Li Wei and Hermione followed Professor Flitwick along a leaf-strewn path beneath the trees toward the campsite outside the tournament grounds.
"Professor Flitwick, Mr. Keynes, Miss Granger! Over here!"
Before the three reached the campsite, they heard someone calling to them from afar.
Looking toward the voices, they saw Slughorn and the Delacour family waving them over from beside two towering tents.
Running into old acquaintances so far from home was always a pleasure.
Li Wei and Professor Flitwick smiled and walked over with Hermione.
"Slughorn! Mr. and Mrs. Delacour, and you two young ladies! It's been a long time!"
"It has, Li Wei! Professor Flitwick! And hello to this young lady!"
Everyone exchanged greetings and introductions. When it was Pheobe and Hermione's turn, the two young witches met each other's eyes—one pair brilliant blue, the other brown—and began sizing each other up.
Did she cast some kind of spell? Even I think she's gorgeous, and I'm a girl. Just like Li Wei, she practically radiates charm!
So this is the girl who's always with Li Wei? She looks fairly ordinary, but she has the air of someone exceptionally clever.
Veela!
Bookworm!
As they studied each other, both settled on a label that, for some reason, carried a distinctly negative edge.
Beside them, Li Wei chatted easily with Slughorn and the Delacours, utterly unaware that a romantic standoff was taking shape.
"Professor, Slughorn, do you know how the Wizard Duelling Tournament is scheduled?"
"And are there any particularly tough opponents? Could you tell me about them?"
Li Wei didn't need to worry about registering, but since he was entering a tournament, he naturally wanted to win it.
He wanted to understand the schedule and find out whom he might face.
The prize money and prestige meant nothing to him.
With