Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Azeroth

Chapter 278, Section 277: The War Between Girls!
"Isn't that a bit much?" Neville muttered, taking a bite of sausage. "Krum is a very famous Quidditch player, after all. It's not like Malfoy is disgracing the shaman, is it?"

"Why?!" Ron turned around abruptly and growled, "Harry is a Quidditch player too! Krum is Harry's enemy! His rival! As Harry's friends, of course we should support Harry!"

“Oh, my dear little Ronnie,” Fred leaned over and said, “Although we’re all Harry’s supporters when it comes to Quidditch, and we have posters of him all over the house, there’s a harsh truth that Harry hasn’t played in a club match in a long time, and the Kenmare Red Falcons have even found a new member.”

“Yes, but they didn’t announce Harry’s departure from the club, they just said he could come back for a guest appearance at any time,” Lee Jordan interjected. “You can’t stop people from liking their favorite stars, Ron, even if Harry is our good friend, the Bull-Lion King of Gryffindor—I thought it would be Hermione who would be bothered by this, but it’s you—Hermione?”

Lee Jordan's words drew everyone's attention to Hermione. Even though her name was called, Hermione seemed not to hear it. She stared intently at the girl on the other table who was wrapped in a scarf, with only her eyes showing.

"I sensed a murderous aura, brother," Jordan said, swallowing a bite of bread. "Did you feel it?"

“Yes, brother, I felt that too—but I think it should be called a war between women.” Fred followed Hermione’s gaze. “Do you know what’s wrong with her?”

This last question was directed at Ron and Neville.

“Who knows? It started when we were still outside.” Ron was still indignant about Malfoy’s situation while spreading meat sauce on his bread. “It’s like we have a grudge against him. We’ve only just met, oh, I haven’t even seen his face yet.”

“I know that!” Lavender Brown, sitting next to Ron, suddenly became interested. She glanced at Hermione cautiously, and after confirming that Hermione’s attention was not on her, she whispered, “You guys are just too familiar with Hermione. You don’t treat her like a lady at all.”

"What do you mean?" Ron asked, bewildered. "What lady? What's wrong with lady?"

"Idiot!" Lavender said irritably. "Who doesn't know Hermione likes Harry? And what did that giant headmaster Beauxbatons say when he came down just now?"

"What did he say?" Neville was also bewildered.

"She introduced Harry to a girl, didn't she?" Lavender stared wide-eyed incredulously, seemingly wondering why the two boys couldn't understand something so simple. "She said they knew each other back in France."

“Let me correct you, it’s not that we know each other, it’s that we mentioned her name before,” Fred said, looking like he had just realized something. “It’s not your fault, Ron, because we didn’t even realize it at first.”

“Yes, yes,” George nodded repeatedly. “I remember what that girl said again? Younger than she imagined? Exceptional abilities?”

“Is that so?” Lavender said with satisfaction. “We girls are more sensitive to these things than you are.”

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Ron's confusion grew even more pronounced. "I don't understand a word you're saying."

"What your little girlfriend means is that Headmaster Beauxbatons wants to introduce that girl to Harry as his girlfriend!" Fred explained impatiently. "And the girl didn't refuse, so Hermione is unhappy because she's the one who wants to be Harry's girlfriend—does that make sense, my dear little Ronnie?"

"Understood, I—"

"I'm not!"

Ron swallowed hard, but before he could finish speaking, Hermione interrupted him.

"I never intended to be Harry's girlfriend!" Hermione blushed and hurriedly explained, "I just—I thought she was a little strange!"

Perhaps a certain keyword forcibly pulled her consciousness back to the real world. When she woke up, she saw many people staring at her from around the table, and Hermione felt a chill run down her spine.

“Oh, come on,” Lavender said sharply. “Which girl in all of Hogwarts wouldn’t want to be Harry’s girlfriend? It’s just that none of us can get as close to him as you do.”

"Hey, wait a minute!" Ron suddenly sensed something was wrong.

"Oh, that's all in the past. Now, you are my only one, sweetheart."

One sentence was enough to turn Ron's displeasure into sweetness, and the couple actually kissed each other right there at the table, oblivious to everyone else.

Fred and George, who were standing nearby, simultaneously gagged silently, as if they had been agitated.

Couples deeply in love... How disgusting!

"Hey, wait! Isn't she coming?" Neville suddenly sat up straight, nudging Ron next to him and quickly reminding him, "She's really coming!"

We definitely made it through.

While it wasn't unusual for Hermione to be looking at these visitors from other schools when almost everyone else was scrutinizing them, well... perhaps her gaze was just a little too blatant?
In short, the girl broke away from Beauxbatons' group and came over. Not only that, she finally took off her scarf, revealing a long, cascading cascade of silver hair that reached her waist. The mere act of slightly tucking her hair back caused a collective gasp.

The already not-so-warm air at Hogwarts at the end of October suddenly dropped a few degrees.

"Excuse me, may I sit here?"

The girl's voice was very pleasant, like a bell. The most noticeable effect was that Fred and George immediately moved aside to make room for her.

"Please!"

The invitation was not the only thing Ron was about to say, but at the same time he received a warning look from his two older brothers—young man, don't stop your brother from pursuing happiness!

No wonder Fred and George betrayed him in a second. The only reason Ron could still say something was because he had just kissed Lavender and hadn't had time to look closely. But once he did look closely...

His entire face turned bright red in an instant, and he stared at the girl with his mouth slightly open as if he had gone mad, making some strange little noises as if his throat was blocked.

It wasn't just Ron who had this expression; in fact, everyone at the Gryffindor long table, including those at the neighboring long tables, who saw the girl's appearance all had the same look on their faces.

Generally, we would describe this expression as being deeply attracted. (PS: Hibiscus is very beautiful in the novel; I've always felt the casting for the movie was subpar.)
"Ron!!"

Lavender's annoyed voice finally brought Ron to his senses; it was obvious he was in trouble.

“You guys are really funny,” the silver-haired girl laughed heartily. She seemed quite used to being looked at like that, or to people around her making that kind of expression, without any awkwardness. She simply said to Hermione, “Excuse me, you must be Hermione, right? Hermione Granger?”

“…Yes, you know me?” Hermione, who had been standing with her arms crossed in a resistant posture, was taken aback. “Yes, I’ve inquired about you,” the silver-haired girl admitted frankly. “According to Ms. Maxim, you are Headmaster Potter’s only female companion, very close to him, and very important to him.”

"Yes, yes, yes—is that so?!"

Well, just like a flash flood rushing towards a dam only to have the dam burst in an instant, Hermione's previously aloof and hostile demeanor instantly crumbled.

"Of course," the silver-haired girl continued without pausing, "So if I want to win over Principal Potter, I have to beat you."

"Huh?!" Hermione was now the one gaping in disbelief, completely overwhelmed. "Wh-what defeat—what are you talking about—no! How can you say something like that so confidently?!"

Hermione has gone mad.

What on earth is this Frenchman talking about?
Where is etiquette? Where is shame? Where is self-restraint?
Take it out!

Don't the French have this kind of thing?!

No—how can someone say something like that so confidently?!
"Why not?" The silver-haired girl was surprised. "You should be brave enough to pursue the person you like. People who are afraid to face love will only be punished by it."

"But, but you've never even met him before! You've never even spoken to him! You don't know his personality or his hobbies! And he doesn't know you either!!"

Hermione... panicked.

In such a hurry, he didn't even care about the gazes of Ron and Neville beside him, or other Gryffindor students who were nearby, like the Weasley twins; instead, he was focused on discerning the situation.

“I know, but everything needs a beginning.” Without panicking, the silver-haired girl smiled slightly and said, “I can understand him, and he can understand me. If we both think that we are suitable for each other, then we will have a lifetime to get to know each other and get used to each other.”

"You, you're so many years older than him! You two are absolutely not a good match!!"

Completely devoid of her usual fierce and sharp-tongued demeanor, Hermione's intelligent mind was now in chaos, blurred—a complete mess. She could only desperately try to sift through her jumbled thoughts and utter a few barely coherent words in the shortest amount of time.

Unfortunately, its lethality is questionable.

"Pfft, age?" The silver-haired girl looked Hermione up and down in surprise. "Don't you know how long wizards live? It's just a difference of a few years. It's not an obstacle for wizards, and it's not even an obstacle for Muggles."

“The reasons you’re using to stop me don’t even count as reasons, Ms. Granger,” the silver-haired girl said generously. “There’s only one reason that’s driving you to stop me, and that is that you actually like Principal Potter too—we’re rivals.”

“You may have heard it outside, but I still want to say it again,” the silver-haired girl said with a flourish, “My name is Fleur, Fleur Delacour, and I will not lose.”

After saying that, Furong stood up from her chair.

"Thank you for your seats, gentlemen. Enjoy your meal."

After giving Fred and George a graceful bow, Fleur returned to the long table in Ravenclaw, to her companions.

And the Gryffindor table... well, at least in this corner of the table, the atmosphere becomes somewhat serious.

"...Stylish."

"Generous."

"grace."

"With ease and skill".

"Enough, enough! Which side are you on?" Ron interrupted Fred and George's back-and-forth exchanges with annoyance.

"Just stating the facts," Fred said, shrugging as he moved back to his previous position. "I must say, she's really cool and stylish."

“Yes, a girl like that is no ordinary girl,” George followed up. “Didn’t you notice that she has taken control of the conversation? Everything is under her control.”

“Oh, I think the girls at Hogwarts are pretty good too,” Ron muttered, then quickly looked at Lavender beside him. “Like you, darling.”

"Is that so?" Lavender scoffed. "Why did I feel like your eyes were practically glued to her just now?"

“Because something’s wrong with her,” Fred said directly.

Despite the jokes and laughter, as older brothers, they wouldn't actually see their younger brother's relationship fall into a crisis of division.

“Yes, I think she must have some strange lineage…” George drawled, “Like… Veela?”

“I think so too,” Lee Jordan finally had a moment to stuff the chicken leg he’d been holding to his mouth earlier into his mouth. He mumbled, “This charm is definitely not right. Yes, I admit she’s really beautiful. Look, not just us, everyone was looking at her as she walked by—it’s not just about being pretty.”

"Really? I feel like you're all pretty much the same, you just like pretty people," Hermione said sullenly, looking down at her plate.

She seemed somewhat melancholy, or rather, that unhappiness was almost turning into a substantial atmosphere of depression.

Hermione could see her face through the gleaming plate, her protruding front teeth particularly noticeable, which only made her feel worse.

“Don’t be discouraged, Hermione,” Fred comforted her. “To be fair and objective, I have to admit that in that exchange between the two of you just now… well, you lost rather badly.”

"I haven't lost yet!!"

Hermione looked up abruptly, her eyes reddening, and she instinctively retorted.

(End of this chapter)