The Great Hall.
The very place that served as the dining hall.
Magical and magnificent, lavish and grand, it was not only the site of the Sorting Ceremony, but also the venue for countless banquets. Before long, it would be transformed into the setting for the Yule Ball.
Looking up at the enchanted ceiling now, it was easy to imagine couples dancing gracefully across the floor in the near future.
But not everyone was in the mood for that…
Bang!
A fist slammed heavily into the table, followed by a hoarse roar filled with anger and frustration.
"Damn it! How did it turn out like this?!"
"Harry…"
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Harry Potter, who had no appetite at all, remained seated where he was.
Staying behind with him were the Weasleys, the family closest to Harry.
Ginny, who had been about to say something to him, was interrupted by George and Fred before she could speak.
"Mm-hmm, that Parkinson girl really is quite charming, isn't she, Fred?"
"Ha, I agree, George. Looks like our Harry enjoys a challenge. That was a Slytherin, after all."
"You two!!"
"Oh no, Ginny, I have to be honest…"
"My dear little sister, you're still a bit young…"
What started out sounding serious quickly went off the rails halfway through. Under Ginny's furious glare, the two grinning Weasley twins finally raised their hands in surrender.
They might love mischief, but seeing that their sister was genuinely upset, they knew when to stop.
At last, after glancing at Ron, who still seemed lost in his own thoughts, Ginny turned her attention back to Harry Potter, who was clearly still simmering with anger.
"Harry, are you serious about this? About inviting a Slytherin to be your dance partner?"
"..."
Ginny's question made Harry instinctively look up. And that single glance caused the irritation on his face to freeze.
What he saw was a Ginny Weasley he had never seen before.
Like her hair, the intensity and seriousness burning in her eyes made Harry avert his gaze without thinking. For a moment, he had no idea how to answer her.
Seeing his reaction, the youngest witch of the Weasley family seemed to understand something. The brown eyes she'd inherited from her mother dimmed slightly.
"This… I'm not getting involved anymore."
In the strange, heavy atmosphere, Ginny tossed out those words, then flicked her long red hair and strode away without looking back.
"Wait, Ginny!"
"Harry… forget it. We'll head out too."
The usually lighthearted Weasley twins cast Harry a complicated look before following after Ginny.
All Harry could do was part his lips slightly, watching the three of them leave in silence.
Though nothing was said aloud, everyone present seemed to understand what it meant.
Well… everyone except Ron Weasley, who was still lost in his thoughts about someone else…
...
Just as Professor McGonagall had said.
This Yule Ball was a traditional event of the Triwizard Tournament. Under normal circumstances, it would be held in the interval between the end of the first task and the beginning of the second.
Its purpose wasn't merely to celebrate the Triwizard Tournament itself, but also to promote friendly exchange between the three schools…
Although two other schools were involved, because this was ultimately a student-centered ball, it wasn't particularly formal or solemn. It lacked the layers of interest and bargaining that filled aristocratic banquets.
That said, it didn't mean the Yule Ball came without rules.
[I. Every student attending must wear formal dress robes.]
[II. The dance floor of the Yule Ball is only open to students in fourth year and above.]
[III. By tradition, each Champion must bring their own partner to lead the opening dance.]
Dress, age, and status.
It almost felt as though something was being implied.
And these three points were essentially the officially stated rules of the Yule Ball…
The Great Lake.
A vast body of water stretching across the southern side of the castle.
Roughly half a mile in diameter, it was where Hogwarts' drainage system ultimately flowed. Beyond that, it was home to the Giant Squid, Grindylows, and a colony of merpeople.
This scenic spot was usually the go-to location for student couples. As long as there were no classes and the weather was decent, it was easy to find groups of young witches and wizards lingering here on quiet dates.
Right by the lakeside, Pansy held a piece of parchment and read its contents aloud.
Written on it were the very three rules of the Yule Ball…
"These are the main things to keep in mind for tomorrow night."
She folded up the parchment and sat back down beside Draco.
The cold grass beneath them and the chilly wind blowing off the lake made the cold-sensitive Pansy instinctively lean closer to Draco. On his other side, as expected, Hermione was already there.
Despite it being winter, none of the three showed any sign of wanting to leave.
Looking out over the wide lake and the dense Forbidden Forest beyond it, they occasionally caught sight of the Giant Squid surfacing to bask. This rare moment of leisure made it hard for Pansy and the others to bring themselves to end it so soon…
Pansy quietly glanced at Draco, who was flipping through A Brief Discussion of Large-Scale Campaigns, a book said to have been found for him by Hermione.
She puffed out her cheeks slightly.
"Did you hear what I just said, Draco?"
"Mm… and?"
"And what do you mean, 'and'? Don't tell me you've forgotten you're a Hogwarts Champion. You're supposed to lead the opening dance at the Yule Ball!"
Whether it was just Draco's imagination or not, he thought he saw a hint of expectation flicker in Pansy's eyes as she spoke.
Beside them, Hermione rolled her eyes with clear annoyance. Strangely enough, she didn't say anything. The small hand that had been secretly playing with Draco's fingertips moments earlier suddenly stilled.
Seeing that Draco still hadn't caught on, Pansy huffed and lightly punched him in the waist with her small fist.
"A dance partner! A dance partner! You haven't found one yet, have you? If you don't have a partner, how are you supposed to open the dance at the Yule Ball?"
Pansy's words were practically the same as saying, Hurry up and ask me to be your dance partner.
After all, if it weren't for the unspoken rule that the invitation had to come from the male, Pansy probably wouldn't have gone about it in such a roundabout way.
Hearing this, Draco paused and instinctively glanced toward Hermione on his other side.
In that instant, he was reminded of the Astronomy Tower, where the one who'd made the first move had been Hermione Granger herself, her cheeks now flushed red from the cold.
Noticing Draco's oddly meaningful look, Hermione, clearly aware of what he was thinking, kicked him in embarrassed annoyance.
Their small exchange, of course, didn't escape the notice of Pansy Parkinson, who was sitting just as close beside them…
...
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