Chapter Sixty-Three: Snape's Gift

What is home? It is a place where one can sleep soundly. Roger lay comfortably in his bed, drifting easily into a sweet dream. It might not be as safe here as Hogwarts, but it offered a deeper sense of peace.

Outside the window, goose-feather snowflakes drifted down. Yumi, having just frotted back from her romp, shook the snow from her fur and leaped onto the biped. She stepped back and forth across the bed, found the most comfortable spot to curl into a ball, and let out a satisfied purr.

Early the next morning, Roger rushed eagerly into the living room. Piles of gifts surrounded the base of the Christmas tree, while outside, owls continually swooped down to deliver more parcels.

"Merry Christmas, Mum."

"Merry Christmas to you too, sweetheart." Jessica smiled brightly, holding a carefully wrapped gift box and handing it to Roger. "Go on, unwrap it and see."

Roger carefully tore away the wrapping paper to reveal a thick magic book and a family heirloom signet ring.

"Mum, I love it!" Roger opened the magic book; the pages were filled with Runes.

"It's written in Runes, and it records many ancient spells. The ring is the symbol of the Travis family. I hope you like it." Jessica said gently.

"Of course I do!" Roger nodded happily and handed her his own gift.

Jessica accepted it with eager anticipation, cautiously peeling back the wrapping paper to find a thick photo album. The cover bore embossed golden lettering: *Roger Travis and Hogwarts*.

"This is wonderful! I can't wait to look through it." Overjoyed, Jessica sat down immediately on the sofa and began to flip through the pages. She summoned Dobby to bring the photographs Roger had mailed home, sliding them together into the album.

Roger leaned against Jessica, recounting his life at Hogwarts. He pointed out the Slytherin common room and told her how he had discovered the house-elves' kitchen.

"Right across from Hufflepuff—I went there often when I was a student." Looking at each photograph, Jessica felt either delighted or astonished by her son's school life.

Hearing about his encounter with the troll, she couldn't help scolding him for being too reckless, yet she brimmed with pride and pride over his feat of slaying it. Happily, she put the album away and urged Roger to check out the gifts sent by his friends.

"Oh? It's Elvin!"

The topmost small box turned out to be from the Junk Shop. Inside lay a twenty-percent-off discount card and a roll of parchment. Roger curled his lip; old wizard Elvin was truly stingy, never forgetting to advertise even on Christmas Day.

Still, it was a kindly gesture, though he hadn't expected a gift from Elvin, which caught Roger somewhat off guard. *Sigh, I suppose I'll still buy my supplies at your shop next time.*

Next came Snape's gift: a vial of a potion he had never seen before. Feeling the potent and formidable magic radiating from within, Roger knew his Head of House must have spared no expense.

Daphne had sent a black crystal pendant, clearly an artifact from some ancient ruin, presumably recovered from the underwater ruins alongside Marcus. Hermione's knitted scarf was extraordinarily lovely, interwoven with silver-white and green diamond patterns.

...

The entire morning passed with Roger unboxing presents. Nearly every student in Slytherin had sent a Christmas gift, and even Malfoy, with whom he had previously crossed paths and clashed, was no exception.

Glancing at the Malfoy family crest, Roger thought of the ancient magical alliance Lucius had mentioned. However, since no further news had surfaced, he had presumably cast it to the back of his mind.

"So, what on earth does this potion actually do?" Roger carefully lifted the vial of potion, holding it up against the light to see it shimmer like liquid gold.

He searched around the box until he finally discovered a line of writing inscribed on the inner wall: *Tears of the Phoenix*.

"Phoenix tears?" Roger frowned. Surely the main ingredient couldn't really have come from Dumbledore's pet, Fawkes?

Phoenix tears possessed peerless healing properties capable of curing all manner of magical and non-magical injuries. The materials paired with it must undoubtedly be extraordinary—rare medicinal ingredients at least on par with a unicorn. If that were true, this gift was far too precious.

Roger carefully removed the stopper, and a sweet, fresh fragrance blending evening primrose and water-ripple grass washed over him. Suddenly, a wave of tension gripped him, mingled with irrepressible curiosity.

Ultimately, Roger mustered his courage, gently swirled the potion, drew a deep breath, and drank the phoenix tears down in a single gulp.

The moment it hit his tongue, a peculiar flavor instantly filled his mouth. The phoenix tears slid across his palate like molten gold—bitter and sharp, yet carrying the sweetness of evening primrose.

Unlike any potion he had ever tasted before, drinking it sent a wave of warmth flowing through his body, much like the radiance of a bright spring sun casting its glow over his entire being. Then, an indescribable peace and serenity welled up from the depths of his heart, and all anxiety, fear, and pressure vanished into thin air in that very moment.

That immense power surged within him like a volcano, instantly coursing through his entire body right down to his fingertips. He felt as though he had been touched by a bolt of golden lightning; his eyes widened, and a faint golden glow bloomed across the skin of his entire body.

Roger felt as though he had been reborn, his mind and body radiating unmatched vitality. His stamina and magical power seemed to have been heightened by the effects of the phoenix tears potion; he felt like a phoenix rising from the ashes—overflowing with strength and boundless vigor.

The silent galaxy dormant within his body was reactivated, and Roger's magical power and physical constitution nearly doubled in growth.

**Roger Travis**
**Magic Power:** 50/50
**Mental Strength:** 25
**Affinities:** Dark Affinity, Iron Will, Night Vision
**Spells/Abilities:** Wandless Magic, Non-Verbal Magic (Dark Arts), Advanced Potions Master
**Charms:** *Sectumsempra* Lv3, Disillusionment Charm Lv2, *Expecto Patronum* Lv2...
**Potions:** Merfolk Elixir, Blue Moonlight, Magic Storage Potion...

"Two to one, my magic is finally back to normal." Roger let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

The lingering damage from eleven years in Azkaban vanished in this single moment. He stared blankly at the empty potion vial, utterly speechless. This was the Christmas gift Snape had given him—Phoenix Tears, a legendary healing remedy akin to a phoenix's rebirth.

In this instant, the wave of gratitude he felt toward Snape was overwhelming. No matter how many vials of Blue Moonlight or Silent Galaxy he might use, Roger knew those were merely temporary measures.

As he grew older, the damage Azkaban had inflicted upon him would become increasingly pronounced, and his internal magical power would one day stall in its growth. Even with his peerless natural talent, a lack of sufficient magical power would reduce him to a failure—a source without water, a tree without roots.

In duels against other wizards, his only survival strategy had been to defeat his opponent with lightning speed. Afterward, he would have to face the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head; the moment his magical power depleted, that sword, independent of the battle itself, would fall.

Yet now, with the Phoenix Tears, any potential trials the future might hold were readily resolved.

"Thank you, Professor." Roger solemnly stowed away the vial, though he had no idea how he would face Snape when term resumed.

"Roger, we need to head to the shop." Jessica carried a brown leather handbag, holding a magical instant camera, while Dobby followed closely behind carrying a large box. Taking advantage of her son's inattention, she snapped several pictures in rapid succession.

"So convenient—develops right before your eyes." Jessica smiled, pulling out a photographic print to admire, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Mum, black-and-white photos still lack a certain something. I'll keep researching, and next time I can come up with a color version." Roger looked at the photographs in his mother's hands, calculating improvement schemes.

"Good boy, you don't need to work yourself so hard." Pride beamed across Jessica's face; when the Flash-Shadow Magic Studio officially opened, the camera in her hand would surely bring a wondrous surprise to the wizarding world.

Diagon Alley was blanketed in thick white snow, and glistening reindeer antlers and strings of colorful lights hung from the lintels of the shops on either side of the street. Festive Christmas trees decorated the storefronts, complete with delicate gummy-bear dolls that frequently performed comical antics to amuse passing pedestrians.

The air was filled with the rich aromas of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, while wizards bundled up like Santa Claus went door-to-door along the street selling holiday gifts and pastries.