The Last Slytherin - Chapter 16

While Neal was sorting out the gifts, Malfoy went back to his room to use the cast-a-spell kit. Then, he took out the letter from his pocket and started to read after revealing the second part Edward wrote with invisible ink.

“I should warn you one thing. Don’t showcase your talent too much. Ilvermorny School is investigating that person’s death. And also regarding the first-person who contacted you, I’m still not sure what his identity is and how did he know your identity and address of the Orphanage.

Anyway, you and Isle should be careful. Especially Isle. You should never let Isle’s venom secret out of Hogwarts. Dumbledore and the professors can be trusted. But not the Ministry. They are corrupt in and out even including the minister.

Lie low and study diligently for a few years at least until you have the power to go against a professor. It’s best if you don’t use the advanced spells you learned from me. They are all higher-level spells you learn during your sixth or seventh year.

Also, don’t ever try to look for the chamber of secrets even though it’s your right to open it but still please don’t search for it. I hope you keep your promise. Don’t reply. I might not receive it. I’ll contact you when I’ll return to London”.

He burned the letter after reading it. Then, he pulled out the brown suitcase and remembered the name “anonymous Santa Claus”.

Three and a half years ago, Galway, Ireland.

Eight years old Little Neal was standing alone in the park while everyone was playing together. His 2nd-grade classmates didn’t play with him even on his birthday while calling him a freak.

Ignored by his classmates and friends from Orphanage, he ran away from there while crying. After it became very dark, eight-year-old Neal got scared as he doesn’t know where he was or how to go back to Orphanage.

As the city has a low population even below fifty thousand back then, it’s hard for him to even find a person at these dark streets with no lighting. He started to walk aimlessly with the help of moonlight.

As Little Neal reached a harbor where he can see lots of boats, he ran towards it, so that he may find some ȧduŀt who can bring him back to Orphanage and thought Ms. Anne might be worried and was looking for him.

Just then, he heard footsteps in the silent night. He turned back to see an old man laughing heavily, “ho ho ho, it seems there’s an interesting little creature here”. As it was dark, Neal wasn’t able to see his face.

While taking him back to the Orphanage, the old man asked several questions and said a lot of non-sensical things like never heard animal names and also told him, “do you know my philosophy is that worrying means you suffer twice. So, stop worrying about the things you don’t understand and enjoy the things life offers”. After reaching the Orphanage, the old man said, “today is your birthday, right?”.

As Neal nodded, the old man pulled an egg out of his pocket, “consider this as a gift from an anonymous Santa Claus. Happy Birthday, Neal”. As Neal looked at the egg, The old man vanished from there.

Just when he was wondering whether he should eat Omelet, The egg cracked and a little snake came out of it.

Back to the present, Neal asked Isle, “do you think he’s the same person? It might not be a coincidence”.

Later after freshening up, he wore the sweater Malfoy’s mom gifted him on top of casual clothes and wore the bracelet on his right arm. He left Isle in the room and went downstairs to the common room and found Draco did the same.

Both went to the Great Hall and while having breakfast, Malfoy spotted Harry wearing a hand-knitted sweater probably by Ron’s mother and sat along with Ron, Twins, and Percy.

Just as he stood up to taunt them, Neal spoke, “at least be silent on Christmas”. He quickly sat down and continued his breakfast in silence.

After breakfast, Malfoy and his two lackeys went touring around somewhere while Neal stayed inside his room. He opened his trunk and saw the two boxes. he thought for a while and finally picked Basilisk wand, once again after Halloween incident.

He took out a few things and concentrated on them while spelling out the incantation. After a while, he picked a Ruby locket with Pure Silver as the chain. Then, he went to the potions mixing room which he had the access to it even if Snape wasn’t there.

After a couple of hours, he poured the dark purple potion into a bottle container. After lunch, he gave the container to Malfoy, “this is my Christmas gift, Draco. I personally concocted it.

This is called the Wit-sharpening potion. Every time you drink, your intelligence increases temporarily and helps you to think clearly. It will certainly be helpful to you in teaching Harry and Ron, a lesson in the future”.

As Malfoy got excited, Neal wrote a letter with a box containing the Ruby locket and went to the owl tower to deliver it to Daphne.

After the dinner, while Malfoy drank the potion a bit and thinking of new innovative ideas on how to trap Harry and Ron, Neal and Isle, on the other hand, was looking at the suitcase carefully, “why would he sent me this suitcase. If it’s him, then just like Isle, it won’t be a normal one for sure”.

Just as he opened the suitcase, both were suċkėd into the case and it closed while they appeared in some kind of unfamiliar small shed.

While Neal looking around, “where am I? Did I get transported here after opening the suitcase? Is it something like a Portkey to this place?”.

Meanwhile, at the Greengrass Mansion, an owl delivered a letter and a package late in the evening. Alene Greengrass called from the downstairs, “Daphne. Come down. You got a letter”.

As for Daphne, she was in her room telling various things about Hogwarts, some true while some exaggerated. She mumbled, “package? at this time?”.

Alene this time ordered, “Daphne, come down at once”. Daphne quickly ran downstairs, “coming, mom”. As she reached downstairs, Her mother had a letter and a package in her hands. She said, “it says this is from Neal Slytherin. Isn’t this the boy you always talk about? The heir of Salazar Slytherin?”.

Daphne reached her room with the package and put it aside and started to read the letter forgetting Astoria, her little sister was also there. As she was reading the letter while smiling, Astoria slowly opened the package and exclaimed, “wow”.

As Daphne too looked at the gift, she too exclaimed and put it on her neck and check herself inside the mirror. Astoria commented, “you look pretty in that”. Daphne looked at herself and mumbled, “I guess.

But isn’t it too much for a Christmas gift?. Maybe it’s an imitation. Yeah, I guess it is. Still, it’s good. I like it”. Then she wore the bracelet which looks identical to the ones she sent to the three of them.