Ryan's Fate

However, Mr. Weasley did not turn his gaze toward Ilvas's screen.

Instead, he looked at the one in the upper-right corner, belonging to Fleur.

Fleur appeared again.

This time, she paused for nearly three seconds. That allowed everyone to clearly see what she looked like now.

Her golden hair, streaked with silver, had been replaced by a hue like the azure sea, with specks of light dancing among the strands.

Her luminous white skin had become even more translucent, as though an invisible gaze could make water seep from it at a glance.

That radiant, sunlike charm that had once spilled outward had also become more restrained.

Yet that only made her more soul-stirring, impossible to look away from.

For that instant, the entire stands seemed to fall silent.

Even Ron, immersed in grief, loosened his grip on the parchment slightly.

By the time everyone came back to their senses, Fleur's screen had turned blurry again.

What they wanted to know now was how many badges Fleur had taken during her reappearance.

Three, or four?

After all, everyone's attention had been on Fleur just now.

Mr. Weasley, serving as commentator, coughed and gave an instruction to the staff behind the screens. "Please replay the few seconds when Dracula appeared just now. Not her whole body—preferably just the part showing the hand holding the badges."

The screen began to clear.

A hand appeared, as flawless and translucent as jade.

In that perfect hand were three badges.

They were the school crests of Hogwarts, Castelobruxo, and Durmstrang.

"Whoa! Dracula of Beauxbatons only has Beauxbatons's badge left to collect! She's just one badge—and a return trip through that perilous maze—away from becoming the champion," Mr. Weasley said.

On the stage, Draco, who had been glaring blankly into space and was now being viciously