On the shore of the Black Lake, Kevin Goldsmith rummaged through his dimensional belt and retrieved a small package.
"I crafted this for you myself. During my last level-up, I skipped a combat feat to learn Craft Magical Item. I hope you don't mind."
"Magical items? That sounds lovely. Why would I be opposed to them?"
"The problem is that almost all magical items are designed for combat, and you know wizards usually... prefer offensive gear. But you don't seem the type to enjoy slaughtering goblins. So, I tried to create a relatively peaceful accessory."
"Well, it's okay if you didn't get me a gift. I've already forgiven you," Hannah Abbott said softly.
"I might not be able to forgive myself if you don't accept it." Kevin handed over the beautifully wrapped holiday gift. "Merry Christmas."
"Thank you." Hannah excitedly took the package and tore open the wrapping paper. Inside was a small, slightly crooked silver disc strung on a thin but sturdy steel chain. Anyone with a modicum of aesthetic sense would likely shake their head at the crude workmanship.
"It's... beautiful," Hannah murmured, though her tone was polite.
Kevin was so embarrassed he felt the urge to dig a hole in the mud and bury himself right there.
"This is a Periapt of Wound Closure—or at least my version of it. It maintains a death-prevention ward. Its main effect is to defend against instant-death attacks... once. But it should also be able to block the Killing Curse or something similar."
Hannah didn't seem to be paying attention to the technical specifications. She just fingered the necklace repeatedly, holding it up against her neck as if hinting at something.
"If you tap it and say 'I'm so bored,' it will... well, try it yourself."
"How boring," she said, tapping the necklace lightly. There was no response.
After a moment, nothing happened.
"You need to equip it first. Never mind, let me put it on you." Kevin finally realized what was required.
Hannah tilted her head back happily, deliberately exposing her neck.
Kevin stepped behind her, draped the chain around Hannah's neck, fastened the clasp near her collarbone, and finally turned the silver disc to face the front.
"How boring." She tapped it again.
Suddenly, a butterfly the size of a palm shimmered into existence and fluttered around the girl. Its black and gold wings glowed with a faint violet-blue light. Just seeing it required a Will Save to resist the urge to reach out and touch it.
"This is a Monarch butterfly," Kevin explained. "It can also perform simple tasks, such as triggering traps, opening unlocked doors, lifting twenty-pound objects, or cleaning up spills."
"Can a butterfly really have that much strength?"
"Of course, because of magic." In essence,Kevin thought, this thing is just an Unseen Servant—an invisible force field—combined with a Silent Image of a butterfly.
"Just tap the pendant again and say 'goodbye,' and it will disappear," Kevin added.
"Thank you," Hannah said. "You must have put a lot of thought into it. I was going to knit you a hat, but... it turned out a bit wrong. And you just happened to have upset me. So..."
"It's nothing. That scarf—oops, I mean that hat—is really nice. I find it has an indescribable, asymmetrical beauty."
Hannah stopped and half-raised her hand, as if she wanted to give him a hug, but in the end, she couldn't quite muster the courage.
"You're welcome to use that spell to keep in touch with me from now on, but please don't trespass into the girls' dormitory again, okay? Especially when you're not wearing any clothes."
Hermione Granger returned the day before the term started.
As soon as she got back, she cornered Kevin in the common room. "What kind of gift did you send me? My parents almost intercepted it!"
She threw a black and white outfit onto the table in front of Kevin.
"Don't get excited, I understand your happiness. You're right, it's a set bonus."
"What in the world? Where did you get the idea that I'm happy?"
Kevin picked up a headband with cat ears attached. "First is the Headband of the Cat, which not only gives you Advantage on Listen checks but also grants a +2 to Dexterity."
Then he picked up the frilly apron dress. "This is the Robes of Agility, styled as a maid outfit. It significantly improves your Armor Class."
Finally, he pulled out a fluffy faux-fur tail. "The last and most important piece is the Tail of Fortune. As long as you equip it correctly, it grants resistance against Necrotic damage."
"Excuse me," Hermione said, her voice dangerously calm. "Could you repeat that? I think I heard you say that this tail makes one immune to Dark Magic. And since it's completely blunt, how exactly do you know if it's 'properly equipped'?"
"Of course it's a belt... well, actually it attaches to a belt. You just need to tie it around your waist." Seeing Hermione's expression—one that suggested she was about to hex him into oblivion—Kevin smoothly pivoted.
"I took it seriously," Hermione said, her face full of distrust.
"Of course. As a set, if you equip all three pieces together, it becomes the Nine Lives Cat Set. This not only provides you with +4 Charisma but also grants a constant Charm Person effect, and..."
"Incendio!"
Hermione drew her wand and made a sharp gesture. A jet of bright flame shot from the tip of her wand, but it was extinguished the moment it touched the cat-eared maid outfit.
"I'll take that as you've finished saying 'and it's fireproof,'" Kevin said weakly.
"No, I just wanted to burn it," Hermione said helplessly. "Did you make any progress during Christmas?"
"It's going well. Hannah and I are back on speaking terms. Your advice about the gift was solid."
"Anything else?" Hermione struggled to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.
"We were strolling along the lake, and in the end, I think she probably wanted to—"
"I thought you said yourself that the next main objective was to investigate Nicolas Flamel and that you would keep that in mind. Have you checked any books in the library?" Hermione interrupted.
"Actually, I've come up with a plan," Kevin began to argue. "If I remove the hardcovers from all the books in the library and then staple the pages together into one massive tome..." Hermione stared at him in horror. "...I can read the entire library with a single cast of Scholar's Touch."
"Then Madam Pince will use your skin to bind new book covers as a warning to future generations," Hermione said with a very unladylike smile, "and I will hold you down while she peels you."
"Where are Harry and Ron?" Hermione asked, looking around the common room without much hope.
"They sleep during the day and disappear at night. That's because they're making full use of a new piece of equipment—an Invisibility Cloak."
The next day, Hermione stopped Harry and Ron on their way to class.
"There's a little story circulating in the girls' dormitory: Luna Lovegood found an invisible creature in the girls' bathroom over the holidays. I have a feeling it was actually one or two invisible boys. Do you have anything to say about it?"
Harry and Ron exchanged a bewildered glance.