Chapter 141 "Who Is My Partner"

Hogsmeade Village, within the concealed chamber beneath Miraculous Alchemy.

Before the arrival of Skyler and the two girls, every member of the Serpentis Vigil Club had gathered there, waiting in quiet anticipation.

Observing Skyler successfully bringing in two "non-Slytherin" and "quasi-new members," Morag, hailing from Ravenclaw, couldn't contain his excitement. He swiftly approached the two girls, offering warm smiles and hearty hugs as a gesture of welcome.

Over the past few weeks, Daphne and Astoria had been diligently providing ideological guidance to the young Slytherin wizards, instilling the core principles that Skyler aimed to convey—the concept of a new world marked by equality in blood and houses. The entire process unfolded smoothly.

Firstly, both Skyler and the influential families behind Daphne and Astoria were prominent first-tier pure-blood families.

Secondly, the members of the Serpentis Vigil Club were all in their second and third years, still in the early stages of forming their beliefs.

Being Slytherins, they naturally revered strength, implying that what the authority (Skyler in this case) stated was generally accepted as correct. Dissent is often attributed to a lack of understanding.

Thirdly, even when encountering a few wizards sharing a noble background, such as Astoria's classmates, the Carrow sisters, they still possess strong family lineages and significant magical prowess.

Though they may exhibit more spirited and unruly personalities, these concerns ceased to be significant after Skyler's unexpected triumph over the Fire Dragon.

Skyler's displayed strength surpassed the understanding of an average wizard student. Notably, even Karkaroff, the formidable head of the first school, refrained from directly accepting Skyler's challenge.

Moreover, Skyler consistently bestows various perks upon club members, including study notes, snack sharing, and personal guidance. Following Daphne's example, the members of the Serpentis Vigil Club have willingly fallen in line.

Upon learning that Chang Cho and Susan would be joining this close-knit community, the existing members extended warm gazes and friendly smiles, providing reassurance to the newcomers.

"Hello, everyone," Skyler exclaimed loudly as he observed Cho and Susan taking their places beside Morag. "Today marks another special day for our collective gathering. Since the inception of this organization, I've witnessed with great satisfaction that each one of you has wholeheartedly embraced the principles of love, assistance, and support for fellow members—"

"Serpentis Vigil Club is an underground student organization," Skyler's eyes sparkled as he spoke, "But, in my heart, this is a big family that transcends blood and class. We are all one family!"

Skyler timed his pause perfectly. The excitement in Daphne, Astoria, and Morag was palpable. They clapped in unison, and the atmosphere suddenly turned into a festive cheer.

Several young wizards from less influential mixed-race families even had tears in their eyes, cheering loudly for Skyler.

Raising his right hand, Skyler hushed the crowd. He continued, "If the organization is a seedling, you are the roots buried deep in the ground. It is your participation and contribution that infuses nutrients and energy into the organization.

Your support sustains its operation and development, allowing it to thrive underground safely. Each one of you has contributed significantly, and I must say, as a member of the organization, your accomplishments fill me with pride. You should be proud of yourselves!"

Applause erupted once again, subsiding only when Skyler chose to speak.

"But," Skyler's deliberate pause held everyone's attention. Every young wizard present knew that what he was about to say was the crux of today's gathering. They waited attentively for Skyler's next words.

"The organization needs to grow," Skyler declared. "We cannot rest on our laurels and adhere to Slytherin's notions of pride and self-admiration. We must open our arms to young wizards from other houses for the organization to flourish!"

"So," Skyler began, "Today, I successfully invited Chang Cho from Ravenclaw and Susan Bones from Hufflepuff. They will both join our big family. I need you to treat them like original members, welcome them, show them respect, and help them integrate into our big family as soon as possible."

"They are our precious members," Skyler emphasized, "Using the analogy from before if we consider the organization as seedlings, they are new branches extending the tentacles of the organization to new places, guiding us to explore new corners that we have not touched before."

"Therefore," Skyler's tone carried a hint of urgency, "I hope everyone can treat them as you treat me and do your best to provide them with cooperation and assistance to the best of your ability!"

With that, the meeting was adjourned. The young Slytherin wizards departed first, leaving Skyler, Daphne, Astoria, Morag, Cho, and Susan behind.

Skyler and Morag proceeded to explain the organization's purpose, charter, regulations, and future plans in detail to the two new members. Only then did Cho and Susan truly comprehend Skyler's dreams and ambitions, his genuine philosophy, and the future he aimed to create.

The eyes of Cho and Susan gleamed with admiration and enthusiasm.

Susan remarked, "Skyler, I never knew you had such a lofty ideal. Although the road ahead may seem challenging, I believe in you. You can undoubtedly lead us to realize your vision."

"The world of Datong..." Cho murmured thoughtfully, "A world where pure-blood wizards and Muggle wizards coexist harmoniously, a world that treats intelligent species kindly, eliminates slavery and hatred..." She gazed steadily at Skyler and continued, "If you accomplish this feat, I'm afraid you will replace Merlin and become a legend for future generations!"

From that day forward, Cho and Susan discreetly began recruiting new members for the Serpentis Vigil Society from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, focusing on 2nd and 3rd-year wizards.

Time passed swiftly.

With the assistance of various members of the Serpentis Vigil Club, Cho and Susan initiated the recruitment of new members for their respective clubs.

During this period, an announcement from Professor McGonagall graced the notice board. The Yule Ball, a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and a fantastic opportunity for young wizards to socialize and build friendships was set to take place in the auditorium on Christmas Eve from eight o'clock until midnight.

Aspiring participants were advised to prepare their robes promptly and extend invitations to their chosen dance partners.

The Yule Ball was exclusive to students in grades 4 and above. Those below grade 4 could participate by securing a senior student's dance partner invitation.

The buzz about the Yule Ball echoed across the entire campus like a whirlwind, swiftly becoming the focal point in the minds of nearly every fourth-grade and above wizard.

Excitement permeated the air as students contemplated the prospect of inviting someone of the opposite sex they admired or harbored a crush on as their dance partner. Amidst the general enthusiasm, Skyler found himself facing an unexpected challenge.

Unlike previous years, where only a handful chose to remain at Hogwarts during the Christmas holidays, this year saw a significant shift. Every student above the fourth grade seemed compelled to stay, all utterly engrossed in the impending prom.

This sentiment, however, was particularly prominent among the girls. For those with a penchant for romantic fantasies, the grandeur of the prom, a dashing prince, and elegant dancing embodied the fairy tale dream they yearned for.

Skyler, unwittingly positioned as the epitome of many girls' dream lovers, suddenly realized the sheer multitude of female students at Hogwarts. Their collective presence, previously overlooked, now manifested in giggles and whispers echoing through the hallways.

Every boy's passage drew shrill laughter, and excited discussions about attire for the Christmas night filled the air among the girls.

Ever since a daring fifth-year Ravenclaw girl, encouraged by her peers, took the courageous step of asking Skyler to be her dance partner on the way to the Great Hall for dinner, chaos ensued.

Deprived of the opportunity for a peaceful meal, Skyler found himself facing a relentless stream of girls vying for his attention.

Like ants drawn to honey, they appeared along various paths Skyler traversed daily. Pansy even informed him that his daily schedule had become a sought-after commodity, fetching exorbitant prices in galleons.

Skyler adopted a solitary approach to escape the relentless attention, moving both in and out of class alone. He employed the invisible phantom spell and activated the hidden function of the Supreme Wizard's robe, attempting to maintain a low profile.

Despite his efforts, Skyler couldn't entirely elude the fervent female fans, especially those adept at discerning the weaknesses in Skyler's gentlemanly character.

These girls skillfully presented their invitations, feigning chance encounters with Skyler. Their innocent eyes and expressions, tinged with a hint of shyness, were carefully orchestrated to match the occasion. Above all, they made sure to showcase their individual charms.

For Skyler, skillfully navigating the delicate art of tactfully refusing dance invitations while maintaining an air of helplessness is itself a test of finesse.

He endeavors to convey a sense of regret on his face, employing a gentle and gentlemanly tone as he utters, "I am honored, Miss XX, but I already have a partner in mind."

Recognizing the courage it takes for a girl to risk rejection, Skyler, as a gentleman and an educated individual, cannot outright refuse without empathy. That, he asserts, is something only excessively rigid individuals would do.

This predicament has become the focal point for classmates teasing Skyler.

Pansy, ever-smiling, remarked, "Skyler, it appears you're quite the heartthrob!"

Blaise retorted, assuming an air of arrogance, "Rejecting them is the right move. In my opinion, you're still too soft-hearted. Thank me later. A straightforward and firm rejection can make other girls relinquish their hopes. Of course, a Slytherin warrior must have a noble Slytherin lady as his dance partner."

Nott, not affording much respect to Blaise, consistently refused, tactfully exposing Blaise's less-than-honorable intentions: "Oh, come on! Do you really want the girls to abandon their fantasy of inviting Skyler only to redirect their attention to other boys?" These words left Blaise momentarily speechless.

Goyle and Crabbe could only cast pitiful glances aside, lamenting, "How envious!" These two astute individuals had the shrewdness to seek out prospects among the third-year girls who had faced rejection from Skyler.

However, given that none of these girls qualified for the dance, there was no guarantee that any of them would entertain the idea of accepting an invitation from Goyle or Crabbe after being spurned by Skyler.

As a consequence, every girl outright ignored the duo.

Draco's demeanor had evolved into a quieter and more composed state.

Having promptly established a dance partner relationship with Pansy, he faced no concerns in that department.

In a deep voice, Draco expressed, "Skyler, I understand that you have no shortage of dance partners, but I hope you carefully select the 'Champion dance partner' for the event."

The nuisance caused by the girls was, in reality, a trivial matter. What vexed him was the responsibility, as a warrior, to dance with his chosen partner. In doing so, he found himself compelled to choose one of his three girlfriends as the "Champion dance partner" for the occasion.

If he were just an ordinary student attending the dance, he could have brought all three of his girlfriends and danced with them in turn, not missing a single one.

However, as a Champion, he bore the responsibility to dance with a female partner openly, and the significance of this duty was distinct.

He found himself in a quandary—Daphne? Morag? Or Astoria?

Daphne had consistently stood by his side, diligently working for him; Morag, on the other hand, played an indispensable role in his life, preventing him from stumbling, and if he didn't invite Astoria, she wouldn't even qualify to attend the ball.

Although he was aware that, ultimately, no matter whom he chose, the three considerate girls would likely not hold it against him, he didn't want to take their understanding for granted.

In truth, the three girls had already discerned Skyler's inner turmoil, so they thoughtfully chose to remain silent. It was as if they had collectively decided to forget about the dance, never bringing up the topic of a dance partner with Skyler.

The considerate nature of his girlfriends only intensified Skyler's inner turmoil.

He sighed, compelled to confront the most significant decision of his life—

Who would be his true dance partner? Better yet, who would be his life partner?