RNP Chapter 164 The Unrest on the Eve of Halloween
Chapter 164 The Unrest on the Eve of Halloween
Chapter 164 The Unrest on the Eve of Halloween
By the end of October, the tension brought about by the forest ban had been somewhat diluted by the increasingly festive atmosphere, at least on the surface.
Hogwarts seemed to be under a spell, donning Halloween costumes days in advance. Huge, grinning jack-o'-lanterns floated on the corridor ceiling, their interiors flickering with realistic orange flames; swarms of magical bats flapped their wings, flitting among the candlelit stone walls, emitting eerie cries; curtains hanging along the corridors emitted terrifying laughter; even the armor was polished to a gleaming shine, with ghostly flames flickering inside the helmets.
The younger students were especially excited, and the hallways were filled with chattering discussions about decorating ideas and dinner desserts.
"Hey, did you hear? Professor Quirrell locked himself in his office again yesterday and didn't even come to the Great Hall for lunch!" a Gryffindor freshman whispered to his companion at the library entrance, his face exaggerated. "Petty said he was chanting spells in there, and his voice was shaking like he was hiccuping!"
"Come on, you actually believe what Peeves says? But Professor Quirrell is definitely getting weirder and weirder. I always feel like his coin, besides smelling like garlic, now also smells like dead rats?" Another student pinched his nose and made a face.
"Shh! Keep your voice down! What if he suddenly pops out from some corner?" The companion next to him looked around nervously.
Karen happened to be passing by them, carrying several heavy reference books, heading towards the restricted section deep inside the library. The whispers reached his ears, but he didn't stop, only his eyes flickered slightly. Quirrell's unusual behavior was an open secret among the students, but no one knew the terrible truth hidden beneath the surface like he did. This feeling of being the only one sober in a world of fools could sometimes bring a subtle sense of alienation.
Just as he sat down in a quiet corner of the library and opened the borrowed book, "Ancient Visual Magic and the Origins of Rune Construction," a vibrant voice rang out beside him.
"Hey! Ravenclaw genius!" Fred slipped in unnoticed, followed closely by George, both wearing their signature mischievous grins.
"George! Fred!" Karen looked up, somewhat surprised but not too astonished. "What if Mrs. Pince, the librarian, sees you making a scene here?"
"Relax, Karen," George chuckled, pulling over a chair and straddling it backwards, resting his chin on the back. "We're just here to check in on a friend and catch up on the holiday spirit." He winked at Fred.
Fred understood, leaned closer to Karen, and whispered mysteriously, "Hey buddy, you know what? Last week we saw Old Bat bring a troll carcass out of the Forbidden Forest. Merlin, that stinks! Don't you think he's planning to bring a troll to the dinner party?"
Cullen certainly knew what was going on, but Fred had guessed correctly that a troll might appear at the dinner party. And it seemed that Snape had become Dumbledore's free labor again. By the way, what valuable things could a troll have?
George interrupted Karen's thoughts, "Hey, Fred! You haven't told Karen that yet?"
Karen's heart skipped a beat, but he asked calmly, "Oh? Do you have some 'big surprise' in store for you again?"
"It's not a 'big surprise,' it's a 'big gift'!" Fred gestured exaggeratedly. "We've got our hands on a powerful compound deodorizer! It's guaranteed to eliminate any stubborn odors and leave the wearer feeling refreshed!"
It was originally intended for the old bat, but now it seems Professor Quirrell is more suitable.
George added, a mischievous glint in his eyes: "And we've meticulously planned the delivery method. It's guaranteed to be precise, efficient, and with wide coverage! The target, of course, is his ever-present, 'exotic' headscarf! We're curious to know what treasures are hidden underneath, besides the smell."
Karen watched their excited and expectant expressions, and couldn't help but silently mourn for Quirrell for half a second. He certainly knew what that "treasure" was. At the same time, a thought flashed through her mind: in the original story, Quirrell was either creating chaos or investigating Cerberus's obstacle at the Halloween dinner; it was almost impossible for him to sit peacefully at the teachers' table. If Quirrell really didn't attend the dinner, the twins' carefully prepared "big surprise" would be wasted. Even if Quirrell did come, according to the original story, the dinner would end abruptly due to the troll incident, and they might not even have a chance to carry out their plan.
These two are certainly enthusiastic. Unfortunately, Quirrell will most likely not give them a chance to perform. He's either on his way to cause trouble or already hiding, preparing to wreak havoc. The dinner? For him, it's probably just a cover or a distraction. Even if he comes, he probably won't stay long. The twins' plan is likely to fail. But what if? What if Quirrell really comes and stays long enough? After all, things have changed, and the thought of that scene is quite satisfying. Oh well, let them do what they want; there's nothing we can do about it anyway.
"Sounds exciting." Karen's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. "However, I must warn you, Professor Quirrell is... elusive. He might not show up at the dinner party on time tonight, or he might not stay long."
Fred and George exchanged a glance, and Fred waved his hand dismissively: "Not coming? He's lucky! Coming?"
"Hmph, if he dares to sit for even five minutes, we'll give him an unforgettable Halloween 'gift'! We've been preparing for this for a long time, just waiting for this moment!" He patted Karen on the shoulder, "I won't disturb you studying, genius! Remember to sit in the front row at the dinner party, the view is better!" The twins, just like when they came, slipped away silently again.
Karen watched their retreating figures and shook his head helplessly. He then turned his gaze back to the thick, open books.
Lucian's experimental log had turned to a crucial page. It depicted an extremely complex array of hundreds of tiny runes.
This is precisely the direction that Karen is currently most interested in: trying to actively "touch" or even "guide" the flow of magic, just as Nico and Castor guided him in France. Lucian's idea was bold and audacious, and although it failed, its core concept greatly inspired Karen.
He was engrossed in deducing the complex combinations of runes, trying to understand their energy transmission paths and the key points of failure, his fingers unconsciously tracing invisible lines on the table. The equipment in the portable workshop in the Eagle's Nest was just the right amount of equipment to simulate and verify these dangerous and precise ideas. The Halloween clamor outside seemed to be shut out from the barrier of knowledge.
As evening fell, the festive atmosphere intensified when they returned to the Ravenclaw common room. More small pumpkin lanterns floated in the room, and ghostly decorations that seemed to emit silvery laughter hung from the blue curtains. Wesley, Fabian, and Ernesto were sitting around the fireplace, discussing something.
"Karen! You're just in time!" Wesley greeted him excitedly. "We were discussing our outfits for the dinner party! Should I dress up as a vampire, a werewolf, or a dancing troll?" He made an exaggerated face.
Fabian was carefully sewing an old robe with magical needle and thread, trying to transform it into a forest elf outfit covered in "moss" and "vines": "I think keeping it simple is fine - or - well, a quiet mandrake?" He seemed a little unsure of his craftsmanship.
Ernesto, however, seemed uninterested, flipping through a star chart and casually remarking, "I'll just wear my school uniform. This kind of holiday attire—it's too childish." But when he saw Karen, he added, "Of course, if you have any good suggestions..."
Karen?
Karen chuckled, taking off his robe and hanging it on a hanger. "Me? I'll probably just wear a mask as a token gesture? Or maybe pretend to be invisible?" He made a small joke, then sat down beside them. "Have you come to a conclusion?"
"No!" Wesley cried out. "Fabian just wants to be a plant, Ernesto finds it boring, and you, Cullen, have even less interest! Have we Ravenclaws used all our wisdom for something else?"
"Perhaps it would make more sense to use it in Professor Flitwick's Charms class," Fabian muttered to himself.
"Ah! That's right!" Wesley suddenly remembered, "During Charms class, Professor Flitwick said there would be a 'little surprise' tomorrow to celebrate Halloween, and we all need to be there on time! I wonder what it is? Are we going to throw pumpkins at each other using spells?"
"Professor Flitwick may be short, but he always has excellent taste," Ernesto said, unusually expressing a hint of anticipation.
This should be an interesting practical activity.
Karen listened to his companions' relaxed chatter, feeling the warmth of the fireplace and the festive atmosphere inside, and his tense nerves relaxed slightly. He picked up a notebook, pretending to flip through it, but his thoughts drifted to the auditorium the following evening. Professor Flitwick's little surprise?
A big gift from the Weasley twins? And the real "surprise" hidden under the headscarf? This Halloween is destined to be anything but peaceful; it's just unknown whether it will be as peaceful as before.