As Christmas break approached, the festive atmosphere in the castle grew increasingly vibrant. Under Angelina's dire, Eda joined in decorating their dormitory. Acc to Angelina, Eda's magical skills were the best, so if she didn't do the decorating, who would?

  The dormitory was adorned with holly wreaths, and Eda hung colorful fairy lights that could transform into flying little fairies. These tiny creatures flitted around the room, fluttering their delicate wings.

  Whether it was due to Professor Flitwick's exceptional charm skills or his love for Christmas, the holiday decorations throughout the school were once again under his charge this year. Even Eda's enting fairy lights were creations of Professor Flitwick.

  Senior students also helped with the decorations, but everyone had to stay on guard against Peeves, who delighted in causing mischief. Peeves might shake the dder as you climbed it, garnds around your o startle you, or unch water balloons as part of his pranks.

  The professors also decorated their s, each style refleg their unique personalities.

  Before the holidays, they ducted term-end reviews, recapping the material covered in the first half of the academic year.

  Of course, there were some exceptions—like Professor Snape.

  His remained as dim and somber as always, with no trace of decoration. If the underground were ever filled with garnds, Eda thought she might suspect she had wandered into the wrong pd might even feel pelled to light an inse stick before leaving.

  However, Snape surprised everyoh a rare joke.

  He remarked that he would send a vial of poison as a Christmas gift to a certain student in the css, hoping they had been paying attention in lessons—otherwise, they might not survive.

  The students were visibly uled, many turning to look at Eda, vihere was a 99.99% ce she was the "lucky" recipient.

  Another professor who refrained from decorating his was Glover Cecil. Perhaps such holidays were simply too cruel for him.

  Ever since disc the anomaly by the Bck Lake, Eda had been keeping a close eye on Cecil. She noticed that the professor's health had indeed deteriorated. Onseparable from his cigarettes, he now rarely smoked by the window before css.

  Aside from a few practical lessons, Cecil had also stopped using his wand altogether.

  Amid the festive atmosphere, Filch was as busy as ever, determio make the students' lives harder. He increased his patrols in the corridors, vihat the approach of the holidays brought with it more mischief.

  Filch also had to keep an eye on Peeves to prevent him from creating further chaos. Peeves, unwele on all sides, had reached a new level of being despised by everyone.

  The prefects of each house, in addition to supervising the decoration of the castle and keeping an eye on the first- and sed-years, also had to assist Fil dealing with rule-breaking students.

  Charlie pined endlessly about Filch's meddling.

  Professonagall collected the names of students staying at school for the holidays during breakfast. This time, Eda didn't choose to stay at Hogwarts; instead, she decided to spend the holidays at the Burrow with the twins.

  This had been pnned during the summer, and Eda had received a letter from Mrs. Weasley earlier this month. Mrs. Weasley worried that Eda, much like st year, would hesitate to visit the Burrow for fear of intruding on the Weasley family's celebration.

  In her letter, Mrs. Weasley even instructed her four sons t Eda back by force if she refused to e.

  As a result, poor Errol had to brave the wind and snow, flying all the way from St. Catchpole in Devon to Hogwarts in Sd. It was a harsh journey for the elderly owl.

  At long st, the term came to an end. Eda left the castle with the Weasley brothers.

  Ohe students had departed, silence fell warts. While Eda wouldn't be able to practice magic during the holidays, she could at least look forward to enjoying a cozy and rexing break.

  The night in Ottery St. Catchpole was tranquil. In the vilge square, a Christmas tree adorned with golden bells stood proudly, surrounded by colorful lights that gave the p entiy.

  Along the little try road outside the vilge, illuminated by scattered starlight, Mr. Weasley and Charlie walked ahead, speaking quietly.

  Eda suspected their versation might have something to do with Charlie's work in Romania.

  Behind them, Perd Ron followed with their heads bowed.

  The twins, carrying their luggage, cast mischievous looks at Percy, who likely wouldn't get much peace during this holiday. Eda, holding Ginny's hand, walked at the very back of the group.

  Garlon, now grown, alternated between bounding to the front of the group to wag his tail at Mr. Weasley and rag back to Eda's side. The narrow try ne hardly seemed enough for his joyful frolig.

  The Burrow wasn't far, and it looked exactly the same as it had when they'd left—still that cozy, haphazardly built home.

  Mrs. Weasley stood at the door, waiting for the children's return.

  She had prepared a sumptuous meal and, despite spending the whole afternoon bustling about iiny kit, her face was filled with joy.

  She greeted each child with a warm hug as they entered. When it was Eda's turn, Mrs. Weasley's smile grew even brighter. "My dear, I'm the happiest to see you bae," she said warmly.

  "Even if you didn't let me e back, I'd have broken down the door to get in," Eda replied with a ugh.

  "This is your home, and it always will be," Mrs. Weasley said, gently patting Eda's shoulder and arm. "Ah.. My dear, you've grown thinner sihe summer."

  Although nothing particurly terrifying happened during the first half of the semester, Eda still ended up losi. Spending nearly every day training in the underground room made it almost impossible not to.

  Having bee something of a self-taught expert iing bruises and injuries through her owed mishaps, Eda had grown quite skilled in this area. If she took the time to study herbology properly, she might even have a shot at w at St. Mungo's one day.

  "Do we have smoked pork?" Eda tilted her head and asked, already catg the aroma of food wafting through the air.

  "Of course we do—it's your favorite!"

  Mrs. Weasley said, pyfully squeezing Eda's cheeks before adding, "Go on upstairs, put away your things, and we'll eat."

  Eda's suitcase had already been delivered to Ginny's room by the twins, though it hadn't been unpacked yet.

  Ever sihe twins took over the chore of handling her luggage, Eda had grown aced to it. She'd been spoiled to the point where she often hahings over to them without a sed thought.

  Her suitcase didn't hold much—just a few ges of clothes, her holiday homework, and a stack of leisure books, which took up most of the space.

  After puttihings in order, Eda headed back downstairs.

  The living room, as always, was a hub of noise and chaos.

  Fred and Gee had slipped a box into Percy's suitcase, but the "battle-hardened" Percy wasn't fooled. He carried the box downstairs and frohe twins directly.

  Although everyone present k was the twins' doing, Fred and Gee adamantly de. They insisted the box was a gift from Percy's girlfriend and urged him to open it.

  As far as Eda knew, Percy didn't have a girlfriend at all.

  Their cim was so impusible that it would have been more believable to say it came from someone admiring Percy from afar rather than an actual girlfriend.

  Mr. Weasley, seated on the couch reading the neer, paid no mind to the noisy squabble among the three brothers. Instead, he seemed to be thhly enjoying the se. Charlie, sitting nearby with Ron and Ginny, also watched the otion with amusement.

  Once all the dishes were set oable, Mrs. Weasley finally stepped in to put ao the brothers' antics. Everyohered around the dining table for their first dinner back at the Burrow.

  On the rge family clock that bore the names of every Weasley, all eight hands—except for Bill's—poio "home."

  __________

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