Water Lily | E. Riddle

[20] Christmas Break

Demelza was in a very happy mood that day. Her son was coming back home for Christmas and Nathan had just gone to fetch him from the school.

As they lived in Hogsmeade, Danny wouldn't have to take the Hogwarts Express and instead, he would only have to walk the way from the castle to the village.

Fresh lilies were placed in the vase on the small table set for three as Demelza looked out the window, awaiting the arrival of her son and husband. And soon enough, the doorbell rang, making her smile widen as she went to open it.

Her eyes lit up as she saw her son, engulfing him in a hug shortly after. Eridanus meant the whole world to his mother and he knew that too. Nathan also had a smile on his face to see Demi so happy.

"Merry Christmas in advance," Eridanus remarked, coming inside their cozy little cottage.

"Nathan was right, we really are lucky to live so close to the school."

Nathan hung his coat at the hanger close to the door, "and when the Hogsmeade weekends begin from Danny's third year, you will see him more often."

"You should go freshen up because dinner is ready," Demelza told Eridanus, watching him trying to take his trunk upstairs to his room, "and you can leave this here. We will bring it up later."

"I will take it right now," Nathan remarked, flicking his wand to levitate the trunk as he climbed the stairs after Eridanus.

He took the trunk to Danny's room and once they were upstairs, he asked, "is everything going well at school for you?"

Danny paused but then nodded his head, "yes, everything is alright. I have made new friends, and so far I don't have any problems in any subjects."

"If you ever have any problem, don't hide it from your mother and me. We will always be here for you."

A soft smile creased his features, "I know, Dad. Thank you."

Eridanus knew that Nathan was the more sensible choice for sharing any troubles he had at school. He knew his mother got worried even at the smallest of things so perhaps it would be better not to tell her if he ever faced any problems at school.

"Actually, there is something I want to tell you," he spoke up, "but I want you to promise me that you won't tell Mum. She will get worried."

Nathan found it surprising that Eridanus was willing to trust him with something that he didn't even want to share with his mother. He felt that was the boy's way of expressing that Nathan also had an equally important role in his life.

So he agreed, "I promise."

"Do you know anything about a snake living inside Hogwarts?" Danny asked, recalling the hisses he had heard from that second-floor lavatory.

"No, and I don't think students are allowed to bring snakes as pets either."

"Thought so," the thoughtful look on the boy's face deepened, "Dad, I think there is a snake or a serpent-like creature living inside the castle walls. I can hear it... It keeps calling out to me, I don't know why."

Nathan knew he was a Parseltongue so if he was saying he could hear it, that definitely meant something, "I will talk to Dumbledore about this if you say so. There had been rumors about a Chamber of Secrets but of course, I don't know anything about it."

Before Danny could tell him further, Demelza's voice interrupted them. "Dinner is ready. What's taking you two so long?"

Danny and Nathan exchanged a glance, deciding to talk later. "Nothing. We're just coming, Mum."