(Gilderoy Lockhart)
"Nick, can you leave the alchemy talk for later? We have a ritual to perform before dinner," Penny interrupted our enthusiastic discussion.
Nick blinked as if waking from a pleasant dream.
"Oh! You're right, of course, dear," he said, as though he had only just remembered what day it was.
He clapped his hands lightly together before turning toward the hallway that led deeper into the cottage.
"Let's go to the inner courtyard," he continued. "I've already prepared everything. This ritual can't be done inside a ritual chamber. It has to be done under the open sky."
We followed the old couple through the warm corridors of the cottage. The wooden floors creaked softly beneath our footsteps, and faint golden light from enchanted lamps illuminated the walls, which were covered in shelves filled with books, potion ingredients, and strange alchemical devices.
As we walked, curiosity got the better of me.
"And what ritual are we doing exactly?" I asked.
Penny waved her hand dismissively as if it were nothing particularly special.
"Oh, just a simple ritual to thank Mother Magic for another year of life," she said casually. "And to grant us another bountiful year."
"In our case," Nick added gently, reaching for Penny's hand and squeezing it softly, "it's to thank her for such a wonderful life, since we'll be departing for our next adventure soon."
"Oh."
The single word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
Only then did the meaning truly sink in, and a faint heaviness settled in my chest.
I had completely forgotten that the old couple had finally decided to move on after their incredibly long lives.
They had lived through over six centuries. And now they had decided it was finally time to let go.
Penny must have noticed the change in my mood because she glanced back at me and smiled gently.
"There's no need to be sad, Gil," she said kindly.
"Our time has long since passed. We've already been cheating death for centuries."
Nick chuckled softly beside her. "It's time we finally greet it like an old friend."
I immediately understood the reference.
The story of the Peverell brothers and the Deathly Hallows.
The third brother greeting Death as an old companion after using the invisibility cloak to hide from it for decades.
Somehow hearing Nick say those words felt… fitting.
Rosmerta spoke up beside me, curiosity clear in her voice.
"How is it?" she asked.
Nick looked back at her.
"Living for such a long time and seeing the changes in the world," Rosmerta clarified.
Aurora also looked toward the old couple with clear interest.
Nick smiled thoughtfully.
"Well," he said slowly, "it has its ups and downs. We've witnessed countless historical moments first-hand."
"But the sad moments were just as plentiful," Penny whispered softly. Her voice carried a quiet weight that lingered in the air for a moment.
"Oh…"
Now it was Rosmerta and Aurora's turn to look down, their earlier curiosity fading into something more thoughtful.
The sound of our footsteps echoed faintly against the walls of the corridor as we continued walking.
Penny noticed their reactions and gave a gentle, reassuring smile.
"There's no need to look so somber," she said warmly. "We've long since gotten used to it."
She squeezed Nick's hand lightly.
"And it has allowed us to meet so many wonderful people along the way."
Nick nodded in quiet agreement.
Then Penny clapped her hands softly, deliberately brightening the mood.
"Now enough about this topic," she said briskly. "We're already here."
I blinked in surprise.
I had been so absorbed in the conversation that I hadn't even noticed when we arrived at the inner courtyard.
The space opened beneath the night sky, the cold winter air crisp and clean. Tall stone walls surrounded the courtyard, protecting it from the wind while leaving the ceiling completely open to the heavens.
The first stars of the night glittered above us in a perfectly clear sky.
In the center of the courtyard, a ritual circle had already been prepared.
Intricate runes had been carefully carved into the stone floor, forming a symmetrical pattern that radiated quiet magical power. Four small pedestals stood around the circle, each representing one of the classical elements.
A crystal bowl filled with clear water shimmered faintly under the starlight.
A small stone dish held a mound of fine soil.
A delicate silver censer slowly released fragrant wisps of incense into the air.
And a single enchanted candle burned with a steady golden flame that refused to flicker despite the cold.
All the ingredients needed for the ritual had already been neatly arranged.
"It's a simple Four Elements ritual," Nick explained as he stepped into the circle. "Very old. Very traditional."
"And thankfully very quick," Penny added with a chuckle.
She handed each of us a small object tied to one of the elements and guided us to stand in specific positions along the circle.
The ritual itself was simple.
A few ancient words spoken together.
A small offering of magical energy.
And a moment of silent gratitude directed toward the unseen forces that governed the world.
The elemental focuses responded immediately.
The candle flame brightened, the water rippled softly, the incense smoke curled upward in elegant spirals, and the soil shimmered faintly as if acknowledging the offering.
A gentle warmth passed through the air like a quiet blessing.
Then the magic settled. And just like that, it was done.
The entire ritual had taken less than ten minutes.
Soon afterward we found ourselves in the dining room, gathered around a large wooden table overflowing with mouthwatering food.
Penny had clearly outdone herself.
Roasted meats glistened under a delicate layer of herbs.
Golden potatoes steamed gently beside bowls of rich gravy.
Freshly baked bread filled the room with a warm, comforting aroma.
There were colorful salads, roasted vegetables, and at least three desserts already waiting on a nearby side table.
Every dish looked absolutely delicious.
"I swear you could open a restaurant," Rosmerta said admiringly as she examined the spread.
Penny chuckled.
"Oh please. Cooking for friends is far more enjoyable."
Dinner quickly turned lively.
Conversation flowed easily between bites of food and sips of wine. Nick shared amusing stories about historical figures he had personally met, while Rosmerta eagerly compared tavern recipes with Penny.
Aurora listened with quiet amusement, occasionally adding a thoughtful comment.
For a while, the atmosphere felt warm, relaxed, and perfectly festive.
Until right in the middle of dinner, Penny suddenly paused.
"Oh!"
We all looked at her.
"I just remembered something important," she said, and our full attention immediately turned toward her.
She calmly took a sip of her wine first, completely unhurried. Then she set the glass down and spoke in a perfectly casual tone.
"When you return to your house later, do remember to perform your marital activities."
I blinked. "…Excuse me?"
Penny continued as if she had just commented on the weather.
"The ritual we performed earlier also has the added benefit of enhancing fertility."
She smiled pleasantly.
"A couple of babies would make such a wonderful Christmas present, don't you think?"
I sputtered violently, and the wine I had just taken a sip of went completely down the wrong pipe.
A horrifying second later, it shot straight out of my nose.
Aurora immediately leaned toward me in alarm. "Oh, Merlin!"
She grabbed a napkin and began hurriedly wiping my face as I coughed and wheezed.
Meanwhile, Rosmerta burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.
"Oh, that was priceless," she gasped between giggles.
"You should have seen your face."
"It took me by surprise…" I croaked weakly.
Aurora continued dabbing at my face with the napkin, trying unsuccessfully to suppress her own laughter.
But as I recovered my breath, I noticed something deeply concerning. A strange glint had appeared in both women's eyes.
Rosmerta looked far too entertained. And Aurora looked far too thoughtful.
My instincts screamed danger.
Slowly, very carefully, I crossed my legs beneath the table.
Nick, meanwhile, looked at Penny with an amused chuckle.
"Dear," he said, shaking his head, "you shouldn't have said it. It was supposed to be a surprise."
But Penny didn't look remotely apologetic.
"I thought it would be better to make sure," she replied calmly before taking another sip of wine.
…