"What are you talking about? How could she possibly skip class?" Ron said dismissively. He looked around but couldn't find Hermione. "She probably just left the classroom, right? You know, her schedule is packed..."
Some classes were electives. Harry and Ron had not packed their schedules too full, but Hermione was different. She had arranged her time very tightly.
"That's not it. I noticed she wasn't there during class," Harry said.
"What! Hermione actually missed class? Did she oversleep?" Ron said in surprise.
Seeing that Ron couldn't offer an explanation either, Harry planned to go directly to Hermione's roommates and ask.
But to Harry's surprise, Hermione's roommates came looking for them first.
However, they had not come because of Hermione.
"Ron, have you found a partner for tonight's Yule Ball?" Lavender asked with a smile.
"Huh?"
Ron instinctively wanted to glance toward Harry, but quickly remembered that Harry had changed back. He said somewhat dejectedly, "Not yet..."
Lavender pursed her lips and stated her purpose directly. "Ron, I want to ask you to be my partner tonight!"
"Huh?" Ron froze. It was the first time he had encountered something like this, and he did not react right away.
Harry could no longer stand Ron's dazed look and nudged him with his elbow.
Ron came back to his senses and hurriedly agreed. "Okay! I haven't asked anyone yet!"
"Then it's settled!" Lavender said happily.
Parvati asked as well, "Harry, do you have a partner?"
Harry scratched his cheek. "Sorry, I already have one."
He and Ginny had arranged it long ago.
"Oh—it's fine..." Parvati said, somewhat disappointed.
"By the way, I wanted to ask you two, why didn't Hermione come to class?" Harry asked.
"She didn't come to class?"
Both Parvati and Lavender looked surprised.
"Now that you mention it, I