The Christmas holidays are fast approaching.

There was a lively atmosphere throughout Hogwarts, and everyone couldn't wait to look forward to Christmas.

After all, Christmas is not only about the arrival of the holiday season and the arrival of relaxed days, but also about hearty Christmas meals and fun and assorted gifts......

But for Matthew and his second-year Slytherins, before the Christmas break, they still need to attend the last "after-school practice" of the semester -

The last after-school practice was conducted by Professor Kettleburn, the teacher of the Magical Beasts Conservation class, which is not good news...... Because it means that they need to go to the Forbidden Forest for their last lesson of the semester.

In this cold winter moment, they naturally prefer to spend their time in the burning castle rather than go to the cold and biting castle and freeze themselves half to death.

......

On the last Saturday before the Christmas break, the semester is over for most students.

Many people had already left Hogwarts early to go home for Christmas, and the school was much more deserted than usual. A silence as thick as snow on the ground enveloped the entire castle.

Early Saturday morning, all five Slytherin second-year boys left the common room early.

They were heavily armed, wearing thick cotton jackets, gloves on their hands, scarves around their necks, bearskin hats on their heads, and rubber boots on their feet...... It was barely dawn before the five of them had stepped out of the oak gate of the castle and stepped into the snow.

Wrapped in silver light, there was a white expanse between heaven and earth, and a cold wind blew, no matter how thick the clothes were, Matthew couldn't help but shiver.

But it can't be helped, who let this be the request of Professor Kettleburn, the teacher of the Magical Beasts Protection class.

They struggled to walk in the snow.

From the castle to the Forbidden Forest, it took them almost twenty minutes to walk a short distance of a few hundred yards...... Every step has to be tread in a thick layer of snow.

In the end, they were almost all blue-nosed and swollen from the cold, and finally came to Professor Kettleburn's cabin—

This thatched hut looks as if it could collapse at any moment due to snow.

Matthew walked over and knocked heavily on the door.

Soon, the door opened, and Professor Kettleburn limped behind it, revealing his old face.

"You're here, kid......" said the Magical Beasts Protection teacher aloud, "Come in!"

The fire in the house finally made them feel a little warm in this cold winter.

There is only one room in the chalet. There were turkeys, hams, and bacon hanging from the ceiling, and a large kettle boiling water in the fireplace.

Professor Kettleburn worked hard for a long time, making each of them a steaming cup of tea to help them ward off the cold......

"What do you need us to do for you, Professor?" asked Draco Malfoy eagerly, sipping his tea.

Obviously, he would have preferred to finish the last lesson of the semester earlier and enjoy the two-week Christmas break.

"Don't be in a hurry, child......" Professor Kettleburn asked unhurriedly, "I suppose you haven't had breakfast yet, have you?"

There's no doubt about it, after all, it's not dawn, and the Great Hall at Hogwarts isn't even open.

......

They spent about half an hour in Professor Kettleburn's cabin, eating some "rock cakes" and drinking some hot tea.

The body, which was about to be frozen, slowly became warm.

Taking advantage of this time, Professor Kettleburn also "armed" himself...... This includes fitting three of his prosthetic limbs, changing into a thick moleskin coat, and wearing a helmet-style wool hat.

Of course, he didn't forget to stick his wand at his waist.

"All right, boys!" said Professor Kettleburn, "I think you're done warming up...... Let's go now to the Forbidden Forest!"

"Are you really going to the Forbidden Forest......" Theodore Nott glanced worriedly at the white expanse in the distance, and whispered, "We may be frozen to death in the ......"

"Don't be afraid, child," replied Professor Kettleburn, grinning, as if not caring at all, "the temperature in the Forbidden Forest is much warmer than outside, not so cold...... Not to mention that you are with me......"

"But Professor, have you forgotten......" Crabbe questioned with a grim face, "there are many terrible monsters in the Forbidden Forest...... It's like the big black dog that appeared at the beginning......"

"Are you questioning me, young man?" Professor Kettleburn looked slightly annoyed, "I'm almost as familiar with the Forbidden Forest as I am with my wife...... As long as you follow me, you won't be in any danger!"

Several people hurriedly and obediently shut their mouths, and there was no longer any "opposition".

And Professor Kettleburn's words seemed to encourage their depressed mood a little......

Then, they followed Professor Kettleburn and set off!

......

Six tightly wrapped men left the hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

They stepped in the snow and walked in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. At the same time, on the snow, there are lines of footprints.

Of the five Slytherin students, Matthew was the only one who had attended Professor Kettleburn's after-school practice (the other four were lying in the school hospital when Professor Kettleburn led them in the after-school practice last year).

Therefore, Matthew is also the only one who knows a little bit about this seemingly "bohemian" old professor.

"Professor Kettleburn," he asked, walking in front of him, softly, "what are the contents of our after-class practice today?"

"What to do with those damn ponies......" Professor Kettleburn replied with some difficulty in the cold wind,

"They seem to be restless lately, damn it...... So I'm going to go into the depths of the Forbidden Forest today to find evidence that they deliberately left their habitat, and then report it to Principal Rozier...... The damned parasites that live in the Forbidden Forest must be resettled......"

“...... As for you, it's okay to be my assistant temporarily, but it's more to take you to feel the atmosphere in the Forbidden Forest!"

"Centaurs...... Restless ......," Matthew muttered.

At the same time, he couldn't help frowning.

For some reason, I think of everything that happened at Hogwarts recently...... Matthew had a very bad premonition.