Christmas at Hogwarts had always been quiet apart from the Triwizard Tournament. Most teachers and students went home to reunite with their families, with only a few remaining at school.
Sometimes Severus went out for social engagements. By comparison, Pomona stayed at school to rest and enjoy the rare peace and quiet.
She had never tried holding a dinner party in the greenhouse, not only because it was a classroom, but also because it contained quite a few dangerous magical plants. Even when they ate, they brought their food outside the greenhouse for a picnic.
When the dining table and snow-white tablecloth appeared in the greenhouse, she felt an intense sense of satisfaction. Napoleon had given her many Eastern plants, placed in Oriental-style flowerpots. The table was set with tableware made by the Sèvres Porcelain Factory, along with gold cutlery bearing the emblem of bees. Beside the crystal glasses stood Champagne and "Luxury" brand soda water. Everything she liked was now here; all that remained was for the guests to take their seats and for the food she had prepared to be served.
Though Napoleon could be ruthless, he also understood the benefits of maintaining good relations with others. He had not put Bernadotte in charge of the porcelain factory solely for Eugenie's sake. Bernadotte considered himself more of a "civil servant," and France's wealthy did not value money as dearly as the British did. Whether one was involved in land or sea transport, one would encounter bandits sooner or later. Asking them to contribute some money was simply like making them buy insurance.
The French Revolution had driven many nobles into the countryside. With nothing to do in their daily lives, they could only entertain guests. Buying Sèvres porcelain required proof of property income. In that way, nobles without