Those words landed like a boulder crashing into a tranquil lake.
"What?"
"We're not going back to the dormitories? Where are we supposed to sleep?"
"You've got to be joking!"
The students erupted, the tiny bit of teamwork they had just established instantly scattered by fear of the unknown.
Lupin let them talk for several dozen seconds.
Then his gentle but clear voice rose above the noise again.
"You'll need to set up camp here."
"You'll eat and sleep here."
He pointed toward a pile of enormous gray canvas bundles beside the clearing.
"Your magical tents are ready."
"Now, collect your tents in your groups."
"Your task is to work together to put up your group's tent."
He paused, a meaningful smile appearing on his face.
That smile made the youngsters' hearts lurch.
"Oh, right," Lupin added. "Lunch is ready."
He tipped his chin in another direction.
The students followed his gaze and saw several long tables already set up nearby, covered with snowy white tablecloths.
House-elves were carrying over plates of steaming food and setting them on the tables.
The aroma of roast chicken mingled with the browned fragrance of meat pies and rode the breeze straight into the nose of every ravenous young wizard.
Everyone swallowed instinctively.
"The rules are simple." There was a hint of slyness in Lupin's voice.
"Whichever group finishes putting up its tent first and passes my inspection..."
"...gets to start eating lunch first."
"Good luck!"
At those words, the entire clearing fell deathly silent.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then an unprecedented commotion erupted.
"Quick! Let's get our tent!"
"T24, stop standing there! Go carry that biggest bundle!"
"T56! You read the instructions. We'll find the poles!"
The children who had been so sharply divided moments earlier instantly became a pack of hungry wolves