She’s worried someone’ll force biscuits down people’s throats to squeeze out business secret or something. But we already made the effect harmless - if someone’s determined enough not to spill anything, they can just keep quiet until the biscuit’s magic wears off after five hours.”


    “Anyone who blurts something probably wasn’t keeping that big a secret anyway,” Fred huffed, clearly displeased with Alexis’s barbaric decision to shut down their latest masterpiece. Still, he reluctantly went along with it – she did have a point.


    George sighed. “So, we’ll just cash in as much as we can in Hogwarts – Alexis even made us promise to keep the biscuits within the castle so they don’s spread to Hogsmeade - before we get the chance to make Lockhead spill his secret in front of everyone.”


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Fred nodded, “Got to make sure the whole school knows what the biscuits do before we accidentally slip a little truth serum into Lockhead’s drink and watch him blurt everything out.”


    George grinned. “And judging by how fast our biscuits are spreading among lovebirds, that day’s coming real soon!”


    Scarlet raised an eyebrow. “So that’s Alexis’s plan to expose Lockhart? Let me guess - she told you to keep it a secret from me, didn’t she?”


    The twins shrugged in unison, matching grins on their faces. “And you heard nothing, except for our very innocent report on our latest inventions, yeah?”


    Scarlet chuckled and nodded.


    She had little interest in this particular invention, but she still praised the twins for their creativity and expressed interest in their future projects. While she never expected any return on her investment in the twins’ endeavours, she was pleasantly surprised when they handed her a pouch of Galleons as her dividend.


    Well, that’s good news before heading back for Christmas, Scarlet thought.


    Noticing that Scarlet and the Weasley twins had wrapped up their conversation, Alexis shot Scarlet a subtle wink – her way of saying they’d meet later in Scarlet’s private room for a more private discussion. Scarlet responded with a slight nod before slipping away from the lively group in the Great Hall.


    It wasn’t long before Alexis arrived. Once inside Scarlet’s private room, Alexis got straight to the point. “Lockhart must be up to something - and he’s totally gonna strike before everyone leaves for Christmas!”


    “We’re, like, four days away from hopping on the train,” Alexis groaned, her tone laced with frustration. “And seriously, I’m getting super stressed just watching the countdown to board the Express.”


    “That just proves you’d make a terrible rodman,” Scarlet replied with a casual air, “We’ve taken all the precautions we can. Have a little faith in your abilities, Are-chan.”


    “Faith in what?” Alexis waved her hand dismissively. “My talent for screwing things up? It’s a miracle I didn’t mess up Jessica’s blindfold! Sensei, you’ve totally seen the disaster zone that is my room.”


    Ever since Scarlet forced Alexis to channel her magic into crafting of Jessica’s blindfold, Alexis had been trying to gain better control over her powers. Unfortunately, her attempts often ended in disaster, - shattering mirrors, exploding her soundproof room, and even cracking the floor. To make matters worse, Alexis was terrible at Mending Charms, and Fred and George, her usual go-to helpers, were too busy fixing the glitches in Wizard’s Gambit. They were determined to organise a game tournament on Sundays and crown a worthy player to “entertain the Lady of Red” before the Easter holiday.


    She never thought of asking others for help; she was too embarrassed to explain how she had made such a mess in her room.


    As a result, Alexis’s room was under repair, and the job had fallen to Hogwarts’s house-elves. However, given their heavy workload maintaining the castle, the only available help was a young and inexperienced house-elf named Lally. Progress was painstakingly slow. Alexis couldn’t bring herself to urge or rush Lally, as the house-elf had an unfortunate tendency to hit herself with whatever was within reach – and in her current workspace, that meant dangerous debris.


    Exhausted from repeatedly reassuring Lally and preventing her from self-harm, Alexis finally resolved to let the repairs take as long as necessary. In the meantime, she temporarily gave up her private room, cancelled her dancing and singing practices, and restricted her Japanese lessons to Scarlet’s room.


    “Lockhart had better not cause any troubles on Friday, or I swear I’ll cook him alive in the debris from my mirror!” Alexis growled, muttering a string of inaudible curses, likely borrowed from various anime she’d watched.


    Scarlet, engrossed in tidying up her manuscript, glanced up briefly; she wanted to make sure everything was polished and presentable before bringing it to Mr. Wilson during the Christmas holiday. “So, when exactly do you expect him to stir up trouble? Thursday?”


    “... I have no idea!” Alexis admitted, scratching her head in frustration.


    As it turned out, the chaos unfolded far sooner than anyone anticipated.


    The disruption began during breakfast the next morning, December 16th. Professor Dumbledore was absent from the Great Hall when it happened.


    Colin Creevey, Harry’s ever-enthusiastic fan who was known for taking photographs everywhere he went, burst into the hall in a frantic sprint. His high-pitched voice rang through the room: “Monsters! There’s a monster at the front gate!”


    Before the professors could react, a fireball hurled into the Great Hall, narrowly missing Colins and nearly setting his trousers aflame. He crashed to the ground, his beloved camera smashing to pieces beside him.


    Panic erupted. Students screamed and fled away from the front door, tears streaming down some of their faces. The shouts and chaos escalated as students stumbled and tripped over one another. Several robes caught fire, worsening the situation as those affected scrambled to extinguish the flames.


    Scarlet immediately sprang into action. Grabbing the robe of a stunned Hufflepuff prefect, she practically shouted in his ear, “Leave the Great Hall through the side exits! Get everyone into classrooms and lock the doors behind you. Go, now!”


    Scarlet’s enchanted voice jolted the prefect into motion. Wasting no time, he waved his wand and, in desperation, began hurling his fellow Hufflepuffs toward the nearest window, breaking a clear path out. “Break the window! Got out of here! Find a classroom, hide, and lock the door!” he barked, his voice carrying an urgency that spurred others into action.


    Seniors quickly took charge, replicating the prefect’s efforts. More windows shattered as students scrambled through the newly created exits, helping clear the way for professors to deal with the threat at hand.


    The fireball wasn’t the only projectile thrown into the Great Hall; a corrosive liquid accompanied it, releasing a putrid smell. The venom fuelled the flames, making them even harder to extinguish. Part of the long dining table near the entrance was now fully engulfed in fire, resisting even Professor Flitwick’s expertly cast extinguishing charm.


    Acting quickly, Professor McGonagall divided the flaming debris into sections with a precise spell, her wand sweeping in broad strokes to push the burning wreckage away. Just as she created a temporary barrier, the so-called monster broke through, revealing itself at last - a juvenile Chimaera.


    Professor Kettleburn let out an incredulous exclamation. “It’s a juvenile! How did it get here?! And who in the Merlin’s name enraged it?!”


    Professor McGonagall’s tone was urgent but steady as she asked, “Kettleburn, what do you recommend to calm this creature?”


    As the juvenile Chimaera advanced, snarling and snapping through the wreckage, Professor McGonagall conjured obstacles to block its path. Meanwhile, the other professors hurled spells at the beast, but to little effect. The creature exhibited a strong resistance to magic, thwarting their attempts to subdue it on such short notice.


    Historically, very few wizards had survived encounters with a Chimaera, and even fewer had managed to tame one. Professor Kettleburn, famously bold, had been the only wizard known to have legally bred and kept a Chimaera as a pet - a feat registered with the Ministry. Though he had methods to deal with the beast, he’s not in a position to use them now. “I would need potions!” he shouted over the chaos. “But I don’t have the right ones with me! It would take months to brew!”


    Before anyone could respond, Lockhart stepped forward, puffing put his chest with exaggerated confidence. “Fear not, for I shall save you all!”


    He hurled a potion bottle into the air, shattering it mid-flight, then flicked his wand to scatter the potion like rain over the beast standing amid the fiery ruins. The juvenile Chimaera, which had been roaring and spewing flames wildly, gradually quieted down and sank to the ground. The beast appeared dazed, as though drunk.


    A wave of relief swept over the room. Though the fire still raged in pockets, at least the Chimaera was subdued. Students who hadn’t managed to escape earlier now turned their attention to Lockhart, some gazing at him with reluctant admiration.


    Lockhart, clearly basking in the moment, waved grandly at those still present. He straightened his robe, already imagining the accolades that would surely follow. Then, he caught sign of the red-haired girl standing amongst a small cluster of onlookers – Scarlet, the little devil who had dared to threaten him into following her teaching syllabus.


    Lockhart mused to himself with a grin, Ah, young girls. No matter how menacing they try to appear, they’re still just little girls.


    Putting on his trademark dazzling smile, he strode toward Scarlet and her companions. “Fear not, students,” he declared dramatically. “The situation is now under control! Soon the clouds of despair that robbed you of your joy will clear, and--”


    “Shut up!” snapped the blonde teenage girl standing beside Scarlet, rolling her eyes impatiently. Alexis barely spared Lockhart a glance as her keen gaze swept the hall, still wary as if she were anticipating something worse.


    Lockhart froze mid-sentence, affronted, but before he could respond, a deafening, ground-shaking roar erupted. The sound reverberated through the Great Hall, silencing even the embers crackling in the flames.


    He turned slowly, stiff with dread, to see what had caused the roar.


    Standing at the entrance of the Great Hall, illuminated by the still-burning flames, was an adult Chimaera.


    The massive creature was clearly enraged, its muscles coiled like springs. It let out another ear-splitting roar, spewing fire and venom in an indiscriminate display of fury. Those who still remained in the hall were forced to scatter as the flames raged once more, intensifying the chaos.