Harry stood alone in the quiet stone corridor of Hogwarts, staring out the window at the vast, shimmering expanse of snow that blanketed the castle grounds.
The cold air, usually banished by the castle's internal magic, seemed to seep in, matching the chill of a rising conflict in his heart. It was a week before the Christmas break, his first at Hogwarts, and the thought of leaving was filled with exhilarating anticipation.
If this were last year, if he were still under the Dursleys' roof, he would have signed the list to remain at school without a second thought. Hogwarts would have been a refuge. But now, Swann Manor—the home of Sebastian and Mia—had fundamentally redefined the concept of home for him. It was warm, safe, and filled with a kind of supportive, easygoing care he had never known.
Yet, the rising excitement was tempered by a growing worry for Ron.
Ron's older brothers and sister, Percy, Fred, and George, were staying at Hogwarts. Percy was already a figure of intense, almost intimidating dedication, aiming to spend the holiday break reviewing every detail for his upcoming Ordinary Wizarding Level (OWL) examinations.
He had signed up for a daunting twelve subjects, and his Christmas would be a monastic devotion to textbooks and notes.
Fred and George, in stark contrast, viewed the quiet castle as an ideal experimental workshop. They were entirely focused on the development of a highly anticipated new product for their growing line of mischief: Snowflake Gum. The plan was wickedly ambitious: a single chew would instantly transform the chewer into a living, melting snowman, perfect for mid-January pranks.
Their industrious pursuits, however, left Ron behind. His parents, Molly and Arthur, were journeying to Romania to visit his oldest brother, Charlie, who was working with dragons. Ron was left to face the sprawling, echoingly silent castle with only a handful of senior students he barely knew.
Harry knew that look on Ron's face—a subtle downturn of the mouth, the restless shuffling of feet—it was the unmistakable shadow of loneliness. It was the familiar taste of being left out, of being the one who didn't quite fit the busy plans. Harry recognized it because he had lived it every single day before Hogwarts.
He desperately wanted to invite Ron to Swann Manor, to share the warmth and security of his new family. But the thought was instantly tangled in anxiety. He was still a guest, a dependent. Would an unprompted invitation to a boisterous, constantly hungry friend be an imposition? Would he be making Sebastian and Mia uncomfortable?
After two days of agonizing hesitation, Harry finally swallowed his pride and his fear of rejection. He decided that the potential relief on Ron's face was worth the risk of a simple "no." He took a deep breath, walked down the corridor to the Defence Against the Dark Arts office, and knocked on the door.
"Please come in," Sebastian's voice called out immediately.
Harry pushed the door open and found Sebastian sitting behind his large, orderly desk, not grading papers, but deeply engrossed in a thick, leather-bound volume—a medieval spellbook with gilt edges. Sebastian looked up, his expression shifting to curiosity.
"Hello, Harry. What's brought you out of the common room? You look as though you're preparing for a very difficult exam."
Harry nervously fidgeted with the hem of his robe. "Professor Swann, sir... I know it's a big ask, and I totally understand if you say no, but... Ron is staying at Hogwarts for Christmas. His family is going to Romania, and Fred and George and Percy are all busy. I just... I hate the idea of him being alone here."
He took another shaky breath. "Would it be... would it be okay if I invited Ron to Swann Manor for Christmas? Just for the holiday break?"
Sebastian's expression softened instantly. He smiled, walked around the desk, and gently ruffled Harry's perpetually messy hair.
"Harry, that is a wonderfully generous and thoughtful request," Sebastian said, his voice entirely free of judgment. "You want to invite your friend to share Christmas with you. Of course, you do."
He leaned in conspiratorially. "The answer is a resounding yes. Swann Manor is large enough for a few more guests, and a few more mouths to feed certainly won't bankrupt the Swann family. It's what friends are for."
Harry's face lit up, but a tiny thread of worry still remained. "But… what about Auntie Mia? She's the boss, really. I don't want to surprise her."
Sebastian laughed, a hearty sound that instantly dispelled any remaining tension. "A valid concern. In Swann Manor, the mistress's approval is indeed the final word. Let's confirm it immediately."
He pulled a rectangular Two-Way Mirror from his coat pocket. In moments, the surface rippled, and Mia's soft, elegant image appeared, framed in the reflection.
"What's up, Sebastian? Are you interrupting a class again?" Mia's voice, warm and melodic, came clearly through the mirror.
Sebastian turned the mirror slightly so Mia could see Harry's eager face. "Mia, our Harry here has shown exceptional consideration for his friend, Ron Weasley, who is going to be alone at the castle for the holidays. He's asking if Ron can join us at the manor for Christmas."
Mia's image smiled, and her voice carried an immediate warmth. "Molly Weasley's boy? Of course! Harry, please tell Ron he is most welcome. Swann Manor is far too big and quiet with just the three of us. You can invite a few more friends over; it wouldn't be a problem at all."
Relief and pure joy surged through Harry. He thanked Sebastian and Mia profusely, nearly tripping over the threshold in his haste to find Ron.
Sebastian watched Harry dash away, shaking his head gently. He paused, considering the situation.
Ron Weasley. Sebastian remembered the boy's occasional, loud complaints about Slytherin and Malfoy during the Yuletide Brawl. He wasn't particularly fond of the boy's biases.
But... Sebastian reasoned pragmatically, Ron is Harry's first, truest friend. To deny him would undermine my standing with Harry. Besides, I'm an adult; I shouldn't concern myself with the petty feuds of eleven-year-olds.
Then, a better, more complete idea struck him. The Weasley siblings who were staying behind—Percy, Fred, and George—were all now separated from their family for the holiday. It would be entirely inappropriate, almost cruel, to invite only one brother while leaving the others to their isolated pursuits, particularly the energetic twins.
Furthermore, Fred and George had shown remarkable magical aptitude, albeit channeled into mischief. And Percy... well, Percy was a perfect student.
If I invite all four, I accomplish several things:
Complete goodwill with Harry.
The appearance of fairness and concern for all students.
Access to Percy, who will undoubtedly bring all his textbooks, giving me an excuse to introduce 'supervised study' and keep the manor from being utterly ruined by twin pranks.
Sebastian immediately contacted his patronus—a majestic, glowing raven—and sent it flying to deliver a formalized, courteous holiday invitation to Fred, George, and Percy.
The results were swift. Fred and George accepted with astonishing speed. They had heard Harry and Ron describe the luxury of Swann Manor, but what truly appealed was the rumor of Sebastian's private, multi-story Alchemy Laboratory. They imagined rows of shimmering, forbidden ingredients, prototype Transfiguration tools, and endless opportunities for product testing, far superior to their cramped dormitory.
Percy hesitated, weighing the quiet study hours of Hogwarts against the possible social disruptions of a family gathering. However, the mention of professorial guidance tipped the scales. He envisioned being able to consult directly with Professor Swann on difficult Charms and Potions questions, something far more valuable than the silence of an empty library.
The next day, after a fond farewell to the few remaining students and staff, Harry and the four Weasley brothers—Ron, Fred, George, and Percy—found themselves magically deposited at the front gate of Swann Manor.
Ron's jaw practically hit the snow.
Swann Manor was not a house; it was a sprawling, meticulously maintained estate that looked like a minor castle that had decided to wear modern glass and steel as an elegant scarf. It was a fusion of ancient magic and blindingly futuristic architecture, surrounded by meticulously sculpted gardens protected by shimmering magical wards.
"Oh my God, Professor Swann's house is… it's a palace," Ron whispered, utterly dumbfounded, staring at the panoramic glass façade that wrapped around the south wing. He instinctively smoothed down his threadbare coat, suddenly feeling acutely conscious of his family's second-hand possessions.
They were shown to a series of opulent, adjoining guest rooms. Ron sank onto a ridiculously soft mattress—the kind he'd only seen in Muggle films—in utter, overwhelmed surrender.
"Harry, you said you stayed here before Hogwarts, but you never mentioned any of this!" Ron exclaimed, pushing himself up and frantically pointing a finger at Harry.
"You never mentioned the private dueling arena! Or the full-sized indoor swimming pool! Or the Hydroponics Greenhouse that's three times the size of Professor Sprout's and is apparently self-monitoring! We couldn't afford a brick from this place even if we pulled out every single Galleon from Gringotts!"
Fred and George, though more controlled in their awe, were equally staggered. They had immediately raced to inspect the renowned Alchemy Laboratory.
"Harry, that's not a lab, it's a seven-story R&D facility!" Fred declared, breathless. "It has dedicated floors for Potion Brewing, Transfiguration R&D, and even a completely pressurized, isolated chamber for Elemental Transmutation! We saw a prototype of a constant-motion self-stirring cauldron! That's years ahead of what Gringotts uses!"
George added, shaking his head in disbelief, "And the Owl Room! It's three stories tall, climate-controlled, and the landing perches are all self-sanitizing! It's more luxurious than our entire dormitory!"
Even Percy was stunned. While he didn't care for the luxury, he was impressed by the sheer academic efficiency of the place. He imagined the quality of study materials Sebastian must possess.
Ron was an unstoppable stream of complaints, jealousy, and awe. "You've been living in a dream, Harry, and you never said a word! And the House-Elves! They're all dressed in perfectly ironed linen and they float everywhere! They look like they could run the Ministry of Magic!"
"Okay, Ron, okay," Harry said, laughing helplessly at his friend's wide-eyed, envious expression. "I didn't realize all the details would matter so much." He clapped Ron on the shoulder. "Look, I saw Fred and George heading in a certain direction. Want to go check out the Arcade?"
"An Arcade?" Ron's eyes widened to saucers. He forgot his complaints immediately, jumping to his feet, his face ablaze with untainted, childish excitement.
Then, the terrible, sobering realization hit him, and his smile froze.
"Wait! Hold on!" Ron threw his hands up, his eyes suddenly huge with panic. "Professor Swann! It's Professor Swann, Harry! This is a Christmas break, but based on his generous, suspiciously fair nature… you just know he's going to implement supervised learning from tomorrow morning! He's going to make Percy look like a slacker!"
Ron looked around the gorgeous room with profound dread. "The Arcade! The Dueling Arena! The Swimming Pool! We can have fun today! We can only have fun today! After today, it's going to be Charms essays and advanced Potions theory until the New Year!"
The panic, however, quickly transitioned back into a desperate surge of determination.
"What are you waiting for, Harry? Get going! We've got less than twenty-four hours before the holiday becomes a study camp! We need to seize the day! Come on!"
Ron grabbed Harry by the arm and shoved him toward the door, their luxurious accommodations immediately forgotten in the scramble to enjoy the brief window of pure, unsupervised freedom before Professor Swann's inevitable, highly organized syllabus took effect.
Do you think Sebastian will genuinely enforce a strict study regimen, or will he find a way to make the "supervised learning" an exciting, practical application of magic that aligns with his teaching style?