Chapter 20: Christmas and Laoganma

John watched with a secret glee as the Weasley twins enchanted a snowball to relentlessly pursue Professor Quirrell, bouncing off his turbaned head. Quirrell, who had dropped his pretense in front of John, was forced to maintain his facade of timidity and deceit in front of the other students, offering only a strained smile in response. Privately, John mused about the fitting retribution the twins had devised.

Outside, a bitter cold wind lashed against the windows of the Hogwarts classrooms, while inside, a roaring fire warmed the great hall, signaling the onset of winter. John rubbed his hands together, exhaling a cloud of breath that fogged up the glass. He couldn't help but comment on Draco Malfoy's latest antics, "It's said that in elementary school, kids bully the ones they like. Looks like Malfoy has quite the crush."

The holiday spirit was dampened momentarily when Malfoy made a derogatory remark about Ron's family. Professor Snape, appearing as if he had been waiting for just such a moment, deducted five points from Gryffindor despite Hagrid's protests. Malfoy strutted away, smugly scattering fir tree needles in his wake.

"I'm going to teach him a lesson, just like John did!" Ron declared, his hatred for Malfoy boiling over. Harry nodded in agreement; Malfoy and Snape were his least favorite people at Hogwarts.

Hagrid, trying to lighten the mood, invited them to see the nearly completed decorations in the great hall. John was curious to experience Christmas in the wizarding world. The hall was a sight to behold, with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick having outdone themselves. Holly and mistletoe adorned the walls, and towering Christmas trees, decorated with twinkling icicles and hundreds of flickering candles, filled the room. Hagrid, having just placed the final touches on the last tree, was visibly excited for the holiday.

"How many days until the holidays?" Hagrid asked, his anticipation palpable.

"Just one more day," Hermione replied, her mind still on the task at hand. "But we have half an hour now; we could go to the library."

John, intrigued by Hermione's determination to uncover the mystery of Nicolas Flamel, agreed to join them. Hagrid, bemused by their dedication to research even on the cusp of a holiday, warned them off the dangerous path they were treading. Yet, the trio's Gryffindor spirit only fueled their resolve.

Despite their best efforts, Nicolas Flamel's name eluded them in the vast sea of books. Hermione, ever organized, created a list to streamline their search. As dinner approached, they reluctantly left the library, Hermione urging them to continue their search over the holiday and to share any findings via owl post.

During the holiday, John found himself pondering the simplicity of the turkey before him, wishing for something as simple as Laoganma chili sauce to enhance its flavor. As he carved a piece of the bird, he mused about the potential of starting an owl-based delivery service, imagining the profits such an enterprise could bring.

Meanwhile, his owl, Basil, had already set off, likely to retrieve the gift his parents were sending. John couldn't help but wonder what surprise awaited him, his thoughts drifting between the festivities and the mysteries yet to be unraveled. John hoped that Mr. Wick wouldn't send him a mouse or a black widow as a holiday gift. During the break, he tried his hand at wizard chess. The game, similar to traditional chess but far more entertaining, captivated him. Watching his queen get demolished by Ron's knight, John couldn't help but exclaim in frustration. Initially doubting his chess skills, John felt somewhat reassured after witnessing Harry's numerous defeats.

Outside, the world was blanketed in snow, but John didn't let it interrupt his training. He understood that as his magical power grew, so too would the potency of his spells. Magic, he realized, was akin to water flowing through a faucet—the more you have, the stronger the flow. Previously, his limited magical power meant his spells lacked strength. However, after reaching level 3, not only did his spells become more powerful, but he also gained the ability to learn more complex attack spells. Yet, the first new spell he mastered was a defensive one: "Protego," an enchantment that could neutralize most forms of attack. It proved to be incredibly useful.

After a session in the Room of Requirement, John returned to his dormitory. The next morning, he was greeted by a gift from Basil, his pet. Among the presents, one from Mrs. Wick contained a pair of warm gloves she had knitted herself. Another, from his father, was a mysterious four-sided cube. Upon shaking it, John was relieved to find it too small to contain a mouse. Inside, he discovered a bottle of hot sauce labeled "Old Godmother" (Laoganma, established in 1984). Accompanying the gift was a letter from his father, explaining the lengths he went to acquire this bottle of Laoganma, knowing how much his son enjoyed flavors from the mysterious East. Eagerly, John tasted the sauce, and the familiar flavor overwhelmed him, bringing him close to tears after 11 years.

The gifts from Hagrid and Hermione paled in comparison to this taste of home. In the Great Hall, Harry and Ron were intrigued by the unusual bottle. John introduced them to Laoganma, and they experimented with it, dipping their food into the sauce. The unique blend of spices opened a new culinary world to them, despite Ron describing the taste as "strange, spicy, and unusual." Ron also shared some fudge with John, which was delightfully sweet.

Hermione's gift, a chocolate frog, nearly escaped before John could catch it. The Weasley twins sported hand-knitted sweaters similar to Ron's, but in blue, each adorned with different letters.

At the Christmas banquet, Dumbledore, wearing a flower-embellished bonnet, tried the Laoganma. His expression suggested disappointment, likely due to its lack of sweetness. Nonetheless, the banquet was a joyful occasion for both professors and students.

Later, in the Room of Requirement, John reflected on the day's events. Opening Hermione's chocolate frog, he caught it and took a bite, revealing a wizard card of Albus Dumbledore. Initially indifferent, John's attention was caught by the card's details, listing Dumbledore's achievements, including defeating Grindelwald in 1945, discovering twelve uses for dragon's blood, and his alchemical success with Nicolas Flamel. The card reminded John of Dumbledore's esteemed position as the greatest wizard of their time, sparking a newfound respect and curiosity in him. John stared blankly at the card in his hand, his gaze eventually settling on the name Nicole Flamel. "Alchemy?" he murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. A flicker of recognition sparked in his mind. He remembered coming across a particularly astonishing entry in the alchemical records. It was something almost mythical, a creation that defied the very laws of nature. "Could it be... the Philosopher's Stone?" he wondered aloud.

The Philosopher's Stone, as legend had it, was a powerful alchemical substance capable of turning base metals into gold and, even more incredibly, granting immortality through the Elixir of Life. The very thought of such an object existing stirred a mix of skepticism and intrigue within John. If Nicole Flamel was indeed associated with this legendary artifact, then there was much more to uncover than he initially thought.

Determined to learn more, John decided to delve deeper into the mysteries of alchemy and the enigmatic figure of Nicole Flamel. Little did he know, this curiosity would soon lead him on an unexpected journey, intertwining his fate with ancient secrets and magical discoveries far beyond his wildest imagination.

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If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube 

https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured 

Direct Link to playlist 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge