The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 315 Warriors of the Goblet of Fire

That day, after the last herbalism class of the afternoon.

Ino followed the Slytherin group as they slowly walked out of the greenhouse.

In his current classes, he feels he can learn new knowledge in herbalism and potions.

As for the others, whether it's Transfiguration, Spells, or even the elective Ancient Runes course, they all seem to be a waste of time.

But no matter what, students are still going to class and studying. What seems like a boring campus life now will be a time they dream of in the future.

Perhaps because the list of warriors would be revealed today, everyone quickened their pace to return to the castle.

……

Time quickly passed and evening arrived.

The banquet was supposed to start at eight o'clock, but after seven o'clock in the evening, there were hardly any people left in the castle.

Whether it was Hogwarts or the other two schools, everyone gathered in the Great Hall, either chatting, playing wizard chess, or playing Gobblestone; in short, no one was idle.

Inside the auditorium.

Draco sat confidently on the stool, not only talking at length about various hot topics, but also glancing at the Gryffindor table from time to time.

Now that he knew Ino had already put his name into the Goblet of Fire, his previously anxious heart finally settled down.

With no worries left, it's natural to eat and drink as you please, and the feeling of relaxation is simply too obvious.

Perhaps it was because I was too relaxed.

Draco's performance also drew attention from many people, including other Slytherins.

"What's wrong with him? He looks like a swallow-tailed dog that's been unleashed!"

Although Daphne was somewhat confused, she watched the performance with great interest.

"Hahaha, the reason we're so cheerful is simply because we're free of pressure," Pansy chuckled, picking up the conversation.

In her opinion, Draco was too easy to figure out, and considering the previously widely publicized bet, the answer was obvious.

Thinking of this, Pansy turned her head slightly and looked at the other side of the long table.

When Ino sensed someone looking at her, she also looked up and, upon seeing Pansy, gave her a faint smile.

But soon, he turned his head to look to the side.

"Draco, if I were you, I wouldn't go there at this time. If you really cause trouble and embarrass yourself abroad, even Professor Snape won't be able to protect you. Seriously! When Professor McGonagall gets serious, nobody dares to mess with her."

In just a few short minutes, he heard some absurd things.

Draco, confident of victory, actually decided to take Goyle and Crabbe to mock Ron. At first glance, it seemed as if the fruits of victory needed a touch of sarcasm to make them even more delicious.

But frankly, in the current atmosphere of excitement in the auditorium, it's easy for a dispute to break out.

If things accidentally escalate into a brawl, Professor McGonagall will not let anyone off easily.

On the other side, Draco, who had been so arrogant, deflated visibly after hearing Professor McGonagall's name, like a wilted eggplant.

……

Although Draco was no longer making a ruckus, there was someone at the Gryffindor table who was also looking happy.

"Really? Someone ran into a pillar again today? Unbelievable..."

Hermione chatted happily with her roommate, even though they were about topics she wasn't interested in, she still shared her opinions.

As a neutral and easygoing person, Parvati doesn't mind chatting with anyone, but Hermione's unusual behavior today surprised her.

"You... I mean, you shouldn't like hearing this, so why the sudden change of heart today?"

Parvati looked puzzled.

"It's not a change, it's just that I want to say something when I'm happy!" Hermione replied with a smile.

A chance encounter in the corridor at noon today revealed Ino's thoughts to her.

As it stands, even Parvati, who has the best information, is unaware of this, which means she is the only person in Gryffindor who knows about it.

Although it was just a small thing, Hermione still felt happy. She also planned to brew more potions that she could use before the competition started and find an opportunity to send them to Ino.

……

In the lively atmosphere, one never notices the passage of time.

It was 8 PM.

As several headmasters and Ministry of Magic officials arrived, the Great Hall gradually quieted down.

Under everyone's gaze, Dumbledore stood up.

Seemingly aware of everyone's expectations, he skipped the tedious opening and decisively waved his wand.

Suddenly, hundreds of candles in the auditorium went out, and the Goblet of Fire floated over from the side hall.

As the Goblet of Fire landed steadily on the table, the blue-white flames suddenly shone brightly, leaping up to three feet high and changing color from blue-white to a dazzling orange-red.

Amidst the flying sparks, a piece of parchment, half charred, flew out.

Catch the slip of paper as it fell, and under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Dumbledore read aloud its contents: "Viktor Crom, champion of Durmstrang!"

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the auditorium.

"Mr. Krum! Please wait in the room next door for a moment!" Dumbledore pointed to a door behind the main seating area.

With Krum gone, a parchment floated out of the Goblet of Fire again not long afterward.

"Beauxbatons, Fleur Delacour..."

The applause in the Great Hall was noticeably weaker than that in Krum, but the Hogwarts boys clapped very enthusiastically, some even clapping until their hands were red without realizing it.

Upon hearing her name called, Furong stood up in surprise and nimbly moved between the two tables, her silver hair swaying gently behind her head...

Even such a simple action captivated many in the auditorium, who watched intently until the figure disappeared behind the door before slowly snapping back to reality.

It seems predictable that today's scene will likely be etched in the hearts of many boys, and they will never forget it for the rest of their lives.

With the two warriors selected, the next move is self-evident.

Unlike before when they were just watching the excitement, everyone in the Great Hall was now on edge, for this time it was the Hogwarts' champions.

The flames rose again, but this time it was not parchment, but notebook paper with lines.

Others might not notice the difference, but Dumbledore, who was closest to the paper, saw it clearly. Although he already knew the answer, a smile involuntarily crept onto his face upon seeing the paper.

"Finally! The champion of Hogwarts..." Dumbledore picked up the note and read aloud, "Eno Swinburne!"

The auditorium erupted in enthusiastic applause once again, far exceeding the fervor of the previous two.

At the head table, Professor McGonagall's mouth dropped open in astonishment, but then she murmured excitedly to herself:

"Ha! I knew it, he wouldn't... he wouldn't just abandon us like that."

Ino smiled and stood up, walking slowly towards the main seat amidst applause.

However, just as he reached the doorway, the Goblet of Fire changed color again.

Seeing this, Ino decisively stopped and glanced at the main guest seats.

The inertia of fate seemed to be on full display at this moment.

But what intrigued him was the reason behind it all: Mad-Eye Moody was genuine, and the other players on the field also couldn't see anything unusual about him.

Moreover, unlike the week in the original story's Goblet of Fire, this time it's only one day. He doesn't think anyone would be so bold as to tamper with it.

Most importantly, last night, he and Dumbledore stayed in the side room until late at night...

Suddenly, a seemingly incapable person appeared in my mind.

Thinking of this, Ino did not linger in the auditorium any longer, but turned and walked towards the room at the back.

"No wonder they mentioned the Confusion Charm last night..."

Although there haven't been any major changes in personnel, Xiao Di promised that it will definitely present a different Goblet of Fire! It's almost here, really.

Finally, I still need your votes! Please vote! Please vote!

(End of this chapter)