Chapter 525: The Ball, Snape's Gaze
Chapter 525: The Ball, Snape's Gaze
The entrance hall was packed with students as the doors to the Great Hall had been closed, leaving everyone to mill about outside, meeting their dance partners from other houses while awaiting the arrival of eight o'clock.
Kyle and Connor's entrance naturally drew quite a bit of attention.
Fortunately, at that moment, Lotus also arrived. She wore a stunning silver-gray satin gown that accentuated her beauty and immediately captured everyone's gaze.
Unconsciously, everyone's gaze shifted to her dance partner...
"Fred?" Connor blurted out.
"No, it's George..." Kyle said.
"Yes, it's me." George winked at them. "But speaking of which, Kyle, how did you recognize us anyway?"
"Because Fred mentioned that he had already asked Angelina to be his partner," Kyle replied.
"Oh, how could I forget that," George said, tapping his head.
The oak front door opened, and everyone turned to see the Durmstrang students enter with Karkaroff, Krum leading the way alongside a pretty girl in a blue robe.
"Wait a second..." George rubbed his eyes. "Am I seeing things, or does that girl look a lot like Hermione?"
"Your eyes aren't deceiving you," Kyle said. "That's Hermione."
"Merlin..." George muttered, "Didn't realize Hermione could look like that. This ball is full of surprises..."
George was right; Hermione looked like a completely different person now that she had tamed her usually bushy hair, making it smooth and sleek.
Even Harry, walking beside her, hadn't recognized her at first and kept asking, "Where's Hermione..."
It was a shame he didn't have a camera; this would have been a fun moment to capture.
At that moment, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and Professor McGonagall's voice rang out.
"Please gather here, champions!"
Connor nervously straightened her dress and, holding Kyle's arm, stepped forward as the chattering crowd parted to let them through.
"Wait here for a moment," Professor McGonagall instructed, leading them to the side of the door, next to a Christmas tree, while the others filed into the Great Hall.
The wait was a little long, but thankfully, they were all familiar with each other, so it wasn't awkward.
Once everyone was seated in the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall returned and asked the champions and their partners to line up in pairs to enter the hall with her.
They filed in, greeted by enthusiastic applause and even a whistle, which, upon turning to look, Kyle saw came from Fred, of course.
George instinctively wanted to respond, but a stern look from Professor McGonagall quickly silenced him.
The Great Hall had undergone a remarkable transformation. The walls were covered in shimmering silver frost, and the ceiling depicted a starry night sky with hundreds of mistletoe and ivy hanging down.
The most significant change was the absence of the four house tables, replaced by over a hundred small tables with lanterns.
The teachers' table had also been transformed, with the five judges sitting there, beaming at the students.
Kyle had intended to sit next to Chris, but before he could take more than a few steps, he felt his hand being tugged forcefully. With no other choice, Kyle followed Connor and took a seat next to Professor Dumbledore.
To be honest, Kyle would have preferred to sit elsewhere... It wasn't because of Professor Dumbledore but because Snape was standing right behind that particular spot.
Everyone else was chatting and laughing, but Snape's face was as gloomy as if he'd discovered that someone had stolen his precious potion.
And from his expression, Kyle couldn't help but worry that Snape might add something extra to his food.
Unfortunately, by the time he snapped out of his daze, all the other seats were taken, leaving him no choice but to stay put.
As it turned out, Kyle's concerns were not unfounded. As soon as he sat down, he felt a chill on the back of his neck.
Just like the transformed Great Hall, the dinner that evening was also unique.
Once the champions were seated, Professor Dumbledore picked up the menu next to his plate and clearly said, "Pork chops!"
And pork chops promptly appeared on his plate.
The a la carte service was a novel experience for the students, though it was familiar to those from Hufflepuff House, who enjoyed a similar privilege in their common room. Still, it was the first time such a service was provided in the Great Hall.
However, Kyle wasn't in the mood to eat. The malevolence radiating from behind him was too palpable. If he had placed a mirror on the table, it surely would have sparked or drilled a hole through it.
Kyle couldn't help but adjust his collar. He wanted to ask Professor Dumbledore if Snape had been in the kitchen before their arrival.
But unlike the ill-at-ease Kyle, the others seemed perfectly at ease. George was regaling Lotus with amusing stories from school, and she seemed quite interested, even asking about the Professor of Dark Magic Defense at Hogwarts.
Even at Beauxbatons, she had heard of this peculiar position.
George suddenly became tongue-tied. While it was the truth, he also wanted to maintain Hogwarts' reputation, so he tried to downplay it with a few vague comments.
On the other hand, Krum was introducing Durmstrang to Hermione, but he only got halfway through his explanation before being cut off by Karkaroff.
He seemed reluctant to let others know too much about Durmstrang, worried that Krum might inadvertently reveal the school's location.
"Well..."
As he spoke, Kyle suddenly heard an unrestrained laugh from behind him.
It was Professor Moody, and though his back was turned to the group, Kyle was certain that his magical eye was peering at them through the back of his head.
"Dumbledore..." he said, "If I'd known Hogwarts was your private domain, I would have demanded a raise."
"Hogwarts belongs to no one, it belongs to all the students..." Dumbledore said, "Of course, this doesn't affect your reasonable request for a raise, which I will consider."
Interrupted by Professor Moody, Karkaroff also lost interest in continuing the conversation.
"I was just joking, Professor Moody." Karkaroff said, letting out a laugh, but his cold eyes held no trace of mirth.
Half an hour later, the meal was finished.
As the Hungarian Trifle on Kyle's plate disappeared, barely touched, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same.
With a wave of his wand, the tables vanished, and a huge stage with various musical instruments appeared in the middle of the Great Hall.
Amidst the screams, the Weird Sisters rushed onto the stage.
As the only band to appear on Chocolate Frog Cards, they were incredibly popular in the wizarding world, and their mere appearance caused the Great Hall to erupt in excitement.
When they picked up their instruments, the champions also stood up.
The first song they played was "The Glorious Hippogriff". Kyle stepped into the brightly lit dance floor, feeling more nervous than he had been facing the first task of the Triwizard Tournament.
Then he took Connor's hand and placed his other hand on her waist.
He could clearly feel Connor's body tense up, but she soon relaxed.
The chilly feeling on his neck became more pronounced, but Kyle paid it no mind.
He recalled the moves Professor McGonagall had taught him, and as the melody started, he slowly took steps with Connor.
Once they were actually dancing, Kyle felt less nervous, and his moves became more fluid as he slowly spun with Connor in place.
Strangely, even though all three champions were dancing, and Fleur and Krum were quite eye-catching, most people's gazes remained fixed on Kyle and Connor, as if the stage had been built specifically for them.
"Wonderful..." Dumbledore said, his eyes sparkling as he lowered his head slightly under the pretense of wiping his glasses.
Professor McGonagall looked proud.
The one dazzling everyone present was her student... As for Professor Flitwick and Nearly Headless Nick, they were merely assistants, unworthy of being named.
Of course, where there was happiness, there was also unhappiness.
Snap! Snape snapped the dinner knife he had been gripping, his eyes fixed on the dance floor, not even noticing Sirius Black who had been hovering nearby.
Perhaps feeling bored by Snape's lack of response, Sirius stopped provoking him and instead found Professor McGonagall, inviting her to dance in a gentlemanly manner.
Professor McGonagall readily agreed.
When the song was halfway through, more people joined the dance floor, and the champions were no longer the center of attention. However, people instinctively left space in the middle, where Kyle and Connor were dancing.
Soon, the song ended.
The next song was much faster.
"It's 'Magic Stuff'," Kyle said, "Their most popular song, and the one that got them on the Chocolate Frog Cards."
As he spoke, Kyle released Connor and switched to a livelier dance step.
...
They danced a total of three songs before finally leaving the dance floor.
It wasn't because they were tired, but because Kyle had only learned these three songs, and continuing further would have resulted in chaotic dancing.
Looking at Connor's flushed face and her heavy breathing, Kyle asked, "Would you like something to drink? How about some pumpkin juice?"
Connor nodded.
Kyle walked towards the round table with drinks and desserts, where he spotted Ron and Harry devouring large bowls of pudding.
"You two... haven't been here eating desserts the whole time, have you?"
"Yes," Harry said, swallowing a mouthful of pudding, "After all, we're not required to dance, are we?"
"Luckily I'm not a champion, otherwise, I'd have to lead the opening dance, otherwise..." He shuddered involuntarily, as if recalling something terrifying, and quickly changed the subject, "Try this, Jam Pudding with Cream, Ron and I agree that it's the best of all the desserts."
Kyle raised an eyebrow, impressed by their dedication to the dessert buffet.
However, he accepted Harry's suggestion and took a serving of the pudding in addition to the pumpkin juice.
After all, Harry had been here eating for the duration of three songs, so his recommendation was likely to be good.
...
(End of Chapter)
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