Chapter 369 Kribich Wizard's Colorful Firecrackers
However, whenever the suits of armor began to sing carols, Peeves would suddenly cause mischief inside them, creating funny and off-key lyrics in a sharp, out-of-tune voice, mixing them into the armor's singing as 'backing vocals,' turning the solemn carols into a chaotic mess.
Every time Filch discovered this, he would turn pale with rage, waving his whip and chasing after Peeves, while Madam Norris would follow, meowing and helping with the search.
The Great Hall of the Castle had been decorated in a rich, snowy style.
The red carpet that originally covered the floor was replaced with a white-patterned one; when stepped on, a faint 'creak' would emanate from beneath the feet, feeling exactly like stepping on fresh snow, yet leaving no footprints.
Upon entering the Great Hall, the first thing that caught the eye were twelve tall Christmas trees, each three people high, neatly arranged on both sides of the Great Hall, adorned with various decorations.
There were dazzling glass ornaments sparkling under the lights, red and white candy cane-shaped decorations that looked genuinely edible, magical snowflakes suspended on the branches that would never melt, and pinecones and pine branches sprinkled with gold dust, feeling real to the touch, with colorful ribbons intertwined among the branches, gently swaying with the slight breeze in the Great Hall.
Many small golden bells also hung on the Christmas trees; whenever someone passed by, even if only a slight airflow was disturbed, the bells would automatically sway, emitting crisp sounds, and these sounds could cleverly connect into pleasant Christmas carol melodies without any human control.
Headmaster Dumbledore stood in the center of the Great Hall, a relaxed smile on his face, conversing in low tones with Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall.
He would occasionally extend a finger, seemingly gesturing something; Dylan guessed they were probably discussing which dance tunes to choose for the Christmas Ball to make the atmosphere more lively and ensure everyone had a good time.
It's worth mentioning that the owls living in the owlery had also recently become special Christmasdecorations; some owls were allowed to fly into the Great Hall, perching on the branches of the Christmas trees, some holding small Christmas gift boxes in their beaks, others with colorful ribbons tied to their wings, occasionally emitting soft hoots, adding much vitality to the Great Hall.
These owls, serving as 'special decorations,' also had a peculiar change: their feathers had, at some point, turned golden, and sunlight streaming through the Great Hall's windows reflected a soft glow on their feathers.
Whenever they dozed on the Christmas trees, their bodies motionless, their golden feathers complemented the golden bells and gold-dusted pinecones on the trees, looking like meticulously carved golden statues; one wouldn't notice they were living creatures without a closer look.
However, these 'owl statues' were not truly motionless.
Once a student needed to send a letter, an owl would immediately wake up, spread its wings, fly down from the branch, and gently land in front of the student, the entire process smooth and coordinated, as if having undergone countless training sessions.
By noon, the heavy snow that had lasted all morning finally gradually subsided, and a faint glimmer of sunlight peeked through the sky.
Dylan found Luna, and also called upon several other common owls, placing the Christmas gifts he had prepared in advance onto each owl's claws.
The owlery housed many common owls for students to send letters or packages.
The common owls, upon receiving their packages, first lowered their heads to eat a handful of the special feed Dylan offered, then, clutching their packages, flapped their wings and flew towards the outside of the Castle.
Often, a person harboring a certain expectation can directly alter their biological clock.
Just like this Christmas, the mere anticipation of Christmas gifts made several of Dylan's roommates wake up several hours earlier than usual—even earlier than Dylan, who always had a regular routine.
As Dylan slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness still somewhat hazy, his peripheral vision first caught a faint glimmer of light.
He instinctively turned his head to look at Harry's bed next to him—the bed curtains were tightly drawn, revealing only a corner of the quilt, and Harry himself was completely wrapped in the quilt, looking like a bulging cotton package.
But even wrapped so tightly, some light still seeped through the edge of the quilt, accompanied by a faint 'rustling' sound—the sound of wrapping paper being gently torn, clearly, Harry was secretly unwrapping gifts under the covers.
On the other side, Ron and Neville had also woken up.
Rubbing their sleepy eyes, still with lingering drowsiness, their hair was messy and sticking up, but they paid no attention to tidying it, instead skillfully throwing off their blankets, quietly slipping out of bed, almost 'groping' their way to the foot of the bed—where several beautifully wrapped packages were piled, all Christmas gifts sent by family and friends.
As people in the dormitory woke up one after another, Harry, seeing this, no longer hid what he was doing.
He threw off his quilt, sat up, still clutching a half-unwrapped package, his face full of excitement, and quickened his pace of unwrapping gifts.
The wrapping paper was crumpled and tossed by the bed, revealing various gifts inside: a brand new quill, a notebook printed with magic patterns, and exquisitely packaged chocolates.
Seeing everyone unwrapping gifts, Dylan thought for a moment, first lay for a bit, then sat up and reached for the packages placed on his bedside table.
The packages he received were mostly from his schoolmates; these gifts were somewhat similar to previous years, mostly practical and thoughtful small items: imported candies from Hermione, with rotating magic patterns printed on the packaging; Quidditch-themed snacks from Harry, each biscuit shaped like a Golden Snitch; and a stationery set from Ron, whose ink would temporarily turn red when writing, full of fun.
Among them, Mrs. Weasley's gift was as warm as ever—a pair of hand-knitted wool trousers.
Oh, he didn't like wearing such things at all.
However, Dylan still reached out and touched them; the fabric was thick and soft, and when pressed against the skin, one could feel a warmth that wasn't itchy.
Unlike the woolens of his previous life, even if his mom said they weren't itchy, they always were when worn.
But even so, Dylan still disliked wearing wool trousers, and wool sweaters.
Surprisingly, little Malfoy also sent a gift, a beautifully packaged collector's edition book.
The deep blue cover was embossed with golden patterns, the spine printed with exquisite reliefs, and upon opening the first page, a blessing written in silver ink could be seen on the flyleaf.
It wasn't until Harry and the others had finished unwrapping their gifts that they noticed many unwrapped packages scattered by Dylan's bed.
Ron exclaimed, "Dylan, you always receive so many gifts! I'm so envious!"
Before Dylan could answer, Harry quickly interjected, waving his hand and saying, "Is this a lot? I think it's too little! Think about it, Dylan knows so many people—friends, Professors, and some people from the outside magic world—if everyone sent a gift, the number would definitely be much, much more than now!"
"That's true, you make a very good point." Ron nodded in agreement immediately after hearing Harry's words, "The number of gifts those Quidditch stars I know receive every Christmas is simply unimaginable—"
He looked around the dormitory, trying to describe the vastness in more intuitive terms, "Even if it can't fill half the dormitory, piled up it would definitely cover all our beds, leaving us no place to sit!"
A large portion of the gifts Dylan received were candies and snacks.
He planned to keep these snacks in the dormitory and share them with his roommates.
After Harry and the others settled their gifts, they also voluntarily came over to help, sorting various candies and snacks by type: chocolates in a tin box, fruit hard candies in a glass jar, and biscuits neatly arranged in paper boxes, quickly organizing everything in an orderly fashion.
While his roommates were organizing the snacks, Dylan continued to unwrap the remaining packages.
One particularly heavy package from Hagrid, when opened, contained a large box of roughly packaged but substantial candies, and a small nest built from various magical animal hairs and magical plant branches and leaves.
The nest looked a bit messy, with various materials haphazardly intertwined, yet it was exceptionally sturdy, clearly imbued with Hagrid's unique style.
A short blessing letter was also tucked inside the package; Hagrid specifically mentioned in the letter that the nest was a special Christmas gift for Coal Ball, hoping it would have a comfortable place to live.
Dylan picked up the nest and examined it carefully, marveling at Hagrid's hidden depths.
This nest seemed ordinary, but with careful scrutiny, one could see that the materials used were anything but simple.
Not bad ~
Dylan then picked up the next package.
Most of these remaining packages were from the Professors of Hogwarts, containing mostly recently published magic books; after reading these books, if the Professors found the content valuable and inspiring to Dylan, they would specifically buy them for him.
In addition to books, the Professors also sent newly organized notes.
For example, Professor Flitwick's gift was a detailed personal insight into "Places of Joy."
Professor Flitwick had supplemented and organized the content of his notes based on the inspiration he gained from previous discussions with Dylan.
He was well aware of Dylan's study habits, so the original content before organization was not deleted but retained directly, with different colored inks used for markings alongside it, making it convenient for Dylan to compare and refer to, and to excerpt and record the parts he needed.
After more than half an hour of effort, Dylan finally finished unwrapping all the packages.
With the help of Harry and the others, the candies and snacks were also organized and neatly placed in the dormitory's storage cabinet.
Neville looked at the cabinet full of snacks and swallowed, "Oh my, these candies might be enough for all of us combined to eat for half a year, right?"
"Eat whenever you want," Dylan said.
The gift-receiving session ended.
Dylan tidied up and then got out of bed.
Ginny was on the sofa in the common room; seeing him, she couldn't help but stand up.
"Merry Christmas!" Ginny walked over to Dylan, shyly whispering, "That gift you gave me looks so valuable, I really like it, but isn't it a bit too extravagant?"
Dylan waved his hand, "It's not extravagant at all, it wasn't expensive."
Ginny's tone paused, her voice even softer than before, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks: "Then, I want to give you my Christmas gift when you put on your formal robes and we go to the Christmas Ball together, can I?"
"Sure." Dylan looked at Ginny's bright eyes, nodded, and couldn't help but ask curiously, "But, can you reveal just a little bit now? Like, what type of gift is it?"
"No." Ginny gently shook her head, the two blushes on her cheeks becoming more pronounced, she winked at Dylan, her tone a bit playful, "You have to keep a little mystery, that way there will be a surprise!"
Dylan shrugged, "Alright then."
As time passed, it was soon mealtime.
Both breakfast and lunch that day offered much more abundant food than usual in the Great Hall; in addition to regular meals like toast, fried eggs, and sausages, there were many Christmas-themed foods: cute Christmas gingerbread cookies decorated with snowflakes and Christmas trees in icing, steaming hot Christmas pudding exuding rich cinnamon and raisin aromas, to be served with a thick layer of brandy cream.
By lunchtime, the plates had new additions: roasted turkeys piled almost like mountains, with golden, crispy skin and tender juices visible when sliced, and fresh smoked salmon, neatly sliced and arranged on ice, accompanied by special sauces.
In addition, next to each student's plate was a brightly wrapped small toy, with the words "Cracker Wizard Cracker" printed on it.
The way these Wizard crackers worked was very special: by pulling the switch at the top, the cracker would emit a loud bang similar to a cannon's roar, while simultaneously releasing a dense cloud of blue smoke.
This cloud of smoke would instantly engulf the person who pulled the cracker; to make the smoke dissipate, one had to grope for a small gift hidden inside, and only by obtaining the gift would the smoke automatically clear.
Harry was the first to pick up a cracker and try it.
He gently pulled the switch, and after a loud "bang," blue smoke instantly enveloped him.
A few seconds later, the smoke gradually dispersed, and Harry now had a fluffy lion-head hat on his head.
He laughed as he put on the hat, let out a "roar," and unexpectedly, the hat also let out a loud roar, scaring a few nearby owls into flapping their wings and flying away, which made everyone burst into laughter.
Dylan also picked up a cracker and pulled it.
After the smoke cleared, he held a small bag of black, spherical objects; upon closer inspection, they were stink bombs.
These stink bombs were a weaker version of dungbombs, used similarly to dungbombs.
Chapter 370 Viktor Krum's dance partner is Hermione! No.
Just throw it out and it will emit an unpleasant smell, but the scent won't be as pungent as a dungbomb, making it a relatively mild prank item.
Many students stayed at the Castle this year, and almost everyone wanted to try "this novel toy."
For a time, the Great Hall was filled with the booming sounds of cannons, one after another, and blue smoke occasionally appeared above the long tables, making it incredibly lively.
Most students received ordinary hats from their crackers: top hats, pointed hats with feathered brims, straw hats with patterns—a wide variety of styles. Some students even got three different hats at once and wore them all, looking quite comical.
Hats like Harry's, which had magic effects and resonated with movement, were exceptionally rare.
Dylan looked around the Great Hall and found that only Harry, on the entire Gryffindor long table, and even other House tables, had received such a magic hat, which showed its preciousness.
Besides hats, the crackers also contained many other types of gifts, including prank items and practical magic gadgets.
The stink bombs Dylan received were relatively common; Ron and Neville also each received a bag of stink bombs. Seamus's luck was a bit more special; he got a box of frogspawn soap, which turns into sticky frogspawn when it touches water, perfect for pranking people. Dean, on the other hand, received a box of burping sweets, which would make him burp continuously with a minty flavor after eating them.
At the other end of the House table, a student from another House had exceptionally good luck, actually receiving a set of exquisite Wizard chess from a cracker. The pieces were carved from ivory, and the chessboard's edges were inlaid with tiny gems, clearly very valuable, drawing envious glances from the surrounding students.
Unconsciously, the afternoon sun gradually softened.
Dylan stood by the window of the Gryffindor common room, his fingertips lightly resting on the windowsill.
Looking down.
A group of Gryffindor students were having a snowball fight there, snowballs flying through the air, accompanied by bursts of joyful laughter and screams. Occasionally, someone would be hit by a snowball and fall laughing into the snow, only to quickly get up and rejoin the battle.
At this moment, Ginny's image in a dress involuntarily appeared in his mind. Although that dress was a Christmas gift he had carefully prepared, he still didn't know what the dress would ultimately look like.
The making of this dress was exceptionally special, integrating various magic and craftsmanship.
After all, she was his dance partner; he hoped Ginny would like his gift.
As the sun slowly set in the west, the golden afterglow was gradually replaced by twilight, and the night sky began to take on a faint inky blue.
The number of students in the Gryffindor common room gradually decreased as everyone returned to their respective dormitories to change into the formal wear for tonight's Christmas Ball.
Dylan also returned to the dormitory with his roommates.
As soon as he entered the door, Ron eagerly took out his formal wear from his suitcase and quickly changed into it.
After changing, he immediately rushed to the mirror, turning left and right to admire himself, then turned to look at the others who were changing, his gaze quickly falling on Dylan.
"Dylan, the material of your formal wear looks really good; it must feel very comfortable to the touch, right?" Ron walked forward, reaching out to touch the fabric of the formal wear, but quickly withdrew his hand, saying with a smile, "It just feels a bit too plain in color. Besides the base color, there's almost no decoration. If you added some patterns or sequins, it would definitely be more eye-catching."
"Is that so?" Dylan looked down at himself in the mirror, his tone a bit frank, "I think this is quite good; simple, and easy to move in."
The formal wear he was wearing was a dark blue robe, and under the soft dormitory lights, the fabric surface emitted a faint sheen, as if the tranquil night sky had been woven into the cloth, understated yet textured.
The tailoring of the formal wear was extremely exquisite, with flowing lines that fit his body's curves, neither appearing too tight nor failing to highlight his tall and slender figure, exuding a composed aura as he walked.
When everyone had changed into their formal wear, they also praised the garment, noting that while it was simple, it showed great taste.
"But I have to say—" Ron suddenly clenched his fist and gently nudged Dylan's shoulder, his tone clearly envious, "Your physique is really good! This formal wear on you really accentuates your shoulder and waist lines. If it were me, I definitely couldn't pull off this effect."
Everyone tidied up and walked towards the common room exit together.
Just as they were about to leave the common room and head to the Great Hall, Luna suddenly flew over, flapping her wings.
She first circled Dylan's head twice, the air currents from her flapping wings gently brushing Dylan's hair, then landed back on Dylan's shoulder, rubbing her small head against his cheek, her actions affectionate and a bit urgent. Afterward, she spread her wings and flew again, heading towards another corridor leading deeper into the Castle, occasionally looking back at Dylan, as if signaling him to follow.
Dylan tilted his head. Luna was his owl, and they had been together for a long time, so he understood her habits very well.
Seeing her unusual behavior, Dylan blinked. Luna rarely actively guided directions like this, unless she encountered someone familiar or discovered something special.
He told his roommates to go to the Great Hall first, saying he would be there soon, and then quickly followed the corridor where Luna had flown.
Luna flew low in front, her wings tracing light arcs, with Dylan following closely, moving against the flow of people heading towards the Great Hall.
There were many people in the corridor, all wearing exquisite formal wear, chatting and laughing as they headed to the Ball. Seeing Dylan running against the crowd, some moved aside with a puzzled look, while others curiously turned to stare.
When he finally looked towards the staircase ahead, the first thing he saw was Ginny standing on the stair landing.
Ginny was slowly walking towards him, wearing a dream-like dress, like an elf emerging from a mountain, each step carrying a light rhythm.
This dress was predominantly gold, with the upper body cleverly designed to resemble undulating waves, embroidered with extremely delicate white-gold lines on the surface.
As Ginny walked, those lines seemed to come alive, shimmering with a dynamic, rippling effect in the light, as if real water currents were gently flowing over the dress.
By now, night had fallen deeply, and the torches hanging on the walls flickered with orange flames, their light spilling onto the dress, giving the fabric, a blend of gauze and silk, a soft luster. That luster wasn't as dazzling as metal; instead, it resembled the thin mist covering a lake at sunrise, with a hint of hazy transparency, making the entire dress appear exceptionally light.
The hem of the dress was made of layers of lace and gauze, with white lace and transparent gauze alternately arranged, finely crafted yet not cumbersome.
Whenever Ginny moved her steps, the hem would gently undulate with her, the curve as soft as ripples on a lake stirred by the wind, each sway perfectly timed.
Ginny's hair was loosely tied up with a red hair clip, adorned with a few small diamonds.
When the people around saw Ginny at the staircase, they almost simultaneously gasped: "Merlin's beard! This is too beautiful!"
Their exclamations attracted the attention of many people around. Those who were originally walking towards the Great Hall turned around and looked in Ginny's direction, whispering to each other. Some speculated about her identity, while others admired the dress's exquisite craftsmanship.
Ginny, however, paid no attention to the gazes of those around her. Her eyes remained fixed on Dylan, their gazes locked. With one hand lightly behind her back, she walked steadily, step by step, to stand before Dylan.
"Does it look good?" Her voice was very soft, with a hint of undetectable shyness, and a trace of anticipation hidden in her tone, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Dylan.
"It looks good, you always look good." Dylan's tone was incredibly sincere, without the slightest hesitation. "Today... you look even more special."
"Mm..." Hearing this, Ginny immediately broke into a brilliant smile, her eyes and brows overflowing with joy, and a faint blush gradually appeared on her cheeks, like clouds dyed by the sunset.
Seeing the exclamations of the people around, the blush on Ginny's face became even more pronounced, even her earlobes tinged with a faint pink. She lowered her head a little shyly, gently clutching the hem of her dress.
Seeing this, Dylan naturally raised his arm, slightly bending his elbow, and said with a smile to Ginny: "Professor Ginny, shouldn't we head to the Great Hall now?"
"Alright." Ginny looked up, her eyes still holding a lingering smile. She gently took Dylan's arm, her fingertips inadvertently touching the fabric of his formal wear, and softly added, "It's also time to test the results of our previous practice."
After saying this, the two exchanged a smile, and the slight awkwardness caused by the surrounding people's teasing was instantly resolved by this unspoken understanding.
As more and more students in various formal wear walked towards the Great Hall, when Dylan and Ginny walked down the moving staircase together, the curious glances that had lingered on Ginny were quickly drawn to other novel formal wear, gradually moving away from them, which made both of them feel much more at ease.
On the other side, Neville was walking down behind the crowd.
Neville also seemed to have a remarkable talent for the Confundo.
After Dylan shared a few practical casting techniques with him, he quickly grasped the essentials, and his initial nervousness gradually relaxed.
He looked at Dylan's back ahead, his steps much lighter, and moved with the crowd towards the Great Hall.
"Dylan, Ginny, wait a moment."
The two looked back and saw that it was Professor McGonagall.
Today, Professor McGonagall was exceptionally striking, having shed her usual serious dark robes for a red plaid tweed robe. The collar and cuffs of the robe were sewn with white fluffy trim, making her look particularly warm. She also wore a black pointed hat, its brim decorated with a small wreath woven from thistles, adorned with a few small red berries, adding a touch of softness to her usually stern face.
Professor McGonagall's expression was much more relaxed than usual, a rare gentle smile gracing her lips. She pointed to the crowd still entering the Great Hall and said, "Once most of the students have gone in, we'll enter the Great Hall together—Headmaster Dumbledore specifically asked me to wait for you two, saying he has something to tell you."
Dylan and Ginny exchanged glances, nodded, and stood quietly waiting.
Occasionally, students passed by and politely greeted Professor McGonagall, who would smile and nod in return, creating a relaxed and warm atmosphere.
"Ah, I'm really looking forward to the Ball!"
Dylan heard the voice and instinctively looked over, only to realize it was Roger, whose dance partner was Fleur Delacour.
Fleur wore a silver-grey satin robe today, its fabric smooth as a mirror, gleaming softly under the lights, making her tall figure appear exceptionally elegant.
Perhaps sensing Dylan's gaze, Fleur turned her head and gently nodded in his direction, a polite smile on her lips, her golden hair swaying softly with the movement.
Just then, Cho Chang walked over, holding Luna's hand. Her gaze fell on Luna's formal wear, her tone full of genuine admiration: "Luna, your formal wear also looks very good!"
Cho Chang's dance partner, Cedric, also followed alongside. He walked up to Dylan and said with a smile, "It's been a while since we talked about magic techniques. I recently tried adjusting the casting rhythm for Transfiguration Magic you mentioned last time, and the effect is indeed much better."
The two chatted on, back and forth, from the basic gestures of Transfiguration Magic to the force application techniques for advanced spells, their conversation gradually deepening.
Not long after, Harry and Draco also came over with their respective dance partners.
Draco's dance partner was Astoria Greengrass, who wore a pale purple dress and had a gentle demeanor. Harry's dance partner was Luna.
Dylan looked at Astoria and suddenly remembered the letter Lucius Malfoy had sent earlier. The letter occasionally mentioned the Greengrass family and also stated that after the House of Malfoy broke ties with old families like Parkinson, their new partner was precisely the Greengrass family.
He remembered a female student in his Slytherin year named Daphne Greengrass; she must be Astoria's sister or a close relative, as the two indeed shared some resemblance in their features.
During a lull in their conversation, Harry seemed to suddenly remember something. He raised his finger, pointed to the crowd not far away, and said with a smile to Dylan: "Look over there, Viktor Krum's dance partner is Hermione! Didn't expect that, did you?"
Dylan followed the direction Harry pointed and quickly spotted Hermione.
She wore a dark blue formal robe today, her usually somewhat messy brown hair meticulously styled, becoming smooth and shiny, and adorned with a silver hairpin.
Chapter 371 Feeding Ginny by His Own Hands
Hermione was standing with Krum at this moment, a relaxed smile on her face, completely different from her usual studious demeanor.
As time passed, more and more students and Professors entered the Great Hall.
Professor McGonagall glanced at her watch, then beckoned to the champions and their partners, signaling them to follow her: "Alright, we should go in now, dinner is about to begin."
Everyone followed Professor McGonagall, lining up to enter the Great Hall.
The decorations outside the Castle had been stunning enough, but upon entering the Great Hall, everyone was still awestruck by the sight before them. The four House tables that usually spanned the Great Hall were all gone, replaced by numerous round dining tables. Each table could seat over a dozen people, and a small glass lantern glowed warmly in the center of each, casting a cozy yellow light.
To accommodate these round tables, the Great Hall's space seemed to have been widened considerably by magic, appearing much more spacious than usual.
The wall decorations had also changed; the previously hung House banners were all removed, replaced by magically enhanced silver frost flowers. These frost flowers were not truly cold; instead, they emitted a faint warmth and gently rotated with the air currents, like living things.
Even more surprising were the ceiling and aerial decorations. The floating candles that had hung there for years were gone, replaced by countless woven garlands. Each garland was made of mistletoe twigs and intertwined ivy, adorned with red berries, floating vibrantly in the air. On the ceiling, a dazzling galaxy of stars shimmered on a dark "sky." Even without candles, the entire Great Hall appeared exceptionally bright, with no hint of dimness.
The brilliant starlight fell through the gaps in the garlands, scattering onto the round tables, intertwining with the lantern's candlelight to create a dreamy and warm atmosphere that made everyone present exclaim in admiration.
Professor McGonagall led the champions along the aisle, moving forward. Behind them, thunderous applause from the students and cheers rose and fell.
Soon, everyone arrived near the main table at the end of the Great Hall. Several judges were already seated at the main table, with a long table on each side reserved for Hogwarts Professors and invited guests. Directly in front of the main table, a separate round "Champions' Table" was set up, and Professor McGonagall motioned for everyone to take their seats.
Dylan first walked to Ginny's seat, pulled out the chair, and after Ginny sat down, he then went to his own seat and sat down, his actions natural and gentlemanly.
Once all the teachers and students were seated, Principal Dumbledore slowly stood up, and as usual at the start of a feast, he announced in his magnetic voice: "The Christmas Dinner officially begins!"
But strangely, after hearing this, the plates in front of everyone remained clean and new, not instantly filled with food as usual.
The students exchanged glances, all showing puzzled expressions, instinctively looking at Dumbledore, waiting for him to explain further.
Dumbledore picked up the menu on the table, cleared his throat, and clearly read: "Pork chop!"
As soon as he spoke, a small bowl of sauce and a steaming pork chop instantly appeared on everyone's plate, and the aroma of the meat immediately filled the air.
Seeing Dumbledore's demonstration, the students suddenly understood. They all picked up the menus placed in front of their plates—small leather-bound booklets listing a long array of dishes, from roasted turkey and smoked salmon to Christmas pudding and gingerbread houses, everything imaginable.
Everyone excitedly chose their favorite foods, calling out dish names one by one. Their plates quickly piled high with various delicacies, and the Great Hall was instantly filled with the aroma of food and cheerful chatter.
Since the Great Hall opened at eight in the evening, and it took a considerable amount of time for all the teachers and students to be seated, most students had eaten little to nothing from the afternoon until now and were already ravenous.
So, when Dumbledore made the ordering demonstration, the students could no longer hold back. They all picked up the leather menus in front of them, eagerly calling out the names of the dishes they wanted to eat.
"Roasted turkey!"
"Smoked salmon!"
"Christmas pudding!"
The calls for food rose and fell, and the once quiet Great Hall instantly became lively.
Everyone was eager to fill their stomachs, and as for the ball later, it would not be too late to consider it after satisfying their taste buds.
However, a few people did not seem to be that hungry, and Roger Davies was one of them.
His plate contained only a few pieces of bread, almost untouched. He seemed to be under some magic, his gaze never leaving Fleur Delacour's face beside him. His focused expression suggested that as long as Fleur ate happily and contentedly, he himself felt full and had no need for additional food.
Fleur Delacour ordered relatively light foods, mostly vegetable salads and grilled chicken breast—dishes with little oil or salt. There was hardly any sauce on her plate, making it look exceptionally delicate.
Her eating movements were also very restrained and elegant. She ate each bite slowly, maintaining a faint smile at the corners of her mouth while chewing, like a proud swan.
Whenever she finished a small bite, she would turn her head and chat a few words with Roger beside her, her voice soft and pleasant.
"When the Christmas holiday officially arrives, Beauxbatons Castle won't just have simple icicle decorations like this."
Fleur picked up her napkin, gently wiped the corner of her mouth, and said with a hint of pride in her tone, "The Castle will be surrounded by exquisite ice sculptures, each with a different theme."
"Oh..." Roger immediately gasped in admiration, his eyes still fixed on Fleur's face, not even daring to blink more than once. "That must be incredibly beautiful! I can imagine their crystal-clear appearance."
"Of course!" Fleur nodded slightly, a trace of nostalgia flashing in her eyes. "The craftsmanship of those ice sculptures is extremely exquisite, with impeccable detail. And because they are enchanted with special magic, they won't melt like ordinary ice, even in sunlight. Their surfaces reflect dazzling light, just like statues carved from diamonds."
"Oh!" Roger quickly nodded in agreement, his voice full of longing. "Just hearing you describe it makes me think it must be especially beautiful. I wish I had the chance to see it with my own eyes."
Fleur continued with a smile: "Our Christmas food at Beauxbatons is also delicious, rich in variety and exquisite. And when we dine, we always hear the singing of the Mountain Nymphs' Choir. They live in the forest near the Castle, and they always come to perform for us during festivals. They most often sing gentle serenades, and dining with music feels exceptionally enjoyable."
Perhaps it was the long conversation, or perhaps he felt Fleur's gaze, but Roger finally picked up his fork and slowly began to eat the food in front of him.
But even so, his gaze never left Fleur's face, his eyes glued to her, as if attracted by a magnet.
He listened intently, occasionally misplacing his fork due to over-concentration, failing to accurately deliver food to his mouth several times, instead smudging the corner of his mouth, causing small humorous mishaps.
However, he was quick to imitate Fleur's actions. Just now, when Fleur, in her excitement, lightly tapped the table, Roger almost instinctively raised his hand and also tapped the table in front of him, his movements stiff and comical.
Ginny saw this scene and could no longer hold back, letting out a giggle.
She quickly turned her head, leaned close to Luna's ear beside her, and whispered, "Look at Roger, I feel like he's not even listening to what Fleur is saying. He's just staring at her face the whole time, probably hasn't even remembered what the ice sculptures look like."
Luna followed Ginny's gaze to Roger, nodded gently, and said calmly, "But I think he must be very happy right now—that kind of pure happiness, focused on someone or something."
Ginny nodded in agreement after hearing this, a lingering smile still on her lips: "You might be right, I can't deny that. Seeing him look so silly and happy, he really does seem to be enjoying himself."
Hearing Luna and Ginny's hushed whispers, Dylan picked up a napkin to wipe off the sauce remaining on his lips, and also followed their gaze to where Roger Davies was seated.
He deliberately softened his movements, observing carefully, trying not to be noticed by Roger—this was the first time he had seen Roger with such an expression, his eyes full of infatuation, even his movements becoming somewhat clumsy, completely devoid of his usual composure.
It was known that as the Captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, Roger always maintained excellent manners. Whether leading training or handling matches, he appeared steady and capable. This was the first time Dylan had seen him so completely captivated by someone, to the point where his basic movements were somewhat out of control.
After observing Roger, Dylan instinctively paid attention to his surroundings.
He quickly noticed something: most of the girls present ate very sparingly, especially when choosing dishes. Almost no one ordered food with thick sauces or gravies, such as beef stew or cream of mushroom soup, which could easily splash on clothes. Everyone preferred dry foods like roasted vegetables and bread.
Luna was also like this.
Dylan remembered that several dishes Luna usually loved, such as pumpkin soup and shepherd's pie, were clearly listed on the long menu this time, but she hadn't ordered any of them. Her plate contained only a few slices of toasted bread and a small serving of vegetable salad.
Moreover, her eating movements were somewhat similar to Fleur Delacour's: each bite was taken very slowly, with small, exceptionally restrained movements.
Seeing this, Dylan instantly understood that Luna was likely worried about food drippings or sauce getting on her dress.
And besides Luna, Ginny was even more so.
If that's the case, shouldn't he do something?
As soon as this thought emerged, Dylan nodded.
Previously, when dining at the House tables, they were surrounded by familiar dormmates, and everyone was relaxed. But the current occasion was completely different; this was a formal Christmas Ball dinner, and there were many students from other Houses and Professors around. Every action could be seen by others.
But that was nothing.
Just as Ginny was still quietly chatting with Luna, Dylan's voice softly sounded: "Ginny, try this, it tastes very good."
Hearing Dylan's call, Ginny immediately turned her head.
Her gaze first fell on Dylan's face, then moved down to see him holding a perfectly sized piece of roasted meat on a fork with one hand, while his other hand carefully supported the fork from underneath, clearly concerned about dripping juices.
Luna, sitting nearby, also heard Dylan's words, and when she saw this scene, she blinked.
Ginny's ears instantly flushed a faint red, and the color slowly spread to her fair cheeks at a visible speed.
Despite this, she slightly raised her head and slowly opened her mouth, allowing Dylan to gently place the piece of roasted meat into her mouth.
The piece of meat was just the right size, not touching her lips, and a rich meaty aroma instantly filled her mouth, carrying a faint hint of spices.
Ginny instinctively held the fork in her mouth and gently bit down. The meat was so tender it seemed to melt in her mouth, clearly the result of careful preparation by the House-elves.
Dylan patiently waited for Ginny to swallow her food, then picked up another piece of roasted meat with his fork and offered it to her again.
At this point, Ginny noticed something: she pursed her lips around the meat, lowered her head slightly, and saw that her plate actually held a clean set of cutlery, which she simply hadn't touched until now.
She looked up at Dylan, who was wiping a little sauce from his hand with a napkin, and felt her mind go momentarily blank.
The roasted meat still tasted wonderful, with just the right amount of savory flavor, but she felt as if she had lost the ability to think about food, all her attention focused on Dylan's gentle actions and his close face.
At this moment, Ginny felt like a steam-filled train, her heart like an engine at full throttle, pounding violently in her chest, as if she could hear the "woo-woo-woo" of a whistle in her ears, and her cheeks were so hot they felt like they were on fire.
Dylan noticed Ginny's cheeks growing redder, tilted his head, put down his fork, and asked with concern: "Is the meat a bit hot? If so, I'll cool it down with magic."
Ginny took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions.
She reached out and gently took Dylan's wrist, shaking her head and saying, "No need, that temperature was just right. I wasn't burned just now."
"Hmm, good then." Dylan nodded, then picked up his fork again, speared a piece of roasted vegetable, and offered it to Ginny.
Luna, watching the scene beside them, paused, then gently nudged Harry with her elbow.
Chapter 372 Dance, Wizards!
Harry was stuffing a piece of bread into his mouth when he heard Luna's movement. He quickly wiped the sauce from the corner of his mouth and looked in the direction she was pointing.
When he saw Dylan gently feeding Ginny, and Ginny's cheeks were flushed, he first opened his mouth in surprise, forgetting to chew his bread.
He paused for a few seconds, then caught the expectant, gossipy look in Luna's eyes. He immediately understood that she wanted to discuss this scene with him, but the words caught in his throat, becoming stuttered due to his overwhelming surprise, unable to form a complete sentence: "You… you see them… I… I've never seen… this before…"
In the end, he didn't manage to say a complete sentence, only an expression full of disbelief.
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Luna recalled Dylan's calm care for Ginny, and then contrasted it with Harry's current awkwardness, suddenly finding Harry's contrast very cute.
Realizing this, Ginny gently shook her head, suppressing that inexplicable emotion in her heart, and said with a smile to Harry: "What are you thinking about? Hurry up and eat! When the ball officially starts, we still have to dance, don't run out of energy to spin around then."
"Um…" Harry nodded quickly, like a child receiving instructions, picking up his fork and rapidly finishing the remaining bacon on his plate.
He only sighed in relief when he saw the empty plate gradually becoming clean again, but then quickly grew nervous, his gaze flitting between the menu and Luna.
"Luna…" He hesitated for a few seconds, then still turned to Luna, trying to ignore his wildly beating heart, and said in a stammering voice, "How about… you try this?"
As he spoke, he picked up the leather menu in front of him and carefully placed it in front of Luna: "I just tried it, this roasted vegetables with cheese sauce is quite delicious. The cheese sauce isn't greasy, and the vegetables are very tender, it won't stain your clothes."
Looking at Harry's serious yet extremely nervous expression, Luna chuckled softly: "Then I'll listen to you and try this dish."
As she spoke, she picked up the menu, imitated Harry's manner, and read out the dish name. Soon, a steaming plate of roasted vegetables appeared on her plate.
At this time in the Great Hall, not only were the champions and students chatting lively, but most of the Professors and guests were also immersed in a relaxed atmosphere.
They had shed their usually more formal attire, changed into various evening gowns, and their faces were full of relaxation.
Some Professors, holding stemware, slowly moved between the dining tables, chatting with familiar colleagues or guests, while others sat around a table, swirling the red wine in their glasses, their topics ranging from interesting teaching anecdotes to festival customs from various places.
When the conversation got lively, they would let out hearty laughter, their voices much louder than during their usual lectures, and occasionally they would raise their glasses to clink them together, the crisp sound of clinking glasses mixed with laughter, echoing through the Great Hall.
Although Madam Maxime sat at the head table, and Hagrid sat at the teachers' long table nearby, their seats were very close, and given their large stature, they could clearly hear each other's conversations with just a slight turn of their bodies.
Hagrid was exceptionally lively today; he wore a slightly tight-fitting suit and was chatting animatedly with Madam Maxime, his hands constantly gesturing, sometimes imitating the movements of a troll, sometimes describing the form of a magical plant.
His suit, already quite fitted, stretched taut as he gesticulated with large arm movements, and the tight fabric made a series of "sizzling" sounds, like ropes being tightened, under the strain of the buttons, as if the buttons were about to pop off at any second.
Moody, sitting next to Hagrid, had his constantly rotating magical eye suddenly stop and fix intently on Hagrid's suit ever since Hagrid and Madam Maxime started chatting.
Judging by his serious expression, he was probably using his magical eye to constantly monitor the state of the suit, ensuring that if Hagrid's suit burst open, those plate-sized buttons wouldn't fly in his direction.
Compared to the relaxation of others, Old Barty Crouch was much more restrained.
Ludo Bagman approached him several times with a glass, enthusiastically wanting to have a drink and chat about Quidditch anecdotes, but Old Barty Crouch politely but firmly refused every time.
He only occasionally sipped the clear water in his glass, maintaining an upright posture most of the time, looking straight ahead with a serious expression, as if indifferent to the surrounding revelry.
And the most serious person in the entire hall was probably Professor Snape.
He still wore his usual iconic black robes, unlike other Professors who had changed into formal wear, and his expression was as cold and indifferent as ever, as if the surrounding festive atmosphere had nothing to do with him.
Even the food that appeared on his plate consisted of the few items he usually ate: simple black bread and a small plate of stewed beans, without any of the exquisite holiday-specific dishes.
When the sporadic sounds of menu-reading in the Great Hall gradually faded, and most people began to focus on enjoying the delicacies in front of them, Headmaster Dumbledore slowly stood up.
He held a stemmed glass in one hand, filled with deep red wine, and a silver fork in the other, gently tapping the side of the glass.
Clink! Clink! Clink!
The crisp tapping sound, as if enchanted, instantly drew everyone's attention in the Great Hall.
The noisy conversations gradually subsided, and everyone put down their knives, forks, or glasses, their gazes uniformly directed towards Dumbledore at the head table.
Dumbledore slowly put down the stemmed glass and silver fork in his hand, gently placing them next to the empty plate in front of him.
He first coughed lightly twice, clearing his throat, and then his familiar voice, filled with a gentle smile, rang out in the Great Hall: "It seems everyone should be full and satisfied. So, shall we move on to the next step of tonight?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the students immediately nodded, and many excitedly whispered their agreement.
Fred and George, the twin brothers sitting at the Gryffindor long table, even raised their hands directly and shouted loudly towards Dumbledore: "Principal! We've been impatient! Let's start!"
Their voices were full of energy, drawing a burst of laughter from the surrounding students.
"Very good, since everyone is so eager, then I'll trouble everyone to stand up first."
As Dumbledore spoke, the plates in front of everyone in the Great Hall suddenly began to change. The plates, which had held food scraps, instantly reverted to their original pristine state.
Following this, these clean plates, as if controlled by invisible hands, one by one gently rose from the round tables and flew towards the corner of the Great Hall. Even the tablecloths stained with sauce and gravy became as white as new in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace of stains.
"Please move a little to the side, everyone, to make some space for the tables and chairs," Dumbledorecontinued, his tone still relaxed.
The students and Professors immediately complied, getting up and moving towards the walls on both sides.
Once everyone was settled, Dumbledore drew his wand from his waist and gently waved it in the air.
The next second, a magical scene unfolded: the round tables and chairs that had been densely arranged in the Great Hall all slowly floated into the air, as if under a Levitation Charm, automatically moving towards the walls. Finally, they were neatly arranged close to the walls, and those round tables that couldn't fit were cleverly stacked together in the corner at the back of the Great Hall. The entire process was orderly, without a single collision sound.
In just a few seconds, a large open area was cleared in the center of the Great Hall, which had been full of tables and chairs.
"Now, let us officially begin tonight's Christmas Ball!" Dumbledore raised his wand high, his voice filled with a hint of cheerfulness.
As he moved, a tall wooden stage slowly rose from the base of the right wall of the Great Hall. Guitars, violins, drum kits, and various other instruments were neatly arranged on the stage, clearly prepared for a band performance.
At the same time, the brilliant starry sky on the ceiling seemed to brighten a few shades, countless stars twinkling with soft light. As the starlight slowly fell, the open area in the center of the Great Hall was instantly enveloped in a faint glow, and the ordinary stone floor gradually transformed into a smooth wooden dance floor, its surface gleaming with a warm luster, as if specially crafted for dancing.
"Wow!" the students exclaimed, many already excitedly whispering to each other, anticipating the upcoming dance.
Amidst the enthusiastic applause of the crowd, a band dressed in magnificent costumes slowly walked onto the stage. It was the Weird Sisters band, long awaited by everyone.
The band members skillfully picked up their respective instruments, tuning them, while the lead singer walked to the edge of the stage, raising both hands and enthusiastically shouting to the students below: "Are you ready to party with us tonight?"
A chorus of cheers immediately erupted from below, and the atmosphere was instantly ignited.
Just then, Professor McGonagall walked over from the teachers' long table. She first nodded towards the Weird Sisters band, then turned to Dylan, Harry, and the other champions and their dance partners, her tone gentle but with an undeniable expectation: "Now, it's time for you champions to perform the opening dance for everyone. Don't disappoint us."
After saying this, she smiled and clapped her hands, slowly retreating to her original position, and with the other Professors, watched the young people with expectant eyes.
The Weird Sisters band quickly began to play, and a melodious, soothing tune echoed through the Great Hall. Clearly, to accommodate the dancing skills of most students, they had deliberately chosen a relatively slow-paced song, making it easier for everyone to keep up with the rhythm.
Hearing Professor McGonagall's words, Harry instantly became a little nervous, subconsciously clutching the hem of his robes with both hands, unsure of what to do for a moment.
He stood rooted to the spot, his eyes darting around in a panic, and then, in a flash of inspiration, he quickly turned his gaze to Dylan and Ginny nearby, intending to see what Dylan would do so he could imitate him.
Dylan smiled faintly. He first bowed slightly to Ginny, performing a standard gentleman's bow, then extended his right hand, palm up, in an inviting gesture, with a hint of a smile in his voice: "Ginny, it seems it's truly time to test the results of our previous practice."
"Alright," Ginny's lips immediately curved into a beautiful arc, her eyes sparkling with bright light. She gently placed her left hand on Dylan's palm, feeling a warm touch on her fingertips.
Dylan took a step forward, moving closer to Ginny.
He carefully extended his right hand and gently encircled Ginny's waist, feeling the softness of the fabric of her dress. Then, he gently led Ginny, and they stepped in unison into the center of the dance floor.
Seeing Dylan and Ginny enter the dance floor first, the other champions and their dance partners no longer hesitated, and followed suit, walking into the dance floor.
Seeing this, Harry quickly imitated Dylan, stiffly bowing to Luna, then nervously extended his hand in an inviting posture, his voice stammering due to nervousness: "Luna, then… then we should also… also test… test the results of our previous learning."
Luna looked at Harry's nervous yet earnest expression, feeling a bit amused and exasperated. She really wanted to remind Harry that at a time like this, there was no need to deliberately imitate Dylan's words; being natural would be fine.
However, on second thought, at least Harry had now taken the initiative to invite her, which was much better than before.
Thinking this, Luna's face showed a gentle smile. She gently placed her hand on Harry's palm and softly said: "Alright, then let's go too."
Saying that, she followed Harry and slowly walked into the dance floor.
The starlight falling from the starry sky on the ceiling constantly twinkled, scattered light falling everywhere on the dance floor, perfectly reflecting the fluorite on Luna's earrings and hair clip. The fluorite reflected the starlight, refracting it back into the air, forming faint halos that made Luna and Harry seem to be enveloped in a dreamy veil.
Dylan was the same.
Holding Ginny's hand, Dylan felt the softness and delicacy of her palm on his fingertips. He could clearly feel his heart beating faster.
But for some reason, he also had a strange intuition that Ginny's heart was beating just as fast as his, and that frequency seemed to resonate with his own heartbeat, forming the same rhythm in the quiet depths of his heart.
This was an indescribably wonderful feeling.
Dylan and Ginny danced to the rhythm of each other's heartbeats, their steps light and in perfect sync. Every turn, every movement, was as if they had rehearsed countless times, without the slightest awkwardness.
Most of the other champions on the dance floor had only recently started learning to dance, and their movements still appeared somewhat clumsy.
They maintained a considerable distance from each other, their gazes occasionally and subconsciously falling to their partners' feet, fearing they might accidentally step on the hem of their dresses, making the entire process seem cautious.
When they inadvertently saw Dylan and Ginny, they couldn't help but show a surprised expression. These two weren't looking down at their feet, but rather gazing into each other's eyes, their expressions full of focus and tenderness, gracefully twirling in the center of the dance floor. Their movements were as fluid as professional dancers, and their synergy and naturalness formed a stark contrast to the awkwardness around them.