Percy, wearing a brand-new navy-blue robe, exuded an air of smug pretentiousness.
Evan briefly gazed at him, pondering why Barty Crouch hadn't made an appearance.
Ron, too, was taken aback to see Percy pull out an empty chair beside him and sit down hesitantly.
"What brings you here?" Ron inquired, his voice lowered.
"I've been promoted!" Percy replied with an air of self-importance, as if he had just been elected Supreme Ruler of the Universe. "I'm now Mr. Crouch's assistant, representing him in his absence."
"Oh, so why didn't he come himself?" Ron continued to inquire, eager to escape the conversation and not spend the entire evening listening to Percy drone on about the thickness of cauldron bottoms.
"I regret to inform you that Mr. Crouch isn't feeling well. He hasn't been himself since the World Cup, which isn't surprising given the exhausting nature of the event. He's not as youthful as he once was, though his mind remains as sharp as ever. The World Cup proved to be a disappointment for the Ministry, and Mr. Crouch was particularly vexed by his house-elf, Winky's, misconduct. He promptly dismissed her, but alas, as I was saying, he's aging and requires care. I believe his home lost its level of comfort after Winky's departure. We also had the Triwizard Tournament preparations and the World Cup to contend with, not to mention the insufferable gossip spread by that Rita Skeeter woman. Alas, the poor man is in need of a quiet Christmas. He's been craving a break. I'm glad he knows he can rely on someone to manage things for him."
Percy rattled on so rapidly that Ron barely registered a word and merely grew irritated. He glanced at Hermione again, as if seeing her for the first time, and realized her stunning beauty. Ron couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, wishing that Hermione or Fleur had been his partner for the evening.
"So, Mr. Crouch no longer calls you Weatherby?" Ron inquired absentmindedly.
"Listen, Ron, you've done exceptionally well this time, becoming a champion and bringing honor to your family and yourself!" Percy responded, avoiding Ron's question. "You must be prepared. There was an incident during the first task, so Mr. Crouch and the Ministry are taking special precautions for the second task to ensure everything goes smoothly."
"What kind of precautions?" Ron turned his head to face Percy, eager to learn the specifics.
"I'm afraid that's classified information, top-secret," Percy said proudly. "You'll find out when the time comes!"
Ron retorted, "If you don't want to share, then don't. I'm not interested in hearing more from you."
The Triwizard Tournament had already subjected Ron to enough of Percy's conversation over the summer holidays, and he had no desire to endure further discourse. His attention returned to the captivating presence of the lovely girls.
Meanwhile, Evan and Hermione discussed the reason for Percy's unexpected presence.
Though there was no food on the golden plates before them, each had a small menu at their disposal.
"It's strange; I don't see any waitstaff," Harry remarked, picking up his menu with uncertainty and surveying the surroundings.
"It's simple. Just state what you'd like to eat," Evan explained as he perused the menu.
Just then, Dumbledore was observed attentively perusing his menu. He then turned to his plate and declared, "Pork chops!"
Instantly, pork chops materialized on his plate, prompting others at the table to follow suit and select their preferred dishes.
The auditorium buzzed with conversation, and everyone appeared to be in high spirits.
At the table directly across from them, Hagrid enthusiastically waved.
He was clad in his usual unflattering, shaggy brown attire, looking as rugged as ever.
Moments later, Hagrid redirected his attention toward the guest of honor.
Mrs. Maxim reciprocated Hagrid's wave, her opal drink gleaming in the candlelight.
The discussion naturally shifted to Hagrid, Mrs. Maxim, and Beauxbatons.
Gabrielle shared a glimpse of Beauxbatons' Christmas festivities, saying, "Every year at this time, our auditorium is adorned with ice sculptures of various shapes and sizes that never melt, resembling colossal diamond statues that sparkle within the hall. And there's a choir of mountain fairies that serenades us as we dine."
After about half an hour, when all the food had been savored, Dumbledore rose to his feet and instructed the students to do the same.
With a wave of his wand, he cleared the tables to the side, creating an open space in the center.
Next, he conjured a tall stage, affixed to the base of the right wall, upon which a drum set, guitars, a lute, a cello, and a couple of organs were arranged.
At that moment, the Weird Sisters burst onto the stage together, prompting thunderous applause from the audience.
The two band members were notably disheveled, dressed in deliberately torn and tattered black robes.
They picked up their instruments, captivating the crowd to the point where they almost forgot what was to follow.
Then, the lanterns at the other tables extinguished, and the four champions and their partners rose to their feet.
"It's time to dance!" The anticipation was palpable; the dance was the highlight of the evening.
Ron appeared visibly nervous, nearly tripping as he stood up and accidentally treading on Lavender's robes.
As the Eccentric Sisters began playing a slow, melancholic melody, the champions stepped onto the brightly lit dance floor and commenced their elegant dance.
Among the four pairs, Fleur and Roger Davis were the most proficient dancers, exuding an air of experience. Davis was mesmerized by Fleur, succumbing to the allure of her Veela heritage.
Beside them, Cedric and Cho Chang demonstrated their skill with graceful, practiced steps. Cho Chang wore an exquisite cheongsam with oriental motifs, and they danced elegantly in the center of the venue.
Comparatively, Krum and his partner appeared less polished, largely due to Krum's slightly clumsy movements and preoccupation with scanning the dance floor.
Ron and Lavender's performance fell somewhere between excellent and subpar, with Lavender's guidance guiding them through a slow, circular dance.
At the very least, they managed to hold their own on the dance floor.
Colin enthusiastically took out his camera and began capturing this rare and enchanting image of Evan and Hermione dancing together.
Soon after, many others in the room joined the dance floor, and the attention shifted away from the champions and their partners.
"Ready, Hermione?" Evan asked, extending his hand toward her as an invitation to dance.
"Yes!" Hermione nodded, her cheeks tinted with a faint blush.
Evan gently took her right hand, and she willingly followed him onto the center of the dance floor.
Their dance began slowly, and they appeared somewhat rusty at first. During the lead-up to the Yule Ball, Evan and Hermione had been practicing in an empty classroom late at night, away from prying eyes. However, dancing in front of a crowd was an entirely different experience for both of them.
Evan felt a twinge of nervousness as he held Hermione's silky hand in his. His other hand rested on her waist, and his mind went momentarily blank. He could only perceive a softness before him, and his heart raced.
The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving them in their own private sphere. Hermione was experiencing a similar sensation as she surrendered herself to Evan's lead. Her gaze was locked onto Evan, and the two of them began to dance almost instinctively.
Like the other couples around them, they started with basic steps, occasionally adding a more complex move or two. However, the hours of practice they had put in together began to show. Evan's movements became smoother, and their bodies moved in perfect harmony. They flowed like a stream cascading over a waterfall, then like clouds drifting through the sky.
With the music as their guide, their bodies moved naturally, and they developed a sense of telepathy. Evan would think of a movement, and Hermione would follow without a word. It was as though they were in perfect synchronization, dancing as one.
Evan couldn't help but gaze at Hermione's smiling face, feeling as though they were merging into one being. Hermione, too, looked back at Evan with a look of pure happiness in her eyes.
Under the enchanting spell of the music, their bodies moved effortlessly. A slight tilt of the head, a gentle twist, a nuanced knuckle movement – it was as if they were communicating silently through their dance.
The two of them danced as if they were the only people in the room, and their performance drew the attention of everyone present. The girls mostly admired Evan's dance skills, while the boys were captivated by Hermione's grace.
Fleur and Autumn observed Evan with mixed feelings, while Krum and Ron couldn't take their eyes off Hermione.
Besides Evan and Hermione, only Dumbledore and Mrs. Maxim were still dancing. Compared to Mrs. Maxim's considerable size, Dumbledore looked quite small, with the tip of his pointed hat barely reaching her chin. Nevertheless, she was a graceful dancer despite her size.
The two of them shared a knowing smile and decided to step aside, allowing Evan and Hermione to take center stage. By that point, everyone else had moved back, leaving the dance floor to the young couple.
It was a moment that belonged exclusively to Evan and Hermione. Everyone else became the backdrop as they continued to dance.
As the organ played its final, lingering note, the Weird Sisters ceased performing, and the auditorium erupted in applause. The crowd cheered enthusiastically, having been thoroughly entertained by Evan and Hermione's dance.
Many students and even teachers were buzzing with excitement about their performance. Colin, who had been clicking his camera's shutter as fast as possible, felt that these pictures would be even better than those of the four champions.
"That was incredible! I had no idea Evan and Hermione could dance like that!" Harry exclaimed with a hint of envy.
While dancing with Ginny, he had accidentally stepped on her feet a few times. They had stopped dancing to watch Evan and Hermione.
Sitting at a nearby table with Ron and Lavender, who were also watching Evan and Hermione's performance, Harry added, "I think we could use a break, Ginny."
Ron, too, had been fixated on Evan and Hermione's dance in the center of the stage. He hadn't expected them to be so remarkable.
"They're perfect for each other, aren't they?" Lavender remarked. "Ron, do you want to dance some more?"
"Let's take a break," Ron replied, feeling a bit uncomfortable after Lavender's comment. He had no desire to dance further.
At that moment, the Weird Sisters began playing a new, faster-paced tune, completely different from their previous melody. Harry and Ginny returned to the dance floor, with Evan and Hermione following suit, picking up where they had left off.
This time, the music was so infectious that it prompted everyone to let loose. Fred and Angelina, in particular, danced with such wild abandon that people around them had to dodge to avoid collisions.
Evan and Hermione, on the other hand, were more relaxed and less conspicuous than before. Still, they danced joyfully amidst the crowd.
Evan noticed the teachers beginning to join in on the dancing as well. Moody, the grizzled man with the mad eye, awkwardly danced the two-step with Professor Sinistra, who tried to avoid his wooden prosthetic leg. Not far away, Ludo Bagman and Professor McGonagall were also on the dance floor, dancing to their heart's content.