Legend had it that when Dante was nine, on a sunny day, he was playing with a group of children when he saw a little girl named Beatrice.
His early poetry collection, The New Life, described it this way: "At that moment, the spirit of life dwelling in the deepest part of my being began to tremble violently; even my faintest pulse felt the shock."
Modern readers might find it strange. How could a nine-year-old boy feel such affection for a little girl?
Eight years later, when Dante and Beatrice met again, she was already married to someone else. After she died so young, Dante said, "Bitter life has exhausted me in body and soul; the vitality of my life has utterly faded, and people see in my face the likeness of the dead." "How wearisome are the affairs of this world. They fill me with anxiety and unrest, and so I call upon Death, wishing it to become my close and gentle companion."
After seeing the students off, the teachers began their own Christmas holidays. As usual, Severus went to the Malfoy family to see his supposedly "very gifted" godson, Draco Malfoy.
Pomona took Dumbledore's arm, and they Apparated to Muggle London.
They first went to Diagon Alley and bought quite a few gifts. Though wizards did not scramble over Christmas shopping as much as Muggles did, Diagon Alley was still packed.
Everyone was focused on their own business, and few noticed that Dumbledore from the Chocolate Frog Card had appeared in person.
Then they bought a bouquet of flowers and took it to St Mungo's, where they visited the Longbottoms, who lay in deep comas.
Hogwarts had not taught Barty Crouch Jr. the Unforgivable Curses, but he had been sent to Azkaban shortly after graduating. During their visit,