On the raised platform at the finish line, everyone smiled at Fleur. They all agreed with Harry's suggestion.
Faced with everyone's friendly smiles, Fleur wore a startled expression, clearly caught off guard.
True, she had discovered the pattern and saved everyone, but she had never expected the others to willingly hand over what was surely a very important key because of it.
"Are you really willing to do this?"
Fleur hesitated, as though she still could not believe it.
"Oh, just take it."
Harry shrugged and said indifferently,
"Like Viktor said, we'll do our best to compete in the challenges ahead."
After a brief pause, Harry urged her again,
"Take it quickly, before we change our minds."
"Oh—"
The corners of Fleur's lips curved upward, and a glimmer shone in her blue eyes.
"You're all so kind!"
Turning to face the torch-shaped radiance, Fleur took a deep breath, rose onto her tiptoes, and reached into the white glow, plucking the key from within.
Everyone immediately crowded around, curiously studying the ancient bronze key lying flat in Fleur's palm.
"What does it do?"
Cedric asked doubtfully.
"I don't know—"
Hermione answered bluntly,
"Maybe it opens a door or something. I suppose we won't know until the end."
Fleur happily tucked the key into her pocket. Before she could thank everyone for their generosity, another ancient stone door—the kind they had already passed through twice—appeared on the platform.
"This feels like some kind of level-clearing game—"
Harry let out a breath, utterly drained.
Complaining was one thing, but giving up was impossible.
After briefly collecting themselves, they set off once more toward a new challenge.
The expected darkness descended again. Harry's eyes had only just adjusted to the dimness when a harsh beam of white light shone straight into them, making his