Christmas Dinner

Mrs. Brown saw a very lively and vivid scene as soon as she stepped out the door.

At the entrance of the orphanage, where the snow had been swept clean, packages of all sizes were neatly piled up. A faint aroma wafted from them, but no one was around.

A figure as dark as night seemed to be trying desperately to walk away, but couldn't. A weight like a millstone was attached to his leg, clinging to him stubbornly. Even when he yanked it away, flinging it into the air, it remained unmoving.

"What's going on? Didn't I just hear Eliana calling me?"

She looked at the scene before her in shock. As the figure raised its head, she was surprised to find that his face was also pitch black.

The man in black stopped struggling, exuding a calm sense of utter despair.

The thing on his leg, seemingly dizzy from being swung around, stumbled and fell to the ground, but still stretched out a hand, tightly gripping the hem of the man's robe.

"Su... yue!!!"

"Ellie? What happened??"

Mrs. Brown strode forward, blocking half of Eliana with her body, her eyes fixed warily on the man. "What happened? Don't be afraid, I'm here!"

The man let out a cold laugh. "This audacious little eight-eyed spider actually knows fear?"

Mrs. Brown didn't understand what an "eight-eyed spider" was, but she guessed from Snape's tone that it wasn't a compliment, and immediately became angry.

"Sir, I won't allow you to speak about little Ellie like that. She's a very well-behaved and obedient child..."

"Susan," Eliana, still feeling dizzy, finally recovered. She didn't notice the tension between them and exclaimed excitedly, "This is the super great teacher I told you about! I tricked him into coming here!"

Mrs. Brown: ???

Mrs. Brown: ...

Snape let out another cold laugh. "Heh, well-behaved; Humph, obedient."

Mrs. Brown felt her toes curl inside her shoes involuntarily.

"Eliana..." she said slowly through gritted teeth.

When the orphanage has problems, you actively help solve them. When the orphanage has no problems, you actively create them, right?!

The happy Eliana didn't notice the atmosphere at all. She excitedly shared her plan in a loud voice: "He refused to spend Christmas with us no matter what. It took all my effort to coax (trick) him to our doorstep. Susan, hurry and help me persuade him!"

"Haah," Mrs. Brown forced an awkward smile at the man with the dark face. "Would you like to spend Christmas with us...?"

Her voice gradually grew smaller under Snape's angry gaze. She lowered her head to scold Eliana.

"It's Christmas today, everyone wants to be with their families more. Even if you hope for it, you can't force a teacher you like just because of your own wishes. He has his own plans too, be sensible, Ellie."

A subtle hint of satisfaction crossed Snape's face.

"He doesn't have any plans! He's all alone, just like us!"

Seeing her ally about to switch sides, Eliana shouted urgently.

Mrs. Brown rapped Eliana on the head with a plate. "Who taught you to speak like that!"

She gave an embarrassed smile to Snape, who stood with his arms crossed, watching them coldly. "This, this, child, her heart is in the right place, it's just that... sometimes she speaks without thinking. Please don't mind, don't mind."

Snape said icily, "I doubt the existence of such a thing."

Mrs. Brown opened her mouth slightly, a little displeased.

Eliana saw stars after being hit but realized her words were indeed impolite. Her voice became a little softer.

Can't find the book title, you can try searching for the author, maybe the name has changed!

"But it's true! Before... when I passed by his house, I noticed everything in his home was solitary, and there wasn't any festive atmosphere at all. It was just books and a few chairs. The carpet hurt my butt, and I didn't see a single Christmas branch or smell any cooking. I think it must be very sad to spend Christmas in such an environment."

Snape said through gritted teeth, "It seems those few minutes spent at my house were truly an ordeal for the esteemed Miss Richie, weren't they?"

You call that "passing by"? It felt more like a raid!

Mrs. Brown was silent for a moment.

But she was willing to dedicate her life and salary to the orphanage, and at her core, she was a kind and passionate person. Hearing Eliana's words, her attitude immediately changed.

"Oh, is that so? Then, sir," she said enthusiastically, "May we invite you to spend Christmas with us?"

Snape: ???

He looked at Mrs. Brown in shock, as if he couldn't understand how some people's stances could be so inconsistent.

--And how they listened to children so readily.

Inviting a complete stranger to spend Christmas with you, is that right?

This is an American, right? How can they be so forward? No wonder Eliana turned out like this!

The upper beam is not straight, and the lower beam is crooked!

Mrs. Brown didn't give him any time to refuse. She reached out and pulled him, half-pushing, half-dragging, into the orphanage.

"Come on, try it, young man. I'm not bragging, but my cooking skills are second to none in all of London."

Snape was pushed inside like a zombie.

Eliana, as if victorious, jumped around beside them. "Susan, I knew you'd find a way!"

Snape turned his head and shot her a chilling glance.

Snape was also attending such a banquet for the first time. The long table was piled high with various dishes, large and small. There were all sorts of flatbreads and roast chickens he had personally witnessed being prepared, mashed potatoes drenched in thick gravy, sausages, fried fish, delicate puddings drizzled with jam, and a large cake.

A line of chattering little radishes gathered around the dining table, drooling as they looked at the rare delicacies before them, while also quietly observing him.

Snape wore a deadpan expression, his gaze vacant as he let them stare.

"Let me introduce everyone!" a loud voice rang out. Eliana climbed onto a high stool and announced, "This is the teacher I mentioned to you all before! He's a very good person, and I'm honored to have invited him to spend Christmas with us!"

The children chattered incessantly, and Snape could clearly feel a newfound closeness in their gazes.

"Little Ellie is quite lively, isn't she? She hasn't caused you any trouble, has she?"

Mrs. Brown came out carrying a large platter of macaroni.

Snape said nothing, grinding his molars.

After speaking, Mrs. Brown seemed a little guilty. She poured almost all the macaroni onto Snape's plate: "Eat, eat! Eat more, you're too thin!"

Snape glared at the macaroni piled almost to his chest.

As if that weren't enough, Mrs. Brown stuck a few chicken legs on top.

Eliana leaned in and added a pair of chicken wings.

The little radishes crowded closer and, timidly but resolutely, added mashed potatoes, flatbread, and sausage to his plate.

Snape: ...

Excellent, besides Dumbledore's tooth-strengthening potion, he would have to brew himself a stomach-soothing potion later.