Chapter 378 Professor McGonagall's Efficiency, a Temporary Dance Partner
The eight o'clock bell rang precisely, and Aaron looked at the entrance of the foyer, but the familiar face ultimately did not appear.
"Gaius." Professor McGonagall walked over quickly, pulling a girl. "Just in time. This is Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw. It took me a lot of effort to persuade her."
"Heh heh!" Aaron looked at the girl with waist-length blonde hair, who seemed eccentric, and a wry smile involuntarily appeared on his face. "Professor, your efficiency is truly impressive. You found her in less than three minutes."
"This is no time for jokes." Professor McGonagall anxiously pushed Luna in front of Aaron. "I'll go inform Filch to open the Great Hall doors. You two get acquainted quickly."
"Uh... hello." Luna said unhurriedly, "I'm a third-year Ravenclaw. I don't like dancing, so you'd best be prepared."
"Perhaps I should be the one apologizing." Aaron sighed. "It's really quite embarrassing to make someone who dislikes dancing accompany me to the ball."
"At least the outcome is good." Cedric couldn't help but tease, "Luna, you've been a great help this time."
"I didn't want to come originally either. Professor McGonagall said she'd lend me her pet for a day."
Aaron was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Abey, who was squatting on the ground with an arrogant expression, and his heart sank.
"No, absolutely not."
"There's nothing to it." Professor McGonagall glared at Aaron. "I am the Deputy Principal, and your dance partner didn't arrive in time, so there's nothing to be done."
"But Professor, you know, Abey isn't an ordinary cat, it..."
"I trust you can look after it.
Right, Mr. Gaius?" Professor McGonagall gritted her teeth, her voice full of warning.
Aaron immediately felt immense pressure and nodded blankly.
Creak!
The oak doors of the Great Hall opened. Fleur and Roger walked confidently and gracefully in front, followed by Krum and his dance partner. Cedric and Cho Chang were in the middle, Harry and Parvati followed somewhat stiffly, and finally, Aaron and Luna.
The walls of the Great Hall were covered in silver frost, and the ceiling was a star-studded night sky, with countless silver starlight falling like rain.
Hundreds of beautiful flower fairies flew about in mid-air, and the long tables were replaced by hundreds of smaller tables lit with lanterns.
As they entered, hundreds of people applauded in welcome.
The champions and their partners arrived before the head table. Dumbledore gave a kindly smile, and the other judges had also changed into their formal wear.
Barty Crouch was not present; Percy Weasley sat in his place.
Adrian looked at Aaron, then at Luna beside him, and after a moment of confusion, he showed an approving gaze and gave a thumbs up.
The champions and their partners sat down at the head table. There was no food on the plates, but there was a menu; saying a name would make the corresponding food appear on the plate.
"Quite fitting for Christmas." Luna said with a smile, holding Abey. "It's truly beautiful."
"After all, there are guests." Aaron said meaningfully, "We have to make them feel at home."
"Beauxbatons' Great Hall has giant diamond statues that sparkle." Fleur said scornfully, "The food is also superb, and there's a choir of forest nymphs, and no prank-playing ghosts."
"Exactly, that's right, absolutely." Davies said, slapping the table, as if everything Fleur said was correct.
"This senior's self-control is truly not just bad!" Aaron said disdainfully in a low voice.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, just eat well!
The Christmas feast is much more lavish than usual."
"It's just too greasy."
"You don't have to eat it!" Aaron rolled his eyes.
"If Miss Delacour is dissatisfied with the food, she can find my brother." Adrian said with a smile, "It's no exaggeration to say that he's proficient in various specialty cuisines from different countries; I guarantee you won't be disappointed."
"What are you talking about?"
"It's true." Harry interjected, "I had the good fortune to taste it once at the Weasley's two years ago. It was truly an unforgettable delicacy."
"Harry." Aaron immediately gave him a look, and said seriously, "Some things shouldn't be said carelessly!"
Harry reacted, chuckled awkwardly, and quietly lowered his head to eat.
"No need to be so modest, it's a fact." Percy said.
Pfft!
Aaron suddenly felt a violent twitch in his chest. Percy's additional blow was truly a sour, refreshing, and spicy sensation.
"Really?" Fleur asked, looking at Aaron suspiciously.
"Fake." Aaron said irritably, "I am a family heir, after all. Is my status such that I would research recipes?"
"It seems it's true then."
Aaron chuckled, not wanting to explain.
Whether you believe it is your business, but whether he cooks is his business.
"Good performance." Adrian said out of nowhere, "I really didn't expect you to find a second dance partner in such a short time."
Clatter!
The fork in Aaron's hand fell onto the plate, and he said incredulously, "So... Hermione, this was your doing?"
Adrian shrugged, "You really shouldn't have told anyone who your dance partner was. How does it feel to be stood up?"
"Where is she? You didn't do anything to her, did you?"
"Don't worry." Adrian pointed to the room behind, "Miss Granger is dining inside.
I have to admit, your taste is good. She's really beautiful."
Aaron rolled his eyes, and just as he was about to get up to check, Adrian stopped him with a look. "Sit down!
I'll explain what needs to be explained. Now you need to eat properly."
"Sis, are you bored? Does this have anything to do with you?"
Adrian didn't answer directly, but instead smiled and asked, "Did you receive the Christmas gift I gave you?"
"An unforgettable ball, is that what you meant?" Aaron said irritably, "Making someone stand me up, deliberately embarrassing me."
"You have a way to solve it, I know you do.
And it turns out you did."
"Um..." Luna said shyly, "I was called by Professor McGonagall."
"Is that so?" Adrian was a little surprised. "I thought you'd temporarily pulled in a pretty girl. Now it seems the Hogwarts teachers aren't bad."
"Minerva has always been reliable, otherwise she wouldn't be the Deputy Principal of Hogwarts." Dumbledore said.
"You're disappointed." Aaron snorted, "I have a dance partner, and knowing that she didn't deliberately stand me up, I feel much better."
Adrian smiled without speaking, but the familiar playful glint in her eyes made Aaron's heart pound, and a feeling of unease arose.
The meal was enjoyed by all, but Aaron found it bland and distracted.
After dinner, Dumbledore stood up, waved his wand, and all the tables, chairs, and cutlery flew to the walls, leaving a large open space in the middle.
He transformed the central open space into a stage, and a set of instruments was placed along the right wall. The Weird Sisters, specially invited, rushed onto the stage, picked up their respective instruments, and began to play.
As the beautiful music began, all the lanterns in the Great Hall extinguished, leaving only the central dance floor brightly lit.
"Let's go! It's time to dance."
Cedric led Cho Chang onto the stage first to begin the dance. Fleur and Krum followed closely with their respective partners.
Harry nervously pursed his lips and was pulled onto the stage by Parvati, stumbling through the dance.
"Uh... there's a small problem." Luna said, blushing, "I said I'm not very good at dancing."
"It's alright, I'll lead you." Aaron shrugged, "I'm quite confident when it comes to dancing."
Luna's dancing was stiff at first, and she accidentally stepped on his feet a few times.
But Aaron, after all, had received professional training. Gaines placed great importance on social graces and etiquette, and put a lot of effort into training him.
Under his guidance, Luna quickly got into the rhythm, elegantly dancing the waltz, no less gracefully than the other four champion pairs.
Gradually, many others joined in, and the champions were no longer the center of the dance floor.
Neville and Ginny were a pair, Draco and Pansy were a pair, Dumbledore and Maxime were a pair, and even a half-crippled Moody danced clumsy steps with ProfessorSinistra.
Adrian sat alone in a chair, watching her brother dance with interest.
Abey sat obediently beside her, occasionally stuffing snacks into her pocket.
Finally, the organ played its last note, the song ended, and a burst of enthusiastic applause erupted in the Great Hall.
"Woohoo!" Luna shouted excitedly, giving Aaron a direct hug, and laughed, "Dancing isn't so meaningless after all."
"But it's still pointless." Aaron lowered his right hand, which had been around Luna's waist, and said politely, "The champion's lead dance task is complete, we can go down now."
At this moment, the second song began, its rhythm quite a bit faster than the first.
Luna still felt like continuing, but Aaron was unwilling, and she couldn't be led by anyone else.
"Not dancing a bit longer?" Adrian teased, "The ball is four hours long. You're leaving in less than twenty minutes, is that decent?"
"It is." Aaron said exasperatedly, "I didn't want to dance in the first place, but because of the Triwizard Tournament tradition, I had to come, and even my dance partner was found last minute.
I need to go meet Hermione now. Tonight's misunderstanding must be cleared up."
Adrian raised an eyebrow, "Are you complaining that I sent your dance partner away?"
"Yes." Aaron admitted very directly, "Even if you're my sister, you shouldn't embarrass me like this!"
"I merely wanted to see your adaptability.
If you hadn't found a dance partner, Miss Granger would naturally have come out, but I would have found it uninteresting."
"But I didn't expect Professor McGonagall to intervene."
"That's right, pretty girl." Adrian smiled meaningfully, "But this makes it even more interesting. It means a girl who had no previous interaction with Aaron has joined in."
Aaron:...