Days wandering around Hogwarts

Chapter 480 Dance Partner
"The Yule Ball is coming up."

"Yeah, it's part of the Triwizard Tournament tradition."

"Minerva, I said the Yule Ball is coming."

"I know, Pomona, I just announced it in class today and Finnigan was horrified when he knew he was going to dance with a partner."

Professor Flitwick said exactly what Professor Sprout was trying to say: "Minerva, Pomona is asking about your partner?"

Professor McGonagall finally reacted and said calmly, "Charles had an accident at his company in China, and Jack went to deal with it."

Professor Sprout pretended to understand something and said, "So you want to invite Smith."

Professor Flitwick became heartbroken: "Oh, I thought you would invite me. I have been secretly practicing stilt dancing these days."

Joyful laughter suddenly rang out in the professors' lounge.

Professor McGonagall ignored them and turned her attention to the newcomers.

She asked Professor Delacour, "I wonder which young man will invite Fleur."

Professor Delacour simply shrugged, as if asking a unnecessary question, and the other professors all laughed.

Professors were talking about it, and fourth-year students and above were worrying about their dance partners.

Daphne found Charles immediately, intending to take advantage of his amnesia to invite other girls before they could.

"Hi, Charles." She smiled as brightly as she could. "Will you come to the Christmas dance with me?"

Charles said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I can't accept your invitation."

The same words appeared in different places in the castle.

Malfoy didn't know many girls well, so after thinking about it, he finally picked a candidate.

He appeared in front of Helen of Durmstrang, posed in what he thought was a very handsome pose, forced a bright smile on his face and said, "Hello, can you come to the Christmas ball with me?"

Helen was stunned for a long time before she shook her head and refused.

She smiled and said, "You can invite other Slytherin girls. I think the little daughter of the Greengrass family is quite good, but be careful not to invite Pansy Parkinson."

Malfoy asked in confusion: "Why?"

Helen just smiled and didn't answer.

Her sister Helena, who was not far away, seemed to have seen something very happy. She pretended to admire the oil paintings in the corridor and tried her best to hold back her laughter.

Helen said goodbye to Malfoy and took Helena away.

The two arrived at Durmstrang's ship, and Helena suddenly burst into laughter, with tears coming out.

Karkaroff came over and asked politely, "What's so funny?"

Helena told Karkaroff what had just happened.

After hearing this, Karkaroff was stunned for a moment, then tried hard to hold back his laughter, but failed.

When Karkaroff had finished laughing, he said, "I'll tell him...well, business is first."

After Helen took back her wand, she asked, "Any news?"

Karkaroff said, "We'll do it at the Yule Ball. I'll hold Dumbledore back, and one of you will go invite Charles and make sure he comes with us."

Helena immediately said, "It can't be me!"

Helen said helplessly: "It seems that it can only be me."

Karkaroff nodded, then went to his cabin to send a message via the Dark Mark.

A few minutes later, a bell rang in a laboratory in Farbatten Castle, and this time there were quite a few people around.

Charles comes to the greenhouse at noon every day to organize the data from the previous day.

Just after finishing the work for the day, Helen appeared in front of him. Outside the greenhouse, Furong came to find Charles, and Erica followed to join in the fun. When she saw Helen closing the greenhouse door with her backhand, they looked at each other, and their women's intuition told them that something was wrong.

"I bought it at Zonko's Joke Shop." Erica took out a listening ear and said, "Listen to what they are saying."

Furong nodded, and suddenly thought of something, and asked seriously: "Are you trying to use it to eavesdrop on something else?"

Erica responded, "The reaction is not eavesdropping on you and Charles."

The eavesdropping ear became transparent and crawled into the greenhouse through the vent like a snake. Helen's voice soon came from the speaker at the other end.

Helen said, "Smith, you will be my partner at the Christmas dance."

The two people who were eavesdropping felt more and more that something was wrong. From the tone of voice, it sounded not like an invitation, but an order.

Charles said, "I'm sorry, but I can't accept your invitation."

Helen said, "For your grandfather."

There was silence in the greenhouse for two minutes, and then Charles' voice rang out: "Okay."

Helen added, "Come to my dormitory to see me before the dance starts."

Charles replied: "No problem."

Helen finally said: "I think you should know what not to say."

Charles said calmly, "I know."

After saying this, Helen left the greenhouse without seeing Fleur and Erica who were hiding.

Erica was about to go find Charles, but Fleur stopped her and said, "Come with me."

The two came to Charles' alchemy laboratory, which was the safest place.

Fleur said to Erica, "Something may have happened to Charles' grandfather."

Erica nodded and said, "I think so. Someone kidnapped Mr. Smith and threatened Charles. What should we do?"

After thinking for a moment, Furong said, "Charles just lost his memory, he didn't become a fool."

"He didn't tell Professor Dumbledore, nor did he tell the Ministry of Magic. There must be some consideration behind this."

Erica said immediately: "Helen and Karkaroff are related to the kidnappers. If they know that Professor Dumbledore will take any action after knowing the news, they will inform the kidnappers and kill the hostages!"

"I think there may be kidnappers in the British Ministry of Magic as well."

Fleur nodded and said thoughtfully, "This way Charles will have to seek help from outside Hogwarts and the British Ministry of Magic."

Erica immediately followed up with, “His company!”

"Let's go to Farbatten Castle this afternoon to inquire."

"By the way, my dress for the ball is still in the store. This is a good excuse to go get it."

"I'll go with you," said Furong.

She then asked Erica, "What are they going to do with Charles at the dance? Have you found a dance partner? Can you leave the venue early and follow them?"

"I need to do the opening dance, so I may not be able to leave for a while."

Erica shrugged and said, "No, no one dares to come to me for fear of becoming my midnight snack."

"Hey, how about I be your dance partner, and we'll leave after the dance starts."

"Just can you find Charles then?"

Furong thought for a moment and said, "No problem, I can find him then."

The two discussed some details, then each found an excuse to talk to the headmaster, and then went to Hogsmeade one after another.

(End of this chapter)