𝘋𝘈𝘕𝘊𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘞𝘐𝘛𝘏 𝘖𝘜𝘙 𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚 𝘛𝘐𝘌𝘋/𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 (English version)

Chapter 37

"Send me all the letters you want; you know I'll reply," Sarah said, her tone soft and reassuring.
She kissed Tom gently.
They wouldn't see each other again until their return to Hogwarts after the Christmas holidays.
The station was bustling with children and parents reuniting after months apart.

"So, are you actually going to reply to my letters this time?" , the dark-haired boy asked teasingly, earning a playful slap on the arm from Sarah.
"Seriously, I can't wait to go back, Sarah. I'm only going home because you decided not to stay at school."
The girl smiled at him.
"The invitation to spend a day at the Burrow is still open, you know."
"And I'm still declining it. You know it would be awkward."
The Gryffindor girl nodded as she felt his hand gently squeeze hers.
"See you soon," Tom said, kissing her softly before pulling away to join Mattheo.
Sarah sighed, watching him walk farther and farther away from her.
She turned and saw the Weasleys waiting for her. With a bright smile, she ran toward them, arms outstretched.
Molly pulled her into a warm embrace, happy to see her looking more at peace than she had been months ago.
They returned to the Burrow together, ready to begin the Christmas holidays.
~~~~~~~

December 25, 1996

The Burrow had been decorated with a small tree near the kitchen, and lights adorned both the inside and outside of the house.
Everyone was ready, and Mrs. Weasley had prepared mountains of food to feed everyone who would be spending the evening there.

Sarah was the first to come down the stairs. She wore a simple black skirt, warm tights to cover her legs, and the usual sweater Molly had knitted for her.
She anxiously awaited the arrival of her family, who were being brought there by Mr. Weasley and the twins, who had volunteered to help.
Her eyes were fixed on the door as Remus stood by her side, trying to reassure her.
"It'll be all right," he said.
His face was tense; the full moon was only a few days away, and the first effects were starting to show.
Sarah nodded, thanking him with a quick smile.

The rest of the group came down the stairs, marveling at the beautifully set table.
Some gifts had been placed under the tree, waiting to be opened after dinner.
"This year, Mum really outdid herself," Ron said, glancing around the room.
A loud noise made everyone turn toward the door, where, moments later, the Weasleys entered, followed by the Settimini family.
Sarah's family looked as impeccable as ever.
They were all dressed elegantly, as they always were on Christmas Eve.
Sarah spotted little Sophia taking off her coat and noticing her among the crowd.
"Sarah!"
The young girl ran toward her, and the Gryffindor knelt to her level, welcoming her into her arms.
"Sarah, Sarah! You won't believe what we did at school for Christmas!"
Sophia was bouncing with excitement, eager to share everything with her older sister. Sarah, meanwhile, shifted her gaze to Max, her brother.
He had grown so much, now finished with school and studying at one of the most prestigious universities in Italy.
"Max," Sarah simply said, watching him take a step toward her.
She opened her arms, and Max didn't hesitate to pull her into a hug.
His height compared to hers was striking, making Sarah laugh at the difference. They smiled at each other, happy to be reunited after months apart.
As the siblings introduced themselves to everyone, Sarah moved toward her parents.
Miriam looked at her with an emotional smile, giving her a kiss on the forehead before embracing her tightly.
"I've missed you so much, my little one."
Sarah smiled, letting a few tears slip down her cheeks. The warmth of her mother's embrace made her feel safe and protected.
Gabriele, however, stood with his hands behind his back, watching her.
He had been deeply affected by Sarah's distance from them in recent months.
To him, it felt like years wasted in a short span of time, and he couldn't accept it easily.
Sarah raised a hand to greet him. The man looked at her briefly before turning his attention to the others to introduce himself.
Sarah sighed and moved to her seat at the table.
To her right sat Remus, while her mother sat on her left.Across from her, Hermione gave her a reassuring smile.
"I hope you'll all enjoy the food. I'm certain we've done a great job," Molly said.
"Did Sarah help? Because if she did, then it's bound to be a disaster," Max teased, making everyone at the table laugh.
Sarah rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.
"Still as funny as ever, I see."
"Always!"