Chapter 213: Two or Three Things About Christmas (Two Chapters in One)
But what can you do if you don't give up?
Are you really going to wander into the Forbidden Forest and find a needle in a haystack?
In the thick, uncertain silence of the Room of Requirement, the three of them had fallen asleep once more—flat on the floor, sprawled among discarded blankets and pillows.
A night passed in silence.
When Phineas woke up, the twins were still sound asleep. One had his head on Phineas's lap, the other curled against his side. He had an arm loosely wrapped around a waist, but didn't bother to figure out whose.
Gryffindors. With their bold spirits and complete lack of urgency, they were notorious for sleeping in—especially during the holidays.
Phineas shook his head and stood, stepping over limbs to make his way to the small table by the window. He sat, flicked his fingers casually, and waited.
With a soft pop, Puff appeared and placed a steaming cup of coffee on the table. She knew his habits well by now.
Phineas took a sip, the warmth settling into him, but his thoughts remained tangled in the same web: Helga Hufflepuff's legacy.
The Forbidden Forest was vast, filled with dangerous creatures and rare herbs. But more importantly, it teemed with life. That abundance of resources aligned perfectly with Hufflepuff's philosophy: nurture, provide, protect.
That made the clue they found beneath the kitchens more credible.
When he'd met the twins yesterday, Phineas hadn't told them he wasn't entirely certain of the clue's authenticity. There were reasons for that.
Though many clues now converged on the Forbidden Forest, it was too vague, too unspecific. Surely others—students, professors, historians—had considered the same thing over the centuries. No one would've overlooked such an obvious area as the kitchens.
The fact that Hufflepuff's legacy still hadn't been discovered told him something else: perhaps the clue seemed too obvious. Maybe it was meant to deceive.
Still, if he could think of this, others must've as well. Which meant Helga Hufflepuff likely prepared contingencies.
Better to try and fail than to ignore the chance altogether.
Phineas understood that the path to finding the Founders' treasures was never meant to be easy. These were the founders of Hogwarts—wizards and witches of such legendary stature that even the Elder Council could not fully contain their influence. Had they not vanished or died, perhaps Hogwarts would still stand above all magical institutions.
So the question now became: if Hufflepuff's treasure was in the Forbidden Forest, where exactly?
He could eliminate the deeper regions immediately. Hufflepuff's legacy would still be within Hogwarts grounds, as the Founders intended their legacies to be part of the school's mystery.
That narrowed it somewhat.
If he worked diligently, he could scour the designated section of the Forbidden Forest within a month.
"Puff."
He exhaled and called her.
Even for a skilled wizard, venturing into the Forbidden Forest without preparation was dangerous. It was not a place for solo adventuring. Teams often went in—and even then, with casualties.
Puff appeared in a blink. "Master."
"I need a map of the Forbidden Forest—specifically the area closest to Hogwarts."
Without a word, Puff bowed and vanished.
Phineas exhaled again, trying to let go of the weight on his mind. He turned back to his coffee and let himself enjoy the holiday.
"Mmm~"
"Ugh…"
Two groggy groans drifted across the room. Phineas turned to see the twins stirring.
"Awake already?" he asked with a small smile. Their tangled sleeping positions were unintentionally hilarious.
"Bleh," George muttered, rubbing his mouth. "Phineas… why does it taste like I've been gargling expired vinegar?"
That did it. Phineas burst into laughter.
George and Fred blinked in confusion.
When he finally managed to speak again, Phineas grinned and said, "Maybe it's the smell of Fred's feet. You were quite close to them while you slept. Tasted delicious, did they?"
He laughed again, harder this time.
Fred leapt up, pointing. "Take it back!"
George tackled him before he could move, and the two rolled around, fighting in mock outrage.
"Alright, alright," Phineas finally interrupted. "Save it for later. It's time for breakfast."
Fred opened his mouth, confused. "Why are you saying that today—"
George ambushed him again before he could finish.
Phineas sighed. "I've sent Puff on an errand. No one's making you breakfast unless you want to wait till noon. Let's head to the kitchens. I need to speak with the house-elves anyway."
They all left for the kitchens, where the house-elves, as always, welcomed them warmly. But something felt different this time.
Phineas looked at them—kind, eager, bound by magic and tradition—and felt an uncomfortable tug of sympathy.
He knew they were still treated as property, even in death. But he wasn't foolish enough to attempt a liberation movement like Hermione Granger had in the original timeline. That would only jeopardize his standing and provoke the entire wizarding establishment.
Hermione hadn't understood that. If she hadn't married into the Weasley family—the heroes of the war—and had Harry Potter's backing, she never would have reached the Ministry's highest echelons.
During the war, many pure-blood families suffered, and priorities shifted. House-elf rights didn't matter when power structures were collapsing. That's the only reason Hermione ever became Minister of Magic.
Phineas shook his head, brushing aside the thoughts.
He turned to Duoduo. "I have some questions."
Duoduo bowed. "If Master Black wishes to ask, Duoduo will answer."
"Do any of the house-elves have records about Ms. Hufflepuff? Specifically, did she have a favorite place in the Forbidden Forest?"
Duoduo paused, frowning. "Duoduo remembers this question. Many have asked. But Ms. Hufflepuff never favored a particular spot. She didn't linger in the forest. Ms. Hufflepuff was very kind to us—Duoduo would never speak ill of her!"
So others had asked before.
Phineas's suspicions were confirmed. Hogwarts had stood for over a thousand years. Thousands of students. Among them, surely, were minds just as curious—and clever—as his.
If others had asked similar questions, it proved his logic wasn't unique.
One person thinking this way could be wrong. Two might be a coincidence. But if dozens had come to the same conclusion, then it was likely right.
That left only one explanation: the treasure's location was either incredibly dangerous, or the treasure itself couldn't be opened once found.
He suspected the former.
Despite her reputation, Phineas no longer believed Helga Hufflepuff was as kind-hearted as legend claimed.
After breakfast, the twins ran off to the courtyard for a snowball fight with the few students who had stayed behind for the holidays.
Phineas returned to the Room of Requirement, entering his private library.
The holidays made the school less predictable. Students and professors had more time to roam, which meant any empty classroom might suddenly not be so empty.
But no one came to this Room of Requirement.
He searched through every book he had, hoping for even a single mention of Hufflepuff and the Forbidden Forest.
Even a passing comment would have been enough.
By evening, he still had nothing.
Fred and George returned to collect him for the Christmas feast in the Great Hall.
It was called a "Christmas dinner," but it didn't differ much from the usual fare—except this time, every remaining student was in attendance.
The day before, students going home had boarded the train to London. The rest had stayed behind for their own dormitory parties.
While most students knew about the kitchens, only a few actually took advantage of them—students prone to midnight snacks, adventures, or mischief.
This dinner was special. Not just because of the food, but because professors like Dumbledore joined them, sharing Christmas with the students who couldn't be with their families.
Dumbledore tapped his goblet lightly with a silver spoon. The ringing sound silenced the hall.
"Merry Christmas," he said warmly. "Your gifts will be placed under your House tree in the common room before morning, each with your name clearly labeled. Please check carefully before opening. Tonight, we also have a special treat: butterbeer from the Three Broomsticks. I hope you enjoy it. And now—let's eat."
It wasn't as grand as the Halloween feast, but it was still warm and comforting.
No matter their losses, or the reasons they stayed behind, they were all here—at Hogwarts. And that was enough.
After the meal, the twins returned to Gryffindor Tower, eager to see their gifts in the morning.
Phineas, however, went back to the Room of Requirement. His gift would appear there, delivered by Puff.
When he arrived, Puff had already returned from her mission.
"You're late," Phineas said, frowning. Though she was a house-elf, she had received special training as his personal guard and was rarely delayed.