Hogwarts' Golden Glory

Unfortunately, without him, Cedric would have died this time.

This time, however, we will meet force with force and water with earth.

Kane was prepared for Voldemort's schemes.

Inside the library.

Harry remained anxious and restless.

In the original story, it was Barty Crouch Jr. disguised as Professor Moody who kept telling Harry how to use tricks to get through the game.

Moody's is currently perfectly normal, showing no signs of using any compound drugs.

So at this moment, Harry is ready to pass the first challenge, which is facing a dragon.

How can I complete the game without dying?

Even Hermione racked her brains!

She went to the library to find books about dragons.

There is only one book, a primer for children in the magical world.

And the rest of the books were all borrowed by Snape!

"He's definitely targeting you, Harry!"

Hermione said firmly.

This made Harry even more impatient.

I was already weaker than the others, and now I'm being targeted by the teacher.

I'm even less confident about getting through this!

He can already imagine how his classmates will laugh at him if his first project fails.

"It's not necessarily targeting you. Slytherin also has champions, so he might have been cheating for his champions."

Hermione was still analyzing the situation; she didn't even want to mention Kane's name anymore.

Yeah, if it were Kane, he would definitely have a way to get past the first project.

Kane?

Yup!

How could I forget him!

"...I know someone who definitely knows how to deal with dragons."

Harry suddenly looked up.

Kane. How could I have forgotten him?

The one who stood up for Sirius in first grade and defeated the Basilisk in second grade.

The one who used magic to silence Karkaroff.

If anyone at Hogwarts really knew how to deal with dragons and was willing to tell him—it's very likely Kane Malfoy.

"Who?"

Hermione looked up and asked.

"Kane".

Hermione's expression froze for a moment.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the pages of the book, her lips moved slightly as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back.

Harry said, "But I had no other choice."

He turned and walked out of the library. Hermione didn't call after him.

The students in the corridor had dispersed, and the torches crackled in the brackets on the wall.

Harry hurried toward the cellars—he was going to try his luck near the Slytherin common room. He didn't know where Kane was, but it was better than sitting around waiting to die.

He almost bumped into someone at the corner on the second floor.

"I'm sorry—" Harry took a step back and saw the other person's face clearly.

Zhang Qiu stood in front of him, wearing a dark blue robe, with her long black hair draped over her shoulders.

Her eyes shone brightly in the torchlight, like obsidian dipped in water.

He was holding several books, the top one of which had the title "Illustrated Compendium of Ancient Magical Creatures" on its cover.

Both of them were stunned for a moment.

Zhang Qiu?

Harry hasn't seen Cho Chang much lately.

After all, his reputation wasn't good, and he didn't want to affect Zhang Qiu.

"Harry," Cho Chang spoke first, her voice soft and hesitant, "Are you... alright?"

"I'm fine," Harry said, then immediately realized how insincere that answer was.

He was pale, had dark circles under his eyes, and walked as if he were running for his life; he didn't look "okay" at all.

Zhang Qiu did not expose him.

She just looked at him, her gaze holding something Harry couldn't quite understand—not sympathy, not curiosity, but more like...heartache.

"I've heard those rumors," Zhang Qiu said. "I...I know you're not that kind of person."

Harry was stunned. "You believe me?"

"Yeah." Zhang Qiu nodded. "We sometimes have meetings together. Cedric told me that you definitely didn't cheat to become a Warrior. He said you were as white as a sheet and your hands were shaking. If someone really cheated, they wouldn't react like that."

Harry opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He hadn't expected Cedric to speak up for him. Cedric, whom Skit had described as an "honest, simple-minded fool," would defend someone who had stolen his thunder.

"And—" Zhang Qiu paused, "I've been saying those things for you in Hufflepuff these past few days."

"What did you say?"

"Say you didn't cheat, say you were framed."

"At first, many people didn't believe it."

"But you did a great job! You won that duel with Derian in the auditorium that day, relying solely on your own strength!"

Zhang Qiu lowered her head, looking at the book in her arms. "Although some people still don't believe it, I think it's already very effective."

Harry felt something blocking his throat.

He has been hiding, enduring, and pretending not to care about the rumors these days.

He was unaware that someone was clearing his name. He was even less aware that the person was Zhang Qiu—a girl he didn't even dare approach.

"Thank you," Harry said, his voice a little hoarse.

"You're welcome." Zhang Qiu looked up and smiled. "I just don't like seeing good people being wronged."

She took a small object from her robe pocket and handed it to her. It was a red silk pouch, tied with a gold thread, with a golden Chinese character embroidered on its surface.

It's very small, and warm to the touch.

"This is a good luck charm," Zhang Qiu said. "My mother sent it from China. She said it can protect people. I originally wanted to keep it for the OWLs exam, but you need it more than I do."

Harry looked down at the red cloth bag in his palm. "This is too valuable—"

"Take it." Zhang Qiu closed his hand. "Bring it with you on the day of the competition."

Harry gripped the small bag tightly, feeling the warmth of his palm travel to his fingertips. "Thank you," he said, repeating it again.

Zhang Qiu smiled and shook her head. "Go ahead. You look like you have something urgent to attend to."

"Yes. I'm looking for Kane."

Zhang Qiu nodded slightly. "He's on the Astronomical Tower. I saw Igor when I passed by just now."

Harry paused for a moment, then laughed, the first time he had laughed in the past two days.

"Kane's pet is certainly eye-catching. I'll be going now."

He turned and ran toward the astronomical tower.

Cho Chang stood still and said to Harry, who had his back turned, "Go for it, Harry, I believe in you."

Harry left with a smile on his face.

The stairs to the Astronomy Tower were high and steep, and by the time he pushed open the iron door leading to the top platform, he was breathing rapidly as if he had just finished a game of Quidditch.

A night breeze blew by, carrying the chilly air characteristic of the Scottish Highlands, and he shivered.

Kane sat on the stone railing at the edge of the platform, his back to the stairs and his face to the starry sky.

Igor perched on his shoulder, his dark golden feathers gleaming softly in the moonlight. The phoenix turned its head first, saw Harry, and let out a soft cry.

Kane didn't turn around. "Potter."

How did you know it was me?