Christmas

Evan had no intention of venturing to Diagon Alley or Knockturn Alley unless it was for a complex potion or if his abilities improved. It was too dangerous for a first-year student to go alone.

He turned and left, purchasing a scent-eliminating potion before leaving, tossing the twelve Sickles to old Reic without a second thought. Evan knew of one place that certainly had Bubotuber pus and Fluxweed: Snape's potion storeroom.

Despite the risks, he had no other choice.

Thankfully, the Honeydukes owner was busy with customers, allowing Evan to slip through the cellar and back through the secret passage unnoticed. Once out, he headed straight for the Room of Requirement.

"I need a place to brew potions," Evan stated.

The next moment, as he opened the door to the Room, he found himself in an unfamiliar space, surrounded by shelves lined with vials and bottles and a plethora of potion brewing equipment.

The only disappointment for Evan was that the storage cabinets for potions were empty, not even the most basic herbs were present.

"The Room of Requirement has its limits after all," Evan muttered dejectedly. He had hoped to score some free potion ingredients.

He stored the ingredients he had purchased in a cabinet, leaving only the scent-eliminating potion out, planning to use it to mask his own odor later.

After setting everything up, he left without looking back. On his way, he spotted the dodgy figure of Quirrell roaming the fourth floor. Evan pulled out the Marauder's Map to check the location of Snape and the other professors and the headmaster, and a plan began to take shape in his mind.

...

Over the next few weeks, Evan kept an eye on Snape's movements with the Marauder's Map, occasionally checking on Quirrell as well. Time flew, and before he knew it, Christmas had arrived.

December brought biting cold, and a heavy snowfall blanketed the grounds just days before Christmas. When Evan awoke, he found a thick layer of snow covering everything. Harry and Ron were shivering so much they had to layer several jumpers under their large wizarding robes.

Evan joined them by the common room fireplace and used a Transfiguration spell to create transparent windshields to block the drafty vents, making the room a bit warmer.

However, this made it difficult for the owls delivering mail; several crashed into the glass shields, scattering letters everywhere. Evan had to remove one of the windshields by the window to let them in.

Outside, poor Quirrell was being pelted by magically propelled snowballs, ducking and dodging in distress. Evan even saw one particularly solid snowball hit Quirrell squarely on the back of the head, making him worry for the Weasley twins' safety.

Those two were probably the only ones bold enough to prank Quirrell like that. Evan wondered if this was their crowning moment of mischief...

That afternoon, after the last Potions class, Hogwarts buzzed with excitement. The long-awaited holiday break was about to begin, and everyone was eager to go home.

Evan, however, couldn't share their enthusiasm. He had no desire to return home, at least not until he figured out his memory issues. It was safer to stay at school.

So when Professor McGonagall came to register the names of students staying over the holiday, Evan signed without hesitation, as did Harry.

"Evan, you're not going back either?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Yeah, what's home compared to Hogwarts?" Evan replied with a smile.

Harry seemed to find solace in Evan's words, venting his own frustrations. He even wished he could stay at Hogwarts forever instead of returning to his so-called uncle's house.

Harry was delighted to learn that Ron and the Weasley twins would also stay since their parents were visiting Charlie in Romania.

The only downside for Harry was that Hermione had to go home; otherwise, this Christmas would have been perfect...

After signing the agreement to stay at school, Evan, Harry, and Ron were ambushed by Malfoy on their way back.

"Look what I found? A bunch of unwanted kids staying over at school," Malfoy taunted Harry before turning to Ron. "And Weasley, your mother must not want you since she's got too many kids..."

"Malfoy!" Ron charged with a furious punch. Malfoy drew his wand to retaliate, and his cronies Crabbe and Goyle closed in. But Evan was quicker, disarming Malfoy with a spell and knocking down the two brutes with a couple of Leg-Locker Curses.

Defenseless, Malfoy could do nothing but take Ron's right hook to the face.

Ron was ready to continue the brawl, but an invisible barrier appeared in front of Malfoy, blocking Ron's fist.

Snape, with a stony face, descended the staircase, casually lifting the spells on Crabbe and Goyle before addressing Evan and the others.

"Fighting with a fellow student, reckless use of magic, ten points from Gryffindor!"

"Professor, it was Malfoy who..." Harry began to argue, only for Snape to interrupt.

"That will be fifteen points from Gryffindor now!"

Evan stopped Harry and Ron from protesting further. Considering how easily Snape had lifted his spell, they would be no match for the professor.

They couldn't win against Snape, and as a professor, arguing would only cost them more...

Snape didn't make things harder for Evan and his friends. After a disappointed glance at Malfoy, he turned and walked away.

Malfoy, humiliated, got up and glared at Crabbe and Goyle, who had been easily handled by Evan. He followed Snape, strutting past the trio with a swollen face.

"Snape's just out to get us," Ron complained. "I bet he was behind the trouble with your broom, Harry!"

"We've lost nearly a hundred points to Snape this term," Harry agreed, nodding. Compared to the harmless Professor Quirrell, Snape seemed a more likely suspect.

This time, Evan didn't bother defending Snape. Even he was starting to resent the potions master.

In fact, this worked out for Evan. He had been reluctant to sneak into Snape's storeroom to steal the Bubotuber pus, but now he didn't hesitate...

All he needed was the right opportunity.

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