Holiday

The weather grew colder, and the various juices on the dining table began to get hotter. Harry was always scalded by the first sip, and then he would enjoy the warmth chasing away the chill he brought in from outside into the Great Hall or the kitchens. Ron would chuckle at him being scalded, then frown as he tried to take a sip himself, only to end up sticking his tongue out and waiting for it to cool down after being scalded seven times out of ten.

The awkwardness between the two ended on the fourth day after that incident—Harry mentioned in a letter to Sirius that Pettigrew used to be Ron's pet, so Sirius sent him a cute little owl to apologize for Ron's unfortunate experience. Ron happily named her Pigwidgeon and made up with Harry that same day.

However, Harry still asked the Weasley twins to buy a pile of sweets from Honeydukes in Hogsmeade Village to apologize for neglecting Ron's feelings. Ron hugged Harry tightly all night, and then the two of them rolled off the bed together in their sleep, laughing at each other in the middle of the night after being dazed by the fall. They then snuck into the kitchen under the invisibility cloak and downed a large mug of warm corn juice under Diko's smiling gaze.

The week before the Christmas holidays, Draco's harassment of Harry and the others suddenly increased. The number of times he targeted Ron noticeably increased, and his contemptuous remarks towards the Weasley family became increasingly excessive. Ron was so angry many times that he drew his wand, only to be stopped by Harry in time—after all, Ron's wand could only hurt himself.

Later, Hermione found a notice in the corners of the newspaper about Arthur Weasley being ordered to search for items that might contain dark magic. She concluded that Arthur had searched the Malfoy house, which was why Draco was targeting Ron so fiercely.

Harry nodded, thinking it made sense. Ron excitedly raised his fist and shouted, "Dad is awesome!" When Draco mocked him again, he just smiled, looking extremely pleased. Draco looked at him like that, cursed a couple of times, and then couldn't continue, leaving with a strange look on his face. Harry watched Draco's almost fleeing back and nodded thoughtfully, his eyes shining slightly.

In a heavy snowfall, the Christmas holidays arrived as scheduled. The boisterous students left the school, and quiet descended upon Hogwarts.

Harry, wrapped in a thick scarf, stepped into the deep snow, listening to the crunching sound and chuckling softly.

"Good afternoon, Harry."

Cyberlina, whom he hadn't seen much of recently, suddenly appeared before him, startling Harry.

"Ah, good afternoon, Senior Cyberlina."

Harry looked up and saw that Cyberlina wasn't wearing her school uniform—or even her wizarding robes. Instead, she was wearing a well-tailored, dark green coat that looked very expensive. She had a fluffy black hat on her head and a matching fluffy scarf around her neck. Her calf-length coat revealed black leather boots dusted with snow.

—Very Muggle.

That was Harry's first thought.

"Are Hermione and Ron both home?"

Cyberlina and Harry walked towards the castle together.

"Hermione is home, but Ron went to Egypt with his brothers and Ginny to see his brother Bill—oh, Percy didn't seem to go, he said Prefects are very busy." Mentioning Ron and his family, Harry's tone was full of envy. "Mr. Weasley seems to have many good friends at the Ministry of Magic, and they helped him resolve... the trouble Ron and I caused... so he wouldn't be punished." Harry's expression became a little awkward. "It seems those friends, hearing Mr. Weasley wanted to visit his son in Egypt, gave him a few plane tickets—Muggle ones, so Ron and Fred and George, who were supposed to stay at school, all went along."

Seeing Cyberlina raise her eyebrows at him, Harry quickly added, "I only heard this from Ron, but I think Mr. Weasley must be quite powerful at the Ministry of Magic... he could even search the Malfoy house..."

"The Weasleys have always been powerful," Cyberlina agreed with a smile.

Harry nodded in agreement, then stomped on the snow under his feet, pressing the footprint down, and muttered softly, "If only Sirius could have been discharged sooner, then I could leave too, and I wouldn't have to just stay in the common room with Percy."

Harry didn't dislike Percy, but he felt more pressure being with Percy than with Hermione—the two of them were very similar, completely focused on studies and exams.

"Don't worry, you'll see Little Black soon," Cyberlina said softly, stroking Harry's messy hair and bending down. "I heard he's already started sorting out the Black family's assets in the infirmary. Perhaps you won't have to stay with the Dursleys all summer."

Harry's eyes "whooshed" open, and he looked at Cyberlina with hopeful eyes. "Really? I don't have to stay with the Dursleys anymore?"

"Just not 'all the time'." Cyberlina lightly tapped the scar on Harry's forehead with her knuckles. "I think Albus must have told you that there's protection left for you by Lily here."

"...Mm."

"This is a powerful magic that can prevent you from being harmed. And Albus added an extra layer of insurance—as long as you stay with your blood relative for a certain period, Voldemort cannot harm you." Cyberlina withdrew her hand, bent down to meet Harry's eyes, and smiled. "So you need to stay with your aunt."

Harry stared into those light hazel-brown eyes, moved his lips, but couldn't speak for a long time. Finally, he let out a small sigh and lowered his eyes. "Okay... How long do I need to stay?"

"About a week should be enough... I guess."

Cyberlina straightened up and continued walking alongside Harry towards the castle. When they reached the point where they had to go in different directions, Harry looked up and asked with some hesitation, "Senior Cyberlina, do you have a way to help me maintain this magic without having to stay with the Dursleys?"

Cyberlina looked down at Harry, didn't answer, and just sighed softly.

"Okay... I get it." Harry lowered his head, then raised it again, smiled at Cyberlina, and said goodbye before heading towards the Gryffindor Tower.

After watching his back disappear up the stairs, Cyberlina turned and headed for the dungeons.

"Ashwinder egg, newt blood, billywig sting slime, fairy wings..." Snape held a list, checking off the fresh ingredients Cyberlina was taking out of her beaded bag, which had been expanded with an undetectable extension charm. "Erumpent horn powder... horn, Streeler blood and skin—" Snape paused, looking at Cyberlina, who was leisurely flipping through student assignments, with a complex expression. "I won't ask in detail about the erumpent horn, but this Streeler skin is quite intact, with blood clots—did you personally go to Africa, old woman?"

"Uh-huh," Cyberlina nodded, looking up from the potion assignments that made her eyes hurt. "What else?"

"..." Snape had to admit that when he gave her the list, he never expected Cyberlina to personally hunt or gather every single item on the list... What were the ingredient shops for!

But the result didn't affect him, and the ingredients were fresh and of good quality—he was profiting.

So Snape shut up and continued to check the list.

And honestly, rather than asking Cyberlina how she managed to collect all these ingredients from all over the world, Snape was more curious if she had settled accounts with Dumbledore—it wasn't out of gossip.

It was mainly because the last few times he had taken the Savior-shaped key to read in the study and to the Chamber of Secrets to pluck at the Basilisk, the curious young Gryffindor had subtly probed a few times about Cyberlina's and Dumbledore's recent relationship, so Snape guessed that Dumbledore had probably angered Cyberlina elsewhere, and he really wanted to know the outcome—it wasn't out of gossip!

Nor was he influenced by the young Gryffindor—he simply wanted to see the old Gryffindor suffer!

"Honestly, Severus, I'm a bit curious about how many people you supply," Cyberlina closed the assignment in her hand. "Forget those miscellaneous things. If I remember correctly, this Streeler skin should be an alchemical ingredient, right?"

"Then it seems Madam Sekri is too ignorant—oh, or perhaps it's because you've been away from the wizarding world for too long and need to relearn some common sense." Snape withdrew his scattered thoughts and went over the list again. "In that case... only the Bavarian Dragon Blood Tree sap and the Vienna Magic Vine are left."

"Mm," Cyberlina nodded. "The places where these two ingredients are found are very close. I'll go after attending the Malfoy family's banquet."

Snape paused, but ultimately didn't say the words "there's no rush," nor did he ask why she didn't go to closer places if she had already been to Africa. He just nodded and put away the bag and the ingredients—after all, Cyberlina hadn't asked for the bag back.

"Anything else?" Snape started to usher her out.

"Hm?" Cyberlina sounded confused. "Aren't you coming too?"

"...Going where?"

"The Malfoy family banquet," Cyberlina looked at Snape. "I remember Little Malfoy saying the head of the Malfoy family invited you—did I misremember?"

"No, you didn't misremember." Snape sat down in his office chair and opened the assignment Cyberlina had been looking at. "Lucius invites me politely every year, but I don't go every time."

Seeing Snape already pick up his pen and start grading, Cyberlina sighed slightly. "Alright, in that case, I'll have to go alone."

Snape sneered without looking up, "Forgive my poor eyesight, but I only just realized Miss Sekri still needs parental accompaniment to travel, a wizard incapable of self-care."

"After all, I'm only fifteen," Cyberlina stated righteously.

"Hmm, fifteen years old, strong enough to break an Erumpent horn and skin a Streeler," Snape began grading homework. "I'm not some Old Bee who can't stand your gaze. If Miss Sekri doesn't want to attend the Malfoy family banquet, then I welcome you to stand here all night."

"Alright then," Cyberlina chuckled softly and made her request, "May I borrow the fireplace of the diligent Professor Snape?"

"Be my guest."

The invitation from the Malfoy family to Cyberlina was for a time earlier than the banquet, so Lucius was already waiting at the manor entrance. However, he was informed by a house-elf that Cyberlina had emerged from her own fireplace. He walked back with confusion, only to see his son being held by the collar by a tall young woman halfway back, being pulled out of the snow in their garden.

Lucius strode forward with a stern expression and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing his son was only covered in a bit of snow.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy," Cyberlina removed her fluffy hat and placed it in front of her. She then inclined her head slightly towards Lucius with an apologetic smile, "I startled young Mr. Malfoy with my sudden exclamation."

"A-and I lost my balance," Draco patted the snow off himself, his small face flushed with embarrassment. Who gets startled in their own home and falls into the garden! It's too embarrassing for a Malfoy! I hope Father won't be angry.

Thinking this, Draco cautiously looked up at Lucius, only to find his father wasn't looking at him at all.

Lucius smiled, his cane behind his back, the other hand placed on his chest. He also inclined his head slightly in a bow, "Lady Sekri, you needn't be so formal. It was young Draco who was reckless."

Draco: Eyes widened.

"Please, this way, Madam. My father has been looking forward to your arrival for a long time," Lucius said, taking the lead and gesturing for Cyberlina to follow.

Cyberlina smiled, put her hat back on, and followed Lucius.

Abraxas had contracted dragon pox many years ago. This illness, common in the elderly, had disfigured him, and he was reluctant to see outsiders, so he moved out of Malfoy Manor. It wasn't until last September, due to Cyberlina's affairs, that he moved back to Malfoy Manor. However, he still resided in a room on the upper floor of the main villa, one that was not typically visited by guests. He spent most of his time lying on a large bed with the curtains almost always drawn, passing the time by chatting with his father's portrait.

"I'm very sorry, Professor Sekri, my condition does not permit me to bow to you," Abraxas's voice was hoarse and weak. Cyberlina knew at once that his time was short.

"It's alright," Cyberlina sat on the chair Lucius had conjured, looking gently at the bed curtains embroidered with elegant patterns. "I understand." She then looked at the portrait on the wall opposite the bed, "Long time no see, Obather."

"Long time no see, Professor Sekri," Obather Malfoy, with his pale gold hair tied back and appearing elderly, smiled faintly. His noble aura was the same as in his youth. "I used to wonder when you'd get a portrait made, but I never expected I'd be a portrait for decades while you still look so young."

"I guess you want to say... even younger," Cyberlina smiled faintly at Obather. "But if I didn't, how could I keep the promise I made to you back then?"

Lucius, who was listening, raised an eyebrow slightly at this. However, his grandfather sighed in the portrait, "Professor Sekri, I don't know if that promise is fair to you anymore."

"How is it unfair?"

"These descendants of mine... they don't seem to be worth your protection," Obather's face showed pain. "Ab and Luke each have their merits, but unfortunately, they both have many flaws. And Ab's current state... perhaps in a few more months, my son and I will only be able to converse within picture frames."

Lucius's brow twitched upon hearing his grandfather's words, but he said nothing – after all, it wasn't his place to speak.

Cyberlina glanced at Lucius, then smiled, "Not at all, Obather. You underestimate your descendants."

Abraxas, lying on the bed, listened silently to his father and Cyberlina's conversation. He couldn't help but recall what his father had said when he was young and preparing to follow Tom—

"Ab, the Malfoy family is yours to lead now, so I won't interfere. I just want to remind you, he's too young."

At the time, he had replied, "It's precisely because he's young that supporting him now will yield greater benefits."

Moreover, he felt that with his senior and junior schoolmate ties, his future status wouldn't be too bad.

It wasn't until later, as Tom gradually became more volatile and unreasonable, that he belatedly realized what his father had meant – he was too young, and you had no idea what he would become later.