As June crept in, a mix of tension and excitement filled the Castle. The students eagerly awaited the final round of the Triwizard Tournament, set for the evening of their last exam, after the feast.
Jerry had made no special preparations for the contest. He did not have to take the end-of-term exams, but Harry kept coming to him, and Jerry had made a promise to Sirius. So he taught Harry several spells, including the Blasting Curse, the Four-Point Spell, and the defensive Shield Charm. With Ron and Neville helping him practise, Harry learned at a decent pace.
Sirius still lived in the cave outside Hogsmeade. Almost every day, he sent Harry a letter by owl, reminding him to stay alert and be careful. He urged Harry to focus on getting safely through the maze and finishing the contest. Everything else could wait.
As June 24 drew closer, Harry grew nervous, but he was doing much better than he had before the first two rounds, when he had been too anxious to eat.
"Don't be nervous, Harry. You've done everything you can!" Ron said, patting his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Ron. I'm doing all right. It's the last round, after all. Whatever happens, the Triwizard Tournament will finally be over." Harry let out a long breath and smiled. "Besides, Jerry's far better than either of us! Everyone seems to think he'll win, so he's probably under more pressure than I am."
"Pressure?" Jerry gave a faint smile and shook his head. "I don't need a contest to prove how powerful I am."
There was an easy confidence in his voice.
On the day of the contest, the Great Hall at Hogwarts buzzed with far more noise and excitement than usual. At breakfast, two owls arrived with good-luck cards from Sirius, landing