Chapter 616: Gold Finch Biscuit
In the Umbrella Room, the fireplace flames crackled warmly, casting a golden glow across the entire space. Wade was writing the Teaching Plan for the Next TimeSpell Study Society—since Antoine had plans to publish a book, Wade’s teaching content couldn’t be随意. It needed careful preparation.
Michael finished his essay, tossed down his feather quill, and rubbed his wrist before turning to Wade. “Hey, Wade, I heard you invited Natalia? That girl from Kodostoriz?”
Wade didn’t look up, still scribbling. “How long has it been? How did you even know?”
“Everyone in school’s talking about it!” Michael said. “Two Champions becoming dance partners—you two are the only pair!”
Wade said nothing, only letting out a quiet sigh.
If the time students spent spreading gossip were half as much as they spent on studying, spell proficiency would have doubled at least.
Michael turned to Harry. “Hey, Harry, did you find a dance partner yet?”
Harry slumped over the table like a mushroom, voice flat. “I hate Cedric.”
Theo immediately lifted his head from his book, eyes wide. “Did you two fight? Why?”
“No,” Harry sighed, voice heavy with disappointment. “I just asked Qiu Zhang to be my partner. She told me… she’d already agreed to Cedric.”
Wade turned his head, exhaling softly.
Even after he’d warned Harry, the boy had missed his chance.
Or had Qiu Zhang always had a soft spot for Cedric? After all, the lad was undeniably handsome.
Theo’s tension melted instantly. He gave a nervous chuckle. “Well… cheer up. There are plenty of good girls left in school!”
Harry buried his face in his arms, refusing to speak.
It reminded Wade of the time Harry had confided in Sirius Black about how hard it was to ask someone to be his dance partner.
Sirius had blinked, genuinely surprised. “Dance partner… you actually have to ask?”
The door creaked open, and Hermione and Padma walked in, arms full of books.
Harry mustered courage, suddenly sitting upright. “Hermione! Can I ask you to be my dance partner?”
Hermione’s face turned instantly red. Padma rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Gryffindors—why does it always take you hitting every wall before you finally see the girl right in front of you? Too late now!”
“What do you mean?” Harry frowned.
“Neville and Ron asked her too!” Padma said bluntly. “But it’s no use—Hermione already said yes to someone else.”
Harry’s eyes shot open. “Who?”
“That’s a secret,” Padma said with a mischievous wink. “You’ll find out at the Christmas Ball. Oh—by the way, who was the girl you danced with at the beginning?”
“Nobody,” Harry sighed. “I’ve been rejected—twice.”
He glanced at Padma. “So… do you have a partner?”
The room fell silent. Everyone pretending to read books suddenly perked up, ears twitching.
“Hmm…” Padma’s eyes flickered, scanning the room—almost as if looking for someone, or just smiling faintly with her eyes half-closed. “No.”
“Great…” Harry exhaled in relief, then quickly added, “I mean—uh—could I… ask you? I don’t want to go alone…”
He looked at her with wide, pleading eyes.
In an instant, the entire atmosphere in the activity room shifted. Michael froze mid-motion, his parchment-hand trembling. Even Wade paused, glancing between them.
Only Harry remained oblivious, consumed by the desperate desire to avoid standing on stage in embarrassment.
Padma’s lips curved slightly. “Sure, why not?”
Harry let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Thanks… really. You just saved my life.”
His expression—so earnest, so much like a child escaping a family assignment—made Padma burst into soft laughter.
Michael silently crumpled the parchment with a long ink smudge, shoved it into the drawer.
…
The term ended in a flash.
Since all students above fourth year had chosen to stay at school, and most younger ones didn’t return home either, Hogwarts this Christmas holiday was busier than ever.
It was Wade’s first time staying for Christmas. As usual, he started by finishing all his holiday assignments, arriving at the Umbrella Room first each day to work.
Though he hadn’t asked, others gradually began showing up—Michael grumbling as he wrote furiously.
“Seriously, why not just take two days off?” he groaned, burying his face into his Transfiguration textbook. “We’ve been studying nonstop all term. Can’t we at least catch our breath?”
“Of course you can,” Wade said, flipping through his book. “The maze’s packed with people. You could go with a few friends.”
“That’s the problem!” Michael shot up, slamming the table. “You’re sitting here grinding, and I’m supposed to enjoy myself? Can’t you do something for our mental health? Just… take a break?”
Neville silently nodded in agreement, eyes full of longing.
Wade finally looked up from his book, staring at Michael in disbelief. “Seriously, Michael… listen to yourself. Are you even speaking human language?”
Michael opened his mouth, then closed it.
He turned, wrapped his arms around Neville, and dramatically cried, “I’m cutting ties with this study machine!”
Neville patted his back. “Come on, man. Lunchtime’s almost here. Let’s go eat.”
…
The Great Hall was as lively as ever. The SSC members still sat together.
Soon, Harry arrived—on his way back from Quidditch training. Though there was no House Cup tournament this year, the teams still practiced regularly.
Then Hermione and Padma came in—rumored to be learning makeup from an older student. Theo and Liam, who’d been helping Professor Sprout transplant plants, joined them too. And of course, Fred and George were there, always bringing energy wherever they went.
The once-empty stretch of the long table now became the heart of the liveliest gathering in the hall.
Just then, Wade had just taken a bite of an egg custard biscuit when he suddenly felt a strange, overwhelming sense of expansion.
“Pfft!” Liam nearly fell off his chair, spoon still in his mouth, staring at the spot where Wade had been—only a large golden finch now sat there, eyes wide, utterly stunned.
“Hahaha!” The Weasley Twins erupted into laughter, doubling over.
Harry threw his biscuit across the table.
Less than a minute later, the golden feathers began to fall off the bird. Once all the feathers were gone, Wade reappeared with a loud thump, back in his seat.
He wasn’t angry. Instead, he calmly picked up a stray feather from the floor, examining it thoughtfully.
(End of Chapter)
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