The wheelchair-bound warrior is speedrunning Hogwarts.

Harley hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay."

She turned around, ready to leave, when she heard Vera suddenly call out to her from behind: "Harley."

"What is it!" Harley turned around immediately.

Vera's delicate face flushed slightly in the moonlight, a rare sight that momentarily stunned Vera.

"I suddenly remembered, could you help me..." Vera asked Harry, whom she had always seen as a child, with some difficulty.

Her voice paused, she bit her lip shyly, and took a deep breath before finishing her sentence:

"Could you help me take a bath?"

Harley's green eyes widened instantly, her face flushed red at a visible speed, and she stammered, "Take a... take a bath?"

Vera blushed deeply, but tried to remain calm as she explained, "I overdid it today, and my hands are shaking badly."

She had only wanted Harley to take her to the bathroom.

But... my hands were shaking more than I expected.

Her hands were already somewhat strained when doing fine work, and they became even weaker after she exhausted herself.

Now, let alone pushing a wheelchair, even something as simple as taking off her clothes seems a bit difficult for her.

Harley's gaze fell on Vera's slightly trembling fingers, and she suddenly understood something.

Taking a deep breath and trying to calm myself down, I said, "Okay, okay! I'll go prepare some hot water right away!"

Soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom, and Harley was frantically adjusting the water temperature.

Vera gazed at the bathroom from afar and saw Harley frantically fiddling with the showerhead, almost splashing water on herself. She couldn't help but chuckle.

Compared to Harley, at least I have some of the ease and skill that comes with being an adult... right?

Harley was still frantically testing the water temperature, and hot water splashed onto the tiles, making a crisp sound.

She glanced back at the bathroom door and saw Vera sitting quietly in her wheelchair, waiting for her. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on her long, silver-gray hair.

It really is beautiful.

"The water temperature is right!" Harley finally spoke up once the water had warmed up, her voice eight octaves higher than usual.

She walked quickly back to Vera's side, unsure of what to do with her hands. "Then... shall I carry you inside?"

Vera looked at Harley's cheeks, which were as red as ripe fruit, and resisted the urge to reach out and pinch them. She nodded gently and said, "Thank you for your help."

Although she could use the Levitation Charm, Vera genuinely felt that in Harley's current state, she probably wouldn't even be able to pronounce the incantation clearly.

Harley took a deep breath, carefully bent down, put one arm around Vera's back, and supported her knees with the other.

This position brought the two very close, and Harley could smell the faint herbal scent emanating from Vera, mixed with a hint of the cool night breeze.

“I’ll count to three,” Harry’s voice trembled slightly, “one, two—”

Before she could even count to three, Harley suddenly exerted force, and due to excessive tension, she almost threw Vera back into her wheelchair.

In her panic, she braced herself against the wheelchair, barely managing to steady herself; their noses almost touched.

"I'm so sorry!" Harley stammered, her green eyes filled with panic.

Vera looked at the helpless savior in front of her and suddenly laughed: "Harley, relax, I'm not a porcelain doll."

Harley bit her lower lip and finally couldn't help but laugh: "I... I've just never helped anyone take a bath before."

“This is the first time I’ve ever had someone help me take a bath,” Vera said softly, “so we’re even.”

This joke immediately lightened the atmosphere in the room.

Harley shook her hand and tried again.

This time her movements were much steadyer; with a breath held and a burst of strength, she successfully lifted Vera up.

As soon as they stepped into the bathroom, the warm steam enveloped them, and a thin layer of mist condensed on the mirror.

“Um…” Harley let her sit on the small stool with her back to her, her fingers twisting together in a tangled mess, “The clothes…”

Vera coughed lightly, trying to remain calm: "Help me take these off."

She couldn't see Harley's expression, but she knew that after a brief silence, a pair of warm hands slowly reached down to the hem of her clothes and gently lifted it.

Her fingertips trembled noticeably when they touched the skin on the back of Vera's neck, and Vera could feel the warm touch like an electric current running down her spine.

As her clothes were removed, Vera instinctively hugged herself.

Although Harley and Hermione had massaged her many times, this was the first time she had been completely exposed to another person like this.

I still don't feel used to it.

Harley involuntarily held her breath.

Moonlight streamed through the bathroom window, casting dappled shadows on Vera's shapely back, her fair skin shimmering with a pearly glow in the mist.

She was in a daze for a moment, until Vera moved unconsciously, then she came to her senses, picked up a towel, wet it, and gently began to wipe Vera's back.

As the warm water flowed over her skin, Vera's tense muscles gradually relaxed.

She couldn't help but close her eyes, feeling Harley's clumsy yet gentle movements, from her back to the top of her head.

As bubbles accumulated in her silver-gray hair, Harley's fingers gently massaged her scalp with just the right amount of pressure.

“Your hair is so beautiful,” Harley suddenly said, “like moonlight.”

Vera paused for a moment, then chuckled, "When did you learn to say things like that?"

"I'm telling the truth!" Harley tried to defend herself, though no one could see that the tips of her ears were turning even redder.

She scooped up a handful of water and carefully rinsed the foam from Vera's hair. "Close your eyes."

Warm water flowed down her hair, and Vera closed her eyes, as if all her fatigue and tension were being washed away by the water.

“Okay,” Harley’s voice came from above, “Now… uh…”

Vera opened her eyes and saw Harley staring blankly at the bathtub, her cheeks flushed red.

She immediately understood Harley's predicament and coughed lightly, saying, "I can do it myself. You can go out and wait for me."

Harley felt like she'd been granted a pardon and quickly nodded, "Okay, okay! I'll be right outside, call me if you need anything!"

She practically fled the bathroom, nearly tripping over the threshold.

Vera looked at the closed bathroom door and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She laboriously finished washing up, then called out softly, "Harley? I'm done."

The door opened a crack, and Harley's head popped in: "Need any help?"

Vera turned her head and gave her a silent look, and Harley walked in, blushing, and carefully wrapped her in a large bath towel.

Water droplets dripped from Vera's hair, leaving a cool touch on the back of Harley's hand.

“Your hands…” Harley suddenly noticed several small scratches on Vera’s palm. “How did you get this?”

Vera was startled; she had been scratched by tree branches in the Forbidden Forest.

She casually withdrew her hand: "I probably scratched myself while practicing."

Harley blinked, thinking of a classmate whose failed spell would cause an explosion, and readily accepted the premise.

She carefully dried Vera's body and then brought her clean pajamas.

"I can do it myself," Vera said softly, taking the pajamas.

Harley nodded, turned around, and listened to the rustling sound of clothes being put on behind her, secretly relieved.

Helping Vera take a bath is more tiring than playing a game of Quidditch.

"All done," Vera's voice came through.

Harley then turned around and saw that she had already put on her pajamas, but her long, silver-gray hair was wet and draped over her shoulders.

She hesitated for a moment, then picked up a towel: "Shall I dry your hair for you?"

"Huh?" Vera paused, then hesitated before speaking, "Actually... you could use a drying spell."

The main thing is that her physical strength has finally recovered a bit, and she can now use spells.

Harley froze, then stood up somewhat awkwardly: "Well, if there's nothing else, I won't disturb your rest any longer..."

Seeing her flustered state, Vera suddenly reached out and grabbed her wrist: "Wait."

Harley stopped and turned around, puzzled.

“Thank you,” Vera said softly, “for everything tonight.”

Harley blushed again and shook her head: "No, you're welcome. We're friends!"

Vera smiled and nodded: "Yes, of course, but even friends need to be thanked."

"Oh, I see..." Harley lowered her head and chuckled shyly for a moment, then immediately looked up again, "I'll help you take a bath anytime I have time!"

No, it's best if this doesn't happen a second time.

Vera smiled without saying a word until she watched Harley leave, then picked up her wand and used a drying charm to dry her hair before sitting alone on the bed.

Knox disappeared again; he must have sneaked out while Harley was giving him a bath.

She looked down at the star bracelet on her wrist; its silver light shimmered in the moonlight, making it seem as if a tiny star had actually landed on her wrist.

"A Christmas present..." she murmured softly, her voice unconsciously carrying a hint of amusement.

Outside the window, snowflakes fell silently, draping Hogwarts in a silver coat.

The Christmas bells are ringing in the distance, heralding the arrival of a new day.

Author's note: I still need to explain that Harley was still a child at this time, and Vera only treated Harley as a child. She just felt embarrassed to ask a child for help. Well, there was absolutely no other meaning.

Chapter 113 A Christmas for Two

The next morning, when Vera woke up, a few lines of text belatedly flashed before her eyes.

So, when you don't have enough magic, even the battle results are delayed?

She laughed silently and began to carefully browse the information on it.

[Current Hogwarts approval rating: 20%]

[Current Magic Circuit Level: Mastery - Intermediate (75/300)]

[Mana Reserves: 206/206]

[“Unicorn's Blessing” is about to be unlocked (missing “Unicorn's Approval”)]

Recognition of unicorns?

Vera stared at the line of text, puzzled, and fell into deep thought.

Why is it starting to resemble the process of completing tasks in a game?

Rescuing the unicorn triggers the achievement, but you still need to gain recognition to unlock the buff.

Although it's a bit troublesome... this is the first time such an achievement has occurred, so who knows what unexpected surprises await?

Looks like I'll have to find another time to go to the Forbidden Forest.

Vera groped her way out of bed and saw a small pile of packages placed at the foot of her bed.

Perhaps the noise was too loud, because Harley, who was still asleep nearby, heard the sound and sleepily said, "Good morning, Vera."

"Good morning, and... Merry Christmas, Harry," Vera said softly before going into the bathroom to wash up.

When she came out, she saw that Harley had already sat up in bed, still half asleep, with messy hair and droopy eyelids.

It didn't feel like waking up; it felt more like the onset of sleepwalking.

Vera was amused by the strange sense of déjà vu she had just experienced. She quickly covered her laughter and patted the man's hand, saying, "If you're too sleepy, why don't you sleep a little longer?"

Since it's a holiday anyway, there's no need to go to class.

Harley mumbled a response, but just slumped her head, showing no sign of lying down.

Vera tilted her head and looked her over, asking softly, "Did you stay out very late last night?"

Although Hogwarts has a curfew during the holidays, some mischievous students still break the rules and go out at night just to celebrate.

“No…” Harley shook her head a few times and then leaned against Vera. “Yesterday… yesterday we played on the grass for a long time, and then everyone… um, came back, in the common room.”

Amused, Vera gently stroked her head, smoothing down the bristling hair.