Forbidden Forest's Food Stream?
George didn't escape either; the snowman's second snowball came flying at him, hitting him squarely in the chest.
He was knocked back several steps and landed hard on his backside in the snow.
Professor McGonagall stood at the castle gate, watching all this. Far from being angry, she smiled.
If Tom had demonstrated this level of Transfiguration in class, she would definitely have given him a perfect score.
Albus Dumbledore stood on the windowsill, looking at the adorable snowman, and nodded with a smile.
Gryffindor protective of their own, and seeing the twins being chased around by Tom's snowman, the group couldn't sit still any longer.
"George, Fred, I'm here to save the day!"
Lee Jordan roared and charged out, gathering all his strength to roll a snowball the size of a washbasin, then huffed and puffed as he used Levitation Charm to propel it forward.
As a result, the snowball moved as slowly as a snail, and was smashed to pieces by the big snowman just as it floated into the air.
Fred, who had just crawled out of the snowdrift, covered his face in disbelief. "Idiot Lee! Use Oppugno! Who told you to show off your Levitation Charm!"
"Oh, right!" Lee Jordan suddenly realized what was happening and quickly changed the incantation.
The other Gryffindor also joined in the fun, some throwing snowballs, others fiddling with Transfiguration to try and build a snowman, though they were pitifully small.
Snowballs flew everywhere and snowmen rolled around, turning the once peaceful playground into a battlefield.
There were Gryffindor, and their red scarves fluttered in the snow like a flock of angry penguins.
The Slytherin couldn't stand by and watch their leader get surrounded, so they all rushed to help.
The snowball fight eventually turned into a war between the two schools.
Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw retreated to a safe zone, munching on sunflower seeds and watching the show, wishing they could set up a food stall right there.
In the end, Hermione and Daphne, who were building the snowman, also joined the fight, one guarding Gryffindor and the other standing with Slytherin.
The two men exchanged a glance across the battlefield and simultaneously raised their wands.
Slytherin were outnumbered, but Tom's giant snowman was a formidable fighter, and they managed to keep the situation under control.
Gryffindor, with their thick skin and tough flesh, could withstand it, but when Tom casually summoned a giant snowman, they immediately surrendered, raising their wands in surrender. The white sheets they conjured were almost waving like the France flag.
Fred put away his wand and brushed the snow off himself. "I'm not fighting anymore, I can't win. You're using cheat codes."
George put his wand away. "We'll talk about it next time."
The younger students looked at the older students with resentment. "If even first graders can be this good, you older students are so disappointing."
The older students awkwardly turned their heads away, avoiding eye contact, and instead looked up at the sky, pretending to admire the scenery.
After the snowball fight, Tom returned to the common room. The fire in the fireplace was burning brightly, and the sofas were arranged in a semicircle, with the largest one in the middle, its velvet fabric gleaming dark green in the firelight.
The fifth-year Prefect handed him a piece of parchment.
"Riddle, here's your application to stay on campus during the Christmas break. Sign it if you want to."
Tom glanced at it. "I'm going home for Christmas." He casually handed the application to Daphne.
Daphne didn't even look at it, turning to toss it to Bodesi next to her.
"Would you like to come to my house?" Daphne's voice was very soft, as soft as the wind rustling through the leaves.
Her eyes were filled with anticipation as she traced circles on the hem of her robe with her finger. "I have two England Bobtail cats at home, and they can even do backflips!"
Tom looked at her, and thought to himself that what she was saying sounded a lot like a kidnapping pitch.
Daphne blushed. "You... if you don't want to see the cat, then forget it."
"I didn't say I didn't want to watch, but I have a lot of things to do this holiday."
Tom thought for a moment, "I promise I'll come see you during summer vacation. And I'll also see your little sister, whom you say is even cuter than you."
Daphne's eyes lit up. Two months meant Tom could stay at her house for a month and a half, and the two of them could go on a trip for the remaining two weeks.
It seemed like a better deal, and she cheered up again. Tom didn't tell her that he was really busy.
In the Muggle world, this year's Christmas is a momentous occasion, as someone will be sending a great gift to the Western world.
He wanted to earn more money so that he could achieve financial freedom in the Muggle world.
In the Wizarding World, all the strengthening potions have been used up, and new materials need to be collected. He has prepared Polyjuice Potion to facilitate his activities during the holiday.
Thanks to Professor Snape for sponsoring the materials.
Tom had lost count of how many nighttime outings he'd started this semester. He put on his Disillusionment Charm and walked down the corridor toward the castle's exit.
This time, he plans to venture deep into the Forbidden Forest to find some high-level Fantastic Beasts, such as the Acromantula.
The venom of the Acromantula is practically a panacea in the Wizarding World, and its price is comparable to liquid gold. If you don't need it, you can exchange it for money, making it a sure-fire way to make a profit.
The secret passage was too complicated, so he simply swaggered out through the main entrance.
Filch and his cat typically patrolled the upper floors, or more precisely, kept watch over Gryffindor.
Who made the most noise? Ravenclaw loved staying home, Hufflepuff headed straight for the kitchen, Slytherin were far away, so the main building was basically empty.
Scottish winters are bitterly cold, Tom wrapped himself tightly in his coat, as if he were encased in a thermostat.
The moonlight shone brightly on the snow, so bright it was dazzling; the air was so cold it hurt to breathe it in.
He walked to the edge of the Forbidden Forest and suddenly stopped.
He took a deep sniff, and the aroma of broth and meat filled his nostrils, rushing straight to his brain.
It's not a hallucination, it's real, someone is cooking.
Tom was immediately furious. Who was it that was so immoral, making such delicious food so late at night?
Isn't this just late-night food porn? Doing a mukbang (eating broadcast) near Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night?
He first looked at Hagrid's Hut. There was no smoke coming from the chimney, and the lights inside were all off; Hagrid was sleeping.
The aroma was wafting from the Forbidden Forest. His eyes widened in disbelief; were people having a picnic here?
He climbed over a small hill, where three little figures, wrapped like rice dumplings, were busily working.
They set up a soup pot and a baking tray. The soup was bubbling in the pot, and the baking tray had not only meat but also several long loaves of bread.
The soup was beef and onion soup, and the roasted dishes included a leg of lamb and sausages. The sausage fat sizzled as it dripped onto the fire.
Tom crept up behind them without the three of them noticing. One was stirring the soup, one was flipping the meat, and one was setting the plates.
"You really have the leisure to enjoy yourself, having a picnic in this freezing weather. Beef and onion soup, roast lamb leg and sausages, you sure know how to eat."
The three people screamed as if they had been electrocuted, and their bodies swayed from side to side.
The one in the middle fell to the ground, the one on the left crouched down and covered his head to defend himself, and the one on the right lost his balance and was about to fall and hit the boiling soup pot.
Tom quickly intervened, and an invisible force controlled her, allowing her to turn the tables.
This soup smells so good, we can't let it go to waste.
"Riddle?!"
The one who had been clutching his head suddenly looked up, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing who it was, then puffed out his cheeks in anger, "You scared me to death! I thought Filch had come!"