93. Well then.

The only major difference from the original timeline was the sudden disappearance of the Durmstrang ship.

The morning after the first task, whispers filled the Great Hall as students speculated about how the imposing vessel had seemingly vanished overnight. The lake, which had once housed the ghostly ship, now sat eerily undisturbed, as if it had never been there at all. With no place to stay, the Durmstrang students had no choice but to relocate inside the castle.

At breakfast, Dumbledore addressed the situation calmly, stating that arrangements were being made for the displaced students. He and Karkaroff had spent hours scouring the lake's depths, but there was no trace of the ship, prompting an increase in security around Hogwarts. The loss of their home left many Durmstrang students tense and uneasy.

I, however, knew the truth. The ship—called the Dutchman—was no ordinary vessel. It possessed powerful enchantments, allowing it to travel underwater, phase between different bodies of water, and even summon a dense, disorienting mist to shroud its movements. Its exterior looked like a classic ghost ship, with torn black sails and floating will-o'-wisp-like blue flames, but inside, it was surprisingly elegant and cozy, a stark contrast to its haunting appearance. Functioning somewhat like a submarine, it could be piloted from within.

That raised a significant question: Who had taken it?

Of course, the true culprit sat right at the Ravenclaw table, surrounded by beautiful women. I might have been a suspect—if not for my airtight alibi. Thanks to my speed, I had been accounted for with Bagman and the others when the ship vanished. It seemed whoever was behind it had miscalculated their timing.

With the mystery of the missing ship lingering in the air, life at Hogwarts moved forward. The next major event on the horizon: the Yule Ball.

---

With the first task behind us, we finally had a few months to relax. The golden egg's clue was unchanged, meaning the next challenge involved diving into the Great Lake to retrieve something—or someone. While that was a problem for future me, the most immediate concern was the Yule Ball.

And I was in trouble.

Fleur was my official partner for the opening dance, but I had also promised dances to Yue, Hermione, Rachel, and Luna. Even Serenity might try to slip in unnoticed.

This, of course, meant one thing: dress shopping.

The moment the announcement was made, the girls descended upon me like a pack of hungry wolves. Hermione eagerly debated dress options, Luna excitedly discussed accessories, and before I could blink, I found myself being dragged into Hogsmeade, doomed to serve as their dress-up doll.

Gladrags became a battlefield.

While the girls hunted for the perfect gowns, I endured the torture of being measured, styled, and stuffed into various dress robes. Some were elegant, some were outright ridiculous, and some looked like they belonged in a historical reenactment rather than a ball. Yue and Fleur took particular joy in making me try on different styles, whispering teasing remarks between giggles.

Rachel, usually the voice of reason, at least ensured I got something comfortable. Hermione and Luna, however, had opinions. Luna insisted on robes with Wrackspurt-repelling properties, while Hermione advocated for something refined yet practical.

In the end, I settled on dark blue dress robes accented with silver—a fair compromise between looking stylish and maintaining my sanity. The girls each found their own stunning dresses, though they refused to let me see them until the night of the ball.

With shopping done, I thought I was finally free.

I was wrong.

The next hurdle was ballroom dancing. Fleur took the lead, and what started as a simple lesson quickly became a competitive event as my dates vied for extra practice time with me. Serenity, ever the wildcard, somehow managed to slip in despite her usual tendency to remain in the shadows.

Between the endless dress fittings, dancing lessons, and the ever-mounting anticipation for the ball, I came to a single conclusion:

Unless you have infinite stamina, never get a harem.

---

Despite the tournament looming in the background, Hogwarts life continued as usual. Classes were the main focus again—Potions, Transfiguration, Charms—all while balancing personal training. I sparred with Yue, Rachel, and Serenity, and even introduced Fleur to some basic combat techniques.

Meals in the Great Hall remained lively. Fleur grew bolder in her affection, Luna continued to spout bizarre but amusing theories, and Hermione made sure we all kept up with schoolwork. Ravenclaw Tower, as always, was quiet and studious, but we spent more time in my house trunk or the library than anywhere else.

Speaking of the house trunk, a new addition had appeared: a second Vanishing Cabinet, right beside the first. I had no idea where Fleur had got it, but she now used it nightly to sneak into my room—sometimes for cuddles, sometimes for more—depending on whether Luna had come for cuddles. One thing was sure the veela absolutely refused to sleep alone.

Despite the missing ship and the tournament, there were no major threats, no lurking Death Eaters, no dark plots unfolding in the shadows. For once, Hogwarts felt... normal. Well as normal as a school filled with magical teenagers could be.

It might sound boring, but life isn't always about grand adventures and life-or-death battles. Sometimes, it's just about going to school, hanging out with friends, and making memories.

Harry for sure owed me, maybe before I left this world I should give him the books showing how his life would have turned out without me? That would be interesting to watch.