A/N: Apologies for another author note, but I just read a review crying about the Salvius-P locket and Cover image saying that I mislead audience etc. If people don't understand foreshadowing or don't have patience to let the story unfold they don't deserve the story I am posting. I would just like to say everything I mention has a meaning and will be revealed when time comes. Now back to the story.
The remainder of the Yule Ball passed peacefully. As the evening progressed, some of the older students took the initiative and moved toward the dance floor with their partners. Before long, the center of the ballroom was occupied by dancing couples while the rest of the guests continued their conversations around the edges.
I found myself dragged into more than one dance.
Blake claimed the first. Nyx somehow secured the second before anyone else could object, while Selene quietly waited until later in the evening. A few older students also requested dances, though those were thankfully less chaotic than Nyx's attempt to teach me several steps she barely knew herself.
By the time the event finally came to an end, I had gained a new appreciation for why some wizards preferred dueling.
Dancing was exhausting.
Far more exhausting than casting spells.
When we finally returned to Grimmauld Place, neither Blake nor I had the energy for further conversation. After exchanging brief goodnights with Arcturus, we headed straight for our rooms and collapsed into bed.
The next thing I knew, it was Christmas morning.
As I walked downstairs, I immediately froze.
The area around the Christmas tree had disappeared beneath a mountain of gifts.
Packages of every shape and size were stacked beneath the branches, some wrapped elegantly, others hastily, and a few bearing signs that the sender had cared more about the contents than the presentation.
Blake was already sitting cross-legged beside the tree.
Waiting.
Impatiently.
Chromis had beaten both of us there and was currently slithering across the pile of presents, occasionally nudging a package with her nose as if attempting to determine what was hidden inside.
Arcturus sat comfortably on one of the sofas with a cup of tea in hand, watching the scene with obvious amusement.
The sight alone made me smile.
"Al, come quickly," Blake called. "Look how many gifts there are."
I glanced at the pile.
There were far more than I expected.
"Then let's stop staring at them and start opening them."
That was all the encouragement Blake needed.
The next hour passed in a blur of wrapping paper and laughter.
Many of the gifts came from our housemates and friends. Most consisted of sweets, chocolates, homemade treats, and small personal items. Cedric's package contained enough chocolate to support a small army.
The twins, unsurprisingly, had taken a different approach.
Their gifts included several prank products, two of which immediately activated upon opening and attempted to escape into the house. One spent several minutes chasing Kipp around the living room before Kreacher caught it and stuffed it into a jar.
Among the gifts from the Weasleys was a beautifully knitted sweater from Mrs. Weasley.
Instead of the traditional initial stitched onto the front, the sweater was woven in rich green and silver with subtle patterns running along the sleeves.
Blake received one as well.
Hers was blue and bronze.
I had a feeling Mrs. Weasley had put considerable thought into both.
The professors had also sent gifts.
Professor Snape's package contained several potions he had brewed personally, each carefully labeled with its effects and instructions. Knowing Snape, that alone represented a significant amount of effort.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick had both chosen books. Neither had consulted the other beforehand, yet somehow both selected titles I genuinely wanted to read. Alongside the books were boxes of homemade cookies that looked suspiciously similar.
Professor Sprout's gift turned out to be a potted flowering plant. The moment it was removed from its wrapping, a pleasant fragrance began spreading through the room. Even Arcturus seemed pleased by that one.
Then there was the largest package beneath the tree.
Even before opening it, I knew what it contained.
The shape was impossible to mistake.
Pulling away the wrapping revealed a polished broomstick.
A Cleansweep Seven.
For a moment I simply stared.
It wasn't the fastest broom on the market, but it was still an excellent racing broom and far beyond what most first-years owned.
My gaze shifted toward Arcturus.
The old wizard merely raised his teacup.
"Merry Christmas."
Nearby, Blake handed me a smaller package.
Inside was a complete broom maintenance kit containing polishing oils, replacement twigs, balancing tools, and enough cleaning supplies to keep the Cleansweep in perfect condition for years.
"You bought me maintenance supplies for the broom you knew I'd receive?"
She smiled.
"I planned ahead."
Of course she had.
Naturally, gifts had gone in both directions.
Blake and I had spent weeks preparing ours.
The prototype projection discs had been sent to nearly all of our friends and professors along with selections of their favorite sweets and snacks. Each projection had been customized individually. Some displayed magical creatures. Others showed winter landscapes, holiday scenes, or favorite memories recreated from descriptions.
For Blake, I had created a fountain pen enchanted using principles similar to those found in self-inking quills. It never required refilling and automatically corrected minor smudges while writing.
For Arcturus, I had spent considerably longer deciding.
In the end, I had chosen a restored copy of a book long thought lost following the fall of the P family.
When he finally unwrapped it, the room grew noticeably quieter.
For several moments, Arcturus simply stared at the worn cover without speaking.
Then, very carefully, he opened the first page.
For the next hour, Grimmauld Place was filled with wrapping paper, laughter, and the occasional complaint whenever one of the twins' prank gifts activated unexpectedly.
One particular package had released a tiny enchanted dragon that spent ten minutes chasing Chromis around the living room before finally exhausting itself and collapsing beneath the Christmas tree. Another contained a self-singing Christmas card that refused to stop performing until Blake threatened to feed it to Kreacher.
Eventually, the pile of unopened presents disappeared.