34. Boy Time, Gift Exchange.

Ryan casually strolled into the Great Hall, weaving through the early morning crowd before making a beeline for the Gryffindor table. He plopped down across from Harry, who blinked at him in surprise, mid-bite into a piece of toast.

"Uh, aren't you supposed to sit with Ravenclaw?" Harry asked, glancing toward the blue-clad table.

Ryan smirked, grabbing a slice of bacon. "There's no rule against sitting wherever you want. Besides, I needed to escape from the clutches of my girlfriends for some quality boy time."

Harry chuckled, shaking his head. "You make it sound like you're on the run."

"Sometimes it feels that way," Ryan said dramatically before pausing as he caught movement from across the hall. Yue, seated gracefully at the Ravenclaw table, blew him a playful kiss with a cheeky wink.

Rachel, sitting beside her, rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath before returning to her book.

Ron, watching the exchange, shook his head in disbelief. "Mate, I still don't get how you're managing that."

"Talent," Ryan said with a smirk.

Hermione, who had been listening with mild amusement, closed her book and stood up. "Well, since you're so desperate for boy time, I think I'll join Yue and Rachel for some girl time."

Ryan nodded approvingly. "Good idea. You should all make more friends anyway."

Hermione looked momentarily surprised at the encouragement but smiled. "I suppose that's true." She gave Harry a nod before heading off toward the Ravenclaw table.

As soon as she was gone, Harry grinned. "Right, so—I made the Quidditch team! I'm the new Gryffindor Seeker!"

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Youngest Seeker in a century, right?"

"Yeah!" Harry grinned. "McGonagall pulled some strings to get me a broom and everything."

Ryan hummed, glancing at the broomsticks some older students had leaned against the wall. "I'm gonna be honest—I don't get the appeal."

Harry looked at him like he'd just spoken in Parseltongue. "What? You don't like flying?"

Ryan shook his head. "Not really. I just don't trust the school brooms. They're old, outdated, and should've been replaced ages ago."

Ron nearly choked on his pumpkin juice. "You're mad! Brooms are brilliant!"

"Maybe for you," Ryan said, unfazed. "But I'd rather not put my life in the hands of something that looks like it's held together by spellotape and wishful thinking."

Harry laughed. "I guess you've got a point there. Some of those old brooms do wobble a lot."

Ryan smirked. "Exactly. You won't catch me on one of those things anytime soon."

The conversation drifted to other topics as they enjoyed their breakfast, the easy camaraderie between them making for a welcome break from the usual chaos of Hogwarts.

~~~

Snow blanketed the castle grounds as December settled over Hogwarts, bringing a crisp chill to the air and a festive atmosphere. The Great Hall had been decorated with towering Christmas trees, enchanted snowfall, and warm candlelight, making the entire school feel cozy despite the cold.

With the holidays approaching, students either left for home or settled in for a quieter stay at the castle. Hermione had bid farewell before heading off to visit her parents, leaving Ryan, Yue, Rachel, and a handful of others behind to enjoy the peacefulness of a near-empty Hogwarts.

Christmas Eve arrived with a calm serenity, the castle halls quieter than usual. In the Ravenclaw common room, the fire crackled gently as Ryan, Yue, and Rachel relaxed on the couch. Yue was sat in Ryan's lap cuddled up against him and Rachel was nestled up next to him reading her book. Most students had already gone to bed, leaving them alone in the vast, book-lined space. Wrapped presents sat neatly under the nearby Christmas Tree, ready for the morning.

Serenity, however, was nowhere to be seen—but Ryan knew exactly where she was.

---

Moving unseen through Gryffindor Tower, Serenity's Presence Concealment rendered her nothing more than a whisper of the wind as she slipped into the boys' dormitory. The room was dimly lit by the moonlight streaming through the frosted windows, casting long shadows over the beds.

Harry lay fast asleep, oblivious to the silent figure moving toward his pile of presents. With practiced precision, Serenity reached into the stack and retrieved a familiar, square package containing fabric no doubt and a note on top. In its place, she carefully laid a nearly identical one—one Ryan had specially purchased. Not a single rustle of fabric betrayed her movements, and within moments, the switch was complete.

Tucking the original package under her arm, she vanished just as silently as she had arrived, leaving no trace behind.

---

Back in the Ravenclaw common room, Ryan checked the clock. "She should be done by now."

Yue smirked, resting against him. "You really do have her running secret missions for you."

Rachel, nestled against him with a book in her hands, barely looked up. "She enjoys it."

Before Ryan could respond, a soft giggle echoed through the room, and Serenity materialized beside him with a playful glint in her violet eyes. Without warning, she leaned in, pressing a deep kiss to his lips before pulling away just as quickly.

"Mission complete," she whispered mischievously, slipping a small, wrapped package into his hands.

Ryan arched a brow but accepted it without question. He already knew what was inside—Harry's original invisibility cloak. Tucking it away safely, he gave Serenity a nod. "Good work."

She beamed before melting back into the shadows, her quiet laughter lingering in the air.

Yue leaned against Ryan with a knowing smile. "You really do have a thing for mysterious women, don't you?"

Rachel, flipping another page, muttered, "Obviously."

Ryan sighed, rubbing his temple. "You're all going to make my life very complicated, aren't you?"

Yue merely grinned, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "Oh, you love it."

Ryan groaned, shaking his head, but deep down, he couldn't deny it—his life had become anything but ordinary, and strangely, he wouldn't have it any other way.

Tomorrow morning, Harry would wake up to a pile of gifts, including the house trunk Ryan had secretly arranged for him. Whatever the future held, at least for now, things were peaceful.

For now.