As the melodious music began to play, the four champions and their partners started to dance simultaneously.
Amanda drew her wand and tapped the steak on the menu. After the steak appeared before her, she put away her wand, picked up her knife and fork, and began to eat while watching the four pairs dancing.
Among the four, Fleur and Krum's movements were slightly more relaxed; they likely had experience with similar occasions and ballroom dancing before.
In contrast, Harry and Cedric's movements appeared somewhat stiff. It was easy to see that this was definitely their first time properly performing a ballroom dance.
"Harry is actually dancing quite well," Hermione said, tilting her head toward Amanda while sipping on the cream soup she had summoned with her wand to fill her stomach.
"Mm," Amanda nodded with a calm expression. "For someone who has only recently learned ballroom dancing, it is indeed already considered very good."
Being able to remember the steps and not step on one's partner's feet was already quite an achievement.
As for being elegant and dancing with a certain atmosphere, according to Amanda's own experience, that would only happen after three practice sessions.
At least for her, it would take three times to completely establish a specialized model in her brain for analyzing ballroom music.
Then, based on the model, she would calculate in real-time what kind of state and expression she should face for each beat of the corresponding ballroom music, and make adjustments to her own relevant conditions.
By the time Amanda finished the steak in front of her, the champions' opening dance had just concluded.
The four champions bowed politely to everyone around them. Immediately after, Harry couldn't wait to step down from the center of the ballroom floor.
"I really don't know how to dance much," he couldn't help but complain as soon as he sat down near Amanda and Hermione.
"You danced quite well." Hermione turned to look at him and gave a gentle smile.
"Indeed, as a beginner, your level has reached the upper-middle tier."
Amanda nodded in agreement beside Hermione, offering her objective explanation.
"Maybe," Harry said noncommittally, taking a large bite of the pie he had just ordered.
He hadn't eaten a single bite of today's Christmas dinner yet, and combined with the nervousness during the opening dance, he was now starving. He truly felt like he could eat a whole cow.
"Don't just focus on eating," Hermione glanced at Harry's partner, who was also eating nearby to fill her stomach. "Once you're not so hungry, go back and ask your partner to dance again. It's polite; don't just leave your partner hanging there."
Harry's hand holding the pie paused slightly, then he nodded "obediently." "Okay."
Hermione nodded in satisfaction. Hearing the second piece of music begin, she turned her head to look at Amanda.
Amanda slowly stood up and elegantly extended her hand toward Hermione, just like a true noble gentleman.
Standing up with a curl of her lips, Hermione placed her hand into Amanda's.
Leading Hermione into the center of the ball, Amanda followed the ballroom music that had just started and led her in a graceful dance.
The large model in her mind was cast aside. At this moment, holding Hermione, Amanda didn't need it at all to calculate what kind of emotions or state of mind she should display.
Everything came naturally; everything originated from the heart.
When she watched Hermione dancing with her, the corners of her mouth would turn up, and her emotions were stirred. Deeper instincts overrode artificially constructed habits, and the part of her brain that restricted emotions could no longer function at this moment.
Watching the bright smile on Amanda's face in the center of the ballroom, and the natural, enjoyable demeanor she was gradually revealing...
Professor McGonagall's eyes grew moist with emotion. "Merlin bless her, Miss Amanda has finally seen this day."
"I think the day she fully recovers will not be too far off."
Headmaster Dumbledore looked at Amanda and Hermione with emotion, once again marveling at the miracle of love, which could make new branches grow even from the gravel of a barren land.
Meanwhile, Professor Flitwick, who was responsible for conducting the music, was also in high spirits, waving his wand with such vigor that it whistled through the air for his student.
As the dance music gradually entered its most intense part, Amanda and Hermione's movements became increasingly passionate.
Amanda's hands steadily coordinated with Hermione, supporting her as she performed one movement after another.
The emotions of both were stirred more and more, and their skirts fluttered faster and faster. The magic Amanda had initially attached to the two Dress Robes was fully activated.
Amidst the fluttering skirts, a majestic lion's roar and a clear eagle's cry echoed throughout the Great Hall.
Around Amanda and Hermione, a brilliant starry sky and a vast expanse of land appeared faintly. A golden lion and a goshawk crossed paths within them, as if they were dancing together.
This scene, truly displayed through magic, caused everyone present who wasn't dancing to offer their applause.
Even Karkaroff and Professor Moody gave a couple of polite claps because everyone around them was applauding.
The combination of art and magic bestowed a more miraculous effect upon the art. As the last note fell, the golden lion and the goshawk stopped simultaneously.
The golden lion lunged forward with a roar, and the goshawk spread its wings with a cry. Amanda steadily held Hermione's waist, looking at her with hidden affection and a hint of her usual blankness during the final note.
Pressing her red lips together firmly, Hermione's heart stirred. Taking a bold chance before the note ended, she suddenly straightened up, used her other hand to support the small of Amanda's back, and leaned forward to kiss her forcefully amidst Amanda's slightly dazed expression.
"Whoa!"
"By Merlin!"
"Our Miss Granger just kissed Ravenclaw's Amanda!" x2
"It's so good to be young..."
Feeling the softness against her lips, Amanda's slightly stiff body slowly relaxed. Although her mind was still not quite clear on why Hermione did this, she instinctively did not reject it; in fact... she felt a faint happiness.
Opening her mouth in cooperation, the two of them became entangled in the kiss.
This kiss lasted for a full fifteen seconds before ending when both Hermione and Amanda were somewhat out of breath.
Releasing Amanda while panting slightly, Hermione said in a small voice with darting eyes, "Sorry... Amanda was too tempting, I, I really couldn't help myself."
Amanda blinked mechanically, her face still smiling as she shook her head. "Hermione doesn't need to apologize. I like this, or should I say, enjoy it?"
"Really?"
Hermione's eyes lit up. She helped Amanda stand straight and looked into her eyes, asking impatiently.
"I mean, you really enjoy me kissing you? Then in the future, can I, can I..." Can I kiss you like this often?
Analyzing the context and combining it with Hermione's personality, Amanda understood everything before she could finish her sentence.
"You can, as long as Hermione wants to."
Amanda nodded without hesitation. Hermione took a sharp breath, wrapped her arms around Amanda's neck, and kissed her again.
This time Hermione kissed even more forcefully, even causing Amanda to let out a physiological muffled groan.
By the time she released her mouth again, Amanda's lips were clearly slightly swollen.
"Now your lips look just like Senior Marietta's lips did earlier." Just as swollen.
"Oh," Amanda realized suddenly, "so Senior Marietta's lips were kissed swollen by Senior Cho Chang earlier."
"Pfft," Hermione couldn't help but burst out laughing. She took a subtle glance at Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore, who were entering the center of the ball to dance, and nodded. "Exactly."
"Also," Hermione leaned into Amanda's ear, "I know both of these Dress Robes were made by you, Student Amanda who has learned how to lie."
"Hermione, sorry, this is my fault..."
"No, no, no," Hermione lightly pecked Amanda's lips, stopping her words. "I'm not angry at all; I'm just teasing you."
"You made such beautiful Dress Robes specifically for me; I'm more than happy. Why would I need an apology?"
"Mm..." Amanda broke into a smile.
Hermione shifted her feet in her high heels, listening to the music starting up again.
"I'm really not used to wearing high heels. Let's dance one more song together, and then we'll go down and rest."
"Okay." Amanda nodded with a smile and began to lead Hermione in dance to the music once more.
Except this time while dancing, she began to use her hands to support Hermione more than before, using the dance movements to help relieve the pressure on her feet. She lifted her up as much as possible through the choreography, giving Hermione's feet as much rest as she could during this song.
When the song ended, after steadily placing Hermione back on the ground, Amanda's forehead couldn't help but break into a slight sweat, and her breathing was a bit hurried.
"Thank you for your hard work, taking care of me like that."
Hermione reached out gently to wipe the fine sweat from Amanda's forehead and face, speaking with a face full of tenderness.
"As I should."
Amanda shook her head, bent down to pick Hermione up directly, and walked steadily step by step out of the center of the ball, placing her in a seat.
Seeing this scene, the other girls present almost simultaneously covered their mouths and then slapped their own dance partners next to them.
The boys and girls who were their partners looked at each other, unable to help but reveal smiles that were both happy and bitter.
Did Miss Amanda's display... count as raising the overall expectations for a dance partner all by herself?
Steadying Hermione in her seat, Amanda crouched down and reached for her high heels.
Hermione's face immediately flushed red. She leaned down to stop Amanda.
"No need, I'll do it myself..."
Amanda shook her head with a gentle expression, took Hermione's hand, and placed it back on her lap.
"Taking care of my dance partner is also something I should do."
She withdrew her hand and took off Hermione's high heels as gently as possible. Seeing Hermione's heels were swollen and red, even faintly oozing beads of blood, Amanda furrowed her brows.
"Episkey."
Without even drawing her wand, a warm-looking light glowed along with Amanda's voice.
Hermione only felt a warmth in her heels, and all the pain and fatigue in her feet vanished.
It was strange to think about; clearly Episkey was only supposed to heal wounds, so why could it even erase fatigue?
Hermione stared fixedly at Amanda. Yes, why... "Wandless Magic?" Madame Maxime and Karkaroff turned to look at Headmaster Dumbledore in synchronized motion.
Because of Amanda and Hermione's eye-catching performance and public kiss just now, both of them couldn't help but pay a bit more attention to them.
Seeing Amanda's Wandless Magic now, the two of them couldn't help but look toward Headmaster Dumbledore even more.
"I didn't expect the students at your school to be so outstanding, Dumbledore," Karkaroff praised with a smile, though he was secretly calculating in his heart.
If a fourth-year underage Young Wizard could use Wandless Magic, then the champion competing for Hogwarts... that of-age Young Wizard, wouldn't Cedric be...?
Could he use wandless, non-verbal spells? He wasn't the only one with this suspicion; Madame Maxime beside him had the same thought.
As the two had this thought, they couldn't help but think of the same thing: if the Hogwarts champion Cedric really mastered wandless, non-verbal magic, wouldn't their own schools' champions... be certain to lose?
As for Harry Potter, this fourth-year Young Wizard like Amanda was ignored by them, as Cedric's threat was clearly greater.
It could only be said that if Cedric knew what the two of them were thinking, he would probably wave his hands incessantly and add a sentence.
He absolutely did not want to be compared to Amanda. He would rather be compared to an adult Wizard who had been of age for a long time, because then the gap between them might be smaller, or he might even surpass them.
But compared to Amanda... don't be ridiculous, he definitely wouldn't!
Meanwhile, facing the gazes of Madame Maxime and Karkaroff, Headmaster Dumbledore clearly knew what they were thinking. A hint of awkwardness flashed across his aged face, followed by a smiling explanation.
"Miss Amanda is one of the most outstanding students at Hogwarts. Her level cannot be used to define all Hogwarts students."
Wandless Magic—there were probably truly few people among the current students who could do it.
If it were really as Madame Maxime and Karkaroff imagined, that every student at Hogwarts could use Wandless Magic and had that level of skill, then Voldemort and his Death Eaters really wouldn't be such a big deal.
"Is that so," Madame Maxime nodded with a smile, "then this child is indeed very outstanding."
"Yes, a very talented child. Wandless casting is something very few Wizards can achieve," Karkaroff echoed with a smile.
The three Principals conversed among themselves above, while Amanda sat down beside Hermione after healing her feet.
Turning her head toward the three Principals, Amanda gave them a glance before withdrawing her gaze.
Based on the personality traits of Madame Maxime and Karkaroff and the way they had just looked at her, Amanda easily analyzed their thoughts and the content of their conversation with Headmaster Dumbledore.
It was nothing more than testing whether all the Young Wizards at Hogwarts were like her just now, able to use Wandless Magic, or even further, Wandless and Non-verbal Spells.
It could only be said that these two Principals really placed a lot of importance on the championship of the Triwizard Tournament.
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