The spirit of Christmas gradually spread throughout Hogwarts.
Snowflakes floated from the Great Hall's ceiling, pine branches and mistletoe hung all over the walls, and the air was filled with the scent of cinnamon and roasted turkey.
Charlie stood in his dormitory, packing his luggage.
He stuffed a few changes of clothes into his backpack and checked his wand and money pouch again.
He was going back to the Orphanage for the holidays, so he needed to prepare some gifts for the little rascals and Grandma White.
Just as he was thinking, there was a tapping sound outside the window.
Charlie turned his head, and an Owl was pressed against the glass, with frost clinging to its head.
He opened the window, and the Owl hopped in, dropping a letter.
Charlie, as usual, took out Storm's dried meat and offered it to the Owl.
Storm's hawk eyes instantly sharpened, staring at it.
"Kid, if you dare take it, I'll kill you!"
Seeing that the messenger Owl remained unfazed by the dried meat, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Storm's eyes.
"Very sensible."
However, the moment Storm relaxed, the Owl immediately snatched the dried meat and fled.
Storm was so angry that his head feathers stood on end, but the other party ran too fast, and Storm couldn't catch up now even if he chased.
He could only groom his feathers resentfully.
"That bird egg, daring to snatch my dried meat, tonight I'll go find your sweetheart and make sure I don't mess her up."
Charlie ignored the two birds' squabble and opened the letter.
This was a letter from Hagrid. As the Christmas holidays approached, if Charlie returned to the Orphanage, Hagrid wouldn't see Norbert for a long time.
So Hagrid hoped Charlie would take Norbert to him before he left.
Charlie naturally had no objections, so he took his box and left the Castle.
Upon meeting Hagrid, he opened the box inside the Hut.
Both of them jumped in.
Hagrid landed and froze completely.
Before him were vast expanses of Whomping Willows, with thick trunks and branches that clawed and swayed in the wind.
Although not as grand as the one at the school, they were already quite substantial, each tree two or three meters tall.
Sunlight filtered through the canopies, and the ground was covered with fallen leaves.
"Merlin's beard," Hagrid mumbled.
"How is this possible?"
He took a few steps forward.
The Whomping Willows sensed the intruder and instantly lashed out.
The willow branches whipped over with astonishing speed.
Hagrid jumped in fright, instinctively retreating.
Charlie raised his hand, and magic surged from his fingertips, forming a thin membrane over Hagrid.
The moment the Whomping Willows' branches sensed the magic, they stopped mid-air.
They froze for a few seconds, then slowly retracted, hanging down again, swaying their branches, and becoming quiet.
Hagrid's eyes widened.
"How did you do that?" His voice was full of shock.
"These Whomping Willows actually listen to you?"
Charlie shrugged.
"They recognize my magic."
Hagrid opened his mouth but couldn't speak for a long time.
He turned his head, looking at the Whomping Willow forest, his eyes filled with envy.
"You're amazing," Hagrid said.
"I've lived for so many years and have never seen anyone tame a Whomping Willow."
He sighed.
"If only I could do that too."
Not only had he tamed the Whomping Willows, but Norbert was also completely submissive to Charlie.
Charlie led him deeper into the forest.
Norbert had sensed Charlie the moment he entered the box.
With a whoosh, he ran out of the cave.
Judy, who was perched on Norbert's head, instantly felt the world spin.
By the time Norbert stopped outside the Whomping Willow forest, Judy was already dizzy and roaring like a dragon on Norbert's head.
"Ugh..."
Norbert lay on the open ground, wings tucked by his sides, tail wagging back and forth behind him, kicking up a cloud of dust.
His body was already enormous, his scales reflecting a metallic sheen in the sunlight, and with each breath, small flames spewed from his nostrils.
When Hagrid saw Norbert, his eyes immediately reddened.
"My little Norbert," his voice was a little choked.
"You've grown so big."
Norbert rubbed his head against Hagrid.
Hagrid spread his arms, wanting to hug Norbert's body.
But he could only press against him, his hands unable to close around him.
"I can't hold you like I used to when you were little," Hagrid sniffled.
"You're too big; my arms can't even reach your back."
Charlie stood aside, not disturbing them.
Hagrid sat by Norbert for a long time.
He chattered on, talking about what had happened to him recently, about the students at school, and about the animals in the Forbidden Forest.
Norbert lay at his feet, his tail sweeping the ground rhythmically, eyes half-closed, very quiet.
Time passed quickly, and the sky gradually darkened.
Hagrid stood up and patted Norbert's head.
"I should go back," he said.
"You stay here and be good, don't be mischievous."
Norbert snorted, exhaling two plumes of white smoke.
The two of them emerged from the box.
Hagrid's Hut was warm, the fire in the fireplace burning brightly.
Just as Charlie was about to say goodbye, there was a sudden knock at the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
Hagrid and Charlie exchanged glances.
Hagrid walked over and opened the door.
Two people stood outside.
One was Dumbledore, wearing purple robes, his half-moon spectacles gleaming in the firelight.
The other was a short, stout man with gray hair, wearing a top hat, and a formal smile on his face.
Hagrid's expression changed instantly.
"Minister," his voice trembled slightly.
"What brings you here?"
The stout man entered the house, his gaze sweeping over Hagrid, then over Charlie, his eyes lighting up.
He walked up to Charlie and enthusiastically took Charlie's hand.
"Oh, Mr. White, I've heard your name for a long time."
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge."
Charlie greeted him, subtly withdrawing his hand.
"Why do all these leaders like to pull and tug? Where did they learn such a bad habit? There's no Uncle Liu Huang in Britain either."
After Fudge finished talking with Charlie, he turned back to Hagrid.
"This is terrible, Hagrid," he sighed.
"I hear the Chamber of Secrets at the school has been opened again."
Hagrid took half a step back.
"It wasn't me," he said hastily.
"I didn't open the Chamber of Secrets, really, I swear!"
Fudge waved his hand.
"I know you're saying that now."
"But the problem is, you have a record."
Hagrid became even more flustered, he turned his head and looked at Professor Dumbledore.
"Principal," Hagrid's voice trembled.
"Please believe me, I really didn't open the Chamber of Secrets."
Professor Dumbledore walked into the house, he stood beside Hagrid, his gaze fixed on Fudge.
"I completely trust Hagrid, Cornelius, he wouldn't do such a thing."
Fudge shrugged.
"Your trust is certainly important, Principal," his tone was lukewarm.
"But the problem is, the Ministry of Magic doesn't think so."
He pulled a scroll of parchment from his pocket and unrolled it.
"This is the Ministry of Magic's resolution," Fudge said.
"In view of the Chamber of Secrets being opened again, and Hagrid having previously opened the Chamber of Secrets, the Ministry of Magic believes preventive measures must be taken."
He paused.
"So I must take Hagrid and temporarily detain him in Azkaban until the truth comes out."
Hagrid's face turned pale.
"Azkaban?" His voice was filled with fear.
"No, not there."
"Professor Dumbledore, I don't want to go to Azkaban!" Hagrid's eyes were filled with terror.
"That place will kill you."
Professor Dumbledore's expression darkened.
He turned his head and stared at Fudge.
"Hagrid has not committed a mistake," Professor Dumbledore's voice was cold.
"The Chamber of Secrets being opened is merely a rumor, you cannot arrest him for that reason."
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