"...Don't use such childish word tricks to show off, it will only make you insult your own family name." Maka simply smiled, but in Lev's eyes, it was completely sinister. sneer.
A trace of anger flashed in Lev's eyes, but his aristocratic education since childhood still allowed him to maintain a minimum of calm.
"Whether I insulted my last name, you don't need to judge." He glared at Maka, "Then what's your last name? McLegen?"
Obviously, he heard what Layla and Maka just said.
"Yes, my surname is McLegen." Maka still had a smile on her face, making it difficult to tell whether he was answering seriously or not.
"Hmph," Lev said disdainfully, "I have been reciting the surnames and crests of various families since I was a child, but I have never heard of a small family like yours that appeared out of nowhere."
"You just need to remember that my name is Maka." Maka stared into the other person's eyes and handed the goblet in her hand to Lev, who subconsciously took it.
But the next moment, Lev felt as if he saw a skull made of black smoke in Maka's eyes. He was shocked, and a feeling that his soul was shaking arose spontaneously.
When he came to his senses, he found that Maka, Ernie and others were already chatting at the table next to them.
He glanced at Maka hesitantly, but found that the other party happened to turn his head and gave him a weird smile.
Lev quickly avoided his eyes and walked towards his father.
"What's wrong?" Old Avery frowned.
"I don't know what kind of trick that kid did-" Lev sat down next to his father and said angrily.
"Speak nicely." Old Avery interrupted him immediately.
"Uh...I'm sorry, father." Lev immediately sat up straighter, "Just now...I'm sure it was some kind of black magic...but I don't know how he did it..."
Lev described what he had just felt to his father in detail.
Old Avery lowered his eyelids, pondered for a moment, and then said: "That should be some kind of magic related to the soul..."
He paused and then said in a deep voice: "We have an important purpose here. Don't mess with that kid in the next time -"
"Then I'm just going to take this breath?" Lev said angrily.
Old Avery sneered and said, "Even if I don't say anything, do you dare to go back and collect this debt yourself?"
Lev's face stiffened, he snorted coldly, turned his head and stopped talking.
Old Avery looked at his son and shook his head secretly - he knew his son very well. If Lev could have that courage, what if the family's purpose could not be achieved this time
Speaking of which, this time it was just a test, after all, it was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
"... Maka, what did you just do? I saw that guy was stunned for a while while holding your wine glass."
Ernie asked curiously on the other side.
"It's just a little trick." Maka waved her hand casually, but her ears were always paying attention to the conversations at various tables nearby.
He didn't want to miss any information that could be exploited.
While Maka was waiting for the opportunity at the intricate banquet of many family forces, the Christmas dinner at Hogwarts had also begun.
The tables in the auditorium were moved to the wall, and there was only a round table in the center that could accommodate twelve people. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout and Flitwick were all sitting there, as was the caretaker Filch.
By the way, Filch had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing an old and rather outdated tuxedo.
Apart from them, there were only three students - two extremely nervous first-year students and a sullen-faced Slytherin sixth-year student.
"Merry Christmas!" Dumbledore said when Harry, Ron and Hermione also walked this way, "There are not many of us, so it would be a bit silly to use the tables in each house... Come and sit down, sit down."
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat side by side in the vacant seats.
"Firecracker!"
Dumbledore said enthusiastically, handing the end of a large silver firecracker to Snape, who reluctantly took it and pulled it. The firecracker exploded with a bang, revealing a large pointed witch hat with specimens of mountain eagles on the top.
Harry thought about the Boggart, and he and Ron looked at each other, and both of them grinned.
In the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of this semester, facing Neville's inner fear, the Boggart transformed into the image of Snape. But in the end, Neville used the spell taught by Lupin to change all the clothes on "Snape" into those of his grandmother.
Harry and the others all remembered that "Snape" was wearing this strange big hat at that time, wasn't it
Beside Dumbledore, Snape's mouth pursed, and he pushed his hat to Dumbledore, who immediately replaced his wizard's hat with it.
"Eat!" he said with a smile to the whole table.
Just as Harry was getting himself a baked potato, the door to the hall opened again.
Professor Trelawney came in, and she "glided" towards everyone as if she were standing on wheels.
As if to celebrate Christmas, she wore a green dress decorated with small metallic discs, making her look more like a shiny, oversized dragonfly.
"Sybil, I'm so glad you're here!" said Dumbledore, standing up.
"Headmaster, I have been looking into the crystal ball," Professor Trelawney said in a vague tone. "To my surprise, I saw myself abandoning my solitary lunch to join your dinner party... I am Who can refuse the urging of fate? I walked out of my building immediately, and I sincerely ask you to forgive me for being late... "
"Of course, of course." Dumbledore looked at her sharply and said, "Let me get you a chair—"
He waved his wand and pulled a chair from mid-air. The chair spun in mid-air for a few seconds before landing with a dull sound between Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall.
However, Professor Trelawney did not sit down. Her big eyes kept scanning around the round table, and then she suddenly let out a low scream.
"Oh - I don't dare, principal! If I sit down, there will be thirteen people at the same table! There is nothing more unlucky than 'thirteen'! Never forget that if thirteen people eat together, the first person after the meal will The first person to stand up will be the first to die!"
"We're willing to take the risk, Sybil," said Professor McGonagall impatiently. "Sit down, the turkey is going to be as cold as a stone."
Professor Trelawney hesitated for a moment, as if she was about to grit her teeth and sit down, but she didn't expect Dumbledore to smile.
"It seems that there is another guest today... I'll go get her in."
Dumbledore was about to stand up, but was stopped by Professor McGonagall.
"I'd better come and go..." she said, "Is it at the gate?"
"Oh - yes, that's right." Dumbledore nodded, "Then I'll bother you, Minerva."
"Let me go..." Filch said, then turned and walked out the door.
Professor Trelawney was visibly relieved. She sat down safely and Professor McGonagall reached a large spoon into the nearest large tureen.
"Would you like tripe, Sybil?"
Professor Trelawney ignored her.
She opened her eyes, looked around, and asked, "Where is dear Professor Lupin?"
"I'm afraid the poor man is ill again," said Dumbledore. "He was very unlucky to be ill at Christmas."
"But you must have known that, didn't you, Sybil?" Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows.
It seems that Professor Trelawney is not very popular among professors - after all, she is always talking about things like misfortune and death.
Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look.
"Of course I know, Minerva," she said quietly, "but people don't show off that they know everything... I often behave as if I don't have the Third Eye, so that others can There’s no nerve-wracking about it.”
"That explains a lot," Professor McGonagall said sharply.
Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became less muffled.
"If you must know, Minerva, I can already see that poor Professor Lupine won't be with us much longer. He seems to understand that his time is short - I volunteered to show him the crystal ball Sometimes, he always avoids it!"
"Think about it," Professor McGonagall said dryly.
"I think," Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, "Professor Luhu will not be in any immediate danger. Severus, has Maka prepared a potion for him again?"
"Yes, Headmaster," Snape replied, "McLean is very good, and his level of potion preparation is constantly improving."
"Okay," said Dumbledore, "then he will be able to get out of bed and move around soon... Oh, the guests have arrived."
As if confirming Dumbledore's words, the door of the auditorium immediately opened again. Behind Filch was a woman wearing a light-colored witch's robe, and they walked towards the middle of the auditorium one after another.
Dumbledore stood up and said with a smile: "Merry Christmas, this guest... Is there anything I can help you with?"
The young witch looked very beautiful, but her slender eyebrows were knitted together at the moment, and she seemed to have something on her mind.
"Oh, yes... Merry Christmas, Principal Dumbledore." She said nervously, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't bother you on this day of celebration, but - is Mr. MacLean here?"
"Oh - what did I see -" Professor Trelawney, who had just turned her head, suddenly had panic on her face, and she screamed, "Get away from bad luck, that is trouble!"
Dumbledore looked at Professor Trelawney, then at the young witch who paused, and finally extended his hand to invite: "It's okay, come... sit down and speak slowly..."