Hogwarts: My name is the Unforgivable Curse...

Chapter 336 Christmas Ball

After the second project officially came to an end, Durmstrang returned to his normal teaching life. However, for the three warriors, especially Avada, there were even more things to worry about than before.

This doesn't mean he actually found any traps on Krum and Fleur's golden eggs. Those two golden eggs were exactly the same as the one he had in terms of structure and function. After communicating with Avada and receiving warnings from him, the two of them hadn't been in contact much since, maintaining the proper attitude between rivals on the surface.

His troubles mainly stemmed from Durmstrang himself.

Because the trio's performance in the first event was so outrageous, the organizers moved the second event forward to before Christmas, so there's actually only about a week between the two events. The shock of the "Bagman death case" hasn't completely faded from most people's minds, and coupled with yesterday's visually stunning showdown between the Warriors and the Fire Dragons, their popularity is currently at an unprecedented high…

I don't know how it is in Seremban and Krum, but in Avada, the professors in almost every class would frequently call on him to answer questions or demonstrate, and he would often be surrounded by a large group of locals after class.

Perhaps due to the educational style, Durmstrang students mostly have a special respect for the strong. Even knowing that the warrior in front of them is a competitor of their alma mater, it does not affect their enthusiasm when watching Avada... He doesn't even dare to eat in Durmstrang's cafeteria anymore.

Moreover, as another piece of news spread throughout the castle, the number of trivial matters he had to deal with suddenly increased exponentially—

"Everyone, I have some good news to tell you."

In the first carriage of the Hogwarts Express, in a room that had been converted into a conference room, Dumbledore sat at the head of a long table, looking at the twenty-odd students scattered in two rows, his face bearing that reassuring smile as always.

"The day after tomorrow night, which is Christmas Day, in accordance with the tradition of the Triwizard Tournament, we will be holding a Christmas ball—I'm sure you've all heard about it to some extent, right?"

"That's right."

"I see, Professor."

The students below nodded in understanding—on the one hand, Karkaroff had mentioned the Christmas ball when they first arrived at Durmstrang, which was quite novel for Hogwarts students who didn't have much of a ball tradition, so most of them remembered it clearly; on the other hand, the Durmstrang professors had also announced this news to the students in class this morning.

"The ball will be held at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve in Durmstrang's Auditorium and will end at midnight. Besides being part of the Triwizard Tournament tradition, it's also a great opportunity for us to socialize with foreign guests. This ball is only open to students in their fourth year and above, but you may invite younger students if you wish..."

"Oh well, forget it."

The Hogwarts students shook their heads and grimaced – if someone was lower than a fourth-year student, wouldn't they be a first, second, or third-year student?

Putting aside the fact that Durmstrang's younger students probably can't even speak English fluently, and that age is also when kids are at their most unruly and troublesome—besides, ballroom dancing is a skill, and nobody knows how many times those active kids will step on their own feet while dancing together because of their dance skills...

Furthermore, as the most elite students selected through Hogwarts' rigorous process, their arrival at Durmstrang implicitly carries the meaning of showcasing their strength and enhancing Hogwarts' reputation. Naturally, they will be facing Durmstrang's top students. If this group were to specifically choose younger students as dance partners, it would inevitably draw criticism from the locals…

"And since a Christmas ball is somewhat of a formal occasion,"

Dumbledore, seemingly oblivious to the students' reactions, continued reciting the ball's rules: "So if you're going to attend, I'd like you to wear formal attire, something a little more presentable than usual, to make a better impression on your dance partners..."

A murmur of suppressed laughter immediately rose from below—everyone at Hogwarts knew that the most casually dressed and unkempt person in the entire school was the headmaster before them…

"Well, of course, there's no need to be too rigid or formal, after all, a ball is meant to be a place for relaxation."

Seeing a barrage of mocking gazes, Dumbledore stroked his beard and coughed, feigning embarrassment as he added a disclaimer to his words, which elicited another round of laughter.

"Alright, alright, that's all for now. Everyone can go back and rest—and Mr. Ken, could you please come to my office later? I have something to discuss with you..."

"Is it about the Warriors leading the dance, Professor?"

Before Avada could answer, someone nearby asked, "I've looked up the information, and it seems this is a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament..."

"That's right."

Dumbledore chuckled as he looked at the Gryffindor seventh-year student, "The others can laugh, talk, eat, and drink to their hearts' content at the ball, but according to tradition, the three champions in the tournament must lead the dance with their partners—I personally think this tradition is a bit too rigid, since the selection of champions isn't based on their dancing skills, but most people still consider it an undeniable symbol..."

As he spoke, he stood up first and headed towards his headmaster's office, while the other students also left, intending to go directly to their rooms or turn the corner to the cafeteria for a bite to eat. Avada also greeted Baron beside him and then got up to catch up with Dumbledore—he wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but ever since entering Durmstrang, he had always felt that Baron seemed to be deliberately hiding something from him.

However, given his father's status and Norwich University's plans for this year, he wasn't surprised at all—if the university were really planning something big in the Triwizard Tournament, Mr. Shafik would definitely have tipped off Baron beforehand. But judging from his demeanor, he was still unaware that he was teaching at a magical university far more prestigious than Hogwarts, and had become his father's colleague…

(End of this chapter)