At the conclusion of the song, Evan and Hermione returned to their seats, opting for a moment's rest instead of continuing to dance.
"It's quite warm in here, don't you think?" Hermione remarked with a smile, using her hand to fan herself.
Her cheeks displayed a hint of rosy flush from their earlier dance.
"You were really caught up in it!" Evan commented. "By the way, what would you like to drink?"
"Some juice or perhaps a butterbeer would be perfect!" Hermione replied.
"I'll go get it for you; please wait here," Evan offered.
"Wait!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed. She noticed beads of sweat on Evan's forehead and instinctively reached out to wipe it away.
Hermione's touch was soft, smooth, and tender, creating a comforting sensation. She wiped Evan's forehead twice before realizing what she was doing and quickly pulled her hand back, her face turning crimson.
Evan held her hand, still moist from their shared sweat, and gazed at her in a daze.
Observing Hermione's bashfulness, Evan couldn't help but wonder if it was the right moment to lead her to a more private setting.
As the third dance song concluded, several couples began leaving the dance floor, hand in hand, heading towards the garden outside.
"Evan..." Hermione whispered.
Evan was certain that his advances toward Hermione wouldn't be rejected now.
With the dance finished, it seemed like the perfect time for a bit of privacy.
But before Evan could make a move, Harry and Ginny approached, while Colin and Gabrielle headed their way.
In the end, Evan, Harry, and Colin went to fetch drinks, leaving Hermione, Ginny, and Gabrielle to wait.
They stopped by Ron and Lavender's table to exchange greetings.
Ron, however, seemed completely disinterested, not bothering to acknowledge their presence as he murmured something to Lavender.
Hermione, Ginny, and Gabrielle exchanged puzzled glances, uncertain about what was going on.
Lavender suddenly burst into laughter and followed Ron as he stood up, making his way to the dance floor.
Ron didn't spare them a glance; it was as if they were invisible.
"Have you guys noticed that Ron's behaving oddly tonight?"
"Maybe it's because he's finally found a girlfriend; I think he and Lavender are quite compatible," Ginny suggested.
Evan returned with their drinks just in time to witness Ron and Lavender departing.
He couldn't afford to focus on Ron; his mind was occupied with finding the right moment to be alone with Hermione.
As soon as he sat down, Gabrielle, who had been waiting for him, asked Evan to join her on the dance floor, as he had promised earlier.
Evan couldn't refuse, especially since Gabrielle hadn't danced with Colin and had been patiently waiting for him.
In such a situation, Evan couldn't decline, so he led Gabrielle to the dance floor after obtaining Hermione's agreement.
Harry decided to leave for a while, probably to invite Cho Chang.
Colin, on the other hand, asked Ginny to dance, leaving Hermione sitting alone at the table.
"Hermione, would you care to dance?" Unexpectedly, a voice broke the silence.
Hermione was taken aback as Viktor Krum approached and extended an invitation to dance.
"I could use a short break; I'm a bit tired from dancing," Hermione hesitated before declining politely.
Her mind was still occupied with the memory of her earlier gesture when she wiped Evan's sweat, the sensation of their palms touching...
"Very well, I'll check back later," Krum said, sounding slightly dejected. He cast one last glance at Hermione before moving off to the other side of the stage.
A group of girls who followed Krum gave Hermione venomous looks as they passed by, clearly displeased that Krum had invited her.
"So, Hermione, you've made friends with Viktor Krum and that young Beauxbatons girl?" Percy inquired, shifting his chair closer to Hermione's.
"That's excellent! Building such international wizarding connections is crucial for the success of the Triwizard Tournament."
Percy and Hermione engaged in a conversation about the Ministry of Magic's inner workings. While another person might have found it dull, Hermione was genuinely interested in the Ministry's operations.
She asked Percy numerous questions and hoped to recruit him as a member of S.P.E.W.
By this point, the guest of honor and the classroom tables had emptied. Professor Dumbledore was dancing with Professor Sproutney, Ludo Bagman was twirling with Professor McGonagall, Mrs. Maxime and Hagrid were gracefully waltzing among the students, Karkaroff and Snape had disappeared somewhere.
Harry hadn't succeeded in inviting Cho Chang, but he was dancing with Luna instead.
Harry and Luna, Evan and Gabrielle, Colin and Ginny, and Ron and Lavender were all on the stage, but they stayed on the periphery, swaying gently to the music. Evan whispered instructions to Gabrielle.
Another song came to an end, and the audience erupted into applause.
Evan noticed Ludo Bagman kissing Professor McGonagall's hand before departing through the crowd. Fred and George caught up with him.
"What are those two up to, bothering a high-ranking Ministry official?" Percy inquired, eyeing Fred and George with suspicion. "They have no respect at all. I must go over there and intervene..."
Percy and Hermione rose from their seats, heading toward the commotion.
Ludo Bagman, having extricated himself from Fred and George, greeted Evan and Harry with a warm smile.
Offering to escort them to the guest of honor's table, Percy approached Bagman.
"My two brothers aren't causing you any trouble, are they, Mr. Bagman?" Percy inquired immediately.
"Not at all!" Bagman replied. "They were merely discussing some prank wands they've created and asked for advice on where to sell them. I promised to connect them with my contacts at the joke shop..."
Percy was displeased to hear this and planned to report it to Mrs. Weasley when they returned home.
Evan regarded Bagman with disdain. Ludo Bagman was taking credit for something he had no role in; the pranks created by Fred and George were sold through their own connections and were more popular than anyone could have imagined. They often received orders without Bagman's assistance.
"By the way, Mr. Bagman, what are your thoughts on the tournament?" Percy inquired. "Due to the malfunction of the Triwizard Cup and the incident during the first task, our department has proposed some new measures to be implemented in the upcoming second task..."
"Oh, yes!" Bagman responded cheerfully, showing little interest in the new measures. Percy continued, "Barty Crouch is being overly cautious, in my opinion. A little unpredictability adds to the excitement. Is it Christmas Day, and Barty is still toiling away at the Ministry? I regret that he couldn't join us tonight."
"Mr. Crouch had a minor health issue, but he's expected to recover quickly," Percy stated without much patience. "He should be in good shape before the second task begins. Until then, I'm willing to handle his workload. Of course, attending the ball is not a priority."
He wore an arrogant smile as he continued, "Coincidentally, just as Mr. Crouch fell ill, numerous other matters came up. For instance, have you heard about the incident involving Ali Bashir smuggling flying carpets into the country? Additionally, we're currently in negotiations with the Transylvanian representatives to sign the 'International Ban on Dueling.' I have a meeting scheduled with their Magic Cooperation Department directors in the new year."
Percy went on incessantly about his recent work, but the others present were too preoccupied to listen.
Evan couldn't help but wonder if Crouch's sudden illness was a result of Barty Jr.'s actions. It made him concerned.
He was certain Crouch would not simply lie in a hospital bed, but Evan had more important matters on his mind. Percy had briefly mentioned new measures for the Triwizard Tournament. What was that all about?
He needed to ask Percy, but he knew Percy wouldn't reveal any information regarding internal decisions, especially to students. Perhaps he could ask Karkaroff for any recent news.
They all sat for a while, with several people inviting Evan and Hermione to dance. Evan found it quite bothersome, as he had no interest in dancing with other female students. Hermione felt the same way, rejecting Krum once more, leaving him with a dark and puzzled expression.
Harry was still fixated on inviting Cho Chang, while Colin, Neville, Ginny, Luna, and Gabrielle continued to dance. As for Ron, he hadn't returned after the third song, and it was unclear where he had gone with Lavender.
"Shall we take a stroll?" Evan suggested in a low voice, and Hermione nodded in agreement.
They left their table, discreetly making their way out of the crowded dance hall and into the entrance hall. The front doors stood wide open, and as they descended the stairs, they saw the rose garden illuminated by twinkling fairy lights.
The castle's front garden was adorned with low shrubs, intricate winding paths, and grand stone sculptures. Christmas decorations hung from trees and statues, while golden magical lights danced like stars.
Evan could even hear the soothing sound of splashing water, likely from a fountain, and occasional glimpses of people sitting on ornate benches. Ethereal fairies flitted among the flowering shrubs, leaving trails of stardust.
Evan and Hermione followed one of the winding paths through the rose garden. They didn't hurry, relishing this rare moment of solitude. As they ventured deeper into the garden, the lighting dimmed, and they could hear hushed sounds coming from within the shrubbery. It was clear that some couples were enjoying private moments, and those with bolder courage had ventured closer to the Forbidden Forest.
Despite the initial awkwardness, Evan and Hermione found themselves increasingly drawn to the enchanting atmosphere. They couldn't let this opportunity go to waste.
Evan made a firm decision and gently took Hermione's hand, leading her towards a secluded, unoccupied corner. Hermione understood his intentions and, though a bit nervous and anticipatory, allowed herself to be led.
Her cheeks flushed crimson, but fortunately, the darkness concealed her embarrassment. When she regained her composure, she glanced to their left at a dark corner.
"Ivan, take a look over there," Hermione said softly, her voice barely audible.
Evan followed her gaze towards the indicated corner, where they vaguely saw Ron and Lavender. The couple was entangled, holding each other closely, with hands intertwined so tightly that it was difficult to discern whose hand was whose.
The change in Ron's behavior was striking, as he seemed quite assertive, and Lavender showed no signs of resistance. Evan and Hermione were surprised by the scene, and it took them a moment to process what they were witnessing.
Then, as if by silent agreement, they pretended not to notice and quickly left the area. Ron and Lavender's rapid progress was astonishing, and whatever they were doing, it was best not to get involved. The current location was also inappropriate for such matters, and Evan had no intention of sharing that kind of experience with Ron.
Evan led Hermione in a different direction, and after a few steps, they were interrupted by an unpleasant and familiar voice.
"I don't understand why you're making such a fuss, Igor."
"Severus, you can't pretend this isn't happening!"
The voices of Karkaroff and Snape reached their ears, hushed and tinged with fear, as if they were afraid of being overheard.
"For the past several months, it's become increasingly obvious. His power is growing rapidly, and his speed is unimaginable. He must return immediately. I'm extremely concerned, and I can't deny it."
"That coward fled!" Snape's voice lacked patience. "He ran off to that person, and you can't find him anymore. I'll help you break free, but I want to remain at Hogwarts."
Snape held his wand and parted the rose bushes on either side of the path. His expression was grim, and the surrounding grove erupted with rustling sounds as several dark figures emerged.
"Ravenclaw, deduct ten points, Fawsett!" Snape's voice was dripping with disdain. "Hufflepuff, deduct ten points, Stebbins!"
A female student hurriedly rushed past him, with another male student chasing her.
"What are you doing?" Snape's eyes briefly flicked to Evan and Hermione, who were standing on the path.
Karkaroff also noticed their presence and appeared somewhat startled. He nervously twisted his goatee between his fingers.
"We were just taking a walk, Professor," Hermione replied honestly. They hadn't done anything wrong.
Percy, however, wore a smug expression and couldn't resist taunting Hermione. "Well, Miss Know-it-all, it seems Gryffindor will lose twenty points."
Snape sneered as he walked past them, his black robe billowing behind him. Karkaroff followed Snape's lead, and only Evan and Hermione remained standing on the dimly lit path.
There was no one else around, and the mood had been thoroughly disrupted by Percy's actions. Evan and Hermione found it challenging to focus on anything else.
"What's going on? Why is Karkaroff so worried?" Hermione asked. "And when did he and Snape start using each other's first names? They seem quite familiar with each other, almost like friends."
It was true that there weren't many who had both betrayed the Death Eaters and done commendable work. In the lead-up to Voldemort's return, it was inevitable that their paths would cross.
Karkaroff's words indicated that the Dark Mark had become more visible, and Voldemort's power was growing. Evan wondered how this related to Barty Jr.'s disappearance and Crouch's sudden illness.