Hogwarts Summoning Guide

For two weeks after the first match, everything was calm. It seemed that Barty Crouch was under considerable pressure because of the Nightshade Dragon incident. He couldn't possibly stay at Hogwarts for a whole month without handling official business. He would return with the preparation team for the second challenge in more than two months.

The students thought things would return to normal for a while, until just as December began and everyone was enjoying a feast in the banquet hall, the Weasleys' owl delivered a large box to Ron.

Ron opened it. Inside was an old women's dress, possibly his grandmother's from when she was young. Seeing Ron foolishly trying it on himself, Bai Lin, though somewhat prepared, almost burst out laughing.

"That's a formal gown!" Hermione exclaimed to Ron, laughing so hard she almost fell over.

"A formal robe? What's that for?" Ron asked, looking bewildered.

"What a chaotic scene!" Bai Lin exclaimed, thinking of the famous scenes in the movie.

According to the ancient tradition of the Triwizard Tournament, on Christmas Eve, the host school will hold a grand ball where students from all schools will gather to show off their dancing skills. Most importantly, this is the first time many young wizards will experience the first stirrings of love.

However, Bai Lin had a lot of complaints about the ball. It was clearly a cursed ball that should have been held on Singles' Day (November 11th). It would have been a victory for single people and the ultimate example of breaking up couples.

Because every single couple who attended the ball ended up with a bad ending. Not a single one lasted, not even Cedric and Cho Chang, Krum and Hermione, Fred and Angelina (the beautiful Gryffindor player), or even Malfoy and Pansy, or Hagrid and Maxim. It's definitely the original author's silent indictment of his first failed marriage, or perhaps a satire.

Regardless of what Bai Lin was thinking, some well-informed senior students had already heard the commotion and started to get excited. Soon, Professor Pomona found Bai Lin.

"Professor White...can you dance?" Old Mrs. Pomona murmured. Traditionally, the head of each house was to instruct students on ballroom etiquette and basic dance steps, but Old Mrs. Pomona was clearly not good at it. She loved plants and devoted all her energy to tending the herbs in the greenhouse and teaching—a complete peasant woman. So she decisively sought help from Hufflepuff House, who seemed to be the most knowledgeable about this Whitescale.

"Uh, I do know a few amateur skills..." Bai Lin had learned a little ballroom dancing in a club during his freshman year, but he couldn't be considered an expert.

"That's wonderful!" Professor Pomona exclaimed with delight. "We can't let Hufflepuff's students be outshone!" she said with pride. Although she was naturally indifferent to fame and fortune, she certainly didn't want to see her students being used as foils for others at the ball, or even making a fool of themselves.

"Maybe I can sneak a little knowledge from Professor McGonagall, hehe, and then go back and teach everyone..." Bai Lin said.

"No, if you want to learn by stealing information, you have to go over there!" Professor Pomona said mysteriously, pointing to a table on the other side of the banquet hall. Bai Lin looked and saw that it was where Beauxbatons' students gathered.

The students at Beauxbatons place great importance on etiquette and appearance, perhaps because Beauxbatons is located in France, a country renowned for its romance, and offers many arts courses, where singing and dancing are naturally indispensable. This clearly puts them miles ahead of Hogwarts, which has almost no arts courses.

Bai Lin had learned about the courses of the three schools and concluded that Hogwarts' curriculum focused more on cultivating the ability to control magic (what Old Dumbledore least wanted to see was the Obscurial) and shaping a chivalrous spirit, while also incorporating some of the non-aggression ideas of the Mohist school. Students trained in this way are more likely to integrate into society, work in a wider range of industries, and bravely move forward in adversity.

Beauxbatons, on the other hand, places greater emphasis on students' creativity and expressiveness, and embodies a romantic and aesthetic sensibility.

Durmstrang was a very unconventional school, openly teaching dark magic. It was known for its pragmatism and efficiency, yet aside from Krum, few others excelled. In the 700-year history of the Triwizard Tournament, it had never won a single championship. This was partly due to the original author's opposition to violence and pragmatism, but more significantly due to its outdated teaching methods and disconnect from society. In a peaceful era, martial arts skills alone are ultimately useless, and can even lead to wrongdoing. It's no wonder Karkaroff so earnestly invited the White-Blooded Durmstrang to teach there; perhaps he wanted to stir up this stagnant water.

Having secretly found out the time of Beauxbatons' dance class, Bai Lin went to learn on time, but he regretted it as soon as he arrived at the door. Through the crack in the window, he saw that it was Catherine who was teaching the students to dance, and even Youxi was listening very attentively among the students. Maxim was sitting on a specially made recliner, watching with a smile.

Catherine, dressed in a graceful evening gown, danced beautifully, leaving Bai Lin with mixed feelings. But seeing the equally charming Youxi, his heart warmed. Since they became a couple, Youxi had matured considerably. If she was once a naive young girl fresh out of school, she was now a rosy-cheeked, ripe apple.

Fleur is clearly not only a warrior of Beauxbatons, but also a star on stage. Her graceful dance moves are full of heroic spirit, and she is on par with Catherine and Yuxi.

Bai Lin swallowed hard. He hadn't come here to see beautiful women, of course. He was still trying to remember the dance steps they were teaching him. But when he came to his senses and turned around, he found that more than a dozen people were already leaning against the window. They were all upperclassmen from Hogwarts and Durmstrang. They smiled at each other with a slightly "awkward" expression, as if they understood each other perfectly.

I really didn't come here to peek at pretty girls... Bai Lin felt his image had completely collapsed...

Back in the activity room that the four colleges used in rotation, Professor Pomona had already explained the whole story of the ball. The students were eager to try it out, while Filch was still fiddling with the phonograph next to him, seemingly trying to figure out how it worked.

Eddie, Bai Lin's biggest fan, was also among the Hufflepuff students, just to attend one more of Bai Lin's classes.

Pomona handed the reins to Bai Lin, signaling him to show off his skills.

Looking at the eager eyes of the students on both sides, Bai Lin felt a surge of urgency, as if they were saying, "Professor, our chances of finding a partner depend on you!" This gave Bai Lin a strong urge to do something for them.

"Well, I've been in Hufflepuff for over a year, but I've actually been busy with my own things most of the time and haven't been able to participate in activities with everyone often, which I've always felt a bit guilty about... Today is a good opportunity..."

"Let me briefly explain the three essential elements of a ball: attire, etiquette, and dance skills. Attire makes you radiant, etiquette makes you elegant and composed, and dance skills make you stand out from the crowd."

"But Professor... I don't have a formal dress..." a chubby student raised his hand. Most Hufflepuff students come from impoverished backgrounds, many are half-bloods or born into Muggle families, and are a group of "ordinary people" at Hogwarts.

"Don't worry about that. I'm planning to give everyone a new formal dress—no, not a formal dress, but your battle armor for going into battle! If you can't outshine everyone at the ball wearing a dress I ordered from London, that would be a real letdown! So, everyone, get excited!"

A custom-made formal suit costs 2030 Gallons, which is quite a hefty sum for Bai Lin. However, he has no interest in money anymore and would rather use it to have some fun with everyone.

Upon hearing this, almost all the students cheered, as if they could already see themselves dressed as princesses or princes, making a dazzling entrance at the ball.

"Now for my requirements!" Bai Lin gestured, "I'll only say this once, so listen carefully! Starting today, everyone will practice for at least two hours every day. The dance floor is the battlefield, so treat yourself like a soldier! One minute on stage requires ten years of practice off stage! Do you all understand?!"

"YESYOUR HIGHNESS!" The students were instantly transported to the Middle Ages and began using the honorifics they had just learned from Professor Pomona.

With his powerful memory and imitation skills, combined with his limited knowledge of standard English from his previous life, Bai Lin taught vividly and engagingly. The students studied extremely diligently, even more so than they would for compulsory courses. Professor Pomona watched with rapt attention, feeling as if she herself had become decades younger.

The hour-and-a-half dance class flew by. Although the students had beads of sweat on their foreheads, they were all in high spirits and expressed their desire to practice a little longer in the activity room.

The professors all know that the children are eager for something new, and many students have realized that when it comes to dance partners, it's always a matter of first come, first served. The practice time after class is the perfect opportunity to secure a dance partner. Who knows, maybe your crush will impulsively agree to dance with you. Moreover, according to court etiquette, once you accept an invitation to a ball, you cannot back out even if you have a better dance partner.

Pomona winked at Bai Lin, and Bai Lin followed her out of the activity room. The old lady was very satisfied with Bai Lin's performance and patted his upper arm hard.

"How could I let you spend all that money..." the old lady said, carefully taking out a small bottle and handing it to Bai Lin. "Consider this a small return gift from me, the director."

Bai Lin took the bottle blankly and glanced at it. To his surprise, the small bottle had triggered a system response.

Received Professor Pomona's gift of 3 Rare Herbal Essences, each granting a +3 Strength, +20 Stamina, and +10 Physical Strength, and restoring most injuries and ailments. Effects do not stack.

"WTF! There's such a good thing!" Bai Lin was utterly shocked. Last time, he donated 200 Galleons to the Hufflepuff team and received a gift from Professor Pomona. It was practically a miracle drug. Today, it proved once again that Pomona was a treasure old lady.

Without any hesitation, Bai Lin happily put the small bottle into his pocket, chatted with Pomona for a bit, and the old lady saw a hesitant girl at the end of the corridor. She was taken aback at first, but immediately understood and turned and disappeared.

Bai Lin approached and saw that it was Qiu Zhang. She was wearing a velvet coat and had dressed up carefully, looking sweet and serene.

"Xiao Qiu? Is there something you need?" Bai Lin asked with a smile, still basking in the joy of receiving Pomona's gift.

Qiu Zhang's face flushed instantly. She fidgeted with the lace of her skirt with her fingers, lowered her head, and stammered, "Professor...Professor Kelling, I...I wanted to ask...you, do you...do you have a dance partner?"

Bai Lin was taken aback by Cho Chang's question. He really didn't expect that Cho Chang would be the first to invite him out. Thinking of Harry, who was destined to be heartbroken, Bai Lin couldn't help but feel quite sad.

Bai Lin scratched his head. Qiu Zhang was indeed beautiful and charming, but... she was too young (just turned 15)... Looking at her, Bai Lin felt a bit ashamed of being a weird uncle.

"Um... this..." Bai Lin was a little unsure how to refuse her without hurting her feelings.

"Ah, it's alright, Professor. Do you have a dance partner?" Qiu Zhang asked eagerly, taking a step forward and getting very close to Bai Lin.

"No, that's not it... I'm afraid I'll miss the dance. I have to leave school a few days before Christmas Eve to take care of some household chores..." Bai Lin said, scratching the back of his head.

Bai Lin had already received a notification from Phineas that the Explorers family gathering would be held in London on the evening of December 22nd, as usual, and he would definitely attend. However, in addition to this gathering, Bai Lin also received a letter from his adoptive parents in the East, asking him to return home for the New Year.

Returning to the East was now on Bai Lin's itinerary, and from his father's words, it seemed there was indeed some thorny matter that required his attention. Although Bai Lin had never met the parents of this body, and had only exchanged letters twice, the affection and concern they expressed in those letters stirred up deep longing in Bai Lin for his parents from his previous life. He felt obligated to put everything aside and return to his hometown.

Qiu Zhang opened his eyes wide and asked, "Are we going back to the East?"

Bai Lin nodded and said, "Yes, so I can only disappoint you..."

Qiu Zhang seemed relieved. For her, being rejected for this reason was much better than having to leave her dance partner for another girl.

"No, it's alright... I've never been back to the East... I was born in England..." Qiu Zhang said with some regret.

"When you grow up, you'll have your chance. The East is beautiful, and its culture is captivating. Our roots are still in that land." Bai Lin nodded to Qiu Zhang and said, "I'll bring you a gift when I come back."

"Aha, then I'll wait and see!" Qiu Zhang was overjoyed when he heard there was a gift. Suddenly, he seemed to have gained courage and quickly leaned over to give Bai Lin a light kiss on the cheek before running away like the wind.

"W-wh-wh...I was...wall-pinned by an underage girl?" Bai Lin touched the spot where he had been kissed, somewhat petrified.