Ian was utterly unprepared.
He merely gifted a two-in-one Christmas present, but Aurora actually gave him an entire bank vault hidden by Grindelwald in the Northern Europe region.
A hare with three burrows, hoping to make a comeback?
Ian didn't quite understand.
He only knew that this gift was overly burdensome and precious, even for his flexible moral baseline; he didn't dare keep the key with him after knowing the truth.
"We must abide by the law; stealing is unethical, Aurora." Hastily, Ian handed the key back, as if holding a hot potato.
"With my grandfather's consent, it doesn't really count as stealing." Aurora continued to leisurely eat the food from her plate without reaching for the key.
"Do you think my grandfather wouldn't know that I took this key?" Her tone was calm; this German girl was evidently quite clear-headed among the group of little wizards.
"But..."
Ian was still hesitant. He didn't argue against Aurora because, judging by his understanding of Grindelwald, that old man's shrewdness and capability were surely not inferior to Albus Dumbledore.
If Albus Dumbledore could discern many things from his actions and behaviors, Grindelwald definitely could also perceive countless insights while interacting with Aurora.
No need to use prophecy abilities, the old guys have the experience and skills to see through people's hearts; Grindelwald couldn't be oblivious to Aurora's secretive actions.
Besides.
Such a hidden key likely wouldn't lack nearby magical protections — just as Ian was hesitating in his heart, Aurora had already looked up at him with her distinctively colored eyes.
"My friend, are you wanting me to put my warm face on your cold rear?" She softly remarked, yet her words felt oddly familiar to Ian.
Just over ten minutes ago.
Ian had just said the same thing to Daphne Greengrass at the entrance of the great hall — Ian touched his robe, suspecting Aurora had installed some listening device on him.
"What are you looking for?"
Aurora tilted her head in confusion.
"Nothing, just wiping the oil off my hands." Ian couldn't express his suspicion, so he pretended to perform a Scouring Charm on his thoroughly touched robe. The little wizard didn't find any listening device on himself but suspected it might be on Miss Daphne Greengrass.
Perhaps the entire Hogwarts was bugged by Aurora... Recalling his good roommate William from a reserve Saint family, Ian believed the Saints definitely had more Wizard spy gadgets than William's family.
"If you don't want it, maybe you should return it to my grandfather yourself." Aurora dropped the plate in her hand, looking entirely natural as she wiped her hand on Ian's robe.
"..."
Ian had to cast another Scouring Charm on himself before putting the key back into his money bag, believing he only needed to visit Grindelwald for real issues — perhaps Grindelwald no longer cared about past wealth but definitely wouldn't miss the chance to toy with the little wizard.
The cyclical experiences.
Granted Ian deeper understanding of both Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore. As Ian lowered his magic wand, quite a few owls flew into the great hall.
Though perhaps not as many as usual, there were certainly at least dozens, as Christmas greetings with family wouldn't decrease, even if one didn't return home.
Ian didn't receive greetings from an owl, as he had no family who used owls. He thought Aurora would also be like him, a solitary observer of others reading their letters.
However.
An owl flew directly to Aurora, delivering a letter to her. Aurora didn't open it upon receiving but silently tucked it into her robe.
"Aren't you going to open it?"
Ian's curiosity rose.
He noticed the Austria tag on it but evidently, the letter wasn't from Grindelwald, as Grindelwald wouldn't need an owl to send messages.
"It's filth."
Aurora shook her head.
The far-flown owl circled above her head while the German girl curiously glanced upward but showed no intention of rewarding the owl for its effort.
Perhaps she also rarely uses owls for communication.
"You should reward those who do you a favor." Ian pulled out some small jerky from his pocket, and the owl eagerly swooped down to grab its reward.
It chirped twice at Ian before flying away without looking back.
"Even animals are like this."
Aurora nodded thoughtfully.
"I've completed the Transformation Technique overlay with Fiery Fire; want to spar with me?" The little girl, now full and quenched, looked expectantly at Ian.
"It's a holiday today! Fighting brings bad luck!" Ian surveyed the surroundings. Even though many little wizards chose to return home for Christmas, the hall still had a small portion of students staying. They might not want to go back or might feel, like Ian, that traveling back and forth was too much hassle.