HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

Regulus's warning was proven true a few days later.

A new face arrived at Slughorn’s “Slug Club” mini-gathering: Victor Krum, an upperclassman exchange student from Durmstrang, introduced by Nott.

He was tall and taciturn, with sharp eyes in deep-set sockets, carrying the undisguised familiarity with practical black magic characteristic of Durmstrang students.

The conversation at the gathering revolved around the differences between Norse magic and the British system. Krum didn't talk much, but every time he spoke, he hit the nail on the head, especially when it came to the defense against and practical application of dark magic. His insights made Slughorn nod in agreement.

"Where did Nott find this guy?" Kevin muttered to himself in the common room afterward. "The way he looked at people was like he was assessing their weaknesses, which was really unsettling."

"Demstrand has close ties with certain ancient Nordic families, and the Nott family has always had a wide business network."

Aris analyzed, the pen nib writing something in the notebook, "Krum's surname carries some weight in the Norse magical world, but it's not among the most illustrious. The fact that his exchange student status was approved so quickly is unusual in itself."

"Regulus warned us to be careful of him," Ian said casually, flipping through his potions textbook. "Then keep your distance, socialize normally, but don't get too involved."

Severus hummed in agreement, his fingers unconsciously twirling a lapis lazuli cufflink, one of Ian's Christmas gifts, replacing his always loose old button.

In public, Ian's touches were always restrained and swift, but in private, like now, his knees brushed against Severus's under the table, carrying a steady warmth.

After the tea party, on the way back to the cellar, Ian's fingers brushed against Severus's hand almost imperceptibly, and at a corner where no one was watching, he quickly and discreetly hooked his little finger together before separating.

Severus didn't look at him, but his lips tightened slightly, and his ears blushed slightly in the dim light.

In February, the air still carried the chill of late winter, but the castle corridors were already occupied by pink and gold decorations and paintings of Cupid and dwarfs running around everywhere, so sweet that it was irritating.

"Merlin's socks, they're pulling my hair again!" Kevin grumbled as he squeezed into a corner of the common room, his hair a mess, waving his wand to shoo away a dwarf who was trying to pin a "Love Me" badge on him. "Why can't these things be banned from the cellar?"

"Because Professor Slughorn believes this helps 'cultivate healthy emotional expression.'" Aris said without looking up, precisely swatting away another dwarf who was trying to throw glitter into his inkwell with a book.

"According to Chapter 7 of the Supplementary Regulations of the School Rules, such 'festival atmosphere creation' is tacitly permitted as long as it does not cause substantial damage or incite large-scale riots. Also, your headband is loose."

Kevin casually pulled the hairband that had slipped down to his forehead, not noticing that Aris's gaze lingered on that dark blue section of hairband for a moment.

"I don't need any 'healthy emotional expression'! I just want some peace and quiet! And," he said, his face falling as he plopped down on the sofa, "I'm not getting any decent chocolates this year. My mom will probably only send me a box, and she won't let me eat more than that."

"On the bright side, at least your mother remembers." Ian closed the potions journal he was reading, his tone casual. "Besides, how do you know she doesn't?"

"Unless Merlin appears," Kevin muttered.

"Merlin is busy," Aris said calmly, closing his notebook and taking a box wrapped in dark green paper from his parchment bag. He pushed it in front of Kevin. "Besides, he might prefer a more practical gift. This is for you; you can open it now."

Kevin froze, blinking as he looked at the box, then at Aris's expressionless face: "This...this is..."

"Just in case you say only your mother remembers again this year, I'm assuming your taste hasn't drastically changed." Aris's gaze shifted to the fireplace. "It's Honeydukes' Valentine's Day limited edition assortment gift box this year, which theoretically includes all the new flavors, but excludes the three known to cause you to burp and produce colored bubbles."

Kevin's face flushed red instantly, and he hurriedly tore open the packaging. Inside the box were neatly arranged chocolates of various exquisite shapes, and their aroma immediately wafted out.

"Aris! You're so kind!" Kevin's eyes lit up, and he picked up a pumpkin-shaped piece to put in his mouth, but Aris gently stopped him with a quill pen.

"I suggest starting with the top left one. According to the ingredient list, it has the most balanced ratio of sugar and cocoa butter, which will have the least impact on your appetite for the upcoming dinner."

Ian looked at them, a slight smile playing on his lips. Hidden beneath the wide sleeves of his robe, he gently touched the back of Severus's hand beside him.

Severus was looking down at a book called "Advanced Spell Theory," but when Ian touched him, the fingertips that were turning the pages paused for a moment.

Ian's fingers slid down, gently hooking his little finger, caressing the cool skin, then releasing it as if it were just an unintentional touch.

He took a small, dark blue velvet bag from his pocket and placed it on the open pages of Severus's book.

Severus shifted his gaze from the book to the bag.

"What?" he asked in a low voice.

"Open it and take a look." Ian leaned back on the sofa, relaxed, a hint of a smile in his gray eyes.

Severus picked up the bag, untied the rope, and emptied its contents.

It wasn't chocolate, but a silver cufflink, simple in design, but engraved with intertwined laurel leaves and ivy, with a tiny but pure dark blue gemstone set in the center.

"Moonstone," Ian whispered, only Severus could hear, "to stabilize the mind and aid in the gathering of magic. I've engraved tiny protective and cleansing runes on it; they're not obvious, but they're effective. Your old pair needs replacing; they're too loose."

Severus held the cufflink in his hand, the cold metal quickly warming up under his fingertips.

He didn't say thank you, just grunted in response, carefully gathered his cufflinks in his palm, and continued reading, but the slight blush on his ears lingered.

Ian smiled, picked up the potions journal again, and naturally leaned his head on Severus's shoulder.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Gryffindor Tower was much more lively. Music drifted through the common room, and James Potter was surrounded by a group of friends cheering him on, but instead of his usual exaggerated smugness, he looked rather unusually nervous.

He clutched a small, carefully packaged box in his hand, his eyes constantly glancing toward a corner.

Lily Evans was chatting with Mary McDonald on a cushion near the fireplace, holding a book called "Common Spells and Their Counters," but she was clearly not reading it.

Mary was saying something in a low voice, and Lily nodded occasionally, her smile somewhat absent-minded.

Finally, James took a deep breath, pushed aside Sirius and Remus surrounding him, and walked toward Lily.

The noisy lounge fell silent for a moment as many eyes turned toward them.

"Lily." James stopped in front of her, his voice lower and steady than usual. He handed her the box. "This is for you."