After exchanging a few brief words with Krum, Karkaroff and he left the room in disgruntled silence.
Madame Maxime took Pheobe by the hand and all but dragged her out of the room. They were staying in the carriage they had arrived in, beside the Forbidden Forest and not far from Hagrid's Hut.
"Well, children, I suggest you return to your Common Rooms," Dumbledore said, smiling at Jerry, Harry, and Cedric. "I'm sure your classmates are eagerly waiting to celebrate with you."
The three nodded, then left the room and entered the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was empty now. Candle flames flickered, their faint light dancing in the air. In the shifting shadows, the jack-o'-lanterns' smiles looked stranger than ever, as though they were whispering secrets.
"So," Cedric said, forcing a smile to break the silence, "it looks like we'll be competing against each other!"
"Looks that way," Harry replied softly. His feelings were a tangled mess, too difficult to put into words.
"Good luck to us all!" Jerry said with easy confidence.
"Honestly, I'm curious. How did you two get your names into the Goblet of Fire?" Cedric asked as they walked into the empty Entrance Hall. The Goblet of Fire was gone; only the torches lit the space around them.
"I definitely didn't put mine in." Harry raised his head and met Cedric's eyes. "I'm telling the truth. I didn't do it."
"I couldn't have put my name in the Goblet of Fire either." Jerry shook his head helplessly. "This tournament might matter a lot to you, but it means nothing to me!"
"In that case... I'll see you around." Cedric did not understand Jerry's words, but he respected his wish and asked no more. He turned toward a door to the right of the stairs and