The Christmas ball once again plunged Harry into the problem of finding a dance partner. Fortunately, Ginny was generous enough to take the initiative and invite him.
Many times, Harry had to marvel at how often he could see traces of Molly Weasley in Ginny.
Molly Weasley often made Harry feel as though he had a mother. Now, to his alarm, he had found that same feeling in Ginny as well.
Though he was somewhat embarrassed to admit it, when he had been worrying over finding a partner, Ginny had suddenly appeared and invited him with a smile. Bathed in sunlight, she looked so radiant that Harry simply could not refuse.
Nor did he want to refuse, because he had no better choice to begin with. In truth, Harry had considered asking Ginny himself, but he had been held back by some inexplicable hesitation.
A young boy's first stirrings of affection were often like the gentle breeze of early spring—there, yet left unspoken.
Unaware of Harry's fluttering heart, Eli simply went to class, got out of class, and ate as usual. The only disruption came from dispatches from the Order of the Phoenix, sending him to clash with Death Eaters from time to time.
Not wanting Hermione Granger to worry, Eli always cleared away the smell of blood and the chaotic traces of magic before appearing at her side with a calm expression.
But some things were like fate itself. Eli could never fool Hermione Granger.
Whenever Eli thought his acting was flawless, Hermione Granger only needed to scan him up and down with her eyes before pointing out exactly what was wrong with him.
At first, she would always scold him. Not just Eli, but more often the Order of the Phoenix and even Dumbledore. At least in Hermione