Many of the young wizards in the Great Hall were unwrapping presents.
Strangely, though, the usually noisy hall had somehow gone quiet today.
A large number of students had their heads lowered, excitedly fiddling with something.
[Administrator "Minerva McGonagall" has added The Daily Prophet — Magic Hand Mirror Special Edition to the local magic network.]
[Daily Prophet Mirror Flash:
Peter Pettigrew Still at Large — The Ministry of Magic confirmed again today that the infamous murderer Peter Pettigrew remains uncaptured.
Head of the Auror Office Scrimgeour stated that Dementor patrols have been increased nationwide.
It is reported that Pettigrew once killed thirteen Muggles with a single curse—
Additional note: The guards of Azkaban have been sent back. The mysterious Mr. Hermes has expressed satisfaction with this move.]
[Lee Jordan: Can anyone see this? Does this thing really work?
George Weasley: We can see you, Jordan. You'd better say something impressive. This bit might go down in history.
Fred Weasley: I suspect someone's already lurking and watching the screen—oh, by the way, I'm naming the act of secretly watching the mirror "screen-lurking." What do you think?
Angelina Johnson: So the whole school can see this? Then what are we even supposed to talk about on here?
Fred Weasley: I only want to confirm one thing: Filch doesn't have a mirror, right?
[Administrator] Minerva McGonagall: Mr. Argus Filch is indeed not equipped with a mirror, but if you believe I won't be watching this mirror, you are gravely mistaken.
George Weasley: Good morning, Professor McGonagall. We're only helping test the magic network—
[Administrator] Minerva McGonagall: Perhaps. Merry Christmas, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Weasley.]
"Merlin—"
Ron was staring hard at the mirror, so distracted he forgot to eat the ham cooling on his fork.
"You all saw that, right?"
"Of course!"
Harry was full of excitement. Anyone could tell how interesting this was going to be.
At that moment, messages in the Hogwarts local magic network came in wave after wave.
The wizards quickly discovered that if they wanted to read messages from a little earlier, they had to pause the incoming messages.
Because the messages rolled by too quickly, often vanishing before anyone could make out what they said.
"I'm doomed. I didn't see anything."
Ron fumbled desperately through the messages, sometimes receiving them, sometimes pausing them.
Harry and the others had clearly run into the same problem, and it seemed they were not the only ones.
Sean looked up and saw a whole sea of young wizards frowning, some even scratching their heads in frustration.
If they chose to read the previous messages, they couldn't read the later ones—
What a headache.
[Hogwarts Local Magic Network has opened branches—]
Just then, that notification appeared in everyone's magic hand mirror.
All the young wizards froze at the same time, and the Great Hall went quiet for several seconds.
[Six branches connected. Please choose a suitable branch to enter:
Hogwarts Great Hall;
Gryffindor Sword;
Ravenclaw Knocker;
Hufflepuff Kitchen;
Slytherin Scepter;
Faculty Area]
"What is this?"
Ron was the first to cry out.
"Why can't I get in?"
"I'm already in. What are you talking about?"
Hermione looked at him suspiciously. On her own mirror, one line stood out clearly:
[You have entered "Hogwarts Great Hall." Current total: 332 people. You may select any wizard to create a small magic-network branch.]
"I joined Hufflepuff Kitchen. Oh, can I join other places too?"
Justin tried curiously, then stood up and looked at Ron's mirror.
A group of young wizards, including Sean, moved closer.
Sean didn't know what the others were thinking, but he was wondering whether a new issue had appeared in the third-generation magic hand mirrors.
[You cannot enter the Faculty Area, Mr. Ron Weasley.]
"Oh, Ron—"
Seeing the text on the mirror, Hermione gave Ron a sharp look and refused to look at him again.
"The magic hand mirror can identify us?"
Justin asked Sean quietly, very interested.
"Yes. But most of the time it's not very useful. It only distinguishes identity in certain special cases."
Sean said slowly.
For example, the administrator setting in the Hogwarts Great Hall was not meant to let the professors police every student's speech and behavior, only to remind the students that professors were present.
Sean did not want to see students landing in detention every day.
For example, with Gryffindor, Sean found it hard to believe they wouldn't openly offend Professor Snape right in front of him.
The dungeons couldn't fit that many people.
"Oh—"
Justin looked thoughtful.
It was easy for him to think of that layer.
Separating the wizards would let everyone be freer.
"What about you, Sean? Where did you join?"
Justin glanced at Sean's mirror with restraint.
Very quickly, he could not look away.
Beside the name Sean Green, there were several more words.
"Hmm, Sean, you're now—"
Hermione also leaned over, and very easily saw those words.
[Highest Magic Network Authority: Hermes]
"What does… that mean?"
Hermione's mouth opened slightly.
"Look at the Hogwarts Great Hall messages!"
Before Hermione could finish, Ron started shouting again.
[Hogwarts Great Hall]
[Roger Davies: Cho Chang, are you free this weekend?
Cho Chang: No.
Pansy Parkinson: Slytherin students, please watch your words. The whole school can see this mirror. Don't embarrass the House. Also, Draco, are you on here?
Draco Malfoy: I'm here. Haven't seen Potter yet. What a shame the Azkaban guards left so early.
Harry Potter: Shut your mouth, Malfoy.
Draco Malfoy: Oh, Potter's here. What, saw that article in the Daily Prophet? Murderer Peter is very interested in you. Are you so scared every night you can't sleep?
Ron Weasley: Get lost, Malfoy. Stop making things up.
Michael Corner: I just looked through the member list. Guess what I found?
Anthony Goldstein: Dumbledore? I saw him too.
Michael Corner: Much bigger than that, Anthony.
Terry Boot: It's the respected Mr. Hermes.]
For an instant, Sean thought the Great Hall might explode.
The gasps and cries from the tables rose higher and higher, and quite a few people stood up. Even a few professors were seriously studying their mirrors.
[Hogwarts Great Hall]
[Roger Davies: It's true!
Fred Weasley: I can't believe it!
Draco Malfoy: Look at you lot, acting like you've never seen anything before.
Ron Weasley: Oh, come off it. If you knew, why didn't you tell everyone?
Draco Malfoy: Of course I know more than certain people—but why would I tell you?
Hannah Abbott: Oh my god, it really is Mr. Hermes. He's here, watching us?
Ernie Macmillan: Technically, watching his creation.
Padma Patil: That Hermes? The greatest wizard of the future?
Parvati Patil: Who else could it be?
Padma Patil: I really want to know who he is.
Ernie Macmillan: You can request to create a small magic-network branch with Mr. Hermes. Perhaps he'll agree.]
At the same time, Sean's magic hand mirror kept vibrating nonstop.
He had merely created a separate "high-authority management terminal," originally to obtain the most stable communication function and privacy function of the network.
When necessary, he could also use his "Hermes" authority to cut off magic-network communication.
But unexpectedly, the first thing to go wrong was not the third-generation magic hand mirror itself, but Sean.
Sean silently looked at the mirror and rejected all the invitations.
"Oh, Sean!"
Hermione stood up, a gesture that was not at all conspicuous in the current Great Hall.
Sean looked at her in confusion. Hermione held up the palm-sized magic hand mirror, where a clear line of text appeared:
[Sean Green has refused to join your small magic-network branch "Hope Cottage."]
Sean suddenly understood. Only then did he notice that his magic hand mirror communications were a complete mess.
Michael had created a small magic-network branch called "Ravenclaw 404." Professor Slughorn had repeatedly invited him to join a small magic-network branch called "Slug Club." Headmaster Dumbledore had also sent him an invitation to a small magic-network branch called "Hogwarts Headmasters' Council," which contained only himself and Professor McGonagall—
Wait.
Hogwarts Headmasters' Council?
Dumbledore was the Headmaster of Hogwarts, and Professor McGonagall was Deputy Headmistress—
But Sean did not recall being any kind of headmaster.
[Hogwarts Headmasters' Council]
[Sean Green: Headmaster Dumbledore—
Albus Dumbledore: Ah, I have wanted to retire for a very long time.
Minerva McGonagall: Stop fooling around, Albus. He is still a student.
Albus Dumbledore: Oh, first time encountering this?
Minerva McGonagall: —I am outside the Headmaster's office.
Albus Dumbledore: It was a joke, Minerva. Only, as the current Headmaster of Hogwarts, I must consider our plans after retirement—
Minerva McGonagall: He is still in school—open the door.]
The "Hogwarts Headmasters' Council" fell silent.
Sean was still somewhat confused.
He did not understand what Dumbledore's intention was. Did Headmaster Dumbledore want to choose him as the next Headmaster of Hogwarts? But as far as he knew, wizards lived very long lives. If nothing unexpected happened, Headmaster Dumbledore could remain Headmaster for at least several more decades.
Surely this couldn't be Dumbledore's Christmas gift—
Snowflakes spun again outside the windows, striking the frozen panes.
In the distance beyond the twelve Christmas trees, the stair railings had been twined with holly and tinsel. Long-burning candles flickered inside the helmets of the suits of armor, and huge bunches of mistletoe hung at intervals along the corridors.
Sean saw his breath condense into snowflakes, which made the hot pumpkin juice in his hands smell even sweeter.
He gazed at the familiar castle. He had set foot in most parts of it more than once.
The professors and staff here were all people he knew as well as anyone.
The magic hand mirror started buzzing again.
Normally, very few people could make Sean's magic hand mirror produce a sound, aside from a specific few.
[Hogwarts Headmasters' Council]
[Albus Dumbledore: Dear Mr. Green, Merry Christmas. I hope you like my Christmas gift.
The Ministry of Magic has already approved it. After I retire, Sean Green will act as Hogwarts Headmaster. I think there is no wizard more suited to managing this ancient magic school than one named Green. I know there are some people who do not usually call this place a workplace, or a place for earning Galleons—]
But rather—
home.
Sean tightened his scarf. Professor McGonagall's anxious face appeared around the corner of the corridor.
"This is nonsense! And the Ministry is joining in the nonsense!"
Professor McGonagall kept frowning, muttering something over and over.
"Professor, Merry Christmas."
Sean had not forgotten to prepare a Christmas gift for her. He took out a delicate sky-blue box and watched as Professor McGonagall accepted it with a trace of relief.
All this time, Sean had been exchanging gifts with many people in the castle.
All the professors, and many, many young wizards.
More than half the students in Hogwarts Castle were willing to exchange gifts with a wizard named "Sean Green" at Christmas.
Everyone knew he would spend an entire day opening presents and carefully preparing return gifts.
"Merry Christmas, my child."
Professor McGonagall's expression softened.
"I will go to the Ministry. In any case, making decisions without another person's permission—"
"Oh, Professor, I'm willing."
Sean said without much hesitation.
"This time he truly went too far, you mean?"
Professor McGonagall looked at Sean with both little surprise and careful inquiry.
"Perhaps there are other things you would rather do, my child. I must remind you, this is a responsibility."
"I think I may understand, Professor."
Sean nodded.
The dinner was even richer than expected.
The moment Sean entered the Great Hall, he was seated at the staff table under Dumbledore's eye signal.
The young wizards at all the long tables were noisy. The excitement the magic hand mirrors had brought them all day had still not faded.
There were barely any empty seats left at the staff table. Apart from the place beside Dumbledore, Sean could only sit to Dumbledore's left.
"Cracker!"
Dumbledore said cheerfully, handing the end of a large silver cracker to Snape. Snape tugged it reluctantly.
With a thunderous bang, the cracker burst open, revealing a large pointed witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture.
Snape's lips pressed even thinner. He pushed the hat toward Dumbledore.
Dumbledore immediately exchanged it for the wizard's hat on his own head.
"Eat heartily!"
he called, smiling as he looked around the table.
"And after everyone has finished, I believe I have one more announcement to make."
"Thirteen again—"
Professor Trelawney, who had just arrived, nearly fainted in fright.
"Sybill—"
Professor McGonagall hurried to support her.