Christmas break began.
With a Star Spirit tucked into his pocket, Malfoy waved goodbye to John.
They boarded the Thestral-drawn carriages and headed for the train.
Like an old man left behind, John watched as the crowd around him gradually dwindled.
"Compared to everyone else, why do I seem so lonely?"
Groups of students moved about together, while John stood alone in the Entrance Hall.
Filch was busy recording the names of those leaving.
Professor McGonagall came over and asked in confusion, "You're not going home this year, Wick?"
"I still have things to deal with, Professor McGonagall," John replied respectfully. "Some matters are keeping me occupied."
"You should spend more time with your family," Professor McGonagall said disapprovingly. "You always push yourself too hard."
John had only returned home once during Christmas. Even Harry had gone home more often than that.
Compared to Harry, it was John who seemed more like a child who had lost his family.
Professor McGonagall felt deeply sorry for the boy. He had given so much and had never truly rested.
"I'd rather know that the people I care about are safe than enjoy a brief period of relaxation," John said, shaking his head. "I'm still young."
"Time passes quickly," Professor McGonagall said with a complicated expression. "In the blink of an eye, I've become an old woman."
"Perhaps," John said with a smile and a bow, "but you're an old woman worthy of everyone's respect. I've always respected you."
Professor McGonagall smiled in return.
She simply could not bring herself to dislike this student.
"Even if you're not going home, Hogsmeade is always open."
Nodding to John, Professor McGonagall said, "Enjoy yourself, Wick."
"I will, Professor McGonagall."
John nodded and watched her leave.
Professor McGonagall, who spent most of her time at school, was also taking the opportunity to relax.
She would be travelling with the train to Silverhand Amusement Park.
That place had left the adventure-loving Gryffindors impatient for a long time.
As always, Slughorn organised a Christmas party.
The castle was covered in a blanket of white snow.
Standing in the Entrance Hall and gazing at the empty castle, John sighed.
"Peace is hard-won."
This was probably one of the few years when students could leave without worries.
In first year, there had been the troll. In second year, the Basilisk. In third year, Sirius Black. In fourth year, the Triwizard Tournament. In fifth year, the reign of oppression. In sixth year, the great points war.
Without Voldemort causing trouble, this year felt unusually peaceful.
Snowflakes landed on Hector's head as it experienced snow for the first time. It and Hermes rolled around happily in the snow.
"Perhaps this year, we can celebrate differently."
Peace had always been something worth pursuing.
The bloodshed brought by war only made the fragrance of peace all the sweeter.
Returning to the castle, John still had no time to relax.
He spent his days training the Star Spirit Guardians while researching a better method of treating the Bloodline Curse.
He hardly ever left the Constellation Society.
Even Slughorn failed to see him during meals.
Then Christmas Day arrived.
John walked out of the Constellation Society and stretched lazily.
Rubbing his sore neck, he habitually picked up the newspaper Basil had delivered.
The news immediately sharpened his attention.
Staring at the paper, he muttered,
"They're trying to repeat the MACUSA trick again?"
Grindelwald's capture was not something John found reassuring.
To that man, prison was no different from home.
Setting down the newspaper, John said,
"Perhaps execution would be the correct solution."
But he shook his head.
Such a thing was impossible.
There had never been a shortage of Grindelwald's followers. If the Polish Minister for Magic actually did such a thing, he would truly be a heroic figure.
John headed for his dormitory. As for this Christmas, he had no idea what gifts awaited him.
After he left, the Star Spirits of the Constellation Society wandered through the various rooms.
Being creations of the Constellation Society itself, they were not restricted by it.
One Star Spirit ran into the room connected to the ocean and grabbed a large fish, using it to go surfing.
Others began exploring the forest room, playing hide-and-seek in its maze.
The tiny Star Spirits seemed to possess endless happiness.
Suddenly... woosh!
Blue flames ignited in the fireplace.
...
The Wick residence.
Ariana awoke in the morning sunlight.
The teddy bear beside her bed waved its fluffy little arms, giving Ariana the cutest wake-up call imaginable.
Her golden hair was a complete mess from sleep, and she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
Remembering something, she climbed out of bed and quickly ran downstairs.
The teddy bear followed behind on its short legs, hurrying after her.
Mrs Wick was downstairs preparing breakfast. A glass of milk had already been poured and placed on the table, but Ariana ignored it.
She had only one goal.
Running over to the Christmas tree, she stopped beneath it.
Five presents sat there.
Ariana looked at Mrs Wick eagerly.
"Can I open them, Mum?"
Amused by her expression, Mrs Wick raised a finger and wagged it.
"You need to make yourself presentable first."
Ariana hurried off to wash up.
Yawning, Watson came downstairs.
Seeing his exhausted appearance, Mrs Wick narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"How late were you up yesterday?"
Caught by his wife's question, Watson immediately became guilty.
Using work as an excuse, he had spent the entire night reading in the study.
It wasn't his fault. Lockhart's books were simply too good. They deserved to sell so well.
And John had bought him the deluxe edition. The illustrations in the book moved, acting out the scenes.
It was just like watching a film, and Watson had become completely engrossed.
Seeing the dangerous look on Mrs Wick's face, Watson immediately grabbed a comb from the sofa.
"I'll go help Ariana brush her hair."
Mrs Wick laughed in exasperation.
She would bet that Watson had stayed up until sunrise.
In the bathroom, Ariana wrinkled her cute little nose as she carefully brushed her teeth.
Following the steps John had taught her with utmost seriousness, she finished cleaning up and washed her face with warm water.
She was just about to go open her presents when Watson seized her as a convenient shield against his wife's scolding and dragged her away to brush her hair.
Her messy hair was combed until it was as smooth as silk.
Only after all that was done could she finally open her presents.
Sitting barefoot beneath the Christmas tree, Ariana eagerly reached forward.
Kiki, the large-headed grey owl, flew over.
The teddy bear helped carry one of the presents over, and Ariana instinctively knew how to tear off the wrapping paper.
Inside was a teddy bear wearing a pink hair accessory.
It was Watson's gift.
While drinking coffee, Watson made a wager with Mrs Wick.
"I'll bet she'll like my present the most."
Watson was brimming with confidence.
The next second, he watched as the teddy bear he had carefully chosen was tossed aside.
"..."
Watson froze on the spot.
Mrs Wick snorted.
"Ariana already has a teddy bear, and you bought another one?"
"I thought she'd feel sorry for the teddy bear being lonely."
Watson retreated into despair.
That shouldn't have happened. Damn you, Greg, you lied to me.
Watson was both angry and heartbroken. He had even sought advice from Greg, the manager of the orphanage.
Mrs Wick scoffed at her husband's train of thought and said confidently,
"You need to understand what girls actually like."
She saw Ariana opening her gift.
A beautiful dress was revealed, dazzling enough to make her look like a princess.
Ariana thought for a moment and tossed the dress onto the sofa.
Without changing her expression, Mrs Wick set down her cup and glanced at Watson, who was on the verge of bursting out laughing.
"Go shovel the snow outside."
Watson blinked.
"...But I just did that yesterday."
"You ate yesterday. Does that mean you won't eat today?"
Alright then.
Under Mrs Wick's threat of cutting off his meals, Watson resigned himself to his fate and headed outside to shovel the snow.
Ariana opened the third gift.
Just as a cold gleam appeared from inside, Mrs Wick smilingly closed the box again.
"My little flower, you still have two presents left."
Smiling, Mrs Wick took away the box. The item inside made the sound of metal clinking.
Ariana blinked and opened the fourth present.
This time, the contents were normal.
Inside was a beautiful emerald brooch and a card bearing the symbol of the Constellation Society.
On the back of the card were the words: "I open the passage within the flames."
It was John's gift.
Ariana treasured the brooch and hugged it to her chest, but soon felt that wasn't safe enough.
So she ran upstairs to her room and hid the brooch beneath her bed.
After putting away the gifts sent by her own family, Mrs Wick came out and saw Ariana hurrying downstairs again.
Just as she was about to ask whether she had received John's present, Mrs Wick saw Ariana toss the card into the fireplace.
The flames immediately turned blue.
Mrs Wick walked over, blinking in perfect sync with Ariana.
"This goes to John," Ariana said.
After thinking for a moment, Mrs Wick nodded.
"Perhaps that's not a bad idea."
Holding Ariana's hand, mother and daughter stepped into the fireplace.
As the flames swallowed them, the fire returned to its original colour.
Watson pushed open the door and came back inside.
"The snow's getting heavier outside. I think I can clear it a little later."
No one answered.
Except Kiki.
Watson stared blankly at Kiki.
"Where are my wife and daughter?"
____
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