Inviting a Dance Partner

Black Lake, Will's fat head pops out of the water.

"I've installed the camera. Is there anything else you need, young master?"

Oren pulled the fishing rod, and without batting an eye, burned the hook and the boot hanging on it to ashes.

"Let me see, the cameras are about a third of the way installed. By the way, is the plaza renovation work that the fishmen requested finished?"

"It's all done. Young master, do you think I don't know which academy you're from?"

"It's not important," Oren waved his hand and said, "I'm in the Civil Engineering department now."

Will...

"Can't you tell? Which college did you graduate from?"

Will: "Durmstrang, I was a model student back in the day too."

Oren, "Good cigarettes, good wine, good women, huh?"

Will...

With another pull of the fishing rod, Oren hooked up a Butterbeer bottle.

Will took a fish out of his pocket and hooked it.

"You have potential," Oren nodded in satisfaction. "Please come to the kitchen for some fish."

Will...

Hogwarts Kitchens.

The three little ones chattered incessantly, pulling Dobby and Winky along with them.

Oren: "Oh~ so you've come to your new House-elf. Go cook me a couple of dishes."

The three little ones...

Harry asked curiously, "Who is this?"

Oren "the new one, teaching civil engineering."

Will...

"I'm here to renovate the facilities."

Ron's sight of the short, fat, bald, and sleazy-looking Will triggered Peter Pettigrew's PTSD.

Oren whispered to Will, "Tone down that dark wizard vibe, it's too overpowering."

Will...

"By the way, have you three found any clues about the next match?"

Harry shook his head and said, "No, Ron and I open the Golden Egg every thirty minutes. If this keeps up, we'll be thrown out of Hogwarts."

Oren...

"Disgraceful!" Oren scoffed. "Your Junior Detective Club has three members, and you haven't even found a single clue!"

"Sigh~ I'll give you a chance, but it's no use. Fine, I'll tell you anyway, the next match will be held at Black Lake."

Ron asked in confusion, "How did you know, Oren?"

Oren: "Guess who made the underwater broadcasting equipment?"

The three little ones...

Hermione glanced at Will.

"You won't leak anything," Oren said, patting Will on the shoulder. "Right?"

Will wiped away a bead of cold sweat. "Yes... yes, I won't leak it. I swear to Chain Lightning, I swear to Merlin!"

Harry put on the Pain Mask. "Underwater? That's going to be tricky."

Oren: "If it's too difficult, then don't bother. I've already taken care of everything for you. Just go ahead and do it without worry."

Hermione asked curiously, "How were you bribing them?"

"I held up a picture of Harry and beat up all the underwater Grindylow. Those who disagreed were dragged to Merpeople Square and set on fire."

"It must be said that sustaining burning underwater is quite difficult, but fortunately, there aren't many troublemakers in Grindylow Lowry."

The three little ones...

"Um..." Harry asked awkwardly, "Then how do I breathe underwater?"

Oren's blood pressure increased

"Figure that out yourself! If you can't, then drown in the lake."

Harry...

Another day of Transfiguration ended, and Oren and the three little ones walked back to the Gryffindor Tower.

Oren asked, puzzled, "What the hell was Professor McGonagall talking about? A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Who was misunderstood?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "That's a ball."

"Oh, a ball?" Oren nodded and continued, "What's that for? I've never been to one in my entire life."

Ron sighed. "You need to find a girl to be your dance partner."

Harry hesitated, "I might be able to ask Cho Chang, but I don't know if she'll agree."

"Definitely," Ron said confidently. "You're the man who defeated the Hungarian Horntail. Even if she can't agree, you can invite Millicent. She definitely won't have anyone invite her."

Harry shook his head frantically. "Forget about that shrew, I can't drive a tank."

Ron???

"Ugh~" Oren grumbled, "You two blind fools, don't blame me for taking advantage of my proximity if you're blind."

Ron and Harry exchanged a glance.

Harry: "What was that long passage he was talking about?"

Ron: "I don't know, I didn't understand, but I was deeply shocked."

"Um... Hermione," Oren turned to the two children and said, "Do I need to kneel down?"

Harry Ron shook his head frantically.

"Okay, um... Hermione, I came in a hurry and didn't have the ring, I only have this Griphook from a soda can."

Oren asked shyly, "Could you be my dance partner?"

"Hmph ╯^╰" Hermione hurriedly ran away with her book in her arms.

Oren???

Does this mean she agreed to be with me?

Harry: "How should I know? But Oren, that's way too much!"

Ron: "If Hermione refuses, you can invite Millicent instead."

Oren retorted angrily, "Screw you, Ron! I'm not some damn tank destroyer!"

Ron...

The next day at Black Lake, Oren and Will squatted on the shore.

"Will, do you think Hermione said yes or no?"

"Although Miss Granger didn't say anything, it certainly wasn't a rejection. Young Master, you should regroup and invite her again, but this time, don't go overboard."

"You're right, Will. I really don't know what I would do without you."

The strategist Will suggested, "The sooner the better, young master, why don't we go now?"

"I'll elbow you right now!"

They grabbed Harry and Ron as reinforcements, and the three of them staked out the Library entrance.

Ron whispered, "That's Krum."

Harry: "Why is he acting so suspiciously? Is he hiding from the fans?"

Oren and Krum, each holding a flower, stood at the Library entrance, staring at each other.

Oren spoke first, "You're Krum, are you here to invite a dance partner too?"

"What a coincidence?" Krum said. "I'm also here to ask for a dance partner. Miss Granger will definitely say yes this time."

Oren started with Levicorpus, followed by Langlock. "Ah~ the world is so much quieter now."

"Won't this cause a problem?" Ron asked in alarm.

"What a load of rubbish!" Oren shoved the two aside and said, "Hermione's out, you better hide."

Hermione looked at Oren with a puzzled expression and said, "There was a strange sound here just now, like the Seeker Krum's scream?"

"Hermione, you must have misheard. There's no Krum here," Oren said, handing her a bouquet of flowers. "Hermione, will you be my dance partner?"

Hermione crossed her arms and said, "Then I'll reluctantly agree."

A strange noise came from the ceiling. Hermione wondered, "Is the ceiling going to fall down? Filch really needs to fix it." Then she ran back to the Library.

"Hehehe, guys, I did it!"

Harry rushed over, snatched the bouquet, and said, "Hermione didn't take it, so let me borrow it. Come with me to invite Cho Chang."

It's clear that Oren's success gave Harry a lot of courage.

Gryffindor Common Room

Harry took a big gulp of Butterbeer, feeling frustrated.

Ron comforted him, "Why did Cho Chang agree to Cedric Diggory's offer? He's just a little taller, a little more handsome, a little stronger Harry..."

Ron's voice trailed off.

Oren shrugged and said, "I don't know how to comfort you. All I can say are weird things like 'you can take it and leave it.'"

Harry: "Oren, if you were me, would you pick it up or put it down?"

Oren: "I will win."

Harry...