The night after the little wizards returned home from vacation, it was Christmas Eve.

Maca and the children sat at the long kitchen table in Black's old house, looking out the window at the darkness of the snowflakes that were falling.

Tonight's kitchen is decorated with all kinds of Christmas decorations.

Colorful ribbons fluttered haphazardly under the ceiling, red and white bubbles fluttered all over the ground, and a Christmas tree with a crushed top bent by the cupboard stuck in the corner by the fireplace, gently bringing a Christmas song to everyone's ears.

On this fateful day, Maca casts a silencing spell on Sirius's mother's portrait, lest her curse ruin the rare atmosphere.

The children sitting to Maca's right were still silent, but at least they seemed to be somewhat interested in the kitchen today, occasionally sneaking a few glances around.

By the way, werewolf sister Leni is also here! That's right, no matter how you look at it, she can only be regarded as one of the so-called "children".

"Bastard Maka, why don't you start yet? Lenny-sama can't wait! ”

She's been saying something similar since early this morning. And Lena, who was always used to this precious sister, would always give her something delicious or funny - which would make her stop for a few minutes.

But Maca is not Lena, how can she have the patience to appease this little girl?

Seeing that he was staring at the dark window, and knowing that he could not help him, Leni ran to the kitchen with an impatient face.

At that moment, the wooden door of the kitchen was gently pushed open from the outside, and Lupin and Mundungus walked in one after the other.

There aren't many people left here tonight, because homeless people are always in the minority, no matter what.

Marka's older sister, Charlotte Witt, could actually be counted as one, but this time she stayed at Hogwarts. I heard that she is currently preparing for class with Professor Sprout, and it is unknown whether she will be a professor assistant at Hogwarts in the near future.

Of course, although she is also working on it in her own way. But Maca estimated that she probably couldn't be a professor, because her grades were actually average.

"Marca, Sirius is gone?" Lupin sat down at the table with Mundungus and asked casually, "I don't think I saw him." ”

Hearing this, Maca turned around and smiled slightly.

"yes, it's gone." He replied, "He said he was going to surprise Harry and let me see it...... Hey, he's really going to do his duty for Harry's parents. ”

"It's not a duty, it's not a 'task' for him." Lupin shrugged, "He's more of a pleasure — enjoying what it's like to be a good father." ”

"He's not going to get married at all?" Maca said, thinking about it for a moment, "Just his face can capture the hearts of many women, right?" How could he be willing to give it? ”

When Lupin heard this, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Haha...... He won't care," he paused, as if remembering something, "but seriously...... That girl from the United States seems to have a little interest in him. ”

"Abigail?" "I think so, but she and her sister went back together, and maybe they won't come back here again......"

"It's a pity." Lu Ping spread his hands, but then he couldn't laugh or cry, "Hey! I always feel that something is not quite right with you...... I said Maca, when will your outward appearance catch up with your precocious heart? ”

"Oh-" Maca leaned innocently back in her chair and stretched, "Don't count on it, probably...... Call...... I probably won't be able to catch up for the rest of my life. ”

While Lupin and Maca were chatting casually, Mundungus on the side couldn't help but secretly take out his cigarette, as if he was going to take advantage of the opportunity to secretly take two more puffs.

"Hey, Donge!" Lupin slapped the cigarette off his hand, glared at him, and said, "There are several children here!" Don't take that thing out of your way and burn it again. ”

"Oh, don't do that! Can't you just take a bite? Montungus scrambled to pick the cigarette from the ground again, and after a moment's hesitation, finally reluctantly slipped it back into his dirty pocket.

"Don't complain," Maca said with a wave of her hand, "it's Christmas for the kids, are you going to smoke Santa Claus away with the smell of your burnt stinky leather boots?" If you really want to smoke that, I'll hang you upside down under the eaves outside and let you smoke it alone! ”

"Oh, I see...... "Montungus" said with a smile on his face, "I still want to stay for turkey!" Besides, it's too cold outside to hold a cigarette! ”

At this time, Lena, who had finished the last meal in the kitchen, also walked out with a large plate, followed by her sister Leni who was holding a fried chicken leg in her hand.

"It's okay, I'll give you a powerful permanent paste spell!" After saying this, Lupin stood up and said aloud, "Then let's get started!" ”

"All right?" Maca asked Lena, and when she nodded, she immediately clapped her palms.

In the blink of an eye, a wide variety of Christmas delicacies appeared on the long table, which was originally empty. The steaming heat wafted from the plate, and the aroma was overflowing, and everyone couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Listen to Lena, you've been eating on separate plates these days?" Maca looked at the children and said, "Take your favorite food, and if anyone walks out of that door tonight with a round belly, I won't let him go—you know?" ”

The children nodded silently and honestly began to add food to the plate in front of them.

"Well, your words still work......" Lupin said helplessly, looking at the children.

"Give them more time!" Maca said, glancing at Leni again, "I don't expect them to be as unscrupulous as she is, but I'm sure they'll be able to regain some of their own personalities." ”

At this moment, the "unscrupulous" Leni in his mouth was holding two big chicken legs, munching on the left and right bows, and his mouth was full of greasy.

"Leni, don't just eat meat! Eat more vegetable salad! "It can be seen that Maca is in a good mood today.

This Christmas Eve dinner lasted for more than two hours. During this time, each child listened to the maca and ate until it could no longer be eaten. Although they didn't do it with their own wishes in mind, at least they really ate their meals because of it.

After the meal, Maca held a glass of fragrant eggnog and began to think about the itinerary after this.

As for the children, after a short rest and a break from eating, they all went back to bed one by one.

"Wake up early tomorrow morning and go to the Christmas tree to get presents, remember?" Lupin admonished behind them, "Santa Claus will secretly put it by the fireplace at night, everyone has it!" ”

After sending the children back to the upstairs room, he came down again and sat back in his chair.

Tonight is a rare day off for the Order of the Phoenix, and although it is only one night, it is enough to relax the nerves that have always been tense.

"It's been a while since I've been so laid-back, and I've forgotten how I used to pass the time when I was fine......" Lupin shook his head slightly, and picked up his cup with a wry smile.

"How do you pass the time?" "Isn't it enough to stay in the screaming shack and howl a few times?" ”

"That's not all!" "Although my memories were always vague at the time, I vaguely remember some - Jaime and Sirius would always take on the form of Animagus and fight with me. And Peter's guy just cowered in the corner and watched. ”

"That sounds good," Maca nodded, "and if you want me to say, you're actually okay—"

Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly turned his head and looked at the wall on the side of the kitchen. And the next moment, a translucent figure actually came out of the wall.

"Ghosts?" Maca was surprised, "Who are you?" ”

Black's Mansion has been spelled with Cruel Loyalty, and no one can find this place without the permission of Maca, a secret keeper, not even a ghost.

"Who am I?" The white, translucent guy looked blankly left and right, and said in a bit of a daze, "I'm John Creech...... Can you tell me where this is, this friend who is still alive? ”

"Where?" Maca frowned, "Don't you know where you are?" ”

"Oh...... I'm sorry," John the Ghost said apologetically, "I'm always lost...... I'm really sorry! ”

"John Creech?" Lupin seemed to remember something, and he couldn't help but think about it.

"Don't think about it!" Mundungus next to him laughed and said, "He's the 'John of Christmas Eve', hahaha...... Are you looking for your way home again? ”

When Montungus mentioned this, Lupin immediately showed a sudden expression.

"Well, isn't it!" Ghost John sighed and said, "Without the Orientation Charm, I can't find it...... Even if I'm no longer afraid of being stuck in the wall and not being able to get out......"

"Orientation Spell?" Maca asked curiously, "What's going on?" Looks like you all know? ”

"Yes! He's been lost all his life," Lupin said amusefully, "he was like this when he was alive, and he didn't expect it to be like this after death." Mr. Creech, I think you should go that way! ”

"Oh, thank you! Good sir......" Ghost John thanked him, and then floated down to the opposite wall again, "...... Oh, and Merry Christmas to you all! ”

Maca watched him drift away slowly, her face blank.