Letters

In fact, Hogwarts professors seemed never to leave the castle for Christmas, because the students staying behind still needed supervision, and all staff members continued to exercise their authority during the holidays.

These idle young wizards were always full of energy. During a festival like this, if no professors remained in the castle, Hogwarts could probably be turned upside down in a single night.

So whenever the time came, there was never any shortage of patrols in the school corridors—professors, ghosts, Filch, and his cat.

But since Christmas was not until tomorrow, the young wizards were still fairly well-behaved today. Sagreles sent out his letters and gifts one by one, then headed to the library to pass the time.

Early the next morning, the entire campus was filled with festive cheer. After breakfast in the Great Hall, Sagreles returned to his office. As expected, a small pile of letters and gifts had accumulated by the window.

Sagreles casually picked up a deep-blue parchment envelope. Its wax seal bore the emblem of a Red Kestrel with outspread wings, and gold dust was scattered around its edges.

It was from Red Kestrel. Raising an eyebrow, he opened the letter.

"Dear Mr Raven:

First, I must thank you for the item you had Nightingale deliver to us, although I am not at all satisfied with it...

I must admit that strange wand truly left me in awe. If there were an award for 'Most Horrifying Wand Design of the Year,' it would absolutely rank in the top three.

But Mr Raven, have you never considered that, as a young lady, carrying a wand like that might look strange? What do you take me for—a terrifying old witch? Or is your awareness of user experience worse than a Troll wearing ballet slippers?

Of course, I, Irisa Lumina, would not be as careless as you. I selected this return gift with great care. I guarantee you will be satisfied.

Finally, allow me, in my capacity as a professional diviner, to offer you some free advice: next time you give someone a gift, consult the illustrations in Secrets of Advanced Dark Magic less, and read Goblin Fashion Almanac more.

Yours sincerely,

When the star trails are at their most chaotic on a winter night"

A gift box was enclosed with the letter. Sagreles opened it and found a Muggle book—An Anthology of English Jokes.

He curled his lips helplessly. He had long expected Red Kestrel to be dissatisfied with the appearance of the wand that belonged to her, but her resentment seemed deeper than he had imagined. Every line dripped with complaint.

"Much bolder than when we met." Sagreles flipped through two pages of the joke book, found nothing but outdated jokes, and set it aside.

Next came a letter from Thunderbird, along with a book introducing North American wand cores and woods. He leafed through it casually and found that it was all information he already knew.

Then there were letters from two other Bronze Feather members. While wishing him a merry Christmas, they asked whether he was interested in accepting commissions. He refused without a second thought.

There were also letters from his students. Though he had only taught at Ilvermorny for a year, he had quite a few students who liked him. Most of their letters described their recent lives and complained about their new teachers.

He neither approved nor disapproved. Picking up the last letter, he caught a familiar fragrance. It was from Nightingale.

Dear Mr Raven:

While the morning mist still curled deep within the Pyrenees, the Atlas of Emotional Spell Analysis you sent had already appeared on my desk. The casting nodes in the diagrams were broken down very clearly. I think I should be able to master this spell soon.

To be honest, it will be a great help for my upcoming teaching. Please allow me to thank you.

Also, when Loctis delivered my letter, I noticed it had become much quieter than before. I do not know whether that was merely my imagination.

The amethyst vial enclosed with this letter contains a newly brewed perfume potion of mine, Song of Deep Blue. After learning about Beauxbatons's Potions traditions, I prepared it especially for you as a Christmas gift. I hope you will like it.

P.S. If you look closely, you will find a Gnome Barrel Imp trapped inside the bottle, stealing sips of the perfume. It insists that it is the inspirational muse behind "Song of Deep Blue." I could do nothing with it, so I had no choice but to send it along with the letter.

May starlight guide the course of your research.

Your follower, Nightingale

On Christmas Eve

If you cannot find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. It may simply have been renamed!

Sagreles opened the bottle and glanced at the Barrel Imp inside. It was so frightened that it immediately dove to the bottom and refused to come up. He smiled, replaced the cap, and left the office.

Hogwarts's Christmas feast was exceptionally lavish: roast turkey, grilled sausages, buttered peas, and potatoes. Everyone at the banquet looked delighted. Professor Flitwick told Dumbledore a joke that made him burst out laughing.

The drunken Hagrid even kissed Professor McGonagall on the cheek. Rarely, she did not get angry. Instead, Hagrid's drunken state made her giggle, and her pointed hat slipped crookedly to one side.

After finishing his meal, Sagreles left the Great Hall. On his way to the library, he ran into the Weasley twins and Harry's group. A crowd of young wizards was enthusiastically having a snowball fight.

The battle was quite fierce. As Sagreles passed through the corridor, the flying snowballs nearly struck him.

"Sorry, Professor." Either George or Fred apologized to Sagreles before charging back into the snow.

Sagreles stood where he was and watched them play, an unconscious smile appearing on his face. Only after the soaked group headed toward the Public Lounge together did he resume walking toward his office.

Just then, Filch and his cat suddenly rushed out from the entrance hall. He seized the twins by their sweaters with one hand and grabbed Harry's arm with the other, roughly trying to drag them away.

"Is there a problem?" Seeing how agitated Filch was, Sagreles asked coldly.

"Professor, look at the corridor. It's covered in water..." Filch tugged at the young wizards in his grasp. "They did it. I'm taking them to..."

"But this does not violate school rules." Sagreles cut Filch off directly. He did not like that self-righteous old Squib at all, because Filch had given him plenty of trouble back when he was a student.

Sagreles slowly walked over, tapped each of them with his wand, and the young wizards' soaked clothing instantly became dry and comfortable. Then he waved them away.

The Weasley brothers and Harry's group smiled gratefully as they left Filch behind. Sagreles ignored Filch's ugly expression as well and turned to leave.

He felt he had already been quite generous. After all, the only ones in the whole school who could probably get along amicably with Filch were Snape and that cat named Mrs Norris.

Back when he was a student, Filch often worked with Snape to catch students wandering the castle at night. If they were unlucky enough to run into Peeves causing trouble as well, then lost points and detention were practically guaranteed.

Sagreles returned to his office, put the matter with Filch out of his mind, carefully considered what he would teach after Christmas, then took out a quill and parchment and began writing a letter.

Dear Lady Snow Owl:

I have a request concerning Troll specimens:

In next month's Charms Theory and Practice class, I need to demonstrate the differences between three Troll subspecies—mountain, river, and forest Trolls—and how to deal with them. I respectfully request that you provide the following specimens:

1. Alpine Rock Troll (its head horns must remain intact for demonstrating its attack methods)

2. Rhine River Mud Troll (preferably carrying aquatic barnacles, for analyzing water-based mutations)

3. Black Forest Moss Troll (please ensure that the luminous fungal moss on its back has not been damaged)

Each of the three Undetectable Extension Crystal Vials enclosed with this letter contains a Stasis Opal enhanced with a powerful Shrinking Spell:

—When a Troll enters within ten yards, recite "Submit," and the spell woven into the stone will compress it to the size of a doll.

—During confinement, the Troll will fall into dreamless sleep, and all of its life functions will be completely suspended.

1. The specimens will be used solely for academic demonstrations and returned in the same manner afterward.

2. As thanks, I will present you with a Phoenix feather quill found in Knockturn Alley. The shaft is engraved with "To the most cunning cargo escort." Could this be the one you lost last year?

Your friend

After placing the parchment and three crystal vials into the envelope, Sagreles pressed a Raven-shaped seal into the wax. He then summoned Loctis, fed it a large handful of Mithril, and only then handed it the envelope.

Watching the messenger Raven fly away, he could not help imagining what expressions those young wizards would wear when they returned to Hogwarts after Christmas and saw the surprise he had prepared for them.

It would also be a perfect opportunity to test how well they had mastered their knowledge.

His smile fading, Sagreles rose and headed for the library.

If you like this book, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you do not lose it next time!