Chapter 524: Dress Robes

On the night before Christmas, a timely snowfall blanketed the castle and grounds, adding a magical touch to the scene. Snowflakes coated the rooftops and turrets of Hogwarts, while the Black Lake froze over, its surface shimmering under the pale sunlight. Durmstrang's large ship was also encased in ice, its sail ropes sparkling with crystalline frost, making it appear far more majestic than before.

Christmas breakfast was a hearty affair, featuring steaming stew and a variety of puddings. Despite the holiday, the Great Hall buzzed with its usual activity, packed with students and staff enjoying the festive feast.

"Hogwarts food is so greasy," Fleur muttered, her tone laced with disdain as she piled her plate with tortillas and boiled potatoes. "I feel like my gown is going to be too big for me."

Kyle quietly continued eating his stew, choosing not to engage. He had grown accustomed to hearing similar complaints from Fleur recently. At times, he even wondered if she'd find a plate of plain leaves too rich for her liking.

However, Kanna, seated next to him, seemed affected by Fleur's remark. She glanced at Fleur's modest plate, which seemed barely enough to satisfy even an owl, and then at the hearty bowl of stew in front of her. After a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly set her bowl back on the table.

"It's okay, just eat it," Kyle said nonchalantly, sliding the bowl back toward her. "By the time you grow taller next year, you'll probably need a new gown anyway. You can just buy one then."

"No," Kanna murmured, shaking her head. "Not today…" She reached for some tortillas instead.

Fleur seemed to catch on and turned to glare at Kyle. Her tone grew sharp as she said, "Are you trying to suggest that I won't grow any taller?"

"No, no, I didn't mean that. You said it yourself," Kyle replied with a shrug, feigning innocence. His casual response only succeeded in making Fleur even angrier.

After breakfast, they returned to the Hufflepuff common room, where they began unwrapping Christmas presents. Fleur's gifts had also been delivered to the common room, forming a small mountain in the corner. She picked out a few items but packed the rest into her suitcase to take back to the Beauxbatons carriage.

They spent the morning sorting through their presents before heading back to the Great Hall for a sumptuous lunch. This time, the castle's house-elves had outdone themselves, creating a new treat: Crumpit Witch Shortbread. The biscuits lived up to their name, crackling loudly like fireworks with every bite, filling the hall with bursts of noise and laughter.

As the afternoon wore on, anticipation for the Yule Ball grew. The moment the clock struck 6:00 p.m., Kanna sprang from her chair and hurried off to the dormitory to prepare. One by one, every girl in the common room followed suit, leaving it empty of their presence.

"Two hours… just to change clothes?" Mikel muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Do they really need that long?"

By 7:00 p.m., as the sky darkened and the castle's lights began to glow, Kyle and Cedric put aside their game of wizard chess and returned to the dormitory to change into their formal robes.

...

By 7:30 p.m., students began emerging from the dormitories, one after another, transforming the Hufflepuff common room into a dazzling array of colors. The usual sea of school robes was replaced with formal attire, each outfit reflecting the personality of its wearer.

Mikel strode out in a dark blue formal robe, which gave him an air of newfound maturity, while Ryan sported a burgundy ensemble. As the two entered the common room, they slapped their hands on the table, drawing the attention of everyone around them.

"Ladies…" Ryan said with a mischievous grin, "you have no idea what you're missing."

"If you're talking about yourself," Hannah remarked, eyeing Ryan critically, "then I don't think I'm missing much."

"Hey, don't be mean," Susan Bones said, nudging her friend while suppressing a giggle. "He's my dance partner—at least give him a little credit."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Hannah," Ryan replied, feigning indignation. "But actually, I wasn't talking about myself. I was talking about—oh, here he is."

Everyone turned in the direction Ryan was pointing, their gazes locking onto Kyle as he stepped into the room. Suddenly, all eyes were on him.

"What's going on?" Kyle asked, looking down at his outfit with growing confusion. "Did I put this on wrong? No, it seems fine…"

Susan let out a wistful sigh. "Hannah, do you think it's too late for me to change partners?"

But Hannah didn't respond—like everyone else, she was transfixed by Kyle's appearance. For most of the Hufflepuffs, this was their first time seeing him outside of his usual school robes.

Kyle was dressed in a long black velvet gown, its understated elegance accented by a delicate pattern of gold thread along the neckline and cuffs. Though the design was simple, it elevated his appearance, making him stand out effortlessly.

"I'm so jealous…" Susan murmured. "I wonder who his partner is."

Ryan grinned knowingly. "Need I even say it?" he began, but before he could finish, a voice came from behind them.

"Are you all ready?"

Another collective gasp filled the room as Kanna stepped into view.

"I think I know who you're talking about," Susan said, staring at her. "She's… stunning."

Kanna had clearly followed Professor McGonagall's advice. Her usual loose hair was now styled into a sleek, braided bun, and her plain school uniform had been replaced with a flowing apricot-colored robe. She wore no jewelry or accessories, but none were needed—her natural beauty and elegance were captivating on their own.

"Why is everyone staring at me?" Kanna asked nervously, glancing down at her outfit. "Did I wear the wrong thing?"

Susan leaned toward Hannah and whispered, "I'm absolutely convinced they're a pair."

"They're not," Kyle said with a small smile, stepping forward. "But… you look very pretty."

"Thank you," Kanna replied softly, her cheeks faintly pink. "Are we heading to the Great Hall now? Or should we wait for Cedric? He hasn't come out yet."

"We should head to the Great Hall," Kyle said. "Professor McGonagall told us to arrive early."

"Okay," Kanna agreed with a warm smile. Together, they walked through the wooden doors, making their way to the Great Hall.

"They really do look like a perfect couple," Hannah said, unable to hold back her thoughts.

"Who's to say they're not?" Mikel added with a knowing smile.