Back in the common room, Rhys discovered that the atmosphere was unusually lively. Many of the Slytherin girls had gathered around Daphne and Astoria, eager to exchange a few words with them and offer encouragement.
This was very un-Slytherin behavior.
Yet it was understandable, because Daphne and Astoria carried the hopes of the entire House on their shoulders.
As for Rhys, because he usually kept a low profile and lacked the illustrious family background of the Greengrass sisters, very few people came to bother him.
Rhys was more than happy to enjoy the peace and quietly slipped back to his dormitory.
After learning the truth about the tournament from Rowena, he too began considering whether he should make some preparations.
'Should I bring that staff?'
A bold thought surfaced in his mind.
He and his three old friends each possessed a magical artifact forged from the essence of a god's body. Rhys was considering whether to use his own: the wand whose core was crafted from Jörmungandr's cerebral nerves and whose shaft was made from mistletoe wood bathed in the blood of the god of light, Baldr.
The idea flashed through his mind for only a moment before he dismissed it.
That wand was too dangerous.
Under its influence, there was a genuine possibility that he would lose control.
And if he lost control inside the alchemical world, everything would be ruined, and the contestants would suffer catastrophic casualties.
Still, even if he didn't bring the wand, he could bring other things.
After all, Rowena had assured him that although the life forms within the alchemical world possessed abilities akin to Domains, their durability was still inferior to that of true Domain Wizards.
Having made his decision, Rhys left his dormitory once more and headed straight for his secret chamber.
While Rhys was making serious preparations for the following day's competition, Helga's office received another visitor.
Dumbledore pushed open the door to Professor White's office.
"Quite an interesting doorknob," was the first thing he said. Rather than mentioning Gryffindor, he instead commented on the office's door handle.
"Professor Aries made it for me."
Dumbledore's eyebrows twitched.
That doorknob looked suspiciously similar to the one outside Ravenclaw Tower's common room.
Aside from the animal being different, it was practically identical.
"I'm pleased to see that you and your new colleague get along so well."
Helga waved her hand dismissively. She and Rowena got along well? Well, most of the time, yes. But there were occasions when she genuinely wanted to strangle that woman.
She believed Salazar felt the same way, and probably much more often than she did.
"That Gryffindor fellow who appeared today was quite an interesting character," Helga said, deliberately bringing up a topic she knew would interest Dumbledore.
"Oh? Professor White, do you have some unique insight?" Dumbledore pulled up a chair and sat down, readily accepting the intriguing topic.
"Nothing special. I'm merely excited to have seen this legendary wizard with my own eyes. He was one of Hogwarts' founders, after all. I'd never met him before."
Dumbledore merely nodded and smiled.
"I wonder why he returned to Hogwarts. Surely he didn't really come just to lead a team to victory?" At this point, both Helga and Dumbledore laughed.
Dumbledore felt that he had already obtained the answer he was seeking.
Professor White's attitude toward the man claiming to be Gryffindor was highly thought-provoking.
And she was right. Why had this man returned?
For the previous thousand years, he had remained completely hidden from the world. Why emerge now?
Could a mere tournament really have attracted him?
The entire Hogwarts castle was enveloped in an atmosphere of excitement and restlessness.
Dumbledore was speaking with Professor White. The students were discussing the tournament and the suddenly reappeared founder of Hogwarts. The independent contestants were touring the castle. The headmasters of the other schools each had their own plans.
Some were having heart-to-heart conversations with their students. Others were seeking out Hogwarts professors, trying to pry information about the tournament from them.
Among them all, Karkaroff was the most unusual.
In a gloomy underground classroom, Karkaroff stood blocking the doorway. Snape stood beside the wall-mounted ingredient cabinet, methodically organizing the magical ingredients needed for his classes.
Watching Snape carefully straighten each strand of dried nettle one by one, Karkaroff felt his anger rising steadily.
"Severus, I think what I need to discuss is far more important than sorting potion ingredients. If you need help, a single spell from me could—"
"Manipulating potion ingredients with magic is a common mistake among beginners. Your spell would interfere with the properties of the ingredients. Materials worth dozens of Galleons could be ruined that way."
Karkaroff choked back his words.
The momentum drained out of him.
In a voice bordering on pleading, he said, "Severus, it's been fully activated. You know what that means. He's back."
"But he was driven off, wasn't he?" Snape was beginning to sound irritated.
"Yes, and that's the only reason I haven't fled yet. But that mysterious wizard didn't kill him!" Karkaroff's emotions were running high. Of all wizards alive, he may have wanted Voldemort dead more than anyone, even more than most Aurors.
"He hasn't summoned us."
"But he could do so at any moment—"
"Then run. I'll speak in your defense if necessary. But I intend to stay at Hogwarts."
Karkaroff scratched at his hair.
He felt that he and Snape were in the same boat. Both had thoroughly betrayed the Dark Lord.
That was precisely why he had come to discuss the matter with Snape.
It seemed that, judging from Snape's attitude, he was determined to remain rooted at Hogwarts.
Then again, that made sense. Dumbledore was here. If Karkaroff had the same opportunity, he would probably make the same choice.
Unfortunately, Karkaroff clearly could not follow Snape's path.
"At worst, you can hide in Durmstrang's castle. It won't be easy for him to find you there, and you're not exactly his highest-priority target."
Snape's words tempted Karkaroff.
He decided to use the tournament as an excuse to stay at Hogwarts for a while longer and see whether the situation changed. Perhaps that mysterious wizard would find the Dark Lord and kill him after all.
...
Amid the restless atmosphere, half a day passed quickly.
Early the next morning, the headmasters of each school brought their students to Hogwarts' Quidditch pitch. More than a hundred independent competitors also gathered there.
Rhys and the Greengrass sisters naturally entered the stadium as well, stifling yawns.
"How are your preparations?"
"Guaranteed victory!" Daphne declared confidently.
"Don't be careless. This tournament isn't going to be as simple as you think. Bring anything useful you have. If you've forgotten something, there's still time to go back and get it."
"We've prepared everything!" Daphne patted the small satchel at her waist, which was packed with every magical item she could gather that might help in the competition.
"Good."
Rhys nodded and said nothing more, quietly waiting for the remaining contestants to arrive so that the tournament could officially begin.
____
12 Chaps ahead at Patreon.com/HornyFBI