The name of this notification first piqued everyone's curiosity.
"May Challenge?" Padma wondered, "Is there also a June Challenge?"
"A monthly event?" Michael said excitedly, "That's great!"
"Wouldn't the June Challenge be the final exams?"
Suddenly, a voice that dampened everyone's spirits came from behind. Everyone turned to look, and sure enough, it was Hermione.
The girl seemed very expectant, nodding to herself: "The final exams aren't far off. We really should make the most of our time."
"Never mind what June might bring!" Fred, who was also stuck outside, craned his neck and shouted loudly to the people inside: "Wood, what's written on the back?"
Gryffindor's team captain Wood continued reading the notice aloud, using magic to amplify his voice.
"May Challenge... This event will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 16th, and the challenge target is an enlarged Ball Python."
"Students, please note, the Ball Python is Professor Kettleburn's personal pet, so the following spells are prohibited on the Ball Python, such as Defodio, Incendio, Eye Disease Spell, Entrail-Expelling Curse..."
Following was a list of spells, including a note prohibiting the use of any Poisonous Curses.
Then came the rules of the competition and the criteria for winning.
This is a more playful competition, so it's not strictly fair. The participating teams need to draw lots to determine their entry order, then overcome numerous obstacles before finally facing the Ball Python.
The enlarged python is originally a gentle creature, but under the effect of a spell, it will be filled with anger towards the participants. The participants need to avoid attacks and ensure their own safety, while leaving their team's name on the Ball Python's scales.
The team whose name is closest to the little red flag in the center of the Ball Python's forehead will be the final champion.
"Oh, damn!" A Slytherin student cursed angrily in the crowd: "I've been practicing the Eye Disease Spell for two weeks!"
It was obvious that he had gotten some advance information, but it wasn't complete.
Michael and George exchanged a mischievous grin and secretly high-fived.
"What are you all doing?"
At the entrance of the castle, Filch stood there, staring grimly at the crowd of students.
"No loitering in the entrance hall!"
Hufflepuff's Macmillan boldly shouted: "There's no such school rule!"
Filch looked over grimly but couldn't identify who was speaking. He gave a cold snort: "If you keep blocking here, there soon will be! Move it right away!"
The crowd finally started to wriggle forward, and as they passed through the entrance hall, Vid nodded at Filch, who gave a small nod back, his facial expression subtly shifting for a moment.
Then immediately, he put on a stern face again, harshly urging the students behind to move along.
Vid and Michael went inside and saw Harry and the others already seated at the end of the Hufflepuff table. Upon seeing them, Theo immediately stood up and waved.
So Vid and his group also headed over, and the nearby Hufflepuff students kindly made room for them.
At Hogwarts, it's a bit inconvenient in that, even during meals, students usually have to sit at their own houses' tables.
For groups like SSC, composed of members from several houses, meal times meant separating, making conversations inconvenient. So, they gradually got used to sitting at the same table.
Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students tended to be exclusive, but Hufflepuff was much better; even with students from other houses at their table, the little badgers usually didn't mind and even pushed the good food towards them.
To them, their house being popular was something to be happy about.
"Honestly, Vid, it would be great if you joined our team," Padma said. "That way, we'd have a great chance at winning."
Vid shook his head: "Even if we win, others might think it's because of me. Besides, with Harry on your team, you already have a good chance of winning."
"—Me?" Harry, gnawing on a drumstick, looked up in confusion.
When everyone turned to look at him, Harry blushed and hurriedly waved his hand: "Don't forget there are many sixth and seventh-year students participating! They know far more magic than we do."
"No need to be so modest, Harry, your magical skills are already good enough," Vid smiled and said, "Moreover, according to this competition's criteria, compared to others, you have a significant advantage."
"An advantage? What is it?" Leian looked from Harry to Vid and asked.
Although everyone in SSC believed Harry had a strong talent for combat spells, claiming he was stronger than sixth and seventh-year students seemed exaggerated to them.
Vid gestured for silence with his fingers, saying, "I can't say. Once it's revealed, other teams will prepare too."
"Oh..." Though Theo was puzzled, he nodded anyway.
"But to win, you first have to overcome the obstacles ahead," Vid continued, "If you fall in the early stages, there's nothing to gain."
"I've actually summarized most of the characteristics of animals, insects, and Magical Plants you might encounter in the Maze, as well as their distribution."
Hermione whipped out a thick notebook with a flourish and said, "I've also written down the simplest spells to deal with them... and planned a route with fewer obstacles."
"Hermione, you're amazing!" Michael exclaimed, taking the notebook and flipping through a few pages, then praised, "So detailed... When did you do this?"
"Uh... just over the past few weeks," Hermione said sheepishly, "I, uh, I thought you guys could use it."
"Of course, it's so useful!"
Michael passed the notebook around for everyone to see, then turned and noticed Padma pursing her lips, seemingly a bit unhappy.
Michael reached out and grabbed a strawberry mousse cake from the other end of the table: "Wow, there's this cake today. I remember you said you really wanted to try it last time!"
Padma took it and finally showed a bit of a smile.
On the other side, while everyone was passing around the notebook, Leian asked Vid: "When we're all competing, what will you do? Join the professors as a judge?"
"No," Vid replied, "Actually, Fred, George, and I have recently completed a preliminary repair of the Two-Sided Mirror. I plan to try it out during the event."