The Final Match Begins!
Days passed by in a repetitive cycle: daily classes, library study sessions, evening walks by the lake—the mundane passage of time silently continued forward.
The traces of spring breezes brushing past the castle had barely lingered in my heart before the grass and trees had already grown lush and green. In the blink of an eye, the gentle spring light had vanished, and the hot and bright June had arrived, bringing the entire school year to a close.
The atmosphere inside Hogwarts Castle became tense and exciting. On the one hand, the students were looking forward to the final match of the Eight-Way Championship a week before the holidays, and on the other hand, it was time to prepare for the final exams.
Under Hermione's guidance, Harry was learning the Impedimenta, the Reducto, and the Protego. Except for the Impedimenta, which was supposed to be learned in fourth year, the rest were all material that Hermione was teaching Harry in advance, material that was supposed to be learned in fifth year.
Su Yu and his fellow Champion, as participants in the Eight-Way Championship, do not need to take the final exams. At this moment, he and Daphne and the others are sitting in the last row of the exam hall, doing their own things, as long as they don't talk or move around.
Su Yu closed his eyes, thinking about all the recent events in his mind, trying to connect them as much as possible. First, he could definitely rule out Principal Karkaroff and his group; they were just a bunch of scared clowns. Next were the Mahoutokoro and Uagadou; they actually had connections with the man in black who appeared last year.
Is it from Voldemort's side? But who exactly is that man in black? Barty Crouch.? Besides him, are there any other people with Voldemort now? It certainly can't be Nagini, right?
Therefore, this final match will definitely be fraught with danger. Fortunately, according to the news from Grindelwald, the final match will still be held on the Map of Mountains and Seas. This put Su Yu at ease. After all, he hadn't used the things his father had given him last time. There were plenty of backup items. As long as he was in the Map of Mountains and Seas, he wouldn't be afraid even if the Demon King of Hell came.
Soon, all the final exams were over. When the bell rang to signal the end of the last exam, Hermione was the first to run over and celebrate with Su Yu.
"Sue Fuli, remember to take everyone to the Quidditch Pitch after breakfast tomorrow morning."
Professor McGonagall was organizing the exam papers that the students had just handed in when she looked up and reminded Su Yu.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall, I will bring them there on time, don't worry."
After saying that, Su Yu pulled Hermione and Daphne out of the examination room.
"There are very few people coming for breakfast this morning."
The next morning, when Su Yu arrived at the hall, he found that there weren't as many people as he had imagined.
"Chief, do you think it's possible that we got up too early?"
Callis yawned and followed in the middle of the group, convinced she must have gotten up too early.
Blaise tugged at her cheek. "You got up too late, you idiot. They've already finished eating."
"Oh, really?"
The stands at the Quidditch stadium were packed with people today, including family members of the participants, a large number of members of the Ministry of Magic, and students who had already finished their exams.
Lucius Malfoy and his wife stood on the platform. He was here today too. Although the Dark Mark on his arm was still throbbing, he came anyway. His beloved son was going to participate in an incredibly dangerous match today, and that was more important than anything else. He wanted to be there to watch him and cheer him on.
Behind Ginny followed the Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who were excitedly discussing how the game would unfold. Many other parents were also there to cheer on their children.
"Go Neville!" "My little boy is the best!" Neville's parents even unfurled a banner in the stands to cheer Neville on. This made Neville a little embarrassed. He scratched the back of his head, checked his pretentious outfit again, took a deep breath, and then waved vigorously to his parents and Parvati who were cheering him on. That's right, he was dating Parvati. He was no longer that shy little boy; his poise and confidence had won over the girl.
Students from the other seven colleges arrived at the competition venue early and were now waiting for Su Yu and the others who arrived late.
The people at the Mahoutokoro wiped their wands, unable to contain their smiles any longer. They chuckled and laughed, as if they could finally get their revenge.
"Remember my words. Be especially careful of the students from the Mahoutokoro and Wagadu. If you can make the first move, then make the first move. Also, keep an eye on the students from the other academies. Don't be careless. I don't know who the enemy is this time, so I've listed everyone else as the enemy."
Su Yu gave everyone in the team a final warning. Although he had already repeated the instructions many times, he felt he should say it again at this point.
Sirius Black and Professor Lupin didn't appear in disguise this time; they Weasley family, cheering Harry on and huddling together, having a great time.
Even the parents of Champion from other academies had arrived, and banners of various colors were displayed everywhere in the stands, all supporting their children.
"Hello everyone, parents, teachers, and students."
Headmaster Dumbledore, tall and thin with a frail appearance, slowly walked up to the high platform of the Great Hall. His waist-length silver hair and beard fell smoothly down, most of which was tucked into his waist.
Half-moon Spectacles framed a pair of clear, azure eyes, which held a gentle smile and a worldly wisdom. His long, curved nose bore two old scars.
His wide, deep purple cloak reached to the ground, and he gently stroked his beard with his fingertips. There was no trace of imposing authority about him; instead, he exuded a calm and generous aura. As he stood quietly, the noise of the entire Quidditch Pitch subsided.
"The final Eight-Way Championship is about to begin. The competition is quite simple: Champion will be randomly teleported to various locations around this map. Then, following the map's guidance, they will hunt monsters and search for treasure. In the end, the team will be scored based on the number of monsters hunted and the amount of treasure found. However, I must clarify one thing beforehand: this circular map is divided into eight areas, with 20 people assigned to each area. Every other day, it will shrink by one circle until it reaches its final size, which is 30 days. The time ratio remains 1:10! Only 3 days will actually pass outside."
"Wow, running away from the poison gas? That's so advanced!" Su Yu exclaimed, arms crossed.
"Now that you mention it, it does look quite similar." Kurama nodded on Su Yu's shoulder.
"If you sense any danger to your life, crush the bracelet on your wrist, and you will be teleported out. Alright, that's all for now. I wish all Champion a safe and successful journey and a triumphant return!"