HP: It's a snake, not a badger.

Chapter 12 Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!

(For the previous chapter's plot summary, see Big Eyes: Su Xiaojing)

I'm completely out of ideas. Screenshots don't work, links don't work.

The white snow fell little by little, piling up on the ground, and the Christmas atmosphere quietly arrived.

"Hagrid, could you please help move this tree to the Great Hall?"

"Yes, Professor Flitwick. Is there anything else you need?" The tall half-giant carried a tree into the Great Hall and neatly arranged it.

"Thank you, Hagrid, for decorating the Christmas tree with us! Come and enjoy Christmas!"

------------

"Merry Christmas, Professor Snape!"

"Mr. Thaddeus, is your brain made of mush? I know it's Christmas today, but you don't need to yell at me. You're a human being, not a shouting letter."

Snape couldn't help but rub his ears. Anyone who was focused on grading homework would be annoyed by being yelled at. How could this brat have such a loud voice?

Emeric handed over two large boxes. "Professor, the green one is your Christmas present, and the black box is your bonus for this year. Part of it will be exchanged for rare materials, and the rest will be stored in the Fairy Pavilion. The token is inside."

Snape opened the gift according to etiquette. Inside was a black robe, similar in style to his usual attire, but with many more intricate dark patterns that shimmered under the light.

"This garment was designed to your liking and was made by my father with alchemy assistance. I engraved all the magic runes on it! Please try it on." Emeric was pleased to see Snape's initial shock. It was fireproof, waterproof, oilproof, explosion-proof, and self-cleaning—a must-have for home and travel.

"Professor, I'm leaving now. I still need to deliver gifts to the other professors~"

Of course, there were no other professors. He also had a gift for Dumbledore: a box of chocolates made with special ingredients: love potion pollen, an anti-aging agent. The chocolate box was a door key with set trigger conditions, the kind that led directly to Grindelwald's bedroom.

The grass on the outer wall told him that Professor Dumbledore hadn't gone out today; he was in the headmaster's office and had casually asked about today's password.

"Bloody Lollipop"

What a strange taste. Emeric thought that apart from vampires and morbid fascination, no one should like this stuff.

"Professor Dumbledore, I need your advice on something. I'd like to give some homemade chocolates to an elder who also likes sweets, and I'd like you to taste them and see how sweet they are."

Emeric blushed and shyly handed over a box of chocolates, looking every bit the bashful child. Using one's face so well is a real talent!

"Oh, I see. Then I won't stand on ceremony. Let me have a taste."

Dumbledore hadn't expected a child to be so bold. He stood face to face with Grindelwald, a surge of heat rising within him, his body going weak, and he involuntarily lunged at his former lover.

Early in the morning, Grindelwald received a gift and a letter from Emeric: a bottle of anti-aging potion. The letter instructed him to drink it, tidy himself up, and fix up his room. Although he didn't know why, Grindelwald felt that Emeric couldn't possibly trick him, so he did as he was told, never expecting to receive such a generous gift.

----------

"Professor Snape, I'm back! Could you come with me to the Forbidden Forest? My Animagus should be ready today." The smug little brat forgot that he hadn't informed the professor about this.

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the cellar suddenly turned cold.

Snape wrote "T" on the paper in his hand, "Mr. Thaddeus, is there nothing in your brain but magic runes? You don't need to tell your poor old professor that I'll be sending my regards this time next year." He was still angry despite his sarcastic remarks.

"Do you know how dangerous this is? This is something fifth graders learn. How dare you go all the way to the last step by yourself? With your wobbly, rattling brain? You think you can bully your old professor instead of going to other professors?"

"No, Professor, I didn't intend to register. This is a life-saving measure. I only trust you. Professor, you are my last resort. I didn't come to you because I had no other choice." Why was the professor so concerned about this choice? Emeric, who always grasped the key points, completely filtered out the previous words and focused on the last sentence.

It seems the professor had a very eventful past. Besides being a Death Eater and now a Potions Professor, there must be something else that led to this. I'll ask those old trees later; they should know. If all else fails, I'll ask my father. I have great faith in our family's intelligence network.

"Let's go, aren't we going to the Forbidden Forest? You can come back and grade the paper."

Hearing that he was the only choice, even the usually composed Snape couldn't help but feel a little happy. Apart from being used, no one had ever chosen him so resolutely.

"Professor, thank you, you are the best professor!" Emeric followed Snape, still trying to act pitiful even though he was almost 180cm tall.