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In past Hogwarts banquets, food was always placed all at once on the long House tables, much like a buffet, allowing students to pick and choose as they pleased.
This method had its pros and cons.
The advantage was that the dishes were clear at a glance—roast turkey, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, pumpkin pie—everything was laid out right there; if you wanted something, you just reached for it.
The disadvantage... was that there was no real choice.
Though it sounds a bit counterintuitive, it was the truth.
Because most students would only choose from the few platters of food directly in front of their seats; it was unlikely they would trek from one end of the table to the other just for a specific dish.
So, situations often arose where the roast lamb chops at the head of the table were snatched up, while a large pot of stew at the end of the table remained untouched, with no one bothering to move it at all.
Except for Lynn, of course.
Lynn was never restricted by this. When there wasn't enough to eat, he would not only stand up to reach for distant dishes, but would even run straight to the long tables of other Houses.
But today was different; the format of today's banquet had changed.
Those long House tables had been moved to the walls, replaced by round tables scattered throughout the Great Hall.
A few chairs were placed around each round table, and students from various Houses sat together, no longer divided by House areas.
Lynn and his friends occupied a round table by the window, and soon Fleur arrived with Gabrielle.
She was wearing a silver-blue gown that shimmered with a soft luster under the reflection of the magical snowflakes. Gabrielle followed behind her, her small face filled with excitement as she looked around at everything.
Fleur sat down next to Lynn, with Gabrielle beside her sister.
Surrounding gazes instantly focused on them.
Lynn had no reaction to this; he simply looked down at the items on the table.
There was no food on the table. Only exquisite-looking menus made of parchment, with gold-leafed edges and a list of dish names written in cursive script.
Gabrielle waited for a while and noticed there was no movement at the table. Tilting her head, she whispered, "Why hasn't the banquet started yet?"
Lynn's brow was furrowed, and without looking up, he stared intently at the menu in his hand.
He flipped through and found some dish names that were clear at a glance on the back.
Strawberry Stewed Watermelon, Chocolate Braised Squash, Pineapple Mixed with Cucumber...
Lynn stared at these dish names and fell silent.
Then he closed the menu and pushed it aside.
"I'm suddenly not very hungry."
Edgar burst out laughing nearby.
Lynn glanced at him and casually snatched the menu from his hand.
"Stop looking," he said, then pushed the menu toward Gabrielle. "Order whatever you want to eat. Just say the name."
Gabrielle tilted her head and leaned in toward the menu.
Her finger traced over the dish names, finally stopping at one spot.
"This one," she said, "this one, and this one."
No sooner had she spoken—
Pop.
Three plates of food appeared out of thin air on the tabletop in front of her.
A plate of pudding, golden and inviting, sprinkled with powdered sugar. A plate of ham, sliced thinly and glistening with oil. A plate of salad, with colorful vegetables mixed together, looking fresh and delicious.
Gabrielle's eyes lit up.
Quite a few students around them were staring at their table. Especially when those three plates of food appeared out of thin air, those gazes became even more obvious.
Lynn looked up and scanned the surroundings.
Those gazes were immediately withdrawn.
Then—
Menus were picked up one after another, the sounds of ordering rang out, and plates of food appeared on the various round tables in succession.
Fleur also picked up the menu and looked at it for a while before ordering a few dishes.
Corn tortillas, boiled potatoes, and a plate of green leafy vegetables.
Lynn glanced at that plate of leaves, then at the other bland items, and couldn't help but speak up.
"You're just eating this?"
Fleur nodded, her tone matter-of-fact.
"Hogwarts food is too greasy."
Lynn raised an eyebrow.
Fleur continued, "I feel like if I keep eating like this, I won't fit into my dress anymore."
Lynn looked her up and down, thought for a moment, and said, "Just eat as much as you want."
Fleur looked at him.
Lynn continued, "Anyway, you're not going to grow much taller, so wouldn't getting a bit fatter be the end of it?"
Fleur: "..."
...
As the banquet concluded, Dumbledore stood up once again.
He set down his napkin and walked slowly to the front of the High Table, his gaze sweeping across the hall.
The students, still immersed in the delicious food, looked up one after another, knowing that what followed was the main event of the night.
Dumbledore pulled out his wand and gave it a light flick.
All the round tables in the Great Hall moved simultaneously. As if they had come to life, they floated smoothly toward the walls, lining up against them one by one with soft thuds. The chairs followed, stacking neatly on top of the tables. The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, without a hint of chaos.
A large open space was left in the middle.
The space was spacious enough to accommodate a hundred people dancing at once, and the polished floor reflected soft, warm light beneath the glow of the magical lamps.
Dumbledore flicked his wand again.
At the base of the right wall, a high stage appeared out of thin air. The stage was built of dark wood, its edges inlaid with golden decorations that sparkled beneath the lights.
On the stage, a drum kit was already in place, several guitars leaned against stands, and nearby were a lute, a cello, and an organ.
Students began to whisper among themselves, guessing who the band would be tonight.
A second later, the answer was revealed.
Bang!
A puff of colorful smoke exploded on the stage, and after the smoke cleared, several figures appeared beside the instruments.
The Weird Sisters!
The entire Great Hall instantly erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
Even Lynn couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
The Weird Sisters were one of the most famous bands in the Wizarding World; it was said they were usually very hard to book. Dumbledore had really spent a fortune this time.
(Dumbledore: The Ministry of Magic is reimbursing this; spending it doesn't hurt a bit.
Handing out bank card.jpg)
The band members waved to the audience and then picked up their respective instruments.
The drummer tapped his drumsticks, the cellist tested the strings, and the organist pressed a few keys—a smooth melody flowed out.
Soon, a waltz echoed through the Great Hall.
The melody was soothing and elegant, carrying a sense of classical romance that instantly enveloped the entire hall in a dreamlike atmosphere.
Magical snowflakes were still falling through the air, landing on people's shoulders before silently dissipating.
The ball had begun.
According to tradition, the first dance should be opened by the champions.
Lynn felt the surrounding gazes begin to converge on him.
He turned his head, looked at Fleur beside him, stood up, and reached out his hand to her.
"Let's go, time to work."
Fleur was stunned for a moment, but she still reached out and placed her hand in his palm.
Lynn took her hand and led her toward the center of the dance floor.
The people around them automatically made a path.
Edgar watched from the side, shaking his head, and whispered to William:
"He calls this 'work'?"
William pushed up his glasses.
"What else? What did you expect him to say?"
Edgar thought about it and mimicked an affectionate tone.
"'Dear Miss Delacour, would you do me the honor of sharing a dance with me?'"
Ollie spoke up for once, his tone calm.
"That's not him."
Edgar sighed.
"True."
In the center of the dance floor, Lynn and Fleur had taken their positions.
They stood facing each other, less than half a meter apart. Fleur's left hand rested on Lynn's shoulder, and her right hand was held by him. Lynn's right hand was placed on Fleur's waist—the position was just right, neither too intimate nor too distant.
Fleur looked at him and said in a low voice, "You won't step on me, will you?"
Lynn thought for a moment and answered seriously, "Hard to say."
Fleur: "..."
"I'll try my best," Lynn added, "but I can't guarantee it."
Fleur took a deep breath.
"Fine," she said. "If you step on me, you step on me; it's just one song anyway."
Lynn nodded in agreement.
Then the music shifted, and the waltz officially began.
They began to move.