Before the Ball

Ryan disappeared first thing this morning!

Don't ask me.

"What if Luna did it willingly?"

"Let's go find Ryan."

In less than three minutes.

In the silence of Harry and Neville,

Ron couldn't take it anymore.

However,

In the minds of everyone at Hogwarts now

Under the premise that Ryan Smith exists,

Even after searching the entire castle, the four of them couldn't find a single hair on Ryan's head.

Even more absurdly, Luna and Hermione have also disappeared without a trace.

But the two of them were like Ryan before.

No one knew of their existence.

Aside from Harry and his friends who knew about Ryan.

However, Harry also knew that their current student council president, Penelope, and that Kate had also disappeared.

But in order not to upset Ginny.

He still didn't say anything.

In a situation where one has nothing but is starving,

They returned to the Great Hall and enjoyed a hearty lunch.

It includes at least a hundred turkeys and a huge pile of Christmas pudding, as well as mountains of Kribitch Wizard Cookies.

But none of this made Harry and his friends happy.

Even Ron, who could derive pleasure from food, was no exception.

Ron seems to be thinking about only one thing right now—getting back to the lounge to rest.

Fortunately, Lavender and Hannah appeared.

She took her boyfriend away.

Only Harry and Ginny remained.

Harry forced a smile and said, "How about we go practice dancing?"

Time quickly came to 5 o'clock.

Harry and Ginny walked toward the Great Hall after finishing their dance practice.

Before they even got close, they heard Ron's wail, "No more Christmas tea? I didn't eat enough at lunch!"

At this moment, Harry and Ginny also approached Ravenclaw's long table.

Just then, Lavender offered his words of comfort, "There's a dance today."

That's why Christmas tea was cancelled.

It's already past 5 o'clock.

Why don't you go to the lounge and change into your formal attire beforehand?

I also need to prepare for the ball.

See you then.

Ron understood Lavender's implication.

But precisely because of this,

He seemed quite surprised. "What, you need three hours?"

"What's wrong with three hours?" Ginny said before Lavender could reply.

She took out a small mirror and looked at herself.

"I can't lose to that Pixie! I'm going to win Luna's back too!" Ginny's eyes blazed with fury.

She gave Harry a quick kiss. "I'm off now! Wait for me in the common room!"

She then disappeared into the crowd with Lavender.

Hannah followed closely behind, bidding farewell to Neville.

Some of the female students who overheard the conversation also ran back to their dormitories.

Clearly, Ginny did not name names.

But when the Pixie is mentioned, they all think of the one who outshone the entire Hogwarts — Phoebe Dracula, the Champion of Beauxbatons.

And the male students, like Ron and Harry.

"Harry, they've all gone mad."

No matter how much makeup you wear or how many beauty potions you drink, it won't matter.

How can they compare to Phoebe?

"Yeah, just like how I'm never on the same level as Ryan."

Neville stroked his chin. "Perhaps they just don't want to lose too badly."

The common room looked strange; the people inside were no longer dressed in uniform black robes, but in colorful gowns.

Harry and the others had also changed into their formal robes in their dormitory.

They were anxiously waiting for their respective dance partners in the lounge.

Harry was wearing the Winky silver robe that Draco had given him.

Ron, standing to the side, had changed into a green robe that resembled Dragon Hide cloak.

Neville, on the other hand, was dressed simply.

He wore a plain blue robe with some faint dark blue stripes as decoration.

Just as they were getting impatient, Ginny led Lavender and Hannah, who were still a little reluctant to leave, into the lounge.

They could all hear Hannah and Lavender complaining.

"Why the rush? I finally made it into the Ravenclaw girls' dorms."

"Yes, the interior decoration is completely different from Gryffindor's."

How should I put it? It's more elegant, more suitable for girls to live in.

"Aside from being a bit cold, it has no other drawbacks."

"Cold? No, I don't think so. Are you Hufflepuff different?"

"We are in the basement, and it's very warm."

Of course, Slytherin was an exception; they lived next to the Black Lake, and except in summer, it was practically uninhabitable.

Just as Lavender and Hannah were about to veer off into the architectural layout of Hogwarts.

Ron, oblivious to the situation, interrupted, "Shouldn't we get going?"

"Hmm... to the Great Hall?"

"Yes, that's right!" Ginny nodded repeatedly.

She already regretted bringing Lavender and Hannah to her dorm.

They had a lot more to say.

It sounded like a hundred ducks were quacking in her ears.

She quickly looked at Harry, "We're going to lead the dance today. How about—"

"Now?" Harry hesitated.

He's now waiting in the Entrance Hall, which will undoubtedly attract a lot of attention.

After all, he is so popular.

"Right now," Ginny replied decisively.

He pulled Harry out of the lounge and headed towards the Entrance Hall.

At this moment, the Entrance Hall was also crowded with students, all pacing back and forth.

Waiting for eight o'clock to arrive,

Only then will the Great Hall doors open.

Some people wanted to meet up with their dance partners from other colleges, so they squeezed through the crowd, trying to find their counterparts.

Harry's appearance, as expected, attracted the attention of almost everyone.

Even if it were Ilvas, Krum and his female companion, it would be the same.

However, Harry didn't have time to be bothered by the overwhelming number of stares that made his scalp tingle.

They all suddenly disappeared.

The students who were looking for their dance partners also stopped in their tracks.

They all turned in one direction.

"Damn it! It must be that Pixie Phoebe!" Ginny muttered angrily from the side.

However, the sounds around him contradicted this answer.

"I regret it! I want to break up!"

"Who is he!

He's glowing!

He is my God!

"Ryan Smith!"

This name was deeply etched in my heart two years ago.

But—why could I forget!

"Perhaps, men can too?"

On the other hand, it seems that someone thought of another person based on Smith's surname.

Some impatient girls and boys even started fighting.

"Get over here! Zacharias! Do you know him?"

Zacharias shook his head in fright.

Then he was pushed to the ground.

Without a doubt,

Harry knew that Ryan had appeared.

Ryan's appearance seemed to have captivated everyone's attention.

Even Ginny was the same.

She was about to step forward to argue for Luna.

But the moment she saw Ryan now, her face flushed.

She couldn't help but fall onto Harry.

"So this is what Ryan really looks like."

Luna —No, I can too!

"No! I'm engaged!" Ginny forced herself to turn her head and buried her face in Harry's arms.