Chapter 303: Dancing and Barty Crouch's News
Chapter 303: Dancing and Barty Crouch's News
After the grounds were cleared, Professor Dumbledore conjured a tall stage by the wall, equipped with a drum kit, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and a few organs.
"What a strange combination of instruments", Hermione whispered. As someone who had learned piano, she had a basic understanding of music, so it was natural for her to find the setup on the stage a bit odd.
"Maybe the instruments and performance styles popular among Wizards are different from ours. After all, the two worlds have been separated for centuries", Liam said. At that moment, two witches dressed in 1980s-style clothing walked onto the stage with their instruments.
The audience erupted into thunderous applause. The two musicians picked up their instruments, and the lanterns on the tables dimmed. Liam and the other six Champions, along with their dance partners, stood up.
The Weird Sisters played a slow, melancholic tune. Liam led Hermione onto the brightly lit dance floor and began their first dance elegantly, his hand gently around her waist as they slowly twirled.
"You're wearing the perfume I gave you this morning", Hermione said as she caught the scent of pine when Liam drew near. She was pleasantly surprised, knowing that Liam had never worn perfume before.
"Of course, the pine scent suits me well. Thank you."
After a brief prelude, Dumbledore and Madame Maxime stepped onto the dance floor and began a waltz. Despite Madame Maxime's large frame, their dance was undeniably graceful. Even the usually stern Mad-Eye Moody joined in, though his false leg made him a bit clumsy, causing his dance partner, Professor Sinistra, to keep a wary eye on it.
The most exaggerated scene was Filch, who stood at the edge of the dance floor, holding Mrs. Norris as if they were dancing. Unfortunately, the cat did not seem to enjoy it, wearing a look that suggested she felt constantly under threat.
As the music played on, more people joined the dance, and the Champions were no longer the center of attention. Liam saw several familiar faces dancing nearby, all looking thoroughly enjoying themselves.
When the organs played the final trembling note, the band stopped, marking the end of the opening dance. The Great Hall erupted into another round of enthusiastic applause.
The next part of the evening was free time. After dancing two fast-paced tunes, Liam and Hermione left the dance floor. They noticed Ginny sitting alone at a table, fanning herself with her hand.
"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked as they approached.
"He's getting drinks", Ginny said, pulling Hermione to sit down. Liam went to the drink table to fetch some Butterbeer. After navigating through a crowd of happy dancers, Liam met Harry at the drink table, and they returned together with a few bottles of Butterbeer.
When they returned, they saw Ron sitting at the table, whispering urgently to Ginny. Upon seeing Liam, Hermione immediately stood up and led him to the side.
"Ron is dealing with family issues, so it's best we don't get involved", Hermione explained as they sipped their Butterbeer. Thankfully, from a distance, they could see Ron only patting Harry on the shoulder, a sign that no fight was about to break out. Liam was immensely relieved that Hermione was an only child.
Mr. Crouch also joined the dance, taking Madame Maxime as his partner. As they passed by the edge of the dance floor, it was clear that Mr. Crouch looked fatigued. It seemed his son had escaped, which was causing him significant mental distress.
Percy, under the guidance of Madam Bones, had also arrived at Hogwarts that day. Upon seeing Liam, Percy quickly brought Penelope over.
"Congratulations on becoming the Champion of Hogwarts", Percy congratulated Liam. "Fortunately, Madam Bones knows my girlfriend is still in school, so she gave me the opportunity to be an attendant. Ha, it feels great to be back at this castle after graduation." As he said this, he smiled at Penelope, who then took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Percy's temples.
"Are you not here to show off your affection?" Liam asked.
"Of course not. I just came to tell you that the second task has caused a lot of arguments among the Ministries of Magic from different countries over legal issues. That's why Madam Bones is at Hogwarts today. I hope this information is useful to you."
"Thank you so much." After thanking Percy, Liam asked, "By the way, wasn't Mr. Crouch supposed to be in the hospital? Why is he at the ball today? He looks quite exhausted."
"Mr. Crouch is just too dedicated", Percy said seriously. "Although I don't always agree with him, I admire his work ethic. I heard from a colleague that he has recovered a bit during his hospital stay, but the mental stress is still holding him back from a full recovery. The pressure of organizing two major international events in a row must be overwhelming. My father told me that Barty Crouch came directly to Hogwarts from St. Mungo's after taking an Energizing Potion. He'll probably have to return to the hospital after the ball."
"That sounds awful", Hermione said from the side.
"Yes, Ludo Bagman is indeed a great player and a likable person, but he is a disaster at management. For example, Bertha Jorkins, who went missing during the department's summer vacation, hasn't been found yet, and it's been four months. With such an organizer, the Ministry of Magic has to rely on Mr. Crouch to maintain the current situation. The mental pressure he's under is completely understandable."
After a few more words, Percy took his girlfriend Penelope to the dance floor. Unlike in the original story where they broke up, Percy's fate had changed, and he had maintained his relationship with Penelope. For a long-distance couple like them, it was natural to want to spend as much time together as possible during their rare meetings.
At that moment, the Weird Sisters started playing their hit song, which was honestly very dance-club style. The atmosphere in the hall was electrified, and the energetic rhythm brought the ancient castle to life. The young wizards happily moved their bodies to the beat.
"It's a bit too loud. Let's go for a walk", Liam whispered to Hermione.
So, the two of them quietly slipped out the door and into the entrance hall. The front door was open, and as they stepped down the stairs, the Fairy Lights in the rose garden twinkled. They found themselves surrounded by low shrubs, ornate winding paths, and large stone statues.
Liam could hear the splashing sound of a fountain and occasionally saw people sitting on latticed benches.
"Ah, much better. I really didn't like that atmosphere inside", Hermione said, patting her chest. They followed a winding path through the rose bushes.
"… I don't understand why you're making such a big fuss, Igor", a voice suddenly came from the other side of the bushes.
"Severus, you can't pretend this isn't happening!" Karkaroff's voice sounded panicked and hoarse, as if he was afraid of being overheard. "It's been getting more and more obvious over the past few months. I'm very worried, and I can't deny it—"
"Then run away", Snape's voice said impatiently. "Run away—I'll cover for you. But I want to stay at Hogwarts."
Snape and Karkaroff turned a corner. Snape used his wand to push the rose bushes aside. He looked grim, his expression dark. Several high-pitched screams came from the bushes, and a few dark figures darted out.
"Ravenclaw loses ten points, Fawcett!" Snape growled as a girl ran past him. "Hufflepuff loses ten points, Stebbins!" Another boy followed the girl.
(End of Chapter)
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