Chapter 49: (49) Christmas Eve
"Nicolas Flamel?"
Cassandra racked her brain, trying to recall the name, but nothing came to mind. "This name sounds so familiar, but I can't remember who he is."
"Maybe we should go to the library and see if we can find any clues about Nicolas Flamel," Hermione suggested.
I shouldn't tell them. This is a good opportunity for them to become good friends!
Ian could tell them right here who Nicolas Flamel was but then he'd have to go back to being stretched awkwardly between Cassandra and Hermione.
This way the two girls will spend some time together in the library making his life a little easier.
"If you can't remember, just take your time," Ian said, ruffling the hair of the two little witches. "However, if Hagrid mentioned this name alongside Dumbledore, I'd guess he's probably a big shot."
Draco's eyes lit up. "You're right, Ian! Maybe I should write a letter to ask my father."
"And then you'd be banned from this adventure," Harry said, pouting. "Your father would definitely keep you away from something like this."
Over the past few months, Draco had painted an image of Lucius Malfoy as the ultimate disciplinarian, so Harry wasn't surprised by his remark.
Draco deflated immediately. "You're right. He definitely would. Fine, we'll just figure it out ourselves..."
"We should go directly to the fourth floor and wait!" Ron said, clenching his fist. "If someone's after what's under the trapdoor, we can just hide there and catch them in the act!"
"Ronald, when will your IQ catch up to your courage?" Ian sighed. "We don't even know when that person will show up. Are we supposed to camp on the third floor forever?"
Ron immediately wilted. "You're right... I was too impulsive..."
"Anyway, all of you should focus on researching Nicolas Flamel in the library. Don't even think about going back to the third floor. I don't want to hear about anyone attempting something suicidal," Ian warned, glaring at the three wizards who looked ready to jump into action. "Especially the three of you—don't use my absence as an opportunity to drag Hermione and Cassandra into breaking school rules."
"Don't worry, Ian, I'll keep an eye on them," Hermione said obediently.
"Me too!" Cassandra added, though with a note of defiance in her voice.
Ian nodded in satisfaction. "Good. I trust you two."
With Hermione and Cassandra keeping watch, the three boys didn't manage to stir up any major trouble.
In the following days, everyone kept busy in their own ways.
The Gryffindor trio focused intently on finding clues about Nicolas Flamel, determined to uncover what Fluffy was guarding.
The Slytherin trio, on the other hand, took a much more relaxed approach. While they also searched for traces of Nicolas Flamel, they weren't nearly as persistent as their Gryffindor counterparts.
Cassandra occasionally dragged Hermione to the library to look for information on Nicolas Flamel, but they always came up empty-handed. After a while, Cassandra stopped caring entirely.
As Ian said, they were just little wizards. Things like this should be left to adults like Dumbledore to worry about.
Draco's interest in Nicolas Flamel waned quickly, his attention shifting instead to Harry's pet snake, Seraphina, which fascinated him far more than any mysterious wizard.
Ian spent his days in leisure. He played with his golden eagle owl, Themis, teased Hermione and Cassandra, occasionally visited the library to read, learned some new spells, and generally enjoyed a peaceful, happy life.
Time flew by, and before anyone realized it, Christmas Eve had arrived.
With the Christmas holiday in full swing, many students were packing their belongings and heading home for the break.
By dinnertime, only a handful of students remained at the long tables, most of whom had chosen to stay at Hogwarts for the holiday.
As a result, Ian and his two companions found themselves sitting at the Gryffindor table.
"This is such a violent game!" Hermione frowned as she approached, watching Draco and Ron play wizard chess.
The chess pieces on the board were animated, aggressively smashing into each other with every move, resembling an outright brawl.
"Hermione, this is wizard chess," Ron said, pressing down hard on a piece. The chess piece charged at Draco's bishop, knocking it clean off the board.
The bishop fell to the ground with a loud thud, rolling to Hermione's feet.
Hermione picked up the bishop, noticing a small dent on it, and felt a pang of sympathy.
"Can't wizard chess be played properly?" Hermione muttered softly, placing the bishop back on the chessboard.
"This is how wizard chess is played," Draco replied with a chuckle as he pressed down on a knight, which waved its sword and charged toward Ron's bishop. "As you said, violent."
Hermione rolled her eyes, deciding she'd had enough of watching the chaotic chess game.
"Ian, are you staying at Hogwarts for Christmas?" Cassandra asked, glancing at Ian, who was seated nearby, engrossed in a book.
"Harry and I are staying at Hogwarts," Ian said, looking up from the book with a slight smile. "Professor Dumbledore is taking us to the Potter family's old house tomorrow to sort out some of our family's assets."
"Ah.. This.. This will be the first Christmas we're not together," Hermione said softly, looking a little downcast. "Mom and Dad will miss you very much."
Ian reached out and gently ruffled Hermione's hair. "Just this once, Hermione. Be sure to say hello to Uncle and Aunt Granger for me, okay?"
Though reluctant, Hermione understood Ian had important matters to attend to. She nodded, albeit reluctantly.
Harry, standing nearby, tried to comfort her by patting her shoulder. "Don't worry, Hermione. I'll take good care of Ian, so there's no need to worry."
Hermione gave Harry an unimpressed look and rolled her eyes. "Harry, are you sure it's not Ian who takes care of you?"
"Uh..." Harry froze, stammering as he tried to come up with a response. He quickly realized Hermione was right—Ian had always been the one taking care of him.
"Pfft~" Ian, amused by Harry's flustered expression, chuckled. "Hermione, have you packed your luggage? You're leaving soon, right?"
"I packed ages ago," Hermione replied, pointing to the small suitcase beside her. "I don't have much—just enough for three days."
"Good." Ian nodded approvingly, turning to Draco and Cassandra. "What about you two?"
"We've packed as well," Draco and Cassandra said in unison, both patting their luggage.
"Ron, what about yours? You haven't packed yet?"
Ian looked at Ron, who was still playing wizard chess with Draco, and frowned. "Aren't you going home?"
"The plan's changed. My parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother Charlie," Ron said while making his next move on the chessboard. "He's studying dragons there now. Mom thinks it's a good time to see him."
"So, they're leaving for Christmas, and it's just easier for me to stay at school," Ron added with a grin.
"Are you happy about that?" Ian asked, noting Ron's obvious excitement.
"Of course! No nagging from Mum," Ron said cheerfully, pressing his chess piece down with satisfaction. "Besides, you two are staying to keep me company."
"Very good," Hermione interjected, her tone turning instructive. "Then you can help Ian and Harry—and also spend some time in the library looking for Nicolas Flamel."
"To be honest, we've looked a hundred times and still haven't found anything about Nicolas Flamel," Ron groaned, scratching his head in frustration. "I feel like I've never worked this hard at reading in my life."
"I totally agree," Harry chimed in, his face twisted into a look of exhaustion.
Harry was so fed up with flipping through book after book that he genuinely couldn't understand how Hermione could treat tomes thicker than a brick as light bedtime reading.
"Don't forget, you haven't visited the restricted section yet," Hermione whispered before giving Ian a knowing look. Then, without waiting for a response, she picked up her small suitcase and walked away.
Ron swallowed nervously. "Do you think Hermione's been corrupted by spending too much time with us?"
"I think so too," Harry replied earnestly.
"Heh~ You two are at least a little self-aware," Ian said with a sly smile, brushing off his robes. "Come on, Harry, Ron. Let's go see Hermione off."
"Okay."
Ian and his friends gathered at the castle gate with their luggage. To be precise, Ian was carrying Hermione's suitcase in one hand and Cassandra's in the other.
"Take good care of yourselves over the next three days, and write to me if you have any problems," Ian said, handing the luggage over to Hermione and Cassandra.
"Yeah, you too, Ian," Hermione replied, giving Ian a hug before following Cassandra onto the train. "We'll see you after Christmas."
"Goodbye, Hermione, Cassandra," Ian said, waving as he watched the two figures disappear into the train.
Look at them becoming good friends~
"Ian, we should head back too," Harry said, watching the train pull away from the platform.
"Yeah, let's go," Ian nodded, leading Harry and Ron back toward the castle.
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