Nick's Mistake

Harry suddenly realized that Nicholas's idea for tonight might be shattered.

The ghost named Patrick Delaney Podmore was clearly a level above Nicholas.

Although Nicholas clearly wasn't just targeting the Headless Hunt's necks.

He first set up the stage, and then waited for the Headless Hunt to arrive before starting the meal.

Nicholas's plan was for the Headless Hunt to head straight to the stage, letting them experience the feeling of having their spotlight stolen by Nicholas himself.

Then there are the Headless Hunt, who are sought after by ghosts and boast of their fame, performing on stage to attract the attention of the guests.

Ghosts who haven't had any food since their death are obviously not attracted to food.

This is the second slap in the face Nicholas prepared for them.

Finally, I guess the only thing they'll do is cancel their broken necks so they can't eat properly.

These preparations seem very thorough. Even if reality doesn't develop exactly as Nicholas planned, the Hunters still need to eat.

Moreover, these were all dishes with gravy that Nicholas had specially prepared.

That's why Nicholas still looks so confident.

However, Harry strongly suspected that the ghost named Patrick Delaney Podmore had clearly figured it out.

Because he also wore a confident smile.

But the next second, Harry began to wonder if he was overthinking things.

All members of the Headless Hunt had some fluid leaking from their necks.

They seemed oblivious, continuing to feast heartily.

Nicholas's smile widened as he slowly floated toward the stage, as if preparing to fire on the Hunters.

"Attention everyone, I'm about to begin speaking!" Nearly Headless Nick, shouted as he strode toward the podium and into the cold blue spotlight.

"Is everyone satisfied with their meal?" Nicholas asked with a smile.

He looked at the almost empty plates on the transparent dining table. Except for a fat ghost who was still slowly chewing his food, everyone else had put down their knives and forks.

They all looked at Nicholas, and at the tempting cake not far from him.

Uh-huh.

Nicholas cleared his throat, and when he saw the Headless Hunt, especially the grime on their leader Patrick, the smile in his eyes became even more pronounced.

"Alright, now let's invite the most famous Headless Hunt in the ghost world. Everyone can start eating cake. Oh dear, I forgot, your heads and necks—" Nicholas exaggeratedly covered his mouth and said in a pretentious manner.

To his surprise, Patrick's face was filled with undisguised anger.

"I suppose I can't perform for a ghost like you." Patrick whistled loudly, and the ghost horses trotted up to him and his crew.

"Are you dirty? Do you need my help? I'm not a stingy person, even though you've rejected me from joining your team many times," Nicholas said, feigning concern.

"Oh, that's why you've forgotten the one thing you should never have forgotten!" Patrick rode his ghost horse to the center of the stage.

For some reason, he had an air of authority that didn't need to be angry, and the dirt on his body didn't affect him at all.

"What's wrong? There's still some skin stuck between my head and neck?" Nicholas chuckled dryly.

The ghosts below the stage all looked at them.

"Let's put that aside for now. I have something to ask you. Did Dumbledore help prepare this food?" Patrick changed the subject.

"It's for the anniversary of my death," Nicholas emphasized.

"No, it's for us, the guests who are attending the anniversary of your death!"

"And you, on the other hand, have been deliberately stalling for time, starving everyone, and insisting on waiting for us to arrive!"

Nicholas's expression froze upon hearing this. He could lie and say that he wanted to wait until everyone was gathered before starting the banquet.

But Nicholas isn't that kind of person.

Patrick was clearly aware of this as well.

"Look at this cake!"

"You know that there are living people attending your banquet, right?"

"It's still Harry Potter, the Harry Potter that lets us have food!"

"Now you understand what you should never forget."

Nicholas's face turned pale; he understood immediately.

The ghosts in the audience started discussing it and pointing at Nicholas.

"Look at these lights! And this temperature!"

"Do Harry Potter and his friends have anything to eat?" Patrick pressed on.

"We're not hungry," Ron said loudly, as his stomach rumbled.

"Not hungry? I—" Patrick tried to continue, but Nicholas interrupted him.

"Enough!"

"I really did it to get revenge on you!"

"As revenge for not letting me join the Headless Hunt!"

"So much so that I forgot the true purpose of this dinner party—to bring joy to everyone!"

"It doesn't matter that this joy is brought by your Headless Hunt. I shouldn't be so petty as to forget that I have living friends who are going to the dinner."

"You know, they gave up a lively Halloween Feast, a feast, living friends, and the famous Skeleton Band just for me."

"And I forgot everything you needed," Nearly Headless Nick, looking at the audience with shame.

"No, Nicholas, you haven't forgotten us. You mentioned us on the cake, after all," Harry quickly said.

"Okay! I was wrong too."

"Hey Nicholas, I didn't mean I didn't let you join our Headless Hunt."

"I meant I shouldn't have stolen your thunder at your party." Patrick took his head off and made a face.

The ghosts below the stage immediately burst into applause, and even the Bloody Baron twitched a few times.

"Thank you, thank you for forgiving me. But Harry, you should hurry up and leave now, or you might still make it to the Halloween Feast."

"Finally, I want to say sorry to everyone."

Nicholas's voice grew fainter as Harry and the others left the room.

"Good, Nearly Headless Nick has realized his mistake."

"I hope there will still be some food left when I get up there," Ron said, his eyes gleaming with hope.

"Ron, I think you don't need to worry about these things."

"There must be a huge pile of food next to Crabbe and Goyle."

"We can help them once we get up there."

"You know, I think they should have lost weight a long time ago."

"It would be great if you could lose Dudley," Draco joked.

"Why did you bring up Dudley?" Ron said, annoyed.

This reminded him of how he had foolishly thought Harry had cursed Dudley, causing Dudley to lose weight.

"You don't know?"

"Crabbe and Goyle also want to Slytherin Team, but they are not strong enough."

"And Dudley, with his muscular physique and the magic that allows him to manipulate flying brooms, became the new goalkeeper," Draco said casually.