The morning classes finished rather late. By the time Su Er and the others reached the Great Hall, lunch had already begun.
Even without Hannah's reminder, Su Er had planned to invite Hermione to be his dance partner that day. If he hadn't been waiting for the gift, he would have asked her long ago.
"May... may I have the honor of inviting you to be my... my... dance partner?" Neville's pale, plump face was flushed scarlet.
Su Er had just walked up beside him when he heard Neville's stammered invitation to the ball. But Neville's rigidly upright body blocked his view, so he couldn't see whom Neville was inviting.
He tilted his head curiously to look. Oh, Hermione was sitting in front of Neville.
Huh, wait... Hermione?!
"I'd love to." Sitting in her chair facing Neville, Hermione had already spotted Su Er coming through the Great Hall doors. She pouted, pretended not to see him, and happily accepted Neville's invitation.
"I object," Su Er said in a low voice behind Neville. "Hermione is already my dance partner."
Startled by the voice that suddenly came from behind him, Neville gave a full-body shudder.
"S-S-Su Er..." he stammered, unable to get a complete sentence out.
Hermione gave a soft huff. Ignoring Su Er, she spoke gently to Neville instead.
"That's it, Neville. It would be even better if you weren't so nervous. Don't worry, Hannah will definitely say yes."
"Really?" Neville asked uncertainly.
"Really. I'll let you in on a secret. Actually..." Hermione lowered her voice. "Hannah has been waiting for you to ask her."
"You know, you can't expect a girl to take the initiative and ask a boy to the ball, can you?"
At that, Hermione couldn't help casting a sidelong glance at Su Er.
By then, Su Er