HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

When Harry opened his eyes, he found himself lying in the hospital wing.

The first person he saw was West, then Hermione and Ron, who was holding his firebolt. The Gryffindor Quidditch players, still covered in mud from the game, were now gathered around his bed with worried expressions.

West placed the back of his hand on Harry's forehead to check his temperature. "It's alright."

"Harry! What do you think?" Fred said.

"I'm fine." Harry sat up, quickly recalling his memories, "...Where's Draco?"

The Gryffindor player turned to the side, revealing Draco on the other side of the bed.

Draco was still asleep. Several Slytherins were gathered around him. Harry saw Pansy place her hand on the back of Draco's hand and felt a pang of sadness.

"Did we win?" Harry asked, turning his head.

"No, neither you nor Draco caught the Snitch. Slytherin scored thirty points higher than Gryffindor," Hermione said.

Her eyes blazed with deep anger. "The Ministry of Magic is utterly absurd! Dementors should never have been allowed into Hogwarts; they nearly killed you and Draco!"

"Where's Wood?" Harry asked, suddenly realizing Wood wasn't there.

"He's still getting soaked in the rain," George said. "We think he's planning to drown himself."

"But Harry, you're so cool!" Ron said. "You used Patronus! Remember? Your Patronus is a stag!"

"Just like my father's guardian angel," West said.

"Really?" Harry was delighted. This was perhaps the only thing that made him happy that day.

After chatting for ten minutes, Madam Pomfrey came over and told them to let Harry and Draco rest, and that the Slytherin and Gryffindor players were kicked out.

West, Hermione, and Ron stayed behind.

Hermione frowned. "Dumbledore is really angry—I've never seen him this angry before."

"This is a good opportunity to get rid of the Dementors from Hogwarts," West said. "The Board of Governors won't let this go unpunished either—Draco's injury means Malfoy will side with Dumbledore this time."

"This isn't bad news," Harry said with a smile.

Harry was discharged that same day, while Draco lay in the medical wing for two days, looking listless, which made Harry feel uneasy.

It is said that the Malfoy family was furious and came to the school that very day to discuss the matter with Dumbledore. Lucius then went to see Snape, leaving with a grim expression.

Malfoy acted swiftly, exerting pressure within the Ministry of Magic to investigate and hold accountable those responsible, in order to protect the safety and rights of his son and other students.

In just three days, the Dementors were recalled by the Ministry of Magic and evacuated from Hogwarts, allowing the students to finally breathe a sigh of relief and return to their bustling and busy school life.

Lupin finally returned for Monday's Defense Against the Dark Arts session, but he looked weak and clearly ill. His old robes hung loosely on his body, and he had dark circles under his eyes.

West wasn't as enthusiastic in Lupin's class, and he slumped over listlessly.

The students chattered and complained to Lupin about Snape's homework, but Lupin was surprised to find that the students respected Snape and just wanted him to cancel the homework.

"Don't worry, I'll talk to Professor Snape. You don't need to write that essay."

The whole class cheered.

Only West and Hermione were sullen. West was unhappy because he hadn't seen Snape all morning, while Hermione was very upset that her assignment had been canceled—she had written a paper on four whole rolls of parchment.

For some inexplicable reason, Hermione's gaze fell on Lupin's face. Lupin noticed and turned to give her a friendly smile.

Hermione casually lowered her head, her mind reeling. She remembered West's words.

Lupin looked exactly like someone who had been tormented by wolfsbane. Too suspicious. But Hermione didn't intend to say anything; she didn't believe Professor Lupin would harm them, and decided to keep the secret to herself.

In the two weeks leading up to the end of the semester, the sky was a clear, bright blue, as if washed clean. The muddy grounds were draped in a silvery veil, shimmering in the morning sunlight. Everywhere was filled with the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, and the students excitedly discussed their holiday plans.

Ron and Hermione decided to go home for Christmas the week before and then come to Potter’s old house to keep Harry company the week afterward.

Harry even received a letter from Sirius inviting him to spend Christmas at Black's old house, but Harry thought West wouldn't go, so he declined and instead invited Sirius to spend Christmas at Potter's old house.

West was humming a little tune as he decorated Snape's cellar, hanging Christmas wreaths and strings of lights on the walls.

A long-lost fire was lit in the cellar, making the room warm and cozy.

Snape sat at his desk reading his notes, occasionally glancing up at West, his eyes twitching as if he wanted to kick him out.

West finished decorating and went to Snape to show off his success.

West was never happy to appear as a thirteen-year-old in the cellar.

The seventeen-year-old boy stood tall and straight, his long red hair, reaching his waist, was tied up and swayed slightly with his movements. A faint smile played on his lips, exuding both ease and arrogance.

"Severus, going back to Somerset Manor for Christmas?" West asked, half-squatting down.

Just as Snape was about to refuse, West said pitifully, "You know, Severus, I rarely spend Christmas with my family..."

"..." Snape swallowed the words that were about to come out and nodded stiffly.

"You're so kind, Severus..." West sat beside Snape, leaning on Snape's shoulder, feeling Snape's body slowly relax from stiffness. "Severus, when will you say yes to me...?"

He let out a sigh, his hot breath making Snape's earlobes turn red. "It's alright, I can wait."

Once everything settles down, no matter what, he will embrace him.

The Christmas holidays have arrived amidst the anticipation of countless people.

Inside Somerset Manor.

West, clutching a silver-green hand-knitted sweater, blocked Snape's doorway. "Severus, aren't you really going to try this? It took me a month to make."

Snape's face was cold, his brows slightly furrowed. He was about to refuse, but then he remembered the few cuts on the boy's hands from the knitting needles, and silently accepted the Christmas gift.

Snape's lips twitched as he looked at the crooked patterns on the sweater.

"...Yes." Snape answered against his will.

West, however, was not modest at all, and laughed smugly, "That's—I knitted it, and it's even a matching couple outfit—" He pointed to the silver-green sweater he was wearing.

Snape: "..." He didn't want to wear it anymore.

The research on the Wolfsbane potion was at a critical juncture, and Snape wished he could spend the entire holiday in the Potions Room. However, West was too demanding, so he had to attend family events such as the Christmas dinner.

After finishing his meal, Harry began unwrapping his gifts, letting out one exclamation after another.

To his surprise, he even received a gift from Professor Snape. He glanced at Snape cautiously with a joyful look in his eyes, then eagerly unwrapped the package, revealing a book titled "Advanced Potions Making".

Harry's face immediately fell, and he said weakly, "Thank you, Professor."

Harry also prepared a gift for Snape—a set of precious potion ingredients—found in the Potter family's collection room.

Harry's exact words were: "Since I don't know how to make potions anyway, I might as well give them to those who need them."

Snape relaxed for the first time in a long time, nestled on the sofa, and accepted the hot cocoa that West handed him.

The fire was burning brightly, and the wool blanket on my knees was wonderfully warm.

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small theater

Sirius looked at the happy family of three with a resentful expression, indicating that he was not envious at all.

He happily pulled out the gifts Harry and West had given him.

Harry gave Sirius a homemade magical nightlight that emitted a soft, warm glow.

Sirius happily placed the nightlight by his bedside and began unwrapping the gift West had given him—

A bag of premium dog food.

West is truly unique; no wonder he's James's son.

Sirius comforted himself in this way.