This was probably the most joyless Christmas Hogwarts had ever experienced.
After all, it's hard to enjoy a festive holiday when you're stuck in a hostile foreign land.
Even though the decorations Allen had brought helped give the miniature castle a cheerful, holiday vibe, they still couldn't drive away the dark cloud hanging over everyone's heads.
Let's be honest, this whole exchange had been a disaster for both sides, in every sense of the word.
Still, gloom doesn't usually stick long to the young. Remember, even graduating wizards are only around eighteen or nineteen years old. Unless the pain cuts to the bone, they bounce back fast. Sadness tends to vanish as quickly as it arrives.
And clearly, this conflict with Ilvermorny wasn't anyone's first heartbreak, there was no bitter sting or heartbreak to keep it etched in memory. As for the brawls? Please. That wasn't a real problem at all.
At the end of the day, even if things got rough, it wasn't like anyone made blood enemies. No one was out for vengeance. It wasn't that kind of "you live, I die" rivalry. That kind of intense love-hate relationship needs something deeper, like Harry and Malfoy. You start out at odds, clash on beliefs and ideals, and only then can you grow into true enemies.
But right now? Hogwarts and Ilvermorny were just two totally mismatched people being forced into a fake couple. More like two straight dudes shoved into a couple by an overzealous matchmaker. No one wanted to kill the other, just a lot of nitpicking and mutual dislike. And if we're talking power dynamics, Hogwarts was definitely the "1" in this relationship.
The thought made Allen shiver. He grabbed his fork and quickly turned back to the food in front of him. Nope. Can't think about that anymore, or I'll lose my appetite.
I mean, look how great the elves made the castle look! So festive! And the food? Okay... maybe it was just okay.
Forget that. Look at the sunny weather! So nice! So many cute young witches and wizards here for the exchange! Even those two idiots who just got carried in on stretchers are... well... sort of great, in their own way.
...Wait, hold up. Why are there people getting carried in again?
Wasn't it Christmas at Ilvermorny too? Who the hell gets into fights during the holidays?!
And those two students, didn't half their school go home for the break? How did they still lose?
Of course, Allen wasn't about to admit he'd already scored his first win that morning. He also had a new task, to fetch some herbs from the professors. One unlucky student had been hit with a particularly nasty curse and was now stuck muttering nonsense.
When Allen rushed to the professor's office, he found the door already open, and a guest inside.
It was Professor McGonagall, and in her arms were some very familiar items... Items Allen had just sold earlier, and at the hefty price of one thousand Galleons.
The moment she saw Allen enter, McGonagall looked flustered. This wasn't something students were supposed to see. These kinds of opportunities were best handed quietly to the strongest students, not used to publicly shame everyone else.
"Allen? Is something wrong?"
It was Professor Sprout who kept her composure, quickly hiding the two pieces of parchment in her hands and greeting him with her usual warmth.
"A student got hit with a curse. We need some fishscale grass to counter it. I'm here to pick up the ingredients."
If the professors weren't offering the letters openly, then it was clear, they had no intention of giving one to him. Which made sense. He was still a second-year, after all. A bit too young for this kind of thing.
Honestly, that worked out fine. At least now Allen didn't have to worry about Professor Sprout chasing him down if she found out he had sold the invitation.
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Christmas flew by in a flash.
Whether you're happy or not, time just doesn't care, it marches on.
And just as the unpleasant exchange program was finally coming to an end, the Ministry liaison, yes, the same guy Allen had put in the hospital, finally showed up.
He came to let Allen know it was time to get ready for the exploration.
The truth was, Allen couldn't get any intel from within the school. Even without trying, it was obvious that anyone who got selected for the exploration was immediately bound by a confidentiality spell.
The real purpose behind this whole exchange wasn't something they could just say out loud.
And even without a warning, none of the "lucky ones" were dumb enough to talk.
I mean, come on. The Slytherin legacy? In the Muggle world, that's rarer than winning the lottery.
Have you ever seen a lottery winner go around bragging to everyone?
That said, Allen didn't really need to prepare much. He'd already spent most of the money he made selling the exploration slot. If he couldn't get the inheritance, then the rest of them might as well be fishing for the moon in a well.
Thankfully, there weren't any restrictions on his movements, so he didn't even need to ask for leave.
Allen simply slipped out of the school and headed to the meeting point arranged with the Ministry.
He was all set to mess with the Auror a bit, play dumb and push his buttons a little.
But when he arrived, Allen was surprised.
The contact had changed.
"What's going on?" Allen drew his wand immediately, ready for trouble.
No matter how you look at it, changing contact personnel at the last minute is a huge red flag. That kind of thing messes up the whole operation.
"Watch your tone, young wizard. If you don't want to face a trial in front of the Council, I suggest you cooperate."
...He answered with a Disarming Charm.
No way he was falling for that line. Sure, it might not be a trap, but what if it was?
Allen decided he needed to have a little talk with this new contact.
Of course, the only way to talk was to make sure he was the one holding the upper hand.
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Turns out, the guy was even weaker than Allen expected.
Not an Auror at all, just some low-level Ministry employee.
By the 30th second of being tied up and suspended in magical thorns, the man spilled everything.
Apparently, the Auror had been called away on a last-minute mission and couldn't come.
So he sent this guy to do the handoff instead, just deliver the item to Allen and escort him to the lab.
But this little Ministry worker, full of himself after spending years behind a desk, decided he could do things his way.
Why not throw in some "official intimidation" to get the job done faster?
Too bad for him... Allen wasn't the compromising type.
Well, since he insisted, Allen was happy to not believe a single word he said.
Honestly, the story didn't sound too suspicious. But that's exactly why it was suspicious!
How does a reckless idiot like this even pass the Ministry's background check?
There are only two explanations:
He has powerful connections.
He's seriously talented.
But if he were either of those, why would he still be stuck in such a low position after all these years?
What a joke.
Still... what does that have to do with Allen?
Muddy waters are the best place to fish, after all.
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