Chapter 311: Hermione

"If we really take them all in, we'll have to break up the local partners at Hogwarts," Ivy shook her head. "What for? Completely unnecessary."

"Hmm, that's true..." Harry realized he had just come up with a bad idea.

"Then we can take as many as we can?" Luo En didn't want to give up this opportunity to disgust Malfoy.

"Instead, we can just take a count," Ivy soon had a new idea. "For those Hogwarts students who can't find a partner, help them match with an outside friend. That would be very clever."

"This is another political achievement for Torchwood," Harry nodded. "However, we also have to consider that there is always a reason for local students not to find a partner. If they make the outside students unhappy for this or that reason, I'm afraid it will be a loss that outweighs the gain."

"You're wrong. If we treat local students harshly to please outside students, that would be a loss that outweighs the gain," Ivy retorted. "Torchwood is based among Hogwarts students; we don't care about the feelings of those backyard schools at all. As long as Torchwood continues to bring benefits to local students, our status will be unshakable."

"What you're saying," Harry frowned, "is a bit narrow-minded."

"I actually think Ivy is right," Luo En said. "We do need to take good care of allies like Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, but not everyone is qualified to be our ally."

"I think your point of view," Harry hesitated. He felt that this narrow-minded nationalism was not good, but it wasn't bad either. "Forget it, let it be."

"I'll handle it," Ivy said confidently. "Let everyone sign up voluntarily, and then choose who they want to host."

"Then we can't make Malfoy have a headache?" Luo En said with some regret.

"Even if you really gave the letter to Draco, maybe it wouldn't stump him," Ivy shrugged.

"Let it be. We have to find partners for Stewart and Krum," Harry glanced at Luo En. "For Stewart, I think Dean and Seamus are both types she might like. It just so happens that they don't seem to have been settled yet."

"Let's find Hermione for Krum," Luo En said flatly.

"Ah, right, that's a good idea. Krum will be very happy. The only problem is whether Hermione will be willing," Harry said as they walked.

"Why wouldn't she agree? Krum is powerful, strong, handsome, and rich. She has no reason to refuse," Luo En raised his eyebrows. "Besides, besides accepting our arrangement, where else can she find a partner?"

Harry hesitated slightly. Indeed, Hermione had no other boy friends. This was largely caused by those scandals in the newspapers last year. From a bystander's perspective, Krum was already a very good choice, and Krum himself should be very happy.

Moreover, Tang Tang Nade had a high probability of coming along with Alina, or preparing some other tricks. Harry knew he should try not to interfere with his affairs, but after hearing Cassandra's story, he wasn't very at ease with her associating with him.

The two easily found Hermione in the library. She was still sitting in her usual seat alone, her quill shaking, looking like she was studying hard.

"Hi, Hermione," Harry sat down opposite her and whispered, "We have something we want to discuss with you."

Hermione looked up, glanced around, and then readily agreed: "Okay, but we'd better go out and talk."

The three came to the corridor outside the library, passed a corner, and arrived at an empty place. Harry noticed that this happened to be the scene of the attack on Penelope in her second year.

"So, what is it?" Hermione asked.

"It's like this. I want to ask, have you found a partner?" Harry opened the conversation, while Luo En was looking elsewhere nonchalantly.

"I haven't," Hermione said generously.

"Then..." Harry had just started when he was interrupted by her, "And I don't need to."

"I don't intend to attend this year's Christmas Ball," Hermione said calmly.

"Then where do you intend to go?" Harry asked seriously. He was worried that this was another trick of Tang Tang Nade's.

"Oh, I'm preparing to go home. In fact, I'm preparing to leave on Tuesday," Hermione said. "You've noticed, haven't you? These days, not only are students not in the mood to study, but teachers don't have much desire to teach either."

"You... going home?" Harry didn't quite understand. "Back to your home in the Muggle world?"

"What, is it hard to understand?" Hermione said somewhat impolitely. "I just want to accompany my parents."

Harry scratched his head. This reason was quite credible and persuasive to him.

"But there's no need to rush back so soon. We're holding the ball on the 22nd; you can still make it if you leave early on the 23rd," Luo En advised.

"Ah, mainly, we're preparing to spend Christmas at my grandmother's house," Hermione shrugged. "The old lady lives in Glasgow, so we need to go early. It's that simple."

"But this is too early, I mean..." Luo En still didn't quite understand, but Harry held him back.

"The main thing is, Hermione doesn't really want to attend the ball," Harry said. "Maybe it's because you feel there's no decent partner? What I just wanted to tell you is that Krum is coming, and we're here to invite you on his behalf."

"Yes, I really don't want to attend the ball, but it has nothing to do with the partner," Hermione said firmly. "The main reason is that I think it's a waste of time and meaningless."

"You should know that the ball is not just for love; more importantly, it's a kind of social interaction. You can meet many different people," Harry explained, frowning.

"Yes, I know, but I don't think doing this social interaction will help me, so I don't want to meet them at all," Hermione said in a light tone. "Don't think I'm being difficult or sulking. In fact, I'm saying this after careful consideration. I have a quite clear and perfect plan for my own future."

Harry and Luo En didn't speak, just looked at her with curious eyes.

"You might have never considered that the magic world is not necessarily better than the Muggle world," she said. "The social atmosphere here, the political environment, and some conveniences in life... to summarize, I'd rather be a Muggle who can do magic than a Muggle-born wizard."

"I admit the political environment here is quite bad. Fortunately, for most people, there's no need to care about politics," Harry said. "But the social atmosphere and convenience of life..."

"Because you are the Savior," Hermione interrupted him again, "and you haven't discovered that most of the conveniences in your life come from the exploitation of house-elves."

"Everyone knows house-elves are happy to do so!" Luo En retorted. "And you yourself have admitted that they do this to steal a part of the wizard's spell-casting ability."

"First of all, that's just a scholarly speculation, not a fact," Hermione took a deep breath. "And, even if that were a fact, it's still wrong, at least it doesn't conform to my personal moral concepts."

"In other words, you plan to return to Muggle society as soon as you graduate from Hogwarts," Harry summarized, "so you're not interested in social activities in the magic world, and, you have some opinions about the magic world?"

"After graduation, I will go to Miskatonic University. I can enroll with my N. E. W. T. scores, and it also provides a degree certificate recognized by Muggle society, which is convenient for me to return to modern society," Hermione said confidently. "As for my opinions about the magic world, what, can't I have some opinions?"

"I don't understand," Luo En said, crossing his arms.

"I understand. Hermione's experience in the magic world hasn't been happy, and this is indeed not her personal fault," Harry said fairly. "But I don't really suggest you go abroad rashly. I think you've been influenced too much by Tang Tang Nade."

"I don't think this is a bad thing," Hermione shrugged. "With all due respect, I think Tang Tang Nade sees further than the Ministry of Magic in many things. Regardless of whether you accept it or not, the fact is that Yanayev is launching a top-down reform, forcing countries to carry out the integration of the magic world and the Muggle world, and the British Ministry of Magic, which still clings to the Statute of Secrecy, can only be a loser."

"What you said makes sense. I respect your choice," Harry didn't want to argue on this kind of issue. "But I do want to remind you of one thing: if you don't intend to associate with boys in school..."

"Why must I associate with people?" Hermione's attitude seemed very tough today; she interrupted Harry's words repeatedly. "No one stipulated that girls can't live without getting married, right?"

"In that case, you've decided to be a celibate?" Harry's eyes lit up instead.

"Yes, this is also the result of my careful consideration," Hermione nodded.

"That's not bad, at least," Harry felt this wasn't very hard to accept, but at this moment he couldn't mention Tang Tang Nade. "I mean, it's better than loving someone you can't have."

Hermione showed a slightly embarrassed look, while Luo En's expression was complex.

"It doesn't matter. Then you continue to be busy; we still have to find a partner for Krum," Harry pulled Luo En's arm. "Let's go."

"Is it okay to let Krum and Stewart dance?" Luo En blurted out a bad idea.

Hermione watched them walk away without saying a word. Harry and Luo En didn't discuss who was suitable to be Krum's partner along the way, and helplessly returned to the common room.

Immediately after, they found even worse news: Dean and Seamus, who were originally scheduled for Stewart, had taken away Parvati and Padma respectively. The latter were several options they had prepared for Krum.

"Why don't you ask Zhang Qiu? She might have some connections in the Eagle House," Luo En scratched his head. "And I'll go find Colin or his brother to see if they are willing to be Stewart's partner."

Zhang Qiu did have some connections in the Eagle House. She found a gentlemanly, handsome boy named Roger Davies to host Kate Stewart. At the same time, as a reward, she let her best friend Marietta take the beautiful job of being Krum's partner.

Only, after solving the diplomatic problem and talking about Hermione, Zhang Qiu revealed a confident yet sympathetic smile and commented sharply: "It seems the old illness has returned!" ===== CHAPTER 312 =====