Chapter 222

"You say Parvati acted foolishly and refused?" Zhang Qiu looked surprised. "She will suffer the backlash of fate."

"It wasn't entirely her own foolishness; Lavender was egging her on." Harry rubbed his temples, feeling a vein there throbbing.

"Well, if it really comes to it, we can still dance separately," Zhang Qiu said. "I have a blue-and-white porcelain-patterned cheongsam. As for Luo En and Alina, I think you two could take this opportunity to go to Diagon Alley and buy a matching outfit."

"Thanks a lot, but I'd rather go to Gilneas for Christmas now. I think the werewolf nation is much more interesting than the ball," Luo En said listlessly.

"Yeah, I don't have any money either," Alina spread her hands. "If I wear the Dream-Recalling Corridor again, Renata will definitely mock me mercilessly. Kevin is already my trump card."

Hearing Alina use the word "either," Luo En's expression became even uglier.

"Fine, that's settled then." Harry stood up abruptly. "I'm writing to Sirius right now; I'm not spending it here this year."

"Exactly, not spending it here," Luo En echoed.

"Alright then, we'll stay here," Zhang Qiu said. "Whatever you intend to have Eve do, I will support it; this can at least have some effect."

On the night before Christmas, Harry and Luo En were eating maple waffles in the common room while fiddling with wizard chess with sticky fingers, until Harry's Queen shouted, "Stop touching me with those dirty hands," and a magical thing happened.

Parvati came over to greet them, her face flushed, and she asked timidly, "Harry, I'm very sorry to bother you, but, I mean, are you and Luo En still free?"

"It's you?" Harry paused. "Don't you think I'm oppressing you?"

Parvati twisted her fingers in front of her, acting coy as she said, "Sorry, Lavender dragged me into saying that. Actually, I didn't really agree with her."

"Besides, my sister is also free; she's willing to be Luo En's dance partner," she added.

Harry felt a tiny bit moved, but only for the sake of following the divination. He hesitated slightly, then asked, "Luo En, what do you think?"

"Forget it, didn't we already agree?" Luo En glared at Parvati with dissatisfaction. "We're going to Gilneas, that's that."

"Fine," Harry shrugged. "I'm sorry, Parvati, we're going to spend Christmas elsewhere. Someone will come to pick us up tomorrow at noon."

"But," Parvati's tone sounded a bit anxious, "if I can't find a dance partner—"

"Forget it." Harry said with dissatisfaction. "In my opinion, the dance partner system is a form of oppression against women. Who says you must have a partner to dance? This is the discipline of feudal society and should not be accepted. If you dance by yourself, it better embodies female independence and self-improvement."

Luo En couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"But I'm of Indian descent. My mother wrote to tell me that if I can't find a dance partner in my fourth year, it's very shameful, and I might never be able to get married in my life," she cried.

"So, who told you, an Indian descendant, to follow that British young lady in making a scene?" Luo En mocked.

"Let me think." Harry's sympathy began to take effect, and he was genuinely considering the matter, even though Sirius had clearly mentioned in his reply, "Come to the Three Broomsticks at ten o'clock on Christmas morning to pick you up."

"Harry, don't." Luo En said with dissatisfaction. "She brought this on herself."

"Don't rush, Parvati." Harry pondered. "Although I can't be your dance partner, I might be able to find one for you, and for your sister too. And both of them are pure-blood nobles."

"But it's a bit late now, wait for my news tomorrow."

Early the next morning, Harry sorted through the gifts he had received. Sir Crawley sent him a watch, Eve sent him a book, Luo En sent him a bag of Dungbombs, Hagrid sent a box of candy, and Sirius sent a pencil sharpener. Except for that ticking Rolex, the other gifts were not considered valuable, but Harry enjoyed the sentiment.

Harry and Luo En went downstairs for breakfast and successfully found Ma Erfu at the breakfast table, along with the two clever big guys beside him.

"Hi, Ma Erfu, I happen to have something to find Crabbe and Gao Er for." Harry said. "Have you found dance partners?"

"Uh, good question. When you were looking for dance partners, did you help me find one, Gao Er?"

"How would I have time to find a dance partner? Haven't we been together all this time?"

"Then, boss, did you help us find dance partners?"

"No." Ma Erfu sighed. "I reminded you to find dance partners two hundred years ago. What's the next step? Do I have to remind you not to forget to eat?"

"Ah, that's perfect, I have a pair of sisters here who can't find dance partners." Harry said. "They are Parvati and Padma, and they are both quite pretty."

"Alright then, thanks Harry." Crabbe said honestly. "But I haven't really taken this matter to heart."

"Right, having one is better than not having one." Gao Er agreed.

"I'm speechless." Ma Erfu spread his hands. "Even if you help them regain a little face, they'll lose it all again very soon."

"It doesn't matter, let's just do it this way. You can consider what color clothes to wear." Harry laughed.

When they left the Great Hall and walked toward Hogsmeade Village, Luo En finally couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"I might be able to help you find a dance partner." He imitated Harry's gentle yet confident tone from last night. "And both of them are pure-blood nobles, pure-blood! Nobles! I'm dying of laughter."

"Count the people around us," Harry shrugged. "Who else could still not find a dance partner the night before the ball?"

"Seriously, I think dancing with them is even more shameful than not finding a dance partner." Luo En was still laughing. "This is what Zhang Qiu called the backlash of fate."

"It's about time," Harry glanced at his newly worn watch. "We need to speed up."

In Hogsmeade Village, as soon as Harry and Luo En walked into the Three Broomsticks, they saw a familiar figure. Lupin was sitting at a table, drinking butterbeer leisurely, and opposite him, Sirius was saying something.

"... I asked him righteously, you are arresting Sirius, what does it have to do with me, Regulus?"

Taking advantage of Lupin slapping the table and laughing, Harry stepped forward to greet them.

"Oh, Harry, Luo En." Sirius said. "I didn't dare to hope that you would come to spend it with us, after all, Hogwarts is holding a ball."

"We didn't really want to go," Harry shrugged. "After all, we have already attended a ball at Beauxbatons."

The two old friends from their student days, although both now in leadership positions, actually had no family. Therefore, regarding the arrival of Harry and Luo En, both Lupin and Sirius felt very close and happy.

They Apparated to the Presidential Palace in Gilneas, where Lupin now lived. However, because they had just moved in, it still seemed a bit cold and cheerless.

A woman with bubblegum-pink hair walked out. She had a pale, heart-shaped face and a pair of bright, dark eyes. Just like a typical young, rebellious witch, she wore a Weird Sisters shirt and a pair of patched jeans. When she saw Harry and the others, she suddenly laughed.

"This is Tonks, my niece, though she's a cousin." Sirius introduced. "This is Harry and Luo En, my godson and his best friend."

"Hello." Tonks greeted them.

"She is a Metamorphmagus and also a member of the Order of the Phoenix. She just became an Auror this year." Sirius said. "Because I invited her to help handle some things before, and they haven't been finished yet, she just happened to stay and spend Christmas with us."

"Move it, kids, we need to decorate the Christmas tree before nightfall." Tonks clapped her hands. "This place is as cold and cheerless as a haunted house."

"Ah, that's normal, coldness is a byproduct of power." Sirius said with a hint of sadness.

"I'll go handle the turkey." Lupin clapped his hands. "Do you have any dietary restrictions? Does anyone hate carrots?"

"My advice to you is to stuff a spring chicken inside the turkey." Sirius said. "There are two growing boys here who are never full."

The newly completed Presidential Palace was filled with the laughter and joy of the holiday. In fact, not far away, those other werewolf camps, whether they had set up wooden houses or lived in tents, were also brightly lit and lively.

After dinner, they walked out of the room, called over some other werewolves who were also idle, and held a noisy bonfire party.

Harry and Luo En followed them, singing unknown songs and dancing by waving their hands and feet at will. Everyone's face was filled with a happy smile, even though their robes were mostly worn white and covered in patches.

"I have to thank you." A drunken man walked over with a wine bottle. "I used to say I was a wizard who just happened to have lycanthropy, but now I can openly say that I am a werewolf, a legal resident living in Gilneas!"

"Our days are much better now." Another middle-aged woman said. "We don't have to worry about being discovered, and no one discriminates against or bullies us anymore."

"The Dark Lord treated us as tools, only you treat us as people." Another man said. "How lucky we are to meet such a Great President!"

Suddenly, the drunken werewolf howled, "Hmm... Long live the King!"

"Yeah, Long live the King, we love you."

"Woo, King, I can die for you at any time!!"

In the waves of sound that rose higher and higher, Harry watched Lupin's expression with a half-smile. His eyes were always firm, and those awkwardness eventually gradually turned into a warm smile.