Dusk settled over Hogwarts like ink mixed with moonlight, slowly soaking into the castle's towers and walls and tinting the snow-covered lawn into a blue-violet dream.
Amid that silver glow, Hermione stared warily at the two young witches in front of her. "Wait. What are you two doing? Is something wrong?"
Compared to the somewhat shy Ginny, Fleur was much bolder. She nodded, her face slightly red, but still gathered her courage and looked seriously at Harry beside Hermione. "Harry, will you be my partner for the Yule Ball?"
Harry shook his head and refused. "Sorry, Fleur. I already have a partner. It's Hermione."
Fleur did not lose heart. Instead, she tried again. "No, Harry. I think you need a better partner, someone like me."
Hermione was furious. She clenched her hands and demanded, "What makes you think you're better than me?"
Fleur did not explain much. She simply straightened with unmistakable confidence, and that one movement explained everything.
Hermione froze completely. She lowered her head and looked down. Although she could see that she was no longer entirely without shape, compared to Fleur, who had Veela blood, the difference was still far too great.
Fleur lifted her chin slightly with the air of a victor. "Well? Harry, I'm much better than a young witch who still has a little growing up to do. Maybe after the dance, we can find somewhere quiet on the grounds and have a nice little chat, just the two of us."
This time, not only Hermione, but even Ginny beside them flushed bright red as she stared at Fleur.
Fleur was two or three years older than them, after all, and her personality was much bolder and more outgoing. Her words had a great impact on the two younger witches.
Ginny lowered her head in disappointment and looked at the tips of her shoes. Nothing blocked her view at all, which only made her even sadder. It seemed that not only could she not compete with Fleur, she could not even compete with Hermione.
She was simply too young. She had suffered a huge disadvantage!
Hermione was truly flustered and angry. She stomped hard and snapped, "You, you really are a shameless witch."
Fleur did not mind at all. She lowered her head, narrowed her eyes slightly, and said disdainfully, "I'm only like this with Harry. Of course, you could do the same, but you simply don't have the confidence for it."
Hermione's cheeks reddened with anger. She clenched her fists and said loudly, "Who says only you can do that? I can too! Come on, Harry. Let's ignore them!"
But Fleur clearly would not let the two of them leave so easily and blocked their way.
This time, however, she did not look at Hermione. Instead, she stared closely at Harry and asked, "Harry, since Hermione beat me to becoming your partner, I won't fight for that anymore. But after you dance with Hermione, there will be time in between. You absolutely must invite me to dance with you."
Unlike trying to steal someone else's partner, this was a perfectly normal invitation. Even Hermione could not find anything to say in refusal.
Harry nodded. "Of course. I will."
Ginny, standing to the side, hurriedly jumped up to draw Harry's attention. "And me! And me too!"
After seeing that Harry agreed to that as well, Ginny was very happy and was just about to leave. At that moment, Fleur beside her said sadly, "Ah, then what should I do for the first dance? I don't want to dance with those childish young wizards."
Before meeting Harry, Fleur might still have thought there were a few fairly outstanding boys among her peers. But after meeting Harry, she had seen the best wizard her age, and after that comparison, she immediately lost interest in those young wizards.
Hearing Fleur's words, Hermione, who was still angry, mocked her loudly. "Maybe you can invite Ginny to be your Yule Ball partner. I think the two of you seem to have a very good relationship right now."
She had only meant to taunt her, but she had not expected Fleur's eyes to light up. Fleur placed both hands on Ginny's shoulders and said happily to the somewhat bewildered Ginny, "That's right. Beautiful Miss Ginny, would you be willing to be my partner for the Yule Ball?"
Ginny nodded instinctively. "Of course…"
Harry had thought that, after Fleur and Ginny, today's farce would finally be over. But to his surprise, there was another commotion involving Hermione.
The handsome and sturdy Krum had appeared beside them at some unknown point. Under their surprised gazes, he walked up to Hermione and asked, somewhat shyly, "Miss Granger, may I invite you to be my partner for the Yule Ball?"
"Wait, me?" Hermione was a little surprised. After all, Krum was an outstanding wizard and also a famous Quidditch star.
She had never expected Krum to invite her. They had never even spoken to each other before.
Hermione shook her head without hesitation and refused. "Sorry, Krum. I already have my own partner. It's Harry."
After being rejected, Krum looked somewhat disappointed. Once he learned that Hermione's partner was Harry, however, he nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. Only an excellent wizard like Harry is worthy of such a beautiful witch."
With that, he did not pester her any further and left cleanly.
Harry reached out, placed his hand on Hermione's bushy hair, and gently stroked it with a smile. "Hermione is also a very charming witch."
Hermione lifted her chin and, without making it too obvious, glanced toward Fleur with pride. "Of course!"
This Christmas was different from usual. It was the liveliest day Hogwarts had seen in recent years.
As evening drew near, Harry put on the dress robes he had prepared long ago. The outfit was black overall, in the style of a medieval court ensemble. Unlike Muggle dress robes, however, it was dotted with tiny points of starlight, making it look as if it had been woven from a field of stars.
Ron looked at Harry with envy. "Harry, your dress robes look amazing. Mine are really awful."
His robes had been chosen for him by Mrs. Weasley. They did indeed look rather ugly, and instead of looking like something a gentleman would wear, they looked more like something meant for a lady.
Harry carefully examined Ron's dress robes, thought for a moment, then drew his wand and waved it lightly.
Ron's robes immediately changed rapidly. In just a short while, they transformed into an entirely new style, looking much better overall.
Ron looked in the mirror at his handsome reflection and said happily, "Thank you so much, Harry. You really are the best."
The two left the dormitory and headed toward the Great Hall, where they met up with their partners.
When Harry saw Hermione, he froze slightly, genuinely startled.
She did not look like Hermione at all. She had done something to her hair. It was no longer bushy and untamed, but smooth and glossy, pulled back into an elegant bun at the back of her head.
She was wearing robes made of flowing fabric in a soft periwinkle blue, and somehow, even her whole bearing had changed. She looked elegant and noble, like a princess in a royal palace.
When she saw Harry, she smiled too. Of course, she was a little nervous, but that only made her look even more adorable.
Noticing that Harry was studying her, Hermione lowered her head nervously and asked in a quiet voice, "Well, Harry? Do I look a little strange right now?"
Harry did not hide his praise in the slightest. "No. You look beautiful right now, Hermione. Like a princess."
Harry was not the only one who thought so. Ron, Ron's partner Parvati, and even some young Slytherins were surprised. They had not expected Hermione to look so beautiful after dressing up.
Harry bowed slightly and invited her, "Then, charming Miss Granger, shall we go?"
Hermione's cheeks flushed red, but she still placed her hand in Harry's without hesitation. "Of course. Let's go, Mr. Potter."
When the two walked into the Great Hall, they found that it looked completely different from before.
The enchanted starry ceiling that had once hung high above had become a swirling Christmas snow globe. Countless tiny silver snowflakes drifted down, only to turn into sparkling gold dust when they touched the guests' shoulders.
Twelve fir trees, each as tall as three stories, rose from the floor. Their branches were covered in magical candles that blinked like eyes, and above their tops circled phoenixes woven from starlight. Wherever their tail feathers swept past, bright red poinsettias bloomed.
The dining tables had vanished, replaced by crystal trays floating in the air, laden with steaming roast turkey and Christmas pudding drizzled with icing.
At the very center was a wide ballroom. A Mirror Charm had been cast over the floor, reflecting the glittering decorations overhead, yet it felt as soft as velvet underfoot.
As soon as Harry entered the Great Hall, Dumbledore spotted him.
Dumbledore waved, signaling for Harry and Hermione to come over.
By the time Harry and Hermione arrived in front of the head table, the other three champions had already been waiting for a while.
Beside Krum was a fourth-year Hufflepuff witch. Cedric was with a girl named Cho Chang. What surprised Harry quite a bit was that Fleur had truly chosen Ginny as her partner.
Two pretty girls acting as each other's partners drew everyone's attention. There were even more eyes on Fleur and Ginny than on Harry.
Once almost everyone had arrived, Dumbledore waved his wand, raising the stage in the center, and transformed a complete set of classical instruments beside it.
He smiled at everyone and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I believe it is time for us to dance."
The four champions and their partners stepped into the dance floor first.
Harry looked at the beautiful Miss Granger before him and extended his hand to her across the star-strewn dance floor. "Relax, Miss Granger. It's only a dance. I'll guide you. There's no need to be nervous."
Under Dumbledore's direction, the dance music flowed out like melted toffee, and the tips of Harry's dress shoes brushed the floor with perfect precision.
When he led Hermione into a turn, the magical chandeliers cast rippling spots of light over her chestnut curls, making her flushed cheeks look even softer from nervousness.
Looking at the lovely face before him, Harry could not help feeling a little nervous too.
Hermione had a beauty that was not inferior to Gwen or Wanda, but younger, softer, and more delicate, like a drop of dew on a morning flower.
His heartbeat quickened a little. It was the feeling of his heart being moved.
As their steps became smoother, Hermione gradually relaxed. Harry guided her across the mirror-like dance floor, their reflections beneath them sometimes overlapping and sometimes separating.
When the music reached its climax, he suddenly dipped her until she was nearly touching the floor. Hermione cried out softly and grabbed his shoulders. Their eyes met, their faces very close together, and the noise around them gradually blurred until only their mingled breathing remained.
At that very moment, the music finally ended. The many young witches and wizards who had witnessed Harry's superb dancing all cried out in amazement.
At this moment, the two of them were like the sun, outshining everyone else.
After the first song ended, the others also entered the dance floor.
However, the very center of the dance floor was still reserved for the four champions.
Among the four champions, Harry and Hermione were the pair closest to the center.
It was only now that the other young witches and wizards learned that Harry was also skilled at dancing.
Whether it was the waltz, the cha-cha, or other styles of dance, Harry performed them with ease, and he could even help Hermione correct her posture.
It had to be said that, at that moment, every young witch was terribly envious of Hermione.
They also wanted to dance at the very center of the floor, like a princess.
When the Yule Ball was halfway through, Harry and Hermione were still dancing, without even repeating the same patterns.
At that point, the other young witches finally could not hold back anymore and walked toward the two of them.
At first, several young witches invited Harry to dance, but Harry politely declined them all.
Soon, however, two familiar figures appeared in front of Harry and Hermione.
They were Ginny and Fleur.
Before the ball, Harry had promised to dance with them at the Yule Ball.
Now it was time for Harry to fulfill that promise.
No matter how reluctant Hermione was, she still let Harry go, since this was something he had already agreed to.
So, right after that, Harry began dancing with Fleur.
Fleur was wearing a pale blue court-style gown today, which made her already graceful figure look even more elegant.
With her Veela blood, Fleur looked extraordinarily beautiful today and had attracted the eyes of many wizards.
When they saw that even she had begun dancing with Harry, the boys from the other two schools became somewhat dissatisfied.
But every time they tried to speak, they were immediately snapped at by nearby Hogwarts students or by witches from their own schools.
"Are you as outstanding as Harry?"
"Harry earned this. What right do you have to be jealous?"
"Honestly, the confidence some guys have. It's embarrassing."
Fleur also heard some of the quiet slander from certain wizards and could not help looking at Harry curiously. "Did you hear that? What do you think of what they're saying?"
Harry raised an eyebrow and looked at Miss Veela in front of him, who had clearly gotten what she wanted and yet still wanted to stir up trouble. He asked in return, "Miss Fleur, shall we end the dance here, then? If we do, I imagine the wizards from your school won't be jealous anymore."
Fleur's expression stiffened slightly, but she quickly adjusted. "Of course not. Compared to those strange wizards, I would much rather be with Harry."
It had to be said that Fleur, with her Veela blood, truly understood how to charm others. Although Harry remained in control while they danced, she kept looking for chances to regain the initiative and tried to move closer to him whenever possible.
If Harry had not had his experiences across the multiverse, even with his powerful strength, these little gestures might have worked on him and made him fall for the Veela girl before him.
But during his time in the multiverse, Harry had already been through countless battles of this kind. How could he possibly be affected by such methods?
On the contrary, Fleur ended up making herself blush bright red.
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