It was still snowing outside, swirling and dancing in the wind.
Looking from near to far, it seems that the snowflakes in each area follow their own melody, but when mixed together, they appear so chaotic.
And if it were further away, it would be so white that nothing could be seen clearly.
But Maka quite likes the weather like this.
"...Are you worried about something?"
Suddenly, the back figure in front of him turned around, and a pair of dark brown eyes looked straight towards this side. And in that pair of pupils, there is as sharp as ever.
"Don't deny it, I can feel it. You've always... been in a trance inadvertently lately. It just seems like..."
Just like Luna.
This was what Hermione was thinking, but she couldn't say it out loud. Because she understands that everyone can be distracted, and she can't force Luna to get involved because of the inexplicable relationship between the three of them.
This was obviously unfair to that innocent and pure Ravenclaw girl.
"Anyway, you have to tell me what happened? This is what we agreed to do."
However, Maka shook her head decisively just after hearing her question.
"Sorry, Hermione... I can't say it yet."
"But-"
"Yes, I said it's best not to hide anything, so I paid special attention to my usual behavior." Maka interrupted, "But even so, you seem to have discovered something..."
As he spoke, he recalled it in his mind.
"Oh, is it because I stayed in the classroom too long after class?"
"It's not important, I just want-"
Hermione had just started to say this when her face suddenly changed slightly and she subconsciously took a step back.
"Maka, are you... aren't you Maka?"
"No, no," Maka said with a smile, "I'm still me, and I won't let Halpo take over my body so easily... What's more, if Halpo got my body, he would have killed Hogg long ago. Woz was turned upside down."
The wizard's magic power is linked to the soul. Although the amount of magic power is limited, its activity will increase with the growth of magic principles, natural rules, and even spiritual will.
At the same time, the soul is equivalent to constantly getting stronger.
It is impossible to suppress Maka's soul in the first place.
"Then... what happened to you? Why-"
Hermione's words always seemed to be interrupted today. This time, before Maka could speak, the door of the auditorium behind him was suddenly opened from the inside.
"Hey! What are you talking about? Is it related to what Professor Bubaji is studying?"
"What?"
The head peeking out from the door was Luna. Apparently, she followed Maka and Hermione after seeing them walking this way.
Hermione was taken aback by Luna's unrelated question. However, Maka couldn't help but raise her eyebrows after hearing this.
"Oh?" He said in surprise, "Did you see it? I clearly asked her to keep it confidential..."
Maka's words immediately caught Hermione's attention, and she keenly felt that there might be a reason why Maka had been distracted recently.
"What?" she immediately asked Luna.
"Eh? Don't you know?"
Luna also showed a very cooperative smile and told everything she knew without thinking.
"That's what I happened to see when I went to Professor Bubbaji to ask about Muggle bathing!" She whispered, "Shhh - remember not to tell others. In fact, I saw a big man in Professor Bubbaji's office. Partner!"
"Really? Tell me! What exactly did you see?"
Hermione also put on an eager expression. Although it was somewhat of an act, her desire to know the specific situation was also genuine.
Maka looked at Hermione's hurried look and knew that the girl wanted to seize the time to ask for more useful things before he stopped her.
But that wasn't actually a secret that had to be kept, so he didn't stop Hermione from asking.
As for Luna, she didn't have the consciousness of "don't tell others". Seeing that Hermione was very interested, she became even more interested.
"That's... Oh, Hermione, you are a Muggle-born wizard, I think you must know that thing!" She said happily, "Professor Bubbaji said that that big guy seems to be called 'Steam' in the Muggle world. Ji'!"
"That's a 'steam engine'." Maka couldn't help but corrected her.
As for Hermione, her expression was much more exciting.
"Steam engine?"
Due to some unknown properties of magic, most technological products invented by Muggles cannot work within the scope of Hogwarts. Therefore, many modern products that are popular in the Muggle world rarely appear in schools.
Coupled with the fact that some guys who always hold contempt for Muggles are always jumping around, it is even harder for wizards to understand the beauty of technological products.
Therefore, when Luna said she saw a steam engine in Professor Bubbaji's office, the Muggle-born Hermione was not to mention surprised.
"Yes, steam engine!" Luna nodded happily, "Oh, Professor Bubaji asked me not to say it, but... well, as far as you and Maka are concerned, it should be fine, right?"
Seeing that Hermione seemed to be a little bit confused despite being surprised, Maka couldn't help but wave her hand.
"Remember the Hogwarts Express?" he reminded, "There is a steam engine in the front of the car, but no matter how it runs, it is only responsible for spitting out steam!"
"This means..." Hermione said immediately, "At least, magic will not interfere with the steam engine?"
"Yes, you are right!" Maka nodded and said, "Based on the current speculation and verification by Muggle Studies scholars, the thing that the magic in magic interferes with is probably electricity - if you are interested, you will also be able to do so in the future. You can do the same as Professor Bubbaji and try to study it!"
After Maka said this, Hermione, who already liked to think, couldn't help but start thinking about it. But after more than ten seconds, she found that the surroundings had become quiet and she suddenly raised her head, temporarily forgetting this indeed very interesting question.
"Maka," she said, "So, is it because you are helping Professor Bubaji research steam engines that you are in a daze in the classroom after class from time to time?"
"Hey, I'm not in a daze, okay?" Maka said with a helpless smile, "Please call my state 'thinking'."
He didn't deny Hermione's assumption, and of course, he didn't admit it either.
But on Hermione's side, she felt that the truth should be like this - Maka likes to do research. This was her judgment after watching Maka enter Hogwarts until now, and this is undoubtedly correct. of.
"Okay!" Hermione pursed her lips and said, "But then, what can't be said?"
Maka shrugged after hearing this.
"You'll find out soon enough," he smiled. "Trust me, it won't be long."
When she heard "It won't be long" in Maka's words, Hermione tilted her head, and suddenly her eyes lit up again.
"It's Christmas! It's Christmas, right?"
This time Maka didn't answer anything. He just made a noncommittal expression towards Hermione, but the curve of the corner of his mouth made a certain answer self-evident.
"Oh! I understand, I won't ask this question again!" Hermione finally nodded, and a smile appeared on her face, "Then... yes, I will look forward to it! I like surprises!"
"Well, that's great if you think so!"
Luna looked at Hermione and Maka playing riddles with a confused expression. But she didn't care. When she heard Hermione's last words, "I like surprises," she also showed a big smile.
"I also like surprises! Like Dad's Gordig root tea, it makes me look forward to it every morning - because you never know what Dad will add to it!"
The example she gave made Maka shake her head in confusion.
"Luna, you need to distinguish the difference between the words 'surprise' and 'fright'."
…
The situation on Maka's side did not produce the "change" that Ron was worried about, but on Ron's side, the changes in his heart and expression became more intense.
"Harry, you must understand that I have invited her more than once! Because we had a good dance at Slughorn's ball last time..."
"Yes, you saw it too! But after that night, no matter how I looked for her, she escaped from my sight again and again. Sometimes she just couldn't avoid it, so she just lowered her head and pretended not to be there. I’ve seen it, even if I keep calling her, she just pretends not to hear!”
"To be honest, I don't know what to do anymore... I can feel that I like her very much. I like the tacit understanding with her! But... she seems to be too shy and introverted... "
Lunch time is almost over now, and many students are getting up and leaving one after another, so the long table has become quite empty.
But although Harry was equally satisfied, he could only sit in his seat, looking at Ron in bewilderment as he gesticulated and expressed his inner tears.
In fact, although Harry has Ginny as his girlfriend, when it comes to his experience in love, he is probably not much better than Ron.
Now that he was listening to Ron's non-stop complaints, there was only one sentence left in his mind - what nonsense are you talking about
When Ron finally became thirsty and picked up the half-cup of juice left to drink, Harry stood up in a hurry.
"Ron, it's time to go back to the lounge. We have to prepare our textbooks for the afternoon."
After hearing Harry's words, Ron, who had just put the cup to his mouth, glanced around in surprise, and then realized that he seemed to have been complaining for too long.
But at this moment, he suddenly said "Ah" - it turned out that the juice in his hand was taken away by the house elf in the kitchen.