Chapter 67 Three Women Traveling Together
The rain at Hogwarts had been falling persistently since the end of October in late autumn. The drizzling rain, wrapped in cold winds, endlessly drummed against the stone walls and glass windows of the Castle, continuing without pause straight into December—a full month of non-stop rain.
Lead-gray clouds constantly shrouded the entire Castle. The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall had not seen clear skies for a long time, and the corridors were filled with damp, cold drafts. Even the Forbidden Forest was veiled in a hazy mist. A cold, damp atmosphere permeated the campus. While most students longed for the rain to stop and the weather to clear, Su Yu, however, had a particular fondness for such overcast, rainy days.
The Slytherin common room was buried deep in the Castle's basement, right next to the Black Lake. Originally, one could only glimpse the dim light of the lake bottom and swaying water weeds through narrow windows, but Su Yu, relying on his Earth Release ability, had quietly carved out an exclusive private room in a secluded corner of the common room.
He had made this private room extremely comfortable. In the center, a warm stone fireplace crackled, its flames dancing and heating the entire room until it felt cozy and warm, preventing any of the lake's damp chill from seeping in. The floor was covered with a thick wool rug, and soft sofas and cushions were arranged against the walls. Most importantly, he had specifically created a large floor-to-ceiling window in this room that faced outside the Castle, allowing him to clearly see the rainy weather, the courtyard, and the sky, without having to stare at the Black Lake.
Rain slanted against the glass, winding into trails of water. The grass outside was washed clean and shiny, while the distant Forbidden Forest was hazy in the mist. Mixed with the crackling of firewood in the fireplace, it became the most soothing white noise.
On a leisurely Saturday, with no heavy coursework or the noise of the Castle, Su Yu invited Daphne, Cassandra, and Farley to come to this private room together.
The hidden stone door slowly opened, and a rush of warm air greeted them, instantly shutting out the cold from outside. As soon as the three girls entered, they were drawn to the large window that offered a view of the rain. Daphne ran straight to the window, watching the dense curtain of rain outside, and couldn't help but exclaim softly. Cassandra walked in slowly, elegantly sitting on the velvet sofa by the fireplace, smoothing her skirt as she looked at the rainy scene, her eyes filled with lazy tenderness. Farleywalked over to the fireplace, reaching out to feel the warmth brought by the dancing flames, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she softly praised the comfort of the small room.
Kurama also jumped into Cassandra's arms, finding a comfortable spot to lie down. Her orange-red fur was particularly striking in the warm light, and her tails rested casually on the carpet as she dozed with half-closed eyes.
Su Yu leaned back on the lounge chair by the window, raising his hand to use magic to summon the ceramic tea set he had prepared in advance. He poured a cup of warm honey fruit tea for each of the three girls, then brought out plates of exquisite cookies, cakes, and cream puffs, arranging them neatly on the low table in the center. The sweet aroma instantly filled the small room.
The four of them sat around the low table, slowly tasting the snacks and sipping the fruit tea, chatting about interesting things in the Castle. Kurama stopped sleeping and began nibbling on a small cake. Daphne, while recounting a little joke that a classmate had made in Potion Class, gently handed over a tissue to wipe the cake crumbs from the corner of Kurama's mouth. Cassandra chimed in softly from time to time, while Farley had already placed her feet into Su Yu's lap, letting him begin a massage, saying it was his reward. The scene was warm and harmonious.
After a short while, Cassandra took out an exquisite Wizard Chess set, each piece carved vividly. With a gentle tap of her wand, the pieces automatically arranged themselves neatly on the board. "Care for a game?" She looked up at the three of them. Daphne immediately leaned in with great interest, offering to play against Cassandra, while Su Yu and Farley sat side by side, continuing the massage while quietly watching the game.
Daphne was exceptionally serious when playing chess, her brows slightly furrowed as she held her wand, carefully deliberating the movement of each piece, occasionally biting her lower lip in hesitation. Cassandra was calm and unhurried, tapping her fingertips on the table as she maneuvered the pieces with ease. Farley leaned on the sofa, her gaze fixed on the chessboard, occasionally whispering advice to Daphne, and occasionally humming softly as she watched Su Yu acting up.
When the game ended, Daphne, unwilling to admit defeat, pulled Cassandra for another round. Su Yu, also interested, suggested playing a magic bubble game—each of the four waved their wands, and colorful, shimmering magicbubbles emerged from their fingertips. The bubbles floated in the air, releasing a faint floral scent upon gentle contact, and would transform into different shapes, sometimes into small fish, sometimes into small flowers, looking particularly beautiful in the warm light.
Kurama was instantly energized by the floating magicbubbles, her initial laziness swept away. Her orange-red figure leaped up suddenly, her nine tails waving flamboyantly behind her.
She nimbly jumped and weaved across the carpet, sometimes standing on her tiptoes to pounce on the lower-floating bubbles, and sometimes leaping up to reach the bubbles near the ceiling. With a touch of her paw, the bubbles would burst silently, releasing a faint fruity scent.
Kurama played with increasing enthusiasm, chasing the bubbles all over the room. Her fluffy body leaped nimbly between the soft chairs and the carpet, occasionally emitting happy little whines, her nine tails sweeping the cushions, making them sway slightly. Seeing this, Daphnedeliberately waved her wand to make more bubbles swirl around Kurama, teasing her into jumping up and down, unable to stop.
Tired from playing, the group sat back around the table. Farley and Cassandra flipped through a magic fashion magazine, heads together, discussing the color schemes and patterns of new Wizard robes, occasionally pulling Su Yu and Daphne in to give their opinions. Daphne picked up the snacks on the table, carefully distributing them to everyone, then refilled their cups with warm fruit tea.
Su Yu leaned back in his chair, watching the three smiling girls beside him. The rain continued to fall outside the window, tapping against the glass with a soft and rhythmic sound.
The cold rain, which had fallen continuously for more than a month, finally began to taper off as Christmas drew closer. The lead-gray clouds lowered, replaced by snowflakes falling with a rustling sound, piece by piece, gently covering the Castle's roof, the stone tiles of the courtyard, and the branches of the Forbidden Forest.
Hogwarts was slowly wrapped in pure white. The air was crisp and quiet, lacking the dampness of the rainy days, and gaining the unique gentleness of winter.
The Christmas atmosphere in the Castle grew stronger day by day. Holly and silver decorations were hung in the corridors, and a tall Christmas tree was set up in the Great Hall, with twinkling lights and gift boxes placed here and there. Even the air was filled with the sweet scent of hot butterbeer and cinnamon.
In the blink of an eye, it was the Saturday of the last week before the winter break.
The heavy snow had not stopped, and snowflakes fell rustling onto their shoulders, but it did not dampen the students' spirits at all. Today was the day to go to Hogsmeade Village. The Castle gates were crowded with people, everyone wrapped in thick cloaks, walking in twos and threes, the noisy voices carrying far in the snow and wind.
Hermione had previously told Su Yu that she wanted to buy some Christmas gifts to send home in Hogsmeade Village this time, so she went with Ginny and would not be shopping with Su Yu's group. Concerned for their safety, Su Yu entrusted Kurama to them, while he took Cassandra, Farley, and Daphne to stroll slowly through Hogsmeade Village.
The four of them made their way through the snowy Hogsmeade Village and walked straight into Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop. A warm, sweet fragrance greeted them, but when they saw the person welcoming guests at the door, they all froze almost simultaneously, their eyes filled with sudden, unexpected surprise.
Callis was standing by the door, wearing a cute maid outfit that made her look sharp, with a pair of soft cat ear hair accessories on her head. This appearance, which they had never seen before, left them stunned in place for a moment, filled with surprise.
Just as they were staring at Callis's outfit in surprise, frozen at the entrance of the tea shop, familiar footsteps suddenly sounded from behind.
Draco and Blaise walked into the tea shop side by side, and Malfoy was casually muttering, "I heard from Pansythat the Earl Grey tea here tastes good, so I thought I'd come and try it today."
However, as soon as they crossed the threshold, they caught sight of the group at the door, and their footsteps faltered instinctively.
Chapter 68: Three Girls Together (Part 2)
Callis caught a glimpse of the few people frozen at the doorway out of the corner of her eye. When she realized it was Malfoy and Blaise walking in, a frantic exclamation exploded in her mind—Merlin's beard, why did they have to come at this exact moment!
Being caught red-handed in such an embarrassing state, she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into on the spot. In her heart, she was frantically chanting, 'Can't see me, can't see me, can't see me,' while her fingertips tightly clutched the hem of her skirt, wishing she could curl up into a ball and hide.
Just as Callis was at a loss and desperately trying to hide, Madam Puddifoot hurried out from behind the counter and greeted the doorway enthusiastically: "Oh my, guests have arrived! Come in, please come in!"
Blaise said in surprise, "Callis?"
Callis was playing dead...
Blaise walked over and grabbed the back of Callis's collar.
"Hey, what are you doing!" A helpless Callis had to turn around and face them, though her eyes darted everywhere, "Haha, how embarrassing..."
Malfoy looked at Callis in surprise, "What's going on? Did... did your family go bankrupt?"
"My family wouldn't go bankrupt even if yours did!" Callisroared angrily at Malfoy.
"Then why are you working here? And in this outfit..." Su Yuadded from the side.
At this moment, Blaise even reached out and touched Callis's cat ears, "Are you descending to the mortal world to gain experience?"
"Hey! You... you... stop touching me!" Callis didn't even want to speak anymore; it was too humiliating. "I'm just here to cover a shift, Chief. Do you believe me?"
Su Yu and the others shook their heads. Blaise teased, "Guess whether I believe you or not?"
Callis rolled her eyes, "Guess whether I'm guessing?"
Su Yu and the others walked into the tea shop laughing and sat down carelessly. Blaise even crossed his legs.
Callis had completely given up on explaining by now. "What do you want to drink? Hurry up and say it!"
Madam Puddifoot reminded Callis from the side to treat the guests properly and not act like that.
Callis had to reluctantly force a smile, "Hahaha, uh, welcome! What would you honorable customers like to drink?"
The three girls couldn't stop giggling at Callis's appearance and, like Su Yu and Malfoy, ordered Earl Grey tea.
Blaise said like a big shot, "An iced Americano, but don't make it bitter."
"Why don't I just sweeten you to death?" Callis gritted her teeth. "Hehehe, please wait a moment, I'll bring it right over..."
Once Callis left, the group couldn't hold back their laughter any longer.
It wasn't until Callis brought their drinks over that they stopped laughing.
Blaise said seriously to Callis, "If you're out of money, I can sponsor you."
Callis was full of question marks, "You give money, for me to spend?"
"Ahem, that's right..."
"Do you f*cking want to be my dad??"
"Pfft..." Su Yu and Malfoy spat out the tea in their mouths in one go, and the girls were already laughing so hard they were doubled over on the sofa, unable to straighten up.
Blaise was also full of question marks, "No, are you sick?"
"Then you tell me, besides my dad, who would say to me, 'My money is for you to spend'?"
Su Yu said helplessly, "What on earth is going on in that head of yours..."
"Chief, why are you making personal attacks..." Callis said, feeling aggrieved.
Blaise had resigned himself to his fate; he stood up, flicked Callis on the forehead, and left with Malfoy, feeling it was such bad luck.
Callis let out an 'ow,' muttering that it hurt to death, so annoying...
Later, the girls chatted with Callis and learned that she really was just covering a shift; a fifth-year senior had bribed her with an ice cream feast...
The four of them walked out of Madam Puddifoot's tea shop and stepped back onto the street where light snow was still falling. Just as they reached the side of Honeydukes, Su Yu suddenly stopped.
He caught sight of a clear set of footprints appearing out of thin air on the white snow at his feet, moving slowly forward, yet there wasn't a soul to be seen around them.
The next second, a faint radiance flickered in Su Yu's eyes as his Tenseigan quietly activated. His gaze pierced through layers of snow and light, instantly revealing the owner of the footprints—Harry was draped in that Invisibility Cloak, hunched over and moving cautiously. He was completely hidden, except for his footsteps, which crunched the snow and left him exposed.
He quietly circled to the side of the footprints and, catching the person off guard, suddenly raised his hand and gave a heavy pat underneath the cloak.
Harry was so startled that he jumped high into the air. The Invisibility Cloak was shaken so hard it almost slid off him, nearly exposing him right there on the street.
Harry crouched in the snow, panting for a long while, still shaken. His cloak was crooked. When he finally regained his composure, he could only stare at Su Yu, speechless and at a loss for words.
Looking at his state, Su Yu smiled and asked him how he had snuck out of school.
Harry curled his lip and helplessly pulled the rolled-up Marauder's Map from his robes, tapping it with his wand: "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The parchment immediately unfolded, revealing all the passages and figures at Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.
"The Weasley twins gave it to me," he whispered. "There are seven secret passages marked on the map. I took the one by the one-eyed Witch statue on the third floor—you knock on her hump and say 'Finite Incantatem,' and the statue opens a hole, leading straight down to the Honeydukes cellar."
He pointed toward the candy shop beneath their feet: "I crawled up from the cellar and put on the cloak to walk around the village, but I didn't expect to be caught by you..."
Harry glared at Su Yu again and was just about to reset the map with "Mischief managed." Su Yu suddenly raised his hand to stop him: "Wait a second."
His gaze fell straight onto the unfolded parchment, his eyes narrowing slightly. On the map, the two dots representing Theodore and Olivia were pressed tightly together, hiding in a deserted corner. One facing forward, one backward, their positions overlapping, looking as if they were hugging each other.
Seeing the two dots huddled together on the Marauder's Map, Su Yu didn't say anything more. A playful smile curled at the corners of his mouth. He casually pulled out the Slytherin group chat notebook, held his wand, and began writing on it, crazily tagging Theodore.
Far away, the group chat notebook in Theodore's arms began to vibrate incessantly, shaking so much he almost dropped it. After enduring it for a while, he finally opened the notebook helplessly and replied: "Chief, what is it?"
Su Yu typed another line in the group chat notebook: "What are you doing?"
Not long after, Theodore's reply appeared slowly: "Writing an essay."
Looking at the two dots still stuck together on the Marauder's Map, Su Yu couldn't help but mischievously reply: "Writing an essay all the way into Olivia's arms? Are you two huddled together making out?"
As soon as this sentence appeared in the group chat, Theodore's side instantly exploded, with a string of question marks flooding the screen.
Almost at the same time, everyone in the entire Slytheringroup chat started spamming question marks, and the dense sea of question marks instantly filled the entire page of the notebook.
Watching the group chat completely explode with spam, Su Yu put away the group chat notebook with satisfaction. He waved at the bewildered Harry, urging him to be careful to avoid the Dementors and Professors, return to school through the secret passage early, and not linger in Hogsmeade.
Harry nodded, quickly wrapped his nearly slipping Invisibility Cloak tighter, and hurried off in another direction.
After settling this matter, Su Yu turned to the three girls beside him and smiled, signaling for everyone to continue. The group walked along the snowy Hogsmeade street, strolling leisurely and continuing to browse the shops along the way.
However, as they strolled along, they gradually noticed something strange—the number of Goblins in Hogsmeadetoday was significantly higher than usual.
Most of them were wearing dark, short coats, gathering in twos and threes at street corners or in front of shops, whispering. Their gazes seemed to sweep over passersby casually, but in reality, they carried an imperceptible vigilance and scrutiny.
By the afternoon, a commotion broke out in Hogsmeade—several local Wizards and Slytherin students had gotten into a fierce dispute for some reason, and the verbal argument quickly escalated into shoving, looking like it was about to blow up.
Bystanders scattered, and whispers filled the air.
This time, the Slytherin students still didn't waste words. With a wave of their hands, they channeled Ancient Magic, instantly suppressing the movements of the Wizards opposite them, leaving them unable to move.
It wasn't until Professor McGonagall hurried to the scene, scanned the crowd with a stern gaze, and shouted to stop both sides that the conflict was successfully prevented from escalating further.
However, because the Slytherin students had caused conflicts in Hogsmeade twice in a row, resulting in multiple injuries and permanent disabilities, Professor McGonagallimmediately announced in a deep voice: "Slytherin, fifty points deducted."
But the Slytherin students present remained indifferent, as if they didn't care about the point deduction at all. They continued doing what they were doing, turned around, and merged back into the crowd as if nothing had happened, continuing to stroll around Hogsmeade without showing any sign of being affected.
Meanwhile, not far away, those Goblins who had been lingering in Hogsmeade for a long time had taken in the entire conflict and the Ancient Magic displayed by the Slytherins. As the crowd gradually dispersed, they exchanged subtle glances, lowered their hat brims, turned around silently, and slipped into the alleys, sneaking out of the village one by one.
The only one who wasn't happy was probably Harry.
He had snuck into Hogsmeade with great joy; but in the Three Broomsticks pub, hiding under his Invisibility Cloak, he overheard the conversation between McGonagall, Flitwick, Hagrid, and Fudge—learning for the first time that Sirius Black was his godfather, and furthermore, hearing that Black had betrayed his parents back then, leading to their tragic deaths, and had also personally killed a Wizardand several Muggles.
Those words hit his heart like a heavy hammer. He returned through the secret passage in a daze, his footsteps unsteady, his mind filled with the truth that his 'best friend betrayed his parents.' He was completely dejected and restless, having lost all the excitement he had when he arrived, and returned to the Castle feeling uneasy and heavy-hearted the whole way.
The minor disturbances in Hogsmeade had not yet fully dissipated, yet the footsteps of Christmas were already quietly approaching Hogwarts Castle.
Most students had packed their trunks and boarded the early Hogwarts Express to return home, enjoying the annual family Christmas holiday, leaving the usually bustling Castle suddenly empty for the most part.
Even the corridors were devoid of the constant flow of figures, with only the cold wind swirling snowflakes against the stone walls of the Castle, making a faint, rustling sound.
The large windows of the Slytherin common room revealed the deep green of the lake, and the fire in the fireplace crackled, warming the dark green velvet sofas.
Silver mistletoe and green ribbons hung from the ceiling, arranged overnight by the House-elves—though Professor Snape scoffed at it, no one dared to utter a word of objection in his presence.
Not many people stayed for Christmas, but the Slytherinstudents always knew how to enjoy themselves.
Someone had managed to procure several bottles of Butterbeer and platters of roasted nuts from the kitchens, and a large slice of cheesecake, labeled exclusively for Kurama, had appeared on the coffee table.
The common room was filled with the sweet scent of cinnamon and caramel, mixed with the smoky aroma of burning firewood.
Su Yu was curled up in the largest armchair by the fireplace, with Kurama nestled on his lap, her tail covering her nose, fast asleep.
Farley sat on the armrest of the sofa to his right, one leg draped over the arm, holding a glass of red wine, swirling it slowly.
Cassandra sat on the single sofa opposite, a copy of "Advanced Potion-Making" spread across her knees, though her eyes occasionally drifted toward the mistletoe hanging above the fireplace.
"I say," Blaise leaned lazily against the sofa next to Cassandra, one arm draped over the back, his other hand twirling his wand, "Can't Christmas have a bit of novelty? Every year it's mistletoe, Butterbeer, exchanging scarves and gloves—isn't it tacky?"
"You have something novel?" Draco poked his head out from the other side of the fireplace, his grey eyes full of mockery, "Last year you sent Pansy a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and a third of them were earwax flavored."
"That was a limited edition." Blaise remained unfazed.
"Who believes you." Pansy stood up from beside Draco, walked to the coffee table, picked up a roasted chestnut, peeled the shell, and popped it into her mouth, "But Blaise, where is Callis? Why haven't I seen her today?"
"Callis?" Blaise's lips curled up, "She said she had to go to the kitchen to steal a few bottles of Firewhisky first, and would come later."
"Steal?" Theodore Nott emerged from the shadows in the corner, holding a black-covered book, his expression as cold as ever, "The House-elves in the kitchen will give it willingly; there's no need to steal."
"She likes the word'steal'." Blaise said, "She says it gives her more of a sense of accomplishment."
Malfoy hummed, while Crabbe and Goyle giggled along.
Goyle was clutching a handful of roasted peanuts, stuffing them into his mouth, chewing with a crunching sound.
"Eat slower." Crabbe managed to say a complete sentence for once, though it was only because he was reaching out to grab Goyle's peanuts.
Goyle pulled his hand back and glared at Crabbe.
Su Yu was brushed on the face by Kurama's tail, and he opened his eyes to see Farley looking down at him, the red wine swirling in her glass.
Kurama lifted her head from Su Yu's lap, let out a yawn, and revealed two sharp fangs.
She looked around, spotted the cheesecake on the coffee table, jumped down, clawed off a piece, carried it back to Su Yu's lap, and started nibbling it bit by bit.
Pansy watched Kurama, her eyes shining. "Kurama is really so cute."
Kurama's ears twitched, and she ignored her.
The common room door was pushed open. Callis Selwyn walked in, her dark hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a dark green robe that was cinched tightly at the waist, and stiletto boots, each step carrying an air of "don't mess with me."
She was carrying two bottles of Firewhisky, the caps already unscrewed.
"Here she is, here she is." Blaise stood up and took the bottles, "How long were you gone?"
"Getting impatient?" Callis raised an eyebrow and sat down next to Blaise, "The House-elves in the kitchen insisted I taste their freshly made eggnog, which delayed me for a while."
"Is the eggnog good?" Pansy asked.
"Too sweet." Callis said, "I made them add two spoonfuls of cinnamon powder before it was even barely palatable."
Farley glanced at her. "You command the House-elves in the kitchen?"
"Suggest." Callis corrected, "I am suggesting."
Theodore emerged from the shadows and sat on the chair on the other side of the fireplace.
He never put down the black-covered book in his hand, but his gaze swept toward the door from time to time, as if he were waiting for someone.
Olivia was also staying at the school this year, but she had been dragged by her Ravenclaw friends to attend their Christmas party tonight, saying she wouldn't be able to come over until later.
"Stop waiting." Malfoy glanced at Theodore, "You're about to turn into a statue waiting for your wife, come over and have a drink!"
Theodore's expression didn't change at all, but he turned a page of his book.
Blaise poured a glass of Firewhisky for everyone; Kuramaeven went over to sniff the alcohol, wrinkled her nose, and buried her face back into the gap in Su Yu's legs.
"Seriously," Callis picked up her wine glass and took a sip, "What are the plans for Christmas this year? We can't just sit here in the common room."
"Dumbledore will be organizing a Christmas banquet in the Great Hall tomorrow at noon." Pansy said, "We can go outside for a snowball fight in the morning. In the afternoon—"
"Snowball fight?" Malfoy scoffed, "That's something only Gryffindors play."
"Then what do you want to do?" Pansy asked.
Malfoy thought for a moment. "Build a snowman."
Callis was the most active person in this small gathering; she was always energetic, her head full of various novel ideas, and at this moment, she had completely let herself go.
She first walked quickly to the long table in the common room, waved her wand to cast a silent spell, and in the blink of an eye, the tabletop was filled with all kinds of exquisite snacks: cinnamon cookies covered in icing, scones with raspberry jam filling, chocolate cake sprinkled with crushed nuts, and platters of crystal-clear magic candies that would burst with different fruit flavors in the mouth when bitten, and even popping candy that would jump slightly, each emitting an enticing sweet fragrance.
"Don't just sit there, it's rare that everyone is staying at school, we can't just sit here blankly, can we?" Callis rested her hands on the table, her speech rapid, her eyes curved, and her face filled with undisguised cunning and enthusiasm, "I've specially prepared quite a few fun things, I guarantee you won't be bored!"
Blaise immediately raised an eyebrow, leaning lazily against the soft velvet sofa, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and followed up: "Oh? What new ideas has our Miss Callis prepared this time? Don't tell me you're trying to prank someone again; I don't want to be punished with detention by the Professor along with you." His tone was teasing, but his eyes were full of indulgence.
"What do you mean prank, this is called festive fun!" Callisglared at him, but she wasn't angry at all; instead, she became even more interested, "Let's start by playing the silent spell passing game; whoever makes a mistake accepts a small penalty, how about that? Don't worry, the penalty will definitely be interesting and won't cause any trouble."
Cassandra sat upright on the side of the sofa, her posture still elegant and upright, and even in her leisure moments, she had no lack of composure.
She gently smoothed her robe, raised her hand to pick up an exquisite cookie, and said calmly upon hearing this: "Fine, but follow the rules and don't make a mess of the common room."
Draco naturally didn't want to be outdone; he lifted his chin slightly with his usual pride: "Play if you want, how could such a game stump me. But if I win, you all have to follow my arrangements." As he spoke, he didn't forget to glance at Theodore beside him, his tone carrying a hint of subconscious rivalry.
Theodore was still that silent and reticent figure; he sat quietly on the single sofa in the corner, originally looking down at that book, but upon hearing this, he just lifted his eyes faintly and gave a soft "Hmm," agreeing to participate in the game.
Pansy sat obediently beside Draco, carefully organizing the snacks on the table into categories, occasionally handing candies to those around her, her eyes gentle, cooperating silently with everyone throughout the process, and occasionally echoing softly to make the whole scene more harmonious.
Seeing this, Callis excitedly arranged the rules of the game: everyone would form a circle and use a silent spell to pass a floating crystal ball; no sound could be made throughout the entire process, and hands could not be used.
Once the crystal ball dropped, swayed too much, or the spell was cast incorrectly, it would be considered a failure; the person who failed would have to draw a pre-prepared penalty slip and complete the small task on it.
The game officially began, and the floating crystal ball was passed steadily among the crowd under the control of everyone's silent spells.
At first, everyone was extra cautious, their movements in controlling their magic precise and stable, but before long, Callis began to harbor little schemes in secret.
When passing the crystal ball, she secretly used a trace of weak magic to interfere with the trajectory of the crystal ball, deliberately creating difficulty for the next person.
Blaise saw through her little trick at a glance, but he didn't show it; instead, he took advantage of the situation to increase his own magical control, holding the crystal ball steadily while also setting a small trap for Callis in return.
The two of them went back and forth, passing it seemingly calmly, but were secretly competing with each other, causing Draco, who was on the side, to be distracted and almost fail to keep the crystal ball from swaying.
Fortunately, his reaction was extremely fast, and he immediately stabilized his magic, so he didn't make a fool of himself.
Cassandra was calm and composed throughout; her magical control was extremely precise, and no matter what trajectory the crystal ball came from, she could calmly catch it with a silent spell and pass it on steadily.
Farley appeared exceptionally relaxed; her magical force seemed gentle, yet it was unusually stable, and even if she was occasionally interfered with by Callis and Blaise's little tricks, she could instantly resolve them.
Not long after, the first person to make a mistake appeared—Draco, because he couldn't help but complain about Blaise's small movements, had a slight disorder in his magic the moment he was distracted, and the crystal ball shook violently, almost falling.
"Draco messed up! Accept the penalty!" Callis immediately clapped excitedly, her eyes full of schadenfreude, and quickly handed over a stack of penalty slips written in advance.
Draco's face stiffened slightly, and he drew a slip somewhat reluctantly.
Opening it, it read: "Recite the Slytherin rules three times in a funny tone."
He looked at the content on the slip, looking helpless, but having lost the bet, he could only clear his throat, deliberately pinching a strange tone, and recited the Slytherin rules three times with stumbles and a bit of arrogance.
The awkward and cute appearance caused everyone present to burst into laughter, and the common room was instantly filled with joyful laughter.
With Draco's start, the atmosphere of the game became even more heated.
Next, Callis, because she was too eager to prank Blaise, ended up making a mistake in her own control; the crystal ball swayed slightly and was judged a failure.
The penalty she drew was "Hand a snack to everyone present and say a special blessing."
She was straightforward enough; she deftly picked up the snack tray, handed snacks to everyone one by one, but the blessings in her mouth were full of teasing.
When she handed a snack to Su Yu, she didn't forget to respectfully shout, "Merry Christmas, Chief," which caused everyone to laugh again.
Blaise didn't escape unscathed either; in one mutual interference with Callis, both of them made mistakes and both accepted penalties.
The penalty Blaise drew was "Imitate Professor McGonagall's tone of voice."
He instantly restrained his cynical expression, straightened his face, and imitated Professor McGonagall's serious and majestic tone, opening his mouth to urge everyone to observe discipline.
The vivid imitation made everyone laugh until they leaned back and forth.
During one pass, Pansy, because she couldn't help but want to laugh at Blaise's imitation, had unstable breathing, and her magic was slightly chaotic, causing the crystal ball to sway, and she regretfully failed.
The penalty she drew was "Sing a short Christmas carol."
The little girl's cheeks flushed slightly, and she sang a gentle Christmas carol shyly.
Her voice was soft and melodious, exceptionally pleasant to hear.
After she finished singing, everyone applauded, and Dracothoughtfully handed her a Butterbeer to help her relax.
Throughout the game, only Su Yu, Cassandra, Farley, and Theodore did not make any mistakes.
Chapter 70: Christmas Eve (Part 2)
The silent spell telephone game had been played for nearly an hour, and everyone was playing with great enthusiasm, without the slightest hint of fatigue. Seeing that everyone was gradually getting used to the rhythm of the game and the novelty was wearing off, Callisimmediately switched to a new game—magic Trivia. She had written down various riddles related to magical knowledge, Hogwarts trivia, Potions, and spells in advance using magic. She would pose the questions while the others buzzed in to answer. Those who got it right would receive a special magical candy, while those who got it wrong had to take a small sip of butterbeer spiked with mint juice as a mild punishment.
This game instantly ignited everyone's competitive spirit. Callis's riddles were incredibly diverse, ranging from simple basic spell knowledge to obscure Potion ingredient identification, as well as minor questions about the secrets of Hogwarts Castle.
Cassandra, relying on her vast knowledge, swept nearly half of the academic riddles. Whenever a question was read out, she could always calmly answer first, her answers precise and flawless, fully displaying her nature as the 'brain' of the group; Draco was exceptionally good at riddles related to pure-blood magic, buzzing in quickly and accurately, occasionally showing a smug expression; Blaisewas highly adept at all kinds of Hogwarts gossip and obscure trivia, reacting very quickly; Theodore dominated the Potion-related riddles; whenever a question involved Potion brewing or Potion effects, he could give the answer without a second thought; Pansy was particularly good at simple magical trivia, her eyes curling into happy crescents every time she got one right.
Su Yu? Su Yu didn't play; he just started drinking straight away...
Tired of the trivia game, everyone leaned back on the sofas to rest, chatting casually while tasting sweet pastries and drinking warm butterbeer.
"By the way," Malfoy suddenly remembered something, "have you heard that the trial for Hagrid's Buckbeak is about to start?"
The atmosphere in the common room grew a bit heavy.
"My father said the Ministry of Magic is very strict with the control of dangerous creatures," Malfoy continued. "Hagridprobably won't escape this time."
Su Yu glanced at Malfoy. Malfoy's expression was very calm, just stating it as a matter of fact.
"Do you think Buckbeak should be executed?" Theodoreasked.
"I don't think it's any of my business," Malfoy said. "But it did attack me. Regardless of whether I approached it first or not, it attacked. If Neville had been standing there instead, Neville would be dead by now. Have you ever thought about that?"
No one answered.
Callis picked up her glass and took another sip. "My grandmother said that magical creatures are just like humans; there are good ones and bad ones. You can't beat them all to death because of one bad one. But you also shouldn't ignore the danger brought by the bad ones just because of a good one."
Blaise glanced at her. "Your grandmother said that?"
"My grandmother said it," Callis said. "When she was young, a Niffler stole her engagement ring, and she had to chase it for three blocks to get it back. Since then, she's been wary of all magical creatures."
Pansy couldn't help but laugh. "Your grandmother is quite interesting."
"She's not interesting," Callis said. "She's principled."
Farley leaned back on the sofa and placed her empty glass on the coffee table. "Anyway, although we could make a decision on Buckbeak's case, why care about how the Ministry of Magic rules? Even though many of our people have already infiltrated the Ministry of Magic, what does something with no benefits or interests have to do with us?"
"True," Malfoy said.
"I agree as well," Theodore said.
Blaise raised both hands. "Who could disagree?"
Su Yu leaned back in his chair, Kurama lying on his lap. He watched the flames in the fireplace, the tongues of fire licking the wood with a crackling sound. The temperature in the common room was very high, making his face feel a bit hot from the heat.
The door opened again, and Olivia stood at the doorway, her pale blonde hair shimmering silvery-white in the candlelight. She wore a light blue robe with a white woolen scarf wrapped around her neck, holding a gift bag in her hand.
"Theodore," Olivia walked in and placed the gift bag in Theodore's hand. "The Ravenclaw party is over, so I brought you some cake." She paused, looking at the people in the common room. "Uh... hello."
Farley and the others nodded to her, while Pansy waved. Blaise stood up and offered her his seat.
Only Callis scrutinized Olivia, her eyes lighting up slightly.
"Are you Olivia?" Callis asked.
"Yes," Olivia sat down next to Theodore. "And you are?"
"Callis Selwyn. Can I be friends with you?"
"My girlfriend," Blaise corrected.
"I never agreed to that, Master Blaise," Callis said.
Olivia smiled. "I've heard of you. They say you're the prettiest transfer student in the third year."
"They say?" Callis arched her eyebrow. "Who said that?"
"A lot of people," Olivia said, glancing at Blaise.
The corners of Callis's mouth curled up, and she didn't press further. Theodore opened the gift bag and pulled out a piece of chocolate cake wrapped in plastic wrap.
His ears turned red as he placed the cake on the coffee table and muttered, "Thank you."
Smelling the cake, Kurama stood up from Su Yu's lap and craned her neck to look at the coffee table. Su Yu held her down. "Eat it tomorrow."
Kurama glared at him and lay back down.
Farley stood up and walked to the window, looking at the Black Lake outside. A fish swam under the ice, flicked its tail, and disappeared into the darkness.
"It's getting late," Farley said. "We have to wake up early tomorrow to open presents."
"Opening presents?" Malfoy said. "Didn't you say that was something only kids do?"
"I said 'receiving presents', not 'opening presents'," Farleyturned around. "The fun of opening presents is discovering what's inside; it has nothing to do with age."
"So, what did you receive this year?" Pansy asked.
Farley glanced at Su Yu. "I haven't opened them yet, so I don't know."
"Su Yu," Callis suddenly spoke up, "what kind of gift do you want for Christmas this year?"
Su Yu thought for a moment. "Nothing."
"Impossible. Everyone has something they want."
"Then what do you want?" Su Yu asked in return.
Callis glanced at Blaise. "I want him to talk less."
Blaise smiled. "Then you'll have to get a new boyfriend."
"It's not about replacing, it's about reforming. Besides, I never acknowledged you as my boyfriend!" Callis said.
Malfoy stood up and stretched. "Alright, I'm tired and we have to get up early tomorrow. Crabbe, Goyle, let's go."
Crabbe and Goyle stood up, Goyle still clutching a handful of peanuts. The three of them walked out of the common room, with Pansy following behind. Theodore also stood up, holding Olivia's hand. "Let's go too." Olivia waved at Su Yu. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Su Yu said.
Blaise and Callis were the last to leave. Walking to the door, Blaise looked back at Su Yu. "See you tomorrow, Chief." "See you tomorrow."
Only Su Yu, Farley, Cassandra, and Kurama were left in the common room. The fire in the fireplace had dwindled, the wood burning down to dark red embers. Kurama jumped down from Su Yu's shoulder, squatted in front of the fireplace, and poked at the ashes with her paw. As sparks flew up, she took a step back.
"Let's head back too," Farley said.
"Yeah," Su Yu picked Kurama up.
Cassandra closed her book and stood up. The three of them walked out of the common room. The corridor was very quiet, with only the torches whooshing in the draft.
Pushing open the dormitory door, the fire in the fireplace was nearly out, with only a few dark red embers flickering in the pile of ash. The room was a bit cold, with a thin layer of frost forming on the windowpane. Kurama jumped down from Su Yu's shoulder, leapt onto the bed ahead of him, circled a few times on the quilt, and then lay down.
Su Yu took off his robe and hung it on the back of the chair. Just as he was about to slip under the covers, Farleywalked in. She had just changed into a slim-fit, dark-patterned short top and high-waisted leather shorts, paired with a sleek black trench coat draped casually over her shoulders, and black thigh-high socks that made her legs look exceptionally straight and long. Her long hair was half-loose, her eyebrows slightly arched, carrying a natural wild yet lazy aura—both dominant and sexy. All of her inner madness had transformed into a bold yet restrained charm. She closed the door, leaned against it, and looked at Su Yu.
"Where is Cassandra?" Su Yu asked.
"Right behind me," Farley said.
Just as she finished speaking, Cassandra also walked in. She was wearing a fitted black knit dress with a clean knee-length hem, highlighting her slender neck and waist, and her straight legs. On her feet was a pair of simple black high heels, making her look both cold and gorgeous.
Her long hair was loosely tied behind her head, revealing a fair neck, and she held a glass of warm milk in her hand. She placed the milk on the nightstand, glanced at Farley, and then at Su Yu.
"You two..." Before Su Yu could finish, Farley had already walked over and pushed him onto the bed.
"We're staying with you tonight," Farley said. "Your Christmas present—do we look good? You can do whatever you want with us..."
"It's not 'whatever you want'," Cassandra slowly approached and lay down beside Su Yu. "We're just afraid you'll be cold."
Kurama rolled down from the top of the quilt, squeezed into the corner of the bed by Cassandra. She let out a dissatisfied huff, stood up, shook her fur, snorted, and returned inside Su Yu's body, muttering about'shameless couple'.
Farley took off her shoes and lay down on Su Yu's right, pulling the quilt up to cover the three of them. Her leg brushed against Su Yu's, feeling quite cool.
"Why are your legs so cold?" Su Yu asked.
"The corridor is cold," Farley said. "Warm them up for me."
Su Yu quickly held her close, and Cassandra also pressed her legs over, resting them against Su Yu's calves.
"Let me feel your hands too," Su Yu said. "Your hands must be cold as well."
"My hands aren't cold," Cassandra reached out her hand and placed it in Su Yu's palm. Her fingers were slender, and her fingertips were warm.
The three of them lay side by side, nice and warm under the quilt. The embers in the fireplace flickered once and then went dark.
The three of them were busy until late into the night.
Outside the window, the waters of the Black Lake flowed slowly, green spots of light shifting across the ceiling. The embers in the fireplace had completely died out, and the room grew dark, with only the green light from outside remaining.
"Su Yu," the weakened Cassandra suddenly spoke up.
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"What are you afraid of?"
Su Yu thought for a moment. "Nothing really."
"Everyone is afraid of something," Cassandra said. "Even if you don't say it, we know."
"Then what do you think I'm afraid of?"
Cassandra fell silent for a moment. "You're afraid of losing."
Su Yu didn't say anything.
Farley hummed in agreement from the side. "She's right. You're afraid of losing us."
"I'm not," Su Yu said.
"You say you aren't, but you are in your heart," Farley said. "Every time you come back from outside, the first thing you do is look for us. Do you think we haven't noticed?"
Su Yu didn't reply.
"Alright, let's not talk about it anymore," Cassandra said. "Go to sleep."
Farley pulled the quilt up a bit, covering Su Yu's shoulders.
Su Yu closed his eyes.
Kurama came out, lay on his chest, and rolled over to expose her belly. Su Yu reached out to rub her stomach, and she let out a purring sound.
"Su Yu," Farley spoke up again.
"What's wrong?"
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Su Yu said.
"And?" Cassandra asked.
"And what?"
"And us."
Su Yu was silent for a moment. "Merry Christmas, Gemma. Merry Christmas, Cassandra."
Farley laughed. "It sounds weird when you call us by our full names."
"Then what do you want me to call you?"
"Just call me Farley."
"And Cassandra?"
"Call her Cassandra."
Su Yu didn't say anything. Cassandra's finger traced another circle in his palm.
"Go to sleep," Cassandra said.
Outside the window, the waters of the Black Lake flowed slowly, and the distant Forbidden Forest let out a low wail in the night wind.
Chapter 71: Christmas Prophecy
On Christmas morning, Su Yu was woken up by Kurama. Kurama had stepped right on his face, with her paw pad covering his nose.
Su Yu sat up abruptly, and Kurama slid off his face, crouching on the quilt, her tail flicking back and forth.
"What are you doing?" Su Yu's voice was muffled, a faint paw print still on his nose.
"Get up and open presents!" Kurama was impatient.
Su Yu rubbed his nose and reached for his wand on the bedside table. He squinted out the window; it wasn't fully bright yet, and the Black Lake shimmered with a deep green light in the morning glow. The fireplace in the dormitory had already been relit, the firewood crackling, casting firelight over the floor piled with gifts. Farley and Cassandra had already returned to their respective rooms to open their own presents.
There were many gifts. Su Yu received many gifts every year, so many that he was too lazy to open them. Kuramahad already jumped off the bed and was using her paw to rake at a box wrapped in silver paper, stamped with the Slytherin serpent crest.
"Open this one," Kurama said.
Su Yu got off the bed, his bare feet touching the cold stone floor. He walked over, picked up the box, and opened it. Inside was a set of deep green robes made of fine silk, with dark silver patterns embroidered on the collar. The card read: "To the Prefect, Merry Christmas. — Malfoy." The handwriting was neat, with no typos; it must have been written seriously, not left to Crabbe to write on his behalf.
Kurama raked out another box, this one in light gold wrapping paper tied with a white ribbon. Su Yu opened it to find a silver tie, with a tie clip engraved with a soaring eagle. It was from Cassandra; the card only had two words: "Wear it."
Su Yu put the tie back in the box and continued opening gifts. Farley had sent a small silver box. Opening it, he found a pair of cufflinks shaped like two intertwined snakes, their eyes made of two small green emeralds. The handwriting on the card was very scrawled: "Don't you have a suit? Match it with this." Su Yu put the cufflinks away, and Kurama had already started on the next one.
Daphne's gift was a thick, handwritten notebook with a dark green leather cover, and "Su Yu — 1993-1994 School Year" written in gold embossed calligraphy. Opening it, he saw Daphne's neat handwriting from the first page to the last, filled with notes from Potion Class, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. At the bottom of each page, she had drawn a tiny Kurama, some sleeping, some eating, and some chasing its own tail.
Su Yu flipped through a few pages and closed it. Kuramaleaned over to look; she liked it!
Hermione had sent a large box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and a book, an expanded edition of Hogwarts: A History. The card read: "This edition has three more chapters than the last one, about the secret passages of the Castle. I thought you might find it useful. — Hermione." Su Yu placed the book on the bedside table. Kurama had already opened the box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and was using her paw to fish out a yellow one. She sniffed it, popped it into her mouth. Her expression changed—from anticipation to confusion, then to contortion, and finally, she spat it out with a "ptui" sound.
"What flavor is it?" Su Yu asked.
"I don't know." Kurama licked her lips. "Why don't you try it?"
"No thanks, I'm not eating it..."
"You have to try it! I can't be the only one suffering..."
Harry had sent a box of Chocolate Frogs, and Ron had sent a bag of Fizzing Whizzbees. Both of their cards were very brief; Harry's read "Merry Christmas," and Ron's read "Don't eat too many." Su Yu placed the Chocolate Frogs on the table. Kurama had already set her sights on the bag of Fizzing Whizzbees, but Su Yu took the bag away.
"Eat them later," Su Yu said.
Kurama huffed and continued opening gifts.
Theodore had sent a bottle of Potion—Draught of Living Death. The bottle was deep blue, with wax sealing the mouth. The card read: "For sleep, one drop is enough." Su Yu put the bottle away; Theodore was always meticulous, and his gifts were practical.
Blaise had sent a box of chocolates, with French printed on the packaging. The card read: "From France, definitely better than Honeydukes." Su Yu opened it to find sixteen handmade chocolates, each in a different shape. Kuramaleaned over to sniff them, and Su Yu gave her one. She nibbled it in small bites, her tail held high.
Callis had sent a joke product—a box of screaming crackers. The card read: "Set one off when you're bored, guaranteed to wake you up." Su Yu placed the box in a corner. Kurama took one look, wasn't interested, and continued opening.
Crabbe and Goyle had sent something together, wrapped in rough brown paper and wound with several layers of tape. Su Yu opened it to find a handmade wooden picture frame. The paint was uneven, and the frame was crooked, but one could tell it was shaped like a snake.
Tucked inside the frame was a photo—a snapshot of Crabbe and Goyle in the Slytherin Common Room. Crabbewas holding his wand, and Goyle was holding a toad. Both of them were grinning foolishly. On the back of the photo, the words "Merry Christmas" were written in crooked handwriting, like a primary school student's.
Su Yu placed the frame on the table. Kurama glanced at it and turned her head away.
Pansy had sent a scarf, silver-gray and knitted from wool. The card read: "It's cold out, don't catch a cold." Su Yudraped the scarf over the back of the chair.
Several younger Slytherin students had also sent gifts. Su Yu opened them one by one and put them away. Finally, at the very bottom of the pile, he found a small box wrapped in deep purple paper. There was no signature on the wrapping paper, just a black ribbon tied around it.
Su Yu opened it to find a badge with a silver base, engraved with a complex rune. The lines of the rune glowed faintly blue in the candlelight, exactly like the light patterns he had seen in the practice room during the summer break.
The card contained only one sentence: "How is your training going? — G.G."
Grindelwald.
Su Yu pinned the badge to the inside of his robe. Kuramaleaned over to sniff it, then shrank back.
The gifts were all opened. Su Yu sat on the edge of the bed with Kurama crouching on his lap, finishing the last piece of chocolate. The sky outside had brightened, the snow had stopped, and the sun shone on the ice, reflecting a blinding white light.
"Let's go," Su Yu said, "time to eat."
He changed his clothes and walked out of the dormitory, carrying Kurama. The corridor was very quiet, as most people were still sleeping. There were only a few people in the Slytherin Common Room. Cassandra was leaning on the sofa, holding a cup of coffee and flipping through a magazine. Farley was sitting next to her, opening a gift box. Halfway through, she looked up and glanced at Su Yu.
"Morning," Farley said.
"Morning." Su Yu sat down next to her. Kurama jumped onto the coffee table and crouched there, watching the coffee in Cassandra's hand.
Cassandra looked up at Kurama. "Don't you hate coffee?"
Kurama huffed and turned her head to the side.
Farley finished opening her gift, took out a deep red scarf from the box, wrapped it around her neck, and looked at herself in the mirror above the fireplace. "Does it look good?"
"It looks good," Su Yu said.
Farley looked at him. "You didn't even look."
"I did look."
"When did you look?"
"I've been looking the whole time."
Farley laughed, took off the scarf, folded it, and put it back in the box. Cassandra closed her magazine and stood up.
"Let's go, it's time to head to the Great Hall," Cassandrasaid.
The three of them walked out of the common room. The torches in the corridor flickered in the draft, and the snow-light leaked in from the windows, casting patches of white on the floor. Faint laughter and talking could be heard from afar; the Great Hall was already beginning to bustle.
The decorations in the Great Hall today were the same as in previous years—holly wreaths hung on the walls, and snowflakes drifted from the ceiling, the enchanted snowflakes vanishing before they touched anyone's head. A massive silver tapestry hung on the wall behind the teachers' table, with the Hogwarts school crest embroidered in gold thread. The students' long tables were laden with food, much more sumptuous than usual—roast turkey, roast potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, roasted sausages, pigs in blankets, buttered bread, pumpkin juice, and butterbeer.
Kurama jumped onto the table, crouched in front of Su Yu, and stared at the roast turkey in the distance.
"Wait a moment," Su Yu said.
Kurama didn't move.
Hermione ran over from the Gryffindor side, holding a cup of hot cocoa, breathless. "Su Yu! Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas," Su Yu said.
Hermione pulled a small box from her pocket and handed it to Su Yu. "A supplement for you."
Su Yu opened it to find a pair of silver snake-shaped cufflinks, finely crafted, with ruby eyes that glimmered in the candlelight.
"When did you buy this?" Su Yu asked.
"Summer break," Hermione said, "in Diagon Alley."
Su Yu put the cufflinks away. Kurama had already jumped off the table and run over to the Gryffindor side. She crouched next to Hermione's plate and used her paw to rake at it. Hermione looked down, saw Kurama, smiled, and took a piece of roast chicken from her plate to feed her.
There weren't many students and teachers staying for the holidays this year, but it was still lively. At the Gryffindorlong table, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together, whispering about their holiday plans; at the Slytherin table, Su Yu dined quietly with his classmates, his demeanor calm and composed; the teachers sat at the main table, Dumbledore wearing wine-red Wizard robes with a gentle smile on his face, chatting softly with Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick beside him. The atmosphere was peaceful and warm, full of the relaxation and joy that the holidays should bring.
Just as everyone was bowing their heads to enjoy the food, with the Great Hall filled with the clinking of cutlery and gentle conversation, a somewhat abrupt figure drifted slowly in from the entrance of the hall.
It was Professor Sybill Trelawney.
She was still wrapped in layers upon layers of countless gauze shawls and sequined headscarves, with deep green, ink blue, and light gold fabrics draped around her. She walked without a sound, like a drifting ghost, slowly moving toward the teachers' table.
She wore a pair of exaggeratedly thick round glasses, the lenses magnifying her eyes several times over, making them look like two bulging insect eyes. Her gaze was consistently dazed and distant, completely out of place with the lively festive atmosphere around her.