Silvan genuinely thought that staying at school for the holidays had been an incredibly good decision.
It was as if the Troll knew today was Christmas, too. Before night fell, it had given him a little surprise.
The Fusion Charm had worn off, which also meant the Troll Spine had truly become a proper wand core.
It still looked a little too large, but that was all right. Silvan had anticipated this and specially prepared a wand shaft over two feet long, just the right size to match the core,
He had thought he would need to make further adjustments, but now there was no need.
Next came the actual wand-making.
But it was too late today. At Hagrid's insistence, Silvan had no choice but to forcibly restrain his itching hands and leave the hut, looking back every few steps.
Hagrid walked Silvan to the door.
He wouldn't have minded Silvan staying. After all, the sounds Silvan made while making a wand weren't even as loud as Fang's snoring. They wouldn't bother him at all.
But Professor McGonagall would be checking the dormitories that night.
There hadn't been such a rule before. This year was a special case, after all, with two Weasleys among the students staying behind. Professor McGonagall had no choice but to keep a closer eye on things.
Still, seeing how reluctant Silvan looked, Hagrid hesitated, then turned to glance back at the hut.
A few minutes later, he pulled on his moleskin overcoat and hurried after him.
Dinner was turkey sandwiches and toast with cranberry sauce. It tasted great, and everyone ate happily.
Only Silvan had his mind entirely on the wand shaft and core he had finished preparing. He hadn't paid the slightest attention to what he was eating.
At the High Table, Dumbledore turned a brown wand over and over in his hands, examining it. Beside him, Professor McGonagall chuckled happily.
"I've tried it, and it's wonderful," Professor McGonagall said, unable to resist glancing at Silvan, who was staring off into space. "Apart from the fact that I can't use it alongside my first wand, it's perfect in every other way. It's like having a new hand."
"Is a hair wand core really so remarkable?" Dumbledore marveled.
Normally, a witch like Professor McGonagall was no longer all that dependent on her wand. She could even manage Wandless Magic.
Yet Professor McGonagall had been in high spirits all day. Dumbledore had also noticed that she had used magic far more often than usual. Even little spells she could normally cast with a casual gesture, she had performed with the new wand Silvan had given her.
"It's remarkable," Professor McGonagall said. "It feels like part of my body. I don't even need an incantation for some of the simpler spells."
"Nonverbal Spells?" Professor Flitwick asked from beside her. "Those should be quite easy for you."
"It's still different." Professor McGonagall shook her head. "It's not that I don't have to say the incantation aloud. I don't need one at all. The moment I think of it, the magic is already done."
"Really?" Professor Flitwick's eyes widened in surprise.
As a dueling expert, he immediately understood what Professor McGonagall meant.
Not needing an incantation meant the spell could be cast instantly. If Professor McGonagall entered a duel, she would have the advantage from the very start, giving her opponent no chance to retaliate.
As for Professor McGonagall's comment that only simple spells could be cast without an incantation... Professor Flitwick simply ignored that part.
Even using only the simplest Knockback Jinx, he was confident he could keep an opponent pinned down until the duel was over.
"If I paid for one, Mr. Ollivander wouldn't feel insulted, would he?" Professor Flitwick was tempted, but wasn't sure how Silvan would feel about it.
He had known Garrick Ollivander when he was young, and knew how stubborn the man had been. He made wands only according to his own whims and preferences... until he took over the wand shop in Diagon Alley.
"Well..." Professor McGonagall faltered, unable to answer.
Would Silvan feel insulted? She didn't know, so she couldn't say.
It was just that...
Professor McGonagall lowered her gaze and casually glanced at the top of Flitwick's head.
As everyone knew, Professor Flitwick had some Goblin ancestry, and Goblins usually didn't have much hair.
Perhaps that had something to do with it, but Professor Flitwick's hair looked... well, not particularly abundant.
Professor McGonagall wasn't sure whether it would meet the requirements for a wand core, especially since her own wand was nearly twelve inches long.
On the other side, Dumbledore thoughtfully nudged his glasses up his nose, only to spot someone unexpected sneaking a look around the Great Hall entrance.
"Hagrid?" Dumbledore exclaimed in surprise, then went over and ushered him inside.
"I'm so glad you didn't turn down my invitation to join us for dinner this time. Christmas is much livelier when everyone's together." Dumbledore smiled and pointed to an empty seat nearby, inviting Hagrid to sit down.
That seat usually belonged to Snape, but he wasn't there today.
Hagrid was a little ill at ease. For one reason or another, the Ministry of Magic had once expelled him from Hogwarts for "failing to control dangerous creatures properly," and his wand had been snapped in half.
Only Dumbledore had been willing to believe him and give him a job.
So Hagrid usually didn't like coming to the castle, much less eating with the professors... He didn't want to cause trouble for Dumbledore.
He had come to find Silvan and hadn't planned on staying for dinner.
But Dumbledore was so welcoming that by the time Hagrid realized what was happening, he was already sitting in Snape's usual seat.
"Would you like something to eat? How about a turkey sandwich? I have to admit, the House-elves roasted far too much turkey." Dumbledore said with a half-joking smile.
Hagrid didn't mind.
"You should come here more often. The gamekeeper is part of Hogwarts, too," Dumbledore continued. "You're entitled to eat in the Great Hall with everyone else."
Hagrid pretended not to hear him.
As he'd said, he didn't want to cause trouble for Dumbledore.
Besides, he wasn't very fond of crowds. Wizards were prejudiced against Giants, and they weren't much kinder to half-Giants like him. Most young wizards looked at him strangely, which made him uncomfortable.
Of course, Silvan and Harry were different.
Sitting beside Dumbledore, Hagrid struggled through an awkward dinner.
As soon as the food on his plate disappeared, he eagerly said goodbye to Dumbledore, got up, and left. As he passed Silvan, he slipped a brown paper bag into his arms.
"This is the stuff you left at my place. Make sure you don't forget it again," Hagrid said.
Silvan didn't understand at first. Then he looked up and saw Hagrid winking at him.
Hagrid really wasn't good at lying. His suspiciously obvious words and stiff tone were so unconvincing that even Harry, sitting beside him, could tell something was off.
But Hagrid didn't give them a chance to ask questions. After handing Silvan the bag, he walked straight out of the Great Hall.
Silvan opened the bag without thinking. A familiar flash of white caught his eye...
"What's in there?" Ron leaned over curiously.
"Nothing." Silvan casually closed the bag. "I asked Hagrid for a few Rock Cakes and forgot to bring them back with me."
"Rock Cakes..." Ron frowned, as though recalling an unpleasant experience. "Those things are as hard as rocks. You can't even bite into them. You actually went out of your way to ask him for some?"
"Yeah. I recommend you try one. They're delicious," Silvan said absentmindedly.
"I think I'll pass." Ron covered his mouth, instantly losing interest in the bag.
Before you continue