Chapter 173: Farewell, Xiao An (1)
Snowflakes swirl outside the window again, beating the frozen lattice, and Christmas is just around the corner.
Hagrid was already on his own, bringing the twelve Christmas trees that were indispensable in the auditorium each year; The railings of the stairs were wrapped with holly and metal foil; Ever-bright candles flickered in the helmets of the armor, and large bunches of mistletoe hung in the hallways at intervals.
Every time Harry Savior Potter passed down the hallway, there would always be piles of girls gathered under the mistletoe, causing traffic jams.
Thankfully, Harry's frequent night trips had given him a thorough understanding of the secret passages in the castle, and he was able to navigate the mistletoe route between classes with little difficulty.
……
"Be careful, Harry." Hermione said solemnly.
"Before I got here, I went to the bathroom, and there were a dozen girls, including Romida Vanney, discussing how to get you to drink an aphrodisiac—they all wanted to be taken to Professor Slughorn's dinner. What I'm saying is, I'm afraid this thing is likely to make—"
"Why didn't you confiscate those things?" Harry asked, feeling incredulous about Hermione's habit of upholding rules and regulations.
"They didn't bring the potion into the bathroom...... Hermione said dismissively, "just discussing a strategy." If I do, I'll invite someone as soon as possible – so that others don't think there's another chance. It's tomorrow night, they're in a hurry. ”
"There's not a single person I'd like to invite." Harry muttered.
"Well, you have to be careful with what you drink, Romida-Vanny looks serious."
……
"Hey, Harry!" Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room, and as soon as he got out of the portrait hole, Romilda Vanny leaned over and said, "Would you like a glass of violet water?" ”
Hermione turned around and threw a "What did I say?" Looks.
"Thanks, no need." Harry hurriedly said, "I don't like to drink. ”
"Then, take this!" Romida shoved a box into his hand, "Chocolate cauldron with flame whiskey in it." My grandmother sent it to me, but I didn't like ......."
"It's-well-thanks......" Harry said, he couldn't think of any other words, "oh-I'm with ......"
He hurried away with Hermione, his voice fading into a faint voice.
"I told you a long time ago—" Hermione said succinctly, "Invite someone sooner or they won't bother you-"
"Hermione, you're going anyway, why don't-"
"I'm sorry, Harry, I had to go with Ron—he made an appointment."
Harry, who was always one step slower: "Okay......"
……
Eventually, it was Luna Lovegood who accepted Harry's invitation, a girl with long waist-length hair that was light blonde and brown, silver-gray eyes that protruded like goldfish, and pale eyebrows.
She looked in a trance all day long, as if her appearance everywhere was accidental, and she obviously exuded a strange and fluttering temperament - her classmates called her the crazy girl Lovegood behind her back.
Especially since she used to put her wand behind her ear just to be on the safe side. And her quirks, such as using butterbeer corks and carrots as jewelry, make her the target of teasing and ridicule.
This surprised almost everyone, and Peeves even "wrote" a song for this -
"Silly baby invites the crazy girl to the dinner party! Silly baby falls in love with a crazy girl! Silly baby loves - crazy girl - mother! ”
……
The main character, whether it is the original book or the same person, will always "accidentally" break something that is not visible.
Right now, for example, Harry was heading to Slughorn's office (yes, the office) where he was hosting a socially-themed buffet more aptly than a Christmas dinner party, to meet up with Luna. Halfway through, "accidentally" passing by a vacant classroom "with a Hogwarts feel" -
"You'd better stop calling me to your office!"
It was Draco Malfoy's voice, and Harry couldn't think of anyone he was talking to so angrily, and couldn't help but stop.
……
"Listen to me...... I want to help you. I swore to your mother to protect you. I made an unbreakable oath, Draco-"
Snape (Professor)! Harry covered his mouth with one hand to keep himself from screaming, pressed his ear to the keyhole, and continued listening.
"Looks like you have to break because I don't need your protection. It's my job, he gave it to me, and I'm doing it. I have a plan that will work out, but it will take longer than I expected! ”
"What's your plan?"
"You can't take care of it!"
"If you tell me, I can help you-"
"I already have enough helpers, thank you, I'm not alone!"
"You are undoubtedly alone tonight, which is extremely stupid! Wandering the corridors, with no sentry and no backup. These are low-level errors—"
"Crabbe and Goyle were supposed to follow me, but you locked them up!"
……
"Be quiet!" Snape (the professor) warned, as Draco raised his voice in excitement, "Your friends Crabbe and Goyle will have to work a little harder to pass the O.W.L. exam in Defence Against the Dark Arts this time—"
"What does it matter if it doesn't work? Defence Against the Dark Arts – just a joke, a play, right? As if any of us need Defense Against the Dark Arts-"
"This is a very critical play to success, Draco!" Snape (the professor) said, "If I didn't know how to act, where do you think I'd be all these years?"
Listen to me! You're being very imprudent right now! Also, if you rely on assistants like Crabbe and Goyle—"
"It's not just them, there are other people around me, stronger people!"
"Why can't you tell me, I can-"
……
"I know what you're thinking! You want to rob me of my credit! Or—"
"What?"
"Lin Xiaoan is your disciple, have you softened?"
Harry didn't dare to breathe, he heard Snape (the professor) say categorically, "Lin Xiao'an, you must die!" ”