Christmas was just around the corner. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts awoke to find itself blanketed in several feet of snow and the Black Lake frozen solid.
Fred and George Weasley were punished for bewitching several snowballs to chase Professor Quirrell around, bouncing them off the back of his turban. Shortly after, they found themselves hanging upside down, blown by magic to the part of the grounds where the blizzard was fiercest.
"The school is closed for Christmas, and everyone can go home to be with their families," Hermione relayed the message from the notice board.
"Is it mandatory?" Kevin and Harry asked almost simultaneously.
Hermione realized something. "Of course not. I think many people would be happy to stay." But she didn't sound very confident.
Professor McGonagall came around to register the list of students staying at the castle for the holidays. Harry immediately signed his name. Ron and his brothers also planned to stay, as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to Romania to visit Charlie.
Kevin Goldsmith, of course, signed as well, since he was effectively homeless. Professor McGonagall seemed unusually kind to him that day, a kindness that persisted right until Transfiguration practice began.
Hannah had originally planned to go home, but in the end, she signed the list to stay.
"I really feel sorry for those people," Draco Malfoy sneered in the next Potions class. "They have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because their families don't want them."
"Not to mention some people don't even have parents. I don't know who's more pitiful—that person, or someone whose parents are dirty Muggles." Taking advantage of the fact that no one dared touch him in Snape's dungeon, he continued to spray his venom.
"Ignore him. He's just jealous that Harry gets to play Quidditch while he can only watch from the ground," Kevin said, turning to comfort Hermione. "You don't need to stoop to the level of a brat."
"At least I can fly, unlike some pathetic creatures who can only crawl along the walls," Malfoy shot back.
Okay, Snape won't always be by your side,Kevin thought. You can choose between Acid Arrow and Fire Arrow. Whichever you prefer. Adults make choices; kids should get them all.
"I can't believe someone like Malfoy gets gifts. Doesn't Santa do any screening?" Ron complained after class ended.
"But Santa Claus doesn't exist!" Hermione said after a moment's hesitation.
"Santa... Santa Claus isn't real?" Ron asked, looking shocked. "Fred and George said they'd seen him..."
"That's not necessarily true," Kevin pointed out. "Harry once told me that Muggles don't believe in dragons, magic, goblins, or elves. Look where we are now."
"Santa Claus is different."
"Hermione, how many things did you believe in as a child, stopped believing in as you grew up, and then—after discovering you were a witch—found out were actually true?"
Hermione thought about it carefully for a while.
"The vast majority," she admitted, frowning, "but Santa Claus implies impossible logistics. How can he prepare gifts for the whole world?"
"He has a whole year to prepare. He likely possesses a pocket dimension factory full of Christmas elves crafting magical items," Kevin theorized.
"Christmas elves are probably what we call House-elves; you see them in Hogwarts too," Ron said, breathing a sigh of relief as the reality of Santa was restored.
"I had no idea there were House-elves at school," Hermione said, looking shocked.
"The food we eat every day couldn't just be conjured out of thin air, could it?"
"But that's still not right," Hermione argued. "How could he deliver gifts to children all over the world in a single night?"
"He must be an extremely powerful caster. He likely casts a high-tier Time Stop spell, allowing him to traverse the world instantly," Kevin said with anticipation.
"Fine, you win. It seems I don't need to bother preparing a gift for you. Santa Claus will take care of everything."
"Don't do that. I'll find evidence."
Hannah Abbott was sitting in the corner, silently watching someone. Kevin turned to look at her, and Hannah hurriedly looked away. It seemed a dialogue option had been triggered.
"Hey," he said, walking toward Hannah. "What are you reading?"
"Reading... The Tales of Beedle the Bard... uh..."
"It's upside down."
"Really?" Hannah looked down at the book in her hands warily. "Oh, no!"
"No matter. You seem guilty, but ignore that. There's something I need to ask you." Kevin wasn't sure how to initiate the quest.
"Really?" Hannah's heart raced.
"I'm sorry, this is quite important. You may not want to hear it, but I have to ask."
"It's not that I don't want to hear it, it's just that you came so suddenly... I wasn't mentally prepared," Hannah said, taking a deep breath.
"I know you were born into an ancient and noble pure-blood family," Kevin decided to lay the groundwork regarding magical history.
"Our family has no prejudice against half-blood or Muggle-born wizards! Many of my distant relatives have married half-bloods," Hannah answered without hesitation, her face turning red.
"Then would you be willing to tell me if your ancestors left any recorded evidence of Santa Claus's existence?"
"I do... Wait." Hannah looked completely bewildered. "Is that what you came to ask me?"
"Yes. This is very important to me because it involves an argument between me and Hermione..." Kevin hadn't finished speaking before she moved.
"Oh, look at the time! I really have to go. I have things to do, people to meet, and a lake to visit. I'm running late. Goodbye!" Hannah grabbed her things and marched out of the common room with her head held high.
Kevin clearly felt that he had critically failed a Charisma Check. If his system functions were more advanced, he might have even heard a notification: [Reputation with Hannah Abbott decreased].
"You went too far just now," Hermione said, floating by leisurely.
"How did I offend her? I can't imagine why there would be malice in asking a historical question."
"I can't believe you did that right in front of me," Hermione said, shaking her head.
"I think this is what they call toying with the innocent feelings of an eleven-year-old girl," Ron added sagely.
"Whose mind could be so twisted to interpret it that way?" Kevin was utterly puzzled.
"Yours, mate," Ron pointed out.
"How about I go apologize to her right away?"
"You'll only cause further damage," Ron said. "Trust me, that sounds familiar."
"If someone annoys a girl a few days before Christmas and, for some reason, can't just go and apologize verbally—" Hermione hinted loudly.
"Then should I prepare an apology gift?"
"And the gift should be presentable," Hermione added.
"I have... eight days left?"
"Less than seven."
"Then I'd better hurry."
"Indeed."
Most Hogwarts students had gone home for the holidays. Those who stayed spent the snowy days playing Exploding Snap or Wizard's Chess in the warmth of the common rooms.
"I have King Arthur and Merlin on my field at the same time. Activate Merlin's effect—the cold flames devour the world! Special Summon Morgana le Fay!" Ron cheered as he won another round against Harry.
"I don't know why, but I got my third Morgana card from a Chocolate Frog pack," Ron boasted to the onlookers.
At that moment, Ron and Harry were surprised to see an exhausted Kevin Goldsmith strutting into the dormitory with a zombie-like gait.
"Where have you been?" Harry asked. "Nobody's seen you in the Great Hall, the common room, or the dormitories."
"A gift..." Kevin mumbled incoherently.
"When was the last time you slept?" Harry asked, half-concerned and half-amused.
"11,086 turns ago."
A lifeless reply. Harry decided to interpret his answer as "a long, long time ago."
"Where have you been? You look like you got beaten up by a dragon." Ron tried his best not to laugh out loud.
"Christmas," Kevin said, before collapsing face-first onto his four-poster bed.