After bidding farewell to Hagrid, Luke stowed away his wand and made his way towards the auditorium. Along the path, he encountered several young wizards donning felt hats and scarves, clutching various bags.
Following today's Christmas feast, the holiday season was upon them. Students had the option to either return home or stay at school for the festivities. Luke pushed open the door adorned with a jingling bell, and his eyes brightened at the sight inside.
The ceiling sparkled with stars, Christmas trees adorned with bells and colored paper stood tall, and four rows of long tables were laden with a bounty of rich food—turkey, bread, baguette, pumpkin pie, and more. House-elves flitted about in midair, busy with preparations.
With a smile, Luke approached Gryffindor's table and took the girl's hand. Over the past two days, Hermione had initially put up a symbolic struggle, but now she seemed to have given up. It was comfortable, after all.
"Merry Christmas, everyone!" Luke greeted Harry and the others warmly.
"Hey, I wasn't wrong! Look..." Lee Jordan's carefree voice interrupted, and he pointed at Luke and Hermione. "These two are a couple, mark my words!"
Fred and George, standing next to Lee Jordan, sported small red Christmas hats, adding to the festive atmosphere.
"Come on, hats for you two!" George tapped the empty tabletop with his wand, and a puff of smoke produced a pile of Santa hats.
Luke and Hermione each took one, placing them atop their heads, adding a touch of Christmas spirit.
"Owls might be delayed due to the cold weather, so our gifts might arrive late," Fred informed the group.
"I'll prepare the gift a bit later; I need to fetch it from home," Luke mentioned, echoing Harry and Ron, who had already prepared their gifts. Even Lee Jordan had gifts in store for them.
"Merry Christmas, lovebirds!" Lee Jordan offered his blessing.
"Thanks," Luke nodded with a smile, realizing he had one more gift to prepare.
As time passed, Headmaster Dumbledore took center stage in the auditorium. Professor McGonagall and others had already assumed their positions.
"Alright, little witches, Merry Christmas!" Dumbledore, dressed in purple with a lady's wizard's pointed hat, beamed at the students.
"The feast has begun!"
As Dumbledore's voice resonated through the auditorium, a lively atmosphere swept over the crowd. Luke cast a quick glance at Snape, who sat in the corner, and noticed the Potions Master watching their group. He raised his goblet filled with juice, offering a silent toast to Snape, before returning to the table to engage in conversation.
Snape, observing Luke's actions, allowed a subtle smile to play on the corner of his mouth. The sight of the little lion cuddling with Luke elicited an even richer smile.
"Come on, eat this!" Luke's eyes lit up as Hermione held a sliced apple to his mouth.
Looking at Hermione, Luke couldn't contain his laughter, his light blue eyes sparkling with joy. He found satisfaction in this form of feeding.
"Come on, Fred, open your mouth!" George imitated the playful gesture.
"Go away, you're going to be disgusting, Ronald!" Fred evaded George's attempt.
The banquet extended into the evening, concluding with brilliant fireworks. What began as a feast evolved into a simple chat as Hermione picked up an apple, and Luke shook his head, indicating he wanted to feed herself. Today, he had mostly been fed by Hermione.
Fred and the others, accustomed to their banter, carried on with their own conversations, seemingly unfazed by the exchanges between the two wizards who, despite their differences, shared a unique connection.
The conversation had revolved around the ongoing developments of Fairy Tail.
Harry and Ron showed keen interest, and the chat extended well into the evening.
As the banquet concluded, the anticipation for the holiday kicked in.
For those heading home that night, preparations were underway as the young wizards packed their bags. Luke, however, had little to attend to, given his unique existence in a different dimension.
Malfoy and Crabbe were set to join the exodus home, experiencing it for the first time. To Luke's surprise, Malfoy presented him with a Christmas gift.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Luke responded, a slight smile playing on his lips.
The pleasant evening slipped away quietly.
Luke rose early the next morning, only to find Malfoy and his companions absent from the dormitory, their luggage vanished.
Those two were early risers indeed.
After packing up, Luke made his way to the hall to rendezvous with Hermione.
The duo planned to travel back together that day.
.....
In the hall, Ron engaged in a game of wizard chess with Harry.
"Aren't you heading home?" Hermione inquired curiously.
The Weasley brothers had departed earlier that morning, but Ron opted to stay. "They're going on a trip, and I'd rather stick around with Harry," he explained, making a move with his knight.
"Farewell then!"
With those words, Luke took Hermione's hand, guiding her with their luggage toward the station.
.....
Want to read more exciting chapters, then join my Patreon right now and get access to more than 60 premium chapters.
Free members get 4 advanced chapters for free.
JOIN NOW
Link: pa*treon.com/MidnightWonder (Remove the *)