Chapter 650: Let's Begin Today's Dance!
Chapter 650: Let's Begin Today's Dance!
The Mermaids filed in, following the entrance hall into the Great Hall.
Due to the Christmas Ball, the hall had been beautifully decorated. The ceiling was adorned with countless stars, and hundreds of mistletoe sprigs and holly wreaths hung diagonally from above. Banners of the three schools fluttered in the air, and Winky's glowing silver frost covered the walls.
Several Christmas trees were scattered throughout the Great Hall, their colorful lights and candles providing illumination in the dimly lit room. The long tables of the Four Houses had vanished, replaced by smaller tables lit by lanterns.
"Hey, Ivan, Harry, come up to the Head Table!" Professor Mcgonagall, sitting at the teachers' table, called out as soon as she saw them enter.
Ivan nodded and led Hermione up the red carpet.
For a moment, they became the center of attention in the entire Great Hall, with everyone's eyes on them.
Ivan, the Champion who had defeated the Dragon, already enjoyed a high reputation and had countless admirers. Hermione, by his side, was breathtakingly beautiful, making many feel inferior. The only one who could rival her was Fleur, the half-Veela.
Amidst the envious and jealous gazes, Ivan climbed up to the Head Table and took his seat at the Champion's position. Hermione showed no fear, only tightening her grip on Ivan's arm.
They had arrived early, and the Head Table was not yet full.
Ivan nodded in greeting to Mad-Eye Moody and Ludo Bagman, who had arrived earlier. Soon after, Fleur and Krum also arrived with their dance partners.
"Hey, Ivan!" Fleur greeted him warmly. She had dressed up meticulously, radiating her enchanting charm, and boys around her couldn't help but steal glances.
Fleur's dance partner was Roger Davies, a senior from Ravenclaw. Ivan had seen him on the Quidditch pitch before; he was tall and muscular.
However, it was clear that Roger was completely smitten with Fleur. When he saw Fleur talking to Ivan, his face turned angry, but he quickly cowered when he remembered Ivan's performance in the tournament.
Ivan had little interest in Fleur and was about to give a casual response, but Hermione beat him to it.
"Hello, Miss Delacour!"
Hermione stared at Fleur with a confrontational gaze, her tone filled with hostility and distance.
Ivan promptly closed his mouth and remained silent.
"Hello, Granger", Fleur chuckled lightly, then turned and sat down at the Beauxbatons Champion's designated seat. Roger Davies followed quickly, acting more like a lackey than a dance partner.
Krum sat down without a word. Beside him was a senior Slytherin girl, who was quite pretty and occasionally spoke to him, but Krum paid her no attention, his eyes frequently drifting towards Hermione, his expression one of surprise. He hadn't expected her to look so stunning when he had invited her to the dance.
Ivan, of course, noticed Krum's gaze and felt a surge of dissatisfaction, but he couldn't do anything about it in public.
More importantly, Ivan recalled that the second task of the Triwizard Tournament involved rescuing hostages. Hermione was likely to be placed at the bottom of the lake as his most cherished treasure, waiting to be rescued.
What if Krum reaches the area to rescue the hostages first? Would he abandon the person he is supposed to save and insist on taking Hermione?
Although the possibility is low, it can't be ignored.
Moreover, ensuring Hermione's safety at the bottom of the lake is also a concern.
It seems that I need to plan the second task carefully as well...
"Stop worrying, Ivan! It's the Dance right now..." Hermione tugged at Ivan's arm, trying to reassure him. She noticed that Ivan's gaze on Krum seemed a bit off and was worried that Ivan might start a fight at the venue.
"Alright, then I won't look at him. How about I look at you instead?" Ivan teased, turning his gaze to Hermione and admiring her delicate features.
"Look if you want!" Hermione blushed and deliberately turned her head away, using her wand to tap the plate in front of her, summoning some desserts. She played with the fork and knife, taking small bites.
Ivan continued to stare, making Hermione feel increasingly uneasy. The blush on her face gradually spread to her neck, looking even more enchanting in the candlelight.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Hermione finally couldn't bear it and turned to glare at him.
Ivan knew that if he continued, the young witch would really get angry, so he reined himself in a bit. However, he still pushed his luck by asking to eat from Hermione's plate.
Hermione was initially reluctant, but she couldn't resist Ivan's persistent gaze. When she saw that few people were looking their way, she cut a piece of the dessert and fed it to Ivan.
"Can't you eat on your own?" Hermione said, embarrassed and angry.
"What would be the fun in that?" Ivan mumbled with the dessert in his mouth. He felt that the dessert Hermione had fed him was a bit sweeter than usual, so he looked at her again.
"No way!" The young witch shook her head firmly. Several people had already noticed what happened.
Seeing how shy Hermione had become, Ivan had no choice but to wave his wand, summoning some food for himself and started to enjoy it.
Meanwhile, Ivan's gaze swept across the Great Hall, where witches and wizards were chatting and laughing with each other.
Harry and Ginny were sitting not far away, looking much more relaxed without the distraction of Ron and the others.
The professors at the Head Table had set aside their usual solemnity, wearing their finest dress robes and chatting amiably. Only Snape maintained his usual dour expression, standing out in the otherwise festive atmosphere.
Hagrid, the gentle giant, seemed to have a second wind, happily chatting with Maxime. His large dress robe looked particularly tight on him, making one worry that the buttons might pop off at any moment.
The banquet lasted for nearly half an hour. By eight o'clock, Dumbledore slowly stood up, cleared his throat, and spoke.
"Alright, everyone, I assume everyone has had their fill, yes?"
Dumbledore's gaze swept across the Great Hall, and seeing no objections, he cleared the plates and food remnants from the tables. He then gestured for everyone to stand up.
"Let's begin the Dance!" Dumbledore's loud voice echoed through the Great Hall. He raised his wand in his left hand and waved it lightly.
All the tables and chairs in the Great Hall, as if guided by an unseen force, flew to the walls and stacked together, leaving a large open space in the middle. Then, a tall stage rose from the ground, adorned with various exquisite instruments...
(End of Chapter)
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