Harry Potter : Cael Vale’s journey to Hogwarts

The Great Hall was bathed in golden candlelight, the enchanted ceiling mirroring the grey, wintry skies of Scotland as a soft snow began to fall. It was the last day of term, and the students sat at their house tables, buzzing with chatter and clinking cutlery, waiting for Headmaster Dumbledore to address them before the Christmas holidays officially began.

At the Gryffindor table, Cael slid into an empty seat beside Harry, who sat between Ron and Hermione. The four of them looked tired, each weighed down by the recent string of events that had shaken the school.

Cael glanced at Harry and asked in a low voice, "So, what's your plan? Heading home for the holidays, or staying here at Hogwarts?"

Harry gave a tired nod. "I'm going home," he said, his voice quiet. "My dad sent me a letter. He's seen the rubbish the Daily Prophet has been printing… He thinks I'm under too much pressure and wants me to come back for Christmas."

Cael nodded thoughtfully. "That's good," he said. "It'll be nice to spend time with your family, clear your head a bit. Hogwarts hasn't exactly been peaceful lately."

"No," Harry muttered. "It really hasn't."

Cael leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "And don't let the whispers and glares get to you. People need someone to blame when things go wrong, and since you're famous—well, you're the easiest target. But it won't always be like this, mate. Chin up, alright? Don't let it get in your head."

Harry gave a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Cael."

Cael turned to Hermione, who had her nose buried in a thick book titled Languages Lost to Time: Forgotten Tongues of Magic. Her brow was furrowed, and she hadn't looked up once.

"Hermione," Cael said, peeking over her book, "what about you? Heading back home for the break? I didn't see you on the list of students leaving."

She shook her head, not taking her eyes off the page. "No, I'm staying. My parents were invited to a dental workshop in the United States—quite a big deal, apparently. They'll be gone all Christmas, so there's no point in me going home just to be alone."

Cael raised an eyebrow. "Well, looks like this'll be your first Christmas at Hogwarts then. You might actually enjoy it. It's peaceful—eerily quiet sometimes. Like the whole castle is asleep."

Hermione finally looked up and smiled faintly. "That doesn't sound so bad."

Then Cael turned to Ron. "And you? Heading back to the Burrow?"

Ron scoffed. "Not a chance. If I go home, Mum will murder me."

Cael chuckled. "Still about that Car that you drove to here at the start of the year?"

Ron groaned and nodded. "Yep. And trust me, she hasn't forgotten."

"Oh, come on," Cael said, laughing. "She's your mum. At most, she'll tug your ears a bit and yell for a minute. Then it'll all be fine. It's been, what, four months?"

"You don't know Mum," Ron grumbled. "Even if she does forget, the next time I leave my socks on the floor, she'll bring it all up again."

From a few seats down, Fred leaned over with a mischievous grin. "Nah, Dad won't be mad though. He's chill."

George, sitting opposite him, added with a laugh, "Unless you're us."

Fred snorted. "Yeah, remember when we tried to get Ron to swear an Unbreakable Vow never to get married?"

Ron's face turned red. "What?!"

Cael blinked. "Wait, you actually did that?"

"Nearly!" Fred said proudly. "Dad found out though, and it was the first time I ever saw him truly lose his temper."

George was grinning ear to ear. "We couldn't sit properly for days. He gave us a real walloping."

Fred said " ugh I still feel that pain in my ass cheeks " 

Katie Bell, listening nearby, burst into laughter. "You two deserved it! Forcing poor Ron into eternal bachelorhood? That's basically torture."

Everyone at the table joined in the laughter, and for a brief moment, the weight of the term's misfortunes faded.

At the front of the hall, Dumbledore stood and gently tapped his goblet with a silver spoon. Instantly, the room quieted.

"Well," he said, his voice kind but tired, "another term has come to an end, and we find ourselves once again at the doorstep of a new year. I do hope the next term proves to be less… eventful than the last. As many of you know, we have faced difficult times. Some of our students are still recovering, and we hope for their swift return."

The hall grew solemn for a moment, and a few students glanced toward the empty seats where petrified classmates once sat.

"But thanks to the tireless efforts of the Ministry of Magic and the brave Aurors assigned to Hogwarts' safety," Dumbledore continued, "the danger seems to have passed—for now. And so, I wish each of you a joyful, restful Christmas. Whether you return home to your families or stay here with us, may your holidays be bright."

With a warm clap of his hands, the golden plates filled with a feast of roasted meats, puddings, warm pies, and fresh fruits. Laughter returned, and the Great Hall became a blur of cheerful voices and clinking cutlery once again.

After the feast, the castle quickly began to empty. Students bundled into cloaks and scarves, dragging trunks behind them as they made their way to the Hogsmeade Station, ready to board the Hogwarts Express bound for London.

Harry was among them, walking quietly beside Neville, who tried to keep the conversation light. The train whistled and slowly pulled out of the station, taking them away from the castle's spires and snow-covered grounds.

Back at the gates, Cael, Hermione, and Ron stood watching the plumes of steam fade into the distance.

"Well," Cael said, rubbing his hands together, "that's that. Time to enjoy our holidays."

Hermione adjusted the strap of her bag. "I'll be in the library if you need me," she said, turning to head off.

Cael frowned. "Hermione, don't spend all your time in there. It's a bit… spooky with so few people around."

She gave him a rare, sly smile. "Don't worry. If anything, the monster roaming the halls should be scared of me."

Cael blinked. "That's… oddly menacing coming from you."

Ron watched her walk away, shaking his head. "She's been different since term started. Always in the library, always reading. Especially after we found out about that secret chamber… I think she's investigating something."

"Probably," Cael said. "You think we should be worried?"

Ron shrugged. "It's Hermione. If she figures something out, she'll tell us."

They stood there for a moment before Ron nudged him. "Hey, want to play chess?"

Cael raised both hands in mock surrender. "No, no way. You always crush me."

Ron grinned. "Come on, just one match. Maybe you'll win by luck."

Cael rolled his eyes. "Fine, but just one match. And if you start talking strategy again, I'm walking away."

Laughing, the two headed toward Gryffindor Tower, the quiet echo of their footsteps lost in the still corridors of the nearly empty castle.