harry potter book of crimes

The next night after the little wizards went home for the holidays, it was Christmas Eve.

Maka and a group of children were sitting at the long kitchen table of Blake's old house, looking out the window into the darkness, where huge snowflakes were falling slowly.

The kitchen tonight is decorated with various Christmas decorations.

Colorful ribbons were flying randomly under the ceiling, red or white bubbles were flying all over the floor, and a Christmas tree with its top bent by the cupboard was stuck in the corner by the fireplace, gently playing a song

Christmas songs are delivered softly to everyone's ears.

On this important day, Maka cast a silencing charm on the portrait of Sirius' mother to prevent her from ruining the rare atmosphere with her constant cursing.

The children sitting on Maka's right were still silent, but at least they seemed to be somewhat interested in today's kitchen, and they would secretly glance around from time to time.

By the way, the werewolf sister Leni is also here! Yes, no matter how you look at it, she can only be regarded as one of the so-called "children".

"Asshole Maka, why haven't you started yet? Lady Leni can't wait any longer!"

Since early this morning, she has been saying similar things. Lena, who always spoils this baby sister, will give her something delicious or fun every time - which can make her calm down for a while.

a few minutes.

But Maka is not Lena, so how can she have the patience to comfort this little girl?

Seeing that he was just staring at the dark window, Leni knew that there was nothing she could do to him, so she ran into the kitchen again with a look of impatience.

At this moment, the wooden door of the kitchen was gently pushed open from the outside, and Lupine and Mundungus walked in one after another.

Not many people are still here tonight, because after all, homeless people are always in the minority.

Maka's senior sister Charlotte Witt can actually be counted as one, but this time she stayed at Hogwarts. I heard that she is currently preparing lessons with Professor Sprout, maybe in the near future,

It is also unknown whether she can become a professor's assistant at Hogwarts or something like that.

Of course, although she was working hard in her own way, Maka guessed that she probably wouldn't be able to become a professor because her grades were actually only average.

"Maka, has Sirius passed away?" Lupine asked casually as he sat down at the table with Mundungus, "I don't think I saw him."

Maka turned around after hearing this and smiled slightly.

"Yes, it's over." He replied, "He said he wanted to give Harry a surprise and wanted me to see it... Hey, he really planned to fulfill his responsibilities as a family member for Harry's parents."

"It's not a duty. It's not a 'task' for him." Lu Ping shrugged, "He is more enjoying - enjoying the feeling of being a good father."

"Is he not planning to get married at all?" Maka said, and then thought for a moment, "His face alone can capture the hearts of many women, right? How could he let it go?"

After Lu Ping heard this, he couldn't help laughing.

"Haha...he won't care," he paused, as if he had remembered something, and recalled, "but, to be honest...that girl from America seems to be interested in him.

"

"Abigail?" Maka said clearly, "I think so, but she and her sister went back together, and maybe they won't come back here again..."

"What a pity." Lu Ping spread his hands, but then he said in a dumbfounded voice, "Hey! It feels wrong to tell you this... I mean Maka, when will your appearance catch up with yours?

A precocious heart?"

"Oh -" Maka leaned on the back of the chair with an innocent face, stretched out and said, "Don't count on it, I probably...huh...I probably won't be able to catch up in my lifetime."

While Lupine and Maka were chatting casually, Mundungus couldn't help but secretly took out his cigarette, and seemed to take this opportunity to secretly take a few puffs.

"Hey, Dunge!" Lupine slapped the cigarette out of his hand and glared at him. "There are quite a few kids here! Don't take out your stuff to burn again."

"Oh, don't be like this! Can't you just take one cigarette?" Mundungus hurriedly picked up the cigarette from the ground. After hesitating for a moment, he finally reluctantly stuffed it back into his dirty pocket.

.

"Stop complaining," Maka waved her hand and said angrily, "Today is the children's Christmas. Are you planning to smoke Santa Claus away with the smell of your burnt leather boots? Do you really want to do that?

If you want to smoke, I will hang you upside down under the eaves outside and let you smoke all by yourself!"

"Oh, I know..." Mundungus said with a smile, "I still want to stay and eat turkey! Besides, it's so cold outside that I can't hold my cigarette with my mouth!"

At this time, Lena, who had finished cooking the last meal in the kitchen, also walked out with a large dinner plate, followed by her sister Leni holding a fried chicken leg in her hand.

"It's okay, I will add a powerful permanent sticking spell to you!" After Lu Ping said this, he stood up and said loudly, "Then, let's get started quickly!"

"Is everything okay?" Maka asked Lena, and when she nodded, she immediately clapped her hands.

In the blink of an eye, a wide variety of Christmas delicacies appeared on the originally empty long table. Steaming steam rose from the plates, and the aroma overflowed, and everyone couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Listen to Lena, you guys have been eating in separate plates these days?" Maka looked at the children and said, "You all take what you like. Who will have a stomachache when they walk out of that door tonight?"

If he's not chubby, I won't let him go - do you understand?"

All the children nodded silently and honestly began to add food to the plates in front of them.

"Oh, your words still work..." Lu Ping looked at these children and said helplessly.

"Give them more time!" Maka said, glancing at Leni again and said, "Although I don't expect them to become as unscrupulous as her, I believe they can still recover to some extent.

Something of my own character.”

At this moment, the "unscrupulous" Leni in his mouth was holding up two large chicken drumsticks and gnawing from side to side, leaving her mouth full of greasy food.

"Leni, don't just eat meat! Eat more vegetable salads!" It can be seen that Maka is in a good mood today.

This Christmas Eve dinner lasted for more than two hours. During this period, every child obeyed Maka's words and ate until they couldn't eat anymore. Although they were not centered on their own wishes.

It was done, but at least they had a real meal.

After the meal, Maka held a glass of fragrant eggnog and began to think about her next trip.

As for the children, after taking a short rest and eating their food, they all went back to bed to sleep.

"Get up early tomorrow morning and come to the Christmas tree to get the gifts, remember?" Lupine warned behind them, "Santa Claus will secretly put them by the fireplace at night, everyone has one!"

After sending the children back to the room upstairs, he came down again and sat back on the chair.

Tonight is a rare rest day for the Order of the Phoenix. Although it only lasts for one night, it is enough for everyone to relax their always tense nerves.

"It's been a while since I've been so leisurely. I've forgotten how I used to pass the time when I had nothing to do..." Lu Ping shook his head slightly and picked up his cup with a wry smile.

"How to pass the time?" Maka joked, "Isn't it enough to stay in the screaming shack and howl a few times?"

"That's more than that!" Lupine suddenly said with nostalgia, "Although the memory after the transformation was always very vague, I still vaguely remember something - James and Sirius would always turn into animagus form, and then

While fighting with me, that guy Peter would just huddle in the corner and watch."

"That sounds good," Maka nodded, "If you ask me, you guys are actually pretty good -"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly turned his head and looked towards the wall on the side of the kitchen. The next moment, a translucent figure floated out of the wall.

"Ghost?" Maka said in surprise, "Who are you?"

The Black Mansion has been casted by the Fidelity Charm. Without the permission of Maka, the secret keeper, no one can find this place - not even ghosts.

"Who am I?" The white translucent guy looked around blankly and said in a daze, "I am John Kerridge... This friend who is still alive, can you tell me where this is?

?”

"Where?" Maka frowned, "Don't you know where you are?"

"Oh... I'm sorry," Ghost John said apologetically, "I'm always lost... I'm really sorry!"

"John Crich?" Lupine seemed to have remembered something and couldn't help but think about it.

"Don't think about it!" Mundungus laughed and said, "He is the 'Christmas Eve John', hahaha... Are you looking for your way home again?"

When Mundungus mentioned this, Lupine immediately showed a surprised expression.

"Oh, isn't it?" Ghost John sighed, "Without the directional spell, I will definitely not be able to find it... Even though I am no longer afraid of being stuck in the wall and not being able to get out..."

"Direction spell?" Maka asked curiously, "What's going on? It seems like you all know about it?"

"Yes! He has been lost all his life," Lupine said amusingly. "It was like this when he was alive, but I didn't expect that it would still be like this after death. Mr. Creech, I think you should go that way!"

"Oh, thank you! Kind sir..." Ghost John thanked him and then drifted towards the opposite wall, "... By the way, I wish you all a Merry Christmas!"

Maka watched him drift away slowly, her face blank.