Hogwarts Lion Girl

Harry watched Qiu's figure getting farther and farther away, and finally made up his mind and took a step to catch up.

He jogged all the way, his heart beating wildly and his breathing becoming rapid.

Running behind Qiu, he gently patted Qiu's shoulder and said, "Wait a minute."

Qiu turned around and saw that it was Harry, and a gentle smile appeared on his face: "What's wrong? Harry."

Harry's cheeks flushed slightly. He took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to ask, "Um, may I ask if you have a dance partner?"

Cho blinked, seeming a little surprised that Harry would ask this question.

She shook her head slightly to indicate that she had no dance partner yet.

Harry quickly continued, "I want to invite you to be my dance partner! Is that okay?"

Qiu was stunned, obviously not expecting Harry to extend an invitation.

She looked at Harry quietly, as if thinking about something.

Harry's palms were sweating as he waited nervously for Cho's answer.

After a while, the corners of Qiu's mouth rose slightly, revealing a sweet smile.

She nodded gently and said, "Okay."

Harry was stunned for a moment. He couldn't believe his ears and stammered, "You...you agree?!"

Qiu smiled and nodded again, answering affirmatively: "Yes."

Harry suddenly felt relieved. He said excitedly, "Thank you, thank you for accepting my invitation!"

……

Ron became even more anxious when he learned that Harry also had a dance partner.

Before he knew it, he had reached the foyer, which was bustling with people coming and going.

The students gathered in twos and threes, talking about the Yule Ball, and Ron listened absentmindedly.

"Ron?" A sweet voice interrupted Ron's thoughts.

He looked up and saw Fleur Delacour standing in front of him, her long silver hair cascading down behind her like a waterfall, and her pair of aquamarine eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts.

Ron suddenly felt his heartbeat quicken and his cheeks began to heat up.

He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Furong's beauty suffocated him and made him feel even more inferior.

"What's wrong with you, Ron?" Fleur saw Ron standing there in a daze and asked with concern, "You don't look well."

Ron took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He didn't know what happened to him, but he blurted out, "Furong, will you...will you be my dance partner?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ron regretted it.

He wanted to find a hole in the ground to crawl into. How could he say such a thing?

Fleur was the most popular girl in the school, and he, Ron Weasley, was just an ordinary, even clumsy boy.

The students around heard what Ron said and cast curious glances at them.

Ron felt his cheeks burning even more, and he wished time could go back so he could take back what he had just said.

Fleur was stunned for a moment, obviously not expecting Ron to suddenly invite her.

She looked at the curious eyes around her, then looked at Ron's red face, and a polite smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

"I'm sorry, Ron," Fleur said in a gentle but firm voice, "I've already accepted someone else's invitation."

Ron felt dizzy, as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his head.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.

Fleur smiled at him and then turned away.

Ron stood there blankly, his face pale, like a sculpture that had lost its soul.

The students around him began to whisper, and their gazes pierced Ron's self-esteem like needles.

Ron didn't know how he left the hall. He only remembered that he was in shock and his mind was blank. He had no idea why he did that.

Now he just wanted to find a place where no one was around and calm down.

In a trance, Ron saw the frozen pool at the door. Even the biting cold wind in winter could not freeze it completely, and there were still some unfrozen areas on the water surface.

A tall figure stood by the pool with his back to him, seemingly talking to someone.

Ron recognized Krum, the star player on the Quidditch field.

Standing opposite him, Hermione was talking to him with her face turned sideways. The winter afternoon sun shone through the hallway window onto her face, casting a warm halo on her hair.

They seemed to say something, and a look of surprise appeared on Hermione's face, but it was quickly replaced by a faint smile.

She nodded slightly, accepting Krum's invitation, and then the two walked side by side towards the library, their backs quickly disappearing around the corner of the corridor.

Ron and Hermione looked at each other briefly. In that brief moment, Ron saw surprise in Hermione's eyes, and a hint of emotion that he could not understand.

Maybe it's sympathy, maybe... pity?

Ron's heart suddenly contracted. He felt like a clown, performing a ridiculous farce in public.

Lost, frustrated, and a hint of anger and jealousy that he himself couldn't figure out, all kinds of complex emotions surged into his heart like a tide, almost drowning him.

Ron slumped his shoulders, turned silently, and walked towards the common room.

……

The dormitory was in a mess as everyone was getting ready for the dance that evening.

Neville was fumbling with his bow tie in front of the mirror, Seamus was trying to get a lock of hair into the right position, and Harry was rummaging through his ball gown.

Only Ron was curled up motionless on his bed, with the curtains drawn tightly, as if it was a barrier against the noise outside.

"Ron, what's wrong with you?" Harry noticed Ron's abnormality, put down the robe in his hand, walked to Ron's bed, and asked worriedly, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Ron didn't respond, but just huddled closer.

Harry reached out and pulled Ron's quilt worriedly, "Ron, are you in there? What happened?"

"I'm fine," Ron's muffled voice came from under the quilt, "I just... don't want to go to the dance."

"Why?" Harry was puzzled. "This is the Yule Ball! Everyone has been looking forward to it for a long time!"

"I don't have a partner." Ron's voice was low and depressed.

Harry was stunned for a moment, then realized that Ron must still be feeling sad about Fleur's rejection of him.

"It's no big deal," Harry tried to comfort him, "Maybe you can go to the scene and look for it."

"That's different," Ron's voice was full of desolation, "Besides, my dress robe...it's too old and looks ugly. I don't want to appear in front of everyone wearing it."

Harry knew that Ron was telling the truth. Ron's dress robe was what Charlie had left over. It was old in style and a little gray in color, which made it look even duller under the light.

Harry wanted to say something else, but finally sighed helplessly.

He knew that what Ron needed now was not comfort, but to get out of it on his own.

"Well, think about it yourself." Harry patted Ron's quilt, turned around and left the dormitory with the others.