Harry Potter's words sent a shock straight through everyone present.
No one could have imagined that the Gryffindor Champion's chosen target would turn out to be a witch from their sworn enemy, Slytherin.
And not just any witch, but Pansy Parkinson, one of Slytherin's key figures…
The only person who managed to stay calm was probably Ron Weasley, who already knew what was going on.
Noticing Ron's reaction, George and Fred, standing not far away, were so angry they practically bounced on the spot. Not only had they been completely in the dark, they were furious that Ron hadn't stopped Harry in the first place.
In short.
Everyone's gaze now shifted back and forth between Harry Potter and Pansy Parkinson.
To be honest, putting aside house loyalties and personal relationships, purely in terms of looks, most people could understand Harry Potter's choice.
Pansy's noble background gave her an aloof, untouchable aura, like a high mountain flower. Paired with her strong presence and that undeniably cute face, it created a strikingly alluring contrast.
While her height did bother Pansy herself from time to time, her figure, far more developed than that of most girls her age, only made her more popular. After all, the whole youthful face with a… well, that sort of figure had no shortage of admirers among wizards.
Really, if Pansy weren't always by Draco's side and wasn't a Slytherin, the number of people lining up to invite her to the ball might not have fallen short of Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons.
That said, Pansy had absolutely no interest in opportunities like this to prove her appeal.
So now, after Harry Potter clearly explained why he was here, Pansy's first reaction wasn't pride in her own charm, nor was it worrying about how to reject him as coldly as possible.
Instead…
"Draco, I haven't said a single word to that guy in private! And I have no idea why he'd ask me to be his dance partner!"
Under everyone's strange stares, Pansy jumped straight in front of Draco and began explaining herself.
She looked genuinely anxious, as if she were afraid Draco might misunderstand her.
Nearby, Astoria, who had already guessed what was going on, first glanced at Pansy's flustered, panicked little face, then looked over at Harry Potter standing not far away, his face dark with frustration.
For reasons she couldn't quite explain, Astoria suddenly felt a faint sense of melancholy spreading through the dining hall…
...
The Draco of the past would never have bothered to consider whether the other party was some so-called savior of the wizarding world, nor would he have cared that this was Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where student conflicts were strictly forbidden.
That domineering Draco would have drawn his wand without hesitation and blasted the other person with magic.
But the Draco of today seemed to have learned how to consider others' feelings. Or perhaps it was better to say that the once razor-sharp blade had finally gained a sheath.
"You…"
Draco glanced down at Pansy, who was standing firmly in front of him, and at the same time felt Hermione's cold little hand tightly gripping his right hand. The movement he had just started came to a halt.
The unspoken understanding between the three of them made Draco immediately grasp what the two girls were trying to say.
"Calm down."
"Don't bother with that idiot."
Pansy and Hermione were worried that if Draco acted next, he might be expelled, forced to leave Hogwarts and lose the protection it offered.
At least for now, Hogwarts was far safer than anywhere else. Even without certain white wizards present, it was still an exceptionally secure place…
At the same time, the atmosphere on the two sides was strikingly different.
If Goyle and Crabbe were eagerly waiting for Draco to make a move, then on Harry Potter's side, grim expressions dominated, mixed with regret and unease.
Had they known Harry Potter came here with intentions like this to provoke Slytherin, they would never have rushed over to join the spectacle. But now, trying to withdraw halfway through felt far too late.
After all, Draco had just said he would take all of them on by himself…
Just as Cedric was about to step in and mediate as a prefect, an angry voice lashed through the air like a whip.
"Potter! Malfoy! What do you think you're doing?!"
"…Professor!"
"Professor McGonagall?"
"Who called her?"
"Look over there, isn't that Ginny Weasley standing behind the professor?" The unmistakable fiery red hair behind Professor McGonagall instantly revealed her identity.
It turned out that Ginny Weasley, worried about Harry Potter, had immediately gone to find the Gryffindor Head of House, which was why Minerva McGonagall arrived in such a hurry.
What no one realized was that it was precisely because of Ginny's actions that she hadn't heard Harry Potter's earlier attempt to invite Pansy to be his dance partner.
Otherwise…
"I don't want to know what happened between you, but right now, immediately, everyone is to return to your seats!"
"Yes, Professor!"
"Understood!"
As she spoke, Professor McGonagall swept a furious gaze across all the wizards present.
Her stern, bristling expression was more than intimidating enough. Very quickly, all the students, including Goyle and Crabbe, obediently returned to their seats, and the thick tension from moments earlier vanished without a trace.
In the end, Minerva McGonagall gave Draco and Harry Potter one last, lingering look before turning and leaving without another word. Judging by how hurried she seemed, she clearly had no extra time to punish anyone or investigate what had just happened.
But before she left, Professor McGonagall paused and added one final reminder.
"The Yule Ball is fast approaching. It is a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament and an excellent opportunity to interact with our foreign guests. Do remember to wear your formal dress robes. The ball will be held in the Great Hall on Christmas night, beginning at eight o'clock and ending at midnight."
After a brief pause, Professor McGonagall continued, "However, that does not mean we will relax our expectations of student conduct. If any student brings disgrace upon Hogwarts in any way, I will be deeply disappointed."
Her pointed words and sharp gaze clearly alluded to the conflict that had just occurred, causing many of the young wizards present to lower their heads guiltily.
Of course, this did not include the Slytherins, nor did it cause even the slightest flicker of hesitation in Draco's eyes.