The breeze drifting through the woods stirred Harry's messy black hair. An hour had passed, and the increasingly fierce sunlight had finally managed to break through the dense canopy, leaving bizarre patches of light and shadow across the Forbidden Forest floor.
After Beauxbatons' champion assistant spoke, both teams fell silent.
How should he put it? Ever since running into Malfoy, Harry had been considering this possibility.
The students from physical education class had not entered the competition to eliminate all the champions, but to seize the School Emblems in their hands.
Harry had simply kept convincing himself that Professor Breen would not arrange things that way, because if that were the case, probably no team could win.
"Sorry, Fleur, but we need to check—"
Judging by Hermione's grim expression, this outcome had not entirely taken her by surprise either.
"Suit yourself—"
Unlike her teammates, Fleur was not particularly angered by the request. After turning around in place, she spread her arms and gave Harry a teasing smile.
"You do it, Harry."
Unless I want to be utterly disgraced!
Harry grumbled inwardly. His face reddening, he turned around, and Ron quickly turned his head away as well.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Before approaching Fleur and Ciana, Hermione cautiously petrified them. Even Fleur shot her an annoyed look at that.
After searching them for a while, Hermione silently stepped back and waved her wand to undo Fleur and Ciana's petrification.
"Sorry—"
Hermione placed Fleur and Ciana's wands on the ground, then nodded apologetically. Fleur did not respond, merely flaring her nostrils with a snort.
"Harry, Ron, Malfoy and the others will be here soon. We need to leave."
Hermione beckoned to Harry and Ron. Harry swiftly leaped past Fleur and caught up with Hermione and Ron.
But just as he was about to dart