Chapter 118: Christmas Gift

"Oh, truly magical." Harry glanced at the book cover. "This was the Christmas gift I gave Professor Binns when I was in my first year."

"What? Oh, you still give professors gifts?" Luo En said in surprise.

"At that time, Professor Binns answered the question about Nicolas Flamel, which helped us lock onto the Sorcerer's Stone at once." Harry avoided the truth and hid the facts. "So out of gratitude, I decided to give him a Christmas gift."

"Then, this year's Christmas is also coming soon, do you still plan to continue giving the professor gifts?" Luo En asked.

"Depends on the situation. At least Professor Lu Ping is definitely worth a gift; perhaps I will also consider giving one to Snape." Harry calculated. "Dumbledore is going to give him a pair of wool socks; as for Professor Doudou, what would be good to give?"

"I can't figure out why you still plan to give Snape a gift." Luo En looked a bit confused. "That old bat hates all Gryffindors."

"Don't say that, just a gift. I also plan to give Malfoy a quill." Harry said. "This doesn't take much thought, but it will look very good on the surface."

"Oh, perhaps after Snape receives the gift, he will deduct fewer of our points?" Luo En teased. "Then I must give him a bottle of shampoo."

"Then he will deduct even more ruthlessly, forget it." Harry stopped this crazy idea. "We might as well go ask Kalan; after all, he is Snape's old classmate, perhaps he knows some of Snape's hobbies."

Harry and Luo En discussed everything interesting in their spare time: Lu Ping's return, Filch being driven crazy by the twins, the Quidditch schedule and Gryffindor's theoretical chance of winning the championship, while also complaining about their friends' unusual behaviors. They felt that they were the ones truly enjoying school life.

Until the next time they went to Hogsmeade village, Harry and Luo En first ran excitedly to Honeydukes to replenish their sweet reserves, then walked like a stroll to that Gao Bushi shop.

Kalan was very welcoming to the children coming to chat with him. He brewed tea for Harry and Luo En, talking casually about recent strange things.

"You don't know, a very beautiful Oriental girl has moved into the Three Broomsticks pub. How beautiful is she? Let me tell you this: she is even more beautiful than Madam Rosmerta." When Kalan said this, one hand pointed far away at the Three Broomsticks pub, and both eyes were shining.

"Your mindset is truly young." Harry complimented euphemistically.

"I've seen many girls. Although she can't be counted as the top kind, she wins in being young and lovely. If I were to say, this girl is definitely not over twenty-five; she is simply like someone who just graduated." Kalan continued talking with great interest. "Hogsmeade village rarely gets newcomers, everyone is curious."

"This is indeed very interesting, but I have one more thing I want to ask you." Harry said. "Actually, I am considering what Christmas gift I should give Professor Snape."

"Oh, this is quite difficult." Kalan scratched his head. "I feel he might need a few young girls more... uh, I mean, how about giving him a box of Gobstones?"

"Do you think he will like it?" Harry said uncertainly.

"I dare say Snape doesn't like anything." Luo En shook his head.

"You might not know, Snape's mother was once the captain of a Gao Bushi team, and participated in inter-school competitions several times." Kalan explained.

"Then..." Luo En scratched his head. "Buy another box to give to Snape?"

"Better than shampoo." Harry hesitated again and again and decided to pay. After all, he really couldn't think of what Snape would like.

"Good children, my Gobstones here are absolutely worth the price, all imported from America." Kalan smiled and packed the gifts for them, taking the opportunity to boast about how developed American industry was.

"You have to know, thanks to the relaxed and free academic environment, American elite wizards' exploration of magic is far beyond wizards of other countries." He said. "Children are full of creativity from a young age, imagining all kinds of magical spells, and after growing up, they turn them into reality."

"Once there was a multinational summer camp, letting British children, French children, and American children travel together..."

"Sorry, Mr. Sangster." Harry couldn't help but interrupt him. "The beautiful girl you mentioned at the beginning makes me restless; I can't wait to go take a look."

"Of course, young people." Kalan smiled. "However, British society is still too repressed regarding these things, not as open and free as America..."

Harry hurriedly picked up the package and pulled Luo En out of the shop door.

"I feel what he said is still quite interesting." Luo En said thoughtfully. "I feel our system has some problems."

"Entering that shop was a complete mistake." Harry shook his head. "We went twice, and both times we were coaxed into buying a box of Gobstones, and they were both made of plastic."

"That can't be blamed on others." Luo En shrugged. "It was you who wanted to give Snape a gift."

"And Kalan doesn't leave America in three sentences, making my ears almost grow calluses." Harry rolled his eyes. "Forget it, let's go have a Butterbeer, and by the way, take a look at the beautiful girl he mentioned."

When they sat down at the Three Broomsticks pub, Luo En pointed excitedly in one direction, shouting for Harry to look quickly.

A woman in a white dress was sitting in the corner; Harry recognized at a glance that it was Daisy.

"That must be the one Kalan mentioned, she is really beautiful." Luo En sighed.

"Don't look, that's Trig's mother." Harry explained. "She came to school to find Trig before."

"Ah?" Luo En said in surprise. "Then she looks too young."

"Yeah, I remember Trig said in a chat last time that his mother planned to take him around England during Christmas. I guess she will stay here temporarily before Christmas."

"I dare say everyone will definitely think they are siblings." Luo En stared blankly in that direction.

"Wait, Trig is twelve years old this year," Harry counted on his fingers, "According to Kalan, his mother is not over twenty-five, and she does indeed look like that."

"Then she gave birth to Trig at thirteen?" Luo En said in surprise. "Third year?"

"This is truly unbelievable." Harry didn't know how to evaluate this kind of thing.

When returning to school, Harry happened to see Professor McGonagall. She walked over and asked with concern if there was any possibility of Harry's broom being repaired.

"I'm afraid not, Professor, I plan to think of other ways." After Harry finished this sentence, he asked inexplicably, "By the way, I want to ask, can a third-year girl give birth to a child?"

"Whoever dares!" McGonagall's blood pressure rose all of a sudden. "I will definitely expel her, and that boy who dares to get a girl pregnant will also be expelled!"

Harry stuck out his tongue. It seems that theoretically it is possible, but ethically it is not accepted.

"Tell me, Potter, who is it?" McGonagall said angrily. Harry discovered she had already gripped her wand.

"Not a student at Hogwarts, Professor." Harry explained. "We all feel Trig's mother is too young, so we were discussing whether she gave birth to Trig very early."

"Oh, is that so." McGonagall's anger subsided. "I advise you not to focus too much on gossip between classmates; studying hard is the right thing."

"Alright, Professor, actually I have one more question I want to ask." Harry asked. "If I am interested in Animagus, when do you think it is appropriate to start practicing?"

"I suggest you wait at least until the seventh year." McGonagall's face looked much better. She pursed her lips and said, "This is a very dangerous magic; if you are not careful, there will be life danger."

After saying goodbye to Professor McGonagall, Harry and Luo En started discussing the new broom again. He hadn't decided whether to buy a new one painfully or try to make one himself.

"Harry, Grandpa Crowley said he is going to Latvia on a business trip." As soon as he entered the common room, Ivy leaned over.

"That is to say, I have to stay at school for Christmas again this year?" Harry said indifferently. "Actually, staying at school is more interesting than going back."

"Yeah, if I stay at school, I won't have to see Percy for two weeks." Luo En said, clutching his heart, as if Percy were some heinous demon king.

"Then I want to stay at school too." Ginny raised her hand. "I don't want to see Percy either."

"Oh, have you ever thought about what if Percy also stays at school?" Fred leaned over with a smile.

"The Head Boy has to continue managing the school during Christmas." George imitated Percy's appearance and read pretentiously.

"George, Fred." Harry still felt a bit guilty when seeing his teammates now. "What have you been busy with recently?"

"Our great struggle with Filch will never end." Fred said. "However, recently..."

"Considering how to make our Harry happy." George hugged his shoulders with a smile.

Harry felt warm in his heart.

"Now, you follow us quietly, don't let stupid Luo En know." Fred said this in front of Luo En.

"We want to give you the Christmas gift in advance, this is a big surprise." George said.

Under Luo En's protesting gaze, the Weasley twins took Harry out of the common room. They walked around and around to an empty classroom on the third floor. After Fred confirmed that no one saw them, he took out a piece of parchment from his robe.

"This, Harry, this is the secret that allows us to roam the world." George patted the parchment lovingly.

"To lose it, we are also very heartbroken," Fred said, "but we indeed don't need it that much anymore, and giving it to you is just right." ===== CHAPTER 119 =====