Conversation Before the Triwizard Cup

When Antoine returned to the stands, he still carried the distinctive mixed scent of Potions from the healing tent.

Drayne gave him a disdainful look and asked, "Was that necessary? You're already preparing to resign from Salem Institute, and you're still spending time comforting little girls?"

"How is that a waste?" Antoine said with a grin. "Don't tell me that when you saw her stick her arm into that lizard's mouth, you didn't think about turning her into an ally."

Drayne did not refute him. He merely said calmly, "The more determined someone is, the harder it is to change their position. Bring her in, and be careful she doesn't become a ticking bomb waiting to blow us up."

"Haha." Antoine laughed. "People from Salem Institute don't have such clear-cut ideas of good and evil. To them, family, friends, and feelings are what matter most."

He narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Besides, Salem has more than just Hope... The students at that school are all a little crazy, more or less. They suit us quite well."

"Do as you like," Drayne said. "But if you bring danger in, don't blame me for being hard on you, the one who recommended her!"

"Relax, relax. I'm not looking to make trouble for myself either." Antoine spoke casually. "By the way, how's the competition going?"

"That Potter boy is about to reach Wade..."

Beside them, Grindelwald, disguised as a middle-aged wizard, had been following the competition's progress the entire time. He neither approved nor disapproved of their discussion, as though he did not care at all—or as though he had handed the power to decide over to them.

Harry struggled onward through the narrow thorny passage, and his sense of time became extremely blurred.

It might have been ten minutes, or