Until Christmas Day, Harry and Ron couldn't believe that they had learned who Nicolas Flamel was and even spoken to him without Hermione.
"Ron, do you know what the Philosopher's Stone that Mr. Flamel mentioned actually is?" Harry asked as he sat on the floor, opening a large pile of gift boxes in front of him. He turned to Ron and added, "You understand what I mean, being a pure-blood wizard and all. You should know more about these things than I do."
"Don't bring up pure-blood and all that. It's only the Malfoys who care about that!" Ron retorted.
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and laughed, "Speaking of Malfoy, do you remember that on the first day of the holiday, Draco Malfoy was crying and throwing a tantrum while his dad dragged him out of Hogwarts? Hahaha…"
Harry remembered Malfoy's embarrassed expression and started laughing as well. They laughed together for a while before they managed to stop.
"So you don't know what the Philosopher's Stone is?" Harry insisted, trying to bring the conversation back on track.
"Well, I don't really know," Ron sighed, "We can wait until Hermione comes back and ask her. She's read so many books, she must know what the Philosopher's Stone is!"
"That's the only thing we can do," Harry nodded.
He looked at the pile of gift boxes on the floor and hesitated, "Do you think… since Professor Dracula has helped us so much, we should get him a Christmas gift too?"
"Definitely, we should give him a gift. After all, he saved you on the Quidditch pitch," Ron agreed.
As a wizard who had always been raised by his aunt, with no friends and no pocket money growing up, Harry had never had the opportunity to give Christmas gifts before.
This year, coming to Hogwarts, he had inherited a large sum of money from his parents and made many good friends at school. It made his Christmas more meaningful and warm, and he finally had the chance to exchange Christmas gifts with others.
However, since it was Harry's first complete Christmas experience, he instinctively thought of giving gifts to his friends but forgot to prepare one for the professor he admired the most.
Seeing the large number of Christmas gifts on the floor and remembering the conversation with Nicolas Flamel yesterday, he realized he should also show his appreciation to Professor Dracula!
"Ron, help me think of something to get the professor!" Harry urged, shaking Ron's shoulder.
However, Harry's mood quickly dropped, "A powerful person like the professor probably doesn't lack anything…"
"Don't say that, Harry. Gift-giving is just a formality; the details matter most!" Ron said confidently, patting his chest, "Think about it, what does Professor Dracula usually like to do?"
"Um… he likes to lean against the wall and watch the fun?" Harry asked uncertainly.
"Not that kind of thing!" Ron waved his fist, "Think more specifically, like what little habits does the professor have?"
Harry thought hard for a while before hesitantly saying, "Professor Dracula… seems to often have lollipops or a goblet?"
"Exactly!" Ron slapped his thigh, "So Professor Dracula likes lollipops and also enjoys drinking!"
"Uh… is it really that simple?" Harry looked confused, thinking it didn't match his image of the cool, sophisticated Professor Dracula.
"You don't understand. Such a powerful wizard always has some little quirks," Ron said confidently, "Just like Dumbledore. My mom once told us he eats sweets every day and ends up needing to visit St. Mungo's for dental treatment every year!"
Harry had an odd expression but nodded in agreement, thinking of Dumbledore's strange little pleasures.
"Ron, you handle the gift preparation. I'm sure you'll do a great job!" Harry patted Ron's shoulder and handed him a handful of galleons from his pocket, "Make sure to get the best gift for Professor Dracula! If there's anything left, you can buy some snacks for yourself."
Ron had never seen so many galleons in his life and swallowed hard.
Then he solemnly promised, "Don't worry, I'll handle the gift preparation perfectly!"
He then dashed out of the dormitory.
He planned to write a letter to be sent by owl to the shops in Hogsmeade to get Professor Dracula's Christmas gift as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Harry, having received so many gifts from fans or admirers, continued to sit in the dormitory, trembling as he unwrapped a large pile of gift boxes.
"Hmm?"
When he opened the last package, which was quite light, he couldn't help but exclaim.
A silvery-gray liquid-like substance slipped to the floor, gathering in a pile and sparkling.
Hogsmeade was a wizarding village located near Hogwarts Castle, and it was quickly reached by crossing the long wooden bridge on the west side of the castle.
Due to the close distance, Professor Dracula received the gifts from Harry and Ron, sent by the Hogsmeade merchants, before the Christmas feast that same afternoon.
Dracula looked at the crookedly written note on the gift box that read:
"Merry Christmas, with the professor's favorite lollipops and wine, H.P. & R.W."
"These two boys have a future. This saves me the trouble of shopping myself!" he nodded in satisfaction, snapping his fingers to make the gift box unwrap itself.
However, when he saw the gift, Dracula's face immediately darkened.
In the gift from Harry and Ron was a beautifully packaged bottle of vodka standing prominently in the center of the box, surrounded by Ron's favorite sunshine orange-flavored lollipops arranged neatly, radiating bright colors like sunshine…
"…"
Dracula scowled as he pushed away the sunshine orange-flavored lollipops and the bottle of vodka, and used magic to wrap them back up in the box.
A bat appeared out of nowhere, took the gift box, and flew from the window to the headmaster's office on the eighth floor, directly delivering it to Dumbledore.
Still not feeling relieved, Dracula then vanished and appeared in Professor Quirrell's office.
"Professor Quirrell, when the school starts, find the holiday homework for Harry Potter and Ron Weasley and grade it by the strictest standards!"