As Christmas approaches, the weather in the Scottish Highlands is getting colder and colder.
More and more students are choosing to stay inside the castle rather than going outside. They either cozy up by the fireplace for a warm rest or sit at the long tables eating something hot; it's far better than freezing outside.
The conflict with Slytherin wasn't made known to the professors, and Gryffindor students weren't foolish enough to walk into a trap, while Slytherin students felt too embarrassed to speak up.
Besides, a few senior students attacked younger ones, even calling them 'Mudblood,' which would cost them points even if Snape were there.
The new arrivals at the Dueling House hadn't even been greeted when the Christmas holidays arrived on schedule.
At Hogwarts, the Christmas holidays are long, starting from mid-December and lasting until mid-January of the next year.
Decades ago, aside from the fifth years going to Nimongard Castle, Harry always stayed at school for Christmas.
After all, aside from Hogwarts, he didn't have anywhere else to go.
Now, back to 1991, he could return to his aunt's house.
But to Harry, that place never felt like home; Hogwarts, on the other hand, felt more like his home.
So when Professor McGonagall came to register students staying at school for the holiday, he decisively signed his name.
Partly because Hogwarts made him feel comfortable, and partly because he wanted to continue exploring the castle.
He sat absentmindedly at the Gryffindor table, eating breakfast. Ron and the others, having stayed up late for a pre-holiday celebration, were still asleep.
The arrival of Christmas inspired him; friends should exchange gifts during this holiday.
So he pondered giving Ron a magic wand as a gift.
However, he faced a dilemma: a wand needs to be purchased personally to test its compatibility with the wizard; and Ron would be going home in a few days, so he couldn't just randomly buy a wand for him at Ollivander's, could he?
"It's him, it's him."
While Harry was lost in thought, the Weasley twins flanked him on both sides.
"Our little hero—"
"No, it's our Little Lion King," Fred corrected George, "He defeated Slytherin—in every sense, he ought to be our Lion King."
"He chewed up and spat out the person Percy idolized, that Farley," George said, then invited Harry, "So, our Little Lion King, do you want to join a great plan?"
"What plan?" Harry asked as he stuffed his mouth with toast.
"Quirrell, I mean Professor Quirrell," Fred whispered, "The smell from him is overpowering, who knows what that thick turban is hiding? I think it's garlic, George thinks it's something shady, do you want to make a bet?"
"What bet?" Harry asked.
"Of course, betting on what's hidden under that turban," the twins said in unison.
Harry paused his spoon mid-air as he scooped his beans; he turned to re-assess these promising young lads.
He only knew this pair of twins liked pranks, but he hadn't expected them to target a professor.
Nice, interesting idea...
Harry couldn't really get to like Professor Quirrell; instead of being a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, he seemed more like someone filling time.
What annoyed him more was that if Quirrell was as hypnotic as Professor Bin, things would be easier, but unfortunately, Professor Quirrell not only lulled people to sleep during lectures, the persistent garlic smell around him made it hard to fall asleep in class.
Even someone as respectful to teachers as Hermione would talk about Quirrell and call him by his first name, "Quirrell," skipping the professor title.
So he also felt tempted and didn't want to miss out on a chance to ruffle Quirrell's feathers.
"Hold on," Harry suddenly asked, "aren't you going home?"
"Plans changed; Mom and Dad are going to Romania to visit Charlie," Fred responded, "You surely know Charlie, the Seeker before you and Gryffindor captain. He's now in Romania working with dragons—Ron must have mentioned him many times."
"Cool job," Harry remarked, solving his prior concern.
Since Ron wasn't going home, he could take Ron to Ollivander's Wand Shop in Diagon Alley.
"I agree, cool job. Actually, Charlie wanted to keep playing Quidditch, but Mother disagreed, saying he should have a nice job," Fred shrugged, "To not disappoint Mom, Charlie had to give up his beloved Quidditch—he used to talk incessantly about Quidditch even during meals."
"That's a shame," Harry said, "What's your plan? I mean—how to get Quirrell to take off that turban?"
"Here's the plan," Fred and George leaned in, speaking in low tones to Harry.
"According to our observation, Quirrell leaves the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom around eight every morning to go to the dining hall. It happens to have snowed recently, why not throw snowballs at the back of his head, forcing him to remove his turban to clean it, how about that?"
"Count me in," Harry nodded, thinking the plan was apt, both discreet and with a proper excuse.
If discovered, they could say it was an accidental misfire during play.
The professor wouldn't stoop to arguing with us students, right?
The twins locked eyes and high-fived in joy.
"Oh yeah, I knew the Little Lion King wouldn't reject our plan."
"It's seven forty now, we need to prepare," George added.
Harry felt just snowballs wouldn't do the trick.
He told the twins, "Wait for me here, I'm going back to the dorm to get something."
"What's that?" Fred asked curiously.
"If snowballs don't work, we'll use that," Harry said mysteriously.
With that, he stepped away from the Gryffindor table.
In the dormitory, the three mates were still sound asleep.
No classes today, so Harry didn't plan on waking them.
He looked at the window where a flowerpot sat.
The increasingly plump Biting Kale twisted its round body, and Harry thought it looked somewhat content.
Recently, Neville had been meticulously tending to the Biting Kale, from fertilizing to watering it.
Harry could tell Neville truly had an interest in plants.
Maybe it's worth cultivating that interest; after all, plants can help in battles too, like Mandrake, Poisonous Tentacles, and Biting Kale, which are excellent companions for wizards.