Time flew by, and soon the day of the competition arrived. On the morning of June 24th, Augustus sat at the long table in the Great Hall, receiving countless letters of well-wishes from afar. With Rita Skeeter's truthful reporting, Augustus had long been molded into a young prodigy and a humble, righteous national idol. It had to be admitted that Rita's literary prowess was remarkable; a few strokes of her pen could paint Augustus as a figure of great stature.
The Slytherin table was particularly lively that day. Fans of Augustus from other houses—even from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang—flocked to deliver cards and blessings. Some students even requested autographs, and a few bold Beauxbatons girls openly asked for signatures on their faces. Objectively speaking, sometimes the line between fans and obsessed admirers was paper-thin.
As breakfast began and the crowd dispersed, Loki and Thor approached from the entrance.
"Good morning, Mr. Augustus," they greeted.
Lillian wore a peculiar smile. "I'm afraid Augustus won't have time for us now, with all those pink letters brimming with girlish affection likely distracting him."
Augustus chuckled wryly. "Don't be mistaken. At least half of these letters are from Hogwarts alumni—middle-aged men and women offering encouragement to a fellow alumnus."
Loki's amber eyes showed a trace of surprise. "It seems the Triwizard Tournament has really drawn society's attention. All these letters must represent at least a fifth of the wizarding world."
Thor nodded slightly. "Being an international event, its influence likely rivals the Quidditch World Cup. Moreover, two-thirds of the British wizarding population are Hogwarts alumni. Many harbor strong feelings for their alma mater, so it's not surprising they'd write to show their support."
Malfoy laughed. "If they're supporting Hogwarts, why hasn't anyone written to Potter?"
Loki gave him a blank stare. "You never miss a chance to slight Harry, do you? You really are his perfect nemesis."
Thor's deep blue eyes held a hint of concern. "The third task involves a maze, and such competitions rely less on magical prowess and more on logic and memory, akin to Muggle problem-solving. Augustus' advantages may not be as pronounced as in the previous two tasks."
Augustus waved dismissively. "You're right. The maze task might not lean heavily on magic, but within magical disciplines, arcane and evocation spells are quite useful for treasure-seeking or identification. Besides, a competent wizard must remain composed no matter the challenge."
"Ha!" Lillian interjected, launching into a ramble. "If I were the organizer, I'd introduce more physically demanding challenges to level the playing field against wizards. Imagine Muggle-style endurance runs, shooting practice, wrestling giants barehanded, jungle survival, or tool-free rock climbing. Now that would be an exciting competition!"
"Pfft!" Malfoy couldn't hold back and sprayed pumpkin juice all over his newspaper.
"What's your problem?" Lillian glared, her dimples vanishing as her crimson eyes glinted dangerously.
Feeling a chill down his spine, Malfoy forced an awkward laugh. "Nothing, I swear! I just couldn't hold it in after reading today's Daily Prophet. Apologies, my mistake."
To prove his innocence, he grabbed a fresh paper from Goyle and shared it with Augustus, Lillian, Loki, and Thor.
Harry Potter—Disturbed and Dangerous?
Exclusive report by Rita Skeeter:
The Boy Who Lived seems to be emotionally unstable—and potentially dangerous. Shocking new evidence raises questions about Harry Potter's suitability for high-stakes competitions like the Triwizard Tournament—or even his presence at Hogwarts.
The Daily Prophet has learned that Potter frequently complains about pain in his scar (a mark left by the Killing Curse cast by You-Know-Who). Just last Monday, during Divination class, this reporter witnessed Potter leaving class, citing unbearable pain in his scar.
"Potter can speak Parseltongue," revealed fourth-year Draco Malfoy. "Two years ago, many students were attacked, and most suspected Potter as the culprit after seeing him summon a snake to attack another boy in a dueling club. But it was all covered up. He even befriends werewolves and giants. We believe he'll do anything for power."
Albus Dumbledore must reconsider allowing such a boy to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. There's concern he might resort to dark magic to win. The third task will take place tonight.
"Really?" Lillian sighed. "Why do you always end up as a random witness whenever Rita drags Harry through the mud? Seriously, how bored are you, Draco?"
Loki looked surprised. "And how does Rita always get her intel so quickly? We didn't even know about Harry fainting in Divination, so how did she? Did you sell her out again?" he asked Malfoy, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Of course not!" Malfoy exclaimed, desperate to clear his name. "Alright, I'll let you in on a little secret since the tournament is almost over. Rita is an Animagus—she transforms into a beetle. It's nearly impossible to catch her eavesdropping."
Augustus studied Malfoy. "So, you've formed a long-term alliance with her? Feeding her insider stories about Harry while guiding her to his usual hangouts for new scoops?"
Malfoy laughed awkwardly. "That sounds so devious! I only share a few of Harry's daily antics. The rest is all her doing."
Thor solemnly patted Malfoy's shoulder. "Regardless of your excuses, Draco, your penchant for gossip and scheming is undeniable. You've embarked on a path of unpredictable, tabloid-worthy darkness. I hope you enjoy the journey."
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