Author: Muduoduomu

The original story page: http/onebook.php?novelid=3415654

Chapter 34. The expecting Yule Ball

The end of the first game gave the students in the castle something to talk about.

Reporters from the Daily Prophet came to Hogwarts again to interview the champions.

Harry was hardly stopped again. At the critical moment, Hermione bravely went up, but was too annoy to reply a few unkind words to the witch.

The next day the newspaper disclosed Hermione was Harry's girlfriend.

However, she described Hermione as a bit trying to take advantage of Harry's "savior" aura.

In a vivid way.

The several paragraphs of Hermione's angry words were cleverly combined by the reporter to a new context, which revealed her a short-sighted girl who wanted to step on Harry in the newspaper.

It made people want to get her out and gave her a slap.

Recently, there were plenty of students paying attention to the Daily Prophet. In the past, it didn't have so many customers, after all, there were few students willing to read newspapers.

Della had never read before.

But she borrowed Hermione's every day.

Hermione ordered it for the whole year.

She became famous all of a sudden.

"She's… horrible." Hermione was about to explode, so as to Harry, he said solemnly, "we can write a letter of protest to the newspaper."

Her can't stand his girlfriend being so humiliated.

Ron rarely calmed down. "I don't think it's going to work. It's useless even if the writer is you." He said to Harry, "it's just a story anyway, people will soon forget it, after all, there's so much news every day."

Della had a gloomy feeling, but she couldn't come out any good way. After all, it was a newspaper thousands of miles away. Should they catch the woman and beat her up?

The feeling had proved to be correct.

Not everyone in Hogwarts was familiar with Hermione. Even Gryffindor believed the report and regarded Hermione as a creep, who deceived Harry. Lavender advised Harry in Herbology not to believe the girl's tricks.

Harry replied politely, "of course, as you say, I won't believe it."

His support comforted Hermione a lot. The whole day, as she walked with Harry, everyone was staring at her and whispering behind.

The next day, thing went worse, when Hermione received countless number of letters from readers. It fully showed how large population of readers the Daily Prophet had.

Letters, without exception, were accusing Hermione. Some of them were gentle, only politely greeting Hermione herself and her manners; some were rude and directly attached evil curses and potions to their letters.

Hermione was badly hurt and had to go to hospital wing, and her hand was severely burned by the Bubotuber pus contained in a letter.

Harry was mad with anger.

He began to be inseparable from Hermione, opening letters for her. After he was attacked by two letters, Hermione's letters disappeared all at once.

Ron said optimistically, "maybe, they've finally stopped?"

Hermione shook her head. She didn't think so. "It's a good news, anyway."

Christmas was coming.

This year was particularly different. There would be a Yule Ball.

Della began to regret she had used her hair dye too early, now her hair was not as bright as it was when it was first dyed.

"I should buy another pair." She looked at her money and sighed deeply.

She also needed to buy Christmas presents.

Hermione's burned hand was much better now. In her words, she could finally hole the quill to write her homework.

She said, "I'll go with you."

Della: "Why not Harry? You can date at Hogsmeade, where there are lots of good shops."

The whole business street was almost all for Hogwarts students, how could there are not a dating destination?

There was a cake shop called Pumpkin Cart across from Cinderella, the pumpkin cake in it tasted like the one on the Hogwarts Express. Della thought the five pounds of her body was coming from this pumpkin cake.

Hermione shook her head. "We all think it's better not to be too close outside." She raised her hand and sighed deeply, "I couldn't do my homework last week."

Della shook her head, "good student."

Hermione let out a sigh of displeasure.

Della was glad that Hermione would be with her, because Fred and George had been crazy lately. It's said that the biscuits were popular in Hogwarts.

"For business." Fred was kissing the parchment with the long names on it.

"For Galleons." George imitated him. They held the parchment as if they were holding a girl's hand.

Fred apologized to Della, "honey, you must… "

"I understand. Go away." Della gave him a blank look and was no longer very angry.

She meant, it had been two years, she had used to it.

As Hermione said, if she couldn't do without him, she could only get used to it, to accept the person she loved was such a fool.

Hermione and Della were walking along the path to Hogsmeade.

"Be happy. At least he's got Christmas present ready."

"Yes." Katie said.

Della: "But in this case, I can't buy lipstick. What if I buy a duplicate one?" She didn't mind having two same one, but that would reduce the surprise.

Angelina had an ominous hunch, she had known twins longer than Della, and they had been teammates for five years.

…She didn't think Fred would be so romantic. Preparing Christmas present more than a month in advance? His character was more like buying presents a week before the festival.

But she didn't speak out. She decided to ask Fred when she went back. If he was indeed ready, that would be fine; if not, she would remind him that Della was looking forward to a new lipstick.

The four girl's journey to Hogsmeade was very fulfilling. They spent every cent of their Knut, preparing for the coming Yule Ball.

Katie looked at the cosmetics, perfume, hair bands and brooches she bought scattered on her bad, worried, "but no one has invited me yet."

She said to Della, "you must be with Fred, Angelina with George, Hermione and Harry, of course. Who will go with me?"

The most painful thing for a girl, apart from not having a suitable skirt, was that nobody had invited her to the ball.

"What if, I don't have an invitation then, shall I go to the ball alone?" Thinking about that, Katie looked pale, she sat on the edge of the bed, "if that so, I'll get sick!"

It's better to lie on bed than to be uninvited.

Della comforted her, "come on! This is the Yule Ball of the Triwizard Tournament. I mean, we won't have another chance to meet such a big size one! You must go!"

The priority was to find a partner!

It firstly came out of her mind, her brother, Hans Bush, in seventh grade.

After hearing his sister's first words, Hans quickly shook his head: "no, no, no! I, I have a partner."

Della rolled her eyes. "I know — so you really get a girlfriend? Who?"

But Hans vowed to keep it secret from her.

While he promised to ask his roommate if anyone was available.

When Della appeared at Hufflepuff's table, Cedric came purposely to her, "hi."

"Hi." Della greeted.

Cedric looked around deliberately. "Fred is not here today."

Della's eyes widened. "So, are you going to pursue me?" Cedric chuckled shyly. He glanced at Ravenclaw's table and waved to Cho Chang.

It's a gentle guy, whose refusion was even as himself.

Della said, "if I hadn't fallen in love with Fred, I might have gone after you."

Cedric smiled. "Thanks. By the way, would you like to see the golden egg?"

Della had helped him and he always wanted to repay. The golden egg that the champion got in the first task was the clue of the next one, which had been passed by Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

Della immediately said, "of course, I want to have a look! Do you have it with you?"

Cedric, of course, took the golden egg to Gryffindor's table, which caused a stir.

The golden egg was heavy, indeed made of gold.

Since dragons loved gold, if they made eggs with other materials, they would be picked up by the mothers as a stone for the first time.

Della knew the golden egg had to be put under the water to open it and get the clue, but she's not going to give him hints this time.

It's a competition, it should be fair.

The last time it made her feel bad.

She just hugged the egg and felt its weight, nothing else.

After that, Ron touched the gap in the egg and opened it. The shrill scream made people cover their ears unbearable.

Della stuffed her ears and said to Fred, "maybe you can make one like this. It must be scary." Open an egg or box that would scream. It suddenly hit him. He went up to observe the golden egg carefully, then came back, "although it's a little simple, simple thing will always be popular."

Della couldn't help asking him, "so, will you invite me to the ball?"

Fred immediately said, "of course, honey. I've got a Christmas present for you that you'll surely love!"

Della bit her lip, shyly said, "well, I'm looking forward to that."

In the afternoon, Angelina met Fred in the hallway. Thinking of it, she stopped him aside and asked him, "what kind of present have you prepared for Della? She's expecting to it."

Fred: "I won't tell you."

Angelina: "Com' on! I'm not going to tell her."

Fred: "No, no, no, the surprise should stay until the end." And then he slipped somewhere.

Angelina looked at his back and sighed, "well, then you're better praying for your good luck, if you make a mistake."