Christmas Party

On the night of December 20th, Hogwarts Castle was enveloped in a warm, almost festive glow. Snowflakes fell silently outside the windows, and the towers and corridors appeared tranquil and detached in the night, as if even the shadow of war had been temporarily kept at bay.

Professor Slughorn's office, however, was as bustling as ever.

The fire in the fireplace burned brightly, Mars crackling and Winky the shimmering golden snowflakes suspended on the ceiling. The walls were covered with photos and clippings of his past "star pupils," their smiling faces flickering in the firelight, as if silently reminding the guests—this was the entrance to the "future."

The Slug Club's Christmas party has begun.

Hermione stood near the bookshelf, holding a cup of hot cider, her expression polite and restrained. She was clearly not used to such social occasions, but she still tried to talk to Melinda Bobin in hushed tones.

In contrast, the atmosphere on the other side, led by Daphne, was much more relaxed.

The Carrow Sisters, on the other hand, stood out. Hestia stood ramrod straight, her gaze wary, as if unconsciously assessing everything around her; Flora, however, laughed freely, strolling through the crowd with a wine glass in hand, occasionally joining in on a topic and throwing out an ambiguous joke that elicited a low chuckle.

The highlight of the evening was the brief appearance of the "The Weird Sisters".

The atmosphere was instantly ignited when the flamboyant, extravagantly dressed band appeared in the corner of the office. Magical notes danced in the air, the rhythm upbeat and slightly frenetic, and several students couldn't help but sway gently along. Professor Slughorn was clearly enjoying himself, clapping and loudly introducing each other's "rising stars" to the guests.

However, beneath this bustling atmosphere and bright lights, there remains an unseen tension.

Harry would occasionally drift off, his gaze sweeping over the direction of Daphne and Cho Chang before quickly looking away; Hermione noticed, but said nothing. Everyone was laughing, talking about the future, achievements, and glory, but they all knew perfectly well that this was just a brief respite before Christmas.

As night deepened, the party finally came to an end. The students took their leave one by one, donned their cloaks, and stepped into the snow-covered corridor.

Professor Slughorn stood at the door, watching them leave with satisfaction, as if he had already put a price tag on each of their departing figures in his mind.

The next day was the first day of the Christmas holiday.

The sound of footsteps no longer echoed in Hogwarts' Great Hall; only scattered cutlery and lingering warmth remained on the long table. The students had left the castle overnight, as if swept away by the tide. Snow continued to fall, covering the stone steps leading to the gate, temporarily sealing away the tension and unease of the semester.

On the platform, Harry and Ron stood side by side, while Ginny, wrapped in a scarf, stood to the side, her breath scattering in the cold air.

Hermione didn't come with them. Clutching her books, she smiled apologetically at the three of them, "I've decided to go home. This year... my parents are a little worried."

"You'll miss us," Ron said, half-jokingly.

Hermione rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She glanced at Harry one last time, a complex look in her eyes, but said nothing, just waved and turned to leave.

As the train started moving, Ginny leaned against the window, watching Hermione's figure disappear into the snowstorm, and murmured, "She looks more tired than before."

Harry didn't reply. He simply pressed his forehead against the cold train window, letting the train take them away from the castle.

Ginny was right.

Hermione was walking alone on the path leading to the exit of Hogsmeade Station. The cold wind was blowing in through her collar, but she seemed unaware. She just kept her head down, her expression focused and calm, as if she was repeatedly chewing on something.

To outsiders, last night's Christmas party might have seemed like just a lively but somewhat ostentatious social gathering. But for Hermione, what truly left a mark wasn't those glittering names.

The official from the Ministry of Magic was not talkative, nor did he possess the exaggerated enthusiasm of Slughorn. He simply spoke calmly with her about magical legislation, resource allocation, wartime contingency plans, and those "necessary sacrifices" that would only be condensed into a small line in the newspapers.

Hermione realized for the first time so clearly during their conversation—

What determines the course of the world is never the correct answers in the classroom, but those who sit behind their desks and make choices amidst chaos and pressure.

She suddenly remembered Skylar.

This semester, the boy she couldn't forget didn't appear on campus—she'd heard he'd become a special advisor to the Ministry of Magic and now possessed the power to influence Ministry of Magic policies.

She also wanted to be like him, possessing such abilities and responsibilities.

She also wanted to work for the Ministry of Magic.

She gradually realized that her thoughts and views were slowly becoming out of sync with Harry and Ron. They were still immersed in the fantasies of their student days, that narrow world dominated by homework, Quidditch, and romance.

Hermione's vision extends to the distant future—regardless of whether Voldemort and the Dark Lord are defeated, the world is destined for unprecedented change. She doesn't want to be a bystander forever; she wants to participate, like Skylar, to influence the world's affairs and use her own power to drive progress.

Therefore, she not only needs to study law, economics, and politics more diligently outside of class, but also needs to start building connections and resources for the future.

She quickened her pace and soon disappeared into the snowstorm.

The Burrow still leans precariously in the winter, but it's more lively than I remember.

As soon as the door opened, warmth and the aroma of food wafted in. Mrs. Weasley practically burst out, pulling the three of them into the room, her voice brimming with undisguised joy. "You've finally arrived!"

The living room was more crowded than in previous years.

Fred and George jumped down the stairs one after the other, wearing identical but noticeably better-fitting coats. Their expressions no longer reflected the mischievousness of their school days, but rather a more shrewd and sharp confidence.

"Welcome back to this important border town of the Weasley Empire." Fred bowed exaggeratedly.

"Strictly speaking, we are now Diagon Alley," George added.

They worked at Dr. Filibuster's Fireworks Company, and their tone was light but no longer naive as they talked about new product testing, customer traffic, and profits. Johnson sat by the fireplace, adjusting Fred's cuffs with a natural ease, as if he had done it many times before.

"We're dating," Fred said without any hesitation.

Ginny raised an eyebrow and gave a meaningful smile.

George wasn't idle either. Spinnet grabbed him and had her wrap a newly knitted scarf around his neck. She looked much softer than on the court, yet still retained an undeniable sharpness.

Bill is back too.

He was still working at Gringotts, wearing a neat coat, his long hair casually tied back, looking more composed than a few years ago. At the dinner table, he spoke about Gringotts' recent security measures, his tone restrained, yet giving one a subtle sense that a storm was approaching.

"And you? Still single?" George asked with a mischievous grin.

Bill simply shrugged. "I don't have the energy for that right now."

The table was full, yet something seemed to be missing.

No one mentioned Percy's name, but his empty seat lay there silently like an invisible shadow.

Ron, head down, rummaged through his plate, finally muttering, "He's still not back."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Mr. Weasley sighed and did not reply.

"He's just too proud to admit it," Fred said coldly.

Mrs. Weasley pursed her lips tightly, offering no rebuttal, but instead added another spoonful of food to everyone's plate, as if her emotions wouldn't overflow as long as her hands kept moving.

They all knew that Percy had chosen to pledge allegiance to the new Minister for Magic, even though he knew he was in the wrong regarding Voldemort's resurrection. He hadn't apologized to his family and hadn't even been home for a long time.

In their eyes, he became a stubborn, arrogant, and conceited fool.

No one knew that this was actually an order given to him by Skylar. If Percy continued to frequent the Burrow, Skylar worried that his Imperius Curse might be exposed.

As night deepened, Harry stood by the crooked window of the Burrow, watching the snow fall into the yard.

The laughter inside was intermittent, warm and real, yet it couldn't completely dispel the chill in his heart. He thought of Sirius Black and Lupin; the war had only just begun, and his world was already no longer whole.

The scene shifts back to Skylar.

While Hogwarts was covered in snow and the students were returning home, Ella Cottage was experiencing a series of crucial breakthroughs.

The first to bring good news was Sarf.

The Runespoor eggs seized from the Cairo Black Market finally hatched successfully thanks to her almost obsessive patience. The moment the baby snake emerged from its shell, natural ancient runes appeared in the air, like living magical texts breathing.

This signifies a fact powerful enough to shake up the international magical materials market—

Currently, the global supply of Runespoor -related materials is monopolized by the Burkina Faso Ministry of Magic, and this breakthrough means that for the first time, this monopoly has broken free from official control.

Skylar immediately approved the plan to start preparations for a private Runespoor breeding farm deep within the Magic Garden of Avalon Island.

Sarf was naturally in charge, while Gadelle and Natalie, who had been temporarily free, were reassigned to assist in recording data on bloodline stability, molting cycles, and rune changes. Viviane, who was familiar with the island's environment, cooperated with them to provide all the necessary resources on the island.

This is not just a matter of resources, but a substantial challenge to the "magical monopoly order".

Obtained "Runespoor juvenile"!

[The "Runespoor Breeding Project" is now open!]

Almost simultaneously, Viviane completed the final round of training for the Evil Dragon Heart.

The shackles that had suppressed her for years by Morgan's curse were completely shattered, and her magic power rose again to its former peak—quasi-magician.

During the trial by the lake, she ignited the entire surface of the water with just one note. The explosion spread out in layers like ripples, yet it was precise and controlled, without affecting any of the defensive barriers on Avalon Island.

(Note: The use of music to cast Blasting Curse is not a fabrication of the author. Chocolate Frog card artist Musidora Barkvis once played her unfinished work, "The A Wizard's Suite," on a bass horn, which directly blew up the roof of the Ackerley Town Hall.)

In this way, in terms of magical power alone, Viviane's strength jumped to the top among the Seven Maidens, almost on par with Daphne, Cho Chang, and Morrie in their Magic Wielder Form.

At Viviane's repeated and insistent request, Skylar bestowed upon her the title of "Handmaid of the Lake," placing her alongside the other six handmaids. Although nominally a handmaid, she was now solely responsible for his orders.

At this moment, the master-servant contract quietly superimposed itself on the contract of fate.

In that instant, the two achieved an unprecedented level of understanding. Skylar could clearly feel the long-lost freedom and lightness in her chest; Viviane could also instantly perceive the deepest, unknown weariness and tenderness in his heart.

Viviane at Skylar, her pale blue eyes shining like moonlight at the bottom of a lake, her gaze seemingly piercing through the river of time. She made a vow. "This time, wherever you go, I will be by your side."

Viviane has been promoted to "Handress of the Lake"!

Viviane has increased!

Elaine was the one who finally completed her transformation.

After repeatedly studying the Scorpion King Statue, she finally resonated with that ancient and cruel bloodline.

The moment her power was fully awakened, her aura changed abruptly, as if an ancient king who had been sleeping for thousands of years deep in the desert had been awakened.

A deep black emerged from beneath her skin, and hard shells rapidly grew and interlocked along her spine, shoulders, arms, and legs, clinging to her body like living things, and in the blink of an eye, completely covering all her vital parts.

The black armor gleamed with a cold metallic sheen, yet it also bore eerie biological patterns—fine veins flowed faintly like blood vessels, as if this armor was not an external object, but a second layer of skin that her body should have possessed.

The edges of the carapace are as sharp as knives, and the joints naturally split into fine slits, ensuring both extreme flexibility and hidden danger at every turn.

What's most unsettling is the change that happened behind her.

Starting from the end of the lumbar vertebrae, segment after segment of jet-black scales burst forth from the body, accompanied by a slight cracking sound of bones, rapidly extending, bending, and outlining, ultimately transforming into a long and deadly scorpion tail. The tail was over two meters long, entirely composed of layers of overlapping black scales, each segment gleaming with a dark, cold light. The high, sharp, and menacing barbs at the end of the tail gleamed with a dark, chilling light, and were entwined with faint black runes—traces of the natural fusion of poison and curse.

This tail spike can be used for close-range Cleansweep and piercing, or it can be launched out in an instant, tearing through the air like a javelin, killing at any distance without mercy.

When she stood completely still, the legendary "Scorpion King Battle Armor" had taken shape.

The black armor followed her spine, shoulders, and waist naturally, its lines close-fitting yet not bulky, instead highlighting her originally taut and powerful figure.

Her face also changed.

An eye patch made of black nail polish slowly grew from the outer edge of her eye sockets, like an ancient shamanic mask, partially covering her eyes. The eye patch was not rough; instead, it possessed a cold and exquisite beauty.

Elaine tilted her head slightly; her eyes, beneath the black armor, remained her original color, though darker than before, radiating an aura of...

An eerie, deadly, beautiful yet terrifying aura.

In the subsequent combat drills, Elaine's displayed strength left everyone speechless.

The Scorpion King Battle Armor could easily withstand attacks from Stunning Spell and Severing Curse. When the spell light struck her, it only left shallow white marks on the surface of the armor plates, which were quickly healed and erased by the black armor itself. Even with the powerful Blasting Curse, Elaine was only knocked back a few steps before regaining her footing, and not a single crack appeared on the black armor.

What truly sends chills down your spine is her inhuman agility and speed. She moves like a shadowy Black Shadow skimming the ground, weaving between obstacles. Before anyone can react, she's already close to her target, her scorpion tail poised for attack, ready to deliver a fatal blow at any moment.

This speed completely exceeded the reaction limits of a regular wizard, even surpassing the "Tiger's Eye" ability that the "Beast Priest" Anubi had once demonstrated.

With its formidable defense, incredible speed, the combined power of three aerial summons, and the versatile barbed tail spikes effective in both close and long-range combat, this combination even made Skylar feel troubled.

Skylar stood to the side, his gaze calm, but in his heart he gave her a very high evaluation. If he were to encounter Elaine head-on without any information or preparation, even a quasi-magician would probably find it difficult to escape unscathed.

The launch of the Runespoor Breeding Farm project, the completion of Viviane's training, and Elaine's Scorpion King Battle Armor all signify that the power in Skylar's hands has once again reached a new level. It seems that this Christmas will be Skylar's greatest gain and gift to date.

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