Chapter 144 "Daphne's Blooming"

Upon entering the auditorium, Skyler immediately captured the attention of many, becoming the focal point of the room.

Lately, Skyler had become increasingly elusive, seldom even dining in the Great Hall.

The number of "good guy" cards he had been issued had reached an uncountable extent, with the news spreading throughout Hogwarts.

Unperturbed by the gazes around him, Skyler strode confidently, passing by the Gryffindor table, then the Hufflepuff table, and finally, the Ravenclaw table. Without taking a seat, he made his way to his usual spot.

Sensing a shift in the atmosphere, Daphne and Astoria both lowered their heads simultaneously. From an outsider's perspective, their cheeks were already as red as ripe apples.

After a brief moment of silence, Skyler bent down, extending his right hand with the palm up.

"Miss Daphne Greengrass, will you be my dance partner?"

Daphne suddenly raised her head, her blue eyes widening, and her lips pressing tightly together. Stunned for a moment, she watched Skyler's face shift into confusion.

It wasn't until Astoria nudged her gently that she snapped back to reality, comprehending the unfolding moment.

Overwhelmed by emotions, tears of happiness welled up in Daphne's eyes.

Without uttering a word, she seized Skyler's outstretched hand, rose from her seat, and openly threw herself into his arms, embracing him tightly.

After a while, the two broke away from the embrace.

Skyler and Daphne, in unison, glanced at Astoria and Morag seated at the Ravenclaw table.

Daphne lowered her head slightly, her eyes expressing a sense of apology. She patted Skyler's arm and then addressed Astoria, "Astoria, I can't..."

Astoria swiftly extended her small hand, covering his mouth, and gently shook her head. She smiled and said, "You don't need to say anything; I understand everything." With that, she winked at Skyler.

Skyler lifted his head, gazing in the direction of Morag.

She applauded gently, signaling to Skyler with understanding and encouraging eyes. Through a single glance, the two communicated their intentions.

Skyler felt a surge of gratitude, relieved that he had declined invitations from Hermione, Catalina, and other girls without causing any true harm to them.

Why did Skyler choose Daphne as his dance partner? Aside from their lengthy relationship and shared experiences, Daphne's character made her the most suitable candidate.

Astoria was deemed too kind-hearted, even soft-hearted, while Morag neither liked nor excelled at conspiracy and calculation—qualities deemed necessary for the role of a hostess. Skyler found no better candidate than Daphne.

As the last week of the semester approached, the school buzzed with increased liveliness and noise.

Rumors about the Yule Ball circulated among the students.

Some claimed Dumbledore had purchased 800 barrels of mead from Madam Rosmerta at the Three Broomsticks, while others insisted Dumbledore had booked the Weird Sisters for a performance.

Professor Flitwick noticed his students' absent-mindedness in class and decided to suspend regular lessons.

He allowed students to move freely, engaging in games.

Most of his time was spent conversing with Skyler, discussing the impressive protective magic employed by Skyler during the first event of the Triwizard Tournament.

Professor Flitwick went so far as to write a letter of recommendation for Skyler, enabling him to participate in the European Dueling Competition, typically restricted to adult wizards.

In Professor Flitwick's eyes, Skyler's strength rivaled that of adult wizards.

Professor Binns remained impervious to distractions, persisting in his lecture on the Goblin Rebellion and the Giant Rebellion. Astonishingly, he managed to render the bloody and thrilling rebellions thoroughly dull.

Alchemy class had become a favorite among the students. Professor Borgin promptly delved into alchemical techniques relevant to the upcoming dance, including dance boots to enhance footwork, perfumes to quicken the dance partner's heartbeat, and even a mysterious waist-painting girdle.

It marked the first time Skyler observed the young witches, Daphne included, exhibit such enthusiasm and affection for a piece of knowledge.

While some professors taught with zeal, Professor McGonagall and Professor Moody remained meticulous in their instruction.

On the other hand, Professor Snape preferred adopting Harry as his godson over allowing his classmates to engage in games during class.

He glared darkly at the students, announcing that he would test their antidotes during the last class of the semester.

Skyler couldn't help but chuckle at Snape's delayed implementation of his plan to poison the wand on the day of the test, clearly indicating his careful selection of the target.

Amidst the students' eager anticipation, the Christmas vacation finally descended upon Hogwarts.

The festive atmosphere prevailed despite the teachers piling fourth-year students with a considerable amount of holiday homework.

Many students opted to remain at the school for the holidays, ensuring a lively Christmas celebration. They formed small groups, playing and laughing together, with little regard for their pending assignments.

A blanket of heavy snow covered both the castle and its grounds. Beauxbatons' light blue carriage resembled a large pumpkin frosted in winter, while Hagrid's hut, adorned like a little gingerbread house, stood nearby.

The side of Durmstrang's ship glistened with a layer of ice, rendering it smooth and translucent, with frost-dusted sail ropes completing the picturesque scene.

Meanwhile, the diligent house elves in the kitchen below bustled about, preparing hot stews and sweet puddings of diverse flavors.

On Christmas morning, Skyler was pleasantly surprised to find that his Christmas gifts had doubled compared to the previous year. A somewhat gloomy thought crossed his mind—soon, his dormitory might struggle to contain the ever-growing collection of Christmas presents.

Narcissa's gift is a pair of enchanted communication mirrors, which can be used similarly to a Muggle smartphone, but with a magical twist.

However, it is not as convenient as a wizard's Floo Network since both parties must utilize this specific pair of mirrors. If Skyler wishes to communicate with another partner, he will need to acquire another pair of mirrors.

Skyler recalls from the Fantastic Beasts movie that magical communication mirrors have the potential for expanding their functionality, indicating that there is still room for innovation.

Gareth's present is a pair of dragon skin boots engraved with ancient runes symbolizing "gravity."

When worn, these boots make Skyler feel as light as a swallow, allowing him to move at full speed, akin to a transformed werewolf.

Skyler is fascinated by this pair of boots, recognizing their potential significance. With increased agility, he becomes more confident in future battles, especially evading spells and curses, which enhances his survivability.

Daphne and Astoria each gifted Skyler a magical book, while Murray presented an elegant magic bookmark imbued with a lighting spell, facilitating nighttime reading for Skyler.

Chang Cho sent the Chang family's secret transformation technique "Celestial Metamorphosis" that Skyler had longed for. It also came with a letter of thanks from Chang He himself, expressing gratitude to Skyler for looking after Chang Cho throughout the semester.

"Celestial Metamorphosis" is an exceptionally profound art of transfiguration, involving not only the physical transformation of the body but also the metamorphosis of the mind and soul. In Chang He's own words, it is a transfiguration technique that is at least three times more challenging than becoming an Animagus.

Through this transformation technique, one can transmute their essence, such as aura, into celestial energy, embodying the saying, "This essence is not mundane, but celestial."

It extends to celestial qualities, linking one's essence with the celestial realm, resulting in enhanced abilities, including heightened senses, resilience, and spiritual connection.

Possessing and cultivating celestial energy provides numerous advantages, such as increased magical prowess, refined perception, heightened intuition, and even astral projection.

Seeing this, Skyler was exhilarated. Isn't this equivalent to multiplying his combat power by two?

Susan Bones' gift is quite impressive as well. It comes in the form of an investigative dossier detailing the dark histories of various pure-blood families throughout the years, including the Selwyn family, the Yaxley family, the Avery family, and, of course, extensive records on the Malfoy family.

These documents are the result of diligent Auror investigations, although inexplicable reasons, usually at the hands of superiors (often the Minister of Magic), have prevented their public disclosure.

Clearly, those in official positions are not as straightforward as they seem.

Mrs. Bones, acting through Susan, must have intended a significant message with this gift—making it a thought-provoking gesture!

Amidst the more straightforward presents, Luna presented a whimsical gift—an acne vine seedling adorned with a vibrant bow for added flair!

A surprising yet meaningful gift came from Hermione. She gifted an exquisite quill, seemingly ordinary to the casual observer. However, only someone as meticulous as Skyler would notice the delicately engraved "H" and "S" on the quill's feathers.

Skyler couldn't help but smile to himself, unwilling to dismiss it carelessly. After careful consideration, he stored it in a secure folder, deeming it a precious item.

[Two-way Mirror has been obtained! ]

[Boots of Gravity has been obtained!! ]

[The Secret Art of Chang's Family – Celestial Metamorphosis has been obtained! ]

[ Auror's Investigations Files have been obtained! ]

At around 7:30 in the evening, Skyler donned his evening dress and stepped out of the bedroom. While Dobby had purchased his dress from Diagon Alley, Skyler had, in fact, arranged for the owner of Twilfitt and Tattings Store, to procure it in advance.

The owner assisted him in importing materials like silk satin and black velvet from France to craft a custom outfit.

The overall fabric resembled Draco's suit, featuring all-black velvet. However, the collar boasted a satin gun lapel, providing a radiant black sheen—ensuring it would not be mistaken for clerical attire.

(Note: The wizard's attire is a Dress Robe, distinct from the Muggle suit. The original description depicts Draco in a high-collar black velvet dress, while Harry wears a similar outfit resembling a school robe, albeit in dark green. It is evident that, apart from the different fabrics used in comparison to typical wizard robes, the general design and tailoring are similar. The only variation lies in the embellishments on the collar and cuffs.)

Skyler's presence, while not the stuff of breathless admiration or causing intense jealousy among men, undeniably commanded everyone's attention.

It must be acknowledged that the allure of clothing relies on the wearer. Skyler, with his striking handsomeness and tall stature, coupled with the warrior aura surrounding him, exuded a masculine charm that elevated the simple ceremonial robe style.

Soon, Daphne made her entrance into the common room.

Daphne's blonde hair was elegantly gathered at the back of her head. She adorned an off-the-shoulder, high-cut evening gown crafted entirely from satin, accentuating her skin like freshly fallen snow. In the subdued lighting, she appeared radiant and exquisitely delicate.

While this wasn't the first time Skyler had seen Daphne in formal attire, he couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart.

Their relationship had rapidly intensified throughout the semester, making him experience a rejuvenated sense of youthful love. This pure and innocent emotion made him appreciate the joy of newfound luck.

Approaching her, Skyler gently took Daphne's soft, white hand, kissed it, and whispered, "You are the most beautiful woman tonight."