Wyzett and Luna had barely caught sight of the castle shaped like a car when two owls swooped down, circling above their heads and chattering noisily.
The Christmas present from Professor Sprout was thriving—color-changing Christmas Cactus vines sprawled in lush green, dotted with rose-like blossoms.
As they walked by, the vines swayed back and forth, as if waving a cheerful welcome.
"No wonder so many wizards love keeping Christmas Cacti—they're so lively." Wyzett picked up a watering can and gave the plants a generous drink. Instantly, the vines swayed even more energetically.
Luna reached through the foliage to gently stroke a vibrant red flower. "They're beautiful in spring, too. The blooms are pink then—really adorable."
…
A new mural graced the first-floor wall: broad strokes of grassy green covered the surface, with Luna's fine brushwork tracing a windswept lawn—a vast, verdant prairie. The blazing sun was painted high above, gilding a farmhouse in gold. Scattered sheepdogs and lambs completed the scene, radiating both tranquility and warmth.
In the kitchen, Xenophilius donned an apron and set a steaming pot of stew on the table. "How are you feeling? If you're still off, I can toast some bread for you…"
Wyzett shook his head. "I feel much better after getting some fresh air. Actually, I'm a bit hungry now."
"If you're hungry, you must be fine! Come on, dig in!" Xenophilius called.
After dinner, Wyzett gave his wand a casual flick. "Scourgify!"
Grease and crumbs leapt from the plates, landing neatly in the rubbish bin. Xenophilius watched, eyebrows raised. "You're that good at it?"
"I help Professor Snape with potion ingredients all the time, so I use it a lot."
"Professor Snape? You mean Severus Snape?"
"You actually help him prep ingredients?" Xenophilius looked genuinely astonished. "He's not the easiest bloke to get along with. Back in my school days…"
He trailed off, coughing awkwardly, as if recalling something best left forgotten. "Still, he was always talented—top of his class from the start…"
"Became the youngest Potions Master—even made the papers. So, what happened? Did you get detention? I heard from Arthur that Snape is big on detentions."
Wyzett shook his head. "Not detention—private lessons, once a week. I've learned a ton."
"Snape gives private lessons?" Xenophilius's eyes widened, red-rimmed with disbelief. "You're a Ravenclaw, aren't you? Arthur always says Snape favors Slytherin. You're not trying to trick me, are you? I'm open-minded, you know."
Wyzett nodded earnestly. "I am a Ravenclaw. Maybe he just sees some talent in me."
"Well…" Xenophilius tried to compose himself, breaking into a proud smile. "That's great! Means you can help with more chores around here."
Unlike usual, he didn't rush off to work, instead inviting Wyzett and Luna to stay. He even brewed a special pot of Gurdyroot tea, as if preparing to announce something important.
Wyzett and Luna exchanged glances. Luna shook her head slightly—she had no idea what was coming.
The living room was filled with the earthy scent of Gurdyroot. Sitting up straight, Xenophilius announced, "So, about our travel plans—anywhere you two want to go?"
"Travel plans?" Wyzett and Luna echoed, surprised.
"That's right! Remember that book about fighting trolls?" Xenophilius grinned. "It's been selling like hotcakes at Flourish and Blotts!"
"We've got a little extra gold now… and Wyzett is on holiday, so why not take a trip? Where would you like to go?"
Again, Wyzett and Luna exchanged glances, each waiting for the other to speak.
Xenophilius caught their hesitation. "Just name a place! I'll have the final say anyway."
"Sweden?" Both said at once, then looked at each other and laughed.
"In perfect sync, are we?" Xenophilius laced his fingers under his chin, studying them. "You both want to go to Sweden?"
Luna stayed silent, looking at Wyzett.
Wyzett nodded. "Sweden's fascinating—not just for the Swedish Short-Snout dragons and trolls, but also for Bowtruckles and Horklumps."
"I remember Professor Snape said Horklump juice loses potency if it isn't harvested and processed locally. To get the best quality, you have to go straight to the source. I'd like to collect some for brewing Pepperup Potion."
He'd been itching to start his own potion-brewing business for a while, but schoolwork always got in the way. Now, with the whole summer ahead, he planned to finally put his ideas into action—beginning with potion-making.
Of course, there was another, more personal reason he didn't mention: Luna once told him that Sweden was home to the legendary Crumple-Horned Snorkack.
…
Hearing Wyzett's explanation, Luna exhaled softly, relieved he wasn't just going along with her wishes.
"Brewing Pepperup Potion? That's brilliant!" Xenophilius rubbed his hands together. "We could sell the potions and keep a few for ourselves!"
"And since you're learning from Snape, it's bound to be top quality. Pepperup Potion… I know St. Mungo's always needs it. I can find a buyer…"
He suddenly jumped up and started rummaging through a cabinet. "I remember a reader sent me a little bag of dittany seeds… Where did they go?"
Luna piped up, "Dad, you had me plant them in the garden. They've already sprouted."
"That's my girl! Brilliant!" Xenophilius sat back, looking as if he'd just downed a bottle of Felix Felicis, positively glowing with excitement.
"This way, we save on buying dittany… And if we go to Sweden, we might harvest our own Horklumps too. That's practically free money!"
"Well, not exactly free…" He scratched his head, turning to Wyzett. "We'll keep things fair—I'll help sell your potions and take a standard commission, like any apothecary. The rest is yours. Sound good?"
"Absolutely!" Wyzett nodded.
Xenophilius went on, "And if you've got any questions about the money, you can always ask Snape. No worries, right?"
"None at all. Thanks for your help!" Wyzett replied.
"Extra income for everyone! And you're not just any potioneer—you're apprenticing with a Potions Master!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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