Christmas was approaching, and one morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself blanketed in several feet of snow. The lake had frozen solid, its surface as hard as steel. A pure white sea eagle flew through Augustus's dormitory window, shaking off sparkling snowflakes that contrasted beautifully with the wintry expanse outside. Augustus rose, donned his black robe, and walked over to the windowsill. The sea eagle flapped its wings excitedly. Outside, the Weasley twins were enchanting snowballs that chased after Quirrell, pelting him on the back of his turban.
In the Slytherin common room, a fireplace that Draco Malfoy had long assumed to be purely decorative roared to life with green flames. Most students eagerly anticipated the holidays. Apart from the warm common rooms, the drafty corridors had turned icy cold, and the windows of the classrooms rattled in the fierce winds. Worst of all, Professor Snape's classes were held in the dungeons, where every exhalation formed a cloud of mist. Students huddled close to their steaming cauldrons for warmth.
When not in class, Draco Malfoy had become obsessed with dueling ever since his victory over Harry. Whenever Augustus had free time, Malfoy eagerly sought him out for advice on dueling techniques, preparing himself for potential confrontations with Harry and Ron. It was evident that, in any clash, Crabbe and Goyle would serve as little more than human shields. Among students who had learned even basic spells, defeating the almost-squib-like Crabbe and Goyle was a matter of seconds. What had once been a source of intimidation for Harry was now useless to Malfoy.
After Potions class, Augustus returned to the Great Hall, which was completely redecorated for the season. The hall buzzed with activity as Hagrid struggled to carry an enormous fir tree to the center of the room. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were busy adorning the hall with Christmas ornaments. The Great Hall was resplendent. The walls were draped with garlands of holly and mistletoe, and twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room. Some were decorated with shimmering icicles, while others twinkled with hundreds of glowing candles.
At the center of the Slytherin table, Malfoy was boasting to a group of students about how he had mocked Harry. "I told him some people have to stay at Hogwarts over Christmas because their families don't want them," he drawled smugly.
A few Slytherins let out sycophantic laughs.
"Malfoy, as a boy, is your sharp tongue the only skill you have? How juvenile," sneered Lilian, who had remained silent until now. Malfoy, clearly not expecting a Slytherin to criticize him, froze for a moment before his face turned crimson. Lilian, however, wasn't particularly defending Harry; as a Slytherin who admired strength, she had long found Malfoy's bluster insufferable.
At the entrance to the Great Hall, Harry, Ron, and Hermione appeared, their eyes scanning the room until they landed on Augustus at the Slytherin table's center. Harry's face lit up, and the trio approached him directly.
"Mr. Augustus, we need your help with something very important," Harry said, his tone tinged with nervousness. In truth, Harry would not have approached Augustus if it weren't critical; after all, Augustus had already saved them multiple times.
"Oh? What is it? Feel free to share," Augustus replied with a faint smile. His composed demeanor eased the trio's anxiety.
"We're trying to learn about someone named Nicolas Flamel, but it's been really hard to find any information. He's not mentioned in Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, A Compendium of Famous Modern Magicians, Modern Magical Discoveries, or A Study of Recent Magical Advances," Hermione explained, clearly frustrated.
"Nicolas Flamel? He's indeed famous, but you won't typically find him in books about wizards. He was a renowned alchemist, best known for creating the Philosopher's Stone—a legendary artifact. He's also a friend of Dumbledore," Augustus said after a moment's thought, revealing the key information.
The trio exchanged wide-eyed looks as the revelation sank in. Augustus, intrigued, asked, "Why are you interested in him? As far as I know, he's over six hundred years old—there shouldn't be any connection between him and you."
"Do you remember that three-headed dog we saw on the third floor? We think it's guarding something. And that day, Snape—" Harry began, but Ron kicked him under the table. Following Ron's pointed gaze, Harry noticed Malfoy listening intently to their conversation. Embarrassed, Harry quickly changed the subject.
"We'll explain more in private next time. Thank you so much for your help!" Harry said hurriedly, leading Ron and Hermione out of the Great Hall.
"I'll bet they're plotting something big. That trapdoor under the three-headed dog must be their target. And since this involves Professor Snape, if I figure out their plans and report them, they'll all be expelled!" Malfoy said gleefully. After bidding Augustus goodbye, he left the hall, clearly pleased with himself.
Even without a full explanation, Augustus had pieced together the essence of the matter. The object guarded by the three-headed dog was likely the Philosopher's Stone. In the trio's minds, Snape was after it. However, Augustus doubted Snape had any interest in the stone. Their bias against Snape only clouded their judgment. On the other hand, the timid, stammering Professor Quirrell's hidden depths and true motives seemed far more intriguing.
The Great Hall remained a scene of festive cheer, but beneath the surface, Hogwarts was alive with intrigue. Outside the castle, the wind howled, and a blizzard loomed. Things were growing ever more interesting, weren't they? Augustus smiled faintly to himself.
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