The spectators in the stands tensed at once. Every eye fixed on the projection, which had split into two views: on one side, Will was leisurely roasting meat; on the other, Krum and his two companions were creeping closer.
"Durmstrang's champions are trying to ambush Will!" Bagman's voice rang with theatrical tension. "Will doesn't seem to have noticed! He's still eating! He's even cut himself another piece of meat!"
A worried cry rose from the Slytherin stands. Malfoy gripped his sign tightly, while Sylvia's fingers dug into the edge of her seat.
In the Gryffindor stands, Ron frowned. "Will's not going to get hurt, is he?"
"He must be on guard," Hermione said, though uncertainty crept into her voice. "He... he must be, right?"
On the projection, Krum and the others drew steadily closer. They used trees and bushes for cover, moving as lightly as three cats.
And Will—
He turned a handful of water from the stream into a kettle, filled it, and brought the water to a boil. After taking a sip, he let out a satisfied breath.
Krum's eyes lit up.
Now.
"Attack!"
Three figures burst from behind the bushes, three wands pointing at Will at once—
"Stupefy!" "Expelliarmus!" "Petrificus Totalus!"
Three spells shot toward Will together.
Sylvia shot to her feet in the stands, her face icy.
Then—
Will turned around.
He moved slowly, almost as though he were out for a stroll, but somehow his wand was already in his hand.
"Protego."
An invisible barrier spread before him. The three spells struck it, burst into sparks, then vanished without a trace.
Krum and his companions stopped dead.
Behind the barrier, the faintest hint of a smile appeared on Will's lips.
"Good afternoon, you three," he said, as calmly as if he were greeting them. "Can