Chapter 18: Europe in Winter

*Insert Chopin – Grande Valse Brillante, Op. 18 (Waltz in E flat major) as background music.*

December 14th, 1989, Edinburgh, Scotland, 10:00 AM

There's nothing quite like visiting Europe in the winter. Albeit the biting cold, it also brought dreamy snow-dusted mountain ranges and vast frozen lakes to distinct picturesque cities and charming Christmas markets.

Another reason for travelling around Europe during the season was that most major European cities were refreshingly crowd-free and inexpensive during the winter months, and they offered both outdoor adventures and cosy experiences well worth travelling for.

Seriously, how good does a warm mug of real hot chocolate in a riverside Belgian café sound!?

Therefore, having registered at Globus Mundi Travel Agents, a wizarding travel agency in Diagon Alley, established in 1876 for a Broom Tour City Break to Edinburgh, Ethan decided to first have a small tour around Europe, with Edinburgh being the first city to visit and Switzerland being the final destination before going home.

It was quite a fantastic experience for Harry, as the boy got to ride on a broom to Scotland.

Harry admitted that it was very scary at first. Harry sat in the front, his petite figure sticking as close as possible to Ethan's embrace. He also held on tight to his glasses for fear of losing them whilst flying at a rather high speed. He even closed his eyes for fear of the height and the gusting wind.

With Ethan's assuring words, Harry began using Cognition to calm his nerves. As the delicate blue moon gradually took shape, the frightening emotion also began to disperse.

The boy finally opened his eyes to Ethan's gentle smile.

'Wow!' Harry gaped at the spectacular view from above as they were flying among the clouds. It was such a mind-bending view for Harry; everything beneath was so small yet the blue horizon was still as vast as ever.

The boy came to notice that the gusting he expected never came, even when they were flying this fast. There seemed to be a transparent membrane covering their surroundings, preventing the gust whilst keeping the temperature from dropping further.

A grin of excitement started to bloom on Harry's face as he now fully embraced such a fetterless feeling in the air that he could even touch the clouds whenever they passed.

Ethan also smiled contently at Harry.

Soon they reached Edinburgh, the grand city of Scotland. Immediately, they began to wander off to every must-visit place in the city after they had registered at the corresponding local Wizarding Authority.

First, they came to the Royal Mile. Starting from Edinburgh Castle and ending at Holyrood Castle, this street remained bustling with tourists at this time of the year due to the Christmas festivities.

Afterwards, you can pay a visit to the grandiose Palace of Holyroodhouse, which is coated in snow.

Then the two spent the afternoon walking around St. Andrew Square. On this square, you can see the nativity scene of the city that features traditional carolling in December, along with an ice-skating rink where people are enjoying their hearts out on the ice.

Of course, it would be a sin to travel without enjoying the delicacies along the way; this was also Ethan's basic courtesy. So, they went on to curb their hunger with a delicious Scottish meal at any one of the restaurants in St. Andrews Square.

The two had quite a colourful evening discovering the trail of lights in the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, filled with numerous flowers, dancing reflections, coloured lights, illuminated trees, and musical effects that were surely fascinating.

Harry never forgot to take pictures at those prominent sites, recording these precious moments.

The boy had never smiled this much, and although he was still very uncomfortable among the crowds and gazes, he would not let his social anxiety destroy this.

Plus, Cognition sure helped a lot, as it pretty much dispersed those negative thoughts, emptying his mind temporarily to calm his emotions and allowing him to focus more on what's important.

In the following days, they went on to visit other cities around Europe, such as...

Bruges, Belgium, Europe's best-preserved mediaeval city, is also one of its most bewitching, especially during the holiday season.

Doubling down on hot chocolate and sachertorte, watching free outdoor simulcasts of the opera, listening to classical holiday concerts, and snapping photos of Schönbrunn Palace and St. Charles Church covered in snow in Austria, Vienna

Venice, Italy, or La Serenissima ("The Serene") whenever winter comes, as the canals are quiet and shrouded in mist.

When a dusting of snow coated St. Charles Bridge and Old Town's church spires, the whole of Prague, Czech Republic, transformed beautifully.

Coming to Amsterdam this season, one must enjoy snow-shrouded canal views and cosy restaurants in peace. Dutch food, hearty with lots of bread and potatoes, is even more satisfying on cold days.

How could one miss the lovely and poetic Paris, France—the city of light with its notorious Eiffel Tower and Louvre?

The two would always take pictures at those speculating places, enjoying the city's delicacies as well as buying souvenirs and even Christmas presents.

It is worth mentioning that Ethan would always let Harry visit the Magical side of those places. Harry was immersed in looking through rows of magical goods and watching magical performances, learning more about the notorious Nicolas Flamel, while Ethan was looking for specific information for his research as well as buying some ingredients.

All of those goods would then be stored in the greatly spacious trunk, under the effect of Capacious Extremis.

It was also during this time that Harry got to see the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France, or 'Ministry of Magical Affairs of France' and the famous Beauxbatons Academy of Magic from afar.

The school was thought to be situated somewhere in the Pyrenees. Visitors speak of the breath-taking beauty of a chateau surrounded by formal gardens and lawns created out of the mountainous landscape by magic.

December 23rd, 1989, Interlaken, Switzerland, 7:17 AM

As one of the most visually stunning cities in the world, this place is an incredible place for a winter getaway. There is no shortage of experiences to have here, both above and below the mountaintops.

Due to its towering snow-ridden mountains. This meant that the place was a perfect hub for Wizard/Witches gatherings, unorthodox markets, and Poacher's hideout.

Ethan and Harry were sitting on a bench by the mesmerising turquoise lakes that hug the town, each enjoying a warm mug of hot chocolate, as Switzerland is known for two great things: cheese and chocolate.

It was such a magical time of the day, worth every effort to get up early in this biting cold weather as the two got to see the golden sun rising over the mountain ranges casting its bright and delicate rays of sunlight over the quiet town.

Spreading all across the lake, waking up every brilliance hidden beneath the gorgeous Lake Brienz, shimmering with all that nature had to offer.

It was hard not to be taken in by the view.

*Click* Harry quickly captured another precious moment as the boy exchanged a bright smile with Ethan.

Afterwards, one could see the silhouettes of a young gentleman and a boy leisurely strolling down the roads, looking for a place to settle their breakfast.

Along the way, Ethan was contemplating his plan for today, as he intended to venture into the magical community of the area first, scouting for any relevant information regarding Altxorra Braconier's hideout.

Once he identified the precise location, various divinations and preparations would then be carried out to minimise any danger variations, as he would bring Harry with him this time.

it best to let the boy know about the shady side of the magical world to further raise his awareness as well as what magical combat would look like, all for his sake.

Nonetheless, Ethan was firmly confident in his ability to keep the boy in the vicinity, unharmed whilst handling those poachers, for 'A Magician Never Performs Without Preparations.'

About the information on the exotic beast's whereabouts...

Ethan sighed indiscernibly as he turned his star-like eyes to look at the golden pocket watch dangling in the air. It was turning clockwise slowly, which meant that the possibility of getting any direct information would be utterly low.

Whereas Ethan was busy making plans in his head, Harry had been enthusiastically watching around, taking in the beautiful architecture coated in delicate snow, lively vendors by the roads, and rows of shops decorated in Christmas themes.

Just then, Harry seemed to notice a rather unique fragrance in the air; it was somehow very soothing, delicate, and refreshing, like the spring drizzles. Like the smell of hundreds of colourful wildflowers bathing in the soft sunlight.

As if instinctively, Harry turned to where the fragrance came from. Those emerald-green eyes widen at the fleeting sight of two almost identical silhouettes that seem to be a daughter and a father.

The tall figure was a man grinning brightly, though it was somewhat eccentric; he looked slightly cross-eyed and had shoulder-length hair that was the texture of candy floss.

There were still traces of solemnity on his visage, despite his cheerful and generous expression.

His daughter had a fair complexion; she had her slightly wavy, dirty blonde hair cascaded down her back, reaching her waist as it fluttered gracefully in the air. Harry swore he saw them turn silverish white, like delicate moonlight for but a moment.

She was also smiling graciously with her father, yet for some unknown reason, Harry could trace subtle sadness hidden deep within those mesmerising pale silverish eyes.

Then for a moment, the two kids seemed to lock eyes with each other before Harry disappeared into one of the café shops.