Even after returning to the castle, everyone continued to glance at Krum, who was standing beside the Durmstrang headmaster.
"I can't believe it... I'm actually this close to a legendary player!" Kyle heard Lee Jordan exclaim excitedly beside him. "Does anyone have a quill? This would be the perfect time to get an autograph!"
Along with Lee, Ron, Seamus, and a group of older students were also searching for someone who might lend them a quill.
"No way..." George shook his head. "Who would carry something like that when they're not in class?"
"Not us, that's for sure," Fred said with a smile.
They were just as thrilled as the others, though perhaps not quite as fanatical.
After parting ways with the Weasley twins, Kyle made his way to the Hufflepuff table and sat down. He noticed that the students from Beauxbatons were also approaching after exchanging a few words with Madame Maxime.
"Hello," said a little girl, around 11 or 12, as she ran up to Kyle. She stretched out her neck and stammered, "I remember you... from the match... you saved us!"
She had a slight accent, and it took Kyle a moment to understand what she was saying.
"This is my sister, Gabrielle Delacour," said Fleur as she walked over at that moment. She looked at Cedric and asked, "Hello, may I sit here?"
"Huh?" Cedric glanced between Fleur and Kyle, as if something had just dawned on him, and he nodded vigorously.
"Oh... of course, please sit..." He quickly shuffled to the side, making room for her.
"Thank you," Fleur said with a polite smile. She sat down and removed the scarf covering her head, revealing long, silvery hair cascading over her shoulders and an impossibly delicate face.
The young wizard sitting across from her flushed a deep red.
At that moment, the Hufflepuff table, which had been bustling with chatter, went silent. Even the glances at Krum were now split, with half of them fixed on Fleur. But after a moment of quiet, the chatter resumed, even louder than before.
Kyle felt as though he had stepped into a scene from a legendary wizarding gathering, listening to grandiose tales of strange and thrilling adventures.
For instance, Mikel was loudly recounting how he had once ventured alone into the dangerous Forbidden Forest during his first year to rescue a group of dragons.
Of course, this was utterly false. Hogwarts didn't have any groups of dragons, and even if he had entered the Forbidden Forest as a first-year, Hagrid would have assigned him detention for half a month.
But no one seemed to care, and they eagerly joined in...
One claimed he earned a hundred bags of gold per year. Another said he specialized in hunting Dementors. One even boasted he could become the Minister of Magic as soon as he graduated.
The tales grew more outlandish by the minute, and as they shared them, they would occasionally glance over at Fleur, as if hoping to catch her attention with their stories.
However, Fleur's expression remained entirely unchanged. She had encountered far more outrageous claims at Beauxbatons and had long since learned to stay unruffled.
Fleur looked calmly at Kyle and continued, "Madame Maxime told us that some Dark Wizards tried to attack Gabrielle and the others, but thanks to you, they escaped unharmed."
"No, you've got it wrong," Kyle shook his head, explaining, "It was mainly thanks to Mr. Weasley, along with Charlie and Bill. I only arrived toward the end."
"But," Fleur replied with a smile, "that's not what Mr. Arthur Weasley told Madame Maxime… He said it was you who helped repel the Dark Wizards."
"It was two different situations," Kyle insisted. "By the time I got there, it was already over. If it hadn't been for them, everyone would've fled before I even arrived… right?"
"Yes, you're right," Fleur nodded. "Are they at the school? If possible, I'd like to thank them in person."
"Unfortunately, Mr. Weasley works at the Ministry, and Charlie and Bill have already graduated and work abroad," Kyle replied.
A hint of disappointment crossed Fleur's face.
"But they'll probably come to watch the tournament. This is the first Triwizard Tournament in a century; no one wants to miss it."
Kyle smiled and added, "Oh, and let me introduce you."
He gestured to Cedric. "This is Cedric Diggory, my friend and a top candidate to be Hogwarts' Champion."
"Champion?" Fleur looked over, extending her hand politely. "Hello, Fleur Delacour. Nice to meet you."
"Hello, nice to meet you…" Cedric replied, reaching out to shake her hand, though he barely brushed her fingers.
"The one bragging over there is Mikel, my roommate. He's great, just… sometimes his brain doesn't quite work right," Kyle teased.
Eager to be part of the conversation, Mikel immediately tried to make his way over, but Kyle quickly pulled him back by the shoulder. After all, with Fleur being part Veela, he was a bit worried Mikel might get swept up and make a public scene—or, worse, a spectacle of himself!
"This is Ryan, another of my roommates…"
"And that's Grace—a top Chaser and my teammate."
"You like Quidditch too?" Fleur asked with interest.
"Very much," Kyle said. "I might even join a professional team after I graduate."
"Then you'll be even better than Krum," Fleur said with a smile. "I'll come to cheer you on."
"That's just a possibility," Kyle said, waving it off.
However, Fleur's comment seemed to stir some irritation around them. A few older girls from the Slytherin table were glaring at her resentfully. The Ravenclaws nearby were eyeing her too, though with more jealousy than anger.
Fleur, noticing the attention, gave them an indifferent smile and simply brushed it off.
Once the introductions were nearly complete, Kyle turned to the last person at the table, Kanna, who was seated a little farther down.
But before he could speak…
"Hello, Kanna Prince!" Kanna smiled and extended her hand so quickly that she nearly clipped Kyle's chin.
Fleur looked at the outstretched hand, her expression shifting slightly for the first time—her usual polite smile softened just a little. A subtle smile curved her lips as she took Kanna's hand.
"Fleur Delacour… I must say, you are the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
"I should be the one saying that," Kanna replied, a bit embarrassed. "None of the boys have ever said anything like that to me."
"It's different…" Fleur shook her head. She knew that the boys' strange reactions were only because of her Veela heritage.