Chương 246: Chapter 246: "The Yule Ball"
As Fleur descended the stairs, the hushed silence in the entrance hall gave way to a wave of whispers and gasps. All eyes darted between her and Harry, realization dawning that they were each other's date for the ball.
Harry, momentarily stunned by Fleur's ethereal beauty, quickly regained his composure. He stepped forward, a smile playing on his lips, his hand reaching into his pocket.
"You look absolutely breathtaking," he said softly, loud enough only for her to hear. Then, with a flourish that would have made Sirius proud, he produced a small, exquisitely crafted silver bracelet.
"A token of appreciation for my beautiful date," Harry said, his voice warm with affection.
Fleur's eyes widened in surprise and delight. "Oh, 'Arry," she breathed, extending her wrist. "It's beautiful. Merci beaucoup."
As Harry fastened the bracelet around her wrist, their eyes met, and for a moment, the world around them faded away. Fleur's eyes sparkled as she took his arm.
As they turned to face the crowd, Harry caught sight of his friends' reactions. Cedric's jaw had dropped, Roger was grinning from ear to ear, and Reggy looked like he might faint from excitement. The girls around them were a mix of surprise, admiration, and in some cases, poorly concealed jealousy.
Professor McGonagall's voice cut through the chatter. "Champions, over here please!" She was ushering the tournament champions and their partners to one side. They were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students had sat down.
Harry and Fleur joined the other champions and their dates. Viktor Krum was accompanied by a beaming Hermione Granger. Charles Potter, the fourth champion, was partnered with Ginny Weasley. Both looked nervous but excited.
Harry and Fleur's pairing reduced the number of champion pairs from four to three. The unexpected coupling between the two school champions elicited varied reactions from the professors. A Beauxbatons professor's eyebrows had practically disappeared into her hairline, while Professor Sprout was whispering furiously to Professor Flitwick, who looked both surprised and oddly proud.
Professor McGonagall approached Harry and Fleur, her lips pursed in a way that Harry had learned could mean either disapproval or suppressed amusement. "Mr. Potter, Miss Delacour," she said, her voice carefully neutral. "This is... unexpected. I was expecting four pairs for the opening act."
Harry, feeling mischievous, replied with a straight face, "Just doing our part for international magical cooperation, Professor. Isn't that what the tournament is all about?"
McGonagall's eyes narrowed slightly, but Harry could swear he saw the corner of her mouth twitch. "Indeed, Mr. Potter. Though I doubt this is quite what the Ministry had in mind when they spoke of fostering inter-school relationships."
Fleur, catching on to the play, added with a demure smile, "But surely, Professor, zis is ze best way to bridge ze gap between our schools, non?"
For a moment, McGonagall looked like she was fighting back a laugh. Finally, she shook her head, a small smile breaking through her stern demeanor. "Very well. I suppose we can't fault your commitment to the spirit of the tournament. Just... do try to keep the 'international cooperation' to a respectable level, if you please."
As McGonagall moved away to organize the procession, Harry could have sworn he heard her mutter, "Albus is going to love this," under her breath.
Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall instructed the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs and follow her. As they entered the Great Hall, applause erupted, and they began walking toward a large round table at the top of the Hall where the judges were sitting.
The Great Hall's transformation momentarily dazzled both Harry and Fleur. Sparkling silver frost covered the walls, with garlands of mistletoe and ivy crisscrossing the starry black ceiling. The house tables had vanished, replaced by smaller, lantern-lit ones seating about a dozen people each. The overall effect was nothing short of magical, and Fleur's impression of Hogwarts visibly improved.
Dumbledore smiled happily as the champions approached the top table, his eyes twinkling with undisguised amusement, though even he seemed a little caught off-guard by the odd pairing. Karkaroff wore an expression of intense dislike as he watched Krum and Hermione draw nearer. Madam Maxime looked shocked, unsure how to react to Fleur's choice of partner. Ludo Bagman, resplendent in robes of bright purple with large yellow stars, was clapping enthusiastically, clearly there just to have fun.
As they took their seats, Harry couldn't help but notice the varying reactions around the hall. Some girls were looking at Fleur with undisguised envy, while many boys seemed to be in a state of shock, their eyes darting between Harry and Fleur as if trying to solve a particularly complex puzzle.
The dinner passed in a blur. With the other champion pairs including Hermione and Charles, Harry mostly conversed with Fleur and occasionally with Krum. Fleur, however, was having a delightful time teasing the younger ones, enjoying their blushes at her simplest compliments.
Meanwhile, Harry found himself relaxing. He noticed the disguised Crouch was present, still drinking from his flask at intervals. Despite his apprehensions about Crouch and Voldemort's plans, Harry paid no thought to him. He had decided to focus on making this night memorable.
When all the food had been consumed, Dumbledore stood up and asked the students to do the same. Then, with a wave of his wand, all the tables zoomed back along the walls leaving the floor clear, and then he conjured a raised platform into existence along the right wall. A set of drums, several guitars, a lute, a cello, and some bagpipes were set upon it.
The Weird Sisters, a popular wizarding band, trooped up onto the stage to enthusiastic applause. They picked up their instruments, and as the lights in the hall dimmed, Harry knew it was time for the opening dance.
"Ready?" he asked Fleur, standing and offering his hand, a mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through him.
Fleur took it, her smile radiant, the bracelet on her wrist catching the light. "Yes. Let's show everyone the results of our practice."
The champions and their partners made their way onto the brightly lit dance floor. The Weird Sisters struck up a slow, melodious tune, and Harry placed his hand on Fleur's waist, taking her other hand in his.
As they began to move to the music, all of Harry's practice with Fleur came flooding back. His steps were sure, his movements fluid. He guided Fleur across the dance floor with a grace that surprised even himself.
"You've been holding out on me, 'Arry," Fleur murmured, her eyes twinkling. "I think you might be a natural after all."
Harry grinned, spinning her gently. "I had an excellent teacher. Though I must admit, it's much easier without worrying about stepping on your toes in private lessons."
As they twirled and glided, Harry became aware that many people were watching them. But for once, he didn't mind the attention. In that moment, with Fleur in his arms and the music swelling around them, everything else faded away. The tournament, the challenges ahead, even the ever-present threat of dark forces – all of it seemed distant and unimportant.
Other couples soon joined them on the dance floor, but Harry and Fleur remained lost in their own world, moving together as if they'd been dancing all their lives. As the song came to an end, they slowly came to a stop, still holding each other close.
The hall burst into applause, and Harry suddenly remembered where they were. He and Fleur shared a smile, both a little flushed from the dance and the emotion of the moment.
As they made their way off the dance floor, Harry caught sight of Sirius, who had somehow managed to be present as a chaperone. His godfather gave him a thumbs up and a wink, mouthing "That's my boy!"
The night was young, and Harry Potter, for once, was looking forward to every moment of it. As he led Fleur around the hall, her hand warm in his, he realized that this joy, this laughter, this simple pleasure of a dance – this was what he was fighting for. In that moment, Harry felt more determined than ever to ensure that nights like this would always be possible in the wizarding world.
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