The Second Task Begins Soon
Two more rules were added to the Hogwarts Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry: fishing with electricity in the Black Lake and popping popcorn in Hogsmeade.
Su Yu and Kurama Fox, the culprits, deducted 50 points from Slytherin's score in a single day. But the Slytherin Academy students didn't seem to care. Fifty points? That's still points! They couldn't possibly have negative scores, or stay at zero forever, right? Whatever, try deducting a thousand points from me then?
Time slowly passed, and January quietly slipped into February. The chill had not completely faded, but it quietly concealed the harshness of deep winter. Subtle changes gradually spread throughout the campus: beneath the frozen soil by the castle wall, snowdrops broke through the remaining snow, adorning clusters of drooping white flowers; golden catkins sprouted from the hazel branches, swaying gently in the wind.
The ice on Black Lake has slowly melted away, leaving only a thin layer of broken ice in the center of the lake. Small, silvery fish are swimming in groups again, and Giant Squid occasionally rise to the surface of the cool water to breathe.
The daytime hours were noticeably longer, the afternoon sun was no longer piercingly cold, the falling snow turned into a light, cold rain, the morning frost was much lighter, and the wind carried less of the sharp, icy shards and more of the warm, earthy scent of grass and flowers.
Young Master Malfoy continued to mock the Japanese soldiers every morning, but they remained patient and didn't fall for Malfoy tricks.
Su Yu was making sandwiches at the long table in the hall. First, he took out two slices of bread, cut off the edges, and fed them to Kurama. Then he added an egg, luncheon meat, and vegetables, spread some sauce on top, and it was perfect.
Kurama:??? Why can I only eat the bread crusts?
At this moment, Headmaster Dumbledore, dressed in a purple robe, entered the hall, his azure eyes crinkling as he gestured for the students to quiet down before speaking gently.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have an important matter to remind you all. The second test of the Eight-Way Championship is scheduled for February 24th, which is just around the corner. It will take place on time in the Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle."
"Champion from each academy will receive their missions at that time. The competition will last for two hours. This challenge is not too dangerous, so please rest assured. We hope that all Champion will make thorough preparations in advance."
"On the day of the competition, the hall will be open to all teachers, students, and guests to witness this trial together. Furthermore, the referees will also give everyone a surprise; let's wait and see."
He paused slightly, a faint, gentle smile appearing on his lips, his gaze falling upon the many Champion present.
Wishing you all the best.
"What do you think the second match of this Eight-Way Championship will be about?"
That evening, Hermione was in the Slytherin common room drinking coffee made from beans that Callis had brought from Ethiopia, asking the others questions.
"Who knows? What can you compete in in the lobby? Doing homework?"
Ginny was confused; the hall wasn't very big, would she be able to maneuver properly?
"It's probably specifically designed for the chief, since Kurama wouldn't be able to use many of his techniques if it were in the main hall."
Theodore adjusted his glasses and began to analyze the situation with feigned seriousness.
Kurama was displeased upon hearing this, "Who said that! This old lady can compress Chakra to the size of a baseball!"
"And then? Did they blow up the whole school?"
Su Yu lay on Daphne's lap, eating the pork jerky that the Egg Beater had made that day. It smelled so good!
He didn't participate in their conversation. Anyway, Headmaster Dumbledore had said there was no danger, so what was there to be afraid of? As long as it wasn't a test, why bother thinking about it?
"What exactly did Headmaster Dumbledore mean by 'get ready'?"
Young Master Malfoy scratched his head. Sure enough, the Riddler should get out of Gotham.
"It's to prepare you mentally..." Astoria sometimes really felt that Malfoy was adorably silly...
"If only we could eat during the competition..." Goyle and Crabbe whispered to each other, rubbing their stomachs. They were a little hungry and decided to go get some of the champion's pork jerky. Then, the two tall, burly men sneaked over to Su Yu.
"Ginny, we should go back, it's almost 10 o'clock."
Hermione stood up, straightened her skirt, and walked out of the Slytherin common room with Ginny and Kurama. Kurama had been clamoring to play with Crookshanks tonight, but Hermione hadn't brought him, so he simply slept with Hermione that night and could also play with Crookshanks.
"So, should we go back to sleep too?"
Su Yu revealed a wicked smile, put his arm around Ka-jie and Fa-jie, and walked towards the dormitory.
"I bought you new clothes, they really are beautiful!"
Nothing more was said that night, XX.
Time flies! There's only one week left until the second match.
"Honey, have you seen my stockings?"
Early in the morning, Su Yu was still washing up in the bathroom when she heard Ka-jie calling from outside.
"Waaah, no, tui, splash! I remember throwing it on the bench at the foot of the bed last night, didn't I?"
"Did you tear it again? That's Balenciaga, it's very expensive, you know?"
Today was another Care of Magical Creatures with Gryffindor.
In class, Su Yu looked at Harry's butt with the fire-tipped object on it and asked Hermione was sitting next to him, a question.
"Hermione, why does Harry seem so nervous? Is he about to poop?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at Su Yu. "Can you please stop being so disgusting? Isn't he always like that? Every time a competition or exam is approaching, he gets incredibly nervous, like a monkey, unable to sit still."
"Then why is Ron so nervous? He's not even participating."
"I don't know, maybe he was influenced by Harry?"
After being persuaded by Harry and Headmaster Dumbledore, Hagrid successfully returned to the classroom and resumed teaching his students. However, most students still felt that Professor Grubbly-Plank's teaching was more interesting.
Pansy, her face flushed, cradled the two newborn Unicorn cubs in her arms. "Look, Draco, aren't they cute?"
"Buy it if you like it." Malfoy was playing with pebbles on the ground with Goyle and didn't notice what Pansy was holding. He thought Pansy had her eye on something good again, so he casually raised the Storage Ring containing the money a little, meaning that Pansy should take his ring to pay for it herself.
"Malfoy, what are you doing now? Is it fashionable to go out with two big bags on your head? I just saw Theodore had one too, but he only had one. You're so stylish, no wonder you're the eldest son of the Malfoy family, you always have to have more than everyone else."
At lunchtime, Blaise sidled up to Malfoy and the others for a meal, making sarcastic remarks about Draco.