After a brief moment of peace, the crowd began to disperse, everyone heading back to their respective homes and families.
Before saying their goodbyes, Ethan assured everyone that he would certainly repay them for their support today. For instance, by painting a unique, immortal commemorative masterpiece of the day's events—one that would perfectly recreate the Dark Wizard's attack in every vivid detail.
"We could even step inside the painting ourselves to experience the thrill of being bitten by those snakes!" Ethan said, his eyes wide and burning with an intense, unsettling fervor. "It would be incredibly meaningful, don't you think?"
The crowd: "..."
They appreciated the sentiment, but he could keep that particular "reward" for himself.
Just then, the Longbottoms stepped forward. Neville was supporting his parents, Frank and Alice. The tall, sturdy boy had red-rimmed eyes as he looked at Ethan with profound gratitude.
"Thank you, Ethan..." he choked out, his voice thick with emotion. "I never thought the day would come when I could spend Christmas with my mum and dad—as a real family."
"You... you're truly our family's greatest benefactor! I—I really don't know how I can ever repay you...!"
Ethan waved a hand dismissively. "It's fine. As long as you're ready to sacrifice your body for art at a moment's notice, we're even."
Neville: "..."
This guy really has nothing but 'art' on the brain, doesn't he?
After a two-second beat, Neville let out a sudden snort and flashed a bright, blushing smile. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "I'm—I'm always ready!"
Ethan nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Plenty of spirit."
The Weasleys came over to offer their thanks as well, though they couldn't stay long as they were in a hurry to get Arthur to St. Mungo's for a check-up. Even though Ethan told them, "You needn't worry; not only is Mr. Weasley fine, but his body has undergone some rather... beneficial changes," they still insisted on going. In fact, their pace seemed to quicken slightly after he said that.
Having reclaimed Helga Hufflepuff's Cup from Neville, Ethan strolled through the late-night streets with Luna, examining the relic of the Four Founders.
Heavy snow drifted down, settling softly on the shoulders of passersby. Although it was late, the atmosphere remained bright and festive as they entered a bustling commercial district. Triangular bunting hung overhead, converging at a massive Christmas tree in the center of the square. The deep green fir was draped in coils of lightbulbs that pulsed with a warm, amber glow. Beneath the tree, a choir of children sang Christmas carols at the top of their lungs.
As Ethan passed, he hummed a few bars of the tune, brushing past the crowd. For some reason, a sudden burst of chaos and screams erupted behind them.
"Mama! That shadow just moved!"
"Good heavens! I swear I didn't see it wrong! What kind of profanity was that?!"
Ethan chuckled, pulling his gaze away. "How lively."
Using the power of the Light, he continued to decipher the hidden runes etched upon the golden cup.
"[Unknown user... marvelous! You have passed the test of Helga Hufflepuff, proving you possess the qualities of sincerity and dedication]..."
Reading this, Ethan's eyes lit up. He nodded in solemn agreement.
"I really am suited for Hufflepuff. Alas, the Sorting Hat simply lacked the ability to see the essence beneath the surface." He really should have been sorted among those lovely little badgers back then.
Slurp~
"If you had been sorted into Hufflepuff," Luna said, looking up at him seriously, "you wouldn't be in the same house as me."
"Hmm~ True." Ethan blinked and gave her a brilliant, dashing smile. Looking down at Luna's fair, soft face, he couldn't resist reaching out to pinch her cheeks. "My dear Luna, if only to be in the same house as you, I would have come to Ravenclaw regardless."
Besides, the people here were all geniuses, and they spoke so eloquently. He quite liked it here. Right, Professor Quirrell?
"Mmmph—" Luna's face scrunched up as she was pinched, her eyes narrowing and her pretty eyebrows knitting together.
The sight of her looking like a little steamed bun made Ethan burst into laughter. He pulled his hand back and turned his attention back to the cup.
"Let's see what else is written here... [Kind soul, I shall grant you the reward for passing the trial: the method for brewing Life Dew]...!"
Ethan's eyes widened, his interest piqued!
It was better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. If he could learn to manufacture Life Dew, it would be like carrying a health pack even more potent than a Vivification Potion! Not only could it heal the body, but it could also mend the mind and the soul.
"I'll never have to worry about Dark Wizards fainting from madness again!" Ethan mused. He could just heal them up and keep the torment going!
Of course, those were just side benefits. What truly made Ethan's heart race was the "boundless energy contained within Life Dew." It was the perfect energy source to act as the heart of the Founding Titan, sustaining its movements.
"Originally, I just wanted to use the Golden Cup as fuel. But since it happened to be able to cure Neville's parents, I let him use it first. After all that circling around, I've reached my goal anyway. Better yet, I can now produce even more fuel myself!"
Ethan's lips curled into a smug grin. Not only had he healed the parents of a member of his Enlightenment Society—adding two powerful veterans to his ranks—but he had also passed the cup's trial and obtained an even more valuable treasure.
"It seems I should do more good deeds in the future," Ethan thought to himself. For instance, he could start by adding a few more 'cute' Big-Eyed Curse Frogs to the Dark Wizards trapped in the diary.
"[The brewing process for Life Dew is carved within the cup. Kind soul, you need only prepare the ingredients]."
"[Clusters of lightning-struck Marigolds, ground Sunstone, Lemon Balm leaves, Cockatrice blood... and most crucially, a complete, undamaged shedding of an adult dragon]..."
"An adult dragon's shedding? And it has to be a single, complete piece?" Ethan frowned slightly, hissing through his teeth. "That's going to be a bit tricky..."
In all his years, he had only ever seen dragon skin at Borgin and Burkes in Knockturn Alley. And those weren't even complete; just a four or five-meter square patch of skin was priced at 1,988 Galleons! It was practically highway robbery.
Perhaps a thousand years ago, when dragons weren't so scarce, their sheds weren't as rare. But in the modern era of Dragon Reserves, seeing even a juvenile's complete shed was difficult, let alone an adult's. They were strictly controlled substances—otherwise known as "contraband."
"Adult dragons don't usually shed unless they encounter significant environmental changes and need to regulate their internal functions... Hmmm. Does this mean I need to give that mother and son dragon in the Forbidden Forest a little 'stimulating surprise'?"
A dragon raised for a thousand days is used in a single moment. Ethan felt it was time for them to make a small contribution to his great cause.
While Ethan was lost in thought, he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Look. Mistletoe."
Luna, her hands encased in thick gloves, was tugging at him while looking upward.
Ethan followed her gaze. Without realizing it, they had wandered into a courtyard where mistletoe was growing. The thin, winding vines climbed over a white porch, and because they had been hanging for some time, they had taken on a slight golden hue. They weren't like the magically ever-green ones at Hogwarts.
The surroundings had grown quiet. Several couples were standing under the mistletoe, locked in embraces and kisses. The air was thick with happiness, practically shimmering with pink bubbles of romance.
"Hmph..." Ethan narrowed his eyes, already calculating what kind of atmospheric painting would best capture this scene.
His sleeve was tugged again.
Ethan looked down, meeting Luna's clear blue eyes. Her usually cool and misty gaze was now sparkling like starlight, filled with a quiet expectation. She stared at him without blinking, rising slightly onto her tiptoes to get closer.
At this distance, Ethan could feel a wave of warmth. His nose twitched, catching a faint, fresh scent—like walking through a field of dew-covered flowers in the early morning.
He looked at her. His heart felt as though it had been brushed by a feather, sparking an indescribable itch. Even Professor Flitwick would have praised his mastery of magic, yet at this moment, a bit of it leaked out like an untrained child's.
The yellowing mistletoe above them suddenly regained a vibrant emerald green. It spiraled downward, its vines intertwining.
His sleeve was tugged twice more in a prompting gesture.
Ethan's grip on the Golden Cup tightened. After a few seconds of silence, he finally, slowly leaned down—and pressed a gentle kiss to Luna's forehead.
He pulled back, smiling with the warmth of an elder brother. "Merry Christmas, Luna."
Luna puffed out her cheeks. Like an angry pufferfish, she glared at Ethan with indignation.
"Alright, let's walk a bit more and then head home. We shouldn't let poor Mr. Lovegood spend Christmas all alone," Ethan said, pretending not to notice her annoyance.
He turned, intending to continue deciphering the Golden Cup—but at that moment, a powerful force yanked on his sleeve!
Clang!
The priceless relic of antiquity, the Golden Cup of Hufflepuff, slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a sharp metallic ring.
Ethan was pulled to the side, his pupils shrinking instantly. He felt a sudden warmth and moisture on his cheek. Above them, the mistletoe defied all logic, suddenly bursting into a riot of tiny flowers.
Two seconds later, the warmth receded.
Ethan stood there, dazed, as Luna stepped back. A mischievous, cunning smile played across her pale face. With her hands behind her back, she began to walk away, her footsteps swaying as they marked the thin layer of snow.
She spun around suddenly, looking at him with glowing eyes, and said brightly:
"Next time, I won't let you dodge~"
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