Because of the students, Tver received more gifts than ever this year—so many that his wallet was nearly stuffed full. Most of them were Christmas chocolates of every flavor imaginable. Some mischievous little witches had even slipped in Love Potions, but those were promptly destroyed.
Next came books. Everyone seemed to think he was a voracious reader, which wasn't entirely wrong. But any useful book still sold in stores, Tver had already read. What he lacked now were the obscure ones—those hidden away or forbidden to the public. So he only kept a few that caught his interest and left the rest with his teacher.
Even so, this Christmas break felt far more relaxing than any before. In the past, he'd only allowed himself a brief rest on Christmas Eve, but now he'd learned to enjoy moments of leisure. With Cynthia's attentive care, his teacher took the chance to talk with him about many things—magic, old memories, and the art of persuasion, among others.
It wasn't only Tver who found this time restful; Grindelwald did too. After spending more than half a year living among Muggles, the first Dark Lord seemed to view his past with clearer eyes.
"Only when you learn to enjoy life can you find the drive to move forward," Grindelwald said with a sigh.
On the final morning of the holiday, after breakfast together, Tver and his teacher took a leisurely walk through the University of Vienna. Since it was Christmas, the campus was quiet. Most people around were elderly professors enjoying the winter air.
"That man who just passed studies astrophysics," Grindelwald remarked, nodding toward an old professor walking briskly, lost in thought. "He's always carrying star charts I can't make sense of—honestly, I can't even tell they're star charts."
Modern star maps were indeed quite different from those known to wizards—or perhaps, they operated on a completely different level. Wizards studied celestial movements within the solar system, focusing on their observable patterns. The problem was, with the help of instruments, Muggles had long since broken beyond the solar system and begun exploring the mysteries of the universe itself.
Whenever he walked through Muggle society, Tver couldn't help but admire their progress. He also remembered clearly how far that society would advance over the next twenty years. To wizards, such progress was nothing short of another kind of magic.
"The wizarding world is advancing far too slowly," Tver said, shaking his head. "At this rate, wizards will soon realize that studying magic is less worthwhile than studying science. At least science helps you survive in a much broader world."
If given a choice—if this were twenty years in the future—he doubted he'd have any interest in becoming a wizard at all. After all, being a wizard couldn't compare to reading novels, especially when you could send little gifts to the author and urge them to update faster~
"That one studies philosophy," Grindelwald suddenly said, pointing to another scholarly-looking professor in the distance. "He once said something quite wise—development follows a spiral ascent."
"So there's no need to rush. Slow down, prepare well, and act when ready. You've got plenty of time now, haven't you?"
A faint smile crossed Tver's lips. They had already talked about the curse the night before, and when Grindelwald learned that he had met Helga's lingering will at Hogwarts, he had been astonished. But once the surprise faded, his teacher was genuinely glad—the curse on Tver had grown weaker.
"So, I need your help."
"I'm just an old man who wants to rest," Grindelwald said doubtfully. "What could I possibly do for you?"
"Well, when it comes to facing Headmaster Dumbledore, you wouldn't want us fighting to the death, would you?"
"...We'll see." The old man's expression darkened, and he gently shook his head.
Seeing this, Tver dared not press further. The tension between those two was something only they could resolve—it wasn't his place to interfere.
"So, you've decided to stay here indefinitely?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
His teacher clearly wanted to take time off and recover, and as a student, Tver naturally supported that. But someone still needed to look after him, and with Cynthia now taking on new duties, she couldn't stay by his side anymore.
Sensing his student's concern, Grindelwald gave a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. I'm perfectly fine living here on my own. Besides, my strength has recovered quite a bit. Even if my identity were exposed, they wouldn't be able to touch me!"
He struck the ground firmly with his cane, as if the floor itself were the Aurors of every nation trying—and failing—to bring him down.
Only then did Tver notice something unusual about the cane. No wonder his teacher had refused the offer of a wand; he'd already prepared one in his own way.
"I've never seen a wand integrated into a cane before. Did you make it yourself?"
"This?" Grindelwald smiled knowingly. "I had Gregorovitch custom-make it. We've known each other for quite some time."
"Besides, it's perfectly normal for an old man like me to use a cane, isn't it?"
He subtly pulled at the top of the cane, where something seemed to be hidden.
Tver laughed in understanding. The design allowed for an element of surprise—an elderly man suddenly drawing a wand would catch anyone off guard.
It seemed his teacher's safety wasn't something he needed to worry about after all. The last matter of the Christmas holiday was finally settled.
They wandered through the grounds until noon before heading back. Over the past few days, they'd already talked plenty.
What surprised Tver most was that his teacher's grasp of the four elements was no less than Dumbledore's. In fact, Grindelwald seemed almost competitive, constantly challenging the Headmaster's notes and presenting his own interpretations.
To Tver, both viewpoints were deeply insightful. Compared to the prospect of fumbling through everything on his own, this exchange was far more rewarding. It was, without question, his greatest gain of the Christmas season.
Back at the house, Cynthia had already prepared a lavish lunch—their final meal together in this home.
"I just received a letter from the Department of International Magical Cooperation. I can start working anytime this week!"
Cynthia excitedly displayed the parchment in her hand—a letter from the British Ministry of Magic.
Tver nodded in approval. Even with Cynthia's abilities, receiving an offer that quickly must have taken considerable effort.
"In that case, I'll be counting on you over there."
The department managed Britain's magical relations with other countries. More importantly, it also housed the British branch of the International Confederation of Wizards—the very organization that upheld the Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.
After lunch, Tver and Cynthia bid farewell to Grindelwald and left the house they'd called home for over a week.
Cynthia went to the Ministry of Magic, while Tver returned to Hogwarts to continue his life as a professor.