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"The Yule Ball is a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament. On Christmas Eve, we will spend a pleasant evening with our guests. The ball is open only to students in fourth year and above. However, if you wish, you may invite a younger student."
"At Headmaster Dumbledore's request, I will provide basic instruction in dancing and etiquette in the Great Hall every Thursday afternoon. I do not want any of you doing anything that embarrasses Hogwarts, so everyone must attend."
"Also, each champion needs a partner. The Yule Ball is opened by the champions."
Professor McGonagall looked at Harry when she said the final sentence. This Transfiguration class was shared by Gryffindor and Hufflepuff.
In the span of one lunch break, news that a ball would be held at Christmas spread through all of Hogwarts.
The champions, in particular, had to open the dance. As a result, almost every young witch of eligible age, and even some who were not, began watching Harry.
They hoped to become his partner.
If not for a young lady's reserve, some of them might already have tried to seize him.
As for why they did not target Mr. Dursley?
Would they dare compete with the lioness of Gryffindor?
Besides, Mr. Dursley had publicly invited Miss Granger to the ball at the first opportunity, and she had accepted.
Day by day, the weather gradually grew colder. Summer and autumn passed, and winter arrived.
Young witches accepted invitations one after another. Everyone began preparing for the Christmas ball.
Except Dudley.
He still studied steadily every day and asked Professor Moody for advice whenever he had time. He had not even attended Professor McGonagall's dance lessons, because in his life-skill list lay a quiet entry:
Dancing LV5.
As the Yule Ball drew closer, many fourth-year students had found partners. Of course, some students were still alone.
For example:
"Harry, have you decided who to invite?" Dudley asked during morning training.
Harry shook his head. If he had to invite a dance partner, he would rather fight another dragon.
"That girl Cho Chang is not very suitable for you. You can consider someone else."
Perhaps Harry's unlucky encounters had been too frequent before, because Cho Chang now stayed far away whenever she saw him. Even when Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had class together, she hid in the corner farthest from Harry. Whatever fate they might have had was basically gone.
Speaking fairly, Dudley thought Pansy or Daphne would be quite good. Pansy had a slightly pug-like face, but overall, she could still be counted as pretty. Daphne had good looks as well, and her figure was already beginning to show promise. Choosing her would at least not be a bad investment for the future.
"You really should hurry. There are not many people left now," Ron said, nodding in agreement.
"You still have the nerve to talk about other people, Romantic," Draco said with a roll of his eyes. "With Harry's fame, finding a partner would be easy. He can choose almost anyone. You are the one people should worry about. Why are you not anxious at all?"
Ron glared at him in dissatisfaction.
"You have not invited anyone either."
"Sorry to disappoint you, Rocha. I found a suitable partner a week ago."
Ron immediately grew curious.
"Who?"
"Astoria Greengrass. She is one year below us and a very lovely girl."
When Draco mentioned Astoria, the corner of his mouth lifted without him noticing.
"I will tell you something else. Neville has also found his partner. It is Miss Luna Lovegood, the new member who joined the disciplinary group not long ago."
"Oh, I knew those two were always sneaking off mysteriously together."
Ron gossiped without any self-awareness, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
Draco glared at Ronald Weasley, who remained utterly unaware of his own situation.
"Even Crabbe and Goyle found partners yesterday."
Ron froze.
Only then did Ron finally react. Shock appeared on his face, and he grabbed Draco by the shoulders. Just as Draco thought Ron had finally understood and was about to find a partner, Ron said maliciously,
"Tell me quickly. Were the girls who chose them also huge? Does Hogwarts even have witches in that weight class?"
"..."
There was no saving him. Draco was tired. Let him do whatever he wanted.
At night, near the Forbidden Forest.
"Harry, Dursley, during this period, you have learned many Dark spells from me. You can also freely control Fiendfyre now."
Ever since the day they began learning Fiendfyre, the two had often come to Moody for additional lessons.
In theory, an ordinary wizard who wanted to master Fiendfyre could not do so without three to five years. Yet the two of them had managed it in half a year, and they had nearly emptied Moody's stored magical knowledge as well.
Their learning speed was almost unbelievable, especially Dudley's.
If Harry's progress was still visible to the naked eye, then Moody could no longer tell how far Dudley had advanced. After learning the result of Dudley's first task, Moody had grown faintly wary of him.
"I have nothing left to teach you," Moody said, then took another drink from the flask at his waist. "Spend the remaining time digesting that knowledge properly, and you can become excellent Aurors."
Speaking of it, Moody felt somewhat depressed. Much of the knowledge he had taught had taken him enormous effort to learn from that person, yet now he had passed it to these two so easily. It felt somewhat unfair.
The main issue was Dursley. Many of his questions were too sharp, and every time, he asked straight at the heart of the matter, as though he would not stop until he had emptied Moody completely.
But knowing something was one matter. Fully mastering it was another. Much of that knowledge had only become clear to Moody after many years.
"Professor Moody, do you truly have nothing left to teach us?"
Dudley suddenly spoke, as though trying to confirm that Moody was not deceiving him. In reality, he was looking at Moody with a strange gaze, as if something else were hidden behind it.
Harry, who had grown up with Dudley and understood him very well, immediately reacted.
That tone. That expression.
This was the prelude to Big D preparing to make a move against someone.
He neither asked nor spoke. He chose silence.
"Yes. You have already learned every spell I know."
Moody did not notice that unusual gaze. He only wanted to end this teaching arrangement as soon as possible, and Dudley's repeated confirmation made him faintly impatient.
"You have even recorded the incantations of the three Unforgivable Curses."
"I have nothing left to teach you."
Moody sounded like a teacher who had passed all his knowledge to his students.
"No, no, no. You still have one final thing to teach us."
Dudley looked at Moody and spoke slowly.
"What?"
"Practical combat."
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