Chapter 38: Gifts should be given according to the recipient's preferences
"Oh, right, I don't think I saw you pack," Hermione said, looking at Aaron in surprise. "Aren't you going home for Christmas?"
Harry and Ron were also startled by this. The Christmasholiday wasn't short; almost ninety-nine percent of the students would go home. Only a few Professors and some students with special circumstances would choose to stay at Hogwarts.
Harry chose not to go home because his aunt's house was too dark for him; staying at Hogwarts was much happier.
Ron didn't go home because his parents were going to Romania to see his brother, and there was no one at home. Even if he went back, it would just be him and his brothers, the same as being at Hogwarts.
Since that was the case, it was better to stay at Hogwarts, at least he wouldn't have to worry about food and lodging.
But they never expected Aaron to also choose to stay at Hogwarts. He didn't seem to have a reason to do so!
"Is that so surprising?" Aaron asked calmly.
The three of them nodded in unison.
"I matured quite early. The Gaius Family generally adopts a free-range approach to their heirs, believing it better fosters independence.
After I turned eight, my parents went traveling. Unless they got tired of it or something major happened at home, they generally wouldn't return.
The total time I spend with my parents each year is less than a month. Usually, my uncle takes care of my daily life."
"But... but this is Christmas!" Hermione said, feeling a bit indignant for Aaron.
"Don't misunderstand," Aaron shrugged. "They do come back for Christmas, but I find staying at Hogwarts more interesting, so... I chose to stay."
This was only part of the reason, but more importantly, the magic points gained from signing in at Hogwarts were ten times what they were at home.
Before possessing sufficiently powerful strength, enjoying life, family reunions, and such, were all fleeting.
"So that's how it is!" Harry said with an awkward smile.
"Otherwise? My family is very good to me, their only son."
...The day before Christmas.
After lunch, Aaron left the Great Hall with Abey, the two of them, one person and one dragon, strolling through the Castle.
The icy, snowy world outside completely captured their interest, especially Abey, who had only seen snow a few times since birth.
In the previous days, students were busy packing, and there were still many people, so it managed to rein in its nature.
But today was different; those who were going home had already left, and the number of people remaining at Hogwarts had decreased by more than half, making the space relatively larger.
It recklessly rushed into a snowdrift and rolled around, its white body and white fur completely blending into the snow. If one didn't look closely, they wouldn't even notice a white dragon in the snowdrift.
If Aaron hadn't warned it not to display its wings, it probably would have flapped its wings and flown high into the sky to admire the falling snow.
Arriving at the Quidditch pitch, Aaron, seeing no one around, took out the valuable magic carpet from his system space, then jumped onto it with Abey.
The dark blue magic carpet was not as difficult to control as a flying broomstick; it completely obeyed Aaron's commands, moving as he wished. Moreover, the magic carpet's area was not small, easily accommodating three to five people.
Now there were only the two of them, even if they rolled around on it... they might fall off.
Sitting on the magic carpet, admiring Hogwarts in the snow, both the person and the dragon had lollipops in their mouths, enjoying themselves immensely.
However, perhaps because they were flying a bit too conspicuously, Professor McGonagall, who was in her office, happened to see the two of them, and her eyes brightened a few shades.
"Aaron Gaius, could you come here for a moment?" Professor McGonagall called out, chuckling from the window, like a witch enticing an eleven-year-old boy into mischief.
Aaron froze for a moment, then controlled the magic carpetto fly over. "Um... Professor McGonagall, is something wrong?"
"Er... that, Aaron, this flying carpet of yours is..." Professor McGonagall's eyes occasionally darted towards the magic carpet, a little embarrassed.
After all, as a Professor at Hogwarts, to be interested in a student's belongings, she would feel awkward even just saying it out loud. But she truly loved such magical items.
Professor McGonagall herself was an avid Quidditchenthusiast, and in her youth, she also enjoyed using a flying broomstick to experience the thrill of speed.
But now that she was older, not only did her body not allow her to use a flying broomstick, but her image also didn't quite permit it.
And the magic carpet perfectly met her needs: elegant, comfortable, safe, and capable of stable flight. This was much better than a flying broomstick.
"Er... I found this in the warehouse at home before I came to Hogwarts," Aaron explained seriously, then frowned. "Professor, Hogwarts doesn't seem to have a rule against using magic carpets, does it?"
"That's not it, the school rules don't mention that," Professor McGonagall said. "But you still need to be mindful of appearances, understand?"
"Understood. I'm just playing with it during the Christmasholiday. I won't take it out during regular school days."
"That's good," Professor McGonagall nodded, then looked at the magic carpet with sparkling eyes. "Gaius, I wonder if I could try your carpet."
Hearing this, Aaron was a little bewildered, then turned to look at Abey.
It shook its head gravely, taking a step forward, displaying a strange sense of territoriality.
The light in Professor McGonagall's eyes gradually dimmed. "If it's not possible, then never mind."
"Of course it's possible!" Aaron immediately said. "It's my honor for Professor to get on."
"But it..."
"It's fine, I know it too well. Two chicken legs will make it surrender. If not, preparing some snacks will also work!"
"Good! Understood." Professor McGonagall smiled excitedly. "Wait for me a moment, I'll be right there."
A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall sat on the magic carpet, looking very apologetic. She had even prepared a soft cushion for herself before coming.
As for Aaron, he fell into contemplation, watching Abeycheering with a pile of snacks. Would this dragon really be lured away by a chicken leg one day?
With a Professor sitting on it, Aaron's courage grew a bit. He controlled the magic carpet to fly a large circle around Hogwarts Castle, and Professor McGonagall's smile grew wider and wider.
After that, the magic carpet did a low-altitude flight over the Black Lake. If it were normal times, Aaron wouldn't dare to do this, as no one knew if a magical creature from beneath the lake might suddenly leap out.
But now, the lake's surface was covered with a layer of solid ice, and there was a Archmage-level Professor on the magic carpet, so the safety level was maxed out; there was no need to be afraid at all.
However, when Aaron returned later, he flew in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, which greatly startled Professor McGonagall. She quickly said, "Wait, Gaius, you can't go there."
"Can't go?" Aaron was a little disappointed. He had originally wanted to use the Professor's 'authority' to admire the snowy scenery of the Forbidden Forest!
If he was lucky, he might even see a living Unicorn.
"Of course not. It's best not to enter this forest without special reason.
Many magical creatures live in the Forbidden Forest. Even Dumbledore cannot claim to understand them one hundred percent; he can only reach agreements with them to impose restrictions.
But you must understand, sometimes agreements are not worth mentioning at all.
They might face severe punishment, even the cost of their lives, for attacking a student of Hogwarts.
But what good is that? The student has already been harmed, and that cannot be undone."
"Understood, Professor," Aaron nodded, then flew back in the original direction.
After landing, Aaron directly rolled up the magic carpet and roughly carried it on his shoulder.
No choice, there was a Professor next to him! He didn't want to expose the existence of the system space.
As for the Undetectable Extension Charm, haha! Abey's pet pocket could indeed fit such a large carpet, but doing so would be even more conspicuous.
Professor McGonagall looked at the magic carpet on Aaron's shoulder with some reluctance, opened her mouth, but said nothing.
She was already very content today. If she were to ask to borrow something again, it would seem a bit greedy, and she wouldn't be able to save face!
If she were to be refused, it would be even worse.
Aaron also noticed Professor McGonagall's peculiar gaze, inadvertently glanced at his magic carpet, and instantly understood something. "Professor, you... you wouldn't want my magic carpet, would you?"
"No, I didn't mean that," Professor McGonagall said, waving her hand, but a blush appeared on her old face.
"Understood," Aaron raised an eyebrow, gave Professor McGonagall a meaningful smile, then walked towards the Slytherin common room.
Upon returning to the dormitory, Aaron found a large gift box and stuffed the folded magic carpet inside.
Tomorrow was Christmas, and if he packed this gift for Professor McGonagall, she would definitely be happy all day.
Of course, giving it away was out of the question.
The magic carpet was something he had bought with "huge funds," and he didn't know if there would ever be a second one.
However, lending it was possible. From Christmas until the end of the term, he couldn't use it anyway; it was too conspicuous. But he could lend it to Professor McGonagallfree of charge.
She was the Dean of Gryffindor and a Transfiguration Archmage. Leaving a good impression on her would definitely make his future academic life much easier.
Human relations are inevitable at any time, and Aaron had also prepared gifts for others, though the level of effort varied.