Beside the bonfire, Maka rubbed her cheek vigorously - he had been putting on a lot of pretense in Slytherin just now, and it really cost him a lot of expression.
Around him, many students crowded around him and praised the open-air party. Many graduates have said that this is probably the most precious memory since enrolling in Hogwarts.
Of course there are many precious memories, but this is the first memory that can clearly point out its "value"!
Maka raised the corners of her mouth, forced herself to smile, and then started chatting with everyone.
To be honest, Maka's real purpose of holding the party was indeed utilitarian, but from another perspective, he might not have the intention of "really wanting to make friends with everyone."
The word "friend" can be light or heavy; but no matter how you say it, it is something that can affect a person's life.
Although it is really difficult for Maka to understand friendship now, this does not prevent him from using his "past self" as the criterion and spending more time to decide how to act.
As time went on, more Slytherins joined the ranks around the campfire. It can be seen that they are not used to such simple, enthusiastic, and even rude communication, but Maka usually takes the trouble to help them understand each other and integrate into it.
The night was getting deeper and everyone was getting a little tired from the commotion, but just when Maka was about to announce that the party was over, everyone felt something strange...
"Do you feel like you've suddenly become colder?"
The little wizards exchanged doubts with each other, and as the feeling of uneasiness gradually rose, the place became quiet. But the professors have already drawn out their wands - they know very well that those dementors must be here again!
At this moment, the calmest person in the room was of course Maka - he couldn't be calmer even if he wanted to, but Snape's appearance was actually not inferior to him.
Both of them squinted their eyes. Maka was staring in the direction of Hogsmeade, where the cold air was coming from across the hillside; while Snape, on the other hand, was staring expressionlessly. Maka is watching.
Snape was very curious about Maka's strength. He always felt that every time Maka made a move, it would bring a big surprise to everyone.
Of course Maca will surprise everyone.
Not to mention the past few attacks, at least today, he had already been mentally prepared for "the Dementors will come".
Since those dark creatures would patrol the streets of Hogsmeade Village at night, the huge "happiness" released at the party was like a delicacy specially prepared for them.
Although it is not clear why Dumbledore acquiesced to the holding of this party, and he even felt relieved and did not come to attend; but just from the fact that he also acquiesced to the professors' participation, it can be seen that he has already identified the dementors. They will attack suddenly.
"Don't panic, everyone, just gather in the middle!" Maka suddenly said loudly.
When the uneasy students heard this, they all subconsciously followed Maka's command, and almost everyone crowded towards him.
After the last incident where dementors attacked the Quidditch pitch, everyone was somewhat familiar with this cold air. At this moment, Maka's words were like a key, opening the door to everyone's memory.
"Is... is it a dementor?" A Slytherin said nervously and took a few steps closer.
At this moment, several black shadows suddenly appeared on the top of the opposite hillside. They were floating off the ground and coming this way. And behind them, more terrifying figures gradually emerged.
The students couldn't help but exclaimed in low voices.
The professors all moved forward and stood among the dementors and the little wizards without hesitation. Their wands all lit up with a familiar silver-white haze.
At this time, Maka was certainly not idle. He took out a large potion bottle from his waist—it was as big as two adult fists. Such potion bottles were obviously not common.
Snape frowned and looked at the big potion bottle with a thoughtful expression on his face.
At this moment, the dementors were getting closer and closer, the cold air around them became more and more solid, and everyone involuntarily shrank their necks.
Maka noticed that the students closest to that side began to move back continuously, and everyone was getting closer and closer.
"It's time." Maka thought, and decisively pulled out the cork.
Suddenly, an extremely rich milky white light mist quickly emerged from the mouth of the bottle and spread in a spherical shape.
The light mist spread very quickly and spread over a wide area, covering not only the students, but also the professors standing at the front.
"Don't worry, everyone, this kind of light mist can make Dementors inaccessible. As long as you stay inside, you will be safe!" Maka said loudly, "Leave everything to the professors, and everything will be fine soon!"
"By the way, everyone, please step aside and let me pass..."
He squeezed all the way to the front, and then quickly walked out of the area filled with white light mist, standing behind the professors.
Yes, he had no intention of using the wand today. There were several professors here, so he just had to watch.
Although the number of dementors attracted this time was not that small, compared to the time at the Quidditch pitch, it was obviously less than half. Without any worries, the professors each summoned their own patron saints and quickly drove away the dementors.
In fact, if it weren't for the light mist protective shield created by Maka, the students would be fine. At best, it would be nothing more than a piece of chocolate.
But giving everyone a sense of security when everyone is panicking is a very meaningful thing.
Afterwards, under the leadership of Professor McGonagall, everyone tidied up and returned to Hogwarts in a carriage pulled by Thestrals.
On the way back, everyone happily discussed the party... and, of course, the experience of the dementor attack they just encountered.
To be honest, the little wizards didn't have much fear left this time. In addition to the protection of the professors, it must be said that Macana's seemingly unnecessary behavior also played a major role.
…
The next morning, in a dormitory in Gryffindor Tower...
"Harry?" Ron called hesitantly.
Harry stayed still, pretending that he was still asleep.
After a while, he heard Ron leave. After that, there seemed to be another movement, but he was not in the mood to open his eyes and take a look.
Harry barely slept all night. He felt a hatred flowing through his body that he had never known before. This hatred was like poison.
Dimly, he saw Blake laughing at him through the darkness, as if someone had taken the magic photo from an album and pasted it in front of his eyes.
He watched as if someone were showing a movie for him, and Sirius Black was blowing Peter Pettigrew to smithereens—who, for some reason, looked like Neville.
He seemed to hear someone muttering excitedly: "It's done, Master... Mr. and Mrs. Potter have asked me to be their secret keeper..."
Then there was another voice, and this one laughed shrilly. It was the man's voice that he would hear in his head whenever a dementor approached...
It wasn't until noon that he climbed out of bed and found that there was no one in the dormitory.
He got dressed and walked down the spiral staircase to the common room. There was no one there either, just Ron, who was eating a Toad Mint and massaging his stomach, and Hermione, who was spreading her homework across three tables.
"Harry, you-you don't look good." Ron looked at him and said.
"Where has everyone gone?" Harry asked.
"Let's go! It's the first day of the holidays, remember?" said Ron, watching Harry carefully. "It's almost lunch. I was going to wake you up right away."
"Yes! If it hadn't been for the outdoor party last night, everyone would have gone home yesterday." Hermione followed, "Just after visiting Hogsmeade."
Harry sank into the chair by the fireplace. Snowflakes are still flying outside the window. Crookshanks lay stretched out in front of the hearth like a big ginger blanket.
"You really don't look good, you know that?" Hermione said, looking anxiously at his face.
"I'm fine." Harry said dryly.
"Harry, listen," Hermione said, exchanging glances with Ron, "you must be upset about what we heard yesterday. But the important thing is that you don't do anything stupid - and, Maka Doesn’t it feel wrong? You know, he usually doesn’t make mistakes—"
"So what!" Harry said angrily, "Whether it's Black or Peter, the outcome of the matter has not changed at all... Moreover, what stupid thing can I do?"
"Like... tracking down Black," Ron said sharply.
Harry understood that the two of them had probably rehearsed this conversation before he came down. He said nothing.
"You wouldn't do that, would you, Harry?" said Hermione.
"It's not worth dying for Black," Ron continued.
"As soon as the dementor approached me, I saw and heard something, do you know?" Ron and Hermione both shook their heads, looking worried.
"I could hear my mother screaming, hearing her pleading with Voldemort. If you heard your mother scream like that, right before she was killed... you wouldn't forget it! If you found someone, Everyone thought he was her friend, but he betrayed her and asked Voldemort to chase her—"
Just then, a figure appeared at the door of the common room.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"Maka?" Hermione asked in surprise, "Didn't you go back? And how did you get past the fat woman?"
"It just so happened that I came here from Professor McGonagall, and she told me the password." Maka said calmly, "As for why I didn't go back, that's exactly what I want to say..."