第15章
十月的最后一天，霍格沃茨城堡被深秋彻底拥抱。清冽的空气带着刺骨的寒意，从黑湖方向吹来的风卷起满地金红相间的落叶，在庭院和回廊里打着旋儿。天空是一种深沉的铅灰色，铅云低垂，仿佛随时会压下来，白昼变得格外短暂，刚过下午四点，暮色就已迫不及待地漫上城堡的窗棂。城堡厚重的石墙也似乎吸收了这份寒意，摸上去冰凉沁骨。
然而，城堡内部，尤其是大礼堂，却是一派截然相反的、热火朝天的节日景象！万圣节的气息在这里被魔法放大到了极致。
成百上千只巨大的、雕刻着狰狞或滑稽鬼脸的南瓜灯，并非放在地上，而是被施了魔法，稳稳地悬浮在半空中，从礼堂入口一直延伸到教工长桌上方。橘黄色的温暖光芒从南瓜灯内部透出，将整个大厅映照得光影摇曳，充满了神秘而欢快的气氛。有些南瓜灯还会慢悠悠地旋转，或者从雕刻的嘴巴里喷出无害的、带着糖果甜香的彩色烟雾。
无数由魔法变出的黑色蝙蝠（并非真蝙蝠，只是逼真的魔法投影），拍打着无声的翅膀，在漂浮的南瓜灯之间灵巧地穿梭、滑翔，形成一片片流动的阴影，引得低年级学生阵阵惊呼和欢笑。
代替了平常的普通蜡烛，无数根细长的、燃烧着幽蓝色或惨绿色火焰的魔法蜡烛，如同倒悬的冰棱，从天花板上垂挂下来。这些火焰不仅颜色诡异，还会时不时地“噗”一声爆开一小朵火花，或者拉长成一张鬼脸的形状，旋即又恢复原状。
墙壁上挂着的那些古老挂毯里的人物，今天都换上了稀奇古怪的万圣节装扮——骑士戴上了尖顶巫师帽，贵妇脸上画着夸张的骷髅妆，甚至有几个农夫打扮的人物在挂毯里互相扔着魔法变出的、不会腐烂的南瓜。天花板上，魔法模拟出的乌云翻滚，偶尔还有一道无声的“闪电”划破“夜空”，引来一片兴奋的尖叫。
空气中弥漫着烤南瓜派、热苹果汁、焦糖苹果、香浓肉汤以及各种甜腻糖果的诱人香气，比平时更加浓郁，预示着即将到来的丰盛晚宴。
傍晚时分，索菲亚和她的赫奇帕奇室友们——海伦、米莉森特、苏珊，以及拉文克劳的艾玛·坎贝尔（Emma Campbell），刚刚结束了在温室进行的、略显寒冷的万圣节特别草药课（主要学习了一些在霜冻下依然顽强生长的魔法植物，比如“冰晶薄荷”和“霜冻浆果”）。她们裹紧了校袍，带着一身清冽的泥土和植物气息，迫不及待地冲进温暖喧闹的大礼堂，寻找赫奇帕奇长桌的空位坐下。
“梅林的厚袜子啊！外面冻死我了！” 米莉森特一屁股坐下，夸张地搓着手，对着冻得发红的指尖呵气，“温室里还好，出来那风，简直像刀子！”
"Merlin's thick socks! It's freezing out there!" Millicent plopped down, exaggeratedly rubbing her hands and blowing on her reddened fingertips. "The greenhouse was okay, but that wind outside felt like knives!"
“温室里那株‘霜冻浆果’倒是真应景，” 海伦微笑着说，她鼻尖也有点红，但眼神亮晶晶的，“斯普劳特教授说它的汁液是制作防冻魔药的关键原料之一。可惜我们只能看，不能摘。”
"The 'Frostberry' in the greenhouse was quite fitting though," Helen smiled, her nose also a bit red but her eyes sparkling. "Professor Sprout said its juice is a key ingredient in anti-freezing potions. Too bad we could only look, not pick."
“我更关心什么时候能吃上热乎乎的南瓜派，” 苏珊眼巴巴地望着教工长桌方向，那里家养小精灵们正用魔法将一道道盖着银质餐盖的巨大餐盘精准地传送到各学院长桌上，“闻着香味，我肚子都在抗议了。”
"I'm more concerned about when we can get some hot pumpkin pie," Susan said longingly, gazing towards the staff table where house-elves were magically delivering huge silver-covered platters to each house table. "The smell is making my stomach protest."
艾玛坐在索菲亚旁边，优雅地整理着自己一丝不苟的金色发辫，笑着接话：“别急，苏珊。按照传统，邓布利多校长会在所有幽灵进行完‘惊吓巡游’后才宣布开宴。不过，说真的，Sophia，” 她转向索菲亚，蓝眼睛里带着好奇，“你上次跟我提到的那个关于‘麻瓜万圣节’的习俗，‘Trick or Treat’（不给糖就捣蛋）？听起来比我们这里有趣多了！提着篮子挨家挨户要糖？真难以想象。”
Emma sat beside Sophia, elegantly adjusting her perfectly neat blonde braid, and chimed in with a smile: "Patience, Susan. Tradition dictates that Headmaster Dumbledore won't announce the feast until after the ghosts finish their 'Fright Parade.' But seriously, Sophia," she turned to Sophia, her blue eyes full of curiosity, "that 'Trick or Treat' custom of the Muggle Halloween you mentioned last time? It sounds much more fun than ours! Going door-to-door with baskets for candy? Hard to imagine!"
索菲亚正捧着一杯家养小精灵刚送上来的、热气腾腾的热苹果汁暖手，闻言也笑了：“是啊，艾玛。小孩子们会装扮成各种鬼怪的样子，提着南瓜灯或者袋子，挨家挨户敲门说‘Trick or Treat!’。如果主人给了糖果或者小礼物，就皆大欢喜；如果没给，淘气的孩子可能会恶作剧一下，比如在门上涂肥皂或者扔鸡蛋——当然，只是很小的玩笑。” 她顿了顿，看着礼堂里漂浮的南瓜灯，“不过，论气氛的营造，还是霍格沃茨更胜一筹。这些魔法效果，麻瓜世界可复制不了。”
Sophia was warming her hands with a steaming mug of hot apple cider just delivered by a house-elf. She smiled at the question: "Yes, Emma. Little kids dress up as all sorts of monsters and ghosts, carry pumpkin lanterns or bags, knock on doors saying 'Trick or Treat!' If the homeowner gives candy or small gifts, everyone's happy; if not, the naughty kids might play a little prank, like soaping the door or throwing eggs—though just small jokes, really." She paused, looking at the floating jack-o'-lanterns in the hall. "But for atmosphere, Hogwarts wins hands down. These magical effects couldn't be replicated in the Muggle world."
“扔鸡蛋？涂肥皂？” 米莉森特瞪大了眼睛，随即咯咯笑起来，“听起来比皮皮鬼的恶作剧温和多了！不过，要我说，还是直接有这么多好吃的等着最实在！” 她指了指长桌上开始出现的前菜：堆成小山的、烤得金黄的南瓜籽，还有插着小旗子、做成迷你幽灵和蝙蝠形状的手指三明治。
"Throwing eggs? Soaping doors?" Millicent's eyes widened, then she giggled. "Sounds gentler than Peeves' pranks! But to be honest, I prefer just having all this delicious food waiting for us!" She pointed to the appetizer
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