HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

Hogwarts went to great lengths for this Christmas ball, transforming a lawn in front of the castle into a crystal cave.

The tiny fairies, each about the size of a thumb, frolicked around the glowing rose vines, their delicate, gossamer-thin wings gliding through the air, leaving trails of pale gold.

West and Snape arrived precisely at eight o'clock in the evening at the entrance of the Great Hall.

The auditorium doors were about to open, and chattering students crowded around the hall, waiting for this exciting moment.

"Severus! Somerset! Come here!" McGonagall called out to them from the front of the crowd.

The students turned their heads curiously, and for a moment, the hall fell silent.

Somerset was still incredibly handsome, and the white coat unexpectedly accentuated his long, red hair pulled back.

To the students' surprise, Snape...

At this moment, Snape was a completely different person from his usual aloof and dignified Potions professor.

The students, who were used to Snape dragging his potion-stained black robes, stared wide-eyed.

The dark robes fit snugly, outlining Snape's straight back. As he moved, the hem of the robes fluttered, revealing his long legs encased in crisp trousers, the sound of his boots echoing clearly on the ground.

Her usually greasy black hair, which was usually a mess, was now neatly combed, with a few strands falling over her shoulders, which made her pale face look as sharp as if it had been carved by a knife.

Some students were seeing his eyes for the first time; the dark pupils, like shining obsidian, were captivating.

The hall was completely silent.

Snape felt the intense gazes of the students, his scalp tingling, and he had a feeling that he would lose all his authority after tonight.

West comforted him by taking his hand and walking him to McGonagall's side.

Fortunately, the auditorium doors opened at that moment.

The dome of the auditorium transformed into a dazzling starry sky, mistletoe and ivy were woven into exquisite wreaths, and a cool, sweet fragrance floated in the air.

McGonagall, West, and Snape walked ahead and took their seats in the main hall.

Dumbledore was already seated, and to West's surprise, Grindelwald was also there. He had transformed into his younger self and was sitting next to Dumbledore.

"What would you like to eat?" West asked naturally, turning his head slightly. "What would you like to eat, Severus?"

Snape gave him a puzzled look, picked up the menu on the table, and said, "You always seem to lack basic trust in my ability to take care of myself?"

West smiled calmly. He couldn't help it; he always subconsciously wanted to take better care of Snape.

West smiled calmly. He always subconsciously tended to take extra care of Snape.

Ron stared in astonishment.

Hermione's dance partner was none other than the famous Quidditch star Krum, which surprised many people present.

Hermione looked absolutely gorgeous today. She wore an elegant updo, a shimmering blue gown, and a sapphire necklace around her long, white neck—a Christmas gift from West to Hermione.

Hermione was sitting with Krum, teaching him to pronounce her name correctly, word by word.

"Hermione," Hermione said slowly.

"Her-mi-en," Krum learned earnestly.

"That's about it." Hermione smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Quite a few people were staring at Hermione today—after all, she was so different from usual.

Hermione looked up and met Ron's gaze; her smile vanished.

Ron's heart tightened.

He wondered if things would have been different if he had invited Hermione sooner.

After finishing his meal, Dumbledore stood up, waved his wand, and all the tables flew to the wall, leaving an empty space in the middle.

Then he conjured up a stage with some musical instruments on it.

Hogwarts had invited the eccentric sisters to the Christmas ball. When the eccentric sisters came on stage, all the lanterns on the table went out.

Accompanied by a melancholy and slow melody, four warriors led their partners onto the dance floor.

Harry and Draco certainly drew everyone's attention. They were the only same-sex couple among the four dance partners. Most importantly, the Savior and Malfoy! What an amazing combination!

Harry was incredibly nervous, staring at Draco's handsome face under the light, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"Potter, you're trembling." Draco raised his chin, a small strand of blond hair hanging by his ear swaying slightly with the movement, his warm breath brushing against Harry's reddened ear tips.

"Or is it that the 'boy who survived' is afraid of stepping on my foot?" He deliberately dragged out the last syllable, as if reciting some kind of mischievous spell.

Harry stared intently at the glittering blond boy in front of him.

He thought Draco was always so confident, even to the point of arrogance, but he had no idea how adorable Harry saw him, like a white peacock that always held its head high, unabashedly displaying its shining qualities.

Harry relaxed, carefully supporting Draco's waist and holding Draco's other hand tightly.

Harry leaned close to Draco's ear and chuckled softly, "Then this dance is in your hands, my little prince."

Draco was startled, his eyes widened, and his ears turned red.

As the professors descended from the VIP table, West bowed slightly, extended a hand, looked gently at Snape, and softly said, "May I?"

"Fine," Snape said softly, with a hint of helplessness and acquiescence.

Snape's waltz was even quite good. He hadn't danced in a long time, and at first he seemed a little rushed, but with West's guidance, he quickly caught up with West's pace.

West could feel Snape's fingertips trembling slightly. He was struggling to control a certain emotion, and even seemed hesitant to meet West's overly bright gaze.

As the dance reached its climax, Snape's boots suddenly slipped, and West caught him just in time by grabbing his slender waist.

At that moment, Snape supported West's shoulder. The unexpected event made his ears turn red, but it also aroused a certain stubbornness.

Next, Snape's dance moves became incredibly precise, even more so than when he was concocting potions.

As the last note faded, enthusiastic applause erupted in the auditorium.

Snape breathed a sigh of relief and, drawn by West, sat down at a table.

"Nervous?" West asked.

"...No." Snape refused to admit it. He could vaguely feel the curious gazes of some students, and he was a little annoyed, but it was Christmas after all, and he couldn't deduct points.

Dumbledore came to their side, his usual smiling face, "Severus, you look very energetic today."

Grindelwald followed behind Dumbledore, his eyes drooping lazily, as if he could see no one else but Dumbledore.

Snape awkwardly adjusted his cuffs, while West looked at Dumbledore with some displeasure.

"Oh, don't look at me like that, my dear child."

Dumbledore suddenly lowered his voice, his wand flicked silently, casting a silencing spell, "You'll want to hear this—Gail has found the Slytherin locket."

Snape's expression turned serious.

West chuckled. "A nice Christmas present, Headmaster Dumbledore."