"Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock!"
The lively beat of the song filled the Great Hall, turning Hogwarts into an unexpected concert venue.
"Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time~
"Dancin' and prancin' in Jingle Bell Square~
"In the frosty air~"
Ted grinned as he strummed his enchanted guitar, his voice carrying through the enchanted ceiling. He had specially transfigured a music box to provide backup instrumentals, ensuring the rhythm was just right.
Meanwhile, Anzu, his ever-loyal raven, flapped its wings in time with the beat, acting as an impromptu backup dancer. The sight was enough to make the entire hall erupt with laughter and cheers.
The magic of the music was undeniable. By the time Ted hit the chorus, students were already tapping their feet, bobbing their heads, and some had even started dancing despite themselves.
"Ted! Ted! Ted!" the crowd chanted, their excitement bubbling over.
Ted smirked and waved a hand. "Relax, relax, just basic maneuvers!"
With a flourish, he pulled out a card—[Mysterious Dance Flute (Green)]—and raised it to his lips. He had been holding onto this magical item for a while, and now was the perfect time to use it.
As the sound of the flute intertwined with the melody of the music box, an irresistible urge to dance spread through the room like wildfire. Some students tried to resist, only to find their feet betraying them. The moment they relaxed even a little, their bodies gave in to the rhythm.
"Wait, why am I dancing?! Stop!" one student exclaimed, flailing wildly.
"Oh no, my arms! My legs! What kind of spell is this?!"
But as they looked around, they realized everyone was in the same predicament. And once they accepted their fate, the embarrassment faded. Instead, an undeniable thrill took over. If everyone was dancing, then no one was dancing alone!
And just like that, the Great Hall transformed into a full-blown dance party.
By the time Ted jokingly announced he could take his performance to each house lounge, students from every house—including the Slytherins—eagerly invited him over. Even the most reserved students found themselves swept up in the atmosphere, offering snacks and drinks as bribes for Ted to perform in their common rooms.
The Weasley siblings, who had stayed at school for the holidays, were left utterly speechless.
"Ted is being welcomed by all four houses?!" Peggy Weasley gasped, patting her younger brothers on the back. "You lot could learn something from him."
George exchanged a glance with Fred. "This guy's definitely worth recruiting."
Ron muttered, still in disbelief, "I thought Hermione was exaggerating when she said Ted could sing and play the piano. I mean, she said he had a great sense of humor too! Turns out, she wasn't kidding..."
Jerry, munching on a biscuit, nudged Ted. "Mate, teach me your ways."
Meanwhile, the professors who had stayed behind for the holidays were equally bewildered.
"What's going on? Did Dumbledore hire a performance troupe for Christmas?" one of them asked.
Dumbledore simply twinkled at them over his half-moon spectacles. "Not at all! But I must say, quite delightful!"
Ted spent the next couple of hours after dinner hopping between common rooms, performing, eating, and drinking along the way. From "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to "Frosty the Snowman" to "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," he pulled out every classic song he could think of.
When he finally wrapped up the last performance, the system in his mind chimed:
_____
Ding! Task Completed: [Sworn to Feast (Green)].
Reward: 250 XP, Card: [Chasing Snowball (Green)].
_____
As Ted exited amidst thunderous applause, Ron and Jerry stood frozen, watching the red-cloaked figure disappear into the halls.
And just like that, Ted 'Santa Claus' Epifani arrived at Hogwarts in a storm of music and dance—and left just as mysteriously, leaving the entire school buzzing in his wake.
"Please, call me the Living Merlin!" Ted thought smugly, flicking the hem of his coat as he strolled away.
From that day on, everyone at Hogwarts knew one undeniable fact: Ted wasn't just good at magic—he was the king of the dance floor.
_____
[Chasing Snowball (Green)]
Item Card
After use, conjures an enchanted snowball that automatically tracks a target for up to three minutes. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
____
The Christmas feast that evening was a grand spectacle, with an overflowing spread of delicious dishes that left no space on the tables. But despite the incredible food, the students couldn't help but feel that nothing compared to Ted's impromptu performances.
The next morning, Ted was up early as usual, fitting in his morning exercise before heading to the Great Hall for breakfast. As students trickled in, he noticed something strange—the way they kept glancing at him with amused expressions.
It was as if they were all thinking the same thing: "Shall we dance?"
Ted sighed. "Well, that escalated quickly."
Unexpectedly, Ron was also up early—a rare sight during the holidays. He slid into the seat next to Ted, awkwardly buttering his toast while stealing glances at him.
After a moment, Ted finally broke. "Alright, Ron, what's up?"
Ron cleared his throat. "Uh… thanks for the candy. Never had anything like it before. It was really good."
Ted chuckled. "Muggle candy always hits different."
Ron hesitated before blurting out, "And… uh… the songs you sang yesterday… they were really cool."
Ted arched a brow. "Thanks?"
Ron took a deep breath. "So, uh… do you think I still have a chance to learn how to sing?"
Ted paused, considering the best way to respond. Good grief, Ron had woken up early just for this? How was he supposed to handle this without crushing his hopes?
"Tsk," Ted clicked his tongue. "Ron, don't underestimate singing. It's not just standing up and belting a tune. One minute on stage takes sixty seconds of preparation!"
Ron squinted. "What?"
Ted leaned in conspiratorially. "Have you considered rapping?"
Ron blinked. "What's rapping?"
Ted smirked. "A different kind of magic, my friend."
And just like that, Ron's fleeting musical aspirations vanished as quickly as they had appeared.
Well, it wasn't like he was passionate about music. He just really wanted the kind of attention Ted was getting.
By the second day of Christmas, Ron had already forgotten about his singing dreams, moving on to other antics. Meanwhile, Jerry had a realization of his own.
Last night, he had made up his mind.
"Jerry, Jerry, you can't keep slacking off like this. You're a mature wizard now! It's time to start training at night on your own!"
So, Jerry glanced at Ron, who was sleeping like a log, snoring lightly under a mess of blankets. Shaking his head with a smirk, Jerry slid out of bed, careful not to make a sound, and slipped out of the Gryffindor common room.
The castle at night was a completely different world—a vast labyrinth of stone corridors, whispering suits of armor, and flickering torchlight. It was no wonder Harry and his friends always seemed to have the best adventures under the cover of darkness.
Now, it was his turn.
"The night belongs to those who dare!" Jerry grinned to himself, cracking his knuckles. "Time for some good ol' fashioned Hogwarts exploration."
With Filch and Mrs. Norris likely patrolling, he had to be careful. But it was the holidays—surely, even Filch had better things to do than chase students around. Right?
——
The next morning, over a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and pumpkin juice, Jerry leaned in with a conspiratorial glint in his eye. "Ted, Ron—you won't believe what I found last night."
Ron, still half-asleep and chewing on toast, groaned. "You mean while I was knocked out?"
Jerry clapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish. "Not so loud! People might get the wrong idea!"
Predictably, a few nosy students at the next table perked up. "Oi, say it! What did he do while you were sleeping?"
Jerry waved them off, rolling his eyes. "Nothing like that! Just... never mind. Come on, you two. I have something to show you."
Curious, Ted and Ron followed him out of the Great Hall. Unbeknownst to them, the Weasley twins had overheard and decided to trail them.
"You lot aren't sneaking off without us," George said, grinning as he fell into step beside them.
"Yeah, same boat and all," Fred added. "We're practically family."
Ron scowled but didn't argue. "Fine. But if this is another one of Jerry's 'brilliant' ideas that gets us detention, you two are taking the blame."
——
Jerry led them to an abandoned classroom on the third floor, where a massive, ornate mirror stood in the center of the dusty space. Its dark, wooden frame was carved with strange symbols, and a line of text ran across the top.
"That's it!" Jerry whispered excitedly. "I found it last night. When I looked into it, I saw... something."
Ted's gaze flicked up to the inscription. "Mirror of Erised…"
Ron read the words slowly. "Eris… Desire… Oh! It's 'desire' spelled backward!"
"This mirror doesn't just show reflections," Ted explained. "It shows what you want most in the world."
Jerry hesitated before stepping forward. He peered into the glass, his breath catching. "There they are again," he murmured.
"Who?" Ron asked.
"My parents," Jerry replied, voice soft. "I never got to meet my dad. But here… I can see him."
A hush fell over the room.
Then, George and Fred practically shoved their way in front of the mirror. "Alright, alright, move over. Let's see what we've got here."
George squinted at the reflection and grinned. "Fred, what do you see?"
"What do you think?"
"A joke shop?"
"Exactly."
They clapped hands, looking thoroughly pleased with themselves.
Ron stepped forward next, his eyes widening. "Blimey… I'm holding a guitar, and everyone's cheering for me! And—hang on! I've got a brand-new broom! Charlie's asking me to join the Quidditch team!"
"Nice," Ted chuckled. "Alright, my turn."
He hesitated for a moment before stepping up to the mirror. What would he see? Fame? Fortune? Some legendary artifact of magic?
His reflection stared back at him… surrounded by a breathtaking, uncharted world of magic. Creatures he had never seen before roamed landscapes that defied imagination. It was an entirely new magical frontier.
Ted blinked. "Huh."
Fred raised a brow. "What is it?"
Ted rubbed the back of his neck. "It's… a whole new magical world. Strange creatures, undiscovered spells—like I've stumbled into an adventure in a new world."
The others exchanged looks.
"Mate," George said slowly, "most people see their biggest desires—fame, family, glory. And you see… a whole new world of magic?"
Ted shrugged. "I guess I just want to see more what's out there..."
Fred clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, if nothing else, you've got the heart of an explorer. Or a very nerdy wizard."
Ted grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Then, as an idea struck, he smirked. "By the way, you guys ever hear of Boggarts?"
Ron perked up. "Those things that turn into what you fear most? Yeah. Why?"
Ted stretched his arms. "I've always been curious what mine would turn into. Maybe someone should gift me a Boggart for Christmas."
Everyone fell silent.
Fred shot him a wary glance. "Ted, mate, I gotta be honest—you've got some pretty weird hobbies."
Ted just laughed. "Hey, at least I'd know what to be afraid of."
"Or, y'know, you could just not wish for nightmare fuel as a Christmas present," Ron muttered.
"Where's the fun in that?" Ted shot back, grinning.
The group burst into laughter, the eerie mirror momentarily forgotten in the warmth of good company.
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Word count: 1936
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