Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 527: Chapter 525: Stirring Up Trouble

When Kael returned with pudding and pumpkin juice, he happened to see a Durmstrang boy standing in front of Conna, seemingly wanting to invite her to dance.

But Conna refused, and the boy didn’t insist; he turned and walked towards another Gryffindor girl not far away. Kael remembered her name was Parvati or something, anyway, she was in the same year as Harry.

”Have some soda.” Kael stepped forward and handed over what he was holding, ”Someone recommended that this pudding tastes good.”

Conna took the pudding and took a bite. Having just danced three dances in a row, her cheeks were slightly flushed.

”Hogwarts has never been so lively before, has it?” she said. ”Everyone seems so happy; this is simply the best Christmas.”

”Yeah,” Kael said.

Of course, it would be even better if someone didn’t keep staring at him.

Kael wasn’t referring to anyone else, but Professor Snape...

While he was dancing, Snape’s gaze had disappeared briefly, but just as he went to get drinks earlier, that prickling sensation on his back reappeared.

Kael turned his head and happened to see Snape standing by a table not far away, staring at him without blinking.

Next to Snape stood Karkaroff, looking somewhat anxious, continuously gesturing towards the door, as if there was something important he wanted to discuss with Snape.

Kael curiously tilted his head, trying to hear what they were saying, but due to the distance and the surrounding noise, he could only vaguely catch snippets.

”You know... Severus... this is important...”

”We’ve already talked about it... Igor, you’re making a big deal out of nothing...”

”Hello.” Just as Kael was engrossed in listening, a Beauxbatons girl suddenly stopped in front of him, ”Would you like to dance?”

”Sorry, I might need to replenish some energy.” Kael took a sip of the pumpkin juice beside him.

The girl looked somewhat disappointed.

”But I can recommend someone else.” Kael continued, pointing to the table with desserts, ”Harry Potter, have you heard of him? I noticed no one has invited him yet.”

”The famous Savior?” The Beauxbatons girl was first curious, then showed confusion after seeing Harry, ”He seems different from the legend.”

”Probably hungry, or maybe just covering the awkwardness of not being invited.”

”Is that so?” The girl hesitantly walked over.

When Kael turned his head, he happened to see Conna looking at him with a strange expression.

”It’s rare for Hogwarts to hold a ball...” Kael shrugged, explaining, ”It would be a shame to just sit here and eat buffet all night.”

”That’s not what I meant.”

For some reason, Conna’s face turned even redder. She looked at the cup in Kael’s hand, speaking in a very soft voice, ”I already drank from that cup of drink earlier.”

”Sorry, but I’ll take this one.” Kael smiled, ”Dancing is quite a workout, I really don’t want to go for another round.”

”Alright... okay...” Conna said, her voice almost inaudible.

”Thanks.”

”Ah, it seems our Champion likes pumpkin juice a lot.” A cold voice came from behind.

Snape, who appeared behind Kael without notice, forcefully took the cup from Kael’s hand and rudely handed over another cup of pumpkin juice.

Due to the excessive force, quite a bit of juice splashed out, spilling on Kael’s dress robe.

”It’s okay if you don’t want to move, I can help you get it.” Snape said with a cold gaze, ”Don’t be shy, drink up.”

”Uh... Professor.” Kael laughed awkwardly twice, ”I just had some... um... don’t need it for now.”

He couldn’t be serious, even with ten times the guts, he wouldn’t dare drink something Snape handed over.

”Really...” Snape drawled.

He seemed about to say more, but fortunately, a quarrel not far away caught his attention.

Snape looked toward the noise, finding Hermione and Ron as the arguing parties, then drew back his gaze again... evidently not planning to resolve that conflict.

”Whenever you feel like having pumpkin juice, just come find me, guaranteed more than enough.” Snape said sinisterly, then returned to his previous spot, looking just like an owl on watch.

He didn’t choose to take Conna away from the ball... probably because the Hufflepuff Common Room was almost empty at this time.

At least here he could keep an eye on things and intervene if needed.

So Kael was stuck, he couldn’t go anywhere, couldn’t dance, couldn’t leave the auditorium, and as a last resort, he joined Harry’s buffet line.

However, Harry and Ron didn’t seem to be having a great time either. Hermione was nowhere to be seen, and Ron was complaining about something, then he also left the auditorium with Harry.

Kael and Conna went to the other side of the table, sitting at a spot farthest from the dance floor, eating pudding and muffins, chatting idly about the Triwizard Tournament, guesses at the second task, Cedric’s awkward dance moves... anything that came to mind.

Looking at Conna, she seemed quite content with the current situation.

Occasionally someone would come to invite them to dance, but both of them found reasons to decline.

An hour later, the ball turned into Fred and George’s stage, as the two ditched their respective dance partners and began an exuberant tap dance without a care in the world.

The Weird Sisters were also drawn in, and the originally soothing music instantly turned into a lively drumbeat.

Realizing this, folks around eagerly joined in... this time, even Kael and Conna couldn’t just sit there as they were dragged into the center of the dance floor by Cedric and Cho.

The atmosphere of the ball peaked at this moment.

...

It went on until midnight, when the Weird Sisters stopped playing.

Everyone applauded them warmly and then started heading towards the foyer.

”That was amazing...”

”I love the Weird Sisters, never thought the school could get them to come...”

”Hope we get another chance like this, it would be great to have it every Christmas...”

”Probably not, remember this is the Triwizard Tournament ball...”

”That’s why I’m saying I hope so...”

Everyone was chattering as they reached the foyer.

Karkaroff finally seized the opportunity, dragging the red-eyed Snape outside to the castle grounds.

”Phew, he’s finally gone.” Kael said with a breath of relief.

Conna chuckled beside him, covering her mouth. ”No worries, maybe there will be another ball next year.”

”If that’s the case...” Kael glanced toward the castle gate, ”I hope the Headmaster finds something to keep Professor Snape busy, as long as he doesn’t stay at Hogwarts.”

After all, he didn’t seem interested in dancing at all, did he?”

...