Chapter 53: Invitation

After completing the first task, Leo returned to his research room. When he opened the door, Hermione and Ku greeted him.

"Welcome back, Leo. Are you tired? I can prepare some tea right away."

"Welcome back, Master Leonard. The dragon was rampaging, so I had to calm it down."

"I'm back. I'll have some tea. Good job, Ku."

After having a cup of tea, he decided to check on the dragon he had stored in a storage space he had created inside his research room using a door.

The dragon was restrained with chains but seemed to be calm. Its head was bleeding where its scales had been scraped off.

"Did Ku cause that wound on its head?"

"I'm embarrassed to say... It was resisting so much that I had to hit it once."

For now, he decided to administer an intelligence-enhancing drug to the dragon and have a conversation with it.

"Can you hear me? Thanks to the magic potion I just administered to you, you should be able to understand my words."

"...I can hear you. I have been defeated by you... I won't resist anymore, do as you please..."

"That's quick. Let me get straight to the point. I want you to become my experimental subject. Do you have any wishes?"

"...I did. I was the strongest in my species. Not only that, but I also had a desire to become the strongest being in this world... Now I am defeated and disgraced."

"Hmm, the strongest being... Alright, here are your options. Either have your consciousness erased and become a biological weapon or follow me and become the strongest creature. Well, either way, I'm going to modify you."

"...If I undergo this modification, will I become stronger?"

"I guarantee that you'll become stronger than you are now."

"...Very well. From now on, I will acknowledge you as my master. But be warned, if there is an opening, I will take your life. When I become the strongest being, you will be my first target!"

"Hahaha. That's fine. After all, I'll take multiple safety measures. If you can break through them and aim for my life, it means my measures were insufficient, so I can't blame you."

And so, Leonard Taylor's dragon modification plan started on a whim.

Several weeks after the first task ended.

This Christmas, a dance party is being held because the Triwizard Tournament between the three major magic schools is being held. The reason why dress robes were specified in this year's belongings has been revealed.

The students were excited about who to invite as their partner.

The representative players are no exception. Rather, they need a partner because they have to dance first.

Cedric is popular and is invited by students from all dormitories and grades regardless. However, there were no girls targeting Cedric right away because he seemed to have someone in mind.

Krum is also a popular Quidditch player and is invited almost every day.

More amazing was Fleur. Every time she walked 5 meters she received an invitation to the dance party and she seemed truly overwhelmed.

Now speaking of Leonard Taylor...

"Master Leonard hasn't been invited by anyone?"

"That's right. I'm not interested so I thought it would be okay not to participate."

"No! You must participate! You will definitely get an invitation! No, if it doesn't come then Master Leonard should invite someone!"

"Uh, okay." 

Leo nodded involuntarily at Ku's unexpected opposition. The students at Hogwarts knew about Leo and Hermione's relationship, or rather, they recognized them as a couple, so there was no option for Leo to be invited.

Of course, the same could be said for Hermione. Only a few boys from Gryffindor with red hair and freckles had made advances towards Hermione. The result goes without saying.

(Ah, Mother. If you don't hurry up, I might suggest making me your partner. Fight on!)

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Hermione Granger was troubled.

Of course, it was about the Christmas party. She had received several invitations to be a partner, but she had declined all of them. The only person she wanted to dance with was her crush, Leonard Taylor.

She would prefer if Leo invited her. But Leo, who doesn't pay attention to things he's not interested in, can't be expected to do that.

(But... maybe... No, should I invite him? If I invite him, will he say okay? I'm sure it'll be fine, or maybe he'll find it bothersome and refuse?)

She hadn't been able to invite him because of these thoughts. She's still in the library reading a book now, but not a single line of content is entering her head. Despite it being a holiday, she has been worrying since morning. When it was getting dark, Hermione finally made up her mind to invite him and left the library.

And there was one boy watching her...

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"This is no joke."

Fleur Delacour was lost.

Yes, this is Hogwarts, where newcomers would definitely get lost due to its labyrinth-like structure. She had lost her way back because she had been running away from persistent boys inviting her to the dance party. As always, men swarm around and keep inviting her. She ignores them and continues walking aimlessly.

(It's all Leonard's fault that I'm in this situation. If you're the man I fell for, come and rescue me right away!)

What an unreasonable demand. But perhaps her wish reached heaven because she could see Leonard in front of her.

(Hehehe. We are indeed attracted to each other after all. By the way, I'll invite you to the dance party. Now is the time because I've been bothered by others until now.)

Fleur approached Leo.

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Victor Krum was a Quidditch fanatic. He prioritized Quidditch over his studies, his free time, and even the books he read were all related to Quidditch. From a young age, he was only interested in broomsticks, and he devoted all his pocket money to Quidditch. He never had a girlfriend, and his broomstick was his bride. His family lamented that the Krum bloodline would end with Victor's generation.

Despite this, Krum was an excellent wizard outside of Quidditch. Since enrolling in Durmstrang, he had excelled in all subjects, not just Quidditch, and had become a favorite of Headmaster Karkaroff. The truth was that as long as he had excellent grades, he could focus on Quidditch without much complaint.

The reason he reluctantly participated in the Triwizard Tournament, a competition between three major magic schools, was because Karkaroff told him to. But once chosen, he had to fight with all his might.

However, due to the stress of not riding his beloved broomstick for a long time, he had been irritable lately. He had been invited to the dance party but honestly, he hadn't met a girl who really caught his eye.

Today, he decided to spend some quiet time alone and read a book about Quidditch in the library.

That's where Victor Krum saw an angel.

She had straight brown hair and intelligent eyes. There are various ways to describe her, but it's best to say that beautiful things are beautiful. Krum was bewildered by the first shock of his life. He had never thought that a girl could shine so brightly. She seemed to be worried about something, but even that expression was beautiful.

Krum was a man of quick action. He decided that she would be his partner for the dance party which he had been reluctant about. He saw her leaving the library and hurriedly followed her.

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Leo had left the study room and was looking for Hermione. Ku had been so insistent about finding a partner for the dance party that he had gone outside for a change of pace. And when he thought about a partner for the dance party, only Hermione came to mind.

(I thought anyone would do, but when I think about it, no one but Hermione feels right. I'll ask her if I find her.)

Hermione would probably be in the library. Thinking so, he saw Hermione walking towards him from the front. Hermione also noticed him and seemed determined as she approached.

"Hey, Hermione."

"Leo! Um, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Just as Hermione was about to say something, words could be heard from behind both of them.

"Leonard! You're going to dance with me at the dance party!"

"Excuse me, beautiful lady. Would you be my partner?"

"Eh?"

Leo and Hermione's voices overlapped. Fleur and Krum were somewhat surprised, but they quickly focused on their targets.

(What's going on? I thought I had made up my mind to invite Leo, but Fleur is inviting Leo and Krum is inviting me? What should I do!?)

Hermione is confused! But her confusion soon subsides.

"Sorry. I have to decline your invitation. Hermione, would you dance with me?"

The words Hermione wanted to hear. As soon as her brain recognized them, her thoughts cleared. Hermione turned to Krum.

"I appreciate the invitation, but I'm sorry."

Then she turned back to Leo.

"I'd love to. Make sure you lead properly, Leo."

Leo appears relieved that he has a partner, and Hermione seems delighted. Leaving Fleur and a frustrated Krum behind, the two of them returned to the study room.

The two left behind.

Fleur started talking.

"So my charm didn't work. Those two are clearly in love with each other. Ah, I'm such a fool. So did you, the Quidditch player, also have your heart broken?"

"...Well, yeah. For the first time since I was born, I was attracted to a woman more than a broom... It's frustrating but when I saw that face. Let's win the match and clear this frustration."

"Hmph. I agree. But I haven't given up yet? If there's even a slight chance, I'll keep attacking."

"I don't have any experience in this matter but... isn't it impossible?"

"Shut up!"

 After that, these two were also able to decide on partners somehow.