Hogwarts is over.
Until now, Maka was completely unable to understand what was going on in her heart—the initial anger and surprise were gradually dissipating, and what was left was not only a deep powerlessness, but also an inexplicable sense of frustration.
Although he didn't say it with his mouth, he was still a little conceited in his heart. From the time I entered Hogwarts, not to mention everything went smoothly, at least every incident was resolved safely in the end.
Even though he gave up on completely annihilating Voldemort midway, he carefully stabilized the situation after obtaining the "Book of Sin" due to a "seemingly accidental but actually inevitable" reason.
But this time, the first-generation Dark Lord Gellert Greenwald used a thunderous method to teach him a good lesson after lurking in secret for a period of time.
Although Maka still doesn't know what Greenwald has been messing with during this period. But when Greenwald took out the floor-to-ceiling round mirror, he at least understood some of the reasons why he couldn't see clearly at first.
It turned out that from the beginning, he had been misled by the pretense thrown by Greenwald. The Obscurus incident was like this, Voldemort's attack was like this, and even the series of incidents involving the Greek refugees were probably like this.
Maka thought that she had solved all these incidents in a timely and beautiful manner, but unexpectedly, it was not that "the situation was under his control", but that "Greenwald made him mistakenly think that the situation was under his control". Under control”.
Now that I think about it, Greenwald's inducement obviously started from the letter of provocation left in the Nurmengard Tower.
Maka finally understood that she did not fall into his provocation plan, this was the real fall into the plan!
If you want to deceive someone, you cannot succeed by instilling lies into that person. If you want the person being deceived to believe the lie, you must let that person step into the trap himself.
Of course, in the final analysis, Greenwald's purpose is not to return to his old career. Now, he has no nostalgia for power at all - this is the biggest reason why Maka fell into the trap.
The information asymmetry caused Maka, a former little liar, to be severely deceived.
Greenwald's escape from Nurmengard this time was really just to find a way to meet his old friends.
In other words, he wanted to catch up with his former best friend again. Whether it is a real road or a magical journey, this is probably the case.
At this moment, there is still heavy snow in the sky, and the ground is still covered with silver makeup all over the mountains and plains. The snow curtain that covered the entire field of vision seemed to be covering up everything. It was rustling down in the strong wind, but it could not cover up the shocking gray in the air.
Maka stood outside the influence range of the floor-to-ceiling round mirror, looking at Hogwarts Castle in the distance, looking at the torrent of souls that meandered in the sky and merged into a long river, and couldn't help but tighten the staff in her hand.
There are many people in that long river of souls.
Some people have been with him for several years, teaching him magic, giving him common sense, accompanying him to study, and playing with him; some people have barely met him a few times, but the magic he once used Medicine bottles, preparation materials, reference books, and even the clothes and utensils on the body may be closely related to them.
But now, he could only watch, not knowing how to stop it. Not to mention stopping him, if he himself takes another step forward, he will follow in their footsteps soon.
At the moment, there is only one question in Maka's mind - is the other side of the mist-like mirror really the space where Dumbledore went
"... What should we do next?" He stared blankly at the tragic and spectacular scene, and his stagnant mind began to work hard again, "I wonder if Harry and Ron will have time to leave? "
In fact, Harry's guess was very close to the truth. They were indeed only let out when the time came. The room where they were trapped for more than ten hours was the Room of Requirement used to organize RA activities, but Maka had added special settings first.
But Harry didn't completely guess it right, because Maka didn't set any test at all. He simply found a reason to protect these two guys who came to Hogwarts rashly.
As I said before, Maka will never be an indiscriminate gambler who throws all the chips on the gambling table. He will not risk the safety of his friends.
Logically speaking, Ariana's portrait should have appeared around the same time as the round mirror, or perhaps earlier. If Harry and Ron walked faster, they might be able to escape this disaster.
In addition to Harry and Ron, Hermione and Luna, the two girls with whom he has the closest relationship, one is accompanying her parents in her own Muggle family, and the other is also enjoying the holidays at her own home.
Of course, there is also Willie, the girl with the curse, who is still far away in Paris! This is the last thing he needs to worry about.
It can be said that although this time it can be said to be a complete failure, at least the people he cares about most are still alive. It would be great if Harry and Ron were okay too.
This is a blessing in misfortune - so to speak
Maka was calculating expressionlessly, but the more he thought about it, the more unwilling he became. This idea of muddling along may be similar to his past personality, but it does not mean that it is the same now!
Hogwarts was handed over to him by Dumbledore himself. Even though the process and method of delivery left him speechless, this was after all an old man's last entrustment. Moreover, it happened to be that old man who gave all this rich and colorful life, Luna, Hermione, Harry, Ron... and a series of friends to him who had nothing.
He still cannot forget the vitality and hope represented by the original admission notice.
And now, could he really just ignore such an important thing? Even if he is completely helpless now, can he really let go
If you think more rationally, Grindelwald has left this world now, and Voldemort's remnant soul has been successfully released by him. Even the weird floor-to-ceiling round mirror only shows it in this deserted mountain. of terror.
To be honest, apart from the victims in Hogwarts Castle, this ending is pretty good. If nothing else, if Greenwald placed this broken mirror in a city, it would be a historic disaster!
At this point, Maca had to admit that the certain "goodwill" he had felt from Greenwald before was indeed not another deception.
Even if he couldn't fully understand what the other party was thinking in the end, it was an indisputable fact that he no longer had the idea of causing trouble in the European magic world again.
However…
"Is this really good?"
Maka reached out her hand and rubbed the side of her head vigorously, with a trace of fatigue on her face.
Whenever he felt unwilling, everything in front of him seemed to remind him, hitting his heart heavily. The long river of soul has been swallowed up by the mirror. Even if he thinks of a way to stop it now, it is obviously too late.
Not to mention, he has no idea at all now.
The silver floor-to-ceiling round mirror stood so quietly in the snow, as if telling him that accepting reality was his only choice now.
When the last soul was helplessly pulled into the mirror by the suction force, he found that the effect of the mirror was still continuing, as if it would never stop. He finally let out a long breath, and as the space distorted for a moment, he suddenly disappeared on the spot.
At this point, he had to go to Hogsmeade Village to look for Harry and Ron, hoping that they were still alive and well.
…
Not long after Mackari left with the portkey, there was a sudden "crack" on a hillside a little distance from where he left, and Harry and Ron fell into the snow with a plop. , two quite shallow snow pits were created.
"Harry, couldn't you be more careful when you Apparated?" Ron complained, covering his head.
"I told you that I haven't practiced yet, and Sirius hasn't agreed to let me use it outside!" Harry also struggled to get up, and then quickly looked around, "This is not Hogwarts yet, it seems. The position of the appearance is a little off... But at least our heads and bodies are not separated, and we are not missing an arm or a leg, which is pretty good."
Before you have fully learned it, you dare to take people with you to reveal yourself. This is unprecedented nonsense. But the reason why they did this can only be said to be forced by the situation.
"Ron, get up, we have to get back to Hogwarts as soon as possible..." Harry hurriedly took Ron's hand and tried to pull him up, "I really hope Maka is free now."
"He has to be free this time!"
Ron also looked anxious. With Harry's help, he rubbed his head and stood up. It seemed that he had fallen badly just now, and the feeling of Apparition was not good, so he looked quite dizzy now.
"Are you okay?" Harry noticed his appearance and asked hurriedly.
"It's okay, even if something happens, it's not now!" Ron waved his hand and stood firm, then immediately asked, "Harry, can we do it again?"
"No, I'm afraid it won't work..." Harry said, taking a step forward and running, "Just rely on your two legs! We're not far from Hogwarts!"
The two people who wanted to go back to school didn't know that what was waiting in front of them was a biological restricted area that was impossible to cross.
"stop!"
The two of them had just run not far when they heard a sudden voice from behind. The voice was cold and indifferent, but it made Harry and Ron feel inexplicably familiar.
"...Don't go any further, if you don't want to die."