Chapter 619 - 620: A Magical Christmas Surprise; Snowball Fights and Dress Robes

As for Neville, Evan intends to introduce Luna to him. Luna doesn't have a dance partner, and her character is rather eccentric. Engaged in odd pursuits like studying Nargles and encountering mischievous creatures in her everyday life, she is not very well-known among the boys at school. Hence, no one had taken the initiative to invite her.

Surprisingly, her quirky personality and Neville's genuine nature seem to complement each other well, and they can engage in meaningful conversations together. Arranging for Neville to accompany Luna would give her the opportunity to attend the Christmas Ball.

In Evan's view, Harry, Neville, and Colin's choice of partners were relatively straightforward. The most challenging decision was for Ron, who, at this point, had limited options remaining.

Ron, being a Gryffindor Quidditch player, had his own set of criteria for choosing a dance partner. He aimed to find an attractive girl to make a statement. After careful consideration, Hermione and Evan identified Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown as potential candidates.

Parvati was an enchanting Indian girl with striking black hair, often considered one of the most beautiful girls in their year, according to Dean Thomas. On the other hand, Lavender was slightly less attractive but possessed an exuberant and cheerful personality. She also had a genuine interest in Divination. Most importantly, it appeared she had feelings for Ron and was eager to take the initiative.

In this way, Ron's dance partner choice was determined to be Lavender. Evan didn't concern himself too much with suitability; he merely made the decision based on their choices and the current situation.

Evan and Hermione were collaborating, trying to make the best use of the available resources. Finding a dance partner wasn't about seeking a romantic relationship; it was about securing a companion for the event.

However, Harry and Ron were not entirely satisfied with Evan and Hermione's choices, but they had limited alternatives. They reluctantly accepted the arrangements since they had no better options.

Harry later confided in Evan, expressing that the Christmas Ball seemed like too much trouble for what it was worth. Ron, with his Quidditch captain status, wouldn't have faced such a predicament if he hadn't initially set his sights on Fleur.

Similarly, Harry was dealing with the consequences of focusing his attention on Cho Chang. As for Neville and Colin, their primary goal was to secure a dance partner, regardless of who it might be.

Neville didn't want to be left without a partner, and Colin's motivation was to gain entry to the ball rather than actually dancing. If Evan could convince Eloise Midgen, they would be content with the arrangement.

Luna likely shared the same perspective as Neville and Colin, making it relatively straightforward for the two of them. On the other hand, Ginny and Lavender had ulterior motives; they both had crushes on Harry and Ron, respectively. This pairing was likely the ideal outcome for them.

As for Gabrielle, she was simply helping Colin gain entry to the ball. Evan was aware of Gabrielle's infatuation with him. Contrary to his expectations, Gabrielle didn't seem heartbroken upon learning of Evan and Hermione's relationship. Instead, she appeared supportive and showed more enthusiasm than he had anticipated.

In hindsight, Evan realized that he had overanalyzed the situation. Gabrielle's reaction was probably the most typical response from a nine-year-old girl. If she had reacted differently, like Fleur or Autumn, it would have been unusual.

In the end, the price Evan had to pay to convince Gabrielle to help Colin was agreeing to dance with her during the second dance. The first dance, naturally, would be with Hermione.

Thus, the exhausting process of selecting dance partners for everyone concluded. Despite the homework assigned over the Christmas break, the end of the semester had left everyone lacking motivation to study. Even Hermione momentarily set aside her textbooks to join in the fun with her friends.

Evan also took a break from studying magic, mermaids, and dark languages, fully embracing the holiday spirit. The Gryffindor Common Room was bustling with activity, nearly as crowded as before the vacation, with only a few younger students opting to return home.

Fred and George's Canary Creams were in high demand, and students became cautious about accepting food from them to avoid unexpected transformations. The twins informed Evan that they were developing a new line of Transfiguration products, including various animal forms.

The second day of the holiday brought a picturesque snowfall to the castle and its grounds. The magical carriages of Beauxbatons and the frost-covered Durmstrang ship added to the enchanting winter scene.

Inside the castle, house-elves were busy preparing hearty stews and a variety of sweet puddings. The only one who seemed to have any complaints was Fleur. Her attitude toward Evan had soured after he and Hermione declared their love for each other. Evan even suspected that she had developed feelings for him.

According to Gabrielle, Fleur had eventually settled for Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain, as her dance partner. While Roger was an accomplished wizard and a star in Ravenclaw, Fleur had no romantic interest in him. Her criteria were to find a partner who could escort her to the ball with the utmost prestige, regardless of his feelings.

On Christmas morning, Evan woke up early and found himself face-to-face with a peculiar creature with two large, round green eyes peering at him in the dim light.

"Dobby, what are you doing?" Evan moved away from the elf, his voice stern. "Don't ever approach me like that again!"

"Dobby is deeply sorry, Master Evan!" Dobby squeaked in a panic, taking a step back and covering his mouth with his long, thin fingers. "Dobby only wished to extend warm Christmas wishes and present a gift to Master Evan."

"It's alright; you didn't mean any harm," Evan reassured him, his heart rate slowing down.

He got out of bed and noticed a substantial pile of gifts in a corner of his bed, all neatly wrapped for Christmas.

Dobby stood by the bed, still looking uneasy, afraid that he had disturbed Evan's sleep.

At that moment, he was perhaps the most peculiarly dressed house-elf in the world, wearing layer upon layer of socks on his feet, with the outermost pair being festively colored, reaching down to his shorts' hems. He also wore the clothes Evan had given him some time ago, with a little Christmas memento tied into the cufflinks.

"May Dobby present Master Evan with his gift?" Dobby asked in a cautious yet eager tone.

"Of course!" Evan said with a warm smile. He reached for a wrapped box on his nightstand, which contained a pair of gloves he had specifically chosen for Dobby.

"Young Master Evan is always so generous, noble, and selfless," Dobby exclaimed joyfully as he unwrapped the package. "Not only did he gift Dobby with clothes, but now he's also given Dobby a pair of gloves! This is exactly what Dobby needed."

"It's just a pair of gloves," Evan modestly replied, taking a moment to check the other gifts on his bed and at his feet.

The first gift he unwrapped was from Hermione. Evan had expected another book, but to his surprise, it was a handmade sweater that Hermione had knitted herself. It appeared she had been secretly working on it in her room, as there were tiny threads all over it.

Though it might not have been perfect, this gift held immense sentimental value.

Once Evan had put on the sweater, Dobby handed him a small package containing something he had crafted himself: socks.

"Dobby knitted these himself!" the elf proudly announced, showing Evan the socks. "Dobby used his wages to purchase the wool, Master Evan!"

The left sock was bright red, while the right one was green, each adorned with a unique design.

"Thank you, Dobby!" Evan expressed his gratitude, not pressing further about the pattern on the socks.

Evan noticed tears of joy in Dobby's eyes as he watched him put on the sock.

"Dobby must depart now, sir," Dobby said with a deep bow. "Dobby has a gift to deliver to Harry Potter. We must return quickly as preparations for the Christmas feast in the kitchen have already begun."

After Dobby had left, Evan proceeded to open the remaining gifts.

Harry had gifted him a spell book on ancient magical texts, Ginny had given him a book as well, Ron had provided a pocketful of Extendable Ears, Colin's gift was a book filled with photographs he had taken throughout the year, and Autumn had gifted him a beautifully crafted feather quill.

Fred and George had sent new pranks and a list of their latest products, while Sirius had sent a magical timekeeping device to help Evan manage his time better. Hagrid's gift was a massive box of sweets containing Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Blowbob Super Bubble Gum, and Zippy Bees.

Gabrielle had also sent a gift, a charming crystal owl ornament symbolizing good luck and blessings.

Mrs. Weasley had sent her customary package, which included a new sweater and a plethora of homemade mince pies.

In addition to these gifts, there were numerous other items from fellow students, totaling in the hundreds.

Evan was pleasantly surprised to find a pendant from Elaine. It was a printed bat pendant with a faint magical aura, sealed using a special technique with a protective bloodline magic. This magic could be activated during critical moments.

Not long ago, Evan had ordered a batch of bloody lollipops from Honeydukes. These were Elaine's favorite candies, and Evan had given them to Keresys, who was impersonating Moody, in stick form.

It appeared that Elaine had received her gift as well.

After another half hour, Colin finally woke up. By the time Evan and Colin reached the common room, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were already waiting there. They had enjoyed breakfast together earlier and had remained in the Gryffindor tower for most of the morning.

The students had gathered in the common room, admiring their Christmas gifts. Eventually, everyone returned to the Great Hall for an extensive lunch that included over a hundred turkeys, a large Christmas pudding, and a mountain of Kree Wizarding Crumpets.

During this time, Evan and the group met with Gabrielle. Following Fred and George's suggestion, they decided not to return to the common room after lunch. Instead, they headed outside to the snowy grounds, which were largely untouched by footprints, except for the trail created by Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students returning to the castle.

Evan, Harry, Colin, and the Weasley brothers engaged in a spirited snowball fight, while Hermione, Ginny, and Gabrielle watched, discussing the upcoming ball with occasional giggles.

As the daylight began to fade around 5 o'clock, making it difficult to see targets clearly, they reluctantly ended the snowball fight and returned to the common room.

The Fat Lady was in her frame with her friend, Violet, downstairs. Both of them appeared giddy and slightly intoxicated, surrounded by empty boxes of wine-filled chocolates.

"Vivid Light, yes, that's right!" the Fat Lady giggled at their antics, then turned forward to admit Evan and his friends.

The common room was buzzing with excitement, filled with boys who seemed slightly on edge as they teased each other. After a brief exchange, they returned to their rooms to change into their dress robes.

Evan's dress robes fit him perfectly, exuding an air of elegance and nobility.

Colin, on the other hand, had not initially planned to attend the ball. He had ordered his dress robes only a few days ago, and they appeared slightly oversized on his slender frame. Those who were used to wearing school uniforms found the fancy dress robes a bit unfamiliar.