Harry's Disappointment

At 6:30, the underground classrooms of Hogwarts were packed with hundreds of milky white, translucent figures, most of whom were wandering around the crowded ballroom.

A small number of ghosts chose to circle around the cake, occasionally sticking out their noses to sniff it.

Ron was doing the same, trying to smell the food.

"Why is there no food at all!" Ron complained, rubbing his rumbling stomach.

"You still don't understand?"

"Judging from the style of the candles along the way, the music, and the fact that Nicholas didn't even remind us to wear more clothes, it's clear he didn't think about preparing anything for the living people attending this banquet." Draco said with a mocking expression, pointing with his right hand to the chandelier above their heads, which was filled with the same small black candles that had been in the passageway earlier.

However, there are more than a thousand of them.

The emitted blue light was not so great that Harry and the others could not see it.

The sun that Harry used for warmth and light has long since disappeared.

This was Harry doing it to save Nicholas's face.

"Nearly Headless Nick, really is Gryffindor, so careless!"

"Harry, I think you shouldn't have canceled your magical sun just now. Let him realize his mistake himself!" Draco said, puffs of steam rising from his mouth.

Clearly, the basement, with so many ghosts, was colder than the hallway.

"Let's forget about it. Nicholas didn't do it on purpose, and we were a bit late too. We made them all wait."

"And Nicholas's cake even has our names on it," Harry replied, puffing out smoke.

Draco and Ron, standing to the side, showed expressions of displeasure.

But they didn't say anything more; Harry's opinion was the most important thing to them.

Being cold or hungry for a while is nothing, and attending the ghost's banquet is a rare opportunity in itself.

Their outburst stemmed from their concern that Harry had been wronged.

So they began to walk slowly around the edge of the dance floor to avoid accidentally passing through the ghost's body, which also helped them move around and keep them from getting too cold.

Harry and his friends passed a group of sullen nuns, a ragged man in chains, and a Fat Friar. A Hufflepuff ghost, cheerful and lively, was chatting with a knight with an arrow stuck in his forehead.

Harry also saw Bloody Baron, which he expected.

Bloody Baron is a ghost of Slytherin. He is emaciated, with vacant eyes and covered in silver blood. The other ghosts are making room for him.

However, for some reason, Harry never saw Helena again.

Didn't Nicholas say she would come?

"Nicholas, isn't Lady Grey here?" Harry walked toward Nicholas, who was still floating high in the air, looking at the surrounding walls.

Nicholas was muttering something excitedly, and as Harry approached, he could hear things like, "Who told you to refuse me? Watch how you eat this."

Harry's approach startled Nicholas so much that his head almost fell off his neck.

"Oh, it's you, Harry. Was it fun?" Before Harry could answer, he laughed exaggeratedly, "It was very interesting, wasn't it? Other ghosts don't have this many ghosts attending their death anniversaries."

"Oh right, you were just asking about Lady Grey, weren't you! Harry, I always forget you're Lady Grey —Ravenclaw you know, there's Bloody Baron in there Harry, you understand?" Nicholas said haltingly.

Harry sighed in disappointment.

Is this what they mean by being destined to meet but not to be together?

Perhaps he should stay with Ginny.

He shouldn't be like Ryan.

Ron, standing behind Harry, clearly had no idea what Harry was thinking.

Otherwise, he would definitely have been unable to resist drawing his wand and pointing it at Harry, unleashing what he considered the most vicious curse.

Ron simply assumed that Harry, like him, found the banquet boring.

"Harry, let's leave after the Headless Hunt arrive," Ron said quickly, seizing the opportunity.

"Yeah, once the Headless Hunt make a fool of themselves, Nicholas will probably be so happy that he won't even notice that we're leaving."

"Just like he doesn't notice the needs of us living guests," Draco added.

"Okay." Harry nodded helplessly.

Ron's advice was good, Draco's words, though harsh, were true.

Moreover, Helena, the person he came here for, was not here.

After a few minutes, Harry and the others were so cold that they couldn't help but cast Warming Charm they had just learned from Draco.

Just as Ron was about to suggest leaving early again...

A clear, long neighing sound suddenly rang out, and twelve ghostly horses suddenly rushed out from the wall of the underground classroom, each with a headless rider on it.

"Very good, quiet! Our friends are all here, my late lords, ladies and gentlemen, let's eat!" Nicholas said happily, almost shouting.

Thunderous applause immediately erupted from all around!

The twelve monstrous horses ran to the center of the dance floor, suddenly stopped, first stood upright on their hind legs, then kicked their hind hooves and charged forward.

At the very front of the horse rode a large, burly demon with a thick beard, his head tucked under his arm, blowing a horn. He leaped off his horse, raising his head high in the air so he could look down on the crowd.

He looked surprised, as if he had never encountered a situation where other ghosts didn't applaud him.

His special skill has attracted the attention of countless ghosts.

But now, his arrival and that of his teammates are like air.

But the next second, he understood.

The transparent dining table, suspended in mid-air beside the dance floor, is now filled with ghosts.

Even next to the Bloody Baron, there were hordes of ghosts.

They were so engrossed in enjoying their food that they didn't even glance at the hunters.

"Nicholas, this is Dumbledore's masterpiece!"

"I never thought I'd live to see this day." He strode toward Nearly Headless Nick, and casually shoved his head onto his neck as he did so.

Without a doubt, he should be Sir Patrick Delaney Podmore of the Headless Hunt.

He was also an aristocrat during his lifetime and was a thorn in Nicholas's side.

"Hey Patrick, aren't you guys going to eat? What, are you not used to it being so quiet around here?" Nicholas said stiffly with a sarcastic tone.

He thought Patrick would mock him again for not being able to join the Headless Hunt.

Or prepare for a performance in the center of the stage to attract guests whose attention has been completely captivated by the food.

"Dumbledore was truly remarkable." Patrick emphasized Dumbledore's name.

"Alright, since the host has spoken, men, let's eat!" At his command, they dismounted and floated towards the dining table.

Nicholas, standing to the side, was trembling with anger. What was more terrifying than the mockery was the cold indifference.

He would rather Patrick mock him than remain nonchalant.

Thank you to Taishi Yumi Xu, drops, Long Tianxiu, and 160710193455856 for their monthly tickets, and to all the other students for their recommendations and subscriptions.