Chapter 208: The Dance Partner

Under Hermione's guidance, Cedric and Ron, determined to invite someone to the dance, along with Harry, who was there to bolster Ron's courage, and Cho Chang, who had come along for the spectacle, walked merrily toward the library.

When Hermione led Fleur and Elina out of the library, Elina looked bewildered, while Fleur's eyes lit up.

"Hi, ladies, we've come to discuss something," Harry said, nudging Cedric.

"Yes, I'd like to ask, Miss Delacour," Cedric tried to keep his voice steady, "would you be my dance partner?"

"Of course I will," Fleur replied, her tone brimming with delight, "it's a wonderful thing."

"And then, Miss Kaslana," Ron took a deep breath and shouted, "would you be my dance partner?"

"Me? You?" Elina was clearly surprised, but then she noticed how close Harry and Cho were, "I see. Give me a moment."

"Hermione, what kind of person do you think Ron is?" Elina asked outright in front of everyone.

"Um, he's got a good sense of humor, honest but mischievous," Hermione chose her words carefully, not wanting to speak ill of Ron nor to encourage Elina to accept him, "sometimes he seems childish, but I'd say he's got potential."

"If Hermione says you're honest, then I'm reassured," Elina smiled and winked, "and aren't I a mischievous person too? Hahaha, I look forward to dancing with you, Mr. Weasley."

Only Hermione looked awkward, and now everyone seemed to suddenly realize there was still one person left without a partner.

"That way, you can still accept Krum's invitation," Cho suddenly said, "creating a situation where the four champions are united, while Renata is isolated."

"Huh? Why—" Harry was startled; he'd always assumed China leaned toward the Soviet Union.

"Renata is a classic revisionist; we don't want people like her appearing," Cho whispered, "we'd prefer the Soviet Union be entirely Trotskyist."

"But if you say that, you've fallen into revisionism yourself," Harry retorted sternly.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Anyway, accepting Krum won't hurt," Cho said. "First, he's clueless and has no schemes. Second, it'll annoy Renata—that's brilliant. Third, you're actually looking forward to dancing with him, aren't you?"

"No," Elina said. "The more you think Krum is innocent, the more likely you are to accidentally slip up and reveal important information."

"What important information do we have?" Fleur blinked.

"The clues in the dragon egg! Our clues are the clearest—if Hermione carelessly lets Krum find out something, it'll be disastrous."

"Speaking of that, Donald has already sold all the clues," Hermione sighed and spread her hands, "he said, since they'd find out eventually anyway, it's better to tell them now and get some peace."

"What?" Elina looked incredulous.

"He told me Krum's invitation was likely part of a plot orchestrated by Renata—she wants to use Krum to fabricate evidence that Fleur fixed the tournament," Hermione said. "Compared to that, revealing the dragon egg clues doesn't matter."

Fleur looked listless. "Renata is utterly ruthless. I now truly believe isolating her is justified—let her reap what she sows."

"Then who will be your partner?" Harry asked worriedly. "If you can't give Krum an opening, who will you dance with?"

"Relax—I don't have to dance," Hermione offered a strained smile, but then a faint, unusual blush rose on her cheeks, "besides, I've just thought of another idea."

Almost everyone noticed Hermione's flushed face, so they all wisely said nothing. After this chaotic day, everyone looked forward to the Yule Ball—even though it wasn't on Christmas Day.

Finally, December 15 arrived. Beauxbatons would host all students for a Christmas banquet and dance that day, then grant a holiday from the 16th until January 19.

"Of course I'm envious of such a long break," Harry sighed after reading the schedule.

"I thought you loved Hogwarts," Cho laughed.

"I do—but I love Hogwarts even more when there's no class."

"The best times are always when we're not in class," Ron agreed. "Think of the Mirror of Erised, think of Avalon, think of the Firebolt."

"Exactly—and exam week is always the worst," Harry said. "Think of Quirrell, think of the Basilisk, think of the Azkaban breakout."

"Don't talk like that on such a fine day," Cedric said, though he didn't understand half of it, "let's go have lunch."

Indeed, among the current group, Cedric was the most elated and excited: he was about to dance with a beautiful girl he'd never met before, and perhaps their story wouldn't end when the dance did.

The lunch included at least a hundred turkeys and a mountain of Christmas pudding, which greatly masked the previously unfamiliar French dishes. Ron no longer had to endure fish stew, garlic snails, or weasel legs—he was devouring two drumsticks at once.

"How about you? Found a partner yet?" Donna walked over, grinning.

"Of course—I'll be dancing with Fleur," Cedric blurted out eagerly.

"That's wonderful. And you, Ron?" she asked.

"I'm kind of regretting it," Ron set down his chicken bone. "I asked Kaslana."

"Oh, being rejected is so heartbreaking…"

"She said yes."

"Oh, well," Donna shrugged, sounding sour, "luck always favors the bold."

In the afternoon, they played a brief snowball fight. Neither Krum nor Renata appeared, and no one mentioned them.

At five o'clock, Cho said she needed to prepare for the ball and returned to the carriage.

"Girls always take forever," Harry rolled another snowball. "As for me, I just need to change into my formal robe."

"I'm still stressing about mine," Ron scratched his head. "My robe's too flashy."

"Don't say that—French kings in the Middle Ages dressed like that," Harry suppressed a laugh. "Just pretend you're adapting to local customs."

"Then get my head chopped off, right?" Ron grimaced. "Honestly, I don't want any connection with Kaslana—she's clearly from a different world."

"At least you'll have a beautiful memory," Cedric patted his shoulder. "Better than actually hiring Donna as a procurer."

By seven o'clock, they each returned to the carriage to change into their formal robes. On the aisle, Harry met Cho.

She wasn't wearing Hanfu, but a fitted, pale yellow dress with silver embroidery, golden ribbons tied at the sleeves. Harry stared fixedly at her slender waist for a long while before remembering to look into her eyes—he realized Cho was exceptionally radiant today, perhaps the effect of the makeup charm.

When she linked arms with him, he noticed she was nearly his height—she wore high heels, and the dress split up the calf. He finally remembered the name: it was a qipao.

"Look, they're coming out," Donna stood at the door in a pale purple silk gown, equally dazzling, beside her a handsome boy in a black velvet robe.

"I promised to show you the Hogwarts champions," she told him. "That one in the tailcoat is Harry—he dressed like a Muggle to signal his pro-Muggle political stance; that one in the robe over formal wear is Cedric—he's exactly Fleur's type; that one is Ron—he…"

"He's paying homage to Louis XIV," Donna unusually refrained from sarcasm.

As they walked farther and reached the castle, Harry noticed three girls waiting on the path ahead.

Hermione wore a light purple little dress; Fleur wore a silver-gray off-shoulder gown—both stunning—but all eyes were drawn to Elina.

She wore a blue-and-white dress with sheer sleeves and a low neckline, adorned with lace trim and rose decorations. The hem was layered with ruffles, lace, and embellishments. She wore bright blue heels and pure white stockings—unusual for European students accustomed to black.

"Ah, I see why," Donna muttered, then pulled her partner inside.

For the first time, Ron thought his maroon robe looked perfect, even elegant.

"Oh, looks like we thought alike," Elina smoothly linked arms with Ron, chattering away, "this is my most beautiful dress—it's called the Hall of Memories. What do you think?"

"Great—it'll overshadow Renata," Donald suddenly emerged from the shadows, wearing a pink longcoat and deep purple trousers, topped with a slightly curled golden wig—strangely stylish.

"Oh, Professor, you're here," Hermione said naturally, linking arms with him.

"What?" Ron's eyes widened.

"Ah, Miss Granger so perfectly arranged partners for all the champions that she missed her own invitation," Donald said lightly. "So naturally, as a professor, I had to step in and rescue my student."

"Oh no—he's pulled it off," Harry and Cho instinctively gripped each other's hands tighter.