Chapter 15: Christmas Gifts

Chapter 15: Christmas Gifts

Today, we have to catch a train in the afternoon and my elves are already busy transporting things from ROR. I was already feeling happy when I had an idea. I checked the Hogwarts map to confirm and 'Bingo' I hit the jackpot!

Professor Snape was not in the castle today. Where did he go? Maybe to buy potion supplies from the potions guild at a Christmas discount or collect free items from the forbidden forest - I didn't give a shit about it. My focus was only on one item. No. Not the potion supplies.

Yes, I am sort of money and everything but stealing his supplies is taking an unnecessary risk for the future. Besides, thanks to my cute new pets I don't think I will be poor for a long time and those pets won't ever go out of fashion.

I made my way towards his room and I had my wand out. Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

"Alohomora" I cast an unlocking spell on his door and thankfully, that was the only lock on this. No sign of any other magic here. Cool. I went inside the room and headed directly towards the teacher's desk.

For a moment, yes, I accept, I stopped to look at his potion materials but they had a heavy trace of magic and to undo it, it will require patience and time which just made me give up completely. Hence I directly checked his table.

There was no presence of any charm or any tracking items nearby. There were only four drawers on his table and I opened them one by one. They were not even locked or anything. The first drawer is filled with some parchments and most probably homework sheets. Second, had some broken quills and inks and other potion tools like a measuring scale or a spatula.

Finally, in the third drawer, I found old course books. Yes! I just picked them one by one until I found a sixth-year coursebook, Advanced Potion-Making Potions marked with the signature of one Half Bloof prince on the cover. Yes!

"Geminio", with the duplication spell, I got an exact copy of the book. I put his original at the same place and tried to erase any obvious mark I might have left. Frankly, I had hardly touched anything apart from the handles of the cupboard and that was it.

A short last-minute adventure to get my hands on the best Christmas gift for any potion student out there. I made my way back to my dorm quietly where all the students were busy packing their bags and getting ready to grab the best seats in the Hogwarts express.

For Ron, I decided to give him a flying wizard chess set since the one he has is clearly an old one. He only has one thing to do in the first year and that is play wizard chess with harry in their annual adventure. So yeah consider this my investment.

Harry will get a new copy of the 'Quidditch Through the Ages' book. Frankly, I only ever saw him once in the library in the whole semester and that was with this book. So yeah I think he will like it.

For Hermione, I also additionally added a set of Chocolate Frog Cards and I think she will find the information she is looking for this whole semester 'accidentally' in one of those.

The Hogwarts express was moving at a slow speed and I was chatting with the boys. When the train stopped at the station, I took time out to meet their parents and give them a personal invitation for a visit to my manor. I had prepared those in advance.

I know this will bring both the families closer to me and my family and it will help in the long game.

"C'mon boy, give your Nan a hug. Are you going to make me wait forever?" When I entered our manor, I saw my Nan waiting for me at the gate. This old woman! I tell you before I left for Hogwarts she was all about manners and peaking proper names and now she herself is using the word 'NAN'.

I hugged her tightly and felt the long lost feeling of love.

"I missed you, Nan. I missed everyone!" I told her in a low voice. Yeah going home from Hogwarts does seem like you are missing the whole adventure and magic thing but meeting family again after a long time is definitely better than any charm out there.

"Where are Winny and others?" She enquired.

"Well bringing some stuff from Hogwarts. They should be free in a short time I guess. Let's go." I took her hand and we moved peacefully in our manor. The holidays began I had time to sort out a few things before the new semester.