The snow crunched softly beneath our boots as Luna and I left Hogwarts behind for the short journey to her family home. The castle's towers receded behind us, glittering in the winter sunlight, while the distant woods and frozen streams sparkled like crystals. I carried my satchel full of notebooks, pencils, and a few treats Hagrid had insisted we take along. Luna's hands were tucked into the long sleeves of her cloak, her face flushed with excitement.
"My father said he'll have tea ready," she said softly, her voice a whisper in the crisp air. "And… he wants to see our notes about the Nargles. He'll probably want to hear everything, every little sparkle or footprint."
I smiled. "Then we'll give him a full report. And maybe a demonstration of our… magical observation skills."
Luna giggled, leaning into me as we walked. "You sound like a proper professor already."
The path led us through a grove of silver-barked trees, their branches heavy with snow. After a short while, a peculiar house came into view — tall, narrow, and leaning slightly to the left, as if it were listening to the wind. Colorful lanterns swayed from every eave, casting playful shadows on the snow. Odd wind chimes jingled with each gust, and a faint scent of herbs and parchment drifted on the breeze.
"This is it," Luna said softly, eyes shining. "Home for Christmas."
The door swung open before we could knock, and her father's tall, thin frame appeared. His hair was as wild as Luna's, but streaked with silver, and his eyes twinkled behind round spectacles.
"Luna! And… Dionida!" Xenophilius exclaimed, sweeping us inside. "Tea, yes, and warmth, warmth! And I hear you've been investigating the elusive Nargles?"
The house was a cozy chaos of books, strange artifacts, and twinkling lights. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting golden patterns across the walls. We kicked off our boots and followed him into the living room, where cushions and low tables were scattered around piles of parchments.
"We have notes," Luna said quickly, kneeling to set down her satchel. "Footprints, observations, even sketches of their glitter patterns in snow."
I opened my notebook, showing my sketches. "We even noticed some interacting with the cat. They seemed curious, but not scared."
Her father leaned over, peering at our notes, eyes widening. "Fascinating! Yes, yes… you've captured details most adults wouldn't even notice. Such care, such patience."
We spent the next hour describing our adventures: the glitter trails, the tiny darting movements, how they hid near shiny objects, and even my cat's role in drawing their curiosity. Xenophilius nodded, occasionally muttering excitedly about additional patterns or behaviors we might track.
After tea and pastries — spiced and sweet, with crumbs dusting the table — Luna tugged my hand. "Shall we search for them outside?"
I grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."
We stepped into the snow-covered garden. The Nargles, elusive as always, were easier to spot in the quiet of Luna's home. Tiny glimmers darted among the holly and frost-laden branches. Luna crouched, moving carefully, and whispered advice as if the creatures could hear her:
"Don't be afraid… just curiosity. That's all they need."
I followed, careful not to disturb the tiny shapes dancing among the snowflakes. The cat padded along beside us, tail flicking, ears alert. We spent hours laughing quietly as we tried to coax the Nargles into showing themselves, sketching and noting their behaviors in our notebooks. One particularly bold Nargle even brushed a tiny paw against Luna's scarf before darting off, leaving a sparkle of frost behind.
As dusk approached, we returned inside. The house glowed with lantern light, and Xenophilius poured hot chocolate into delicate mugs, topped with a swirl of cream. We warmed our hands over the mugs, tired but exhilarated.
"I've never seen anyone take such care with Nargles," Luna said softly, leaning against me. "It's… nice to share this with you."
I smiled, brushing snow from her cloak. "And it's nice to be here with you. Magic, snow, Nargles… and your father's house is amazing."
The next morning, we reluctantly prepared to return to Hogwarts. Our notebooks were stuffed with new sketches, observations, and even a small collection of Nargle footprints pressed into wax paper. Luna's father waved us off at the gate, smiling warmly.
"Come back soon," he called. "The Nargles will be curious to see if you've returned!"
We trudged through the snow, side by side, hearts full from the adventure and warmth of the Loony household. Hogwarts appeared in the distance, towers gleaming, awaiting our return. Yet, the memory of snow, Nargles, and quiet, shared laughter stayed with us — a magical Christmas woven into the story of our friendship and something more delicate, growing quietly between us.