บท 310: Guests of Honor!
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The crowd parted slightly as Luna approached, her smile fixed on Harry. She didn't say anything, simply held out her hand, waiting.
Harry took it without hesitation. "How is the Yule going for you, Luna?"
"Oh, I do enjoy it a lot, especially when there's good company," she replied with a soft laugh.
Luna's movements graceful as she followed his lead effortlessly. As the music ended, she gave him a serene smile and drifted back into the crowd, leaving Harry with a faint grin.
Ginny Weasley appeared next, a bit shy but clearly determined. She extended her hand, a small, challenging smile on her face. "Shall we?"
Harry grinned, taking her hand. "Lead the way, Weasley."
One by one, Harry danced with each girl in his group, keeping up until even he started to feel the fatigue settling in. Despite the occasional cheeky remark from Pansy or Ginny's lighthearted teasing, he managed to get through each round, sticking to the quick pace of the night.
When there seemed to be no one left lining up for a dance, Mrs. Zabini sidled up to Harry, an amused glint in her eye. "I may have missed the first dance, but I'm claiming the last," she purred, holding out her hand with an expression that left no room for debate.
Harry met her gaze with a slight grin, accepting her hand. "Alright, Mrs. Zabini. Let's see what you've got." He led her to the floor
She raised a brow, her tone amused. "I don't plan on letting you off that easily, Harry," she teased as they fell into step. "After all, it's not every day I get to dance with such a promising young wizard. Quite the catch, aren't you?"
Harry chuckled, guiding her through a spin. "Just making the rounds, Mrs. Zabini," he said smoothly. "Trying to keep everyone happy."
"Oh, I'm sure you are," she replied, flashing a mischievous smile. She kept her gaze locked on his, clearly amused by the brief flush that crossed his face. Finally, the song drew to a close, and he released her hand.
"Pleasure as always, Mrs. Zabini," he said, giving a quick bow.
She chuckled, brushing an imaginary speck of dust from her shoulder. "The pleasure was all mine, darling," she replied, stepping back with a wink. "I'll let you get back to your aunt."
Next came the controversial part Harry had planned, carefully kept under wraps. He'd coordinated it all down to the last detail, knowing full well the reactions it might provoke. When he received a subtle nod that his additional "guests" had arrived, he stepped to the stage and clicked his pumpkin juice glass, grabbing everyone's attention. The chatter in the hall settled as eyes turned to him, and he let a brief smile play across his lips, hardly giving away what was to come.
"Right, well, thanks to everyone for coming," he began, his tone casual yet clear, "I've invited some...special guests this evening. As we're celebrating our traditions, I thought it fitting to celebrate with others who share our world, in ways we often overlook." He paused, allowing that to sink in.
Before anyone could question him, the side doors opened, and in walked a line of goblins, led by none other than Grimbletack, his expression as neutral as ever. The wizards and witches closest to the entrance shifted uncomfortably, some casting sidelong glances at each other. Grimbletack, though, was completely unfazed, giving Harry a curt nod as he moved forward, a small group of goblins trailing him. Behind them came Misty, along with Dobby and a few other house-elves. They didn't make much of a show—just quietly, respectfully entered, eyes wide at the grand scene around them. The Hogwarts elves hung back slightly, curiosity and reservation on their faces.
Lastly, and perhaps the most striking of Harry's guests, a small group of centaurs from the Forbidden Forest made their entrance, with Firenze and Bane leading them. The centaurs' gaze swept over the hall with a calm intensity, and they moved forward. A ripple of shock ran through the crowd as they caught sight of the powerful creatures, and murmurs rose, some guests casting wary glances at the towering figures.
Firenze stopped in the center of the room, his steady gaze fixed on Harry, and gave a brief, formal nod. "We have come as invited, Harry Potter," he said in a deep, solemn voice. His words silenced any remaining whispers among the crowd, as it became clear that Harry wasn't just hosting some whimsical gathering.
Harry's goal tonight was clear: after Fudge's death, he intended to make a quiet statement—one that would set his direction in the subtle but inevitable power shifts looming over the magical world. And with Lady Longbottom's gracious offer of Longbottom Manor, he had the perfect setting—an old but welcoming backdrop that sent the right message. Here, he could make it obvious: he wasn't backing the typical "pureblood" crowd, nor was he bowing to old wizarding traditions that clung to outdated ideas.
As the centaurs, goblins, and house-elves mingled in the hall, a ripple of murmurs swept through the guests. They were glancing around, shifting slightly in their seats as they caught on to Harry's intentions. But Harry paid no mind to the stares or hushed whispers; he'd been expecting reactions, and honestly, it was the exact point. Let them wonder.
The goblins took seats with a few wizarding families, while the elves stayed clustered near the center of the room. The centaurs, meanwhile, held their ground with Firenze standing a bit apart, observing everything calmly. Harry noticed a few people eyeing them warily, but nobody dared to complain. In fact, quite a few looked rather interested, if surprised, by Harry's "guests of honor."
Harry continued, raising his glass to the guests around him, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the room. "Tonight, we celebrate unity—a concept that often seems quaint, forgotten amidst our comfortable routines and traditions."
A few heads turned, curious, some wary. "Minister Fudge, though no longer with us, put great efforts toward keeping our world safe and steady. But, we can't ignore the reality: some of his administration's choices only widened the gap between us," Harry said, his voice hardening briefly before he continued smoothly, "supporting certain families while others bore the cost. We all know this has gone on long enough."
There were a few nods from Noble families.
"Each one of us, whether from the oldest families or not, shares a responsibility to look beyond blood and status," Harry continued, his gaze sweeping the room. "For centuries, it's been easy to ignore voices beyond our small circles, and to favor the comfort of familiar names, but the world is changing. Whether we like it or not, those with influence here need to remember: no single group should control the fate of all wizards and witches."
Dumbledore's eyes shone with that usual twinkle, and then, rising smoothly, he began to clap. The applause spread, hesitant from some, reluctant from others, but strong enough to fill the hall. More people joined in until the room hummed with the sound. Harry raised his glass slightly toward the crowd, acknowledging the reaction without making a show of it.
Raising his hand, gathering everyone's attention once again, he said, "Now that's out of the way," he began, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Onto the second event of the night. From here on, I want Yule to mark not just the start of a new year, but actual progress." He paused, letting his words settle with the crowd, who were now leaning in with interest. "This year, being the first, only a few of my friends from Hogwarts managed to come up with inventions, but every year going forward, I would like to recognize the best three inventions. We hope this encourages more young wizards and witches from all around the world to step up and share their ideas."
The crowd buzzed, whispering to one another as they processed the unexpected announcement. A few students in the room exchanged hopeful looks, and Harry could already see the gears turning in their minds.
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