Chapter 76 - Yule Ball (1/2)
When Prof. McGonagall informed the students about the upcoming Yule Ball, the majority of the girls in the class turned towards Neal who was just sitting in the corner of the class silently. A few others like Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, etc... were staring at Harry and whispering each other while giggling.
Meanwhile, Daphne who is sitting beside Neal, leaned forward a bit and partially covered his face and turned towards them with a frown on her face. Looking at the expression on her face that is likely saying to back off from my man, the girls instantly took their eyes off Neal and started murmuring with each other.
Neal then whispered, ”thanks, Daph”. Seeing the reactions of the students made even the stern Professor McGonagall smile a little bit. She further said, ”Now, Slytherin and Potter, you two are the Triwizard champions representing our school. Traditionally, the champions and their dance partners open the Yule Ball, so, make sure must you get yourselves a dancing partner quickly and spend time to practice with them a little bit so that we don't have to embarrass ourselves.
As Harry tried to argue, ”but, I don't dance...” Neal replied, ”sure, no problem for me, Professor”. She nodded with a smile, ”good”, then she looked at Harry, ”you don't have any say in this, Potter”.
A few days ago, Neal would have said choosing a dance partner is a piece of cake for him as he has plenty of options to choose from. But when he realized the situation clearly, Neal began to become more troubled as he began to receive so many letters each day and requests from the girls from the third year to all the way seventh years especially the girls from Beauxbatons who were definitely in another level from the rest in terms of appearance.
Christmas is just a week away and Neal yet has to choose a partner for he has trouble choosing a girl. In the common room as Neal is reading a book near the fire, Malfoy asked, ”so, did you choose anyone?”. Neal replied, ”not yet. How about you? Did you ask Pansy yet?”.
Malfoy nodded, ”yeah, she accepted it, of course. By the way, why don't you just ask Daphne? I'm sure she would say, yes. Even Tracey would say yes for it if you ask her”. Neal then said, ”yeah, I know and that's why I don't want to ask her or Tracey”.
Malfoy frowned, ”what do you mean?”. Neal replied, ”c'mon, we stick with each other daily, anyway. Do we still need to do that even during Christmas? Just let them mingle with everyone else”. Then, he grinned, ”Who knows they might even find a guy they would come to like”.
Malfoy shrugged, ”do as you wish. But hurry up. There's only a week left”. Then as he stood up and started to walk, He suddenly stopped after a few steps and sighed as he turned back, ”I may not be as intelligent as you but even I can see you are looking for an excuse to avoid them, aren't you?”.
Neal was taken aback, ”what are you saying so suddenly?”. Malfoy then replied, ”you can fool others but just don't fool yourself, okay”. He turned back while thinking, ”Ah, saying a cool line and going away just feels so great”.
While Neal was thinking what the hell is this blonde moron talking about, Malfoy is thinking, ”I, really wonder whether he was just acting dense about Daphne's feelings or he, really doesn't know about it? After all, even I can see that Daphne likes Neal. There's no way Neal can't figure it out. Hmm, wait a second. Don't tell me Tracey also likes Neal? That's why he was avoiding it?”.