Chapter 155: You Look Beautiful Today
Professor Minerva McGonagall’s office sat just above the marble staircase in the entrance hall—a small room off the corridor, its fireplace radiating a deep, cozy warmth.
Jon carefully pushed the door open, only for it to bump into someone.
“Sorry!” Jon blurted out at once.
The door had hit a tall boy dressed in a crimson formal robe.
It was someone Jon knew well—he’d run into him barely ten minutes ago in the Hufflepuff common room. Cedric Diggory.
“Jon?” Cedric sounded a little surprised.
“Cedric?” Jon froze for a moment before asking, “What are you doing here?”
“I...” Cedric’s expression looked faintly disappointed. “I’m waiting for my dance partner.”
“Your dance partner...” A chill ran down Jon’s spine. Could it be…
Given Dumbledore’s taste, it didn’t seem impossible.
“Ced...” Before Jon could ask, a warm, affectionate voice suddenly called out behind him.
Fleur Delacour had clearly gone to some effort. She wore a black trench coat, her waterfall of silver hair cascading against it, making her look more stylish—and even more alluring—than before. She threw Jon a deliberately provocative glance before walking over to Cedric Diggory and slipping her arm through his.
“Let’s wait in the corridor,” Fleur said softly, her English was still as unpolished as ever.
Jon let out a breath of relief... Thank goodness Dumbledore wasn’t that deranged.
A wry smile flickered across Cedric’s face. He glanced toward the corner, nodded, and left with Fleur.
That was when Jon noticed the pair standing by the wall.
Harry Potter gave him an awkward greeting, his cheeks scarlet, legs trembling so visibly it was obvious how nervous he was. He wore a deep green velvet robe that, frankly, looked terribly mismatched.
The Chinese girl beside him looked just as uneasy. Jon recognized her at once—Cho Chang, Ravenclaw’s Seeker. She wore a light blue qipao, which suited her far better than her usual outfits.
Though paired together, they kept a deliberate yard of distance between them.
Cho Chang leaned close and whispered something into Harry’s ear. Harry nodded frantically, and the two hurried out of McGonagall’s office... Harry seemed to have forgotten how to walk properly, stepping on Cho Chang’s heels several times and muttering apology after apology.
He didn’t even remember to say goodbye to Jon.
Now only Viktor Krum and the beautiful girl at his side remained in the office.
Krum stood rigidly upright in a military-style dress uniform that made his imposing frame look even larger. The girl beside him wore a long blue robe that shimmered faintly with violet light. Her brown hair was swept into an elegant chignon, her beauty undeniable.
Jon needed no effort to match her with the image of Hermione Granger in his mind.
“Good evening!” Jon waved in greeting.
Hermione looked a little tense. She flashed him a toothy smile and stepped closer.
Jon noticed immediately—her trademark buckteeth were gone.
“You look beautiful,” Jon said sincerely.
“Thank you!” Hermione ducked her head, hiding the pride on her face, and stammered, “I just... fixed my hair... changed my clothes... I mean, usually I think it’s too much trouble...”
Jon nodded.
Then Hermione suddenly seemed to remember something. She asked quietly, “Where’s your dance partner?”
“My dance partner...” Jon glanced around the office, not spotting a fourth person. “She should be here any minute.”
“Who is it?” Hermione asked curiously.
“I don’t know...” Jon admitted honestly.
While Hermione was still processing that, Krum stepped forward. He gave Jon a stiff nod, then turned to Hermione.
“Hermione, let’s go wait in corridor.”
His English was even rougher than Fleur’s.
Hermione nodded, waved to Jon, and walked out of McGonagall’s office with Krum.
...
Now Jon was the only one left in the office.
A glance at his watch told him it was already 7:45. In just fifteen minutes, the ball would begin... and he still didn’t know who his partner was.
Hopefully she’ll be better than I expect...
With a sigh, Jon picked up an empty ashtray from McGonagall’s desk. Bored, he tossed it into the air and caught it again and again, just to kill time.
But on its third toss, the ashtray suddenly transformed mid-air into a magpie. The bird fluttered about wildly, leaving a few feathers clinging to Jon’s tailcoat.
“Damn it... I knew there was no way McGonagall would keep an ashtray here. It was Transfiguration!” Jon muttered, brushing the feathers off irritably.
At that moment, the office door swung open.
Professor Minerva McGonagall entered, wearing a red tartan robe and a hat crowned with a rather ugly wreath of thistles.
She glanced at the startled magpie, raised her wand, and it reverted into an ashtray that floated neatly back onto the desk.
“Sorry, Professor McGonagall...” Jon said sheepishly.
“Hart...” McGonagall gave him a stern look. “Your dance partner will be here shortly. Professor Dumbledore arranged it. The ball begins in ten minutes—be ready to make your entrance. The four champions and their partners are to appear first.”
No sooner had she finished than a girl in a pure white dress burst into the room, slightly out of breath.
Her pale golden hair fell loose down her back instead of the usual ponytail, looking smoother and shinier than ever. Her long lashes, likely enhanced, curled upward with each breath, captivating to the eye. The dimples at the corners of her mouth appeared faintly as she spoke, only adding to her charm...
“Sorry I’m late... I nearly lost track of time while getting ready...” she explained softly.
She walked straight over to Jon.
A heady, intoxicating fragrance drifted to him, and suddenly Jon felt his heart pounding faster than ever before.
For two seconds his gaze froze on her, then he managed to stammer out, “You look beautiful today...”
Author's Note
Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to post a comment.