Chapter 237
Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies stood closest to the door. The latter, a Ravenclaw student and a member of the Quidditch team, still looked dazed, as if he had just been struck by a pie falling from the sky.
He couldn't believe his luck. Favored by fortune, he had somehow become Fleur's dance partner. His eyes remained fixed on her, unable to look away.
Fleur, on the other hand, maintained a cold expression throughout. She walked into the hall absentmindedly, as if the boy beside her were nothing more than a soulless puppet.
"Hermione Granger, you look beautiful tonight!" Viktor Krum praised sincerely, clearly astonished. He had not expected the girl he invited to appear so charming. Her once-bushy brown hair had been smoothed and gathered into an elegant bun, and she wore flowing periwinkle-blue dress robes. Even her demeanor seemed different—perhaps because she was no longer burdened by the stack of books she usually carried.
"Thank you," Hermione replied politely.
The surrounding Gryffindor students stared in shock.
"Hermione, you've really been hiding this," Fred Weasley said, clicking his tongue in amazement.
"Maybe I just found the right hair potion," Hermione answered, slightly embarrassed.
"Weasley, inside now—don't dawdle!" called Minerva McGonagall from within.
"Looks like I have to go. I'm really looking forward to seeing Ron's face when he sees you," Fred said with a grin, before following George Weasley inside.
---
After everyone was seated, Professor McGonagall summoned the champions and their partners, arranging them in pairs before leading them into the hall. They walked toward the large round table at the front where the judges sat, greeted by enthusiastic applause.
The walls shimmered with silver frost, and the ceiling displayed a starry sky. Hundreds of wreaths made from mistletoe and ivy hung overhead. The four House tables had been replaced by a hundred small lantern-lit tables, each seating around ten people.
Ron Weasley sat at one of them.
The moment he saw Hermione, his mouth fell open. He froze completely, as if struck by a Body-Bind Curse.
The Weasley twins struggled to hold back their laughter at his expression.
After a while, Ron muttered bitterly, "We've been classmates for years, and she never dressed up like this. Now that that Quidditch star is here, suddenly her hair's perfect."
---
"Looks like everyone is here," said Albus Dumbledore, smiling.
Igor Karkaroff looked pale, fear flickering across his face. When he saw Krum standing beside Hermione, his expression darkened further.
Olympe Maxime frowned as she looked toward Draco Malfoy and Luna Lovegood, clearly evaluating the girl for whom her prized student had been rejected.
Ludo Bagman clapped enthusiastically, evidently in high spirits.
Notably absent was Bartemius Crouch Sr.. In his place sat Percy Weasley, reportedly filling in due to illness.
---
There was no food on the golden plates yet—only menus.
Dumbledore demonstrated their use.
"Pork chops."
At once, the dish appeared.
The others followed, ordering food aloud.
"Gurdyroot tea!" Luna said without looking at the menu.
A steaming green cup appeared.
"Oh, I thought I could order anything," she sighed.
"That's something your father makes. The house-elves can't provide that," Malfoy said, shaking his head slightly. "Try something else. Their cooking is quite good."
"Steamed Crumple-Horned Snorkack," Luna said dreamily.
Nothing appeared.
"Well… it seems that's true," she said, resting her chin in her hands.
After accepting this, she ordered ordinary food. Malfoy did the same. Between the cold weather and time spent studying, he needed to replenish his energy.
---
At another table, Fleur appeared to be chatting pleasantly—until she glanced toward Malfoy and Luna. Noticing her partner's lack of attention, her expression turned cold instantly, and the surrounding atmosphere seemed to drop in temperature.
The poor Ravenclaw boy panicked, stammering as he tried to recover.
---
"You don't mind teaching me to dance, do you? I don't know how," Luna said after swallowing a piece of buttered bread, leaving a faint trace at the corner of her lips.
"Actually, I don't know either," Malfoy replied with a faint smile. Though Lucius Malfoy had once hired etiquette tutors for him, he had never taken an interest.
---
After the meal, Dumbledore stood and asked everyone to rise. With a wave of his wand, the tables moved aside, clearing the central floor. A raised stage appeared along one wall, filled with instruments—drums, guitars, a lute, a cello, and more.
"Would you like to try?" Malfoy stood, gave a slight bow, and extended his hand toward Luna, gesturing to the dance floor.