Concentric blue ripples of energy coiled systematically around the Goblet of Fire's surface in complex patterns.
As the shimmering magical lines formed and stabilized, a distinctive purple lotus symbol flashed briefly across the ancient artifact's surface before fading from visibility.
The next moment, the entire protective enchantment vanished completely.
Erwin smoothly withdrew his hand and turned to depart without offering any verbal explanation or comment.
The assembled crowd of Slytherin students dutifully followed their First Hand out of the submission classroom, leaving the remaining students from other houses thoroughly bewildered and confused.
Erwin had just implemented a carefully crafted hidden safeguard directly into the Goblet's selection mechanisms—a sophisticated protective measure specifically designed to prevent anyone genuinely unworthy or unqualified from successfully submitting their name for consideration.
It wouldn't necessarily stop a wizard of Voldemort's exceptional caliber and skill, perhaps, but it would certainly handle average students attempting to exploit loopholes or circumvent restrictions.
The precaution served primarily to save Erwin future trouble and complications.
With Voldemort currently missing from all intelligence tracking, Erwin found himself experiencing mild but persistent irritation.
Completely losing track of such a dangerous individual's location and activities meant he couldn't reliably predict the Dark Lord's next movements or strategic objectives.
He didn't yet know specifically what Voldemort was actively planning during this absence, but the ultimate objective remained transparently clear: Harry Potter.
The boy represented the final, crucial piece on this complex strategic board.
If Voldemort somehow managed to kill Harry successfully, he would achieve victory in their contest. If Erwin successfully protected and preserved Harry, Erwin would claim the win.
The fundamental dynamic was genuinely that elegantly simple.
As for Harry Potter's own personal thoughts, feelings, or preferences regarding his role in this deadly game? Completely irrelevant to the outcome.
He simply needed to survive and play his assigned part in the unfolding drama.
Several relatively uneventful days passed in steady succession.
Friday evening finally arrived, bringing with it the eagerly anticipated weekly conclusion.
The assembled young witches and wizards throughout Hogwarts were notably more relaxed than usual, the accumulated tension and pressure of the demanding week finally beginning to ease.
After completing tonight's final obligations, they could properly enjoy their weekend freedom.
The visiting students from Kunlun's academy had gradually settled into their new routine, coming to the disappointing realization that studying abroad at Hogwarts absolutely didn't exempt them from the rigorous morning training sessions and intensive evening study classes they'd hoped to escape.
Thanks to their extensively disciplined backgrounds and cultural conditioning, however, they adapted to the demanding schedule relatively quickly without excessive complaint.
The students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were likewise systematically falling into step with Hogwarts' notably demanding academic schedule, though with considerably more visible difficulty and resistance.
Meanwhile, submitted names continued pouring steadily into the Goblet of Fire throughout the week.
Virtually every single student from both Beauxbatons and Durmstrang delegations had enthusiastically thrown their metaphorical hats into the competitive ring.
From the Eastern Kunlun delegation, however, the selection process had been characteristically precise and merit-based—exactly ten students were chosen through rigorous internal evaluation, representing their institution in the upcoming Tournament with the group's full confidence.
Hogwarts' submission process, by stark contrast, had been absolute chaos throughout the entire week.
Erwin's stern warning had successfully dampened the enthusiasm of the less magically talented and realistic students, but the bravest—or perhaps most recklessly overconfident—individuals still repeatedly attempted to forcibly break through the protective magical barrier surrounding the Goblet.
They uniformly failed, of course, and invariably paid heavy prices for their misguided arrogance and poor judgment.
Erwin pragmatically ignored their self-inflicted suffering. Only the foolishly brave Gryffindors would persistently continue in such obviously futile gambling.
The Slytherins, demonstrating their house's characteristic pragmatic cunning, mostly wisely stayed back from such doomed attempts.
Only a select few ambitious individuals, like the determined Pansy Parkinson, had seriously attempted the challenge.
She had tried cleverly mimicking the infiltration method historically used by Barty Crouch Jr. in the original timeline, but fell frustratingly just short of success.
The protective magical barrier had shattered her attempt, throwing her backward forcefully and leaving her absolutely fuming with frustrated determination.
Since that initial failure, she'd been training relentlessly and obsessively, determined to attempt the challenge again before the Halloween deadline.
Erwin actively encouraged her persistent efforts. Personal motivation represented a remarkably powerful tool for accelerating magical progress and development.
That particular Friday night, Erwin strolled leisurely along the shore of the Black Lake, enjoying the cool evening atmosphere.
Charlotte trailed him at a respectful distance, accompanied by both Fleur Delacour and Sunny Finch. The small group chatted idly about inconsequential topics, genuinely enjoying the peaceful evening breeze.
Pansy Parkinson and Hermione Granger followed several paces behind the primary group, observing the interactions with noticeably tight, uncomfortable expressions.
It represented an admittedly odd social assembly.
"Erwin," Sunny said suddenly, breaking the companionable silence. "Hogwarts won't have any mandatory plans or obligations scheduled for the weekend, will it?"
Erwin nodded confirmation. "There's a major Wizarding Glory school competition tournament scheduled for tomorrow. You're absolutely welcome to attend and watch if you're genuinely interested. I've already discussed the matter with Dumbledore. Starting next week, if your respective delegations are interested in participating, you can form organized teams to compete directly against Hogwarts' established teams. It should provide excellent practical experience."
Sunny waved a dismissive hand casually. "Let the others pursue that if they want. I'm not particularly interested in competitive gaming personally. What I actually wanted to ask is this: could you possibly take me to purchase a proper wand tomorrow? I genuinely think I need one for effective spellwork. I simply cannot cast Western-style spells using exclusively Eastern cultivation methods—the fundamental approaches are too different."
"That represents a significant practical problem," Erwin acknowledged readily. "I'll absolutely take you to Diagon Alley tomorrow for proper equipment."
Sunny's face brightened immediately with a delighted grin. "Excellent! If circumstances permit, please bring the other Kunlun disciples along as well. We genuinely cannot function effectively without proper wands for Western spellwork. And we desperately need actual cauldrons, too. I really don't want to witness those idiots attempting to haul their massive alchemy furnaces into the Potions classroom ever again."
Erwin paused, genuinely puzzled. "Alchemy furnaces? They've been bringing those?"
"Exactly," Sunny confirmed, her expression darkening with remembered embarrassment. "Your Potions professor—your godfather, correct?—looked absolutely ready to hex all of us when he first witnessed them. We've been awkwardly borrowing other students' standard cauldrons all week out of desperation. The fundamental issue is that traditional alchemy furnaces require extremely precise temperature control, constantly shifting between carefully calibrated low and high heat settings. Standard potion-brewing doesn't require anywhere near that level of thermal precision. The incompatibility makes the furnaces incredibly prone to catastrophic explosions during normal use."
Erwin blinked as a recent memory suddenly clicked into place with perfect clarity. "So," he said carefully, actively suppressing amused laughter, "that absolutely deafening explosion yesterday during advanced Potions class... that spectacular disaster was actually one of yours?"
Sunny nodded glumly with obvious chagrin. "Ordinary standard alchemy furnaces don't typically make that kind of ear-splitting noise. That particular explosion was specifically mine."
Erwin released a short, genuinely amused chuckle despite his best efforts at maintaining composure.
He'd honestly thought the legendary stories of alchemists accidentally blowing up their entire workshops were merely exaggerated internet jokes and memes from his previous life's popular culture.
Witnessing the phenomenon happen firsthand in reality, however, proved genuinely amusing rather than purely theoretical.
He almost genuinely regretted missing the spectacular explosion in the upperclassmen's Potions classroom.
"Understood completely," Erwin said, successfully regaining his composure. "Return to your dormitory tonight and inform all the other disciples about the shopping trip. We'll travel to Hogsmeade village together tomorrow morning, and I'll arrange proper transportation to Diagon Alley from there. We could theoretically use Floo Powder for direct transport, but considering the genuine difficulty foreign practitioners typically experience with proper English pronunciation, I'd strongly prefer avoiding the scenario where anyone accidentally ends up materializing in completely wrong fireplaces halfway across Britain."
Sunny nodded with obvious relief. "Understood perfectly. I'll conduct a thorough inventory check tonight to determine if we require anything else beyond wands and cauldrons. Our accompanying Elder has been remarkably negligent—he didn't even arrange to take us shopping for proper textbooks or basic supplies before departure. Speaking of practical matters, how exactly do financial payments work here in your markets? We'll need to prepare appropriate currency in advance."