Christmas Present

Eliana hadn't even processed what was happening before her hands had automatically reached out and caught the money pouch.

The clinking of coins was muffled and low—it was packed so full there was barely any room for them to shift.

Just holding it in her hands, Eliana could vaguely sense that it was almost twice as heavy as her original pouch.

She looked like a hamster clutching a giant sunflower seed, staring blankly at Snape, who was leaning on the edge of the desk with his elbows, rubbing his forehead.

She lowered her head and rustled, pulling open the drawstring of the bag. A flash of gold hurt her eyes.

She was even more shocked. Tears were still welling in her eyes, and she stared at Snape with wide, round eyes, like two obsidian stones polished in clear water.

Snape noticed her gaze—in fact, with such focused, laser-like stares, it would be difficult for any living creature with consciousness to ignore them.

"Something else?"

His face was impatient, but his body was slightly angled towards Eliana.

The tears in Eliana's eyes welled up again involuntarily: "I thought you really disliked me."

Snape habitually began his sarcastic retort, "I'm glad Miss Richie has such a clear understanding of herself."

Seeing that the hamster before him was about to turn into a crying whistle spirit again, he urgently changed the subject: "What's wrong?"

Perhaps because she was already in a state of intense emotional fluctuation, Eliana was much more sensitive than usual. She sniffled and said in a low voice:

"I sent you a Christmas present, but you didn't reply. I thought you were showing me you disliked me and didn't want any contact with me in this way."

Snape genuinely couldn't understand it. He was the innocent party, having been scratched by the little Whomping Willow on the street for no reason, yet he was the victim. Now, he had to comfort this crying Whomping Willow.

He was just a Potions teacher, why did he have to provide psychological counseling for a teenage girl during the holidays?

Snape thought irritably, his voice also turning cold: "What, when that person snatched your money pouch, did they also take your brain as a bonus gift? As a teacher, I am currently not qualified, nor do I intend, to expel you."

My brain is broken, what am I thinking all day? I still have to teach you Potions for six more years, how could I possibly want no contact.

For Snape, this was already a huge concession. Normally, Eliana would quickly understand the meaning behind Snape's words.

But she was in a fragile, glass-hearted state and couldn't stand any harsh words. Upon hearing this, her mouth opened, and she was about to start blowing her horn again.

"Stop!" Snape, breaking character, raised his voice. For the umpteenth time that day, he pressed his temple, conceding with a hint of exhaustion, "I think Christmas hasn't passed yet, has it?"

He took a tiny, thimble-sized potion bottle from his pocket and gently tossed it. The potion bottle floated like a golden bud blown by the wind, drifting towards Eliana.

Eliana, sobbing, reached out. The potion bottle landed gently in her palm like a dandelion. The golden liquid inside seemed like molten gold, shining brilliantly even in the dim room.

The penniless Eliana couldn't recognize what this good thing was. She sniffled, her watery big eyes looking at Snape again.

Snape exhaled patiently: "Felix Felicis. Perhaps it will bring you some luck."

Damn it, I'm being robbed by a student in my own home.

He thought, his face stern.

Eliana's eyes lit up. She carefully examined the small bottle in her hand, her tears not yet dried, and a smile already beginning to form on her face.

Snape sneered, habitually spraying his venom: "However, if taken in excess, it will lead to dizziness, recklessness, and arrogance—though that doesn't seem much different from your usual self, Miss Richie."

But Eliana, now completely appeased, was strong enough to block his usual venom from reaching her ears.

She pursed her lips—but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly, and she returned to her usual energetic and lively self.

Snape retracted his slightly forward posture and leaned back in his chair.

Eliana looked at the Felix Felicis in her hand, then at the full money pouch in the other, hesitated for a long time, and then shuffled hesitantly towards Snape.

Honestly, it was quite alarming.

When a child who was usually brazen, hyperactive, deceitful, shameless, full of energy, mischievous, and exceptionally talented, suddenly stood before you meekly and quietly, with a hesitant and embarrassed expression, you wouldn't think she had suddenly seen the light and was reflecting on her actions. Instead—

Was she plotting something big?

Snape, who had been casually crossing his legs, lowered them. He looked at Eliana with a hint of wariness.

Eliana mumbled for a long time before suddenly saying, "I'm sorry, Professor Snape."

Snape didn't speak, but he sat up straighter, his expression becoming even more guarded.

Eliana, lost in her own emotions, didn't notice. She continued, "It's only now that I feel how painful it is to lose something of your own."

Snape remained silent, raising an eyebrow to prompt her to continue.

Eliana bit her lip, gathered her thoughts, and said, "When I was handling your materials before, I wasted a lot. But if I had been more careful, perhaps much of it could have been saved."

So it was just this small matter.

Snape silently breathed a sigh of relief and said dismissively, "It's a pity it's not at school, or Gryffindor would lose five points for that."

"When I... when I was handling your materials, I sometimes secretly took a little..."

Snape said impatiently, "I'm not blind. Those trivial little things, if you took them, you took them... Richie, if you continue to waste my time with these trivial matters..."

His tone grew dangerous.

"One last thing!" Eliana made up her mind and suddenly raised her voice.

Snape was startled by her sudden outburst, stopped speaking, and impatiently gestured for her to proceed.

Eliana stealthily glanced at his expression from the corner of her eye, thinking he was surprisingly easy to talk to today, and her courage grew.

Although Susan told her to tell the professor that she took the curtains back to help with cleaning, and she certainly knew that reason might be better.

But, for some reason, at this moment, she just wanted to tell Snape the truth.

"And the curtains in your classroom, I shouldn't have taken them all secretly."

She glanced at Snape, lowering her head and speaking in a voice like a mosquito.

"What?"