As the sun went down, more and more guests arrived at McMillan's house.

Everyone seems to know each other, at least most of the families are connected to each other in one way or another. This was also the first time that Maca knew how complicated it was in the wizarding world and the intertwining of family forces.

In the evening, the golden sunset shines through the holly trees outside the back garden and falls in the spacious backyard.

There are many guests who have just come out of the circle of the Ten Pillars Opera, and they are exchanging techniques with each other on how to roll wooden balls. This kind of game seems to be quite popular among aristocratic circles - I heard that Dumbledore also loved the sport.

Naturally, Maca has no interest in this kind of aristocratic game, and he is talking to the young people of several families seemingly casually!

It wasn't long before the sun set over the hill and the night spread.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the ball has been set up, please move to the hall—"

After hearing Ernie's father's words, almost all the guests couldn't help but lift their spirits, and even Maca nodded secretly.

After all, I heard people talk about it from time to time this afternoon, which shows how heavy the weight of the so-called "one of those families" in their mouths is.

Maca was about to follow the crowd in, but saw Ernie's father beckoning him - not to him, of course, but to call Ernie next to him!

"I'm sorry, Maka." Ernie said embarrassedly, "My father called me over. ”

"It's okay, you go!" Maca replied.

He thought for a moment, then turned to Layla and Hannah and asked, "Aren't you going to your family?" ”

Layla shook her head vigorously and whispered, "Why don't you go!" I'm sure I'm going to talk to strangers again, I'm in trouble......"

Hannah looked at him quizzically, then shook her head as well.

Maca shrugged her shoulders indifferently and led them both into the house......

Compared with the noon banquet, the scene of this ball was obviously grander.

There were plenty of food and wine tables against the walls of the large hall, but that wasn't the focus of the night.

In the middle of the hall, there is a large open space, which is obviously reserved for everyone to dance floor.

In the middle, there is a circular stage that is only slightly higher than the ground. On stage, all sorts of strange instruments are piled on top of it – it looks like a band will be on stage soon.

On the high ceiling of the hall, hanging crystal lamps hang from above, maintaining a constant glow, illuminating the whole hall.

The guests were scattered around the dance floor, but there was hardly anyone chatting with each other, everyone seemed to be waiting for something.

Maca stood in the crowd, and his child, whose body was not yet open, was suddenly drowned in the crowd, and few people would notice him.

It can be noted that Ernie's father was standing in the doorway with him, and the father and son Avery were standing nearby. The two families are quite-for-tat.

For a while, the hall with a strong dance atmosphere was in stark contrast to the inexplicably quiet crowd.

Just as Maca, like the others, stared at the door, intentionally or unconsciously, the door was quietly pushed open.

There were only two people walking in, a man and a woman, who looked like father and daughter.

They were not dressed as meticulously as the nobles in the hall, and it was even obvious that the clothes on their bodies were old clothes that had been washed and washed.

But Maca, who had seen some of the atlases in Rowena's Chamber of Secrets, knew at a glance that those two sets were ancient wizard robes with a sense of age.

As soon as the father and daughter entered the door, McMillan and Avery immediately approached them, and it was obvious that they had what they wanted.

While most of the eyes in the hall were focused on the middle-aged wizard, Maca stared at the girl beside him instead.

Although her image has changed a lot because of her outfit, Maca quickly recognized the girl's identity.

"Charlotte?" Maca muttered to herself.

One of the three beauties of Hogwarts, Senior Sister Charlotte of Hufflepuff House. She is indeed beautiful, the kind of beauty that is especially attractive, and it is difficult to mistake her.

But even Maca didn't expect that this senior sister, who was grinning, often smiling, and even sometimes "rough", would have such a deep family background.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have had to take a long detour and take the line of Ernie......" Maca grinned, secretly making a mistake.

But in that case, he didn't just go over and talk to him—that would be too abrupt, and it would leave some not-so-good impressions on the McMillans.

But this time he was wrong, if he could easily get in touch with these two people, Ernie's father really couldn't ask for it! In the end, Maca still underestimated the meaning of the family behind Charlotte.

Just as Maca was secretly thinking for a moment, there was already a conversation at the door.

"Mr. Werther, please come in—" Ernie's father held out his hand to invite, "the ball is about to begin, why don't you come and enjoy the music?" ”

He was about to wave his hand to call the band in, but he saw the middle-aged wizard he called "Mr. Werther" wave his hand, and said casually: "No, I came to disturb because I wanted to ask about something, the matter is urgent, everything can be avoided." ”

On the other side, the corners of old Avery's mouth hooked slightly, as if he was laughing at McMillan's lack of interest.

"Mr. Werther, since the matter is urgent, why don't you ask in the backyard! It's quieter and easier to talk about. He turned against him and simply left Ernie's father alone.

“…… You are? Mr. Witt asked, looking at him.

"Contemptible Jim Avery, feel free to speak up if you need anything." Old Avery bowed.

"Oh, it's the Avery family...... "Mr. Witt nodded, and continued, "one more person is one more power, so let's go to the backyard first!" ”

He turned to his daughter Charlotte again and said, "You can play here for a while, don't run away." ”

"I'm not a child!" Charlotte smiled, completely ignoring the surprised gazes of the others, picked up her slap and slapped her father's back.

Suddenly, the guests who had been talking softly all fell silent.

In the crowd not far away, Maca looked at Charlotte and felt her eyelids jump.

"Ahem, ahem...... You girl," said Mr. Witt, who seemed to be choked on the saliva, "and said you weren't a child?" I don't look at my age, I'm about to get married, and I'm still so rude and reckless......"

As soon as Charlotte heard the word "marry", she immediately straightened her face.

“…… Okay, okay, you're free to wander around on your own. Mr. Witt waved his hand.

He always can't do anything about this precious daughter, but how can the family tradition be violated at will? Both Mr. Witt and Charlotte knew this in their hearts, so they quickly stopped talking.

After Mr. Witt and the two current heads of the house left, Charlotte was surrounded by a group of young witches of similar age before Charlotte could take a look left and right.

Whether it is their own ideas or the ideas instigated by their families, they are nothing more than aristocratic habits that climb along the pole, and everyone knows it in their hearts.

Naturally, Maca didn't have much interest in running to join in the fun, so he thought about it and planned to sneak into the backyard to listen to a few words.

But he wanted to leave, but some people disagreed.

"Hey! Stop, junior brother! ”

Makara suddenly felt that something was wrong, and he immediately turned quickly, only to see a white hand patting his chest.

I don't know if it was a knee-jerk reaction or what, Maca also reached out.

"Smack!"

A crisp clapping of hands silenced the guests again.

Maca retracted her hand, looked at her palm, and then at Charlotte, who was standing in front of him, and couldn't help but blink.

"Yo, good evening!" He grinned and smiled stiffly.

"That's a good response, junior brother!"

Charlotte also showed him a sweet smile, and then, without saying a word, pulled Maca's shoulder and turned him around, and then slapped Maca the back.

"Don't move, it's etiquette!" Charlotte said with a smile.

Maca sighed helplessly, then turned around, pretending to grin with bared teeth and said, "Senior sister, can't you be lighter......"

"Alright, stop pretending!" Charlotte patted him on the shoulder, then lowered her voice and said, "Help me get in the way, you know." ”

Maca shook her head and said, "Look at my age, I'm not qualified to help you?" ”

"I just say yes!" Charlotte hooked his arm and whispered, "What do you think aristocratic traditions are, and what are ...... years?"

As she spoke, she seemed to bring back some kind of memory, and her voice became lower and lower.

Maca nodded indifferently and said, "Okay, I roughly understand...... Let's do the dance! ”

The band entered the room after Mr. Werther had left, and by this time the soft dance music had been played, but there were not many dancing guests.

At this moment, Maca stretched out her hand and invited Charlotte, "I wonder if I have this honor—"

"Nope!" Charlotte smiled gracefully on the surface, but began to whisper in her mouth, "I hate dancing!" I've been forced to learn since I was a child, but in addition to acting on the spot, what other use can it be! ”

"At least you can teach me ......," Maca quipped.

He was now concentrating, following Charlotte's footsteps and moving his feet as if he were in the middle of a needle. Charlotte took a step back, and he filled the empty space with his own feet.

Although the dance steps are obviously full of mistakes and omissions, on the surface, they don't give people any awkward feeling.

"Is that some new dance move?" Some of the guests stared at the two of them, whispering.

"Wrong! It should be stepped forward, not sideways! It's not right here......" Charlotte kept saying.

"But aren't you moving sideways?" Maca argued.

"What does my sideways have to do with you!" Charlotte kept a steady smile as she deliberately stepped on Maca's feet.