Chapter 139: The Dress

Soon, there was only one week left until the Christmas holiday.

John stood in a corner of the Common Room, watching the fresh snow drifting outside the window.

At that moment, Ryan and Ethan finally came out.

"Let's go."

Ryan looped his arm around Ethan's neck, then came over and looped his arm around John's neck as well.

The two carried Ryan, who was in the middle, toward the door.

"You two, what do you usually eat, that you grew so fast?"

Ryan clasped John's and Ethan's shoulders with both hands, while his own feet were off the ground.

Thus he hung in mid‑air quite comically.

"Could it be that what you eat is wrong, or that you train less than us?"

Ethan laughed and teased.

"Indeed, stop obsessing over your damn Cockroach Dumpling."

John nodded in deep agreement and echoed the sentiment.

"You can't blame the Cockroach Dumpling! John, you're the one being picky and blaming the Cockroach Dumpling yourself."

"Is this what you call being picky? Then that thing can't be called food!"

The two began to argue over the Cockroach Dumpling.

"Small bodies have their own advantages; look at Quidditch Seeker—don't they need a small build?"

"When next year's Quidditch Competition Format resumes, you can try signing up."

"Our academy's Seeker Qiu Zhang is about to graduate; it's time to find someone to take over."

Ethan, standing nearby, then spoke about Ryan's size advantage.

"Makes sense; those words really resonate with me."

Ryan heard that and nodded.

"I think we should drop it; you can't even ride a broom properly."

But John mercilessly struck back.

"No, how can you talk about me when you can't even dance properly?"

Ryan, taking offense, launched into a tirade, trading insults.

Only after they reached the Great Hall did they cease their back‑and‑forth.

Titus saw the three of them arrive and immediately joined them.

"John, John, your package has arrived."

Titus walked over, holding a package.

A package?

Could it be the dress his parents made for him has arrived?

A while ago, after successfully inviting Hermione to be his dance partner, he wrote a letter to his family, listing his current measurements, asking his parents to tailor a dress for him.

It's been so long; it really should have arrived by now.

Let me see if Dad and Mom's taste has improved.

He took the package, led his companions to a seat, and then opened it.

Inside was a neatly laid black formal dress.

When he lifted it, it was a Tashido Dress, with a single row of buttons, a deep V‑neck, cut cleanly and sharply, lines flowing naturally.

It had a white lining, a black bow tie, and the pocket was embroidered with a hint of dark‑gold pattern.

In the corner there was also a pair of shoes and a silver cufflink.

Nice—shoes are ready too.

I underestimated Dad and Mom's meticulousness.

John held the dress up to his neck and gestured, asking the others.

"How does it look?"

"It's fine."

"?"

"Alright, it does look pretty handsome."

Ryan forced a reluctant smile, admitting it, and the others burst into laughter.

"Indeed, it has three‑percent of my essence."

Titus, standing nearby, also commented.

"Is that so? Then it's very handsome."

John replied with a smile.

The group instantly laughed again.

John was about to put the dress away when he suddenly spotted, not far away at the Gryffindor Long Table, Hermione staring at him intently.

Clearly, the commotion here had caught her attention.

Seeing this, John unfolded the dress again, pulled it to his neck, and gestured at her a few times.

Hermione instantly flushed, quickly lowered her head, and dared not look at him.

John's mouth twitched upward, a hint of pride flaring inside, yet he pretended to stay composed as he folded the dress neatly.

From the corner of his eye he also caught Hermione secretly raising her eyes to glance, then quickly dropping them again.

Hermione is really cute.

The next morning, John as usual practiced morning drills with Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Lately they have stopped dueling practice and begun training perception and bodily coordination.

Put simply, John stands in the middle while Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei creates a terrain of scattered rocks, accompanied by mist generated by ethereal clouds.

Then Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei moves around, ambushing him from every nook and cranny.

John cannot counterattack or defend; he can only sense the direction of the attack and dodge.

He also makes him winter‑swim in Black Lake every morning to train his body and sharpen his mind.

He the elder will minimally ensure John does not suffer frostbite, but will never provide any Magic heating.

That makes John's days unbearably hard, yet he must admit that his physical condition and bodily coordination are indeed improving rapidly.

His reactions also become sharper, as if his five senses have been quietly extended.

Aside from shivering violently each time he enters or exits the water, everything else is fine.

After finishing the morning drill, he uses the Heat Wind Spell to dry his hair and clothes, then walks with Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei toward the Castle.

"Nice to see you again, Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei."

At that moment, they ran into the potion master who had delivered Potion Ingredients last time.

He still carried a small suitcase, and upon seeing Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei, he respectfully nodded.

"Indeed, thank you for coming early again to deliver things to Snape."

Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei replied with a smile.

The potion master smiled and continued.

"Haha, it's only natural."

"I was even hoping you would all order some ingredients, so I would have business."

John couldn't help but smile, thinking the potion master was indeed straightforward.

Then the group walked together through the Castle, taking the convenient route.

However, Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei suddenly remembered something, hurriedly said goodbye and left ahead.

The potion master then fell in step with John, chatting as they walked.

"You must be Mr. Merick, right? I recognized you last time; lately the newspapers have been full of your photos."

He smiled while sizing up John.

John also nodded in agreement.

"Today's youngsters are truly impressive, they can even defeat a Fire Dragon."

The potion master's tone was full of admiration.

"By the way, do you know what the next challenge is?"

"Um, I don't know yet."

Clues about the next challenge are inside that Golden Egg.

But lately he has no clue; when that thing is opened it emits a harsh screech, offering no useful information.

The potion master gave a mysterious smile.

"I suspect the second challenge might involve Magic Potion."

"Huh? Why do you say that?"

Hearing the potion master's words, John was clearly taken aback.

He, as a contestant, hasn't received any hint, yet the other side acted as if they knew the inside story.

"Last time, Mr. Crouch ordered a large batch of rare Potion Ingredients from me, saying they were for preparing for the Tri‑Wizard Tournament."

"Those ingredients are scarce: Leech, Bicorn Horn, Aconite, as well as Snake Shed, Moonlight Herb, Caddisfly."

"So I guess perhaps the second or even the Third Challenge will use some of them."

"Haha, it's just my speculation, you should still keep up the good work."

Having said that, the potion master hoisted his suitcase and headed underground, going to deliver ingredients to Snape.

John watched the direction of his departure, pondering in his mind.