Miss Granger Lands a Critical Hit

At the High Table, the professors were preoccupied with their own thoughts. Hagrid, dressed in a brown Hagrid, waved to the guests, and Madam Maxime returned the gesture, her opal jewelry sparkling. Crouch and Moody quietly enjoyed their dinner, while Karkaroff gazed at Snape with a complex expression...

"Durmstrang also has a Castle, four stories high, which can only be lit when magic is being used..."

"At Beauxbatons Castle, we'll fill it with ice sculptures for Christmas that won't melt and will sparkle like diamonds..."

"Ilvermorny's Castle is located on a High Mountain, usually shrouded in thick fog, and four statues stand at its entrance..."

"No one can claim to know all the secrets of Hogwarts, except for the tricky staircase, the accidentally discovered Chamber of Secrets, and the supposedly luxurious toilet hidden in the Castle..."

Dance partners from different schools were discussing similar topics. Perhaps the starry sky above the Great Hall's dome held some kind of strange Ancient Magic; otherwise, Loren couldn't understand why these people were suddenly so competitive at this time.

"Come on, open your mouth!"

Loren fed a slice of Hungary beef stew to his dance partner, and as he watched the girl open her mouth and swallow, he felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and pleasure.

Hermione chewed with puffed-out cheeks, still getting used to her new teeth.

"Try this one too..."

"And this..."

"One more piece, open your mouth."

"..."

Hermione pursed her lips, a hint of helplessness in her bright eyes. "If I eat any more, the corset on my dress will come undone."

"Oh well."

Loren was somewhat disappointed and shoveled the remaining food onto his own plate.

Few students were as focused on their meal as he was. The dinner was lavish, but the young wizards had more important things on their minds. They quickly filled their stomachs and stopped eating, turning their expectant gazes toward the High Table.

Dumbledore stood up, cleared his throat, and said excitedly, "I know everyone is eager to get started. As the books say, the highlight of the Yule Ball is—"

George and Fred led the shouts, "Dance!"

Let's begin!

Dumbledore waved his wand, and all the tables flew to the wall, leaving an empty space in the middle.

A stage was raised near the base of the wall, on which were placed a drum set, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and several organs.

The band is indeed the famously Weird Sisters.

Their hair was exceptionally thick, and they wore deliberately ripped black robes. They were said to be a sensation on wizarding television and had even toured the Muggle World.

Loren watched with great interest, finding the rock-and-roll outfit both Muggle- esque and somewhat familiar.

The lanterns on the surrounding tables quietly went out, leaving only the brightly lit dance floor.

The soothing and calming opening dance music began.

The five Champion and their partners rose and went onto the dance floor.

Harry stepped on his robes as he stood up and almost tripped, but fortunately his dance steps weren't bad. With Ginny's guidance, he gradually relaxed and began to twirl freely on the dance floor.

Aside from Krum, whose limbs stiffen when he's on the ground, the other Champion and their dance partners performed well, and the swaying Phoebe was captivating.

Before a single dance had even finished, the professors were the first to enter the dance floor, Champion were no longer the center of attention.

Dumbledore was fawning over Madam Maxime, while Hagrid sat in the High Table, watching longingly, regretting that he had hesitated for a few seconds before the headmaster had preemptively invited Maxime.

The professors confidently displayed their bizarre dance moves; Professor Flitwick twirled around Professor Sprout's skirt like a dwarf; Professor Ludo Bagman and Professor McGonagall swayed in a waltz on the dance floor; and Professor Sinesta, the Astronomy Professor Sinistra, nervously dodged Moody's wooden prosthetic leg...

Seeing the professors dancing freely, the young wizards' initial awkwardness quickly dissipated, and they all invited their partners to join them on the dance floor.

Neville's stiff movements amused Hannah, Ron couldn't keep up with Lavender's pace at all, Seamus and Dean were switched back and forth between the Patil sisters, and Draco, with his arm around Astoria, was infected by the girl's bright smile.

The unstructured movements accelerated with the cheerful rhythm, the skirts and hems of the clothes fluttering freely, gradually pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

Loren bowed slightly, one hand behind his back, the other extended, his gentle voice filled with unspeakable joy:

"May I invite you to dance, Miss Granger?"

"With pleasure." The girl's eyes Winky in the dimly lit seating area.

As they entered the dance floor, the lights gradually brightened, illuminating the girl. The gold embroidery beneath the fabric shimmered and danced. Loren gazed softly at Hermione, the lovely girl before him bowing her head, her bright eyes glistening with tears.

My palms rested on her willow-like waist, feeling the soft, gentle rise and fall with her breath, and a delicate fragrance wafting through the air.

The musicians changed to another piece, with a soothing rhythm, which made the dance floor even quieter.

The sound of the drum kit disappeared, the guitar and lute gradually faded away, and the sounds of the violin and organ slowly drifted into the distance.

Spin, swing, step...

Hermione felt as if the world had shrunk down to just the two of them.

She leaned closer to his embrace, took a soft breath, and said in a gentle, delicate voice, "Last week when I asked you about the dress, you recited Pushkin's poem to me, 'If life deceives you...'"

"I just mumbled it off, just to fool you," Loren whispered in her ear.

Hermione couldn't help but let out a soft moan. Her hot breath fell into her ear canal, making her tremble slightly all over, and she almost collapsed into his arms.

"I also remembered a poem..." Hermione paused, "To fool you."

"You read it."

"Desperate sorrow torments me."

The hustle and bustle of the world makes me anxious and uneasy.

You appeared gracefully before my eyes

I remember that wonderful moment.

"Like a fleeting phantom"

"Like a holy and beautiful celestial being"

That gentle voice always lingers in my ears

That pretty face often soothes my dreams

"..."

As the music neared its end, the rhythm became increasingly soothing and melodious, leaving only the sound of the violin echoing softly. People on the dance floor swayed and turned in unison, experiencing a sense of tranquility that emanated from the depths of their hearts.

"Time flies, rain and wind may come, but I will forever remember your gentle words and your angelic face..."

Hermione recited the poem word by word, as if she had been called upon to recite Gamp's Law in a Transfiguration class, fluent and clear. She wasn't sure if Loren had read the poem or if he could hear the subtle changes she had made.

Loren, of course, knew nothing about foreign poetry, but that didn't stop his heart from being filled with every word the girl wrote, until a warm feeling overflowed.

Hermione will always remember that moment when she thought that even if she transferred to magic school, she would still be lonely, would still be ostracized, and would not even be able to seek comfort from her parents this time. That's when this person appeared.

Meeting him at Hogwarts was a blessing from heaven, even more fortunate than magic.

She remembered the story about the sycamore tree, and she believed that Loren Morgan was her rainbow.

They would also plant a tree, water and fertilize it together, and decades later, climb up the branches together to watch the sunrise.

"Miss Granger delivered a critical hit!" Loren exclaimed.

"..."

He's saying strange things again.

Hermione thought to herself, then released his waist and hands, pulled closer, wrapped her arms around his neck, tilted her head back, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his lips.