11

Penny looked directly at Snape with determination, giving herself courage and support with such behavior. Snape's face was showing unconcealed astonishment, as if he had seen a gorilla suddenly spit out words and debate with him.

　　She was arguing with a wizard. Half a year ago, this was something she would never have dared to think about—at that time, she knew too little about magic, both yearning and fear, and she was often a little afraid that Snape would be impatient and suddenly make a move to turn her into a frog.

　　It was also just now that she suddenly realized that the fear she felt when facing wizards had completely disappeared - not because Lily had told her that underage wizards could not perform magic outside of school. This fear stems from the unknown and speculation, and when someone patiently lifts the veil of magic to look at it and explain it to her, the uneasiness and panic in her heart gradually disappear, and the process is so moist and silent that she has no awareness of it before.

　　It's not because she found magic not dangerous... Penny examines magic from an objective perspective and still feels that it is difficult to resist ordinary people. If a wizard wants to chant a curse on her, then she has no way to resist at all, after all, even body armor cannot resist the spell, and ordinary people cannot fight back when facing the superhuman power of magic.

　　But she still didn't feel afraid, obviously she would even be afraid of being turned into a frog in her imagination. Penny understands that it's not because she's suddenly brave, but because... She met someone like that that that made her trust and feel safe.

　　Penny felt a sudden flame in her heart, burning vigorously in her chest, making her warm and full of strength. She bravely looked at the unfriendly wizard in front of her who had terrified herself, expressing her firmness.

　　"You can laugh at me and taunt me with the worst taunts you can think of, just because I'm a Muggle." She straightened her chest and showed a strange haughty look on her face, "But it's not my fault, it only proves your funny - taunting a Muggle who has little to do with you?" There really isn't anything more important to do, right?"

　　Enraged, Snape had a mixture of contempt and offended anger on his face, and finally spoke: "No one cares what you think, you this-"

　　"Severus!"

　　His words were interrupted by Lily's voice, and Snape, as if he had been punched by someone, froze in place for a few seconds, and then hurriedly turned to Lily, keenly noticing that the name she had just called him was much more rusty than usual.

　　"I'm sorry, I'm not—I just did..."

　　Penny didn't want to listen anymore, she pulled her sister's hand away from her own arm, and said in a hurried tone: "Go buy it yourself, Lily, I have something to do... I want to go home first... You can be with this one of yours, your friends. "

　　Without looking back, she walked away and ran in the direction of home, farther and farther away from the two people standing in place. Petunia could hear the two of them arguing behind her, and Lily was throwing a tantrum at Snape.

　　"What are you talking about? What are you saying to my sister?!" Lily's voice was sharp with anger, "How did she mess with you?" Just because she's a Muggle and appears in front of you? Should I also stay away, I'm part of this Muggle family!"

　　"I'm sorry! Lily! I'm sorry!" Snape explained urgently, his voice hurried and embarrassed, "I didn't mean to! I was just... Just remembered some unpleasant dispute ... She's always hated me, you know!"

　　"But she didn't say anything this time!" Lily's voice overwhelmed him, her tone full of disbelief, "She has changed!" Seaver, what about you? Are you going to keep your ridiculous prejudice for the rest of your life?"

　　"It's not prejudice." There was unconscious pain in Snape's voice, "It's not for nothing, I..."

　　Penny ran farther and farther, and the quarrel that reached her ears gradually became less and inaudible.

　　She was still running in the direction of home, but not at all as Lily thought, because she couldn't stand Snape's mean taunts and felt hurt. It's not like this, she is a strong person, if she feels hurt, she will only go back more sharply regardless of the injury, regardless of the consequences, regardless of the cost, and not like today, leaving without saying a word, making people feel that she can't stand it ...

She just needs pen and paper very much, and wants to record the emotions that are burning violently in her chest at the moment, tell it to someone far away, and believe that the other party will seriously experience it for no reason, and then understand her feelings. She couldn't even wait to run home, and Penny stopped breathlessly as she passed the post office in town, went in on the spot to get a pen and paper, and wrote her letter on the counter of the post office.

　　She wrote quickly, using two pieces of paper, and finished writing in one breath, so smooth that she was surprised. She stuffed the letter into an envelope, took it to the counter to send it, and asked the staff: "How long will it take to send it to Durham County?"

　　"The day after tomorrow, probably." The staff replied, "Tomorrow is Christmas, you know, the postman has his own holiday." "

　　"What if I overpay?" Penny asked eagerly, "I want to send this letter as soon as possible." "

　　"If you're willing to register, you'll be there tomorrow." The staff said happily, "The cost is three times that of ordinary mailing." "

　　Good. Penelli paid on the ground, watched the letter being collected, and felt a heartfelt relief as she walked out of the post office.

　　I just did something beautiful. She said to herself that Eli must also feel that she was doing a good job, which made her feel an inexplicable pride just thinking about it.

　　The next day's Christmas arrived as scheduled, Penny was dressed and went downstairs, Lily was sitting by the Christmas tree to open the presents, saw her come down, first looked at her carefully, saw that she did not look like she was angry with her, and then smiled relievedly.

　　"I'm sorry for yesterday, Penny." She said carefully, "Severus was just impulsive yesterday, and he's sorry for the angry words he blurted out, so..."

　　Penny shrugged.

　　"He's your friend, not mine." Penny said, not wanting to talk more about the man, "Don't mention him, is this year's gift satisfactory?"

　　Lily bent her eyes into a big smile at her.

　　"So satisfied!" She touched the new hat on top of her head and motioned happily to Petunia that she had put on the gift she had given, "How did you come up with the idea of giving me a wizard hat, Penny?" Lilac is so beautiful!"

　　"When I saw someone wearing it on Halloween, I thought that of course my witch sister should have it." Penny said, receiving a warm hug from her sister and then pushing the gifts that belonged to her.

　　"These are yours, Penny! It's great that there are no magical creations in it, I was just caught in my finger by a book that Mary gave me, and it still hurts..."

　　Penny began to unpack her own presents amid her laughing grumbling. Dad and Mom gave her a beautiful trench coat together, and at first glance knew it would be nice to wear it; Lily gave her a star-shaped bedside lamp, the same style Penny had praised when they had been out shopping together, and Lily had obviously made a mental note of it.

　　There are also gifts from relatives at home, friends from school, acquaintances who have intersected ... Penny took them apart one by one, deliberately putting Eli's one last, and after unpacking all the other gifts, she looked at the package that belonged to Eli.

　　It is not very large, with a gold streamer tied to the red wrapping paper. Penny carefully took it apart, taking care not to add any new folds, and after opening the package, took a gentle breath for the contents inside.

　　Inside the round crystal ball is a spired castle, and fine snowflakes fall from the sky above, and the buildings in the light snow are ancient and mysterious, revealing a distant tranquility.

　　Lily was saying that her school gifts were said to automatically be at everyone's bedside, and inadvertently glanced over to Petunia, and suddenly exclaimed.

　　"Hogwarts!" She said in surprise, leaning over to take a closer look, "Yes, this is our school's castle... Eli gave it to you, didn't he? I haven't seen this crystal ball, otherwise I would have taken home one..."

　　Mr. Evans and Mrs. Evans also gathered around curiously. Together, they looked at the snowy Hogwarts castle in the crystal ball, curious and yearning.

　　Penny was completely unaware of what Lily's open and closed lips were saying, and she looked at her gift steadily, barely looking away, so greedily watching, for a long time.

　　What she holds here is a dream that she will never be able to realize.

　　Penny couldn't tell how to describe the emotions flowing in her heart at the moment, why it was so hot, she sat under the Christmas tree, holding her crystal ball, and suddenly inexplicably looked up and looked at the spire of the Christmas tree.

　　She looked there as if the gift had been delivered from the stars on the tip of a tree. She's not a little girl a few years old anymore, and she knows very well that there is no Santa Claus in the world. But maybe a wizard can? Hearing the wishes of the human heart and then generously fulfilling them, she suddenly thought so, and felt that she really had a trace of faith.

　　How else could it be, how could it be so... Hit her heart with precision.

　　Penny didn't know how long she had been sitting under the Christmas tree, the topic of family had shifted away from Hogwarts, and Lily went out to meet her friends, presumably that Snape; Mr. Evans was talking to neighbors outside, and Mrs. Evans was cooking in the kitchen, and the sweet smell of baked cakes wafted from inside.

　　The phone rang at this time.

　　Evans' phone was in the living room, where Penny was the only one. Penny came to her senses, stood up to answer, sat on the sofa and picked up the phone on the table, the crystal ball still held in her arms.

　　"Hello, Evans." She said.

　　"Hello, I am..." The other party had just said two words, and Penny suddenly sat up straight.

　　"Eli!" She blurted out and lost her voice, "Is that you?"

　　Eli laughed on the other end of the phone, his voice rustling through the receiver, a little distorted, but the first time it was so close.

"It's me, Penny." He said, "Merry Christmas – I received your letter, found it to be an urgent letter, thought maybe you wanted to receive my reply sooner, so I called directly, hoping it didn't bother you." "

"No, of course not..." Penny said with a stammer, knowing that she must have blushed, "I just didn't expect..."

She didn't even think she could call yesterday! She is obviously a person who has used the phone for so many years! She was a Muggle—Petunia felt unusually embarrassed, and the blush spread down her cheeks uncontrollably.

"Owls are certainly convenient." Eli said soothingly, "And I think paper letters are more convenient to keep, and I prefer that way... I read your letter, Penny. "

Penny held her breath unconsciously, heard Eli pause, and said in a soft tone: "I think that's brave and correct, if you want to know what I think - yes, I think you did a very good job." There is nothing to feel inferior to without magic, what kind of person each person will become has nothing to do with whether she can magic or not, even if there is no aura of magic, you can still shine. "

Penny lowered her eyes slightly when she listened, and a sudden astringency surged from the tip of her nose without warning.

She knew, of course she knew—only, it was great to have his approval.

"Did you receive my Christmas present?" She asked suddenly.

"Of course." Eli said, "Thank you for the wizard hat – it's the same as the one I wore at school, but it doesn't have my name on it." Did you embroider it yourself? I haven't heard that your handiwork is so good. "

"I've only recently started learning." Penny said in a somewhat dry voice, glad that the other party could not see the tension on her face, "Lishang exchanges, isn't it?"

"Then my behavior with magic seems a bit cheating." Eli said with a smile.

"I like the crystal ball you sent." Penny heard her own voice say, her tone trying to appear casual and calm, "This year's gift is that I lost, wait for next year... I will definitely prepare a better one for you. "

"It's me who lost." Eli said on the other side of the phone, sincerely, "I also like that song, you sing very well, this is the best gift." "

Penny opened her mouth, not knowing what to answer. There was a moment of silence between them, Penny holding her crystal ball, her fingers wrapped around the telephone line of the landline, feeling like she had no words to respond, and slowly pressing her hot cheek into the slightly rough cloth sofa back where he couldn't see.

"Merry Christmas." She whispered into the microphone, as if telling an untold secret.

"Thank you, Eli, for all you brought me, I... Loved it all. "