"I didn't do anything! He started it—"
"Shut it!" Sue cut Hermione off. "Sorry, Miss Granger. We clearly haven't been strict enough with Tom on a daily basis. I promise after tonight he'll be perfectly well-behaved around you."
The private little world suddenly turned into a crowded party.
Still, Tom thought it was kind of nice this way…
"You two, stop causing trouble." Cho pulled Terry and Sue apart. "You're Tom's roommates, right?"
"Terry!"
"Sue Li!"
They answered in perfect unison: "Hello, Senior! We're first-year Ravenclaws. Can we pre-book a dance with you for fourth year?"
Cho: "…"
"Look, you two, don't interrupt Tom and Hermione. They've got the ball in one week, okay!" Cho actually got a little angry—puffy-cheeked and adorable, like an angry baby bun.
Even angry she was cute. Tom suddenly felt the urge to tease her on purpose.
His sharp eyes spotted the paper bag Sue was clutching.
"Sue, what's that?"
"Chicken legs I grabbed from the Great Hall. Today's batch was huge… Hermione, what are you—"
"Thanks! I haven't eaten breakfast yet." Tom snatched the bag lightning-fast. "I'll save the last one for you, promise. Senior, have you had breakfast?"
Cho paused, then accepted the chicken leg Tom offered and nodded. "Thank you."
"Tom, you… Never mind. I'm the bigger person here. One for you, Terry… and Sue… that's all of them."
Sue sighed. "It's fine, I already ate in the Hall. Thanks anyway, Hermione."
You're thanking him?!
Why are you thanking him?!
Hermione was about to lose her mind.
What the hell had this bastard been doing with her body?!
If this kept up, what kind of reputation would she have among the students?!
Senior Cho, think about it! Would I ever steal someone's food?!
Sadly, Cho didn't notice anything strange.
After everyone had a quick snack, Cho cleared her throat. "Alright, we can start now. Tom, you teach Hermione the social dances first. Other boys—out!"
"We can stay and help!" Terry and Sue tried to linger, but they suddenly saw "Hermione" blush bright red.
The girl who had just stolen their food suddenly stammered, "Sorry… I'm still a total beginner, so I'll probably look really embarrassing. I don't want anyone watching…"
Sue immediately bowed, spine ramrod straight. "Understood! No one will disturb your practice. Terry, we're leaving!"
Little boys' minds were always so easy to read.
Tom had already "tea'd" Professor Snape with pure charm. Handling these two first-years was child's play.
"Senior, why don't you dance with Tom first? I'll watch from the side and learn. I still know nothing, and… you know how I am, Senior. I'm just a bookworm who's never touched dancing before."
Since they were already here, no way was Tom letting them leave.
Perfect. Time to settle last week's score with both of them at once!
Tom could barely keep the corners of his mouth from curling up as he watched the prettiest first-year girl and the most admired second-year beauty hold hands and glide lightly across the floor.
"H-how was that?" Hermione's cheeks were flushed. She rubbed her nose. "Your turn now."
"Sorry, I still haven't learned it. Can we do it one more time?"
"Hermione! You're going too far!"
Tom suddenly started fake-sobbing in a low voice. "Senior, he's yelling at me! He's scaring me! Look, he's about to hit me! Save me, Senior!"
…
Outside the door, the two self-appointed guardians listened to the noises inside, hearts racing like crazy.
"Sue, maybe we should go in and check?"
"Terry!" Sue glared at him. "Remember, we're not like Tom. We absolutely refuse to be scumbags like him! We promised we wouldn't go in, so we're not going in—no matter what happens!"
"Fine…" Terry sighed.
The kid was acting weird today, like he'd been injected with chicken blood or something.
They stood guard for a while. Sue scratched his head. "Hey Terry, didn't Tom say he doesn't have those kinds of feelings for Hermione?"
Terry: "???"
Terry grabbed Sue by the collar. "What the hell are you thinking? Get that out of your head right now!"
Unbelievable. He actually had thoughts about Hermione.
Sue gritted his teeth. "I think they're just friends. I'll ask Tom tonight."
…
"Three times now, Hermione. Your turn. Don't be shy, don't worry—I'll guide you." Cho radiated pure big-sister energy.
She took Tom's hand and led him step by step in front of Hermione.
"Hand on the shoulder, follow the music. Tom, you have to lead her properly. Yes, just like that."
One minute later.
"You stepped on my foot!" Hermione snapped.
"Tom, be patient. Every beginner makes mistakes. Just don't do it on the actual dance floor."
"Fine… Ow! You did that on purpose!"
Tom shrugged. "You have to be understanding with beginners. After all, I'm not you."
He lowered his voice. "After all, I never had a private dance instructor. This is my first time dancing—and it's this annoying social stuff."
Endure!
Once again, Tom "accidentally" stepped on her foot.
"I can't take it anymore!"
Hermione flung his hand away. "You did that on purpose! I'm one hundred percent sure!"
"Senior, Tom has zero patience. Why don't you make him leave and teach me instead?"
Hermione: "?"
Tom wants to be alone with Senior Cho?!
No way! If I'm not here, who knows what might happen!
That bastard Tom—damn it!
"…Just this once."
The two of them finally finished a full social dance without any major mistakes.
But Hermione was now completely certain: Tom had way too many beginner mistakes. He really didn't know how to social dance!
One week from now was her time to shine!
At the ball, Tom would be so embarrassed he couldn't even lift his head, and she would graciously pull him out of the darkness, throwing every single lecture he'd ever given her right back in his face!
Outside the door.
The gatekeepers finally had a job to do.
An uninvited guest had arrived.
Draco Malfoy wore an elegant dress robe under his black Hogwarts robes, and he'd clearly sprayed on cologne.
But before he could step inside, the two little Ravenclaw guards blocked his path.
"Malfoy, what are you doing here?"