The Admiral of Hogwarts

The last week of the semester arrived quickly. Although the temperature outside the school was getting colder, the castle was noticeably more restless than before.

The air was thick with the sour stench of romance, and walking through the castle, one could often see pairs of witches and wizards together, while the rest were actively discussing the Christmas Ball.

Rumors about the Christmas Ball were spreading everywhere, but most students didn't believe them—

For example, the rumor that Dumbledore bought eight hundred barrels of honey-flavored mead from Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks was not very credible, because the alcohol content of this drink was quite high, and most of the ball's participants were not yet of age.

However, the rumor that he had booked the Weird Sisters might be true. Many young wizards born into wizarding families were excitedly recommending this musical group to wizards who didn't know about them.

Because the holiday was approaching, the professors reacted differently. For example, Professor Flitwick or Professor Sprout would finish their lectures in the shortest possible time and then leave the remaining time for students to do as they pleased.

Especially Professor Flitwick, who specifically called Venetia over during the free time to discuss various matters related to the competition.

From the first year, Professor Flitwick had been quite concerned about Venetia. On the one hand, in Ravenclaw, a house that values knowledge, excellent students are naturally more likely to gain attention.

But more importantly, since Venetia tore apart the troll in her first year, Professor Flitwick felt that Venetia, like himself, was a wizard with other creatures' blood mixed in. In this empathetic situation, he would naturally care more about Venetia.

However, not every professor was so tolerant. For example, Professor Binns's attention could not be diverted by anything. He continued to trudge through his pile of goblin rebellion notes—

This was not unexpected, after all, even death could not stop this professor's teaching career, so a mere Christmas Ball would certainly not affect his teaching career.

Professor Moody and Professor McGonagall naturally wouldn't relax for a second. They would talk from beginning to end throughout the entire class, not giving anyone a chance to slack off.

Professor Snape, needless to say, publicly announced that he would test everyone's antidote in the last class with a practical test, and might even draw students to drink the potion directly.

Although everyone analyzed from a rational perspective and didn't think that Snape would embarrass Hogwarts students at such a critical moment, his reputation made everyone dare not be 100% sure about this.

During this time, Venetia's work went very smoothly. She first confirmed that the second task was no different from what she remembered, and then successfully found a dance partner.

It's just that Venetia, like Hermione, refused to tell Hugo who her dance partner was. She only said that she wanted to give him a surprise, and he would know when the ball started.

In addition to Venetia, Firefly also found her dance partner, a third-year Gryffindor student named Colin Creevey. Because Creevey had helped her with a favor before, she brought Creevey to the ball this time to repay the favor.

Harry's plan to invite Cho Chang failed, because Cho Chang was going to attend with her boyfriend, Cedric Diggory, a seventh-year Hufflepuff student.

However, under the encouragement of the twins, Harry successfully invited Ron's sister, Ginny, before Neville, which was a great relief.

"Congratulations to you then." Hermione said to Harry with a smile while reading in the library that day, although she really didn't like Harry's tendency to be a standard 'face dog'.

"Actually, this kind of thing is not that difficult, is it?" Speaking of this, Hermione glanced at her younger brother, Hugo. "As long as you are willing to invite someone, you can always get an invitation."

"Sis, don't worry, your brother really won't be so miserable as to attend the ball alone." Seeing his sister's expression, Hugo immediately understood what his sister was thinking.

So, when lunch ended the next day, Hugo waited at the entrance of the dining hall until a blonde figure came bouncing out and he walked up to her.

"Good afternoon, Luna." Hugo looked at the girl who wasn't very pretty and bowed slightly, extending his hand, "May I invite you to be my partner for the Christmas Ball?"

The reason why he invited Luna was also very simple, because Luna and Hermione and Venetia were roommates, and they also liked to read. So, apart from the ship spirit and his sister, Luna was the girl in Hogwarts who interacted with Hugo the most.

Especially after Hugo and his sister Hermione saved Luna at the Quidditch World Cup this summer, his relationship with Luna turned from acquaintance to ordinary friend.

Although Luna usually seems a bit abnormal, for Hugo, who can chat with Quincy without barriers, communicating with her is not too difficult.

After all, compared to Quincy's communication method of expressing thousands of meanings with just one 'kun', Luna's jumping thinking is really too simple to understand.

"Of course I'm willing." Luna grabbed the hem of her robe slightly nervously at this time and did an old-fashioned curtsy, then a smile appeared on her face. "I'm glad you invited me to the ball."

Luna's agreement to this matter was also within Hugo's expectations, because both Hermione and Venetia had told him before that Luna was very curious about what the Christmas Ball was like, so she hoped to be invited.

After settling the problem of the dance partner, Hugo relaxed a lot all of a sudden. Although he felt that this problem shouldn't be a problem, he would definitely lose face if he really couldn't invite a dance partner.

As the time drew closer to Christmas, the teachers and students of Hogwarts constantly showed their eagerness to leave a deep impression on the guests from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, they seemed determined to show the best appearance of the castle this Christmas.

The school was decorated with lanterns and decorations, and many students said that they had never seen the school decorated so beautifully since they entered the school.

The banisters of the marble staircase were hung with never-melting icicles, and the twelve Christmas trees that were usually placed in the Great Hall were decorated with all kinds of small trinkets, from shiny holly berries to live golden owls that kept hooting.

The suits of armor inside the castle were all enchanted, and they would sing Christmas carols whenever someone passed by. It's just that Hugo never understood why the wizards' Christmas carols were no different from those outside.

At this time, there were also fewer people who were unable to invite a dance partner, but it wasn't that there weren't any at all. For example, Ron had not been able to find a dance partner.

And Ron almost made a fool of himself. That day at the entrance of the restaurant, Fleur called out to Cedric, preparing to ask him to go to the ball with her, but the mental interference unique to Veela directly hit Ron, who was not far away.

Fortunately, Firefly, who had just finished eating and was walking out, happened to see this scene, so she secretly used a stinging hex to wake him up.

Although the stinging hex, which was a bit too forceful, caused a red swelling about the thickness of two fingers to appear on Ron's left arm, he thanked Firefly profusely after returning.

After all, compared to making a fool of himself in public, being hit on the arm with a minor jinx was completely acceptable.