As December began, the weather grew colder and colder. One morning, people suddenly noticed that a thick layer of ice had formed over the Black Lake.
Snowflakes danced outside the window, tapping against the glass with a sharp, cracking sound. Christmas was approaching.
As usual, Hagrid had single-handedly moved twelve towering Christmas trees into the Great Hall for decoration. The stair banisters and corridors were adorned with holly, filling the entire castle with a festive atmosphere.
"This can't go on!"
Kyle sighed in frustration, flicking his wand at a glove on the table during Herbology class. "I need to come up with a new excuse to get away from Slughorn. I don't even want to go to that dinner."
"Is it really as boring as you say?" Kanna asked curiously. "The last ball didn't seem that bad."
"There were a lot of people at the ball, so we could avoid him. But at the dinner, there'll only be seven or eight guests—we'll have to sit there the whole time."
Kyle let out another sigh. "Some people actually enjoy it, though. Like Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bulstrode, and Cormac McLaggen… They love being part of the Slug Club and probably wish there was a dinner every night."
"But for me… I'd rather be stuck in detention for half a day with a professor."
"Then you should ask Professor Snape," Kanna suggested. "You could say you're being punished with me."
"Well… I don't like the dinner, but it's not that bad," Kyle declined. "I'll think of something else."
For him, Snape's detention and Slughorn's dinner party were almost the same—neither was appealing, and it was hard to say which was worse.
He needed to find another way.
The easiest solution would be to go to the headmaster. If Dumbledore wanted to, he could certainly come up with the perfect excuse to get him out of it.
But the problem was that Kyle was currently avoiding Dumbledore as much as possible—how could he possibly go to him now?
If Dumbledore wasn't an option, maybe another professor would do.
Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall… It wouldn't be too hard to talk to one of them and find a reason to be "grounded" for the evening.
But this trick would only work once or twice. If he kept using it, they'd catch on.
So what else could he do?
He still didn't know who had such a loose tongue—who had gone and told Slughorn that the Floo Network between the school and the Ministry of Magic had been shut down?
…
Kyle absentmindedly stroked his wand, then suddenly shook his head. Never mind, I don't want to think about it.
The most important thing right now was finding an excuse to get out of the Christmas dance tonight—everything else could wait.
After class, Kyle hurried out of the greenhouse and returned to the castle, determined to find Professor McGonagall and see if she could assign him detention for the afternoon.
But the moment he ran up the stairs, he spotted a familiar figure standing in the foyer.
A deep purple-red robe, a long silver beard, and a phoenix perched on his shoulder... It was as if Dumbledore had been waiting for him.
Kyle didn't hesitate for even a second. He turned on his heel and bolted back toward the castle.
But in the next instant, Dumbledore reappeared right in front of him, standing there as calmly as if he had never moved.
Kanna, who had been nearby, jumped slightly in surprise. She glanced at the spot where Dumbledore had been standing just a moment ago, her expression puzzled. How had he Disapparated and appeared elsewhere in an instant?
"No need to overthink it, it's Apparition," Kyle whispered, explaining. "Remember? Twycross said that the headmaster can temporarily lift the castle's restrictions so that we can practice Apparition here."
"Anytime?" Kanna asked. "Shouldn't the magic that envelops the entire castle be more complicated than that?"
"It's not as complicated as you think, Miss Prince," Dumbledore interjected, having overheard their conversation. His voice was patient. "These restrictions are not independent spells but come from the castle itself. The headmaster has certain special permissions—the only condition is that it must be done within the castle."
Kanna nodded in understanding.
Then Dumbledore turned his gaze to Kyle, and the small smile on his face faded completely.
"It seems you really don't want to see me," he said in an unreadable tone—flat, almost as if he had never met Kyle before. There was even the faintest grinding quality to his voice.
"How could that be, Headmaster Dumbledore…" Kyle's eyes darted away, and his feet unconsciously shifted toward the entrance of the Great Hall. "Well... what do you want with me?"
The Great Hall was full of people. He wasn't sure if that would help, but it at least made him feel somewhat safer.
Dumbledore watched him for a moment, then shook his head. "It's not me who's looking for you—it's Nicolas."
"Nicolas?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said. "He has invited you to spend Christmas at his manor again this year, if you'd like. The arrangement is the same as last time—you know the details, so I won't repeat them."
He sounded as though he wanted to say as little as possible, and the moment he finished speaking, he turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.
"Wait, Professor."
Kyle hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to stop him. "Can I bring someone?"
"Yes." Dumbledore continued walking without even glancing back.
That was fast.
Kyle was intrigued now.
He quickened his pace to catch up, trotting after the headmaster. "Professor, aren't you going to ask who I'm bringing?"
"There's no need," Dumbledore replied as he strode into the Great Hall. "No one with malicious intent can even see the gates of the manor, and even if someone is carried inside, they will not be able to enter."
"Oh, right."
At this, Dumbledore paused briefly. "Last time, you—"
"I just remembered that I forgot something in the greenhouse. See you later, Professor!" Kyle cut in swiftly.
By the time Dumbledore turned to look, Kyle had already bolted out of the Great Hall and into the foyer—moving nearly as fast as if he had Apparated himself.
…
In the foyer, Kanna watched as Kyle ran back with a satisfied smile.
"So, you've decided to go to Nicolas Flamel's manor for Christmas vacation?" she asked.
"Yep, and it's a relief—I don't have to go to the ball," Kyle nodded, then added, "Let's head back to the common room first. It's not safe in the Great Hall right now. We can come back later."
Of course, with Dumbledore present, the Great Hall was probably the safest place in the entire castle—at least for everyone else.
But Kanna didn't point this out. Instead, she simply followed as Kyle led the way.
When they reached the corridor near the kitchens, Kanna hesitated slightly. She looked as if she were waiting for Kyle to say something, but he didn't.
After a long pause, she finally couldn't hold back.
"Who are you going with?"
"What do you mean, who am I going with?"
"To the Christmas party," Kanna whispered. "Didn't you ask Headmaster Dumbledore if you could bring someone?"
"Oh, that," Kyle said casually. "Cedric..."
Kanna's face fell almost instantly.
But then, just a second later, Kyle continued as if he hadn't noticed.
"…Yesterday, I got a letter inviting me to his house for the Christmas holiday."
Kanna's expression remained unchanged until Kyle added,
"And you'd better hurry and find Professor Snape to cancel your detention. We're leaving early tomorrow morning."
"Leaving… us?" Kanna blinked, still processing.
"Of course us. I can't exactly take Cedric," Kyle laughed. "Don't you want to see Nicolas's manor? I'm sure it'll be really interesting."
Kanna's face lit up in an instant. Without another word, she turned and dashed off toward Snape's office.
Kyle wasn't the least bit worried that Snape would refuse. Unless he'd been eaten by a Swooping Evil, he would never say no to letting Kanna visit Nicolas Flamel.
Meanwhile, instead of returning to the common room, Kyle turned a corner and made his way upstairs.
He headed straight for Slughorn's office, using the excuse that he needed to prepare for his meeting with Nicolas Flamel the next day to get out of attending the ball.
…
"What? Whose house did you say you were visiting?"
At Kyle's words, Slughorn, who had been perfectly composed until now, suddenly stood up, his voice bursting with excitement. "Nicolas Flamel? The famous alchemist who has lived for over 600 years?"
"If there isn't a second alchemist named Nicolas Flamel, then yes, I believe so…" Kyle nodded.
For a moment, he could see Slughorn trembling with excitement, his eyes slightly reddened.
It wasn't surprising…
This was Nicolas Flamel—someone Slughorn had dreamed of meeting, even if only from a distance, without exchanging a single word.
That wish, however, had never come true.
Now, hearing that Kyle was about to visit Flamel's manor, how could he not be thrilled?
"Oh, can I come with you?" he blurted out.
"Sorry, Professor," Kyle shook his head. "I was invited as well, so I can't make that decision."
"Ah, yes, of course."
Slughorn looked a bit embarrassed, as if he hadn't expected himself to be so forward.
"You misunderstand…" he stammered. "What I meant was… well… just—please give my regards to Mr. Flamel."
"I will," Kyle assured him. "Then, Professor, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to my preparations."
"Of course, of course," Slughorn said hastily. "That's the most important thing. Even a whole day of preparation wouldn't be enough. Go on, then."
Kyle nodded and turned to leave the office.
In the foyer, Kanna was already waiting for him.
"How did it go?"
"You went to see Slughorn?"
They spoke at the same time.
"Yes," Kyle answered first. "I won't have to attend the Christmas Ball after all. And you?"
"Professor Snape agreed," Kanna said, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "He seemed reluctant at first, but in the end, he agreed. He even got me a gift for Mr. Flamel."
She took out a small bottle, about the same size as a vial of Felix Felicis, but inside was a golden-red liquid.
"What is this?" Kyle asked curiously.
"Phoenix Potion," Kanna replied, recalling what Snape had told her. "Professor Snape said it's made from the ashes of a phoenix after it has been reborn. It took two whole years to brew."
Two years?
Kyle pursed his lips. Felix Felicis only took half a year to make, but this took two?
He had never heard of this potion before, but considering the brewing time and the ingredients involved, it was obviously something extraordinary.
Then, it suddenly hit him—he hadn't prepared a Christmas gift for Nicolas.
Not this time, not any of the previous times either.
Worse, not only had he failed to bring a present, but he had also added to Nicolas's workload each time.
Even if Nicolas seemed to enjoy the work, it still felt a little… off, especially when compared to what Snape had prepared.
Kyle didn't dwell on it for too long, though. He and Kanna made their way to the Great Hall together, where they ran into Harry loitering around the foyer.
He didn't want to go to Slughorn's party either but hadn't come up with a decent excuse. Next to him, however, Ron seemed quite eager about it.
The Christmas feast was as lavish as ever. Though the Great Hall felt a little emptier than in previous years due to fewer students staying behind, it didn't dampen anyone's spirits.
…
The next day.
Due to Voldemort and the Death Eaters, most students had chosen to stay at Hogwarts for the Christmas holiday, with only a small number opting to go home.
Draco Malfoy was one of them, and he was by far the most anxious, leaving the castle early in the morning.
Harry and the others had been invited back to 12 Grimmauld Place by Mrs. Weasley before the start of the term.
Of course, none of this had anything to do with Kyle.
While the rest of the students made their way to the Hogsmeade platform, he had already led Kanna to a field beside the castle.
"How are we getting there…?" Kanna asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "Apparition? Portkey?"
"Neither," Kyle replied. "Nicolas's manor is just like Hogwarts—Apparition is forbidden, and Portkeys don't work unless Nicolas himself creates them. And since Professor Dumbledore didn't provide one…"
He glanced off into the distance. "Oh, Hagrid's here."
Kanna turned her head, and sure enough, Hagrid was approaching, bundled up in his enormous moleskin coat.
He was leading a cart pulled by a Thestral.
"Hey, Kyle!"
Hagrid waved from afar, and when he reached them, he handed over the reins.
"It's the same Thestral as before. He knows the way," Hagrid whispered. "I was gonna ask if you'd come help me teach Grawp over the holidays—he's made loads of progress."
"But I s'pose you'd rather go there, wouldn't you?"
Kyle just smiled without answering.
Even if Nicolas Flamel hadn't invited him, he would have either gone back with Harry and the others or stayed at the castle with Kanna. Meeting Hagrid's giant brother had never been high on his list of holiday plans.
Not to mention the smell. The stench surrounding Grawp was not something an ordinary person could endure—except, perhaps, for Fluffy.
Taking the reins, Kyle waited for Kanna to climb into the carriage before hopping in after her.
Hagrid leaned down and murmured something to the Thestral, and a moment later, the creature flapped its wings and lifted off.
"Merry Christmas, then!" Hagrid called from below.
"Merry Christmas," Kyle replied.
The Thestral soared higher and higher, and before long, Hagrid's massive form had shrunk into a small, dark speck on the ground.
Kyle settled into the carriage as they ascended.
Kanna, meanwhile, was peering out the window, her face alight with excitement.
"I've never flown in a Thestral carriage before," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "This is amazing."
Below them, the Hogwarts Express chugged along, its thick plumes of steam curling through the cold winter air. Within moments, the Thestral had overtaken it, leaving the train far behind in the blink of an eye.
Yet inside the carriage, there wasn't a single jolt or bump—it was as smooth as if they were gliding through still air.
Kyle had ridden a Thestral carriage before, so he was far more composed than Kanna.
As they passed through the clouds, a thin layer of frost began to form on the windows. The temperature had dropped noticeably. Kanna pulled the window shut before turning to Kyle.
"What kind of place is Nicolas's manor?" she asked.
Kyle leaned back, thoughtful. "It's fascinating," he mused. "Everything you see there—the walls, the ceiling, the tables and chairs, the fireplace, even the kettle for the flowers—is an alchemical object."
"They're just like the portraits in Hogwarts. They can talk, and they can move on their own."
Kanna's eyes sparkled. "That's incredible."
A moment later, her excitement wavered, replaced by uncertainty.
"I'm a little nervous," she admitted.
Kyle glanced at her. "Why?"
"What kind of person is Mr. Nicolas Flamel?" she asked. "What's he like? He's over six hundred years old—will he be very serious? Should I change into something more formal?"
Her gaze dropped to her clothes. She had originally planned to wear a simpler dress robe, but before they left, Kyle had insisted she switch into something more casual.
"Don't bother," Kyle said dismissively. "Nicolas doesn't care about that. If anything, wearing formal robes will only make him uncomfortable."
"But Professor Snape said otherwise…" Kanna murmured. "He told me yesterday that the older a wizard is, the more they care about these things."
"Snape…" Kyle scoffed. "Has he met Nicolas?"
Kanna shook her head.
"Exactly," Kyle said with a smirk. "So what does he know? That might be true for ordinary wizards, but Nicolas has lived for more than six centuries. He's seen everything. He stopped worrying about formalities ages ago. He just does whatever makes him comfortable."
"He doesn't even care about being addressed formally. He prefers people to just call him 'Nicolas.'"
Kanna frowned slightly, skeptical. It wasn't that she didn't trust Kyle—it was just not what she had expected.
"Just trust me," Kyle said. "Besides, you've already met him before. You just didn't realize it."
"What?" Kanna's eyes widened. "I've met Mr. Nicolas Flamel? When? I don't remember!"
"You'll find out when we get there," Kyle said with a knowing smile.