Just like that, Christmas drew closer, and with it came the Yule Ball. Only one week remained before the grand event, and excitement filled every corner of Hogwarts.
Students spent more time discussing dress robes, dancing, and partners than they did homework.
That afternoon, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Victor were sitting inside Hagrid's hut.
A bright fire crackled in the hearth, keeping the small wooden cabin warm against the bitter December cold.
Fang snored contentedly by the fireplace while Hagrid busied himself making tea.
Harry and Ron occupied one of Hagrid's oversized chairs, both wearing thoroughly miserable expressions.
Compared to them, Victor and Hermione looked perfectly relaxed, seated side by side in another enormous armchair, which was more than large enough to fit both of them comfortably.
Hagrid shuffled over carrying a large kettle. He poured Harry a steaming mug of tea before looking between the two Gryffindor boys, his thick eyebrows knitting together beneath his tangled hair.
"What's up with yeh two? Yeh've both been lookin' downright miserable fer days now."
Harry accepted the mug with a quiet thanks. Ron merely sighed.
Hagrid frowned. "It ain't got anythin' ter do with You-Know-Who again, has it?"
Harry shook his head. "No... it's the Yule Ball."
"The Yule Ball?" Hagrid repeated, looking genuinely puzzled.
Ron groaned. "We still haven't managed to ask anyone."
Hagrid stared at the pair for a moment before letting out a booming laugh that shook the little hut. "Is tha' all? Blimey, fer a minute there I thought summat serious'd happened!"
Ron looked utterly unconvinced. "It is serious."
Hagrid chuckled and poured himself a mug. "Don't see why. Jus' ask a nice girl. Worst she can do is say no."
Harry and Ron exchanged awkward glances. Hermione snorted into her teacup.
Victor, who had been quietly drinking his tea, set his mug down. "I don't think Ron agrees with that statement."
Ron's face immediately turned gloomy. "Can we please stop bringing that up?"
"Hagrid, that already happened. These guys asked two girls, and both of them rejected them," Victor said, taking another sip of his tea.
Hagrid looked from Victor to Harry and Ron in surprise. "So yeh've already been rejected?"
Harry winced. He had asked Cho Chang, only to discover that she had already agreed to go with Cedric Diggory.
There hadn't been anything he could do about it. A rejection was still a rejection.
Ron, meanwhile, looked as though he wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole.
"Blimey," Hagrid said sympathetically. "Tha's rough, tha' is. Don't take it too hard, boys. There's plenty o' girls still lookin' fer partners."
His gaze then shifted toward the other side of the hut. "So... are yeh two goin' ter the Yule Ball together?"
"Yes," Hermione replied without hesitation.
Hagrid smiled warmly. "Tha's nice. Saves yeh all the trouble o' runnin' around askin' people."
Harry and Ron looked toward the pair.
Compared to the two of them, who had spent the past week stressing over finding dance partners and gathering the courage to ask girls, Victor and Hermione seemed completely relaxed.
The contrast only made the two Gryffindor boys feel even more miserable.
Ron finally sighed. "Um..." He looked at Victor and Hermione before rubbing the back of his neck. "Could you two stop showing public affection?"
Victor glanced at him before calmly setting his teacup on the table. "Ron, being jealous of other people's happiness isn't healthy."
Ron stared at him. "I'm not jealous!"
"If that's what you want to call it."
Ron's eye twitched. Harry had a feeling he knew exactly where this conversation was heading, and it wasn't going to end well.
After a brief pause, Victor spoke again. "Actually, there's still one solution."
Harry and Ron immediately looked at him with a hint of hope.
Victor's expression remained perfectly serious. "You two can go to the Yule Ball together."
Silence filled Hagrid's hut.
Harry nearly dropped his mug. Ron looked utterly horrified. "...What?"
Victor continued as though he were making a perfectly reasonable suggestion.
"Neither of you has a partner. You've been best friends for years. You already know each other's terrible dance skills. It solves your problem."
Hermione covered her mouth, trying and failing not to laugh. Hagrid gave a loud bark of laughter that made Fang lift his head in confusion.
Ron pointed an accusing finger at Victor. "That is the worst idea you've ever had."
Victor thought about it for a moment. "I disagree. I think it's quite efficient." He picked up his teacup again.
Harry buried his face in his hands while Hermione's laughter echoed through the hut.
Hagrid wiped a tear from his eye. "Now, now," he said, waving a large hand. "Let's not get carried away." He looked at Harry and Ron with an encouraging smile.
"Yeh two had better ask someone else. It'll be a right shame if yeh end up moanin' in a corner all night instead o' enjoyin' the Yule Ball."
Ron let out a groan. "Easier said than done."
Hagrid shrugged. "Course it is. But yeh won't get a partner by sittin' here feelin' sorry fer yerselves."
Harry sighed in agreement. "I suppose you're right."
Victor nodded matter-of-factly. "I still think my suggestion was more practical."
Ron glared at him. "It wasn't."
*****
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