Chapter 192
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The Durmstrang students removed their heavy fur cloaks and looked up at the enchanted, star-filled ceiling with curiosity.
A few of them even picked up the golden plates and goblets, examining them carefully as if they were rare artifacts.
After such a long journey, a proper meal was clearly the priority.
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At the staff table, Filch busied himself adding extra chairs.
For the occasion, he had even put on his old, musty tuxedo.
Many students noticed that he placed four additional seats, two on each side of Dumbledore.
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Once everyone had taken their places, the professors entered and sat down.
At the very end came Dumbledore, Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime.
The moment Madame Maxime appeared, the Beauxbatons students rose to their feet in perfect unison.
Their discipline was evident.
Some Hogwarts students snickered quietly.
They weren't used to such strict formality—Dumbledore rarely enforced anything like that.
The Beauxbatons students remained standing until Madame Maxime took her seat beside Dumbledore.
Only then did they sit.
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Dumbledore remained standing.
The hall gradually fell silent.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts, and—especially—our distinguished guests," he said warmly.
"It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Hogwarts. I hope you will find comfort and happiness here."
A Beauxbatons girl, still wrapped tightly in her scarf, let out a faint, mocking snort.
"No one's forcing you to stay," Hermione muttered under her breath, annoyed.
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"The tournament will officially begin after the feast," Dumbledore continued.
"I now invite you all to eat and drink as if you were at home."
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The banquet that followed was more extravagant than usual.
Even compared to Christmas or Halloween feasts, this one stood out.
The house-elves had clearly gone all out.
Foreign dishes appeared alongside familiar ones, filling the tables with variety.
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"Is this seat taken?"
A Slytherin boy in his fifth or sixth year looked up irritably.
He had been eating peacefully when a pleasant voice interrupted him.
"Of course it's taken. I'm sitting here, aren't I?" he snapped.
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"That's a pity."
The tone was soft—almost disappointed.
Yet something about it made the boy pause.
He looked up.
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It was a Beauxbatons girl.
As she removed her scarf, her long silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
Her blue eyes shone brightly, and her features were strikingly beautiful.
"Is there really someone here?" she asked again.
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"N-no… there isn't…"
The boy's face flushed red.
He quickly stood up.
"You must've arrived late. I can find another seat—my classmates won't mind."
"Thank you," she said.
But she had already taken the seat.
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Trying to maintain composure, the boy lingered briefly—then gave up and left.
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"Could you pass me the French fish stew? Thank you… Malfoy."
Fleur tilted her head slightly as she spoke, as if this were their first meeting.
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Malfoy handed her the dish.
"You might want to restrain your charm a little," he said calmly.
There was a reason for it.
Fleur's presence drew attention—especially from the boys.
And not always in a way that helped her socially.
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"I don't care," she replied, flipping her silver hair.
But her tone lacked complete conviction.
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"And… I owe you an apology for last time."
She placed the plate down without touching it.
"It was just a misunderstanding," Malfoy said.
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"No," she said plainly.
"I did it on purpose."
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Malfoy paused.
Even if he had suspected it, her direct admission was unexpected.
There wasn't a clear way to respond.
Anger didn't seem justified.
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"…You should eat," he said, changing the subject.
He had already noticed the number of eyes on them increasing.
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Fleur, now without her headscarf, had become the center of attention.
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"Why is she sitting at the Slytherin table?" Ron muttered, irritated.
"Doesn't she know what kind of people are there?"
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Harry frowned slightly.
"This feels familiar…"
Then he remembered.
"I saw them talking during the holidays. At that ice cream place—he even used a fake name."
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"Wait—he lied to her?" Ron's eyes lit up.
As if he had discovered something important.
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"Even if he did," Hermione said sharply,
"I doubt she'd like someone staring at her like an idiot."
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The feast continued.
But the attention around Malfoy and Fleur did not fade.