"No, there was no bargain." Ron sniffled, unwilling to share his happiest moments with others.
Seamus and Neville exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.
In fact, they had their suspicions; Ron likely had a romantic breakthrough with a certain Gryffindor female Class Prefect whose name was inconvenient to disclose, hence his beelike happiness.
Really don't understand, sigh.
What's the stink of love!
This is it!
Ron's happiness was just a momentary episode, and soon they welcomed the Christmas holiday.
This year's Christmas holiday lacked a school-wide ball—or rather, a tri-school level ball, so most students chose to go home for Christmas.
"Couldn't go home again this year." Ron said somewhat regretfully, "Dad and Mom are planning to go to Romania to visit Charlie—I really don't understand, they clearly already visited once at Christmas in '91, why go again to see Charlie this year?"
"Perhaps because it's been four years, Ron." Hermione said, lifting her head, then resumed battling with her thesis.
"Alright." Ron shrugged, adding, "Though it seems like there's one more person this time, besides Bill, there's a girl from France, like last year's Beauxbatons Warrior; they say she's become Bill's girlfriend."
"Fleur Delacour, right?" Harry recalled the silver-haired beautiful girl, "That's the name, last year...before the third task started, Mrs. Weasley and Bill came to chat with me, and I saw Fleur Delacour showing extraordinary interest in Bill; at that moment, I knew those two were likely to be together."
"Why are you so sure?" Ron asked puzzledly, "What if Bill doesn't like Fleur Delacour?"
Harry and Hermione looked at him, shaking their heads with a smile.
"Oh, Ron." Harry shook his head, "Few boys can refuse a girl as pretty as Fleur."
"Really?" Ron was a bit skeptical, "Then can you?"
Harry said with great certainty, "Why not? You should know, whether it's Cassandra or Vivi, they're much prettier than Fleur."
Ron took a deep breath.
—Forget it, what you said makes bloody sense.
Blood Mother Hell, you bastard!
For a second, Ron really wanted to Stupefy his good buddy.
"Then." Harry spoke again, "Since you can't go home for Christmas, why not consider going to number 12 Grimmauld Square to spend Christmas with us? It's not the first time we've spent Christmas together, don't you think?"
"Sure." Ron accepted happily, then looked at Hermione, "Hermione, what do you say?"
"Very sorry." Hermione opened her hands, "I haven't spent Christmas with my parents for several years, I think I should spend this Christmas with both of them."
"Alright." Ron shrugged slightly regretfully.
"However," Hermione spoke again, "After Christmas ends, I could go to number 12 Grimmauld Square and meet up with you; you won't have to wait long—or, there's another option, Ron."
"What option?" Ron asked eagerly.
Harry immediately stood up, whistling as he walked a little further away, giving the couple enough space.
As he walked away, he made sure to perk up his ears to listen to the conversation.
"Perhaps you can choose to spend Christmas with me." Hermione lowered her head speaking softly, "Of course, if you refuse..."
"Of course I would! Hermione!" Ron exclaimed in surprise, "Spending Christmas with you is something I couldn't wish for more—then, what about Harry?"
He spoke as he turned his head to look at Harry, who was pretending to look at the scenery while in fact his ears were practically radar.
Harry thought, for god's sake, don't worry about me, mate! At this time, if you still worry about me, are you sick?
"Are you dumb!" Hermione reached out to knock Ron's arm, "On Christmas Harry is surely going to be with Vivi and them, wouldn't you be a third wheel then?"
Ron finally came to realization.
"Okay, alright, fine." Ron agreed three times, "Since that's the case, then we shall do it—uh, I have to talk to Harry about this."
Harry certainly wouldn't stop him from spending the holiday with Hermione, after all, he himself would also be spending it with his Godfather and his girlfriends.
Well...seems like there'll be an extra Annie this year...but, Sebastian would have to be brought along too, forgetting a good buddy after all isn't quite right.
Hope the good buddy doesn't get too angry.
Before the holidays arrived, Hogwarts had completely stopped classes, the castle began to decorate for the holiday atmosphere.
The originally solemn suits of armor on the walls were entwined with wreaths woven from holly and ivy by Professor Flitwick's magic, their greenness accented with bright red berries, as if dressing these tin guards with holiday scarves.
Numerous candles hovered and floated in the corridors, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The heaviest work was still assigned to Hagrid, who dragged enormous fir tree branches into the Great Hall for the Little Elf to decorate.
The House-Elves silently bustled, like tireless ant workers, hanging shiny ornaments on the branches, sorting piles of gifts, preparing to deliver these gifts to their rightful places when the time was right.