Chapter 429 Unless it’s a ghost

Dumbledore's gaze was profound, as if he could penetrate the mists of time and foresee the turbulent future.

Unknowingly, he has become the most loyal believer in the prophecy, convinced that Tom Riddle's shadow will envelope the entire wizarding world. Voldemort will become synonymous with fear, bringing unprecedented darkness.

Newt stared into his eyes, his heart full of confusion. He asked: "Albus, are you not going to fight Voldemort personally this time? Or do you have some insurmountable constraints, just like the blood pact back then?" Same?"

"It's different from back then." Dumbledore shook his head firmly and explained: "The situation is no longer the same. Even if I take action personally, I can't completely eliminate him. There is only one person who can do this, and he is Harry Potter. .”

"The Boy-Who-Lived?" A trace of suspicion flashed in Newt's eyes, obviously not completely convinced of his idea, "Albus, I may not fully understand your plan.

But I know that you must have your reasons for doing this. If you need any help, you can ask Fox to come to me. "

"Thank you, my old friend." Dumbledore expressed his sincere thanks. Before leaving, he specifically reminded Newt: "American wizards have been very close to wandering goblins recently, and wizards from other continents seem to have also He is planning something secretly."

Newt listened silently, a hint of worry in his eyes. He watched Dumbledore enter the fireplace, green flames dancing behind the old man.

Sparks bloomed like the roar of a storm. Newt stood there, lost in thought. His rich life experience reminded him that a turbulent era seemed to be coming.

Tina came back at some point, and her hand gently placed on Newt's shoulder, bringing a touch of warmth and comfort.

"What happened?" she asked softly, her eyes full of concern.

Newt clapped his wife's hand, smiled and shook his head, trying to lighten the mood with a relaxed tone: "What do you think about letting Rolf go to Hogwarts?"

"Not at all!" Tina's reaction was unexpectedly decisive. She withdrew her hand and the expression on her face became serious: "I don't believe in stories about boys defeating Voldemort. The British wizarding world is too dangerous, and I will never Rolf is allowed to stay here.”

"What if Ilvermorny is not safe too?" Newt's words caused his wife to fall silent.

Tina's brows furrowed, and she looked at her husband's serious face in disbelief: "You...what did you say?"

"Albus told me before he left, what the American wizards and goblins were planning." Newt's voice was low, and his eyes drifted out the window, where he saw Rolf playing with Catnives.

He murmured: "It has been almost 200 years since the last goblin rebellion... Do you still know any Aurors at MACUSA?"

Tina nodded and said slowly: "I will write a letter and ask them to check. If it is really so dangerous, I'm afraid I will have to hire a tutor for Rolf."

"Tina." Newt looked into his wife's eyes, his fingers scratching his hair unconsciously, looking a little distressed: "I gave all the silver shells of the snake eggs to Roger last time, and I'm afraid we don't have enough money for a tutor. Unless, the sniffing nest is turned upside down."

Tina glared at Newt, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes. She smiled softly. Her husband was still so silly and serious despite his age.

She just refused to admit defeat and didn't really ask for a tutor. Even if MACUSA faces a goblin rebellion, Rolf has other options like Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.

Anyway, on the list of magic schools she prepared for her grandson, Hogwarts could only be left off the list. She would never let Rolf go to the dangerous Scottish Highlands unless absolutely necessary.

There will be no refreshments on Christmas Day this year as there will be a dance in the evening with plenty of drinks and food. The wizards hurriedly changed into their attire, simply combed their hair, and then began to stroll around the castle leisurely, enjoying the festive atmosphere.

The girls seemed to be under a spell. They were all fixed in front of the mirror and spent four or five hours carefully modifying their makeup, hoping to show their most beautiful side at the dance.

The only exception is Luna, who does not have gorgeous dresses and sparkling gemstones. Still wearing the unique wine cork necklace as usual. On Christmas morning, after opening her presents, she went alone to the Forbidden Forest to pick hollies.

When Luna walked into the castle holding the bouquet of green hollies with red berries dotted among the leaves, the boys avoided each other and whispered from time to time: "She's not in the fourth grade, is she?"

"Third grade, I'm afraid I was invited by Gryffindor who couldn't find a dance partner. Hahaha..."

There was a strange laugh in the corridor, as if to insinuate that the wizard who invited Luna was hungry.

However, they were both wrong. Luna was not asked to be a dance partner; she asked Dean Flitwick to stay.

Luna's unique soul makes her extra special among everyone. She does not need invitations from others because she always follows the rhythm of her own heart.

"What is she doing holding so many hollies?" a voice asked curiously.

"Would you like to sew them on your clothes, put them in your hair, and pretend to be a dress?" the wizard next to him speculated jokingly.

"If it's true, it must be the most bizarre dress at the Yule Ball. I really can't imagine anyone dancing with a ball of green leaves."

"No, you're not right." Someone suddenly retorted.

"What?" Everyone looked at him in confusion.

"Look, there are more exotic dresses." He pointed to Ron across the corridor, who was wearing a medieval dress. Even if the ruffles and lace are cut out, everyone will recognize it.

"It couldn't have been dug out of a tomb, right?"

"Huh, I'm afraid I found it from secondhand goods. Or maybe it was left by Grandpa Weasley's grandfather's grandfather."

"Hey, Ron from the Weasley family, why are you still wearing a skirt? Have you not found a dance partner yet?" Someone teased loudly, "How about I introduce you to a witch."

"Look here, how about dancing with a ball of grass?" He pointed at Luna not far away, who was using her wand to clean the dust on her armor, paying no attention to the comments around her.

Ron's face was as red as a baboon's butt. He glared at the weirdly dressed Ravenclaw girl, and then shouted firmly: "Who said I don't have a dance partner!"

"Oh? Then let's see! You can't bring your sister to be your dance partner, can you?"

Ron wrinkled his nose, the freckles on his face throbbing angrily. He turned to look at Harry, raised his arm, and announced to everyone: "My dance partner is Harry Potter, the savior of the wizarding world. Any questions?"

"Ah~" Everyone was stunned for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

Especially the Slytherin wizards, they laughed like prey falling into a trap. Goyle's Christmas plan really came into effect. The Gryffindor wizards and wizards who had no dancing partners could only dance with each other.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I didn't expect you to find a dance partner." The Slytherins suppressed their laughter and said in strange voices: "It's a pity, I originally wanted you to leave the dance voluntarily."

Harry and Ron, who were originally embarrassed, suddenly became proud. As if they could thwart Slytherin's plot, they had no problem holding their hands together.

Luna looked at Harry curiously, with a smile in her eyes, admiring their courage.

"I wish you a good time at the ball. Alas, I have to dance with several witches at night, which is very hard just thinking about it." The Slytherins left with a smile, and there was only pride in their tone.

Luna's world was always so unique and peaceful. She didn't join in the quarrels around her, nor was she curious about how Harry and Ron danced together at the ball.

She just silently used her own way to weave holly branches and leaves into garlands, and then gently put them on those cold steel helmets. If she could, she would even give garlands to the people and animals in the frame.

The armors who only know how to fight late at night never think about Christmas decorations. They were so moved by Luna's kindness and warmth that they all knelt down on one knee and sent her a sincere knighthood, expressing their silent gratitude and respect.

"What are you looking at?" Luna sent out the last garland and asked Rogge curiously on the bridge.

He stood there quietly, not knowing whether he was looking at the snow or the mountains.

"Ah..." Rogge woke up from his trance. He was thinking about the key and accidentally fell into a daze.

"Merry Christmas, Luna."

"Thank you, Roger, and Merry Christmas." Luna smiled happily. This was the second Christmas blessing she received today. The first one was a letter from my father.

Her tone suddenly dropped, with an apologetic look in her eyes: "I seem to have forgotten to give you a Christmas gift."

"Yes?" Rogge smiled. He always thought about giving gifts to others, but never remembered who didn't give him a gift.

"Why don't you give me this holly." He picked off the branches with red berries from Luna's shoulders and replaced the gorgeous brooch on his chest.

"It's very beautiful." Rogge nodded with satisfaction, and then put the brooch in Luna's hand: "The first dance in life must have some sense of ceremony. It can be less, but it cannot be without it."

Luna looked at his leaving figure, pursed her lips and wondered what she was thinking. Her eyes fell on the gem in her hand, and suddenly she ran towards Ravenclaw.

At seven o'clock, Hogwarts Castle has been enveloped in darkness. The candles floating in the air shone like never before, as if they were competing with the crystal chandeliers.

The students left their respective colleges one after another and walked towards the auditorium. However, the dance didn't start until eight o'clock, so they had to wait in the foyer.

Different from the usual black school uniforms, colorful dresses became the protagonist in front of the auditorium tonight. Black, white, green... No matter they are male or female, they all look like well-dressed male golden pheasants, exuding charming brilliance from head to tail.

Rogge wore a proper black tuxedo, and the green leaves and red fruits on his chest added a touch of colorful decoration. Daphne was wearing a turquoise skirt and gently held his arm.

Malfoy and Pansy followed, and Goyle and Crabbe walked towards Gryffindor with smiles and demonstrative invitations to dance partners.

"Damn Slytherin!" The Gryffindor wizards were indignant because almost all the witches in their house were poached by Slytherin students.

In the crowd opposite, there were even Slytherin students holding two dance partners at the same time.

Malfoy said angrily: "Where is your dance partner? Like Harry, you can only dance with wizards, right? Tsk, tsk, tsk, how pitiful."

"Malfoy, you are a bunch of bastards! And you..." Someone pointed at the witches and shouted sadly: "Have you forgotten the relationship between Gryffindor and Slytherin? How can you agree to them? Betrayal, this It’s a shameless betrayal!”

"Hey, hey, hey, come to us if you have any objections. Don't get angry at them." Malfoy stood up quite gracefully, and many witches immediately gave them grateful looks.

"This is the Yule Ball, the first dance in their lives. You wouldn't think that they would be willing to leave their beautiful memories to a bunch of crooked clowns." Malfoy looked at him arrogantly with his usual provocative attitude. other side.

"Who are you calling a clown?" the Gryffindor wizards immediately retorted, and the atmosphere in the foyer instantly became tense, as if someone could pull the starting gun and a chaos would immediately start.

Rogge raised his hand to stop the mocking of the Slytherins: "Since it is a dance, everyone can compete on the dance floor. You are here, you must have found a dance partner, right?"

The Gryffindors looked at each other. Even under Slytherin's shameless attacks, there were still witches who held the bottom line. Instead of choosing an enemy, they accepted the invitation from their fellow wizard.

The perseverance of these witches makes the wizards and wizards of Gryffindor feel proud and gratified. They knew that tonight's dance was not just about dancing, it was about dignity.

Faced with Slytherin's conspiracy, they must unite. Although he reported this behavior to Professor McGonagall, it was of no avail.

Now, in order to prevent Slytherin's conspiracy from succeeding, they must take unprecedented measures.

So, they decided to share a dance partner. Those few witches will always be standing on the dance floor. This way, other wizards who don't have a partner can be made to dance.

You can even choose a male-male pairing like Harry and Ron. All methods have only one purpose, to resolutely counter Slytherin's conspiracy!

"Don't think that if the Gryffindor witches become traitors, we will surrender without a fight!" Their voices were full of determination.

"Traitor?" Rogge's face became serious, with a cold light in his eyes: "Sir, please apologize for your wrong words. They are all classmates who dance for free, and you have no right to slander them!"

"Don't you think you're not attractive enough and you blame them for having eyes that spot beauty? You can't blame the toilet for being unattractive because you can't poop, right?" Rogge's sarcasm immediately caused hearty laughter to spread in the foyer.

"I'm sorry, beautiful ladies, for making you hear vulgar jokes." Rogge smiled and bowed to apologize, then changed his tone and returned to seriousness: "Sir, I remind you again, please apologize."

The surrounding Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff wizards also began to look at Gryffindor with unkind eyes. They can accept the insidiousness of blaming their own failures on their opponents, but slandering witches for betraying the academy is a cowardly act that no wizard with dignity can tolerate.

There is no rule that Gryffindor girls are born to belong to the wizards of the same house.

"Yes, I'm sorry..." he murmured.

"Sir, don't you even have the courage to apologize?" Rogge sneered.

"I'm sorry!" the other party shouted loudly with a red face.

Just then the oak front door opened. Everyone turned to look and saw students and principals from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons walking slowly.

The tension in the foyer dissipated instantly, and Rogge did not want outsiders to see the conflict between Hogwarts houses.

"Oh, it sounded quite lively outside just now." Karkaroff smiled maliciously, "Can any gentleman tell me? After all, there are still a few minutes before the dance officially starts."

"We are talking about, since there are four warriors in the top three, why can't there be four participating schools." Rogge responded coldly.

Karkaroff's hypocritical smile suddenly stiffened, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, not knowing how to answer the question.

He does not mean that. Harry seemed to notice something and whispered: "The fourth school?"

"That's impossible." Mrs. Maxim's sonorous voice echoed in the foyer, "There are only students from our three magic schools here. Unless, Hogwarts is filled with ghosts of students from other schools."

The festive Christmas atmosphere suddenly turned terrifying, and many people subconsciously touched their arms. Fortunately, Professor McGonagall opened the door of the auditorium in time, and the warm wind instantly dispelled the chill: "Warriors, please come here."

Krum and a Beauxbatons girl stepped forward, and Harry lowered his head and stepped forward with Ron. Professor McGonagall quickly flashed her eyelashes, maintaining a tolerant and gentle smile on her face.