"Squeak-"
With a soft sound, Maka pushed open the door of the Hogwarts Great Hall with her own hands.
As soon as you catch sight, you can see four long tables extending to the depths of the auditorium, with a large number of armchairs neatly arranged on both sides of the tables. The sunlight coming through the fence window fell quietly on the table, leaving spots of light.
Since there have been no house elves cleaning and wiping in recent days, a little dust has fallen on the tables, chairs, windowsills, and the empty oil painting frames, making it look somewhat old at a glance.
Of course, given the history of this castle, it seems natural that it should be a bit dated.
"Hogg...Woz."
Maka, who had just returned from Calais, France, originally wanted to take advantage of some free time to come over and take a closer look at this castle that he had experienced a lot with. However, Hogwarts without people looks lifeless, which is not what a school should look like.
Maka didn't know if this was what the four founders of this school saw when they first came here.
"… never mind."
Maka, who was about to walk in for a second look, paused at the door, suddenly took back the foot she had just taken a step out, then turned around and walked out.
"boom."
The moment he left, the door of the auditorium closed automatically as if it was pushed by two invisible hands.
This was obviously not the vibrant magic campus that Maka remembered, and no matter how much he looked at it, it couldn't make him feel better.
Therefore, it’s better not to take a closer look at it now, but wait until everything is back on track in the future and then take a good look inside it!
Although, some people will definitely never come back - like the old man with a white beard who always likes to eat weird sweets.
"...Maka...McLean..."
Just as Maka was standing on the lawn in the front yard, taking advantage of the sunshine and greenery to temporarily get rid of her inner depression, a voice suddenly sounded faintly from the main entrance of the castle, which caught Maka's attention.
"Well?"
He turned his head slightly and saw a translucent figure floating in a window on the side of the closed door, looking at Maka at the door of the auditorium with half-dragged eyelids.
"Peeves?"
Yes, even though the originally brightly colored clothes on that figure had faded a lot, the bow tie looked loose, the nightcap was tilted to one side, and even the magic reaction was much weaker. But Maka naturally recognized him as Peeves, the elf who used to fool around in the castle and whose only hobby was playing pranks.
After a slight pause, Maka immediately walked over and stood still under the window sill, which was more than one person tall.
"Oh, McClain...are you here again?" Peeves floated down listlessly, lying on the window sill and looking down at Maka, "When can those little fools come back to school?"
"Well," Maka couldn't help but shake her head after hearing this, "I can't say... Anyway, at least we have to wait until it's completely safe here!"
"Is it the dark wizard who caused the trouble last time?"
Peeves said, suddenly turning over, lying on his back on the windowsill, wandering and looking at the sky.
"Okay, okay! Peeves is here waiting for you to solve the problem... Remember to hurry up! There is not even a soul here, and I am almost bored to death..."
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly threw his backhand and knocked down a thick book. Maka raised his hand subconsciously, but in the next second, he still let the book fall accurately on his forehead.
"Hahahaha... Have you been tricked? Look at how embarrassed you are... Don't worry! It's not shameful - Dumbledore was hit in the head by Peeves... "
Watching Peeves leaving the window with a weird smile and drifting further into the corridor, Maka then lowered her head and looked at the "Hogwarts: A History" that had just been thrown on her head. , sighing silently.
If he wanted to dodge or block Peeves' sneak attack just now, it would be easy, but he stopped on the way.
Because he knew that what Peeves had just said, "I'm almost bored to death," was not as frivolous and casual as the other person's tone.
As a poltergeist born from the negative emotions leaked from past teachers and students, his existence relies on the people living in the castle.
In previous years, even during holidays, there were still teachers, ghosts and a few students staying in the castle. But now, there is really no one in the entire castle.
Maka knew that Peeves was obviously getting weaker and weaker, to the point that... he might really "die of boredom" at any time.
It's a pity that even if it knows that it may no longer exist, it can't leave this castle and this land. There is nothing Maka can do about this, because the poltergeist is such a special existence.
"I will remember to 'hurry up'... Just wait!"
Peeves is also a part of Hogwarts - I believe many people will agree with this, including Maka.
Maka put the book in her hand on the window sill, then she stopped staying and turned around, walking across the school lawn and towards the school gate.
…
On the hillside not far from the school gate, a temporary radar station that had been set up was bathed in sunlight. The big iron pot raised its head toward the sky above, waiting for the moment it was needed.
Maka stopped in front of the door of a small room under the iron pot, reached out and pushed open the iron door and glanced inside.
Most of the Muggles who were sent to cooperate with the debugging have withdrawn, leaving only a bunch of messy, adjusted and set instruments here, waiting to be used tonight.
"Anyway, let's go get the person first!"
Although most of them have evacuated, there are still a few operators left, and those selected people have been living in Hogsmeade during this period to adapt to wizards and magic.
Maka closed the door again, then took a step back, and immediately disappeared from where she was. When he appeared again, he was already on the streets of Hogsmeade.
In fact, many residents here have moved away one after another, and only a few of the various magic shops are still open, and there seems to be no business.
Even since the start of the Hogwarts study tour program, Haierbo has basically never harassed anyone near the school. But after all, life is at stake, and most people would obviously rather leave here first and wait and see for a while.
Maka walked a few steps on the street, then turned a corner and walked into the alley between the two stores.