Chapter 257
"Using Veritaserum on students without proper cause isn't allowed…" Hermione muttered, clearly unsettled. "Maybe… maybe he was just testing it?" Her voice wavered with uncertainty.
"You're quite right, Miss Granger."
Severus Snape's voice suddenly came from right behind her, cold and ghostlike.
"Gryffindor loses twenty points. Distracted in class and discussing matters unrelated to the lesson."
He deducted the points without hesitation.
"And if you're so worried, you're welcome to skip dinner tonight. Then I certainly won't be able to 'do' anything," he added, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Miss Know-It-All, Veritaserum tends to lose its potency if not used immediately. Isn't that correct?"
He shot them a mocking glance, then calmly took the empty vial from Harry's hand and slipped it back into his robes.
—
That night, Harry didn't go to dinner at all.
He couldn't shake the feeling that Snape was planning something.
In the end, Fred Weasley and George Weasley snuck down to the kitchens and brought him some bread, just enough to keep him going.
—
After that, they continued attending Alastor Moody's Defense Against the Dark Arts classes.
It had to be said—whoever had been impersonating him before had done a flawless job. When the real Moody returned, no one noticed anything different.
Even the strands of white hair Harry thought he had seen missing… seemed to have returned overnight.
For a moment, Harry even wondered if he had imagined it.
If he had known about Hair-Raising Potion, he might not have doubted himself.
—
Time passed quickly.
Before they knew it, June had arrived.
The calm atmosphere in the castle began to stir again.
On the 24th, the final task of the Triwizard Tournament would begin.
Students everywhere were buzzing with speculation about who would win the Goblet of Fire.
Fleur and Krum spent most of their time in their carriage and ship, occasionally visiting the library to prepare.
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were deep in discussion in the Gryffindor common room.
"Harry, the third task is a maze," Hermione said, arms full of books. "You need to learn the Four-Point Spell—it'll help you keep your bearings."
The fireplace behind them was cold now—summer had long since driven away the need for warmth.
"We should also practice more offensive spells," she continued. "Both against obstacles and… people."
"If it's the maze itself, you might hit dead ends. Breaking through could save time."
"And if it's other champions…" She paused briefly. "Well, defending yourself—or even attacking—is probably allowed, within limits."
"So we need to expand your spellwork."
—
From then on, they practiced whenever they could.
Their most frequent spot was Hagrid's hut.
Sirius Black had practically moved in there and welcomed them without hesitation.
When Harry practiced attacking, Ron usually took the hits.
When Harry practiced defense, it was Hermione or Sirius casting at him.
After a while, Harry could feel the difference.
"I think I've improved," he said once.
"I think I've just taken a lot of spells," Ron muttered dryly.
—
At the same time, Hogwarts entered exam season.
As Triwizard champions, they were exempt.
While others wrote exams, Harry sat at the back of classrooms, scanning textbooks for anything useful.
—
Finally, the day arrived.
The final task.
That morning, Draco and Pansy finished breakfast quickly and headed toward the meeting room beside the Great Hall.
Snape had informed him:
"The champions' families have been invited. You may meet them."
The moment Draco stepped inside, Narcissa Malfoy spotted him.
"Draco! You're not nervous, are you?"
She rushed over, gripping his shoulders.
"Look at you—you've lost weight! This tournament is exhausting you!"
Draco gave a helpless smile. "I thought I was fine… but now I'm starting to feel nervous."
"This is nothing for my son," Lucius Malfoy said proudly, lifting his chin.
He stood impeccably dressed, his silver-topped cane gleaming under the light.
—
In another corner, Viktor Krum spoke rapidly in Bulgarian with his parents.
Nearby, Fleur Delacour chatted animatedly in French with her mother, a beautiful blonde woman.
Little Gabrielle Delacour stood beside her, watching quietly.
—
Harry hesitated briefly at the doorway.
His family…
It definitely wasn't the Dursleys.
Uncle Vernon would never come anywhere near Hogwarts.
Even if Aunt Petunia had some curiosity, pride would have kept her away.
And besides, Hogwarts wouldn't allow Muggles who rejected magic so completely.
Who, then?
"Harry!"
A warm voice called out.
Molly Weasley was waving at him from across the room, smiling brightly.
"You didn't expect this, did you?" she said as Harry walked over, beaming.
"We came to watch you, of course!"
She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek, her eyes full of pride.
—
The four champions stood in the four corners of the room—
each surrounded by the people who mattered most to them.