An uproar fell upon the entire School, intensifying over the first week of December.
Occasional sights of cheers in Hogwarts corridors, with some girls accepting a boy's proposal to go on a date, became much more common.
Things became crazier when Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students arrived at Hogwarts, too.
By the time the first weekend of December arrived, almost half the School had already secured their partners for the Ball.
What became a week of laughs and fun for others became a headache for the four Gryffindor boys, though.
Harry, Ron, Draco, and Black had all secured a seat for last year's Triwizard Tournament.
As the matter of the Champions opening the Ball became known to all, no matter where they went, they could find girls giggling at them.
Surprisingly, not one of the four boys dared to stop a group of girls and single one out for a date.
Then, as Saturday came, all the Hogwarts students were suddenly ordered to gather in the Great Hall in the morning.
"I am going to do it today!" Black hissed as the boys walked into the Great Hall. "The first Beauxbaton I see, I am gonna…"
Very coincidentally, a group of Beauxbatons girls was crossing the gap between the tables at that time and just happened to run into the boys.
And the girl at the front of the group was none other than Fleur Delacour, a Champion from the last year.
Ron's teeth chattered as his eyes met with a Beauxbatons girl, and he instantly looked away. Harry followed his lead, his eyes trying to find something on the floor. Draco kept his head straight, but he couldn't see anything, his eyes zoning out into a blur.
Then, it happened.
"Would you like to go to the ball with me?" Black asked.
A silence, as if Snape had walked into his Potions class, fell over the immediate surroundings of the group of boys and girls.
Not only Harry, Ron, Draco, and the girls behind Delacour, but even the Hogwarts students gaped at Black, stunned. It was more so for the Hogwarts girls, who looked at him with pure betrayal in their eyes.
As if that surprise wasn't big enough, Fleur hammered an even bigger surprise over their heads by not rejecting him outright.
"You are much younger zan I," she said, looking at Black. "Can't you find someone of your age?"
Harry, Ron, and Draco had absolutely no idea where Black was getting his courage from, because, instead of mumbling out a sorry, they saw him smile.
Smile? They gulped together. Uh, oh…
Black walked a step closer and whispered a few words.
"…"
No one heard what Black said to Delacour.
But, in the next instant, they saw Fleur smile and nod before walking away, saying nothing else.
When the group of Beauxbatons girls left, giggling, most of the Hogwarts students kept staring at Black with blank faces.
Then, together, as if this were a personal win of Hogwarts, all the boys erupted in cheers, surrounding Black.
"SILENCE!"
The roar shook the Great Hall after only a few moments.
Before the teachers' tables, Professor Dumbledore stepped out, looking at the students with a smile.
The students rushed to take their seats, Draco, Harry, and Ron still lacking words, in pure disbelief.
"I hope that you are taking your studies as enthusiastically as… other matters," Dumbledore began, drawing laughs and giggles from the students. "Now, first, let me thank our guests, Headmaster Karkaroff and Headmistress Maxime, for bringing their finest students to Hogwarts once again."
Dumbledore clapped, the students joining along with him for a round of applause.
Madam Maxime was still fine, cheerily seated between Madam Villanelle and Professor McGonagall. However, Karkaroff seemed to have lost a part of his soul since the last time; his eyes kept lingering on Lord Black Phoenix's face now and then… in pure terror.
Meanwhile, at their House table, Harry and others exchanged glances.
In their excitement and later surprise, they hadn't even noticed these two. That was saying something, given Madam Maxime's huge stature. Now that they did look at the teachers' table, they noticed someone else who had no place being there.
"Second," Dumbledore continued. "We also have the Minister of Magic among us. I will let Fudge tell you the reason for this sudden gathering."
Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, in name only these days, got up from his seat and walked next to Dumbledore.
"Ah, thank you, Lord…" Fudge began before suddenly arresting his tongue. "… Dumbledore. I know you all have classes to attend, so I will not take up much of your time. Because of magic communities all over the globe gathering on the continent, the Ministry has deemed it necessary to bring some changes to the Triwizard Tournament."
All the students looked at Cornelius with bated breath.
"First, along with Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang," Fudge continued, "Ilvermorny students will also participate in the tournament. We have also accepted Mahoutokoro School's request to join the tournament."
Dumbledore raised his hand as whispers buzzed across the Great Hall.
"Second," Fudge said, thanking Dumbledore. "The Triwizard Tournament was named so because of the three Schools that participated in it. With two more Schools from America and Japan participating, we have decided to brand it as a standalone tournament, instead."
"The Intercontinental Tournament of Magic," Dumbledore said. "Stronger Challenges. Higher Risks. Greater Glory… and a new Trophy."
The Headmaster let the students applaud and hoot for a while.
"Alright," he said. "Now, fuel yourself for the day. Let the feast begin!"
"Man…" Ron grumbled, stuffing his mouth at the Gryffindor table. "It feels like… the entire world will gather at Hogwarts next semester… Imagine making a fool of yourself in front of all that crowd…"
Harry was about to eat when Professor McGonagall appeared and tapped his shoulder with her wand. "Professor Dumbledore has asked for you, Mr. Potter," she said. "Go to his office at five in the evening."
When she was gone, Draco asked, "What was that about?"
Harry didn't know, either.
Late in the evening, still as curious as he was about meeting Dumbledore as he had been in the morning, Harry entered the Headmaster's office.
And, instantly, he came to a sudden stop.
Because it seemed Dumbledore hadn't called only him to meet at this time.
"Ah, here you are, Harry," the Headmaster said, smiling. "Please come. I have some things to discuss with you and… Ms. Malfoy."
Harry gulped as Darcie looked back at him.
Then, remembering Black's daring act from this morning, he took a deep breath and walked in.
It was just…
… Harry dearly hoped that Dumbledore hadn't called him to set him up with Darcie for the Yule Ball.