With Christmas approaching, the festive atmosphere inside Hogwarts Castle grew stronger by the day. Students everywhere were talking about the Yule Ball, and everyone seemed a little overly excited.
The boys liked to huddle together to discuss which girls were the prettiest. Their most frequent topic of conversation was Miss Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons, guessing whom she would choose as her dance partner. Some troublemakers even tried to egg on their friends to go and invite Miss Delacour.
The girls were not doing much better. They suddenly loved appearing in the corridors in groups, as if the presence of their companions gave them immense courage. Whenever a group of boys walked past, the girls would burst into loud laughter, openly discussing and rating certain boys without any restraint.
Chapter 832