Hermione had actually been there all along. She just felt it would be inconvenient for Harry to see her after carrying out certain instructions from her professor.
She felt a little guilty.
She had been the first to enter the maze during the final, but the trophy had never been her goal. In fact, she had not wanted to participate in any competition from the start. Unfortunately, her dream of lazing about had not come true.
Her task was to ensure that Harry would be the first to touch the Key to the Door in the maze.
Voldemort's lackey, Barty Crouch Jr., had infiltrated Hogwarts by disguising himself as Hagrid. He had turned the Wilson Cup into a Key to the Door leading directly here, and he had even been the one to arrange for Harry to be selected by the Top Ten Cup.
Hermione and her professor had known about these things from the very beginning.
The young girl had felt that it was somewhat inappropriate, and rather risky. But her professor had told her to keep watching. Darkness could shine as well, and before seeing the outcome, one should not casually reject any method.
So Hermione stopped thinking about it and obediently followed orders out of habit.
Harry had received special care from the professors during the earlier events and had passed them smoothly. In the final, Hermione had needed to work with her helpers in the maze to eliminate Harry's other competitors.
Yes, Fleur and Krum had also been in on it.
Fleur had disagreed at first, but when she heard that the Champion's hundred thousand Galleons could let Harry buy a good house after graduation, acquire some property, and live happily with her...
She decided it was wonderful.
The plan would not harm Harry. On the