The Gryffindor common room was packed. Students filled every corner, talking over one another as they celebrated Harry's victory in the First Task.
Fred and George had somehow persuaded the house-elves to send up trays of food, while Lee Jordan was enthusiastically reenacting Harry's chase with the Hungarian Horntail.
The portrait hole swung open. Victor stepped inside and looked around the room.
"Well, just as expected of you Gryffindors. You lot celebrate loudly."
Hermione turned around. "Victor?" She frowned. "What are you doing in the Gryffindor common room?"
Victor shrugged. "Don't worry about the small details." He glanced around the room. "I doubt anyone's going to notice one Slytherin with this much noise."
Hermione looked around. He wasn't wrong — almost everyone was gathered around Harry.
Harry lifted the golden egg. "So... who wants me to open it?"
"ALL OF US!"
Victor immediately covered both ears. Hermione looked at him in confusion. "Why are you covering your ears?"
Victor simply nodded toward the egg. "Open it."
Harry released the clasp. The golden egg sprang open.
An earsplitting, screeching wail burst from inside it, sounding like hundreds of banshees screaming together.
Every conversation in the common room stopped instantly. Students cried out in shock, clapping their hands over their ears.
Several dropped the food they were holding while others stumbled backward from the table.
Harry winced and hurriedly slammed the egg shut. The terrible noise vanished as suddenly as it had begun.
For a few seconds, the room remained completely silent.
Ron slowly lowered his hands from his ears. "What in the name of Merlin was that?"
Nobody answered. Everyone simply stared at the innocent-looking golden egg resting on the table.
Victor calmly lowered his hands. "I had a feeling it wouldn't be something pleasant."
Hermione looked from the egg to Victor. "So that's why you covered your ears."
"It's called a clue. I assumed the Tournament wouldn't make it easy."
"Well, I'll be going now," Victor said as he headed toward the portrait hole. "Let's hope those two make up before Christmas. I don't want to spend the holidays listening to them bickering."
Hermione smiled knowingly.
"I hope so too."
Victor climbed through the portrait hole and disappeared into the corridor.
---
The next day, the fourth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins gathered in the Transfiguration classroom. Professor McGonagall stood before the class and waited until everyone was quiet.
"Before we begin today's lesson, I have an announcement. As you all know, Hogwarts is hosting the Triwizard Tournament this year. As part of the Tournament's traditions, we will be holding the Yule Ball on Christmas night."
Excited whispers immediately spread through the room.
"The Yule Ball is a formal dance and is open to fourth-years and above. Younger students may attend only if they are invited by an older student."
"The Ball is an opportunity for us to socialize with our guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, and I expect every Hogwarts student to conduct themselves with dignity and courtesy."
She paused before adding the announcement everyone had been waiting for. "The Triwizard champions and their partners will open the ball."
Ron looked as though someone had just told him he had to wrestle a troll. The girls, however, looked considerably more interested.
"Students attending the Ball are expected to wear dress robes." A few boys groaned quietly. "And," she said firmly, "you are expected to have partners."
The classroom instantly became much quieter.
"You have several weeks to make your arrangements. I advise you not to leave it until the last minute."
At those words, many of the girls discreetly glanced around the room. More than a few pairs of eyes settled on Victor.
Despite his usually expressionless face and reserved personality, there was no denying that he was handsome — combined with being one of the top students in the year, he naturally drew attention.
Victor, meanwhile, felt an odd sensation. ...Why do I suddenly feel like I'm being watched?
He slowly looked around the classroom. The moment his gaze swept across the room, several girls immediately looked away and pretended to be paying close attention to McGonagall's lecture.
Strange...
Victor turned his head toward Hermione. She was sitting beside him, shifting uncomfortably in her seat as she noticed the girls glancing in their direction, keeping her eyes fixed on her textbook and pretending not to notice.
...Sigh. Teenage emotions.
A few seats away, Harry had seen the entire exchange.
He looked at Victor, then at the girls who kept stealing glances at him, and couldn't help giving a bitter smile. Ron had noticed it too — and for some reason, it only made him feel worse.
He leaned slightly toward Harry. "You know..."
"What?" Harry asked.
"I think I've finally figured out why none of them are looking at us."
Harry followed Ron's gaze to Victor and sighed. "...Yeah."
Ron folded his arms. "It's not fair."
Harry glanced sideways at him. "You sound jealous."
Ron didn't even try to deny it. "I am."
Harry was about to laugh, but after looking at Victor once more, his smile faded. "...Actually..." He scratched the back of his head. "So am I."
The two boys looked at each other for a moment before quietly facing the front of the classroom again, both deciding there was no point saying anything else.
*****
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