Christmas Ball (6)

Sean was being held by the Little White Flower, twitched at the corner of his eye. He didn't know Stephanie would use this method at first, and even after finding out who Hermione's dance partner was, he still didn't expect Stephanie to be like this...

Most importantly, how exactly did she convince Hermione?

Hermione linked arms with Stephanie, and the two walked over with their heads held high, like a couple showing off their love.

As the two figures drew closer, Sean felt a strange, indescribable feeling rise within him.

"Could it be that the orange's influence is really going to be too great...? "Sean had an absurd thought.

However, since the two had already come over, he naturally had to greet them properly.

"Good evening, you all look great," Sean said with a smile.

Hermione first waved excitedly to the stunned Daisy, then raised her nose haughtily when facing Sean: "Good evening, you are all good too—especially Daisy, you are so beautiful, Daisy."

Daisy blinked. "But didn't we change into our dresses together...?"

Hermione's face stiffened for a moment, then she resumed her usual Little White Flower tone. "That's just polite talk at the ball!"

While the two were bickering, Sean glanced at Stephanie.

The other person wasn't intentionally dressed as a man; she was just dressed in a neat and tidy manner, like a handsome and mature older sister.

Upon getting closer to Sean, it became apparent that Stephanie's face was slightly different from usual. While her features remained largely the same, the details around her eyes and eyebrows made her look quite different from her usual appearance.

Stephanie is petite and flat-chested. Although she has a cool expression, she usually gives people a sense of fragility. The way she looked up at Sean in her dress on her birthday was just like an elf girl straight out of a comic book.

Today, Stephanie is very mature, with a sharper face and more mature womanly charm. Even when she's expressionless with one hand on her hip, she exudes a powerful, commanding presence...

Completely different.

If Stephanie hadn't spoken in the same voice, Sean would have thought the girl had been switched at birth.

"Good evening, Sean, Daisy." Stephanie's voice wasn't that of a mature older sister; it was still the same cool, aloof voice of the expressionless little girl.

The contrast was striking... Sean and Daisy exchanged a furtive glance.

By this time, everyone in the Great Hall was already seated, and Professor McGonagall came over and told the Champion and their partners to line up in pairs and go inside.

Sean and Daisy walked first, followed by Stephanie and Hermione.

The walls of the Great Hall were covered with Winky silver frost, and the ceiling displayed a starlit night sky, adorned with hundreds of mistletoe twigs and ivy wreaths. The four college tables were gone, replaced by numerous small tables lit with lanterns, each with about ten people seated around it.

As Sean and Daisy walked in, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers. Daisy, arm in arm with Sean, had a mix of excitement and nervousness on her face, and her earlobes were flushed.

She tucked her hands slightly and greeted the others. She saw her Harry sitting with Ginny, clapping enthusiastically for her— Little White Flower suddenly had a sense of realization.

However, this feeling was quickly interrupted by the gasps of the crowd.

Stephanie and Hermione walked in. Stephanie's cool and stylish older sister version surprised everyone. At first, everyone was puzzled, but then they recognized Stephanie. They were surprised that Stephanie looked like this, but since she could appear like this, it proved to be reasonable.

Moreover, good-looking people always receive more kindness from others. Many girls are already looking at Stephanie with starry eyes. Although Sean is also handsome, Stephanie is a girl!

Just thinking about it makes me even more excited...

Especially the sight of her arm around the exquisitely beautiful Hermione, with an elegant smile on her face, was a devastating blow to the girls.

Sean and his High Table, where they saw Dumbledore, seated at the head of the table, smiling happily. He was wearing a magnificent brown-red robe that day.

Beside him was Grindelwald. Grindelwald had returned to Hogwarts at some point, and he had changed his clothes. His bright-colored robes gave him a lively and youthful look that he didn't usually have.

Ludo Bagman was wearing a bright purple robe with big yellow stars on it tonight. He clapped enthusiastically like his classmates, and his smile became even more enthusiastic when he saw Sean, his eyes almost squinting into slits—but Stephanie behind Sean and his friends quickly pried those slits open.

He even turned his head somewhat blankly, wanting to confirm with the other guests whether the dashing young woman in front of him was indeed their Champion Stephanie.

Karkaroff shared the same expression. Karkaroff was also dressed in a magnificent robe today. His expression stiffened when he saw Sean, and his eyes widened when he saw Stephanie. He only stood up and clapped when Krum approached.

Madame Maxime had taken off her usual black satin uniform and was wearing a flowing pale purple dress. She whispered to the people around her from time to time, but her large frame looked quite intimidating.

Professor Moody was the only one who hadn't changed into a formal suit. He sat to one side, chatting with a smiling Professor Flitwick.

Snape finally took off his black cloak today and put on a new suit, which made him look very composed and slightly softened his usual gloomy temperament.

That was a Christmas present Daisy gave him, and it was clear that Snape liked it very much. Just now, when Karkaroff stood up to shake hands with Krum, he accidentally brushed against him, and Snape's eyelids twitched violently— Karkaroff sensed a great crisis, and the usually arrogant Karkaroff quickly apologized to Snape sincerely.

He had a feeling that if he didn't apologize, he might be poisoned at the Christmas Ball...

Snape finally let Karkaroff go with a cold snort, not because his apology was sincere, but because Daisy walked over arm in arm with Sean.

"Professor, you look amazing!" she said in a low voice, waving excitedly at Snape.

Snape's lips seemed to twitch a few times, then he casually greeted Daisy as well, saying, "Well, you look good today too."

"Oh?" He admitted he looked alright, thanks to the dress and robe Daisy had given him... Sean thought to himself.

Snape's usually enthusiastic face darkened upon seeing Sean. He found Sean particularly displeasing today, especially after Daisy took Sean's arm after they sat down.

It's like a father taking his daughter to a dance for the first time, only to find out her dance partner is a scoundrel.

After all the Champion were seated, Dumbledore smile.

"Welcome, welcome everyone to this unparalleled Christmas party—" he looked particularly pleased. "This year we have guests from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and Newmontgard, and we have selected the bravest Champion. I propose that we once again applaud our guests and Champion who have traveled from afar."

After a round of enthusiastic applause, Dumbledore raised his glass. "Enjoy yourselves, everyone!"

Sean looked in front of him. There was no food, only bare plates and a menu next to them. Everyone looked a little confused because there were no waiters in the Great Hall.

Dumbledore examined his menu carefully, then looked at his plate and said very clearly, "Pork chop!"

The pork chop appeared immediately. The others at the table suddenly realized what was going on and followed suit, ordering their favorite dishes onto their plates.

No wonder when I delivered Christmas presents to the House-elves today, they were all excitedly banging their heads against the wall and proudly saying that Sean would definitely love the food at the dinner party.

Although the banquet started with everyone clearly pronouncing the names of the food on their plates, it seemed a bit strange.

Sean ordered himself a beef stew in red wine and then happily enjoyed his dinner.

The lack of the original major trouble was much better than he had imagined, which put Sean in a great mood. He ate and talked with the others at the same time.

Cedric and Cho Chang were all smiles, as if they had already confirmed their relationship, and they both had sweet expressions on their faces.

George and Fred were telling jokes to their respective dance partners, making the two girls laugh out loud. This made Harry, Ron, and Neville, who were sitting at the table below, very envious, as they didn't have that charming sense of humor.

However, their dance partners were all very satisfied with them, especially Ginny, who would lean over and whisper a few words to Harry every now and then, making the young Potter beam with joy, while making Ron's eyes twitch.

Meanwhile, Phoebe Delacour is criticizing the decor of Hogwarts to Roger Davis.

"That's nothing," she said dismissively, glancing at the star-studded walls surrounding the Great Hall. "At Beauxbatons Castle, our Great Hall is filled with ice sculptures at Christmas. Of course, they don't melt...like giant diamond Great Hall, Winky everywhere. The food is superb too. We even have the Mountain Fairies Choir, who sing serenades to us while we eat. We don't have these ugly suits of armor along our walls; if some mischievous ghost wandered into Beauxbatons, it would be kicked out, just like this." She slammed her hand on the table impatiently.

Roger Davis watched her speak with a rapt attention, his fork tilting at an angle several times so he didn't manage to put any food in his mouth. Sean thought Davis was so engrossed in staring at Phoebe that he wasn't even hearing what she was saying.

"Exactly!" Davis responded eagerly, mimicking Phoebe by slapping the table with his hand. "Just like that. That's right."

Although both possess Veela blood, Phoebe appears much more proud than Stephanie —especially after Stephanie has captured most of the attention.

On the other side, Hugo and Patricia became dance partners, but it was clearly a business collaboration. Hugo didn't even notice the sexy and hot Patricia next to him, and was busy ordering food from plate to plate.

Patricia was used to the chubby boy. She elegantly swirled her wine glass, occasionally casting provocative glances at the younger boys who were staring at her chest. Only after they blushed and lowered their heads would she smile and take a sip of her wine.

Another member of the Golden Dawn Ian Teach, found a Hogwarts dance partner. Today, he wore a particularly ornate top hat and would occasionally pull out trinkets from inside the hat to amuse his female partner.

In a pleasant atmosphere, everyone finished eating. Dumbledore stood up and told the students to stand up as well. Then he waved his wand, and all the tables flew to the wall, leaving an empty space in the middle. He then conjured a tall stage against the right wall, on which sat a drum set, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and several organs.

Then, the Weird Sisters rushed onto the stage, and the audience erupted in thunderous applause. They had unusually thick hair and wore deliberately ripped black robes.

The lanterns went out, leaving only the starlight shining from the ceiling.

Sean bowed slightly to Daisy and extended a hand. Under Snape's expectant gaze, the Little White Flower blushed and placed her hand on his.

They were the first to step onto the dance floor and start dancing to the music.

When Sean picked up Daisy and spun her around in mid-air, the other Champion joined in.

The Weird Sisters ' music grew increasingly lively, and their dancing became more and more unrestrained—though Sean didn't know why, as they danced, Stephanie and Hermione came to their side.

The two girls danced with increasing enthusiasm. The taller, older sister-like Stephanie embraced Hermione and danced gracefully. They were like elves chasing each other under the starlight, their faces flushed with excitement and filled with joyful smiles.

Everyone's attention was drawn to it, and the music grew even louder.

Stephanie pulled Hermione's hand and spun her around several times. This time, Hermione didn't step on her feet even once. Her skirt fluttered, drawing a beautiful arc.

As the music faded to its last note, Stephanie bent down and hugged Hermione, who lifted one leg high, bringing the dance to a perfect close.

Amidst enthusiastic applause, the second dance music began, and everyone else stepped onto the dance floor.

Dumbledore and Madame Maxime began to waltz. Compared to her, he was practically a dwarf; the top of his pointed hat barely touched her chin. Yet, for such a large woman, her steps were remarkably graceful. Mad-Eye Moody was awkwardly trying to dance a few steps with Professor Babbling, Professor Babbling nervously dodged his wooden prosthetic legs.

Grindelwald also entered the dance floor, taking Vita Rosier's hand, whose face was filled with a stunned infatuation, looking extremely excited.

When the cello played its last vibrato, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause.

The third dance music changed to a more lively tune, and everyone began to dance freely on the dance floor. Perhaps because of the alcohol, Professor McGonagall, with a flushed face (she had her hair down today), danced happily with Hagrid.

Under Sean's dumbfounded gaze and Professor Rosier's resentful look, Grindelwald laughed and extended his hand to Dumbledore.

A burst of laughter and cheers erupted from the crowd as Sean saw the Weasley twins whistling wildly— Sean figured Grindelwald would definitely reward the brothers later...

Dumbledore laughed heartily and reached out to shake hands with Grindelwald.