The Best Christmas Gift

December 15th. Three days remained until Christmas break.

But Harley, Ron, and Hermione paid little attention to that. They devoted all their energy to the exam tomorrow. Ron had spent a week going to He Shenyan for tutoring every evening, and after that, he had finally caught up a little with his studies.

At least he could understand Harley's notes now. The three of them no longer wandered around the grounds or by the lake. Other than attending class, they practically lived in the library, frantically reviewing the professors' Basic Theory of Magic, wishing they could thoroughly memorize every last punctuation mark.

December 16th. The day had finally arrived.

The exam lasted only an hour and ended quickly. Ron let out a long breath after putting down his quill. With that exhale, it seemed as though the bones had been pulled from his body. He slumped back in his chair and stared blankly at the ceiling.

"God, I can't believe I did it."

Harley and Hermione were no better off. The frantic studying of the past few days had already left all three of them physically and mentally exhausted. The two girls collapsed into their chairs in the same posture and let out breaths as well.

Hermione said, "If the professor hadn't helped you, you really might have failed."

Ron curled his lip. "You can take out the 'might.' I never expected the professor to actually spare a whole week of his free time to explain the lessons he'd already taught me."

Harley said nothing. She looked deep in thought.

--

Snape was practicing hard in front of a mirror.

"If you don't mind. Christmas. If... you don't mind. We could spend Christmas together, if you don't mind."

"Sigh."

He suddenly sighed. He realized that even practicing in front of a mirror, he couldn't get the words out. But what else could he do?

Christmas break would arrive soon. He didn't want Harley to return to that place.

Snape simply sat down. On his desk lay a copy of the Compendium of Basic Spells, along with his notebook, densely packed with notes. Most of them concerned the connection between soul and body.

This office, once gloomy and damp, had now become spacious and bright. The fireplace that had gone unused for years was now almost always burning. Magical candles lit the walls, their warm, bright light filling the room.

There was even a blue curtain hanging behind Snape. Harley had specifically bought it for him.

Knock, knock, knock. Someone knocked on the office door. He had no idea who would come knocking at this hour.

"Come in."

A red-haired girl entered. It was Harley.

Snape immediately sat up straight, and his expression unconsciously softened. Harley smiled a little awkwardly and carefully said, "Professor, I don't want to go back to my uncle's for Christmas. Can I stay at school for Christmas?"

"Of course you can. I mean, why not?"

Snape answered immediately, while silently deciding that he would spend Christmas at school this year as well. In the past, he would have chosen to stay home, buy some alcohol, and drink himself into a stupor. But he had no need to do that this year.

"And you actually didn't need to discuss this with me. You only need to tell the prefect," Snape said.

"But I thought... it would be better to tell you too, Professor."

The girl's voice carried a suppressed note of delighted excitement before she left.

Snape looked at the closed door and murmured, "Just wait. Just wait a little longer."

"It'll be soon."

--

He Shenyan was grading the exam papers. He wasn't using magic; he was marking them by hand. It was a matter of respect. He had to do it this way—otherwise, how could he be considered a qualified teacher?

These students had not let him down, nor had they let themselves down. Every one of them had passed, and Ron Weasley had even earned an excellent score of 97. After finishing the grading, He Shenyan looked up at the clock on the wall. It was already five in the afternoon.

He had no interest in these holidays, but he wasn't about to spend the day in his office either.

He stood, draped himself in a black robe, and planned to take a stroll through the Forbidden Forest.

A few days ago, he had told that Acromantula to rein in its Scions. There were quite a few magical creatures in this world that had surprised him. The Unicorns and Centaurs, for instance. It made him curious. Could I get hold of a dragon to study?

Dumbledore had told him he could get one after Christmas.

He Shenyan strolled along the way. There were quite a few students around, but they all turned a blind eye to him. He Shenyan was growing increasingly fond of this little trick that could reduce his presence.

He walked into the deep, dark Forbidden Forest.

At five in the afternoon, even in England, known for its gloomy weather, there was still a little afterglow left in the sky. But the moment he stepped into the Forbidden Forest, all sunlight vanished.

The trees here had few leaves. Their bare, twisted branches stretched and wound toward the sky through the darkness as though they were screaming.

He Shenyan continued deeper into the forest. From time to time, he stopped to examine plants that shimmered with magical light, but his main purpose was to find a Unicorn and take a look.

He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they had turned completely black. In his current vision, the world was simply divided into black and white. Scarlet footprints marked the ground, guiding him in a certain direction.

The footprints extended all the way into the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Beneath a slope, he found a pure white creature. A golden horn rose from its head, and its entire body was white, even glowing in the darkness. Its white mane draped over its neck, making it look holy and untouchable—though that depended on the person.

Just like now. He Shenyan dispelled the little trick and revealed himself. Instead of immediately fleeing, the Unicorn slowly walked toward him, its eyes filled with undisguised curiosity.

It slowly approached He Shenyan and lowered its head. He Shenyan reached out and stroked it, feeling a peculiar warmth. It was like soaking in a hot spring.

He smiled. "Do you think I'm in pain?"

It stared at He Shenyan with those eyes and rubbed its head against him.

"Oh, there's no need for that. I'm not in pain."

He said this, but the Unicorn did not stop. The golden horn on its head emitted specks of golden light, trying to dispel the pain in He Shenyan's heart.

"No, you don't understand. This isn't pain. It's homesickness."

His smile disappeared. He patiently and intently stroked the Unicorn's head, but he wasn't looking at it. Instead, he stared at an empty patch of ground beside them. "What is homesickness?"

"It's difficult to explain to you, because it's a human concept."

"You really want to know?"

"All right. My literary skill is terrible, but I'll do my best to describe it."

He Shenyan said, "It's like a fish forced to leave the water. During the process, that fish evolves. It can survive on land without water, and may even no longer be a fish. But it still misses the bottom of the sea."

"It misses its family and friends. It misses every little thing about that place. And if possible, before it dies, it wants to see that place one more time."

The Unicorn stood quietly where it was, listening to him, then rubbed against him again.

"You want me to ride you?"

He Shenyan was a little surprised, but the Unicorn rubbed against him again, as if urging him on. He had no choice but to mount it, and the Unicorn carried him off in another direction.

The Unicorn sped through the Forbidden Forest with him and came to the shore of a lake. He dismounted, and the understanding creature rubbed against him again. He Shenyan smiled. "No, no. I'm not really a fish. You brought me to the lake."

His words abruptly stopped.

Because the Unicorn was using its glowing horn to create a wondrous sight for him.

The lake began to boil, and countless fish leaped from the water.

On the opposite shore, a herd of Unicorns slowly emerged. Every one of their horns shone. The Magic Power surging from those flickering horns formed a vast golden curtain of light, illuminating the entire lake as brightly as day and even lighting up half the sky.

Within that warm golden radiance, the Unicorn rubbed against him. The lonely man lowered his head and rested his forehead against the Unicorn's, whispering, "Thank you. This is the best Christmas gift I've ever received."

The Unicorn gave a joyful cry. It stepped across the golden curtain over the water and joined its companions. The light slowly faded, and they gradually disappeared into the depths of the Forbidden Forest on the opposite shore.

He Shenyan stood there for a long time.