Chapter 524: The Dress Robes
Chapter 524: The Dress Robes
The night before Christmas, a timely snowfall blanketed the castle and its grounds, adding a whimsical touch to the already magical setting. The Black Lake froze over, trapping Dumbledore's large boat in the ice, now glistening in the sunlight with a layer of frost on its sails—a sight far more enchanting than its usual appearance.
Christmas breakfast consisted of steaming stew and delicious pudding. Despite the holiday, the castle was just as bustling as ever, with the Great Hall packed to the brim.
"The food at Hogwarts is too greasy," said Furong, serving herself a few corncakes and boiled potatoes. "I feel like my dress robes are getting tighter by the day."
Kyle continued eating his stew, unfazed, as he had heard similar complaints from her numerous times recently. He even wondered if Furong would find a plate of leaves greasy.
However, their companion, Connor, took Furong's words to heart. Glancing at the meager amount of food on Furong's plate, which wouldn't even satisfy a hungry owl, she hesitated after eyeing her own bowl heaped with stew. With difficulty, she returned it to the table.
"Don't worry about it, just eat," Kyle said, pushing the bowl back to her. "You'll probably need new dress robes next year anyway when you grow taller. We can just buy new ones then."
"No," Connor shook her head. "Not today..."
She, too, settled for some corncakes.
Furong, noticing this exchange, turned to Kyle, her eyes narrowing. "Are you saying I won't grow any taller?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant..." Kyle shrugged, feigning innocence, but Furong was having none of it.
After breakfast, they returned to the Hufflepuff common room to open their Christmas presents. Furong's gifts were piled in a corner, forming a small mountain. However, she only selected a few to open, packing the rest into a box to be sent back to the Durmstrang carriage.
They spent the entire morning in the common room, organizing their gifts. Then, they returned to the Great Hall for a sumptuous lunch.
The house-elves had outdone themselves again with new treats—Creepy Crispies, wizard crackers that lived up to their name with a crisp sound that resembled fireworks going off in the Great Hall with each bite, creating a festive atmosphere.
Finally, the afternoon arrived, and as soon as the clock struck six, Connor jumped up from her chair and rushed back to their dormitory to prepare for the ball.
She wasn't alone; by six o'clock, the common room was devoid of any female students.
"Two hours...just to change into a different set of clothes? Do they really need that much time?" Mickel wondered aloud, clearly perplexed.
At seven o'clock, as dusk fell, Kyle and Cedric stopped their ongoing wizard chess game and returned to their dormitory to don their dress robes.
...
By half-past seven, everyone began to emerge from their dormitories. The common room took on a strange ambiance, no longer filled with the uniformity of school robes but a vibrant display of colors and styles.
Mickel looked remarkably more mature in his deep indigo dress robes, while Ryan opted for a burgundy ensemble.
"If you're referring to yourself..." Hannah scrutinized Ryan up and down, teasing, "Then, I don't think I've missed much."
"Hey, don't be like that," Susan Burns nudged her friend, unable to hold back a laugh. "He's my dance partner, cut him some slack."
"Thanks for the endorsement, Hannah..." Ryan said in a disgruntled tone, "But I'm afraid I wasn't talking about myself. It's... oh, here he comes."
Following his gaze, the crowd turned their eyes towards the door.
And so, as Kyle stepped out of the dormitory, he was greeted by the peculiar sight of the entire common room staring at him.
"What's going on...?" Kyle asked, puzzled, as he looked down to examine his dress robes. "Did I put on the wrong outfit? No, it's fine."
"Oh..." Susan breathed, then tugged on her friend's arm. "Hannah, do you think I can change dance partners now?"
But Hannah didn't respond; she, like the rest, was staring at Kyle.
For most of the Hufflepuff students, this was their first time seeing Kyle in anything other than his school uniform.
The black velvet dress robes, with a simple golden embroidery at the collar and cuffs, transformed Kyle's aura in a way that defied explanation.
"I'm so jealous..." Susan sighed. "I wonder who Kyle's dance partner is..."
"Is there even a need to ask?" Ryan walked over.
But before he could say another word, a voice called out from behind them.
"Are you all ready?"
"Oh..."
A collective intake of breath filled the room once more.
"I think I know who you're talking about." Susan looked at Connor behind her and said, "She's so beautiful..."
Connor seemed to have taken Professor McGonagall's suggestion to heart. She had forgone her usual headband and instead, her hair was intricately braided into a simple bun.
The loose-fitting school uniform had been replaced with a long robe made of apricot-colored fabric. Without any excessive accessories, she was still breathtakingly beautiful, capturing everyone's gaze.
"Why are you all staring at me...?" Connor looked down, a hint of worry in her voice. "Did I wear the wrong outfit?"
"Oh, I'm even more certain they're a couple now." Susan muttered under her breath.
"Don't worry, you didn't." Kyle walked over. "You look... well, beautiful."
"Thanks..." Connor whispered. "Should we head to the Great Hall now? Or should we wait for Cedric, he doesn't seem to be out yet."
"Let's head to the Great Hall first." Kyle said. "Professor McGonagall told us we need to be there early."
"Alright." Connor nodded with a smile, and the two of them walked through the barrel entrance, making their way towards the Great Hall.
"They look so good together." Hannah couldn't help but comment.
"No arguments here." Mickel smiled.
...
(End of Chapter)
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