The spruce trees more than ten meters high were hung with colorful ribbons and golden stars, and hundreds of candles floated in mid-air, illuminating the space.
A long table has been set up in the middle of the cleared space, and the little wizards are bringing freshly cooked turkey, steak, sausages, and suckling pigs to the table. Dumbledore is wearing a funny Santa hat on his head, and
Several other professors sat at the front of the long table, looking at the students who were already sitting on both sides of the long table with smiles on their faces.
"You have harvested a lot this year, and I also hope that you can harvest more next year. Of course, it is time for our bellies to harvest."
He raised the glass of cider in his hand.
"Merry Chrismas!"
The students also raised their glasses of pumpkin juice.
"Merry Christmas!"
The temperature outside was very low at night, but no one present could feel the slightest bit of chill. I don’t know if it was the body driven by the passion in his heart, or because of the effect of the dozen or so stoves that Hagrid placed around the long table.
, the students’ faces all showed a warm blush.
"George and Fred often took me to secretly drink Dad's wine at home, but I couldn't drink it after only half a bottle. In fact, it didn't taste good at all. I thought it was worse than pumpkin juice."
Ron was chewing chicken legs and talking big words. Justin listened to him bragging about his glorious deeds with envy on his face, while Lavender teased and teased him next to him.
"Maybe it's not because it tastes bad? Is it because you're drunk?"
Ron of course loudly justified this to himself.
"I just don't like the taste of wine. If I really drink it, I can still catch the Golden Snitch on a broomstick after drinking ten bottles!"
His bold words caught the attention of Dumbledore, who was chatting with Flitwick in front, and he said with a wink.
"Perhaps when I meet your parents next time, I should discuss with them and let you show off such a unique skill in front of everyone, Ron."
Ron's whole body was instantly trembled with fright. He smiled and scratched his hair.
"Butterbeer is wine, too. I'm talking about butterbeer, butterbeer, professor."
There was a burst of laughter on the long table, and Fred smiled evilly and directly brought the extra large butterbeer for the five people in front of him in front of Ron.
"Really, Ron, if you can finish this glass of butterbeer, George and I will give you the Chadley Artillery poster you've always wanted!"
Ron made a stinky face and pushed away the butterbeer he brought without thinking.
"After drinking this I won't be able to eat anything else tonight!"
The atmosphere of this Christmas dinner was undoubtedly relaxed and pleasant. The food on the long table was not wasted and was eventually eaten cleanly.
Near 11 o'clock in the evening, snowflakes began to fall from the sky again, and the students who were full and tired from playing returned to the warm carriage.
Jon and the other five freshmen did not go back to the dormitory immediately to sleep. They were still young in making dinner today, so they did not participate. However, they cannot just sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor. The job of clearing the table after dinner was left to them.
As the candles floating in the air gradually extinguished, the surrounding vision also darkened. Justin was burping while holding the empty plate, still savoring the deliciousness of the Christmas pudding after the meal.
Jon didn't know why, but he kept feeling restless after the dinner.
Neville, who had lived in the same dormitory with him for a long time, obviously noticed something strange about Jon, and he asked suspiciously.
"What’s wrong with you?"
Jon frowned and glanced around. Ten meters away, nothing could be seen in the dense cedar forest. The thick branches covered with snow blocked most of the night sky. Everything looked normal, but it also revealed some secrets.
People are strangely quiet.
"We'd better move quickly, I always feel like there's something wrong there."
His voice didn't sound like he was joking, and the faces of Ron and Justin, who were still joking, became serious. Jon had a lot of say among them.
Two female professors, Lily and McGonagall, had already boarded the carriage to manage the students who had returned to their dormitories. Flitwick, Slughorn, Dumbledore and several senior boys stayed behind and were clearing the empty space.
Various decorations left on the ground and garbage on the ground.
While Jon and the others were clearing away most of the dishes on the long table, Slughorn and a student were clearing the spell cast by Flitwick on the cedar tree. It seemed that the student was not very skilled in his skills.
, Old Walrus was teaching and demonstrated it to him first.
The shining yellow stars on the fir trees slowly extinguished, and Jon, who was following Neville and preparing to get into the carriage, glanced at the open space one last time.
Just before the twinkling stars were completely extinguished, he saw a person behind the tree beside Slughorn and the boy, shrouded in darkness. Only the ferocious metal mask on his face slightly reflected the yellow light.
The man of light raised his wand at them!
"Teacher! Left!"
"Thunderbolt explosion!"
The difference between Jon's reminder and the sound of the spell was less than a second, one after another, piercing the silent night!
Slughorn's reaction was extremely quick. The moment Jon shouted, he had already turned his head and saw the masked man who had sneaked up to him unknowingly.
He should have had enough time to dodge or defend, but looking at the unsuspecting senior student in front of him, he made an extremely risky decision in the blink of an eye!
Slughorn didn't have time to recite the spell, he just waved his wand vigorously! Then he used his chubby body to block the student's back!
"Boom!"
The thunderous explosion completely turned the tranquility into noise. The golden fire directly engulfed Slughorn and the boy. Countless pieces of soil were blown up all over the sky, and there was a burst of rain in this open space.
Mud rain!
Dumbledore and Flitwick also reacted quickly. When Jon's reminder sounded, they had already pointed their wands in the direction of the masked man.
Time was so tight that none of them could utter a spell before golden-red flames burst out from the tip of Dumbledore's staff!
The red fire instantly covered the entire ten-meter-wide space, including Jon and the others who had not yet stepped onto the carriage.
These rising fires did not make them feel any burning sensation, but after releasing the explosion curse, the masked man who was about to continue waving his wand could not avoid the flames, directly interrupted the spell, and quickly retreated.
At this moment, a sound like a whip whipping the air sounded, and Slughorn, covered in blood, staggered and fell in front of Jon with the student!