Harry and Ron chatted as they headed toward the ballroom.
Ron's smile vanished the moment he stepped inside.
The first thing he saw was Ginny waving at Harry.
Forgetting all about finding his own partner, Ron grabbed Harry by the shoulder and dragged him aside.
"Why is Ginny here?"
"I invited her to be my partner," Harry replied. "What's wrong?"
Ron's expression turned grave.
"You don't have ideas about my sister, do you?"
The look on his face practically screamed: I treat you like a brother, and you want to become my brother-in-law?!
Harry shot him a speechless glare.
"You're overthinking it. I just couldn't find a suitable partner, so I invited Ginny."
But once his sister was involved, Ron's brain clearly stopped functioning properly.
"What do you mean by that?" Ron snapped. "Are you saying Ginny isn't a suitable partner? Then why did you invite her at all?"
Harry slapped Ron's hand away—it was crumpling his dress robes.
After smoothing them out, he said helplessly, "That's not what I meant. Are you sure you're focusing on the right problem?"
Just then, Ginny walked over.
"Ron, why are you dragging Harry around?"
She was clearly unhappy that her partner had been stolen away.
Ron shot back, "I should be asking you—what are you doing here? And where did you even get that dress?"
Ginny frowned at her youngest brother.
"I'm here to attend the ball, obviously. And Mum sent me the dress after she found out I was coming."
Ron froze.
Why was he given a second-hand disaster while Ginny got a brand-new outfit?
He was the youngest son in the Weasley family—did all the love really go to Ginny with nothing left for him?
Ginny looked at Ron's dazed expression and decided her brother might be contagious.
She leaned toward Harry and whispered, "Let's go. Don't mind him—his brain isn't working tonight."
Harry nodded in agreement. Ron really was acting strange after entering the hall.
The two quietly moved away, leaving Ron to be dealt with by his own partner.
No sooner had Harry and Ginny separated from Ron than Professor McGonagall approached them.
"You're here, Potter. Are you and Miss Weasley ready?" she asked.
"Ready for what, Professor?" Harry asked blankly.
"For dancing, of course. It's tradition. The champions always open the ball. I told you," McGonagall replied.
"No, you didn't," Harry said honestly.
McGonagall paused, awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck.
"…I suppose I forgot."
"Well, you know now. Come along—we need to prepare."
She led Harry and Ginny toward the inner hall.
At the entrance, the other champions and their partners were already waiting.
The most dazzling pair was undoubtedly Fleur and Penelope.
Penelope wore a sky-blue gown, her long chestnut curls cascading down her back, elegant and radiant.
Fleur needed no description—Veela blood made beauty second nature. Her silver-gray robes matched her hair perfectly, enhancing her otherworldly charm.
Nearly all eyes were on them.
All except Harry's.
He was staring at Cho, held close by Cedric.
Seeing how intimate they looked, Harry felt a sharp ache in his chest.
At fourteen—the age when feelings first blossomed—his first love hadn't even had time to sprout before it died outright.
In the lively warmth of the Yule Ball, Harry suddenly felt painfully out of place.
No one noticed his low mood.
Everyone's attention was drawn instead to the newly arrived trio—Hermione, Ranni, and Arthur.
Hermione wore a pale blue-pink evening dress, her hair swept up neatly, giving her a serene, gentle air tinged with mystery.
Ranni wore an elegant blue-and-white gown, her long hair loose but perfectly arranged. Paired with her cool, aloof demeanor, she resembled a snow-born spirit—or a full moon encircled by stars.
Between them walked Arthur.
He'd styled his hair slightly, revealing his sharp, well-defined features. Dressed in a fitted black tailcoat, tall and graceful, he looked every bit the refined gentleman.
The three instantly became the center of attention, completely overshadowing even Fleur and Penelope.
Professor McGonagall nodded in satisfaction at her student's appearance.
"All champions are present. Let's begin."
The doors opened, and the four champions entered with their partners.
Leading the way was Arthur, holding Hermione and Ranni on either side.
Anyone who didn't know better would've thought he was the Triwizard Champion.
Behind them came Fleur and Penelope—the only all-female pair of the night, equally eye-catching.
After those two stunning combinations, the sight of Krum and Harry in ordinary male-female pairings felt almost underwhelming by comparison.
Professor Flitwick stood atop the conductor's platform and signaled the orchestra to begin.
Arthur placed an arm around Hermione, and the two glided onto the dance floor.
Ranni stepped aside—for the first dance rightly belonged to Hermione, the champion.
Arthur had already promised Ranni the next dance.
Ginny noticed Harry's stiffness and took the initiative, lifting his hand and placing it on her waist.
"Hold properly," she teased. "The music's started—don't step on my feet."
She even gave him a playful wink.
Harry's heart skipped a beat.
In that moment, he decided to bury his failed first love and simply enjoy the present.
As the music swelled, more students joined the dance floor.
Skill levels varied wildly, but everyone was smiling.
Especially Hagrid.
His partner was none other than Madame Maxime.
They were dancing too—though Hagrid's posture was… questionable.
Since Madame Maxime was taller than him, Hagrid's head ended up resting far lower than appropriate, and the hand meant for her waist had drifted somewhere it definitely shouldn't.
Whether it was accidental or intentional… no one could say.
Arthur and Hermione glanced over just in time to see Madame Maxime forcibly move Hagrid's wandering hand upward.
So the big, honest-looking half-giant was a closet pervert after all.
When the music ended, Hermione—perhaps swept away by emotion—leaned in and kissed Arthur passionately.
Arthur hadn't expected such boldness, especially in front of so many people.
Just as he was about to respond properly, the surrounding crowd erupted into applause and cheers.
Hermione snapped back to her senses.
Realizing what she'd just done, her face turned bright red.
She fled from Arthur's arms, covering her face as she vanished into the crowd, leaving the rest of the evening to Ranni.
Arthur didn't chase her—Hermione needed time to calm down.
And besides, he still owed Ranni her dance.
So he turned and took Ranni's hand for the second song.
Ranni, never one to lose, refused to be outdone.
When the second dance ended, she leaned in and kissed Arthur as well.
The hall fell silent for a full thirty seconds.
Only when the Weasley twins began clapping did the noise return.
Most students had suspected something unusual about Arthur's trio, but seeing it confirmed left them utterly stunned.
Muggle-born students were in disbelief—how could someone juggle two girlfriends in a society built on monogamy?
Pure-blood students were far less shocked.
Some old families practiced far more extravagant arrangements, all in the name of lineage and inheritance.
The Malfoys were actually the exception.
Lucius and Narcissa both came from the Sacred Twenty-Eight, evenly matched in status and power. Lucius was also famously devoted, never taking mistresses or secondary partners.
Regardless, envy was universal.
The boys envied Arthur for having two lovers.
The girls envied Hermione and Ranni—for sharing a man that exceptional.
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