In the evening, there was a grand celebration dio honor the victorious Quidditch team and to wele the arrival of Christmas.

  Hoare couldn't quite uand why wizards celebrated Christmas, but that didn't stop him from enjoying the moment.

  [Ding]

  [Avaible Galleons: 4198 Galleons, 6 Sickles, 23 Knuts]

  As soon as the matded, Hoare couldn't wait to settle ats with Headmaster Snape.

  That familiar, melodious sound was truly irresistible.

  "Henry! I never knew you had it in you! Well done!" Draly khat Hoare was usually strong and skilled in physical arts, but he never imagihat this advantage could also shine in a Quidditch match!

  "Let Gryffindor see, just because they have Potter doesn't mean they win!"

  At the long Slytherin table, from first years to seventh years, they all looked at the opposite side with a unified gaze from top to bottom.

  At the Gryffindor table, everyone was gnashing their teeth and biting into various foods, imagining them as substitutes for that Henry William from Slytherin.

  If it weren't for all the professors sitting at the maiable, Hoare thought, the two houses would have already started a brawl.

  Dinner finally cluded smoothly, and everyo back to their respective houses to find their headmasters.

  After tonight, early tomorrow m, after a good breakfast, unless some students stayed at school, the rest would pack their suitcases and take the Hogwarts Express home for the holidays.

  "Henry, are you staying at school for Christmas?"

  Hoare was sitting in the on room, reading a book. Bise curiously leaned over to ask, as iire Slytherin house, apart from the headmaster, no oayed at Hogwarts.

  Slytherin families had various bao host at home.

  Moreover, they o go home to ret the intense process of this match to their families, as Slytherin had once agaied Gryffindor!

  "I submitted an application to stay. My family isn't around." Hoare tinued flipping through his book.

  "You e to my family's manor. My father would certainly like you very much." Draco overheard the versation and joined in.

  "Thanks for the invitation, but I'd rather read more books." Hoare raised the book in his hand, which he had mao get permission from Headmaster So access the restricted se.

  Drad Bise exged a gnce, shrugged, a back to pag their luggage.

  Hoare sat alone on the sofa, watg others busily pag their suitcases, feeling a bit homesick himself.

  This year, the Weasley couple was going to Romania to see Charlie, who was researg dragons there and hadn't been home for several years.

  So this year, he and a few of his brothers stayed at school.

  Of course, everyohought Hoare's staying at seant staying at the Muggle world’s London First Junior School.

  The Weasleys' carefree nature, bined with Hoare being a worry-free child, made them very fident about his whereabouts.

  The Christmas holiday sted about two weeks, and the school wouldn't schedule courses for students. Those staying could py and enjoy adveo their heart's tent.

  After all, this was Hogwarts, full of secrets. Hoare had been too busy in the past few months and hadn't explored many of the hidden passages. He wao take advantage of Christmas to look for the Chamber of Secrets.

  Hoare scratched his , realizing he couldn't do it alone since he didn't speak Parseltongue.

  Should he bring Harry along?

  Hoare thought of the apologetic look Harry gave him at the dinner and figured he could use it to his advantage.

  Moreover, Hoare remembered his agreement with Dumbledore.

  During the Christmas holiday, Headmaster Dumbledore would take Hoare to Ollivanders in Diagon Alley to purchase his own wand.

  And the board of governors had already started promoting and selling the first batch of Squib Potions.

  He could also get more detailed sales reports faster at school and receive his share of the profits promptly.

  Hoare desperately needed money now; he wao upgrade his B-level magic talent to A-level, and he was still 900 Galleons short.

  Hoare had tried to ask Dumbledore for an advance, but Dumbledore expihat professors' saries were disbursed at the end of the school year by the board of governors, and he, as headmaster, owerless.

  Hoare was a bit frustrated but had no choice.

  He thought about it and realized the only money he could get quickly was from the Squib Potion profits.

  A monthly settlement was very reasonable, much more so than being a teag assistant.

  After listing the things he o d the Christmas holiday, Hoare finally went back to his room to sleep.

  -----------------

  The m.

  Have himself a break, slept in, and weled his holiday.

  Apart from the entionally made by Millit Bulstrode, it erfect day.

  However, Hoare wasn't oo be trifled with; he secretly sed all of Millit Bulstrode's assigs in her suitcase using the Summoning Charm.

  Hoare truly sidered himself a kind person, at least he didn't cast a nasty curse on him.

  In his casual attire, holding a rexing book, he leisurely strolled to the Great Hall.

  The students he met on the way, regardless of their house, were all in a hurry.

  In stark trast to Hoare.

  "Henry!" It was Harry calling out loudly.

  Due to Wood's repeated pleas, Harry had been asked not to reveal anything to anyone, especially not to the Slytherins.

  Wood almost directly named Henry William.

  Harry felt incredibly guilty, thinking it was wrong for friends to keep secrets from each other. Henry was always generous in sharing his assigs and some magic tips.

  Even during the match, Henry had saved him!

  Although he ultimately lost the match, Harry was happy for Slytherin's victory.

  Afterward, there was a small argument within the Gryffindor Quidditch team, as they felt Slytherin's win was unfair and wanted a rematch, but Harry refused.

  Henry had won fair and square through his own efforts.

  As a just Gryffindor, how could they not accept defeat? After Harry's argument, the Quidditch pyers gave up the idea of a rematd decided to train harder, determio knock Slytherin off their brooms year.

  Harry felt... something wasn't quite right, but it didn't matter.

  Now he could speak to Hoare loudly again.

  At that moment, Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor table, pying wizard chess with Ron.

  Ron, hearing Harry calling Hoare, rolled his eyes at Hoare and muttered something under his breath.

  It seemed to be something about Slytherin's troll, the little William who rides on others' coattails.

  Hoare rolled his eyes bad then unceremoniously sat o Harry, as he o borrow Harry's Parseltongue skills and didn't want to make things too awkward.

  Since Harry had offered a way to recile, why not take it?

  "Harry, aren't you going home for Christmas?" Hoare asked mischievously, knowing the answer.

  Harry scratched his head, about to reply, when Ron interrupted, "Aren't you staying too?"

  "My family isn't around; they've goo visit my brother far away." Hoare helped himself to some food.

  Harry immediately excimed, "What a ce. Ron's parents are also visiting Ron's brother." Ron frowned in disdain, thinking, "What's so tal about that?"

  Hoare shrugged indifferently. Of course, it was a ce, sidering it was the same set of parents.

  0Niffler0