'Christmas Eve, Haah..'

  Christmas Eve in the orphanage, was a time when Mrs. Mary would tell the story of Jesus' birth to the children. This year, Eda wouldn't hear it.

  Alone, she sat on the dormitory windowsill, holding a cup of hot water, sipping it slowly. Moonlight poured down, illuminating the silver-white ground.

  After the holiday started, Hogwarts felt empty because most people went home for the holiday. The corridors were mostly deserted, with only one or two people passing by occasionally.

  Despite appearing lonely, Eda was quite happy these days.

  She could always sit in the coziest armchair by the firepce without being disturbed by people stantly ing and going.

  The dormitory was entirely hers to trol, and she could freely use spells without running to the bathroom to pete for space with a long-dead senior.

  Eda also took the opportunity to "explore" the castle at night. Because of the holiday, Filch's patrols were less frequent, and the always-intriguing Be Fawley was also not at the school.

  Acc to an infatuated senior, the charming Professor Fawley would spend Christmas with his family instead of staying at cold Hogwarts.

  So, Eda took this time to plete her long-deyed night tour tasks and received the reward of the Disillusio Charm.

  With this spell, Eda was even less afraid of "old and grumpy" Filch.

  Oh, and Eda also asked Fred and Gee's father, Mr. Weasley, to send a letter to the orphanage for her to let Mrs. Mary know she was safe.

  As the night deepened, Eda finished her water in one gulp, pced the cup on the windowsill, and walked to her bed.

  The day, Christmas.

  When sunlight filled the entire dormitory, Eda had just woken up. She had enjoyed a rare long sleep and stretched with a big yawn as she got out of bed, feeling well-rested.

  At the foot of her bed was a small pile of packages.

  Since Eda was temporarily the only one in the dormitory, all these were her Christmas gifts.

  The top package felt thin, like a booklet.

  As expected, when she ope, a notebook appeared. On the first page was a message, likely about following school rules and studying hard.

  The notebook was from Professonagall, filled with her personal insights on Transfiguration. It was just as useful for Eda as the private lessons she had received.

  Eda's roommates, Angelina and Alicia, had chosen books as gifts for her. Iurn, Eda had given them notes on cssic Quidditch matches and strategies, which were thoughtful and cost-effective.

  were gifts from Fred and Gee.

  The twins had given her a rge box of chocotes, the same kind they enjoyed on the Hogwarts Express.

  Eda had reciprocated with a gift pack of items from Zonko's Joke Shop. Holy, Eda found it a bit expensive, but she had bought it anyway.

  She and Lee Jordan had exged bags of sweets, nothing much to say about that.

  Eda thought these were all the gifts she had received until she noticed a rge package at the bottom.

  She ope to find a big box of homemade toffees from Mrs. Weasley, along with a handwritten card from her.

  She picked up a toffee from the box and popped it into her mouth. The sweet taste spread throughout her mouth, and the rich, creamy fvor was irresistible.

  It seemed to have the power to make people happy.

  However, pared to the rge box of dies, the covetous Eda secretly wished for one of those "Weasley sweaters," handmade by Mrs. Weasley, with her initial on the front.

  The twins had often pined about receiving one of those sweaters every Christmas, but Eda adored them. Once again, she found herself envying Fred and Gee, and she might not have even realized she was also a bit envious of their little sister, Ginny.

  Humans always yearn for what they ck—like familial love, friendship, happiness, and even Galleons.

  After tidying up her gifts and ing papers, Eda left the on room, taking some toffees and putting them in her robe pocket as she went.

  Eda po visit the owlery first to send Mrs. Weasley a thank-you note.

  She was in a great mood after receiving the gifts and smiled and greeted everyone she met, which was a rare sight for her.

  The Great Hall was filled with the festive aroma of plump roast turkeys and other foods piled high like little mountains.

  The tables were also adorned with heaps of wizard crackers, which might tain fun tris or live, wriggling white mice.

  Every so often, the hall would echo with the loud pop of a cracker and the students' cheerful ughter.

  As Eda walked by, she saw a Gryffindor senior she often entered in the library pulling a cracker.

  With a sound like a on bst, the senior was enveloped in a cloud of blue smoke. When the smoke cleared, she was holding a gentleman's top hat, which perfectly matched the flower-adorned bo she was wearing.

  A few boys began to hoot and holler, encing the senior to choose one of them to give the hat to. Smiling, she agreed but instead pced the top hat on Eda's head, adding a touch of pyful charm to her appearance.

  After a brief chat with the soon-to-graduate senior, Eda made her way to the high table.

  First, she gave Professor Flitwid Professor Sprout some of Mrs. Weasley's homemade toffees. Both professors happily accepted the treats, chug as they chatted with Eda for a bit.

  From the moment Eda began distributing the toffees, Dumbledore had been watg her. The toffees looked quite delicious, and he was eager to try some himself.

  "Happy Christmas, Professor Dumbledore!" Eda said with a smile as she passed by Dumbledore's seat.

  "Happy Christmas, Miss Twist," Dumbledore replied, nodding with a smile. It seemed like his turn had finally e, and he was ready, even a bit impatient.

  However, Eda's as left Dumbledore in tears.

  After greeting him, she walked right past without leaving a sioffee!

  He was taken aback, caught off guard.

  Didn't she realize she had missed something?

  He uzzled, fused—it didn't make sense!

  His blue eyes followed Eda closely. Dumbledore wao see when she would remember the overlooked old man.

  Eda first gave Hagrid, who was sittio Professonagall, some toffees. Then, fearing she might receive something homemade by Hagrid iurn, she quickly returo Professonagall's side.

  She put both hands into her pockets, pulling out all the toffees and pg them on Magall's desk like a treasure.

  "Professonagall, these are the toffees Mrs. Weasley gave me. They're very delicious. Would you like to try some?" Eda said with a sweet smile, as if she wasn't the one who had been caught sneaking around at night.

  From the number of toffees oable, it was clear that Eda had emptied her pockets. Not only Dumbledore but also the other professors who had received toffees felt a twinge of envy.

  Eda hadn't inteo curry favor with the professors. She simply shared a few toffees with those who had been kind to her.

  For Eda, who had little to offer, sharing some sweets during the holiday season seemed like a small gesture.

  She gave the most to Professonagall because she had always been the kio her.

  Professonagall was beaming, so much so that she didn't even notice her tall, pointed hat had tilted.

  Her smile was full of pride, as if she was showing off to everyone: "Look! Just look at this! This is my student! A siderate and thoughtful child!"

  However, she seemed tet that the student who had infuriated her earlier this month was the very oanding in front of her now.

  Professonagall's iious smile made Professors Flitwid Sprout look at their own students, feeling a bit left out. The toffees in their mouths suddenly didn't taste as sweet.

  Seated oher side, Snape remained uurbed. He didn't care about such matters; the joys and sorrows of people were not universally shared.

  He only found Professonagall's cheerfulness rather annoying.

  Dumbledore's eyes stayed fixed on Eda, resembling a "lonely old man."

  Even after Eda returo the students' se, Dumbledore kept watg her. However, his thoughts had shifted away from the delicious-looking toffees to new ideas.

  Although Minerva Magall had just ughed somewhat "gleefully," she was still the same Professonagall. She grabbed a handful of her toffees and discreetly hahem to Dumbledore uhe table, trying not to embarrass him.

  Looking down at the toffees in his hand, Dumbledore finally smiled.

  Whether his smile was because of the toffees, his own childish behavior, or something else, only he knew....

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