"Taking bets?" Harry and Ron asked at the same time, their voices full of confusion.
"Yes."
Hermione's brows were tightly furrowed, undisguised contempt on her face.
"Mr. Bagman is taking bets on who will become Hogwarts' Champion."
"He even wanted Fred and George to act as his agents among the students and collect bets for him."
Harry and Ron exchanged a look.
A Ministry of Magic official was openly organizing gambling at Hogwarts.
This world was even crazier than he had imagined.
Viktor Krum walked in again.
He did not head toward the Slytherin table, where his classmates were.
Instead, he walked straight toward Gryffindor.
The noise throughout the Great Hall seemed to have been paused.
Everyone's eyes were glued to him.
He stopped beside Harry.
For the second time.
"Hello."
His broken English had a stiff quality to it.
"Can we talk?"
This time, before Ron's adoring voice could ring out, Harry acted.
Harry stood up immediately.
"Of course."
His movement was so decisive that even he was a little surprised.
Out of the corner of his eye, he quickly glanced toward Ravenclaw.
Sure enough, Cho Chang and Cedric were looking over.
Their faces bore the same curiosity.
A small, childish, yet utterly real sense of vanity rose from the depths of Harry's heart.
Like a feather, it gently tickled the heart that had just sunk.
He straightened his back, feeling as though he had grown an inch taller.
He turned and followed Krum toward the doors.
Leaving that noisy sea of jealousy and envy behind them entirely.
The two walked down the empty corridor, one behind the other.
Krum's leather boots struck the flagstones with dull, powerful echoes.
Harry's footsteps were completely drowned out.
He did not know where Krum was taking him.
Nor did he know what