It was nothing more than a slight lift of an eyebrow.
Yet Zhang Xiao understood exactly what Malfoy meant. His gaze swept over the Castelobruxo students approaching from another direction, ready to submit their slips.
There were also the Mahoutokoro students bowing respectfully to him from a short distance away. "Akina Nakamori" was among them.
Clearly, his identity as the Little Celestial Master had leaked. The others might not understand what that meant, but Mahoutokoro certainly did.
After all, when the Daoist Order had crossed the sea, demolished their mountain strongholds and temples, and slaughtered the Onmyoji and Shinto followers like chicks, they had huddled off to one side, trembling beneath their little blankets.
The intimidation factor was off the charts!
Under the others' startled, uncertain gazes, Zhang Xiao approached the Goblet of Fire, took out the parchment bearing his name, and tossed it inside.
The sight greatly surprised the young witches and wizards. They had always assumed Zhang would submit his name along with his friends.
The Great Hall's decorations had changed again for Halloween.
A vast swarm of live bats fluttered around the enchanted ceiling, while hundreds of little figures carved from pumpkins eyed everyone from every corner.
The ghosts, deliberately made to look comical, flew overhead, trying to swoop down and frighten people, but no one paid them any attention.
All the students' attention was focused on the approaching Goblet of Fire selection.
They kept discussing who might be chosen as champions, or talking about the students from the other schools.
When Zhang came in with Harry and the others, someone immediately called out:
"Zhang! Neville! Harry! You've put your names in, haven't you?"
Their affirmative answer earned a burst of cheers.
Seamus Finnigan was unexpectedly another of Hogwarts' favorites.
He had formed a team with several