That morning, Viktor woke up in a bad mood. It wasn't his usual irritation; it was more like a heavy melancholy. Feeling an unpleasant coldness in his chest, he got dressed slowly. After casually adjusting his robes, he looked at himself in the mirror for a long time. His reflection looked as gloomy as his thoughts. Suddenly, remembering something, he waved his hand, and the door to his room swung open.
— Daphne! — he called into the hallway.
A moment later, a first-year girl appeared in the doorway.
— Viktor called? — she asked timidly.
He looked at her and frowned.
— I called for Daphne.
The girl hesitated and replied:
— She's not here. She went home yesterday.
— Right, — Viktor sighed. — I forgot. She went home for Christmas. Alright, you can go.
At breakfast, he ate slowly and alone, looking around the hall. Students sat at the tables, chatting and laughing happily. The Gryffindors were having an animated discussion with the Weasley twins, the Hufflepuffs were whispering peacefully, and even some Slytherins who had stayed for the holidays were smiling and joking with each other. This cheerful atmosphere only worsened his already foul mood. He couldn't figure out what had caused such a depression. Was it the failed alchemy? No, he was disappointed, of course, but not enough to fall into despair. Was it the fact that he'd be celebrating Christmas alone? No, that wasn't it either. He had always celebrated all holidays by himself.
Looking once more at the happy wizards, he finally realized that he was simply bored. Since that Quidditch match, nothing interesting had happened. The pure-bloods were so scared of him that they even avoided him. The only things that kept him entertained were the students he "taught" on weekends and Hermione, who constantly dragged him to the library. Now, all he had was himself and alchemy. Finishing his breakfast, he set off for the eighth floor, wondering how he could entertain himself.
On the stairs, he suddenly stopped. His eyes lit up, and a sly smile appeared on his face. An idea, like a bolt of lightning, struck him. He quickened his pace. After entering the Room of Requirement, he immediately grabbed some blank sheets of paper, sat down at a table, and began to write, chuckling to himself. His hand moved quickly as he drew maps, sketched out diagrams, and jotted down riddles. His quiet laughter turned into a satisfied giggle, and then into a low, sinister chuckle as he came up with another devious trick. After he finished writing, he checked everything one more time, nodded in satisfaction, glanced at the alchemical table, and laughed, anticipating the fun to come.
Sometime around four in the morning, in one of Hogwarts' dark and dusty classrooms, Viktor was humming a cheerful tune as he installed something on a massive shelf. Suddenly, a voice from behind him said: "Moss."
Viktor flinched, turned sharply, and saw Snape staring at him.
— God, you scared me, Professor, — Viktor exhaled. — You should really wear a bell around your neck.
Snape looked at him sternly, his voice as cold as ice.
— Try to explain what you're doing here so late.
Viktor smiled, not stopping his work on the object on the shelf.
— Nothing special. Just entertaining myself. — He straightened up and looked at Snape. — Why aren't you sleeping? Though it doesn't matter. You're just in time. I'll need your help.
Snape raised an eyebrow in surprise.
— With what?
Viktor finished setting up the item, turned, and said:
— To brew a potion.
Morning came. Viktor was already happily eating breakfast. Gradually, the students and teachers came to breakfast as well. He looked at everyone with a satisfied smile. When the first students were about to leave, Viktor waved his wand, and the massive oak doors of the Great Hall slammed shut with a crash. This attracted the attention of all the students and teachers. Dumbledore, who had been sitting calmly at the head of the table, looked at him and asked:
— Viktor, what is the meaning of this?
Viktor slowly stood up and walked towards the teachers' table. After climbing the steps, he made sure all eyes were on him. He clapped his hands and smiled.
— Listen to me, everyone! — he began loudly. — This morning, I hid something valuable in the school and a bunch of clues on how to find it. The first person to find this item can consider it my Christmas gift! But I must warn you: the path will be difficult and filled with various traps. But the prize is worth it.
One of the Weasley twins, Fred, asked:
— What's the prize?
Viktor smiled, and his eyes glinted.
— It's something very valuable. Well, I won't keep you in suspense and will give you the first clue.
He cleared his throat and announced ceremoniously:
> I stand at the crossroads of knowledge,
> Fools avoid me, but the wise seek me.
> Within my walls are secrets of ages,
> But none of them will last forever.
> To find the next clue,
> Go where silence and wisdom reign.
>
A complete silence fell over the hall. A few students, mostly from Ravenclaw, began to whisper, and then one of them shouted:
— It's the library!
Half of the interested students, mostly Gryffindors, jumped up and headed for the library. Viktor just watched it all silently with a satisfied smile. Professor McGonagall couldn't take it anymore and asked:
— Viktor, what have you done?
To which he smiled mysteriously and replied:
— Just entertaining myself, Professor.
Meanwhile, in the library, there was complete chaos. Students were frantically digging through books, looking for a single clue. As it turned out, there were several, and they were all hidden in different books, each leading to its own unique location.
One of the students found a riddle in a book on Ancient Runes:
> I fly through the sky, but have no wings.
> I can speak, but have no mouth.
> I bring news, but have no tongue.
> I am a postman who never sleeps.
> Find me, and I will show you the way.
>
The students who were with him immediately headed for the Owlery.
Another group found a completely different riddle in a book on the History of Magic:
> I stand still, but can travel.
> I have a face, but am not a person.
> My hands point the way,
> But I do not know where to go.
> I stand at the beginning, where time stands still,
> And wait for you to find me.
>
They immediately went in search of the Clock Tower to find a clue. And there were five such clues, each leading in its own direction, scattering the students all over the castle.
Meanwhile, at the Owlery, a crowd had already gathered around a large carved chest. The Weasley twins, who arrived last, saw the students just standing and looking at the entrance.
— Why are we just standing here and not going in? — Fred asked.
— We don't know what to do, — someone from the crowd replied.
The twins looked at everyone, smiled mischievously, and said:
— Step aside, watch the great Weasley twins win this race!
They ran into the Owlery, but after only a couple of steps, something happened to them. They were lifted into the air, as if their gravity had been removed, and began to thrash around, unable to get down. They were carried back outside and plopped onto the ground. Everyone started laughing. One of the brothers got up and, brushing himself off, shouted:
— You already knew and that's why you didn't go in!
— No, — someone said, stopping their laughter, — we were just stuck here!
He was distracted by a cry: "Look, she's going in!" Everyone looked and saw a girl, the same one who was the first to guess the library, carefully stepping into the Owlery, taking strange steps: one step forward, one step back, and one to the side. She didn't take her eyes off the clue she had found.
One of the students began to read the clue aloud: "I fly through the sky, but have no wings. I can speak, but have no mouth. I bring news, but have no tongue. I am a postman who never sleeps. Find me, and I will show you the way. And here's a song to make the path easier:
> If the wind blows in your face—
> Step forward with a brave grace.
> If the wind hits your back—
> Take a step back, and follow the track.
> If the wind's on your left, my friend—
> Step to the right to reach the end."
>
Another girl standing next to him said:
— The song isn't part of the riddle, it's a clue on how to get to the center. You just have to feel which way the wind is blowing!
And everyone began to step according to the wind. The first person to follow the Ravenclaw girl felt the wind blow from the right side and stepped to the left, his body lifted into the air, and he was carried back.
— It doesn't say what to do if the wind blows from the right! — he complained.
The girl, who had almost reached the chest, replied:
— Do nothing! Just stand still until the wind changes direction!