Harry was not the only one panicking.
Ron and Krum both looked anxious too.
Neither Hermione nor Lavender had appeared yet.
"Merlin bless me, Merlin bless me..." Ron muttered under his breath, praying that Lavender would not stand him up at a time like this.
Harry was a little nervous too, though he was not sure whether praying to Merlin would help. After all, he had never believed in Merlin before.
Suddenly, a low ripple of gasps came from the edge of the crowd.
Harry instinctively looked toward the sound, then froze.
Cho Chang glided over in a lake-blue gown of silk and gauze. Her long hair was swept into an intricate bun, with an emerald-green hairpin tucked into it. Her makeup was carefully applied but light, and she approached Harry with a lovely smile.
"Were you getting worried?" Cho asked with a soft giggle, pursing her lips as she looked at Harry's dazed expression.
Harry nodded stupidly, his mouth hanging wide open. Cho was already beautiful in everyday life, and he had been left staring more than once. But the impact today was still a little more than he could handle.
At that moment, Harry felt as though everything around him had lost its luster. Cho was the only person left in his eyes.
"I asked you a question." Seeing that Harry still looked dazed, Cho gave him a playfully reproachful nudge.
Harry abruptly came to his senses and exclaimed instinctively, "Cho, you look so beautiful."
"What nonsense are you talking?" Cho's pretty face flushed slightly.
As a Champion, Harry was naturally the focus of everyone around him. As his partner today, Cho was also at the center of their attention.
With so many people watching, Harry's mindless praise of her beauty left even Cho, normally such an outgoing