"If you ask me, Harry, you don't need to worry about finding a dance partner at all." Ron chewed his slice of bread and turned toward Harry, who had been looking miserable for several days. "I bet they'll be lining up and fighting over the chance to dance with you."
"By the way, Hermione, Su Er's dance partner has to be you, right?" Ron suddenly turned toward Hermione, who was sitting nearby.
"Who knows?" Hermione's tone sounded a little off as she jabbed her fork into the egg in front of her.
"Su Er's performance in the first task was so impressive. I bet loads of girls want to dance with him." Ron sounded rather gleeful at her predicament and blurted it out without thinking.
"Ron!" Harry hastily cut him off and looked at Hermione.
"What happened? Hasn't Su Er invited you yet?"
"Oh, you're both so annoying." Hermione shot to her feet. "You'd better worry about how you're going to find dance partners yourselves."
With those words, Hermione left the Great Hall, looking very agitated.
Hermione had a reason for her agitation. More than once, she had caught Su Er surrounded by girls, and more than once, she had hinted that he could invite her, but the fellow kept pretending not to understand.
Meanwhile, Su Er, who had just left the common room and was heading to the Great Hall, was stopped by a group of girls in a corridor not far from the Entrance Hall.
"Su Er Bones?" A Ravenclaw girl stepped in front of Su Er. She was tall, with delicate features and a gorgeous head of golden hair in loose waves. A little way behind her stood several other girls who were equally good-looking.
"Let's get acquainted. I'm Emily." The blonde girl tossed her head and