Luna was a very sensible child; she knew her actions might spark a fierce conflict, so early the next morning, while Alice was still deep in her dreams, she carefully slipped out from under Adelaide's covers and returned to her own bed.
A situation that could have led to a bloodbath was thus nipped in the bud. The heavy stone in Adelaide's heart was lifted, and her fondness for Luna soared instantly—the sensible Luna was her best junior!
Perhaps to give Harry a more substantial reason for not attending the party at Malfoy Manor, Dumbledore made a decision: Harry would be allowed to stay with the Weasley family until August 14th.
This decision was undoubtedly good news for Harry; he could spend more time with Ron at The Burrow and learn more about the Wizarding World.
Upon learning that Adelaide and Alice had received invitations to Malfoy Manor, Hermione and Cho Chang also decided to stay at the Weasley family's home until the 14th before returning to Dumbledores Old House.
These two days at the Weasley family's home were, for Adelaide, the liveliest time of her life.
She finally understood why Harry considered this poor and crowded place his second home—though the Weasley family was not wealthy, they possessed an incredibly optimistic mindset and a positive outlook on life. The atmosphere at The Burrow was always filled with joy and warmth, making one feel exceptionally comfortable and at ease.
Even Adelaide, who appeared successful but was actually walking a tightrope, playing a game between Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort, and Alice, who had lost her kin, gradually forgot their troubles in such an atmosphere and began to enjoy this rare time.
When it was finally time to leave, an indescribable sense of reluctance actually welled up in Adelaide's heart, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind—this might be exactly what Dumbledore had hoped for.
Adelaide took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and then took the hand of Alice, who was also somewhat reluctant, as they stepped into the fireplace together.
As they stepped into the green flames of the Floo Network, a powerful force instantly enveloped them, carrying them through space to where Edward was.
Meanwhile, Edward had already changed into a set of dark green Wizard robes. The dress robes fit his physique perfectly, the dark green hue accentuating his maturity and stability.
Although he was over forty, time had not left many marks on him. His mustache was neatly trimmed, and his face bore a gentlemanly elegance, appearing much more stable than in previous years.
At this moment, Adelaide and Alice were in no mood to appreciate Edward's looks. Alice's attention was entirely on her ink-black Wizard robes, which her brother had meticulously custom-made for her earlier.
Alice tried on the robes to check the size and found everything to be just right, then she was taken to have her hair styled.
On Adelaide's side, however, the situation was a bit more complicated.
The Acolytes saw this party as Adelaide's debut in the British pure-blood circles, so they were exceptionally serious about her attire. For this reason, they had prepared over a hundred exquisite gowns for Adelaide, each of which could be considered a work of art.
Faced with so many choices, Adelaide felt a bit overwhelmed, but fortunately, there were two professional styling Wizards urgently summoned from France to assist her.
These two Wizards were experienced and highly skilled; they quickly treated Adelaide like a mannequin, constantly finding the optimal combination for her among the hundreds of gowns and nearly a thousand accessories.
After a period of careful selection and repeated fittings, they finally settled on five sets of gowns and styles as options for tonight.
One deep purple high-collared gown was selected for the opening and the dinner; its color was deep and mysterious, and the high-collar design appeared solemn and elegant. Another silver-gray gown was chosen as Adelaide's ball gown for after dinner, its silver-gray tone giving an air of classic nobility, perfect for dancing in the ballroom.
Additionally, they selected three backup gowns just in case; after all, in such a social setting, it was quite possible for other young witches to have a similar outfit or style to Adelaide's.
If that really happened, Adelaide would be taken to a lounge prepared for her in advance at Malfoy Manor to quickly change into another set of robes and accessories, ensuring she could always maintain her unique style and charm.
Normally, as the party with higher status, Adelaide should have had other pure-blood families inquire about her outfit beforehand to avoid their children clashing with her style.
But since Adelaide's attendance at the party was only officially finalized and confirmed by Dumbledore a week ago, and her gowns and accessories had only been shipped to Britain from Paris, Milan, and New York in the last two days, the outfits and styles for the children of other families were basically already set. They could only avoid clashing by preparing several backup gowns.
As if holding a rare treasure, the stylist gently combed through Adelaide's golden hair, which was as dazzling as sunlight, and then carefully coiled it upon her head. After some meticulous crafting, a magnificent and noble hairstyle was presented to everyone. With the enhancement of magic, every strand of Adelaide's hair seemed to have its own unique life, the overall effect resembling an exquisite piece of art.
Next, the stylist began to apply Adelaide's makeup. She skillfully used various cosmetic spells, using her wand to outline a grand wizarding ball look for Adelaide.
After completing the hair and makeup, the stylist assisted Adelaide in putting on the deep purple high-collared gown. The material of this gown was soft and smooth, as if flowing with the luster of moonlight.
Its tailoring was exquisite, perfectly fitting the curves of Adelaide's figure and highlighting her elegant neck and slender legs to the fullest.
Finally, the stylist put a pair of matching Crystal shoes on Adelaide. These shoes were self-illuminating and could flicker with a dark, elegant purple light in the darkness, making Adelaide as dazzling as a star in the night sky.
When everything was ready, Adelaide stood before the mirror and gazed at herself, momentarily dazed.
Although she had always known she was quite good-looking, she could hardly believe that the richly dressed, noble-looking young Witch in the mirror was actually herself.
The helpers sent by the Acolytes and Edward were also stunned by Adelaide's appearance. They praised her one after another, saying she looked like a princess stepped out of a fairy tale.
Even Alice, who was also dressed up in her finery, couldn't help but lose herself for a moment upon seeing Adelaide, seemingly shaken by her beauty.
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