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Chapter 473: Signed Photo!!
Harry felt that Hermione's words were a bit mocking.
But he also knew they were probably true.
At Hogwarts, how could there be a girl who didn't have at least a few thoughts about Darren?
Finally, Friday arrived.
Harry and Ron were in a panic. Only then did they realize that almost every girl had already chosen a dance partner.
Whether they actually liked that partner or not didn't matter—everyone needed someone for the Yule Ball.
If you didn't choose, you stayed in the dormitory, which was far too embarrassing.
So the situation made both boys even more depressed.
Eventually, Harry couldn't sit still.
He stood at the entrance of the common room and decided that the next girl who walked in without a partner would be the one he asked.
He got lucky.
Lavender and Parvati came in together.
Parvati stepped through the doorway first, so Harry shoved Ron back and rushed toward her.
"Parvati, do you have a dance partner yet?"
"No. Are you inviting me? If you are… can you give me a signed photo of Darren?"
Harry exhaled in relief.
Good. She only wanted a photo.
If she'd asked for something personal from Darren, he would've had to lie or stall.
"I can give you one right now!"
He pulled out a signed picture of Darren.
Darren had given it to him after learning the girls were demanding them before agreeing to be dance partners.
The Darren in the photo looked startled but politely smiling—so much so that Parvati squealed and kissed the picture the moment she saw it.
Harry grimaced.
"So that means you agree?"
"Yes, yes—of course!"
Parvati didn't even look up, still clutching the photograph.
Lavender, standing beside her, looked jealous.
Harry quickly asked, "Lavender, do you have a dance partner? If you'll go with Ron, I can give you a Darren signed photo too. A different one from this."
Lavender looked as if she might cry.
She had rejected a boy earlier, only to see Parvati now screaming with excitement over a Darren photo.
"Don't let Lavender go back on her word," Parvati cut in. "But I have a sister—Padma. She's younger, but if Ron invites her, she'll agree.
Give me the picture, and I'll make sure of it."
Harry agreed immediately.
He handed over another Darren photo—this one Colin had taken of Darren shyly covering the camera with his hand, cheeks blushing lightly.
Lavender nearly collapsed with regret.
She whispered to Parvati that she would trade a dozen Viktor Krum autographs to swap places. But Parvati held the Darren photo possessively.
Who wanted Krum when you had Darren?
And as for Harry—both girls secretly thought he was pathetic, using his brother's autograph to find a dance partner.
Luckily, Harry had no idea.
He was too busy celebrating with Ron. They had partners now.
But just as he happily looked forward to Christmas break, Ron asked the question of doom:
"Harry… do you even know how to dance?"
Harry froze.
He had never danced in his life.
Panicking, he went to ask Darren, hoping Darren also didn't know so they'd suffer together.
But Darren shook his head.
"I already learned. Fleur taught me. She said her dance partner already knows how, so she came to teach me.
Hermione said she couldn't dance either, so Fleur taught her too.
If you want, I can teach you, brother?"
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
[Ding, Holy Father Value +10]
Harry and Ron weren't touched.
They were stunned.
"You actually learned that?" Harry said, horrified.
"But we need to dance the opening waltz—we can't step on the girls' feet, right?"
Darren looked embarrassed.
Clearly, the thought of accidentally stepping on someone made him feel guilty.
"I'd rather step on someone's foot than learn that," Ron muttered. "Speaking of which… who's Fleur's partner? I heard she wasn't looking for anyone."
"She found a female student," Darren said. "The girl will disguise herself as a boy to accompany her.
Honestly, Fleur should just find a real partner. What's the point of making a girl pretend?"
Before Ron could respond…
Hermione walked over.
She looked irritated.
"It's not—"
She glanced at Darren and changed her wording.
"It's Fleur. She keeps showing off her hair to me. I'm sick of it."
Harry and Ron didn't react to that.
Something else caught their attention.
"You mean… Fleur's partner is a girl?"
"Yes. But don't even think about inviting them. You two have no chance.
Hurry up and practice your dancing instead of making Darren worry."
She said this like a queen looking down at two peasants.
Ron and Harry were indignant.
"We just found our partners! We were only asking! If Fleur can dance with a girl, why can't Harry and I do the same? We could dance together!"
The two of them grew enthusiastic at the idea—until Hermione gave them a look of disbelief.
"You two have lost it. Fleur's partner will dress as a boy.
Which one of you is planning to dress up as a girl?"
Silence.
They stared at each other… imagined each other in women's clothing… and nearly gagged.
"Hey—why's there still someone in that classroom?" Ron asked, pointing at the room Hermione had left earlier. Inside were two figures.
"That's Cassandra from Slytherin," Hermione said. "She's practicing dance steps with Akihari."
"Huh?"
Harry and Ron were dumbfounded.
Why were girls at Hogwarts suddenly choosing girls as partners?
"And why is a Slytherin girl hanging out with Ravenclaw girls?" Harry added.
But Hermione and Darren weren't surprised.
Hermione said calmly—
"Because the partners they wanted already chose someone else.
Don't ask who they originally wanted. They didn't tell Darren."
Harry and Ron suddenly understood everything.
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