Hogwarts' Golden Glory

After news of the Christmas ball spread, the students of Hogwarts went from "anticipation" to "anxiety" in less than a day.

Discussions about dance partners were everywhere in the corridors, the auditorium, and the common rooms: who had already made a decision, who was still waiting, who had just been rejected, who had just agreed to someone else's date, and who was preparing to ask but wasn't mentally ready yet.

During this process, a series of events occurred that left people unsure whether to laugh or feel sorry for the victims.

Neville Longbottom sat in the Gryffindor common room, holding a magic wand, repeatedly practicing his lines. "Would...would you like to come to the Christmas ball with me?"

Chuibao gently twitched its leaves, as if in response.

Neville nodded, agreeing with the pace. "Then... I'll go find her."

He stopped Hannah Abbott in the hallway. Hannah was carrying a stack of books toward Hufflepuff when she saw him blocking her way. She paused. "Neville? What's wrong?"

Neville took a deep breath, and as he spoke, he realized he'd mispronounced the order of the lines he'd practiced: "Would you like to come with me to the Christmas ball... no, I mean, would you like to come with me to the Christmas ball?"

His face began to flush. "...I said it in the wrong order, but the meaning is correct."

Hannah looked at him, smiled, and said, "Sure, I agree."

Neville stood there and smiled. "Okay."

He walked back to the common room and put the Mibumibo plant back on the windowsill.

Fred and George posted a notice in Hogsmeade Village: "Dance partner booking service, three Galleons, guaranteed to find out if the other person is willing, no charge if you don't ask."

That very afternoon, seven students paid for the service. Their method was simple: they sent a trained magic paper crane to the target, which unfolded and played a pre-recorded message: "I am XXX, and I would like to ask if you would like to go to the Christmas ball with me. You just need to say 'yes' or 'no' to the paper crane, and it will automatically fly back."

It sounded reasonable, but the paper crane malfunctioned when it reached the third target. It stopped playing its voice message halfway through, changing it to "I am XXX, and I want to ask if you are willing... willing... willing... unwilling... willing..."

The other person looked at the paper crane with a puzzled expression, unsure whether it was stuck or if the person who recorded the message hadn't made up their mind.

When the fourth target refused, he threw a book at the paper crane. The paper crane was hit, fell to the ground, folded itself into a smaller paper crane, and flew away in the opposite direction. That little paper crane never returned.

Fred and George posted a new notice: "Dance partner booking service is now closed. Prepaid students can get a refund with their receipt. Paper cranes are under repair."

Ron was in a worse situation; Lavender had already agreed to it, but then went back on her word.

Ron is currently without a dance partner.

After hesitating for three days, Ron surprisingly decided to invite Fleur.

He stood at the corner of the corridor and saw her emerge from Beauxbatons' carriage, wearing a light-colored coat. He approached her, gathering his thoughts: "Hi...you, hello, Fleur."

Fleur stopped and glanced at him. "Hello, are you Ron Weasley?"

Ron nodded, then said, "I'd like to invite you to the Christmas ball with me."

Furong looked at him for a moment, then said, "Thank you, but I already have a dance partner."

Ron stood there, as if the second half of his prepared remarks had suddenly become unspeakable, and paused for a moment: "Um... so you have a dance partner now, that's great."

He turned and walked away. Just as he was about to exit the corridor, he heard Fleur's voice from behind him: "But you had a lot of courage to ask." Ron didn't turn around and quickly walked around the corner.

In the week leading up to the Ball, Hogwarts Castle maintained a certain rhythm, with all sorts of legends circulating in the corridors—a third-year Ravenclaw student sent a love letter by owl, only to have it delivered to the common room of the neighboring house; a sixth-year Hufflepuff student concocted a mood-boosting potion in Potions class to invite his sweetheart to the Ball, only to have it confiscated by Snape before he could even deliver it.

Although Fred and George have shut down their dance partner booking service, they are still selling a "just in case" backup item: a pocket-sized anti-foot-step spray and a hair-care potion.

After testing the anti-stepping spray themselves, they found that it did indeed prevent people from stepping on their feet while dancing—but it made the soles of their shoes extremely slippery, causing them to slip and fall twice at the entrance of the auditorium while using it.

The problem with hair-care potions is that they produce smoke after use. The smoke isn't much, but it lasts long enough for others to think your hair is on fire.

They stored the goods away, intending to reprice them after the ball.

News of the Christmas ball was spreading not only among the students, but also among the teachers.

Although professors generally behaved more restrained than students, there were still some subtle, observable cracks beneath that restraint.

Professor Flitwick was the first one to be asked.

A fourth-year Ravenclaw girl walked to the podium after Charms class, clutching a folded piece of paper in her hand, as if she had been preparing for a long time.

"Professor Flitwick, do you...do you have plans for the Christmas ball?"

Professor Flitwick stood behind the podium, only his head and shoulders visible. He tilted his head slightly. "Me? I usually stay behind to make sure the venue isn't accidentally burned down after the ball."

He paused for a moment. "Are you inviting me?"

The girl nodded. "I...I'd like to go with you."

Professor Flitwick adjusted his glasses, not answering directly, but first considering the overlap between the teacher-student relationship and school regulations, before saying, "According to the rules, professors usually do not accompany students into the ball. However, I can assure you—if you encounter any problems during the ball, I will be there to resolve them."

The girl seemed relieved but not entirely satisfied. She stuffed the note back into her pocket, turned, and left.

Professor Flitwick stood there and muttered, "This kid has some guts."

Professor McGonagall had not received any invitation, but she noticed some students in the corridor eyeing her as if trying to determine if she would have a dance partner. Wearing a pointed hat and a dark green robe, she spoke clearly, "If you are asking about my Christmas ball arrangements, I can tell you now—I will be there on time, oversee order, and ensure that all behavior is within the rules."

She added, "If anyone plans to continue looking at me like that, I suggest you prepare for next week's transformation quiz."