Snap! Snap! Snap!
One by one, the lights blazed back to life. The students, who had already started heading back to their dorms, suddenly froze in their tracks.
"What's going on?" One by one, they grabbed the railings, peering down.
Terry pointed toward the stage. "That bastard Tom disappeared for the entire day. How did he manage to make it back at this specific moment?"
"Damn it. I thought he was too busy today to pull any stunts. How did we end up having to watch Tom peacocking around on the dance floor anyway?"
"FK!" Li Su spat. "And who the hell helped Tom turn the lights on?"
They looked up to see Peeves hovering near the ceiling, nursing several large bumps on his head and looking incredibly wronged.
Look, Peeves didn't want to do it!
But... but...
He'd already been beaten up once. If he didn't help Tom, was he supposed to just wait around for a second beating?
Down below, the fourth-year students covered their mouths.
That girl is so cute... but why have we never seen her before?
Their gazes locked onto Hermione for a solid two seconds before inevitably shifting to the boy beside her.
Tom's emerald eyes seemed to possess a magnetic magic, forcing everyone to center their attention on him.
"Who is that? A fourth year? Or a fifth year?"
Finally, someone noticed the faculty. Professor Dumbledore, who hadn't shown his face all night, was standing on the balcony, stroking his beard and watching Tom and Hermione with a smile that reached his eyes.
Professor Snape was there too. He wore his usual expression—the one that looked like the world owed him a few million galleons—but his gaze was sharper than usual. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to skin Tom's adorable dance partner alive.
Granger... who gave you permission to hold Tom's waist?!
Detestable Granger. Detestable Gryffindor. Stupid Gryffindor!!!
Professor Sprout, on the other hand, had her hands clasped over her heart, stars practically shooting out of her eyes.
Tom's dancing is perfect! I raised that boy! I fed him myself!
On the floor, Tom moved lightly on the balls of his feet. He didn't look like a novice who had just learned to dance; he looked like a grandmaster with years of practice.
Harry rubbed his eyes.
He felt like he was hallucinating. Was it... snowing indoors?
"Malfoy, pinch me."
"What for?" Malfoy pinched Harry's arm. Hard.
"Ow! Hiss... I didn't say pinch me that hard!" Harry winced.
But it seemed to be real.
It wasn't a hallucination. It was actually snowing.
Up in the vaulted ceiling, something small was scattering snowflakes, though no matter how hard Harry squinted, he couldn't see what it was.
---
Up in the rafters, Dobby the House-elf was waving his hands, vigorously sprinkling magic snow.
Master Tom cares about today, Dobby thought. He didn't sleep at all last night. He went all the way to St. Readia's Orphanage and rushed back just for this. He definitely values tonight's ball!
Dobby must not mess this up!
The flakes drifted down like little winter spirits dancing in the air.
Tom held Hermione, keeping the entire rhythm of the dance firmly in his control.
"How are you so good at this?" Hermione whispered. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying earlier, but the falling snow masked the imperfections, making her look less disheveled and more ethereal.
"Heh. Who do you think you're talking to? I'm a genius," Tom replied with zero humility.
Of course he was good.
This was technically his third dance of the Christmas season.
As a prodigy who only needed to practice a spell once to master it, something as simple as ballroom dancing only took Tom two tries to nail down.
Sure, his first practice run with Professor Sprout had been a little stiff. But by the second time, he had mastered the rhythm.
And now, on the third run... they were the absolute stars of the show. The coolest kids on the dance floor.
For some reason, Hermione felt her heart racing.
Thump! Thump!! THUMP!!!
It beat harder and harder. It felt like every time Tom's foot touched the floor, the sound of his step was trying to drown out the pounding in her chest.
"Relax, baby. I can practically see your heart trying to escape your chest," Tom teased.
"Who's your 'baby'? Piss off!"
The first song ended, and the second began immediately.
Nobody left, despite curfew.
Mr. Filch?
Please. There were so many people here. Let Filch try to catch them all. If he caught everyone, then he wins. Worst case scenario, they'd all get detention together—at least they'd have company to chat with.
Plus, term ended tomorrow. Filch or no Filch, even if Dumbledore himself came down there, they weren't leaving!
Oh wait, Dumbledore was watching and enjoying it the most. Never mind then.
---
When the dance finally ended, a thunderous wave of applause crashed over the room. Everyone clapped until their palms were red.
Terry looked thrilled. He suddenly remembered something and glanced at Li Su beside him.
"You get it now, right?"
From the very beginning—the moment Terry heard about the "Hermione Fan Club"—he knew the club had no reason to exist.
Take Hermione away from Tom?
Ha. Are you kidding me?
Even if Tom had the whole wizarding world in his eyes, Hermione only had Tom in hers.
Others might not have seen it, but Terry noticed.
The instant Tom appeared—the second he landed in front of Hermione—that poor girl's smile returned, and the light came back into her eyes.
It was time for these fools to wake up.
Li Su was silent for a moment. "Actually, seeing Hermione happy is pretty nice. And Tom's a decent guy."
Terry was surprised. "You can actually accept that result?"
"Why couldn't I?" Li Su shrugged. "At the end of the day, Hermione and I are just classmates who haven't spoken much. I just thought she was cool, pretty, and... well, I really couldn't find any flaws with her.
"However..." Li Su clenched his fist, a determined look in his eyes. "Someday, Tom is going to be stressed because he can't go to Hogsmeade Village. And when that day comes, I'll be the one to step up and sign his permission slip!"
Looking at the longing and anticipation in Li Su's eyes, Terry didn't have the heart to crush his dreams.
This guy has lost it. Did he also stay up all night? Or did a donkey kick him in the head?
You want to sign for Tom? If you dare sign that slip in the morning, Professor Snape will be standing in front of you by the afternoon!
Or maybe... even sooner than that.
Just as the ball was at its peak, the uninvited guest finally arrived—Mr. Filch, waving his lantern and shouting at the top of his lungs.
"It is past curfew! Why are you all here?!"
"Damn it! Go back to your dormitories! All of you!"
Unfortunately, nobody paid Filch any attention. Not a single soul.
Who cares about you, Filch? We just want to watch Tom.
Tom is right!
"Is that Tom making trouble again?" Filch fumed, looking down at the dance floor.
Well then... I'll just chase Tom back to bed!
With that thought in mind, Filch stomped down the stairs.
Mrs. Norris, however, gave Filch a look of pure pity and decided not to follow him.