Everyone was heatedly discussing Dark Creature Patronuses, while fewer people were paying attention to the battle between the two champions in the maze.
But fewer did not mean none.
The people from the two schools, for instance, were watching the battle between them with intense interest.
Even Weir Hallen, the headmaster of Nagudinnaf, who had previously seemed unconcerned about the outcome of the Triwizard Tournament and had even been indifferent to the Best School award, now watched with a grave gaze.
On the Viewing Screen, the battle between the two champions continued.
Shen Yalan's magic was dispersed by Ryan Moning Meng's Patronus. Seeing the silver Occamy charging toward her, she instinctively rolled out of the way.
But a moment later, she remembered that Patronuses had no effect on the human body, even those of Dark Wizards. Unless a body had been modified with necromancy, a Patronus could not harm a wizard at all.
Although Nagudinnaf secretly researched necromancy, its current level was not fit to be shown in public, so Shen Yalan had never studied it. In theory, the Patronus should have had no effect on her whatsoever.
But Corporeal Patronuses were so rare in Australia that, at least before coming to the United Kingdom, Shen Yalan had never seen one. Seeing something so enormous charging at her, she had still instinctively dodged.
And that dodge immediately put her on the defensive.
Seeing that Shen Yalan had actually fallen for it and dodged the Patronus she had casually sent her way, Meng was delighted. She immediately waved her wand again while rapidly reciting an incantation.
Blue flames surged from her wand, turning into seven tongues of flame that lunged at Shen Yalan, writhing like beasts baring their fangs and claws.
"What exquisite control over fire," commentator Ludo Bagman marveled. He