Hogwarts Emerald

On Christmas morning, the weather was freezing, and snow blanketed the surroundings. The twins were woken up early by Eda, who was already dressed and tossed two boxes onto their beds.

Eda pulled open the thick winter curtains, letting sunlight flood the room. The freshly awakened twins had no choice but to pull their blankets over their heads to block the light.

"Merry Christmas," Eda said. "I just took Garlon for a walk, so my hands are really cold. Do you two need a little help?"

The twins immediately sat up straight—they had no desire to experience the shock of her icy hands. It was far too much to bear.

"Merry Christmas!" Fred said, shaking the gift box. "What's this?"

"Why don't you open it and find out?" Eda said as she left the room. "Hurry up and get ready to come downstairs. If you dawdle any longer, Mrs. Weasley will be the one coming up to get you."

This Christmas holiday was turning out perfectly for Eda, and the gifts she received that morning were equally delightful.

Professor McGonagall had given her a set of robes this year instead of another private notebook. From the style to the fabric, it was evident the robes were of high quality.

The twins had given her a wand care kit, which they handed to her last night before bed. However, for the sake of ceremony, Eda had waited until this morning to open it.

The gifts she had just given the twins were gloves—an ideal accessory for their frequent outdoor activities.

Charlie's gift was a collection of books on British wizarding legends, something akin to a magazine of fantastical tales. In return, Eda had given him a figurine of a Hebridean Black dragon. This figurine could fly and even breathe fire—hopefully, it wouldn't end up setting Charlie's bedsheets ablaze.

As fellow book lovers, Eda and Percy exchanged books, a gesture devoid of much creativity.

For Ron, Eda gifted a set of wizard chess, while for Ginny, she chose a copy of Hogwarts: A History.

Eda had also prepared gifts for her friends at school, ensuring no one was left out.

An unexpected person also gave Eda a gift this Christmas—Cedric Diggory had sent her a large box of Chocolate Frogs.

Eda was caught completely off guard, as she hadn't prepared anything in return. It left her feeling a bit embarrassed. 

When the whole family gathered around the kitchen table, Mrs. Weasley began handing out gifts, giving each person one of her lovingly knitted sweaters. 

When it came to the twins, Mrs. Weasley struggled to tell Fred and George apart, hesitating for quite a while but ultimately failing to distinguish between them. In the end, the twins exchanged sweaters themselves and then put on the correct ones. 

Even though Mrs. Weasley was their mother and could tell them apart most of the time, the twins loved insisting she'd gotten it wrong so often that, over time, even she started second-guessing herself. 

Last year, Eda had envied the twins' sweaters, but this year, she finally received one of her own!

Her red hand-knitted sweater featured a large, golden-yellow "E," representing the first letter of her name. 

The children began pulling on their sweaters, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley watched the scene with joy. Christmas was meant to be a time of family togetherness, though it was a pity that Bill couldn't make it home this year. 

The first course of Mrs. Weasley's meticulously prepared Christmas feast was smoked salmon, delicious with just a touch of seasoning. The centerpiece of the meal, as always, was a plump roasted turkey stuffed with onions and potatoes. The table was laden with mashed potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and smoky bacon, ensuring everyone had more than enough to eat. 

Mr. Weasley sipped on Firewhisky, and since Charlie was of age, he was allowed to join his father for a few drinks.

The twins stared enviously at Charlie, and even Percy's expression betrayed a hint of longing. 

Noticing their obvious expressions, Mrs. Weasley smiled and brought out a large tray of butterbeer, handing a mug to each child—including Ron and Ginny, who hadn't yet started at Hogwarts. 

Mr. Weasley raised his glass and said, "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" the children echoed enthusiastically. Whether it was the strong Firewhisky or the butterbeer in their cups, everyone downed their drink in one go.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was lively, with everyone talking loudly, linking arms with those next to them, and humming songs. Mrs. Weasley, her cheeks flushed, sang a jazzy rendition of A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love, one of her favorite songs by Celestina Warbeck.

Mr. Weasley particularly enjoyed talking to Eda about Muggle-related topics. Although some of his questions were often childish, today's queries were anything but trivial—they revolved around cars.

For example, he asked how Muggles managed to make cars move without magic and what they did to fix them when they broke down.

These questions were far more complex than the usual "little rubber duck" ones, and Eda found herself scratching her head, wondering how best to explain.

She couldn't very well start with the spinning jenny and segue into an explanation of the Industrial Revolution and the invention of the steam engine!

As Eda carefully explained, Mr. Weasley's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

He downed his glass of Firewhisky in one gulp, seemingly making a decision of great significance and far-reaching consequences.

In the evening, the Weasley family and Eda gathered in the living room, which was decorated in a dazzling array of colors. By afternoon, all the Christmas crackers under the tree had already been used up, leaving the carpet littered with remnants of paper streamers.

Charlie was playing cards with Percy and the twins, while Ron sat off to the side with a large plate of mince pies.

After being utterly defeated the previous night, Charlie no longer dared to challenge Eda to a card game. He finally understood why the twins had tried to stop him.

Eda, lounging on the sofa, strongly protested this blatant exclusion.

Sure, she wasn't great at wizard chess, so it was fine if they didn't include her. But how could they ignore her when she was so good at card games?

Eda felt personally targeted!

Mrs. Weasley walked over, carrying a tray of eggnog. This festive drink, made with milk and brandy, was something everyone in the family could try. 

"Eda, can you do that flower trick again before bed tonight?" Ginny whispered to Eda eagerly. 

"Don't be silly, Ginny. Eda can't cast spells outside school," said Mrs. Weasley, overhearing Ginny's request as she handed out the eggnog. 

Charlie, playing cards nearby, looked up and said, "Ginny, wait until we're done with this round. I'll do it for you." 

Eda didn't blame Ginny for her impulsiveness. Ginny was naturally straightforward, saying whatever was on her mind. Besides, Eda herself was frustrated with not being able to perform magic freely. She clasped her hands together and said, "It's fine, really. They won't catch me." 

"It's not about being caught; it's about safety," Mr. Weasley said, unusually serious, setting aside the small orange he'd been about to peel. 

"But… I already did it," Eda replied, opening her hands to reveal a flower bud resting delicately in her palms. 

Ginny, feeling that something was missing, leaned forward and blew gently on the bud. In an instant, the flower in Eda's hands blossomed into full bloom. 

"Happy now little Ginny?"

"Yaay! You are so cool!" 

Charlie and Percy stared at Eda in shock, while Ron even set down his mince pie. The twins, however, were unfazed by the display, using the distraction to try and cheat while Charlie and Percy weren't paying attention.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged a look, clearly astonished by Eda's magical talent. A thirteen-year-old capable of wandless magic? How many people could achieve such a feat?

The blooming flower wasn't the end of the surprise. As everyone remained stunned, the flower transformed into two fluttering butterflies, gracefully circling around Ginny while she clapped. 

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