"...Mr. McClain, that's the specific situation," Celine said. "To be honest, my mother only fainted for a moment and woke up quickly. So, we didn't pay too much attention."
"But later on, my mother's health became weaker and weaker... We also visited St. Mungo's many times, but we could never find out the reason."
Maka nodded and suddenly asked: "So, is there nothing else in that swamp?"
Celine shook her head and said: "No... In other words, we couldn't see anything. After all, the poisonous fog there is too thick and there is no way to go deep."
"Manchak Swamp..." Maka thought carefully, "Ghost Swamp... Voodoo..."
Words popped out of his mouth one by one, which were some information he knew.
But after a while, Maka finally shook her head.
"We have to do some on-the-spot investigation over there in the United States... Send your mother back to the bedroom first, and I'll think of a way... At least I have to get rid of those things attached to the soul first." Maka said. said.
"... Based on your mother's condition, she has reached a critical point and will never be able to survive our return from the United States."
The problem this time is indeed very troublesome. As far as Maka is concerned, he has no confidence that Celine's mother can fully recover.
Can the soul that has been swallowed up be spit out again
"It seems that I have to trouble Principal Dumbledore this time..." Maka thought as she rubbed her frown.
To be honest, although it is all about the soul, Celine's mother's situation has nothing to do with his own emotional isolation. This matter can already be confirmed.
But intellectually speaking, it is reasonable to stay away from such obvious troubles - in fact, Snape is probably doing just that.
But Maka, who has been denying this way of judgment and trying to find her own emotions, did not choose to avoid it.
Besides, he is indeed very interested in things that can only devour souls.
Coming out of the "Snow Witch", it was already snowing heavily outside, and it seemed like it wouldn't stop for a while.
Maka tightened her robe tightly and stared at Fengxue as she walked towards the secret passage...
Hogwarts Castle is still empty, the students are still enjoying their happy holidays, and it will remain empty for a while.
But Dumbledore never had much time for vacation.
At this moment, he was still sorting out various information in the principal's office, and also preparing documents to be sent to the Ministry of Magic. To be honest, throughout the year, there were only a few days when Dumbledore was truly free.
While he was immersed in various affairs, he seemed to notice something and suddenly raised his head and looked at the door.
At the same time, after several regular knocks on the door, a voice came in.
"...Professor Dumbledore, I am Maka McClane, I need your help with something."
Hearing this voice, the wrinkles on Dumbledore's face seemed to relax.
He has been waiting, waiting for the child McClain to come to him for help - even if it is a small favor.
This kid is indeed quite smart and very independent. Judging from the way he interacts with people and handles things, it seems that there is no need to worry too much.
He is not like the original Tom Riddle, he is better and more capable than Tom. But what Dumbledore valued was his deeply hidden sincerity.
As a wizard, a wizard who will eventually become powerful, this is especially important.
But now, McClain, this child, is embarking on the same path that he once gave up. The road was too bumpy and arduous, and the burdens he had to bear piled up one after another, so much so that Dumbledore himself could not walk on it.
He was really worried about whether this child would be crushed, crushed, and take the wrong path in confusion.
As a teacher who taught students like Voldemort, Dumbledore chose to wait this time.
He will no longer rashly encourage the students he values, but he will also not interfere or forcibly correct them. All he is doing is trusting a smart kid and giving him guidance when he asks for help, that's all.
"Come in," Dumbledore said loudly.
The door opened automatically and Maka quickly walked in without hesitation.
"Professor," Maka said, "You must have heard about the witch yesterday—"
Dumbledore nodded and motioned for him to continue.
"When I went to visit her mother today, I discovered some strange conditions." Maca continued, "I judged that the therapist at St. Mungo's misdiagnosed her mother's illness, so I personally performed a surgery for her mother. examine."
He emphasized his tone and said seriously: "I found some strange things on her mother's soul - it was a smoke-like thing, they were constantly eating and devouring the soul..."
"And now, her mother's soul is mutilated."
Dumbledore couldn't help but grimace when he heard this.
Devouring souls, anything involving this situation is generally not a trivial matter.
Immediately afterwards, Maka briefly talked about Manchak Swamp, but Dumbledore immediately shook his head.
"I know that place," he said calmly. "You should never go there unless absolutely necessary."
After that, he said to Maka: "Bring her mother here... Or do you want me to do something else?"
Maka shook her head and said: "No, it's just this matter. It's a bit beyond my ability - I only know a little bit about the soul."
"There is absolutely no way to start at the moment, and her mother can no longer afford to wait."
Dumbledore stared at Maka for a while, then said: "Then let's do it, MacLean, bring her to me."
After Makashi said thank you, he left in a hurry.
"The mind is firm and the goal is clear..." Dumbledore looked at the closed door and nodded secretly, "I lost my feelings, but I was not immersed in this efficient and clear mentality. I still affirmed the past. That self...this is the most valuable thing."
…
After New Year's Day, everyone went back to school, and Scabbers unexpectedly returned to Ron's bed, which made him a little happier - but he looked even more listless.
The next day, school started.
Spending two hours in the playground on a cold January morning was the last thing anyone wanted to do; but Hagrid lit up a huge fire filled with fire monsters for everyone's amusement, and the students had a lesson It was an unusually good lesson—they collected dead branches and leaves to keep the fire going, and the fire-loving lizards jumped up and down on the splintered, red wood.
The first divination class of the new semester was much worse than this.
Professor Trelawney now teaches them palmistry, and she wastes no time telling Harry that the lifeline on his hand is the shortest she has ever seen.
Soon, the morning class was over.
"He still looks sick, doesn't he?" Ron was talking about Professor Lupine, who had the last class of the morning.
They were walking down the corridor, going to lunch.
"What do you think happened to him?" Ron asked curiously.
At this moment, a loud and impatient "beep" sound came from behind them. That was Hermione, who had been sitting under a suit of armor, packing her bag. There are too many books and the school bag cannot be closed.
"What are you talking about to us?" Ron asked her impatiently.
"That's the sound of a car horn..." Harry explained, fearing that Ron wouldn't understand.
"Nothing." Hermione said haughtily, putting her school bag back on her shoulders.
"No, it's something." Ron said, "I just said I didn't know what was wrong with Lupine, so you just-"
"Ah, isn't that obvious?" said Hermione, with an air of infuriating superiority.
"If you don't want to tell us, then don't!" Ron shouted.
"Okay." Hermione said arrogantly and left.
"She doesn't know either," said Ron, glaring at Hermione angrily. "She just wants us to talk to her again."
Harry shrugged and said, "You should be more polite. Didn't Hermione find Professor McGonagall specially for Scabbers... Although Scabbers was missing at the time..."
"Yeah, yeah," Ron sighed, "Well, I think I should... But, I couldn't help it when I saw her look like that!"
"She also resisted telling Professor McGonagall about the Firebolt. You should also endure it!" Harry is really in a good mood now. He is going to ride the best broomstick on the field!
And recently, he has become more and more proficient in the Patronus Charm, which is also an exciting thing.
"Let's continue talking about Professor Luping..."
One week after the semester started, Ravenclaw and Slytherin played a game.
Slytherin won, but the score was close.
According to Wood, this is good news for Gryffindor. Because if Gryffindor beats Ravenclaw, it can still take second place.
So Wood increased training to five times a week - meaning Harry only had two nights a week to do homework.
Even so, Harry didn't look as tired as Hermione.
Hermione had taken too many classes, and the burden of them was finally starting to show on her.
Every night, Hermione would inevitably appear in a corner of the common room, with various textbooks spread out on several tables in front of her: arithmetic charts, various magical dictionaries, illustrations of Muggle lifting heavy objects, and various ranges. Extensive notes... She rarely spoke to others, and if anyone disturbed her, she would speak in a foul voice.
"How did she cope?"
Ron muttered to Harry one night, as he was finishing a paper assigned by Snape on various undetectable poisons.
Harry looked up and saw Hermione sitting almost out of sight behind a crumbling pile of books.
"She looks like Maka lately..." Harry said, "Well... what to deal with?"