Chapter 109 Prelude to Doom

"...Don't use such childish word tricks to pretend, it will only make you insult your own family name." Maca just smiled innocently, but in Lev's eyes, it was completely sinister Compassionate sneer.

A hint of anger flashed across Lev's eyes, but his aristocratic upbringing kept him at least calm.

"Whether I insulted my surname, you don't need to judge." He stared at Maca and said, "Then what is your surname? McLegan?"

Obviously, he heard what Leila and Maca said just now.

"Yes, my name is McLegan." Maca still had a smile on his face, making it difficult to see whether he was answering seriously.

"Hmph," Lev said disdainfully, "I have been reciting the surnames and crests of various families since I was a child, but I have never heard of a small family like yours that came out of nowhere."

"You just need to remember that my name is Maca." Maca stared at the other party's eyes, and passed the goblet in Lev's hand, and the other party subconsciously took it.

But at the next moment, Lev felt as if he saw a skull made of black smoke in Maca's eyes, and his whole body shook, a feeling that his soul was shaking spontaneously rose.

When he came back to his senses, he found that Maca, Ernie and others had already chatted at the table next to them.

He glanced at Maca hesitantly, but found that the other party turned his head and showed him a weird smile again.

Lev hurriedly avoided his eyes and walked towards his father.

"What's wrong?" Old Avery frowned.

"The kid didn't know what kind of tricks he used—" Lev sat down next to his father and said angrily.

"Speak well." Old Avery interrupted him immediately.

"Uh...I'm sorry, Father." Lev sat up straighter immediately, "Just now...I'm sure it was some kind of black magic...but I don't know how he did it..."

Lev described what he felt just now and his father in detail.

Old Avery lowered his eyelids, pondered for a moment, and then said: "It should be some kind of magic related to the soul..."

He paused, and said in a deep voice: "We have come here for an important purpose, don't mess with that kid in the next time—"

"Then should I just swallow this?" Lev said angrily.

Old Avery sneered and said, "Even if I don't tell you, do you dare to go back and pay back the debt yourself?"

Lev's face froze, he snorted coldly, then turned his head and stopped talking.

Old Avery looked at his son and shook his head secretly - he knew his son very well. If Lev had the courage, then what if the family's goal could not be achieved this time?

Speaking of which, this time it was just a test, after all, it was not something that could be accomplished overnight.

"...Maka, what did you do just now? I saw that guy holding your wine glass in a daze for a while."

On the other side, Ernie asked curiously.

"It's just a trick." Maca waved his hand casually, but his ears were always paying attention to the conversations at the nearby dining tables.

He doesn't want to miss any available information.

While Maca was waiting for an opportunity at the banquet with many intricate family forces, the Christmas dinner at Hogwarts had already begun.

The tables in the auditorium were moved to the wall again, and only a round table for twelve people was placed in the center. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick were all sitting there, as was Filch the Gatekeeper.

By the way, Filch had shed his usual brown coat and was wearing an old and rather outdated tuxedo.

Apart from them, there were only three students - two extremely nervous first years and a sullen sixth year from Slytherin house.

"Merry Christmas!" said Dumbledore, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione were coming this way, "we're not many, and it's kind of silly to use those tables in the houses... Come sit down, sit down. "

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat side by side in the vacated seats.

"Firecrackers!"

Dumbledore said enthusiastically, and handed the tail end of a large silver firecracker to Snape, who reluctantly took it and pulled it. The firecracker exploded with a "bang", revealing a big witch's hat with a pointed top, and there were specimens of mountain eagles on the top of the hat.

Harry remembered the Boggart, and Ron exchanged glances, both of them grinning.

In the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the term, the Boggart had taken the form of Snape in the face of Neville's inner fears. But in the end Neville used the spell taught by Lupine to change all the clothes on that "Snape" into his grandma's.

Harry and the others all remembered that "Snape" was wearing this strange big hat at the time?

Beside Dumbledore, Snape pursed his lips, and he pushed the hat to Dumbledore, who promptly replaced his wizard hat with it.

"Eat it!" He said with a smile to the whole table.

Just as Harry was fetching himself baked potatoes, the hall door opened again.

It was Professor Trelawney who came in. She seemed to be standing on wheels and "slid" towards everyone.

As if to celebrate Christmas, she wore a green dress embellished with tinsel, making her look even more like a shiny oversized dragonfly.

"Sybyl, it's a pleasure to have you!" said Dumbledore, standing up.

"Headmaster, I've been looking at the crystal ball," said Professor Trelawney in a vague tone. "To my surprise, I saw myself abandoning my lunch alone to join your dinner party... I Who could refuse the urging of fate? I walked out of my building immediately, and I sincerely beg you to forgive me for being late..."

"Of course, of course." Dumbledore said, looking at her brightly. "Let me get you a chair—"

With a wave of his wand, he pulled a chair from mid-air, and the chair spun in mid-air for a few seconds before falling with a dull sound between Professor Snape and McGonagall.

However, Professor Trelawney did not sit down. Her big eyes kept scanning the surroundings of the round table, and then suddenly let out a low scream.

"Oh—I dare not, Headmaster! If I sit down, there will be thirteen people at the table! There is nothing more unlucky than 'thirteen'! Never forget that if thirteen people eat together, the first time after a meal The one who stands up will be the first to die!"

"We're willing to take the risk, Sybil," said Professor McGonagall impatiently. "Sit down, the turkey is going to be as cold as a rock."

Professor Trelawney hesitated for a moment, as if he was about to grit his teeth and sit down, but Dumbledore unexpectedly smiled.

"It seems that there is another guest today...I'll go and bring her in."

Dumbledore was about to stand up, but was stopped by Professor McGonagall.

"Let me come and go..." she said, "Is it at the gate?"

"Oh—yes, that's right." Dumbledore nodded, "Then I'll trouble you, Minerva."

"Let me go..." Filch said, then turned and walked out the door.

Professor Trelawney, visibly relieved, was seated, and Professor McGonagall reached into the nearest tureen with a large spoon.

"Do you want tripe, Sybil?"

Professor Trelawney ignored her.

She opened her eyes, looked around, and asked, "Where is my dear Professor Lupine?"

"I'm afraid the poor man is ill again," said Dumbledore. "It was very unlucky for him to be ill at Christmas."

"But you must have known, didn't you, Sybil?" Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow.

It seems that among the professors, Professor Trelawney is not very well received - after all, she is always talking about bad luck, death and the like.

Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a cold look.

"Of course I know, Minerva," she said calmly, "but people don't boast of knowing everything... I always behave as if I don't have the third eye, so that others You won’t be nervous about it.”

"That explains a lot," said Professor McGonagall sharply.

Professor Trelawney's voice was suddenly less indistinct.

"If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupine will not be with us long. He himself seems to understand that his time is running out - I volunteered to show him the crystal ball He always avoids it!"

"Think about it," said Professor McGonagall dryly.

"I think," Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, "Professor Luhu will not be in any immediate danger. Severus, has Maca concocted another potion for him?"

"Yes, Headmaster," Snape replied, "McLean is very good, and his level of preparation of potions is constantly improving."

"Okay," said Dumbledore, "then he'll be up and about in no time... Oh, the guests are here."

As if confirming Dumbledore's words, the door of the auditorium opened again immediately, and behind Filch was a woman in a light-colored witch's robe, and they walked towards the middle of the auditorium one after the other.

Dumbledore stood up and said with a smile, "Merry Christmas, my guest... Is there anything I can do for you?"

The young witch was very pretty, but her slender eyebrows were furrowed at the moment, as if she had a lot of thoughts on her mind.

"Oh, yes...Merry Christmas, Headmaster Dumbledore." She said nervously, "Sorry, I shouldn't bother you on this day of celebration, but—is Mr. McLean here?"

"Oh--what did I see--" Professor Trelawney, who had just turned her head, suddenly covered her face with horror, and she screamed, "Leave Doom, that's trouble!"

Dumbledore looked at Professor Trelawney, then at the young witch who had stopped, and finally extended his hand to invite: "It's okay, come... sit down, and speak slowly..."