Even though Natalia didn't actually give Clementine clues for the second task, as soon as Clementine's attitude softened, Natalia couldn't keep up her cold demeanor.
Their conversation gradually turned into relaxed small talk, and from a distance, they looked like a pair of close friends.
When everyone was seated, no food appeared on the golden plates, only a menu placed in front of each person. Many students looked around in confusion, craning their necks to see if there was any food on the other long tables.
Wade picked up his menu and flipped through it. Although he knew what to do, his gaze still drifted towards the teachers' table.
Dumbledore looked at his menu and happily declared, "Pork chops!"
A sizzling, oily roasted pork chop immediately appeared on his plate. This demonstration enlightened everyone, and they quickly followed suit.
Wade also unhurhurriedly said, "Pan-seared foie gras, onion soup, beef stew with carrots…"
With each dish he named, the corresponding meal would suddenly appear on the table, gleaming invitingly against the golden tableware, its rich aroma making mouths water.
Clementine recommended to Natalia, "You have to try this escargot baked with butter, above all else. It's the most authentic dish here…"
Natalia also talked about her school—
"At Koldovstoretz, the dining tables always have self-refilling bowls of borscht; no matter when you go, it never disappoints."
"Our castle is also much bigger than this one, and the classrooms are very spacious. Hogwarts—oh, sorry, Wade—Hogwarts' classrooms always feel a bit cramped to me."
"I heard Koldovstoretz has a sealed gate to hell. Is that true?" Clementine asked with a curious expression.
"Hahaha… that's just a legend!" Natalia laughed. "Our school doesn't have any mysterious places like that. The most impressive things are just the ice sculptures that never melt."
"Maybe you just don't know." Clementine said thoughtfully, "Ancient magic schools have many secrets, but they're always stingy about telling their students, right, Mr. Gray? I bet Hogwarts has countless secrets."
"Perhaps?" Wade forked a piece of foie gras, his tone light as he chuckled, "Like you said, as students, even if there are secrets, we wouldn't know them."
Clementine gave him a serious look, then turned to whisper to Natalia, "He's lying! He definitely knows about lots of Chambers of Secrets; he just doesn't want to tell us."
"If he doesn't want to say, then let's not ask." Natalia didn't mind, she slowly said, "This caramel pudding is good. Would you like some?"
When the last mille-feuille disappeared from the plates, Dumbledore had everyone stand up, then gave his Wand a light flick.
The long tables and chairs flew with a whoosh to the walls, and the center of the Great Hall became a dance floor. The Weird Sisters (a famous rock band in the Wizarding World) took the stage to thunderous applause.
As the cello began to play, the magical candles on the ceiling all dimmed simultaneously, replaced by countless floating starlights that slowly rotated in the darkness.
Some firefly-like lights also drifted down, floating around everyone, like small fish swimming in the air, making the dance floor exceptionally dreamlike.
"It's our turn!"
Natalia hurriedly reapplied her lipstick, then saw Wade stand up, bow slightly, and extend a hand.
"Ready?"
"Of course!"
Natalia took a deep breath, placed her fingertips on Wade's palm, and then, still a little worried, reminded him, "Be careful not to step on my dress."
"Don't worry, even though I'm not good at dancing, I shouldn't be that clumsy."
Wade's hand gently rested on Natalia's waist, his other hand clasping hers. They spun and glided onto the dance floor, the girl's skirt blossoming like a dark blue cornflower.
"You dance quite well." A moment later, Natalia asked softly with a smile, "Have you been practicing in secret?"
"My mother taught me."
Wade explained simply, twirling her around.
His peripheral vision caught Harry slowly spinning in place, a fine layer of cold sweat already beading on his forehead, as if dancing with a girl was harder than fighting a Dragon.
Harry hadn't asked Wade to teach him how to dance because he knew Wade didn't have enough time even if he split it in half. So, during the holidays, Harry secretly used the Vanishing Cabinet to go to Hogsmeade and learned from Sirius for several days. Now that it was time for the actual performance, he was still a bit stiff.
Hermione and Krum danced much better. Her face was beaming, and her steps were very light. Krum matched her rhythm perfectly, his eyes hardly leaving Hermione's face for a moment.
"What?" Natalia's voice suddenly sounded in his ear, with a hint of chilling teasing, "Is my dancing less impressive than theirs?"
"Sorry." Wade chuckled softly, twirling the girl half a turn to move away from their classmates before saying, "Harry isn't good at dancing, so I was actually a bit looking forward to seeing him make a fool of himself."
"Oh? I thought you liked the girl in the blue dress!" Natalia emphasized "blue dress," raising her eyes to look at him, a playful smile in her eyes.
"Hermione is my friend." Wade said softly, "It looks like she and Krum are getting along very well."
"More than just well? Krum looks like he's already fallen in love," Natalia laughed.
…
The Champions danced the opening, and before the music ended, everyone else joined the dance floor. The once spacious Great Hall suddenly became crowded, Robes and skirts intertwining into a flowing wave.
The first dance tune was elegant and slow, but the subsequent melodies gradually became livelier. Guitars burst forth with playful notes, and the drumbeats urged people to quicken their steps.
Wade and Natalia danced continuously for three songs. It wasn't until the prelude of the fourth song began that he subtly stepped back, releasing her hand.
"Not dancing anymore?" Natalia asked regretfully, her breathing a bit hurried from the dancing.
"I plan to rest for a bit." Wade straightened his collar and asked, "Do you want anything to drink? I'll go get it."
In the dance floor, where lights and music intertwined, the fervent and enthusiastic mood of the crowd seemed to not affect him at all. His gray eyes remained very calm.
"No, thanks." Natalia looked into Wade's eyes, a smile spreading on her face. "I plan to dance a bit longer!"
As soon as they separated, a boy practically Apparated beside her, immediately bowing and extending a hand to invite her to dance.
Natalia glanced at Wade once more, then happily took the boy's hand.
Wade weaved through the dancing couples, heading for a table in the corner. As he approached, a clear glass of water appeared on it.
After drinking the water, which relieved some of the heat from the ball, the surrounding laughter, music, and even arguments blended together, making his temples throb.
Wade didn't plan on staying in the boisterous Great Hall any longer. He walked through the Entrance Hall and out of the castle. The cold air outside immediately cleared his head.
He was debating whether to return to the dorm or go to the Room of Requirement when he suddenly heard a stifled sob.
"Give me back my Galleons, Bagman!" Professor Trelawney cried, her trembling voice sounding particularly sharp. "My money...all my savings...you swindler!"
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