Everyone staying at school was drawn to this performance of "The Fountain of Fair Fortune." No one noticed a worm glowing red as it crawled about, until it was struck by a spell and began to expand and swell.
"Merlin's beard! What's happening?!"
Hearing the cries, Tom drew his wand at once. The professors all rose to their feet, but they were still a step too late. Countless sparks ignited the entire Great Hall, and the flames spread at an alarming speed.
Professor Kettleburn froze for a moment. Once he came to his senses, he shoved three students away from the center of the fire, but before he could cast a spell, the flames swallowed him.
"Damn it! Freezing Charm! Tom, be careful! Use the Freezing Charm, quickly!" Dumbledore first extinguished the flames on Kettleburn, then, without stopping to check on his colleague's injuries, flung spell after spell to freeze the Fire-Drake eggs that were about to hatch.
Headmaster Armando let out a faint sigh. He truly deserved this! Why had he agreed to Herbert's request to put on such a bloody pantomime? "Galatea... take the students and Kettleburn out first. The rest of the professors will stay here."
The pantomime had turned into a farce. Tom carefully inspected every corner, freezing the snake eggs glowing red. He wiped away a cold sweat and let out a breath. He would remember this Christmas for the rest of his life. It looked like Professor Kettleburn would once again be kept on under probation...
Worn out in both body and mind, Tom returned to his dormitory and threw himself onto the soft bed. Dinner had been far too exciting; he had barely managed a few bites. Now, he was truly starving.
Looking helplessly at the familiar place before him, Tom felt just a tiny urge to give up. If he couldn't resist... he would sooner die than touch those damned points of light.
As though it had guessed Tom's thoughts, countless points of light gathered once more, outlining a glowing yew tree. Tom opened his eyes and glanced at it, then shifted his gaze to the locket on the other side. The desire in his heart told him that as long as he walked over and took the locket, he could fulfill the wish buried deepest within him. But why had he suddenly thought of that damned senior?
Little Tom... will you regret it...?
The gentle, elegant voice seemed capable of bewitching the heart. Tom's raised hand froze in midair. Turning his head, he saw the figure beneath the yew tree and slowly withdrew the hand that was about to touch the locket. He had decided. From this day onward, his most hated color would be platinum blond!
At Malfoy Manor at the same time, Abraxas's tightly shut eyes twitched, and the corners of his lips curved upward, as though he were having a beautiful dream.
The brief holiday ended, and Tom could hardly wait to speak with Headmaster Dippet. He wanted to change houses! Anywhere would do. As long as he could get farther away from that clingy platinum-blond senior, he would rather go to the muscle-brained lion den of Gryffindor!
"Senior! Weren't you planning to haunt me?"
Abraxas reached out and stroked the black head he had missed so much. Under Little Tom's furious glare, he pressed down the corners of his ever-rising lips. "For Little Tom, I even rejected House of Bulstrode's marriage proposal. Doesn't Little Tom want to comfort me?~"
Clenching his fists tightly, the pain in his palms snapped Tom out of his daze. He needed to learn Legilimency. That damned bastard—could he be a male Veela or something?! What exactly was wrong with him? Why did his heart always lose control whenever he was with this person?
"Is that so? How pitiful. I offer my deepest sympathies. Now, can you stay farther away from me, Senior?"
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