HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

West and Harry went to the Great Hall for the Christmas party.

This was truly an eye-opener—a hundred roasted chickens, mountains of delicious roasted meats, potatoes, and sausages, and a whole bunch of wizard-themed firecrackers.

On the main stage, Dumbledore put on a wizard's hat adorned with flowers.

Professor Flitwick conjured a pink bow on Dumbledore's hat with his wand, and the old headmaster's long silver beard trembled with laughter.

West frowned in frustration to find that the Potions Professor was absent from the banquet.

Harry was having a great time. He and Ron drew several colorful firecrackers, which produced a bag of sparkling balloons, a set of wizard chess pieces, and a navy hat. They were so happy that their faces turned red.

When West left the table, Snape still hadn't come to the Great Hall.

He greeted Harry and the others, intending to go to the cellar to see if Snape was still there, but found a wooden sign hanging at the cellar entrance.

As he approached, two words appeared on the wooden sign: "Do Not Disturb".

West guessed that Snape might be studying the potion recipe he had given him.

He began to wonder if the timing of this gift was appropriate, as it seemed Professor Snape might not be able to emerge from the cellar for some time.

West sighed and walked to the playground.

"Behold my invincible snowball missile!"

On the playground, Harry, wearing a navy hat, suddenly jumped out from behind a snowdrift and threw a snowball that hit West precisely on the back of the neck, sliding down his collar and into his clothes.

"Harry Potter! You're finished!" West gritted his teeth and used his wand to throw five or six snowballs at Harry.

Harry screamed, "West! You cheated!"

The Weasley twins, always eager for drama, enjoyed watching the spectacle unfold.

George even used shapeshifting magic to turn Snowball into a rabbit that would chase people and circle around West.

West laughed out loud, made a snowball with his hand, and threw it at Fred, who was trying to sneak up on him.

The setting sun bathed the castle in a golden glow.

They played wildly all afternoon, and only returned to the common room when they were so cold.

West parted ways with Harry and the others at the crossroads, returned to his dormitory, lay down on his bed, closed his eyes, and decided to see if he could enter "his" world.

Unexpectedly, "he" allowed West to enter today.

West's consciousness fell into that grassland.

Since the last time, this place has transformed from a deep, eternal night into an endless meadow, with delicate yet resilient grass growing beneath my feet.

Two deer stood not far away, gazing at him tenderly, their bodies appearing even more translucent in the sunlight than before.

The boy in black stood to the side with his arms crossed and a sour face, rolling his eyes at West.

"Wester, you've come," Lily said, her tone filled with the same gentleness and joy.

West forced a stiff smile and walked over. "Yes."

Ignoring "his" hostility, West tried to touch Lily and James's guardian spirit, but passed right through it in mid-air.

Their bodies gradually became ethereal and ceased to exist.

"I'm sorry, West," James said, "we can't hold on much longer."

"...When?"

"By the time you and Harry finish your first year, we'll be practically gone." Tears welled up in Lily's eyes. She tried to nuzzle West's cheek, but found she could no longer touch him.

"Harry hasn't met you yet," West said, finding his voice terribly hoarse.

"We are already very content knowing that you two are growing up healthy," Lily said.

James stepped forward, his face serious. "After we leave, the two of you must merge."

He looked at West and "him," his voice firm and unwavering, "Back to the Potter mansion, West, you must go back."

"Only with the help of our family's magic circle can you successfully fuse together."

The boy in black beside him remained silent for a while before saying, "Don't you want to see Harry? If West can cast the Patronus Charm, you can meet Harry."

He spent every day and night with his parents and knew best how much they missed Harry.

Lily looked troubled. "This is high-level magic, and West is only a first-year student..."

"I can try!" West said hastily. He looked intently at his parents. "I'll try, for you, and for Harry."

James sighed, his eyes filled with helplessness and heartache. "West, you can try, but don't push yourself too hard."

"More than seeing you, we wish you safety."

"It's alright, Professor Snape will help me," West said, looking at his parents. "Mom, Dad, do you know Professor Snape?"

Even after being transformed into a deer, West could still discern a complex mix of emotions on Jaime's face, a look of envy on his face.

Lily seemed quite pleased. "Wester, do you two get along well?"

West replied decisively, "Yes, the professor is very kind to me and often teaches me potions."

James looked puzzled. "Why would he be so nice to a Gryffindor? Unbelievable."

West corrected, "Dad, I haven't told you yet that I'm a Slytherin."

"Merlin's lace stockings! How could my son possibly be... Ouch!"

James let out a sharp deer cry—actually, he was kicked by Lily as he made the sound.

He coughed awkwardly, then immediately corrected himself, "No matter which college you're from, we're all proud of you."

"Harry's in Gryffindor," West said. "He's a lot like his father."

Lily was genuinely happy. "Wester, it's so good that Severus is willing to help you."

James snorted, "I think he only did that because West looks like you..." Before he could finish, he got kicked again and shut up.

"Did the professor like his mother before?" West suddenly asked.

"Son, you know?" James said in surprise.

Lily looked at the complex emotions in West's eyes, a hint of doubt flashing through her mind. "West, don't listen to your father's nonsense. Severus and I are just friends."

He rolled his eyes.

Lily and Snape are friends, but she is unaware of the feelings her son harbors for Snape.

Perhaps West himself hasn't seen it clearly yet, but "he" lives in his mind and listens to his father tell the legendary love story of him and his mother every day, so he understands his feelings for Snape better than West himself.

He was right. West thought. He was always looking at my mother through my face.

"Speaking of which, does this black bat know the Patronus Charm?" James couldn't help but exclaim again at the mention of Snape, a stark contrast to his previous image as a kind father.

"Son, if all else fails, try Professor McGonagall. She's an excellent witch; she can definitely teach you."

Lily glared at him, signaling him to stop putting pressure on West.

Their talents were already quite good, but they only started learning the Guardian Charm after fourth grade and didn't master it until fifth grade.

West didn't argue with his father, obediently nodding, "I understand, Dad."

He actually wanted to go see Professor Snape.

He always felt that Snape must have a Patronus. A soul as resilient as that…