擺在麥米奈娃桌上的連署信以及生日會的活動計畫,足以證明這些學生對這件事的認真程度。80Please respect copyright.PENANAs0ZgBxU4fc
80Please respect copyright.PENANAtUoZXZhdL5
麥米奈娃板著臉,望向站在她辦公桌前的西追與安琪拉,神情肅穆,眼裡卻有一絲無奈笑意——其實她正努力壓下微微翹起的嘴角。80Please respect copyright.PENANAYnVVV57ag4
80Please respect copyright.PENANAUbnowpqd0B
「知道了,我會替你們跟聖蒙果申請,但要切記人數不可超過十人。」她說。80Please respect copyright.PENANASXRwohKepp
80Please respect copyright.PENANAPdBcUXFr2c
儘管有些哭笑不得,麥米奈娃仍不得不佩服他們的毅力,也為他們對朋友的忠誠感到窩心。80Please respect copyright.PENANATHO1Bs1XED
80Please respect copyright.PENANAklXBamXBv5
這些赫夫帕夫的孩子總在這種時候特別突出耀眼——80Please respect copyright.PENANAoMiM72VTtP
80Please respect copyright.PENANAeARsFmbb1J
「請問可以十五個人嗎?大家都想去看她。」西追突然問道,她微微抬眉。80Please respect copyright.PENANA9xJOVPRDlv
80Please respect copyright.PENANA3yQkQHyDJa
「⋯⋯我會幫你們問問看。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAciP9iB5arX
80Please respect copyright.PENANAY81qibPtgE
西追和安琪拉聞言,心滿意足地道謝後轉身離開。這位嚴厲的教授目送他們堅毅的身影關上辦公室大門,終於不再壓抑嘴角的笑意。80Please respect copyright.PENANAEqu802uN7w
80Please respect copyright.PENANAoJlZLcvANe
——嗯,而且還挺厚臉皮的。80Please respect copyright.PENANAOqsU8VhqPh
80Please respect copyright.PENANAk3vgICy59U
80Please respect copyright.PENANA9Bdzma3EEq
80Please respect copyright.PENANAuWCdUJTroh
雖然西追和安琪拉做到這個份上,心裡是勢在必得,但在不苟言笑的麥教授面前仍難免緊張。關上辦公室大門後,兩人同時鬆了口氣,邁步朝下個目的地走去。80Please respect copyright.PENANA4gzYZyV3MS
80Please respect copyright.PENANAPVb2CdupkD
克萊拉和他們約好了,下午五點半在圖書館門口見面。80Please respect copyright.PENANAikZx6HIEgc
80Please respect copyright.PENANAmsZbjLQiKe
抵達時已近傍晚,館外大廳逐漸點起燈火。兩人走下樓梯就看見克萊拉、安東尼以及諾拉.法利倚在中央雕像噴泉談話。80Please respect copyright.PENANAUVqk0LCjnn
80Please respect copyright.PENANAJLX3ERgMZV
氣氛不太對勁。80Please respect copyright.PENANAh4vCb4l0Za
80Please respect copyright.PENANAH3HnO60f2l
安東尼雙拳緊握,肩膀繃起,眉頭深鎖,眼中翻湧的怒火幾乎要燒穿他凝視著的那人——雙臂抱胸,神情冷淡的諾拉。克萊拉巧妙站在兩人之間,臉上的無奈表露無遺。80Please respect copyright.PENANA5y5mLcApVV
80Please respect copyright.PENANA3Gh9az2vy0
西追和安琪拉腳步一頓,交換了一眼不安。80Please respect copyright.PENANAbvLErqIHOI
80Please respect copyright.PENANAQcsUGX30wK
「只是興趣?」安東尼語氣尖銳,「研究黑魔法還真是個高尚的興趣啊。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAshlSywUAag
80Please respect copyright.PENANAExv746Xjpj
「說不上高尚,斯威夫特,興趣就只是興趣。」諾拉的聲音相當平淡。80Please respect copyright.PENANAZGn0RBHsGa
80Please respect copyright.PENANA76mZse73R9
這份從容看在安東尼眼中,無異於一份鐵證,更是坐實諾拉的城府深沉。他向她踏出威脅性的一步,克萊拉連忙擋在中間,低聲阻止:「安東尼,諾拉是在幫我們。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAxu6Jrf5jlU
80Please respect copyright.PENANAlX8tw5o0KB
他嗤笑了聲:「幫?你又怎麼知道她可信?把黑魔法當興趣的人能有多善良?你太容易相信別人了,她都對你灌了什麼鬼話?」80Please respect copyright.PENANAnYf5CK4NkP
80Please respect copyright.PENANAQc113HbFD0
「我知道我自己在做什麼。」80Please respect copyright.PENANArZrTBKbPqX
80Please respect copyright.PENANAfd5Vkmcwff
「你不知道。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAF3svNZT65w
80Please respect copyright.PENANAgcuoQqMs93
「不要從片面的資訊去評斷一個人,安東尼,這樣不對。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAIp2NHg1cO7
80Please respect copyright.PENANArZ0hB8nvVU
他被這話堵的一滯,安靜下來,神態不悅,看上去仍難以接受諾拉的加入。80Please respect copyright.PENANAVzdHwqgKkH
80Please respect copyright.PENANABSw9FrVePC
西追和安琪拉站在他們身後,尷尬而僵硬。80Please respect copyright.PENANAeHqtuG65aL
80Please respect copyright.PENANAO79azNJFvC
克萊拉注意到他們,走過去輕碰安琪拉的手肘:「走吧,諾拉可以進去禁書區,她說要給我們看一本書。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAHciR5KBek8
80Please respect copyright.PENANAmQgl3sKDRB
諾拉讓他們在圖書館一角等著。80Please respect copyright.PENANAgIwZAoDBLj
80Please respect copyright.PENANAQS5PfGTc4A
他們躲在角落的書架後,眼望她遞出一張石內卜簽名的字條,跟隨平斯夫人瘦削的身影走入禁書區,不久後,她抱著一本書回來。80Please respect copyright.PENANAJmaHY2aQpM
80Please respect copyright.PENANAkJLt0aJ5YI
「不可以抄錄或複製內容。」她將書輕放在桌子中央。80Please respect copyright.PENANAfhYpjij3vM
80Please respect copyright.PENANAgnR9FoY8Ww
「都能研究黑魔法了,你還怕區區一條圖書館規定?」80Please respect copyright.PENANADu3GpHmFNi
80Please respect copyright.PENANAzDmcSivFG4
「這是兩回事,斯威夫特,如果你要一直找麻煩,那我也不會客氣,今天我是為了克萊拉才站在這裡,不是為了跟你吵架。」80Please respect copyright.PENANA1eRB46bPdA
80Please respect copyright.PENANATm7Xzi48HJ
克萊拉用力扯著安東尼的袖子,他瞪她一眼,沒再作聲,只將目光轉向那本書。80Please respect copyright.PENANAxuLQIVtxta
80Please respect copyright.PENANAow2hp1mscN
這本書不厚,反倒顯得輕薄。硬布書皮、金屬書角,提醒他們這確實是本書,而非老舊的日記本。80Please respect copyright.PENANAa8P8vchd4O
80Please respect copyright.PENANAut7i0mXRe4
封面印著《魔力通道與古代咒術之面紗》幾個字,字體古樸,經年卻仍清晰如新。書封無多餘裝飾,只在底端印有小小一行作者之名。80Please respect copyright.PENANAlAJYQbFYpu
80Please respect copyright.PENANAfQku9mb1jH
「我聽克萊拉說了,你們在查魔力衝突和詛咒的事,還有柯林斯——不要激動,斯威夫特,她那天發狂我也在教室,就在我的正前方。這不是秘密,大家都在傳她中了詛咒。」80Please respect copyright.PENANADSOX2R84we
80Please respect copyright.PENANA5N8xCu04EN
諾拉輕撫書本封皮,臉上隱約流露一抹陷入精神高潮的恍惚。80Please respect copyright.PENANAULJGgPMuAV
80Please respect copyright.PENANA5n48wFz8EG
「你們知道的⋯⋯詛咒的本質是『破壞』,用惡念摧毀身體和精神。有的發作快,有的持續時間偏長,無論長短,結局都一樣,就是生命力枯竭。那你們知道80Please respect copyright.PENANAUKJpVMhhdW
哪裡奇怪了嗎?」她望向安琪拉,「夏普,平時的柯林斯看起來怎麼樣?健康嗎?」80Please respect copyright.PENANAlmNCXj7zFp
80Please respect copyright.PENANAmIVd5o9mqO
「她⋯⋯偶爾有點虛弱,但氣色一直不錯。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAXWYXB6MHK4
80Please respect copyright.PENANAeW3IuJdqaA
「我看到的她也是這樣,完全不像長年受詛咒折磨的人。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAvqIMVivV3M
80Please respect copyright.PENANAIBL01i5VmI
「所以?」安東尼催促。80Please respect copyright.PENANAQxYMWWsuAv
80Please respect copyright.PENANAWRQAN9kJXG
「所以,她的『詛咒』可能只是看起來像詛咒的另一種,嗯——狀態。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAR16vPYQAxw
80Please respect copyright.PENANAxpQAjXqKWG
「你是說,她不是中了詛咒?」西追訝然。80Please respect copyright.PENANAAEdW8ml3sX
80Please respect copyright.PENANAjApwTPWnhN
「至少不是我們認知的那種,你們說她體內有其他魔力互相衝突。最大的可能是那些魔力調和出一種平衡,她會讓她看起來沒事,甚至還能用魔法——那麼,就只有另一種魔法足夠強大能辦到這點。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAiM4uawMwJ3
80Please respect copyright.PENANAdKG9KsHOlh
諾拉翻開那本書,一股興奮的潮紅浮於雙頰。80Please respect copyright.PENANAEBrDQaRuIv
80Please respect copyright.PENANA84Y4vQOv14
「古代咒術。」她聲音輕顫,繼續說:「可能有某種外力打破了她的體內平衡,才讓她突然暴走。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAEaTJsrl3zV
80Please respect copyright.PENANALwsQonnJhK
「但鄧不利多說是詛咒。」西追急促地反駁。80Please respect copyright.PENANAHBCQdD2ZEk
80Please respect copyright.PENANA9jEg1jSOak
「大人的話不能全信,他們常常以愛為名,行欺騙之實。」諾拉的態度斬釘截鐵,眾人都靜下來,面色惶恐。80Please respect copyright.PENANAvvomsFp6YK
80Please respect copyright.PENANAQcyu7bzKvH
她緩了緩語調:「但鄧不利多也不是真的騙你,廣義來看,柯林斯的確中了『類詛咒』的咒術。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAWCSVYDD5wJ
80Please respect copyright.PENANAgLBPMReTM0
她指著翻開的書頁上,關於古代咒術如何影響巫師魔力並建立通道的文獻。80Please respect copyright.PENANA5piWGw6Mtn
80Please respect copyright.PENANA07nb9Joq78
「古代咒術的資料很少,這本書的作者走遍世界各地,才拼湊出這些文獻,推論出古代咒術與通道之間的關係。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAXRBo92e7Hp
80Please respect copyright.PENANA6Ninmq7uUH
「我們想知道她為什麼會有魔力衝突,能不能直接講重點?」80Please respect copyright.PENANAVAqpMjodD4
80Please respect copyright.PENANANOYVcxTRFY
諾拉斜睨一眼安東尼,手指點向書頁角落。80Please respect copyright.PENANA0i3hOmSflj
80Please respect copyright.PENANAvqAr4yT39o
「重點就是這張圖,希臘遺跡裡的壁畫,看到了嗎?」80Please respect copyright.PENANABDogFzhuv3
80Please respect copyright.PENANAGvtPH4FBqU
三顆頭的女神將眼珠挖出,植入一名年幼女孩體內。80Please respect copyright.PENANAIdgDNB5xIq
80Please respect copyright.PENANACIflfqRbEe
她的手指輕撫圖下的一列字,低聲唸道:「古希臘泰坦之女神,三叉路的守護者,擁有舉世無雙的法力,萬物變幻僅在她撩指之間。她是咒術之母,她的眼珠亦為靈魂,年幼少女吞噬她黑曜石般的眼珠,使女神永世不滅,少女繼承女神法力,是為黑卡蒂。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAgr4XWBbw6b
80Please respect copyright.PENANAGXxXnasYhr
「——這是黑卡蒂神話,也是柯林斯目前最可能的情況。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAkfV1dmW3Dt
80Please respect copyright.PENANA4Mg6vYI6VZ
安東尼瞪著她:「這只是神話故事。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAFKfKAYwSMo
80Please respect copyright.PENANA0J8vwTf5n4
諾拉抬頭,視線掃過一圈,只見所有人皆神情困惑,她的聲音便回到了平常的冷靜,重新解釋:「古代咒術也是魔法的一種,當中也有能轉移靈魂的魔法。而魔力與靈魂是共生的,所以若有其他魔力存在,代表柯林斯體內還有另一個靈魂。那個靈魂以古代咒術調和兩種魔力,搭建通道,維持住平衡。直到發生了某件事,破壞了通道,裂隙出現,才引發魔力衝突。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAqFUKqiq1uT
80Please respect copyright.PENANAPGKq3lHoDL
「不是,這一點都不合理,艾萊妮怎麼會跟這種稀奇古怪的神扯上關係?」安東尼反駁。80Please respect copyright.PENANAYjatT4da7m
80Please respect copyright.PENANA8npvQJi8S8
「不曉得,當然,這個神只是神話角色。但既然不是真的詛咒,她的狀況就剩這種可能。某個靈魂,曾因為某種機緣使用了靈魂轉移的咒術,附在她身上。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAz4faB8vFab
80Please respect copyright.PENANAMVBaSz5gi0
眾人一時無語。80Please respect copyright.PENANABIxtHjLHf0
80Please respect copyright.PENANAI6h7NUVDDa
最後,只聽見安東尼低低地吐出兩個字——80Please respect copyright.PENANAfG8bsvWHeN
80Please respect copyright.PENANAyKhF71egxl
「⋯⋯胡扯。」80Please respect copyright.PENANA4bKcimLd3U
80Please respect copyright.PENANANB8XVLBntP
諾拉冷冷瞪他一眼。80Please respect copyright.PENANA1SkjKpf8ds
80Please respect copyright.PENANALkmx2P5z5c
「信不信隨你,你們問我問題,我照所知回答,僅此而已。」80Please respect copyright.PENANAmlHtJpgwJX