Hogwarts' Christmas feast was absolutely spectacular in terms of visual splendor. Hundreds of roasted turkeys, even when distributed across five long tables, still seemed crowded. The gaps between the turkeys were filled with mountains of roasted meat and boiled potatoes, their rich aroma permeating the entire Great Hall.
However, some people didn't seem to be enjoying this sumptuous dinner very much.
At the staff table, several fairies that should have been serving as Christmas tree lights had abandoned their posts and were sitting on Evans's head, tugging at his hair, trying to attract the attention of this human who emanated such a sweet scent.
But Evans paid no attention to their antics. He was listlessly poking at the turkey leg in front of him, having no interest in eating.
He really couldn't understand who had first decided to use turkey as food. The meat was tough and dry, with a strange sour taste, and pitifully little fat throughout. Except for those regions where people still couldn't get enough to eat, Evans couldn't fathom why this thing was used as celebratory holiday food.
Had cake stopped being delicious? Had cream stopped being fragrant? Was it necessary to put a pile of rubbish on the table during a major holiday?
Due to his already sour mood, Evans now harbored strong malice toward these turkeys on the table.
After mentally complaining a few more times, Evans gave up his assault on the turkey, propped his cheek with one hand, and let his gaze drift into the distance.
He was irritated.
Among this year's Christmas gifts, one was missing.
Although he didn't particularly want to receive that gift, not wanting to receive it and not receiving it were two entirely different experiences.
Actually, he really didn't want to receive it that much...
"Professor Dumbledore."
A low voice nearby caught Evans's attention. He temporarily buried that small emotion in his heart and turned to look.
He saw Professor McGonagall standing beside Dumbledore, her head lowered, her expression somewhat serious.
After hearing Professor McGonagall's words, Dumbledore's expression also became somewhat surprised. He nodded lightly and stood up, leaving the banquet hall with Professor McGonagall.
Watching those two departing figures, Evans grumbled internally.
This was the pain of being headmaster and deputy headmaster—having to work even during major holidays.
Tsk tsk tsk, how pitiful.
Sighing inwardly, Evans casually speared a piece of turkey leg with his fork and put it in his mouth. A few seconds later, his face showed a pained expression.
This thing was still so awful!
"Hey, mate, cheer up."
At the Gryffindor table, seemingly noticing Harry's somewhat dejected state, Ron beside him, put down his drumstick and patted Harry's shoulder.
"Still thinking about that dream from earlier?"
"...Yeah."
Harry nodded somewhat absentmindedly.
This afternoon, he had played in the snow with the Weasley twins all afternoon. Before dinner time, he was already exhausted and had rested his head on the common room table for a while.
But he hadn't expected that just sleeping for a bit would result in such a strange dream.
In the dream, he was standing by the Black Lake, watching a hooded stranger jump headfirst into the dark water.
If he had only dreamed of this once, he would have found it merely puzzling. But this dream repeated continuously dozens of times until Ron woke him up.
Watching the same person jump into the lake dozens of times in a row felt too bizarre, making Harry unable to stop thinking about it even now.
Seeing that Harry's condition still hadn't improved, Ron continued to console him:
"Trust me, that was just an ordinary dream. A hooded stranger jumping into the Black Lake dozens of times—I've had plenty of similar dreams!"
"I've even dreamed of falling off a flying broomstick and falling for over ten minutes!"
"You've just been investigating Snape too intensely lately. Come on, eat a drumstick and relax."
As he spoke, Ron shoved a drumstick toward Harry's mouth, the rough action nearly knocking out several of Harry's teeth.
Rolling his eyes hard, Harry pulled out the drumstick bone and set it aside. Feeling the food's aroma spread in his mouth, his mood gradually calmed down.
Maybe he really was overthinking it.
It was just a dream—what danger could there be?
Thinking this way, Harry felt his mouth was somewhat dry.
He hadn't had any water since that dream in the afternoon, so he was indeed quite thirsty.
Picking up the goblet beside him, the water inside rippled slightly, looking just like that pitch-black lake, making Harry's thoughts wander again.
Shaking his head and burying that dream in his heart, Harry drained the cup in one gulp.
A few seconds later.
Crash!
The goblet fell to the ground, shattering to pieces.
Harry, who had been perfectly normal just moments before, suddenly collapsed onto the table. His face gradually turned iron-blue, and he made wheezing sounds from his mouth, looking as if he couldn't breathe.
This abnormal behavior quickly caught the attention of those around him, and Ron's shouts for help attracted even more people.
"Everyone stand back!"
An anxious voice rang out nearby. Madam Pomfrey from the hospital wing pushed through the crowd and drew her wand, pointing it at Harry.
"I think he's choking... hmm?"
The tip of Madam Pomfrey's wand lit up with white light, but Harry didn't seem to receive any effective treatment.
Taking two steps forward and looking at Harry, who was still hunched on the ground unable to breathe, Snape's brow furrowed slightly.
Although Harry's condition looked exactly like choking, the fact that Madam Pomfrey's spell couldn't take effect was quite telling.
This was definitely not normal choking, and judging by Harry's condition, if this continued, he might not last two minutes.
But he had never seen these symptoms before and had no idea how to solve it...
"Drowning Curse."
Suddenly, a voice sounded beside Snape. Turning around, he saw that Evans had somehow appeared beside him, looking at Harry hunched on the ground with some strange emotion in his eyes.
Hearing the curse name Evans spoken, Snape's eyes flashed with realization.
"A Drowning Curse?"
He had heard of this curse but had never seen what it looked like when it manifested.
But knowing the name of the curse, Snape's tightly furrowed brow showed no signs of relaxing.
This curse was very troublesome to break—he vaguely remembered it required a very complicated ritual.
"He might not last until we finish setting up the counter-curse ritual."
"No need, I can break it."
Evans shook his head and knelt beside Harry.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a very small glass vial.
Looking at the glass vial, Snape's eyes showed a trace of hidden surprise.
"Spring Nymph's Blessing? Where did you get this thing?"
In modern times, spring nymphs had long been extinct. This material that could break all water-related curses was absolutely priceless.
Where had this boy gotten it from?
Evans was silent for a few seconds before speaking softly.
"...A friend gave it to me last Christmas."
Though she didn't send anything this year.
"Hmph, friend. You certainly have a lot of friends."
Seeing the small vial, Snape returned to his originally cold expression, even his tone returning to its usual sarcastic nature.
With this thing, the Drowning Curse shouldn't be much of a problem.
Ignoring the sarcasm in Snape's tone, Evans uncorked the vial, supported Harry's head, and carefully dripped a single drop of pale green liquid into Harry's mouth.
The next second, a strange light burst from Harry's body. Everyone present seemed to hear the sound of a stream flowing, and Harry's iron-blue complexion quickly returned to normal with this sound.
Before long, accompanied by violent coughing, Harry opened his eyes and gasped for breath.
"He really recovered?"
"Professor Kahn is amazing!"
"Wait, I think I heard the professor say that Harry's condition was caused by a curse?"
"It must have been those Slytherin bastards! Just wait until I deal with them..."
Seeing that Harry was fine, the students gathered around gradually dispersed, and Snape beside them also imperceptibly breathed a sigh of relief.
But just as he was about to return to his seat and continue his Christmas feast, a figure blocked his path.
"My dear Head of House, I think we should share what we know, don't you?"
[Chapter Complete]
***
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