Christmas ❄️🎄
The first thing Cael noticed when he woke up on Christmas morning was the stillness.
No chatter drifting from the other dorms. No first-years scrambling for presents. Just snow drifting lazily past the frosted windows, and the quiet crackle of the fireplace in the corner.
Hogwarts was almost empty.
Almost.
Cael yawned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he stretched beneath the covers. "Good morning, System," he muttered with a sleepy grin. "Did you get gifts from your fellow systems? Maybe some enchanted RAM or cosmic chocolate?"
[System]: "Ha ha, so funny…" came the dry reply in his mind. "Anyway… Happy Christmas to you too, genius."😒
Cael snorted. "Oh yeah… Happy Christmas." He swung his legs over the bed, pulling on his robes as he padded down toward the common room.😜
To his surprise, a small pile of parcels sat waiting on one of the armchairs, dusted with stray glitter and a few enchanted snowflakes still twirling lazily in the air.
"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Fred called from the couch, legs dangling over the side as he munched on a Chocolate Frog. His grin was pure mischief.
Before Cael could reply, a wrapped box sailed through the air and smacked him lightly in the chest.
"Merry Christmas," George chimed in, smirking. "Consider this… compensation for the emotional trauma of our many detentions."
Cael caught the package with an amused grin, inspecting it. "If this is another stink bomb, I'm throwing it directly at Snape."
"Relax, it's edible," George assured him. "Probably."
Inside the box? Chocolate. Mountains of it. Fizzing Whizbees, Honeydukes' finest selection, and one suspiciously jingling Chocolate Frog that looked very determined to escape.
Another package sat beside it — a small box from Lee Jordan, scrawled with a note in bold handwriting: "Keeps you awake during boring lectures."
Cael chuckled, shaking his head as he unwrapped the gifts. Sweets, enchanted trinkets, and one highly suspicious packet of "wake-up drops" that he'd probably regret trying.
More gifts followed — neatly wrapped parcels from Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, and Alicia Spinnet.
Katie's box had a cheerful note tucked beneath the ribbon: "Figured you'd like this scarf — it's cold out there, and you Gryffindor boys never dress properly. Merry Christmas!"
Inside was a cozy, Gryffindor-colored scarf, soft as clouds and charmed to repel snow.
Alicia's gift was chocolate and some other magical candies, glittering faintly under the wrappings. "Figured you like sweets, so I sent this. Merry Christmas!"
Cael raised a brow but couldn't help smiling as he unwrapped the sleek box of enchanted chocolate — spelled to melt perfectly in hot cocoa — along with the scarf.
George whistled, nudging Fred. "Look at that… admirers lining up, and most of them dangerously happen to be girls."
Cael smirked, tossing the scarf over his shoulders dramatically. "Well, who made me this handsome, hmm?"😼
Fred rolled his eyes. "You know I want to punch you right now, right?"
Before they could continue the banter, a sharp ahem cut through the common room.
Professor McGonagall stood at the foot of the stairs, her expression as stern as ever — but her eyes held a glint of warmth. In her hand, a neatly wrapped package sealed with the Hogwarts crest.
"Merry Christmas, Mr. Vale," she said, offering the parcel. "And… I trust this won't be used to fuel any further detention-worthy endeavors."
Cael blinked, momentarily stunned. He took the package carefully, unwrapping it to reveal a deep green notebook, its cover embossed with shimmering silver runes. An elegant quill rested beside it.
"A… spell journal and Transfiguration notes?" he asked, genuinely impressed.
McGonagall's lips twitched. "For your… extracurricular studies. I hear you're as troublesome in Charms as you are talented in Transfiguration, so use it wisely."
Cael flushed faintly but managed a small, sincere smile. "Thank you, Professor. And… Merry Christmas."
She nodded crisply. "Don't waste it." Her sharp gaze shifted to the Weasley twins. "And you two — I've already sent your gifts. Merlin help us all." With that, she swept off, tartan robes trailing behind her like a Christmas ribbon.
⸻
Later that morning, Cael slipped away to the Owlery, clutching a small stack of neatly wrapped parcels. The air was crisp, snow drifting through the broken windows as owls hooted softly above.
He tied the packages carefully to one of the school owls — simple gifts, but they meant everything. Sweets. Handmade trinkets from Hogsmeade. Small toys for the children at the orphanage. And a wrapped parcel for Mama Linda.
"Straight to London," he instructed the owl gently, securing the note for Mama Linda beneath the ribbon. "Tell her… Merry Christmas. And thanks for everything."
The owl hooted once, wings spreading wide as it soared into the snow-heavy sky.
⸻
By lunchtime, the castle was eerily quiet — the Great Hall nearly empty, save for a few clusters of students. Only five or six remained — mostly Gryffindors, a couple of Ravenclaws — gathered around a single, long table near the staff dais.
The professors sat with them — a rare, oddly comical sight. McGonagall, still severe but softened at the edges. Sleepy-eyed Flitwick. Dumbledore, eyes twinkling beneath his spectacles. Hagrid chatted animatedly with Professor Trelawney, who was trying (rather theatrically) to predict his future love life.
Even Snape was there, slumped in his seat, wearing the expression of a man whose NTR ed By some Potter boy .
Dumbledore's gaze drifted toward them, cheerful as ever. "Ah, Mr. Vale, Misters Weasley — come along. Christmas lunch waits for no one."
Cael slid into a seat beside the twins, exchanging amused glances as they piled their plates high with roast potatoes, stuffing, and steaming gravy. The enchanted ceiling above reflected softly falling snow, golden light casting a warm glow across the hall.
Laughter bubbled up as crackers popped, colorful hats appeared, and enchanted ornaments drifted lazily overhead.
"For once," Fred remarked, biting into a mince pie, "we're not in trouble."
"Yet," George added, raising his glass of pumpkin juice with a knowing smirk.
Cael chuckled softly, glancing around the quiet hall — snow drifting beyond the windows, professors laughing, the strange peacefulness of a half-empty castle.
Hogwarts felt… peaceful.
Warm.
Home.
Lifting his own glass, he clinked it lightly against Fred's.
"Merry Christmas, troublemakers."
"Merry Christmas," they echoed, grinning wide.
Hogwarts — half-empty, snow-dusted, ridiculous portraits lurking around every corner — was exactly where he belonged. 🎁✨