Michael's eyes lit up. He quickly rummaged through the pile of gifts he'd received and, sure enough, found a gift box addressed from "Wade Gray."
"Haha, he can still send gifts, so it looks like he's doing better than I thought!" Michael said happily, while Harry next to him had already torn open the wrapping paper.
Inside the gift box was a small Firebolt model. Harry took it out, intending to examine it closely in his palm, when the broom model zipped away with a blue flame trailing behind it.
After circling the room, it returned to Harry's palm.
"This is really cool." Harry was delighted. This unique Alchemy item was definitely Wade's work, not something sent by someone else in his name.
"Quick, what did Wade get you?" Harry asked Michael curiously.
Michael tore open the last layer of wrapping paper, revealing something that fit in the palm of his hand…
"A cat bed? No, it looks more like a fox den." Harry looked closely and said to Michael, "It's probably for your Magic Golem, right?"
"It can't be that simple." Michael held the "cat bed" and studied it, finding a button-like protrusion on the side. He reached out and gently pressed it.
With a *thump*, the "cat bed" instantly expanded, floating lightly in the air like a cloud. The soft, sunken middle looked perfect for lounging.
Harry burst out laughing: "Wade must be saying you're too lazy!"
Michael shrugged: "Alright, now we don't have to squeeze onto one bed!"
The two teased each other, then eagerly went on to unwrap the other gifts. The worry that had weighed on their minds all day seemed to simply dissipate.
If Wade could send gifts, he could send letters. So, whoever took him probably wasn't an enemy, just an eccentric Wizard, right?
"Oh no!" Harry exclaimed, his face changing instantly after pulling out the hooded leather jacket Mrs. Weasley had given him, remembering something.
"I didn't send Wade's gift last night! I thought he wouldn't be able to receive it!"
Michael froze for a moment, then immediately jumped up: "Quick, quick, I didn't send mine either!"
They quickly rummaged through their trunks for the packages, then coaxed Hedwig sweetly, finally convincing the temperamental bird to fly off with the parcels.
This time, the owl didn't return quickly.
...
However, contrary to what the two had thought, the Christmas gifts weren't delivered to Wade. Hedwig flew into the house in Westminster she'd been to before, carrying the packages, and dropped them by the bed.
Looking at the empty bed, the owl tilted its head, cooing twice. Thinking Christmas gifts should be placed by the head of the bed, it contentedly began its return journey.
By the bed, a cube-shaped Magic Golem, resembling a square cabinet, wobbled. With a *thump*, two antennae with eyes popped out from the top, then two metal claws extended from the sides, and four wheels emerged from below.
It rolled over, tidied up the two new gifts, and then looked up at the towering pile of presents, momentarily dazed.
Outside the window, the sound of an owl flapping its wings returned.
The Magic Golem's extended parts quickly retracted, leaving only a single, swiveling eye observing its surroundings.
Following the owl, two Wizards on Flying Broomsticks appeared outside the window.
An owl's flight speed is only 45 kilometers per hour; almost all Flying Broomsticks can easily exceed this speed. However, flying fast at high altitudes in the dead of winter isn't a comfortable experience. The two Wizards were blue with cold, their eyebrows and eyelashes thick with white frost.
They flew through the window into the warm bedroom and instinctively let out a sigh of relief. But seeing the neatly made bed and the pile of gifts in the room, disappointment showed on their faces.
"I should have known. Whoever kidnapped Wade, they wouldn't give him this much freedom." Lupin said gloomily, "The gifts were probably sent before he disappeared, with a scheduled delivery time."
The Owl Post Office did offer timed delivery services, but they had held onto a one-in-a-million hope before coming.
Lupin waved his Wand, placing the two gift boxes back on the cabinet. Sirius asked, "How are Wade's parents doing?"
"Alastor is protecting them," Lupin said. "I told them Wade was spending Christmas with friends this year, but I think…"
"Hm?"
"Wade's father seems to have suspected something," Lupin said.
Sirius was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Even if he suspects, there's nothing we can do… But if we can keep it secret, let's keep it secret a bit longer. After all, they're Muggles, and even if they worry… it won't help anything."
The remark sounded a bit heartless, but Lupin knew it was the truth.
"This year has been truly turbulent," Lupin said, frowning. "The Obscurial named Mabel hasn't been found, three people somehow escaped Azkaban, and their whereabouts are still unknown; Dementors are flying everywhere, Grindelwald has escaped prison…"
Sirius ran a hand through his messy black hair, furrowing his brows: "Dumbledore thinks Grindelwald kidnapped Wade… If the Magic Golem is used by the Alliance, won't Europe fall into chaos again?"
"Not necessarily… Right now, there are no leaders among Muggles who could cooperate with that person…"
"With Grindelwald's ability, controlling one or two Muggle leaders isn't impossible…"
The two discussed in low voices for a while, and the more they talked, the heavier the pressure on their hearts became, like a mountain, making it hard to breathe.
They only had to consider a small fraction of the problems and already felt suffocated. What must Dumbledore, on whom everyone relied, be thinking?
Thinking of Dumbledore, who had been coming and going more frequently recently, his brows constantly furrowed, the two hoped he could tell them what to do, yet couldn't bring themselves to ask for his opinion or help.
When it came to saving Wade, they believed Dumbledore's anxiety and efforts were no less than anyone else's, and the only thing they could do was obey orders, await orders, and do everything they could.
The two Wizards, their hands and feet slowly regaining some warmth after being frozen stiff, Apparated out of the area, carrying their brooms.
One eye of the Rubik's Cube Magic Golem popped out with a thunk, followed by the other.
Its pair of round, large eyes squinted slightly, seemingly deep in thought.
A moment later, it moved to the pile of gifts and precisely picked out a small package.
On the wrapping paper, the name "Mabel" was written in childish, clumsy handwriting.
Is this the same Obscurial those two were just discussing?
It… she sent her master a Christmas gift?
The Rubik's Cube Magic Golem had thoughts personally imbued into it by Wade. Not only could it think, but it also possessed a significant amount of common sense and magical knowledge.
It knew what an Obscurial was, what kind of power an Obscurial possessed, and it understood the meanings of "missing," "abducted," and "Alliance."
Metal claws retrieved recent newspapers from a shelf. Its blue, round eyes scanned all the content, then folded the newspapers neatly and put them back.
Magic Golems weren't trusted by Wizards like Grindelwald or Moody, because they couldn't tell where the brains of these magical constructs were hidden. Even if a Magic Golem displayed "happy," "angry," or "sad" expressions, those were merely camouflage abilities bestowed upon them by their creators, not representative of the Magic Golem's true thoughts.
Not to mention, the Rubik's Cube Magic Golem didn't even have the concept of "expressions"—because its eyes were two round spheres on antennae, its voice came directly from inside its body, and it had no face.
Therefore, no one knew what this Magic Golem was thinking. A moment later, it picked up the Christmas gift from Mabel and carefully examined the wrapping paper, the ink, and the sender's handwriting.
It also remembered the time each gift arrived, what the delivery owl looked like, and the direction it flew from.
The Rubik's Cube Magic Golem moved to the other side of the room, looked up at the tall "Wardrobe Space," extended its claw to push open the Wardrobe Space door, and glided inside.
The Metal Cloak was proudly showing off its shimmering golden exterior. When it saw the door open, it thought its master had entered and hastily hid to the side, only to then discover the newly created Magic Golem, which floated over grandly.
"I haven't seen Master all day!" the golden bell sang. "Is he busy celebrating and doesn't have time to be with us?"
Its blue eyes spun once, scanning the empty Wardrobe Space.
Wade had primarily been organizing the Wardrobe Space recently, so he hadn't made many Magic Golems—to be precise, only four:
The bell by the door, a broom mainly responsible for cleaning, the Rubik's Cube, and Peter Two, who looked exactly like Wormtail, Peter Pettigrew.
Besides those, there were the Metal Cloak, the Firebird Mihail, and a group of Acromantulas serving as prisoners and Potions ingredients.
"Master is missing," the Rubik's Cube Magic Golem said.
The bell instantly fell silent at the Magic Golem's words, and the flailing cloak stopped moving.
Mihail, lying in its nest, opened its eyes. Peter Two jumped in front of the Rubik's Cube and asked, "Who did it?"
Even its voice was identical to the real Wormtail's, high-pitched and rat-like, but its demeanor and tone were entirely different.
"A Dark Wizard named Grindelwald. He might have a group of Wizards under him called the Alliance. Their power is immense, brutal, and tyrannical. Even Dumbledore might not have a solution," the Rubik's Cube said.
"Master was captured by the Alliance?" the golden bell shrieked.
"That's what they say," the Rubik's Cube said.
"I'm going to find Master," the broom said. "Don't let my usual cleaning duties fool you, I can fly really fast!"
"That's why I'm here," the Rubik's Cube said.
"I'm coming too!" Peter Two said.
"Take me with you!" the cloak also flew over.
The proud Mihail flew over, also expressing its stance.
"Wait, what... what about me?" The bell was dumbfounded.
"Without Master, we can't shrink and put away the Wardrobe Space," the Rubik's Cube said. "Guard this place. Don't let anyone in!"
"I understand, don't worry!" the bell said loudly. "I won't let anyone sneak in, even if it means my demise!"
The Rubik's Cube's eyes flickered. "Good. Let's go!"
The broom flew over with a whoosh. The Rubik's Cube Magic Golem jumped on, Peter Two sat behind it, and the cloak spread out to cover them, rapidly camouflaging their appearance like a chameleon to blend with their surroundings.
The Wardrobe Space door swung open, and several Magic Golems quickly flew out, followed by a flash of fire. They heard the jingling of the bell behind them.
Two figures passed through the window, flying into the cold high sky.
Snow was still falling, and the city echoed with joyful Christmas songs—
"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way! Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh... Dash through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh..."
...
Hogwarts.
"Wade is missing?" Professor McGonagall said, surprised. "What exactly happened?"
Snape's face was so grim it looked like it could drip water.
"Remus Lupin is an utter waste; he was right there and still couldn't protect him..."
Amidst the Potions professor's angry curses, the events were quickly explained. Professor McGonagall rubbed her temples and asked with concern, "What's Dumbledore's opinion?"
As the two discussed in the staff room, they didn't deliberately lower their voices, nor did they notice that the House-elf quietly polishing candlesticks in the next room had stopped its movements at some point, listening silently with ears perked.
Soon after, the two professors left the common room in a hurry. The House-elf quickly finished its tasks and Apparated directly to the kitchen, where it found the House-elf Zoe washing dishes.
He pulled his companion closer and whispered, "Did you hear, Zoe...?"
The news spread silently among the House-elves.
"What do we do?"
"There's nothing we can do..."
"We're Hogwarts elves."
"We can't leave without orders..."
"We need to find a way for those students staying at school to give us an order..."
"Maybe Professor Trelawney would let Mikey buy her some alcohol."
"What good would that do? Wade Gray definitely isn't in Hogsmeade."
"Alcohol can be bought anywhere, right? We could go to Austria, to Germany!"
"Is Mikey crazy?" his companion said, horrified. "A House-elf like that would be executed!"
"Mikey isn't afraid!"
"Dumbledore wouldn't!" Zoe said. "He's not Professor Dippet."
"But... but... this is against the rules!" The other House-elves looked terrified.
"Wait!" Mikey held up a hand, motioning for the other elves to be quiet. Then he cocked his ear and listened carefully, whispering, "Mikey thinks he heard Dobby's voice."
"Dobby?"
...
Dobby had just Apparated next to the castle and was walking along the wall towards the interior.
He looked a bit disheveled, wearing clothes that resembled a tattered sack, but on his head was a brand new, deer-shaped hat.
It was a Christmas gift he'd received from Wade that morning.
As Dobby walked, he fretted to himself:
"Oh... Dobby still can't find a job. Wizards don't want to pay House-elves wages... If Professor Dumbledore doesn't want to hire Dobby either, maybe Dobby will just have to go to Wade Gray. Mr. Gray would definitely be willing to offer Dobby a job..."
"But Wade Gray is Dobby's friend, and Dobby doesn't want to bother him... Wade Gray saved Dobby before, so Dobby shouldn't ask him for payment... But Dobby wants payment..."
He clutched his hat with both hands, his large eyes gazing at the distant sky.
"If Dobby wants payment, Dobby can buy gifts for his friends... Dobby wants clothes, clean, proper clothes... And Dobby wants, wants..."
He seemed to realize he was being too greedy, and even though he was alone, he still spoke in a very, very quiet voice:
"Dobby wants a day off, to play freely... even if it's just one day a year..."
No sooner had he spoken than a House-elf appeared before him with a *thump*, startling Dobby two steps back.
Immediately after, *thump, thump, thump* sounds rang out consecutively as ten, twenty, then dozens of House-elves suddenly appeared, surrounding him completely, all staring at him with burning eyes.
Dobby retreated in shock, pressing himself against the wall until he was practically flat, and shook his head frantically, saying, "No, no, Dobby doesn't want that much..."
He saw Mikey and recognized him as the House-elf who had once brought him food. He lowered his head in shame and said, "Dobby isn't here to cause trouble this time... Dobby just wants to find a job..."
"Dobby!" Mikey grabbed his arm and asked, "Does Dobby remember the help Mr. Wade Gray gave him?"
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