Chapter 208: Christmas Gifts

Stepping out of 12 Grimmauld Place, Wade found himself on a London street. He raised his hand to hail a taxi, and Lupin helped open the door for him.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?" Lupin asked, holding onto the door.

"No need," Wade replied. "There's still a lot to take care of after the funeral. I can get home on my own."

"Alright… be careful on the way," Lupin said.

"Don't worry."

The tip of Wade's wand peeked out from his sleeve for a moment before retracting again.

With his abilities, even without a wand, it would be difficult for an ordinary person to harm him unless they managed to ambush him.

"Stop worrying, Remus!" Sirius said, shoving Lupin gently aside. 

He leaned down to the car window and told Wade, "Stay home for a few days and then come over. You can't practice magic freely at home, can you? My place is always open for you, and you can read whatever you like in the library."

Wade smiled. "Thanks. The books I brought this time should keep me busy for a while."

Everyone knew that at home Wade would be restricted from using magic, so several people had already invited him over for the holiday.

Steven and Professor Murray, Sirius, Lupin, Harry, Michael, and Theo had all mentioned it. Even Marchionne had extended several insistent invitations, so much so that Wade suspected he might cry if turned down again.

But Wade had already made a well-packed schedule for his holiday.

The taxi gradually accelerated, driving cautiously on the snow-covered roads. Through the window, Wade could see the figures of Sirius and Lupin growing smaller in the distance.

He smiled and turned back, feeling a unique sense of accomplishment.

In the original storyline, Sirius at this point would still be locked up in Azkaban, with his breakout half a year away. After escaping, he would be reduced to hiding near Hogwarts and surviving on rats.

Meanwhile, Lupin would be wandering in poverty until he learned of Sirius's escape, prompting his return to the school he hadn't seen in years.

To witness firsthand how he had slowly changed their fates brought Wade a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that even surpassed seeing thousands of Galleons flowing into his vault.

…

On Christmas morning, Wade awoke to the sound of chirping.

He opened the curtains to see a few gray sparrows hopping around outside the window, pecking at scattered millet and sunflower seeds on the sill.

Smiling, Wade pointed his wand at his chest and cast his usual morning spell. Only after completing this ritual did he put on his thick, fleece-lined pajamas and step out of bed.

At the foot of Wade's bed, a large pile of gifts had already accumulated. He pulled out a utility knife and eagerly began unwrapping them.

New electronic toys, books, quills, candies, clothes, hats, wand maintenance oil, alchemy tools…

Wade opened each package with enthusiasm.

The gifts, to some extent, reflected how others perceived him.

Some saw him as a child who still enjoyed toys, some gave perfunctory gifts, while others clearly took the time to select and prepare something thoughtful.

Halfway through unwrapping, Wade suddenly heard a shout from his parents' bedroom—a mix of surprise and alarm. He immediately ran over.

As soon as he entered, Fiona pulled him into a hug.

"Oh my goodness, is this my gift? Is this the magic pet you made?" Fiona exclaimed with delight.

"Yes," Wade replied. "Do you like it?"

"Of course! I'm thrilled! This is the best gift I've ever received!" Fiona declared happily.

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Darling, the best gift? Surely, that should be my engagement ring?"

"How could they be the same, Fredy~"

Fiona turned to kiss her husband on the cheek, instantly dispelling the mock displeasure he was feigning.

Then the couple turned their attention to Wade's gift.

He had given Fiona a half-human-sized box that, when unfolded, revealed a dollhouse resembling a miniature mansion—exactly the type little girls would adore. Inside were three palm-sized dolls.

At first, Fiona thought Wade had mixed up the gifts, assuming it was meant for some young girl. But as she inspected it closely, one of the dolls suddenly moved.

This, it turned out, was the source of her earlier scream.

Wade explained the gift to his mother.

"This is Coco, Ari, and Lena. They can keep watch, remind you of the time, and even help with cleaning. If you're bored, they can also chat with you."

"Hello, lovely lady," Lena said, lifting her tiny skirt to curtsy in a soft voice. "I'm terribly sorry if I startled you."

Ari doffed his hat and bowed, while Coco ran straight over to hug Fiona's finger and gently said, "Are you okay? I can sing for you if you'd like."

"They're so adorable!" Fiona gushed.

Fiona was utterly charmed, and her face was glowing with delight.

Her pet hamster had recently entered old age, becoming less active and eating much less. Although Fiona had always known that hamsters have short lifespans, it still saddened her greatly.

The three little dolls quickly dispelled that sadness.

Meticulously selected by Wade, they were hardworking, gentle, and talkative, quickly captivating their new owner and earning her endless praise.

Fred suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

Looking at his son, he asked with a meaningful tone, "Aren't your magic pets usually in the shape of animals?"

Wade replied, "Most of them are, but humanoid ones are more flexible."

Fred mulled this over for a while before delicately offering his opinion. "…They talk a bit too much."

Wade sighed and explained, "They won't chat when they have work to do."

Taking advantage of the moment, Fred quickly sent the three dolls off to clean the attic.

The Gray family's attic, used less than twice a year, was crammed full of miscellaneous items. It would likely take the little helpers one to two weeks to finish tidying up.

Satisfied, Fred finally unwrapped Wade's gift for him.

"—Beetles?"

Inside a transparent box, several vibrantly colored beetles rested quietly. Despite their jewel-like beauty, their thin antennae and three pairs of curved legs made it clear they were indeed beetles.

Wade tapped the box lightly, and the beetles curled up, making them look nearly indistinguishable from gemstones.

"You can wear them as cufflinks," Wade explained. "They're usually quiet, but in danger, they'll protect you."

"This one sprays a toxin that induces unconsciousness."

"This one delivers intense pain when it bites an enemy."

"This one makes people itch all over."

"And this one is the most dangerous."

Wade pointed to the last beetle, a black one.

"It carries a deadly poison, so use it sparingly. If it's accidentally activated, squeeze the green liquid from its rear end—it's the antidote, but it must be taken within three minutes."

Fred was silent for a moment before asking, "Wade, is your magic school really that dangerous?"

"No," Wade replied. "I'm just worried you might face danger when I'm not around."

Fred patted his son on the shoulder, feeling both comforted and melancholy.

It struck him deeply: he had shifted from being his son's protector and guide to someone his son felt needed protection.

At least, in Wade's heart, that was how it seemed.

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