Snape's Gift

By the afternoon, Kyle had finally returned to Hogwarts.

The Thestral carriage did not return to their starting point, but instead landed near Hagrid's Hut.

"I was just wondering when you'd be back."

Hagrid walked over and patted Thestral's wing. "How does it feel?"

"It can completely replace the train as a means of transportation for the start and end of school," Kyle said with a smile.

"The School Governor won't agree," Hagrid said regretfully. "Keeping Thestral is a huge expense, much more expensive than a train."

"That makes sense," Kyle nodded.

While the Hogwarts Express couldn't match the Thestral carriage in speed and comfort, it was more economical and could be deployed whenever needed, transporting all the students at once.

The School Governor is definitely not going to be replaced; Kyle was just saying it casually.

Before returning to the castle, he gave Hagrid a small vial of dragon blood as payment for the Thestral ' journey.

Although the bottle was sealed, the Thestral ' keen sense of smell detected the scent of dragon blood and immediately became restless.

Hagrid tried to control them, but with little success, and was soon surrounded by the three Thestral.

However, by this time, Kyle had already returned to the castle.

There was only one person in the Hufflepuff Common Room, frantically finishing his homework.

"Long time no see, Winsty," Kyle greeted.

Hearing the noise, Winsty looked up and asked in surprise, "Has the train arrived so quickly this year?"

"Oh no, I didn't come by train," Kyle said. "Where are Kanna and Cedric?"

"Kanna is in the library," she said. "I don't know about Cedric; he went out early this morning, probably with some Gryffindor guys."

"Thank you, I understand."

"You're welcome," Winsty said, then lowered her head again.

The price of her two weeks of crazy fun during the holiday is that she still has homework for five courses to do, and she doesn't know if she can finish it today.

Kyle gave her a sympathetic look, then turned and went into the dormitory.

The small room was filled with all sorts of gifts, Kyle picked out some that interested him and opened them.

This year, Professor Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley gave each other the same gift: a sweater.

Mrs. Weasley gave him a reddish-brown one, while Professor Dumbledore's was light yellow with brown stripes and a more modern design, clearly the result of special research.

It seems he really wants to open a shop in Hogsmeade.

As for other gifts, they were basically various books and candy.

When they were halfway through the demolition, Kyle heard a knock on the door.

Then Kanna pushed open the door and came in.

"I heard from Winsty that you're back."

"Yes," Kyle said, "I came back early because I didn't take the train."

"Do you need any help?" Kanna asked, looking at the gifts around them.

"Of course, you've come at the right time." Kyle made room for him.

Where did you go on vacation?

Kanna found a place to sit down, and while unpacking the packages, she asked curiously, "Cedric said that the letters we wrote to you were all delivered to your dorm, but you weren't there."

"I'm at Nicolas Flamel's house," Kyle explained. "The owl can't find me."

"Are you in Paris?" Kanna asked.

She remembered that Kyle had been there once during a previous vacation and had stayed for a month.

"We didn't go that far; this time it was in Devon," Kyle said.

With Kanna joining in, the gifts were quickly opened.

Kanna picked up the last box. It was unsigned, but she recognized it immediately— Snape's handwriting.

She opened the box with some curiosity...

Inside was a bare, old quill pen and a small bottle.

Kanna glanced up, and while Kyle wasn't looking, she quietly tossed the broken quill pen under the bed.

"Kyle, Professor Snape gave you a bottle of Cheering Potion."

"What?" Kyle looked up in surprise.

Snape actually gave him Potions? That's quite unusual.

He had previously thought that Snape would give him a broken quill pen... which would make a perfect pair with the moldy parchment from last year.

"Look," Kanna said, handing over the Potions.

The bottle wasn't large, and the Potions inside was a beautiful peacock blue color; when placed in sunlight, you could even see some bubble-like things.

"Is it really Cheering Potion?" Kyle whispered.

He had to admit that the features matched perfectly, but he still couldn't quite believe it.

That can't be right. Could it be that Snape drank the Potions that Mikel brewed?

"Of course it's true."

"When I gave Professor Snape my Christmas present, he said he had a surprise for me," Kanna said happily.

"A Christmas present?" Kyle asked. "What did you give him?"

"A Potions- grinding tool," Kanna said, "And the very sweet coffee from Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop."

Kyle's heart skipped a beat.

"So the coffee you bought that time wasn't meant as a gift for Professor Dumbledore?"

"No," Kanna said matter-of-factly. "Didn't you say before that the headmaster and Professor Snape recommended that kind of very sweet pudding?"

I thought, he probably likes sweet things too."

"Does he like it?" Kyle asked.

"He probably liked it," Kanna said after a moment's thought. "He came to ask me where I bought it the very next day."

"You said it?"

"I did tell him," Kanna said. "I told him it was something we had at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop in Hogsmeade."

Kyle took a deep breath and silently put the bottle of "Cheering Potion" away.

No need to even think about it, this thing is definitely fake, and he certainly wouldn't drink it.

Kyle wants to live to graduate.

Moreover, he'll have to avoid Snape for a while, and he also needs to prepare more Bezoar for the antidote.

Hogsmeade sells these things, and they're not expensive. Kyle plans to stock up on a hundred dollars first.

It's always better to be prepared.

Not long after the gifts were unwrapped, it got dark.

The other students also returned, chatting and laughing as they walked into the common room, still excited about the holidays.

The opening banquet was as lavish as ever.

Dumbledore, dressed in a purple robe, walked briskly into the Great Hall.

"Kyle, have you noticed that the headmaster seems quite happy?" Cedric asked softly, holding a piece of roasted potato.

Not only him, but almost everyone could tell that the principal looked much happier than usual.

"They probably received some good news."

Kyle looked up.

Dumbledore seemed to say something witty to Professor McGonagall beside him, making her laugh non-stop.