Hermione's invitation

"Why? Mr. Shacklebolt, why would you help a Mudblood?" Marcus asked bitterly.

At Marcus's question, Trevor Shackle said coldly, "Miss Fawley told me to tell you that if you dare disrespect Mr. Jerry Green again, she will personally send every member of your families to hell for a reunion!"

Ignoring their reactions, Trevor Shackle left them with that chilling warning and walked away.

At the Private Lounge, Trevor Shackle stood respectfully by the door and humbly addressed the person inside. "Miss Fawley, I have warned Marcus and the others. His Eminence has also returned to his dormitory."

The person inside fell silent for a moment, then a cold voice rang out. "Good. Keep monitoring Marcus and the others. I don't want any surprises."

"Just monitoring them? Should we..."

"Don't create unnecessary complications. Time is on our side. Just make sure Marcus and the others don't bother His Eminence. Leave everything else for him to deal with!"

Monday, Defence Against the Dark Arts class.

Jerry glanced at Quirrell, then turned to Harry and asked, "Harry, did you ask Hagrid? Fluffy won't be easy to deal with!"

"I did, but Hagrid said it was a secret and he couldn't tell us. We did get a name out of him, though. I think it was... Nicolas. Nicolas Flamel. Yes, that was it!"

"Jerry, Hermione, do either of you know who he is?"

Hermione shook her head. "We could try looking him up in the library!"

"Nicolas Flamel... I think I've heard that name before!" Jerry said. "Let me think!"

At his words, Harry and the others all looked at him expectantly.

After a moment's thought, Jerry said, "I think he has something to do with Alchemy. Harry, you could borrow a few books on Alchemy from the library. It would be best if you could bring them out so we could all help you look!"

Harry nodded excitedly at Jerry's answer. "You're brilliant, Jerry! You know everything. I'll go right after class!"

The corners of Jerry's mouth curled up slightly as he watched Harry's excitement.

Yes, that's it! Keep it up, Harry! Hurry up and get those books on Forbidden Alchemy out of the Restricted Section for me!

As he packed up after class, Jerry glanced at Quirrell, who stood lost in thought on the teaching platform, and silently cursed him. What a useless fool.

I've made the hint so obvious. Hurry up and go find Hagrid!

Voldemort is even more useless. What sort of people has he recruited?

Time flew, and mid-December arrived in the blink of an eye.

Christmas was approaching, and Hogwarts School was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Jerry had been enjoying a comfortable life at school.

He had been prepared for an attack from Marcus and the others, but now it seemed he had underestimated the strength and influence of Trevor Shackle and his companions.

One cold morning, Hogwarts School lay beneath a thick blanket of snow, like a fairy-tale world dressed in white.

The lake had frozen solid, its tranquil surface reflecting the blue sky.

On that cold morning, however, the Weasley Twins were punished for a mischievous prank.

They had enchanted several snowballs to be nimble and sneaky, then sent them chasing Professor Quirrell wildly all over the place.

In the end, one snowball struck Professor Quirrell hard in the back of the head, leaving him looking utterly bedraggled.

With the holidays approaching, everyone was eagerly looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the warmth of home.

That afternoon, in Potions class.

Although roaring fires made the common rooms and the Great Hall as warm as spring, the draughty corridors were as bitterly cold as ice. Every gust pierced their clothing and left them shivering.

Worst of all, Professor Snape's Potions class was held in an underground classroom, where the temperature seemed lower than anywhere else and the cold clung to everyone like a ghost.

Whenever the students breathed out during class there, a cloud of white mist instantly formed before them, as though they had entered another world of ice and snow.

Every lesson with Professor Snape put the students under enormous pressure.

Besides enduring the cold, they had to face his exacting standards and merciless grading.

That only made the already shivering students feel colder.

Jerry concentrated on slicing the ingredients with a silver knife, his movements practised and precise. Hermione stood beside the heated cauldron, holding her icy hands close to it. Waves of warmth enveloped her, offering a little comfort.

Once Jerry had prepared all the ingredients, he smiled at Hermione's flushed face. "We can start brewing now!"

Hermione nodded and added the ingredients to the cauldron in the proper order, stirring as she adjusted the heat.

"Jerry, are you staying at school for Christmas or going back to the orphanage?"

"I'm not staying at school. I'm planning to go back to the orphanage."

Hermione was delighted to hear that. "That's wonderful, Jerry! I'm not staying at Hogwarts either, so we can take the train back together."

"I'll introduce you to my mum and dad then. You're so brilliant, Jerry. They're bound to like you!"

Hermione continued, "Jerry, the Christmas holidays last several days. Could I invite you over to my house? Don't worry about getting there. I can ask my dad to pick you up!"

Seeing the anticipation in Hermione's eyes, Jerry nodded gently and accepted her invitation.

"That's wonderful, Jerry..."

"Much as I hate to interrupt you two, the potion in your cauldron is about to boil!"

Jerry and Hermione had been so absorbed in their conversation that they had paid no attention to the potion until Snape appeared beside them and pointed it out.

Only then did they snap out of it and hurriedly adjust the flame to lower the temperature.

Watching the two of them scramble, Snape said mockingly to Jerry, "Mr. Green, I don't believe you possess sufficient intelligence to brew a potion and chat at the same time. Do you have any idea how dangerous that can be?"

Jerry said nothing.

"I'm sorry, Professor Snape. I was the one who started talking to Jerry..."

Snape ignored Hermione entirely, turning and walking away!

Jerry shrugged and told Hermione, "It's all right, Hermione. That's just how Snape is. At least he didn't deduct any house points this time!"

"That's all thanks to you, Jerry. You're in Slytherin. Snape would never take points from his own house!"