Christmas Holiday Ends

After returning home, Xiwen immediately snapped his the Snap, preparing to have Millie deliver the news of his return to Sandrine.

However, only a cold wind responded to him, making him shiver.

Xiwen paused for a moment, then walked into the attic in the courtyard. It was warmer inside than outside, but it was still clear that the fire in the fireplace had been out for some time; Sandrine and Millie must have gone out.

"No way..." Xiwen thought of a possibility, and his lips twitched.

He opened a portal leading to a secluded alley next to King's Cross Station.

As Xiwen stepped out of the halo, he immediately saw Millie, the House-Elf, staring wide-eyed.

"Young Master Xiwen?!" Millie exclaimed in disbelief as she watched Xiwen emerge from the halo.

"Shh—" Xiwen held up a finger, glanced at the Muggle passing by outside the alley, and gestured for Millie to be quiet.

"Millie, I'm going to find Sandrine now. Can you stay here a little longer?" Xiwen said to Millie.

After Millie nodded, Xiwen walked straight into King's Cross Station.

He walked towards the middle of platforms seven and eight, and sure enough, he saw Sandrine waiting by the wall next to the exit of Platform Seven and a Half.

Sandrine stared intently at the wall, so focused that she didn't even notice when Xiwen walked up to her.

"Good evening, Mom!" Xiwen patted her arm and said softly.

Sandrine glanced at Xiwen beside her in surprise, then subconsciously looked at the partition wall of the hidden platform, revealing a suspicious expression.

"Aren't you riding the European Magic Star Train?" she asked.

"Well, to be honest, I actually used a new mode of transportation," Xiwen said with an awkward laugh to Sandrine.

"Let's go meet up with Millie first!" Before Sandrine could ask any questions, Xiwen quickly changed the subject and pulled her out of King's Cross Station.

Sandrine glanced at Xiwen with amusement, asked no further questions, and followed him into the alley where Millie was.

"Now you can tell me what new mode of transportation you used, right?" After arriving at this deserted alley, she looked at Xiwen with a half-smile and asked.

Xiwen coughed twice and summoned the Dimensional Gate again. Its golden light illuminated the entire alley.

Sandrine's face showed surprise at the opportune moment, and Millie next to her exclaimed in surprise.

"Does this circle lead directly to the house?" Sandrine asked curiously as she circled the Dimensional Gate, looking at the Rosier family's attic within the circle. "And why does this side of the circle connect directly to the yard, while the other side looks empty?"

Xiwen's eyes twitched as he watched Sandrine poke her slender index finger at the back of the Dimensional Gate.

"I'm not entirely sure either; I was only responsible for learning how to use it..." Xiwen said helplessly. "Besides, this spell has a very sophisticated name; it's called Dimensional Gate. Simply calling it 'Circle' feels like it lowers the overall elegance by several levels..."

Sandrine completely ignored Xiwen's protests and poked the back of the Dimensional Gate, feeling a repulsive force, and her index finger was pushed out.

"How amazing!" Sandrine exclaimed.

Suddenly, as the sun completely disappeared below the horizon, the whole world darkened, and the streetlights came on one after another.

In the dimly lit alley, where not a single light shone, the golden light of the Dimensional Gate seemed somewhat abrupt. Muggle in the distance were already inclined to come and see for themselves.

"The Nebulus (Nebulus)."

Sandrine chanted a spell, and a continuous stream of mist poured from the tip of her wand, filling the entire alley.

"Son, you still lack experience!" Sandrine laughed at Xiwen. "It would be troublesome if Muggle saw your circle."

Hearing Sandrine say "circle" again, Xiwen nodded with a twitching at the corner of his mouth.

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and go home!" Sandrine had already stepped into the circle of light and called out to Xiwen.

"Oh, okay!" Xiwen quickly replied, pulling Millie into the circle... no, into the Dimensional Gate.

"Meteolojinx Recanto (Meteolojinx Recanto)."

Before Xiwen closed the Dimensional Gate, Sandrine simultaneously withdrew the clouds from the alley.

Everything returned to calm.

The next day was also the day the Hogwarts Express departed.

Xiwen sat lazily by the pond under the fountain and sighed.

"Sigh, I could have just teleported back to the castle, but instead I had to spend six hours on the train..."

After trying, Xiwen confirmed that he could directly open the Dimensional Gate to Hogwarts Castle.

Although Hogwarts Castle was built with many spells such as Masking Spell and Disguising Spell to protect it from external enemies, its area was also largely covered with Anti-Apparition Magic and Apparition Spell.

However, the Dimensional Gate belongs to the magic of another world, and there are no anti-curses specifically designed to counter it here. As for Masking Spell and Disguising Spell, they are not a problem either, since Xiwen's Soul Body is inside the castle, serving as a precise coordinate for the Young Wizard Xiwen!

Unfortunately, arriving at Hogwarts Castle without boarding the train seemed too suspicious, so Xiwen had to continue on the Hogwarts Express, a six-hour journey, to the castle.

Just as Xiwen was sighing, the House-Elf Millie appeared beside Xiwen with a "bang".

"Master Xiwen, Madam asked me to tell you it's almost time!" Millie said in the shrill voice unique to House-Elf.

"I understand." Xiwen nodded and followed Millie to the living room.

Sandrine was already dressed and waiting there.

"Did you bring everything?" she asked.

"They're all here!" Xiwen smiled, pointing to the pocket watch that had been secretly expanded using the Undetectable Extension Charm at Flamel's house.

"Let's go then!" Sandrine said with a smile.

Millie, the diligent House-Elf, watched as Xiwen and Sandrine stepped into the golden halo and felt her job had been taken away. She stood there dejectedly.

"Millie, you need to take good care of the house while you're at home!" Xiwen's voice came from inside before the light closed.

Millie immediately perked up and nodded excitedly.

Xiwen and Sandrine emerged from the alleyway they had used the night before and entered King's Cross Station.

After passing through the partition wall that concealed the entrance, Xiwen bid farewell to Sandrine, who had come to see him off, on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, and boarded the express train alone.

The train was filled with chattering little wizards, excitedly discussing their Christmas presents, unfinished holiday homework, and upcoming semester courses...

Xiwen had no interest in chatting. Bored, he walked past the crowded carriages and found an empty compartment to sit in.

Then, he took out a notebook from the Pocket Watch Space, wanting to read it quietly for a while.

Just as he turned to the first page, the door to the private room was pushed open. A little witch with silver hair and a cold expression walked in.

"I thought you should be in the castle's basement right now," she said.

Xiwen looked up in surprise and saw a pair of strange silver eyes.