On Christmas m, the weather was freezing, and snow bhe surroundings. The twins were woken up early by Eda, who was already dressed and tossed two boxes onto their beds.

  Eda pulled opehick winter curtains, letting sunlight flood the room. The freshly awakewins had no choice but to pull their bs over their heads to block the light.

  "Merry Christmas," Eda said. "I just took Garlon for a walk, so my hands are really cold. Do you two need a little help?"

  The twins immediately sat up straight—they had no desire to experiehe shock of her icy hands. It was far too much to bear.

  "Merry Christmas!" Fred said, shaking the gift box. "What's this?"

  "Why don't you open it and find out?" Eda said as she left the room. "Hurry up a ready to e downstairs. If you dawdle any longer, Mrs. Weasley will be the one ing up to get you."

  This Christmas holiday was turning out perfectly for Eda, and the gifts she received that m were equally delightful.

  Professonagall had given her a set of robes this year instead of another private notebook. From the style to the fabric, it was evident the robes were of high quality.

  The twins had given her a wand care kit, which they hao her st night before bed. However, for the sake of ceremony, Eda had waited until this m to open it.

  The gifts she had just givewins were gloves—an ideal accessory for their frequent outdoor activities.

  Charlie's gift was a colle of books on British wizarding legends, something akin to a magazine of fantastical tales. Iurn, Eda had given him a figurine of a Hebridean Bck dragon. This figurine could fly and evehe fire—hopefully, it wouldn't end up setting Charlie's bedsheets abze.

  As fellow book lovers, Eda and Percy exged books, a gesture devoid of much creativity.

  For Ron, Eda gifted a set of wizard chess, while finny, she chose a copy of Hogwarts: A History.

  Eda had also prepared gifts for her friends at school, ensuring no one was left out.

  An ued person also gave Eda a gift this Christmas—Cedric Diggory had sent her a rge box of Chocote Frogs.

  Eda was caught pletely off guard, as she hadn't prepared anything iurn. It left her feeling a bit embarrassed.

  When the whole family gathered around the kit table, Mrs. Weasley began handing out gifts, giving each person one of her lovingly knitted sweaters.

  When it came to the twins, Mrs. Weasley struggled to tell Fred and Gee apart, hesitating for quite a while but ultimately failing to distinguish between them. In the end, the twins exged sweaters themselves and then put on the correes.

  Even though Mrs. Weasley was their mother and could tell them apart most of the time, the twins loved insisting she'd gotten it wrong so often that, over time, evearted sed-guessing herself.

  Last year, Eda had ehe twins' sweaters, but this year, she finally received one of her own!

  Her red hand-knitted sweater featured a rge, golden-yellow "E," representing the first letter of her name.

  The children began pulling on their sweaters, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley watched the se with joy. Christmas was meant to be a time of family togetherness, though it ity that Bill couldn't make it home this year.

  The first course of Mrs. Weasley's meticulously prepared Christmas feast was smoked salmon, delicious with just a touch of seasoning. The terpiece of the meal, as always, lump roasted turkey stuffed with onions and potatoes. The table was den with mashed potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and smoky ba, ensuring everyone had more than enough to eat.

  Mr. Weasley sipped on Firewhisky, and since Charlie was of age, he was allowed to join his father for a few drinks.

  The twins stared enviously at Charlie, and even Percy's expressiorayed a hint of longing.

  Notig their obvious expressions, Mrs. Weasley smiled and brought out a rge tray of butterbeer, handing a mug to each child—including Ron and Ginny, who hadn't yet started at Hogwarts.

  Mr. Weasley raised his gss and said, "Merry Christmas!"

  "Merry Christmas!" the children echoed enthusiastically. Whether it was the strong Firewhisky or the butterbeer in their cups, everyone dowheir drink in one go.

  The atmosphere at the diable was lively, with everyoalking loudly, linking arms with those o them, and humming songs. Mrs. Weasley, her cheeks flushed, sang a jazzy rendition of A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love, one of her favorite songs by Celestina Warbeck.

  Mr. Weasley particurly ealking to Eda about Muggle-reted topics. Although some of his questions were often childish, today's queries were anything but trivial—they revolved around cars.

  For example, he asked how Muggles mao make cars move without magid what they did to fix them when they broke down.

  These questions were far more plex than the usual "little rubber duck" ones, and Eda found herself scratg her head, w how best to expin.

  She couldn't very well start with the spinning jenny and segue into an expnation of the Industrial Revolution and the iion of the steam engine!

  As Eda carefully expined, Mr. Weasley's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

  He downed his gss of Firewhisky in one gulp, seemingly making a decision of great signifid far-reag sequences.

  In the evening, the Weasley family and Eda gathered in the living room, which was decorated in a dazzling array of colors. By afternoon, all the Christmas crackers uhe tree had already been used up, leaving the carpet littered with remnants of paper streamers.

  Charlie ying cards with Perd the twins, while Ron sat off to the side with a rge pte of mince pies.

  After being utterly defeated the previous night, Charlie no longer dared to challeo a card game. He finally uood why the twins had tried to stop him.

  Eda, lounging on the sofa, strongly protested this btant exclusion.

  Sure, she wasn't great at wizard chess, so it was fine if they didn't include her. But how could they ignore her when she was so good at card games?

  Eda felt personally targeted!

  Mrs. Weasley walked over, carrying a tray of eggnog. This festive drink, made with milk and brandy, was something everyone in the family could try.

  "Eda, you do that flower trick again before bed tonight?" Ginny whispered to Eda eagerly.

  "Don't be silly, Ginny. Eda 't cast spells outside school," said Mrs. Weasley, overhearing Ginny's request as she handed out the eggnog.

  Charlie, pying cards nearby, looked up and said, "Ginny, wait until we're doh this round. I'll do it for you."

  Eda didn't bme Ginny for her impulsiveness. Ginny was naturally straightforward, saying whatever was on her mind. Besides, Eda herself was frustrated with not being able to perform magic freely. She csped her hands together and said, "It's fine, really. They won't catch me."

  "It's not about being caught; it's about safety," Mr. Weasley said, unusually serious, setting aside the small e he'd been about to peel.

  "But… I already did it," Eda replied, opening her hands to reveal a flower bud resting delicately in her palms.

  Ginny, feeling that something was missing, leaned forward and blew gently on the bud. In an instant, the flower in Eda's hands blossomed into full bloom.

  "Happy now little Ginny?"

  "Yaay! You are so cool!"

  Charlie and Percy stared at Eda in shock, while Ron eve down his mince pie. The twins, however, were unfazed by the dispy, using the distra to try and cheat while Charlie and Percy weren't paying attention.

  Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exged a look, clearly astonished by Eda's magical talent. A thirteen-year-old capable of wandless magiany people could achieve such a feat?

  The blooming flower wasn't the end of the surprise. As everyone remaiuhe flower transformed into two fluttering butterflies, gracefully cirg around Ginny while she cpped.

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