Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 336 Dance
Tyra and Hermione arrived at the library on the fifth floor. As soon as they entered, Hermione immediately pulled Tyra to the seat by the window, took out what she had written in her Divination class from her bag, and spread it out on the table.

“I think this sentence…” Hermione said, pointing to a line on the parchment, “should be changed to: free wizards, Muggles, oppressed house-elves, magical creatures with human intelligence, and all oppressed life…”

“We can’t lump all magical creatures together, can we?” Hermione said. “For the sake of the lives and property of the vast majority of the magical community, we should distinguish these inherently evil and unchangeable magical creatures from the rest of the working class, such as Dementors, which are evil creatures by nature and have no value for reform.”

“Yes, that makes sense,” Tierra said.

“We wouldn’t go so far as to hunt them, but for the safety of other creatures, we should designate specific areas for evil creatures like Dementors to roam,” Hermione added.

“That’s very thoughtful,” Tierra said.

“Alright, you know more about those magical creatures than I do, so I’ll leave the planning of how to classify and categorize them to you,” Hermione said.

“Oh, okay…” Tyella replied casually, then suddenly—

"Ok?"

Wait a minute, shouldn't I be the one giving orders? How did it turn out the other way around?

Oh well, I can just pass this job on to Dobby later.

“And this too,” Hermione continued after Tyella agreed, “I think this should also be changed…”

“Hmm, hmm, hmm…” Tierra echoed as she pondered Professor Trelawney’s prophecy.

At that moment, a commotion arose from the library entrance.

Tierra and Hermione looked up at the same time—

They discovered that Viktor Krum was hiding not far from them, behind a bookshelf, seemingly engrossed in browsing through books.

Meanwhile, six or seven girls hid behind a bookshelf further away, whispering and discussing something.

"He's so annoying," Hermione said, scratching her bushy, broom-like hair with a hint of impatience.

“Mmm, mmm,” Tiera echoed.

Thursday arrived quickly.

This semester, they only have one class on Thursdays, which is Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class.

Their task in this lesson was to turn guinea fowl into guinea pigs.

Transforming one creature into another means that fourth-year students at Hogwarts have entered the curriculum of advanced transfiguration.

"Potter! And Weasley! Can't you two concentrate for a second?" Professor McGonagall's annoyed voice lashed out at Harry and Ron like a whip.

“Can’t you two learn from Mr. Lockhart and Miss Granger?” Professor McGonagall said. “Look at them, he…”

Minerva McGonagall suddenly stopped mid-sentence, her eyes fixed on the guinea pig on Tierra's table.

"Ah—!" Hermione followed Professor McGonagall's gaze and screamed in fright.

“Mr. Lockhart, what is this?” Professor McGonagall asked in surprise.

“Oh, Professor McGonagall.” Tierra quickly stuffed the guinea pig into her pocket.

“It’s nothing, Professor McGonagall,” Tierra said. “It was a Transfiguration malfunction; I accidentally turned a guinea pig’s head into my own face.”

"I and my group will turn it back, don't worry," Tiera said with a kind smile.

“Uh… oh, okay, alright,” Professor McGonagall said, then slapped her forehead. “Oh, right, I almost forgot!”

“The Christmas Ball is coming soon—” Professor McGonagall said. “It’s a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and a great opportunity for us to socialize with foreign guests. Unfortunately, the ball is only open to students in their fourth year and above, but of course, you may invite a younger student if you wish—” Lavender Brown let out a shrill, silly laugh.

Parvati Petil poked her hard, and Parvati herself was tensing up, trying her best not to laugh.

They both turned to look at Harry.

Professor McGonagall ignored them and continued speaking:

"You will need to wear your formal gowns to the ball," Professor McGonagall continued. "The ball will be held in the Great Hall at eight o'clock on Christmas evening and will end at midnight. Listen—"

Professor McGonagall looked over the class calmly.

“The Christmas ball will undoubtedly give us the opportunity… well… to relax and let our hair down,” Professor McGonagall continued in a dismissive tone.

Lavender laughed even harder, covering his mouth with his hand to stifle the sound.

Harry knew what was ridiculous: Professor McGonagall's hair was always tied up in a tight little bun, and she never seemed to let it down.

“But that doesn’t mean that!” Professor McGonagall suddenly raised her voice. “We will relax our behavioral requirements for Hogwarts students. I will be very distressed if any Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way.”

The bell rang for the end of get out of class, and as usual, everyone stuffed their books into their backpacks and threw them over their shoulders. The classroom was in a commotion.

Professor McGonagall raised her voice and called out amidst the noise, "Harry Potter! And Tyella! Please wait a moment, I have a few words to say to you."

Harry looked at Tyella with a hint of helplessness, while Tyella—

He shrugged and stopped packing his schoolbag.

The two waited a while longer in the Transfiguration classroom. Professor McGonagall waited until all the students had left before speaking, "Harry, and Tyella, the heroes all have their partners—"

"What partner?" said Harry.

Professor McGonagall looked at him suspiciously, as if she thought he was joking.

"The partner you took to the Yule Ball, Potter," she said coldly. "Your partner."

Harry felt as if his internal organs were twisting and shrinking.

"Dance partner?" He felt his face turn red.

"I...I don't dance," he hurriedly explained.

“Oh, you must dance,” Professor McGonagall said irritably. “That’s exactly what I was about to tell you. Traditionally, the ball is started by the warriors and their partners.”

“I, I don’t dance!” Harry firmly denied again.

“It’s tradition!” Professor McGonagall said firmly. “You, and the champion of Tieara Hogwarts, as representatives of the school, must do as everyone expects. So you must find yourself a dance partner, Potter.”

"But—I won't—"

"You heard me, Potter!" said Professor McGonagall in an undeniable tone.

“Professor McGonagall!” At this moment, Tierra raised her hand and asked, “I have a question for you about dance partners.”

“What’s the problem, Tierra?” Professor McGonagall asked.

“May I invite a male dance partner?” Tierra asked.

Professor McGonagall: !!!
Harry: !!!
Thanks to that self-righteous idiot for casting his February vote.
Thank you to Fog for voting for January!
Thank you for not remembering to vote in April.
Thank you to Reincarnated Beacon for voting in April.
Thank you to those who voted for April under the starry sky!

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(End of this chapter)