Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 164 Signs

For some, choosing a dance partner is a very difficult task. It wasn't until a few days before Christmas that Harry and Ron finally decided on their partners:

The Petit sisters.

It has to be said that Harry and his sister got what they wanted. Both the Petit sisters are among the best at Hogwarts in terms of looks and figure, which will surely satisfy their "fragile" pride.

Of course, after the two of them put on those dresses that were still in style from the last century, people would only think that the two of them were not good enough for the Petit sisters.

A handsome man and a beautiful woman have very strict standards.

The chapel was decorated with unparalleled romance and magic on Christmas Eve. The walls were covered with shimmering silver frost, the ceiling was a brilliant starry sky, and hundreds of wreaths woven from mistletoe and ivy floated in the air, as if a breeze was constantly blowing them and making them dance.

The boys were dressed smartly and appropriately, while the girls competed to outshine each other, showcasing their charm to the fullest.

Perhaps the most beautiful woman present, Furong, dressed up, became the center of attention, and many men's attempts to steal glances at her drew the ire of their female companions.

As for Roger, standing beside Fleur, he was perhaps the real winner of the night, even though he didn't understand why Fleur had accepted his invitation. Krum, rejected by Hermione, chose a Hufflepuff seventh-year girl, who surprisingly looked quite compatible standing next to him. Although Krum still looked gloomy, that was enough for her.

Being able to stand next to my idol is enough.

"Mr. Boot, where is Streid?" With the start time of the ball drawing ever closer, Ike was nowhere to be seen. Professor McGonagall, now dressed in an elegant gown, pulled Terry aside and asked.

"They're on their way, Professor McGonagall," Terry said quickly. "They won't be late."

Sure enough, almost the next second after he finished speaking, Ike appeared at the door, and with a gesture of his hand, Hermione, who followed, shattered everyone's preconceived notions.

Stunning!

Her long, loose hair was neatly styled into a bun, and her pale pink dress was dreamlike. A delicate necklace adorned her fair neck, with a misty, ethereal pendant that made it impossible to look away.

"Beautiful Miss Granger, it is an honor to attend the ball with you." Ike extended his hand in a gentlemanly manner, and Hermione naturally placed her hand on top of it.

"Me too, handsome Mr. Streid."

As the winner of the first event, Ike was a sight to behold, while the beautiful Hermione beside him greatly increased their appeal.

After greeting Stuart and the others with a smile, Ike led Hermione to the warriors' seats, thoughtfully pulling out a chair for her to sit down first, and then gently pushing it in a little further.

"You should do the same, Harry," Parvati muttered to Harry.

"What?" Harry was a little absent-minded, his attention still on a table not far away, where Cedric and his dance partner Cho were sitting.

"It's nothing," Parvati replied somewhat impatiently, then ordered some food and began to eat in small bites.

Hermione, standing nearby, glared at Harry with exasperation, but he didn't notice and continued to steal glances at Cho from time to time.

"How could he do this!" Even dressed in a beautiful gown, looking every bit the noble princess, Hermione remained completely unchanged. She was cutting her steak with gusto, showing absolutely no "ladylike" manners.

"Don't let it spoil your good mood, Hermione," Ike said softly, handing her a cup of lemon tea. "Take a break today."

Hermione took a few deep breaths and managed to calm herself down a bit. It wasn't an easy thing to do; since first year, she had been constantly covering for Harry and Ron's stupid mistakes. Her temper wasn't exactly bad, but it certainly wasn't.

"You're right, phew..."

"Don't be angry, don't be angry..."

Compared to Ekhermi, who was practically glued to him, the other warriors and their dance partners looked rather odd.

Needless to say, Harry was completely lost in thought, with Fleur's image constantly in his mind. The atmosphere between Krum and his dance partner was also strange, almost a carbon copy of Roger and Fleur, only the one who was lost was that Hufflepuff senior.

"It seems everyone has almost finished eating, so let's begin!" Dumbledore stood up, gesturing for everyone to stand as well. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables flew to the corners, clearing a large open space in the middle. With another wave of his wand, the former professor's chair became a stage, upon which various musical instruments landed.

Just then, the most famous band in the wizarding world, the Strange Sisters, took to the stage, and the audience erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. Ike, at the opportune moment, extended his hand and led Hermione to the center of the dance floor.

As the soothing and melancholic melody began, Ike and Hermione danced gracefully, quickly becoming the focus of the dance floor. It wasn't that their dance moves were particularly outstanding, but rather that they looked the most natural compared to the other three couples.

Soon, the first song ended, but the strange sisters didn't stop; they immediately launched into a cheerful melody. The warriors and their partners were no longer the focus; the dance floor was quickly filled with pairs of young men and women.

After dancing to three songs, Ike and Hermione quietly left the dance floor. Hermione thoughtfully handed him some tissues, which she immediately used to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

"Are you tired?" Ike asked.

"It's alright," Hermione replied.

They smiled at each other, and Ike called over two cups of lemon tea, handing one to Hermione. The two of them sat in the corner, sipping their tea slowly.

"So you're here." Cedric led Qiu over by the hand and sat down next to her.

"Why don't you jump a little longer?" Ike asked after Hermione pulled Cho aside to whisper something.

"So...you've succeeded?"

"It should be." A rare blush appeared on Cedric's face.

"Something to celebrate." Ike raised his glass and clinked it with Cedric's.

After taking a sip, Cedric looked at the men and women on the dance floor and said, "I've always owed you an apology for putting your name into the Goblet of Fire without your permission. I was wrong to do that."

"It's alright, Cedric." Ike shook his head, keeping his eyes fixed on Hermione without turning away. "In fact, I should thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"You didn't really want to," Cedric said. "Based on your performance in the first project, that age limit wouldn't have stopped you at all."

Ike shrugged and turned around, but didn't answer. Seeing this, Cedric understood.

He patted Ike on the shoulder, his tone becoming much more serious: "You can win the Triwizard Tournament, right?"

"Of course." As she spoke, her gaze fell on Hermione, who was laughing beside her, seemingly having been chatting with Cho about something.

"The championship belongs to Hogwarts..."

"I promise."

Working overtime is truly painful; I failed to finish the second update...

(End of this chapter)