Chapter 321: The Yule Ball
Eight o'clock in the evening.
Many people attending the Yule Ball had already gathered in front of the Great Hall's wooden doors.
Blaise and his girlfriend, along with Andy and Jensen with their respective partners, were all waiting here. Blaise looked around but couldn't find any trace of Sean.
"Where's Sean? He didn't flee at the last minute, did he?"
Hearing Blaise's words, Andy looked worriedly at the crowd around them and said quietly, "I'm actually worried about whether he found a partner."
"He should have found one."
Jensen's sudden statement immediately caught Blaise and Andy's attention. They looked at Jensen and hurriedly asked, "How do you know he found one?"
"Earlier today, Sean had his family help buy some cosmetics, jewellery, and women's formal wear. He's probably planning to help his partner dress up properly."
"Why didn't you say this earlier!"
"You should have told us sooner!"
Looking at Blaise and Andy, whose faces showed eager curiosity, Jensen helplessly scratched his head. "Sean guessed you two would react like this, so he told me beforehand that if I revealed this before he came to the Yule Ball, he'd hang me from Hogwarts tower to enjoy the breeze. I don't know if you two dare, but I certainly don't."
"Tsk, that guy Sean is really cunning!" Blaise stamped his foot in frustration.
"If I wasn't cunning, wouldn't I be laughed at by you all?"
Hearing this familiar voice, the three immediately looked toward where it came from.
They saw Sean and an extremely beautiful girl walking through the crowd, which unconsciously parted to make way, approaching the three of them.
Sean at this moment had his hair slicked back, carefully styled, and was wearing a black tailcoat-like formal suit that fit his body perfectly. The girl beside him wore a white gown that perfectly wrapped and highlighted her figure's advantages. Her originally thick and messy dirty blonde hair was now smoothly arranged at the back of her head and draped over her right shoulder to her chest. Crystal drop earrings and pendant jewellery perfectly complemented her facial features.
There was such a stunning girl at Hogwarts? Who was she? How had I never noticed her before?
Wait...
A sharp elbow to his ribs brought Blaise back to his senses. He turned to look at his girlfriend, smiled somewhat guiltily, then focused his eyes straight ahead.
Blaise's girlfriend looked at Sean, stepped forward, extended her hand to shake his, and introduced herself. "Hello, I'm Rowena, Rowena Stock. I've heard Blaise mention you often and have wanted to meet you for a long time."
Shaking hands, Sean nodded. "Hello, Rowena. The girl who completely reformed the playboy Blaise. I've heard so much about you."
"It's not exactly reformation. Actually, aside from his unfaithful tendencies, Blaise is quite excellent in other aspects."
"That's good. Then you just need to help him correct his unfaithful habits."
Hearing Sean's words, Rowena immediately nodded, smiling happily. Just then, Rowena from Ravenclaw looked at Luna, finding her increasingly familiar. Finally, when Luna smiled at Sean, Rowena suddenly remembered who this beautiful girl beside Sean was!
"Luna? You're Luna Lovegood from third year, right?"
Luna nodded gently. "It is indeed me, Rowena."
"It really is you. You look..." Rowena observed Luna from all angles, murmuring, "Really different."
"Sean helped me with all of this. I wouldn't know where to start on my own." Turning to look at Sean, Luna smiled. "He's amazing. He can transform someone unremarkable like me into what I look like now."
As the group was talking, the Great Hall's doors slowly opened.
Professor McGonagall emerged and said directly, "Champions, please come here."
Hearing McGonagall's words, Sean immediately nodded to Blaise and the others, then walked forward with Luna.
At the same time, Krum also came before Professor McGonagall with Hermione. Sean glanced at Hermione and suddenly noticed that her originally large front teeth had become much smaller. He wondered what method she had used.
Withdrawing his gaze from Hermione, Sean saw Fleur walking to his other side, arm in arm with Ravenclaw's Quidditch captain, Roger Davies. Seeing Sean's gaze and glancing at Luna on his arm, Fleur nodded in acknowledgement, then turned away without saying more.
Seeing Fleur's reaction, Sean also suppressed his desire to speak and quietly waited for Professor McGonagall's arrangements.
Before the Christmas Yule Ball was the Christmas banquet.
The champions and their partners got to dine with the three headmasters and professors.
Sean sat across from Dumbledore with Luna, though only golden plates lay before them with no food inside.
Before long, the Great Hall was completely full.
Just then, Dumbledore picked up the menu, looked at it, and then said very clearly to his plate, "Pork chops!"
As Dumbledore's words ended, pork chops immediately appeared on his plate.
Seeing this, everyone understood and called out their favourite foods. The banquet officially began.
The dining atmosphere was quite pleasant.
Everyone ate their favourite foods while chatting about topics they enjoyed.
Krum was telling Hermione about Durmstrang when Karkaroff interrupted.
"Alright, alright, Viktor, stop revealing our secrets, or this charming friend of yours will know where we Durmstrang people are located." Karkaroff's smile never reached his eyes, which Sean noticed held barely concealed hostility. He was clearly displeased with Viktor attending the Yule Ball with Hermione, yet dared not show it openly.
As soon as Karkaroff finished speaking, Dumbledore smiled pleasantly and said, "Igor, speaking like that, people might think you don't welcome them to visit Durmstrang."
"Oh my, Dumbledore, we all have our secrets, don't we?" Karkaroff's grin displayed a row of yellowed teeth. "Every school has secrets to keep. Surely Hogwarts is no different?"
"Indeed, Igor. Though I suspect Hogwarts holds more secrets than even I could claim to know." With that diplomatic deflection, Dumbledore stood and smiled warmly at the assembled students. "Well, it seems everyone has eaten quite enough. The banquet ends here. The Yule Ball is about to begin!"