After parting ways with Draco, Pansy and Hermione led Goyle and Crabbe toward the viewing area.
The school hadn't required every student to attend, but judging by the growing crowd pouring out of the castle, it was clear such a rule wasn't necessary at all.
Pansy and the others moved slowly with the flow of people...
As always, whenever Slytherin and Gryffindor met, it was like water meeting fire—impossible to coexist peacefully.
"We brought tons of tissues! Even if you lose, you can cry yourselves dry!"
"Hmph! Harry's performance will definitely… will show you that Gryffindor's Champion is the most outstanding!"
The Slytherins cast a sidelong glance at the Gryffindor who'd changed his wording halfway through. The sneer they gave him made the flustered little lion blush bright red.
No one was an idiot. Even Gryffindor couldn't bring themselves to claim Harry Potter was stronger than Draco Malfoy.
And because of that, every time they argued with Slytherin lately, they inevitably ended up at a disadvantage...
"We'll never acknowledge it! A Death Eater as Hogwarts' Champion? He must've used some underhanded trick!"
Hearing the jabs aimed at Draco, Pansy and Hermione barely reacted anymore. When they couldn't match Draco in ability, the wizards who disliked him could only attack him from this angle and use it as their excuse to oppose him...
"This again?"
"Forget them. Leave it to Goyle and Crabbe. What matters right now is Draco. I just hope nothing goes wrong."
"Mm… With how confident Draco looked, I doubt anything will. Besides, did you notice?"
"Of course. Only those 'brave and fearless' Gryffindors wouldn't see what's happening right in front of them."
"…Don't forget I'm a Gryffindor too!"
Hermione tore her gaze from the sky, which had suddenly turned gloomy, and shot Pansy a glare, catching the meaning hidden in her tone.
Was she calling her reckless… or courageous but brainless?
Cough. Probably both…
…
The first match of the Triwizard Tournament was set to take place at the Quidditch Pitch, the only venue large enough to hold all the students and staff.
Right before everyone's eyes, the massive structure was slowly transformed into a battlefield fit for the competition. The goalposts that fans loved and hated in equal measure were dismantled, and the towering stands built for visibility were leveled. Before long, the Quidditch Pitch had been reshaped into a Roman-style hippodrome. Terraced spectator platforms rising in neat tiers, a clearly distinguished judges' stand, and the realistic artificial cliffs and rock formations scattered across the arena left the young wizards wide-eyed as they entered.
But what truly drew shocked gasps was the enormous creature in the center of the field—no gentle or decorative magical beast, but something far more fearsome…
Even before Draco, one of the champions, got close, the chorus of startled cries from within the arena reached his ears. It sounded as though the spectators had witnessed something astounding.
There was no time to dwell on it. Draco and the others soon reached the perimeter of the competition grounds, where a crimson-and-gold tent awaited them. Professor McGonagall came to a stop at the entrance but didn't step inside.
"Go on in, Harry. Mr. Ludo Bergmann is inside. He'll explain each step to all of you. Good luck."
"Thanks." Harry Potter responded in a flat, distant tone before wobbling inside. His unfocused state made Minerva McGonagall frown.
As she walked past Draco, the Deputy Headmistress gave him a complicated look and a small, encouraging nod.
It had to be said—Minerva McGonagall was the most professor-like professor Hogwarts had…
"Harry! Excellent, excellent! Come in, come in—relax, just make yourself at home." Draco had barely stepped inside when he heard the ever-enthusiastic voice of Ludo Bagman, who always seemed unusually eager where Harry Potter was concerned.
The tall Head of Magical Sports stood beside Harry like an oversized bear.
Aside from them, Draco also noticed that Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum had arrived early.
Fleur, seated on a wooden stool, looked completely out of sorts. She didn't even notice Harry and Draco entering. She looked nothing like the proud swan she normally was—her charming, expressive face was pale and drained, giving her a visibly unwell appearance.
It seemed the Beauxbatons champion already knew exactly what kind of deadly creature she would soon be facing…
Viktor Krum, on the other hand, appeared unchanged from usual. His stiff, somber expression remained steady, as if he were completely unaware of the danger ahead.
"Alright, now that everyone is here, I should explain the situation. I'm sure you've all been waiting for this!"
Draco ignored Ludo Bergmann's lively attempt to announce the task and didn't bother revealing that the challenge had already been leaked. Instead, he walked straight toward a table inside the tent.
There, several small objects immediately caught his attention…
"Are these… dragon models?"
On the table, flying and roaring at one another, were miniature versions of the Peruvian Vipertooth, the Hungarian Horntail, the Common Welsh Green, and the Swedish Short-Snout. It was unclear who had brought these enchanted, lifelike models here—they certainly didn't look like they belonged to the tent originally.
Draco's eyes brightened. Just as he reached out to touch the Swedish Short-Snout, he suddenly froze, recalling something.
'The number of models… and the ones they didn't have time to take back. Hermione said the original task involved dragons, right?!'
He narrowed his eyes and set the model down, falling silent.
So the task really had been changed at the last minute?
Why?
Had they discovered his ability to communicate with dragons and altered the task for fairness?
A restless unease stirred in Draco's chest…
At that moment, Ludo Bagman's voice rang out.
"What you are about to face is—a Magical Creatures designated XXXXX in danger level: a Thunderbird!!"
The instant he spoke, as if responding to his announcement—
A violent thunderstorm erupted outside the tent...
...
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