Author's Note: Don't forget to vote, comment and leave a 5 star review to help the story grow and reach more people.
Read upto +30 Chapters worth of content ahead and receive extra updates daily by going to my Patreon and becoming a fellow Patreon.
Patreon: mrfanfiction140
Be sure to read my other Novels as well:
- Naruto: Multiverse Adventures
- Hunter x Hunter : The Alchemist.
- One Piece : Reincarnated As A Genderbent Charlotte Linlin.
----
Early the next morning, the Quidditch Pitch was once again filled with students.
The sun had just leaped over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest, and the stands were already a sea of people.
The young Wizards waved flags of various colors, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation. Some were clearly sleep-deprived, with dark circles under their eyes, but their eyes were frighteningly bright.
It couldn't be helped; yesterday's match had been far too spectacular.
That battle between the flaming dragon and the Norwegian Dragon, that night when the three Durmstrang champions were ground into the dirt—who would want to miss today's sequel?
"I snuck out after curfew yesterday, wanting to see if there was any more good action at night," a Gryffindor boy said to his friend beside him. "In the end, I was caught by the Old Bat just as I left the common room."
"Me too!" another Ravenclaw girl chimed in. "Filch was crouching at the corner of the corridor with that cat, catching everyone. Our house lost twenty points."
"What's twenty points?" the Gryffindor boy said with a bitter face. "Gryffindor lost thirty-five. Professor McGonagall's face turned green with anger. She said if this continues, she'll dock all our points for the House Cup."
Just then, the large screen lit up.
Everyone's gaze instantly focused on it.
"Look!!!"
Ludo Bagman's voice echoed throughout the pitch.
"A new day has begun!!! Our champions have set out once more!!!"
On the large screen, the images switched rapidly, scanning the camps of each school.
The three Ilvermorny champions were crouching by a small stream, washing up. Ryan was rubbing his sleepy eyes, his hair as messy as a chicken coop.
Amina of Uagadou was already fully prepared, assigning tasks to Nema and Wanjiru.
The Castelobruxo trio sat around a nearly extinguished campfire, gnawing on half-raw roasted mushrooms.
In the Beauxbatons footage, Chloe's complexion looked a bit better than yesterday, but it was still pale. Fleur was feeding her water while Sophie stood guard nearby.
The three of them had clearly not slept well, all sporting dark circles under their eyes.
Then there was Hogwarts.
Cedric, Harry, and Roger were organizing their gear under a rock face. Harry's expression was a bit nervous; Cedric patted his shoulder and said something, and Harry nodded.
Finally, Durmstrang.
The moment the screen cut to them, a burst of laughter erupted from the stands.
Krum's face was darker than the bottom of a pot.
He stood there, radiating a low-pressure aura that warned others to stay away. A temporary bandage was wrapped around his chest, and his brow furrowed with every step he took.
Clearly, the rib Lynn had broken yesterday still hurt.
Katya stood beside him, his face pale and his steps unsteady. Although the stench had dissipated somewhat, he looked as if his spirit had been drained. He gagged from time to time, making the spectators who had just finished breakfast feel nauseous.
Louis stood behind the two of them, his expression numb and his eyes hollow, radiating a decadent air of "I don't care anymore."
And about fifty meters behind them—
Lynn was leaning against a tree, arms crossed, watching them with leisurely ease.
He even waved at the camera.
"Uh..." Ludo's tone became subtle. "It seems Mr. Lynn was serious when he said last night that he would 'keep an eye on them'..."
Another burst of laughter erupted from the stands.
"Durmstrang's nightmare has begun!" someone shouted.
"That's what they get for stealing golden eggs! Serves them right!"
"Go, Lynn!!!"
And indeed, the next two days and nights were a long nightmare for the three Durmstrang champions.
But for the audience, it was a joyous feast.
"Look!" Ludo's voice rose. "Krum has found a Thestral nest! He's found a golden egg deep inside the nest! He's approaching—he's got it! Durmstrang has obtained a golden egg!"
Warm applause broke out in the stands.
But before the applause could fade, Ludo's voice rang out again:
"Look! This golden egg has been 'taken' by Lynn!"
On the large screen, Krum had just stuffed the golden egg into his pocket and hadn't even had time to smile before a hand reached out from the side and deftly plucked the golden egg away.
Krum's smile froze on his face.
He turned his head.
Lynn stood beside him, weighing the golden egg in his hand and offering him a brilliant smile.
"Thanks," Lynn said.
Then he stuffed the golden egg into his own pocket and turned to leave.
Krum stood frozen in place, as if he had been petrified.
Louis stood not far away, covering his face and letting out a groan of despair.
Katya leaned against a tree and began to gag again.
The audience burst into laughter.
"Look!" Ludo's voice rang out again. "Katya has found a golden egg among a cluster of Ashwinders! He's risked being burned to ash to rush in! He's succeeded! Durmstrang has obtained another golden egg!"
Katya clutched the golden egg in his hand, a look of post-disaster ecstasy on his face.
Then that hand appeared again.
A gentle pluck.
The golden egg was gone.
Katya's expression went from ecstasy to blankness, and then from blankness to a total breakdown.
He turned his head and looked at the familiar figure behind him.
Lynn waved the golden egg in his hand at him.
"Thanks."
Katya's lips trembled as he tried to say something, but as soon as he opened his mouth—
"Bleurgh—!!!"
He started gagging again.
The audience was already laughing uncontrollably.
"Look!" A few hours later, Ludo's voice echoed through the pitch once more. "Krum has found a third golden egg in the territory of a Pygmy Puff! He's given it his all! He's rushed in! He's got it! Durmstrang has finally—oh, how unfortunate, he still failed to protect it."
On the large screen, Krum held the golden egg, his whole body trembling.
He wasn't tired; he was furious.
He spun around suddenly and roared at the empty surroundings, "How on earth are you doing this?! I checked three hundred meters around me! There wasn't a trace of you!"
The air was silent for a second.
Then a hand reached out from behind him, stuffed the golden egg into his pocket, and then plucked it back out—the mockery was absolute.
Krum spun around—
No one.
He turned back again—
Lynn was standing three steps away from him, weighing the golden egg in his hand with a gentle smile on his face.
"Hand-crafted invisibility cloak," Lynn said. "It's basic. Doesn't Durmstrang teach it? That shouldn't be right; your school has an alchemy master, after all."
Krum's chest heaved violently.
He opened his mouth to say something, but a sudden sharp pain in his ribs made him swallow his words.
Lynn patted his shoulder.
"Keep working hard," he said. "There are still two days left."
Then he turned and disappeared into the woods.
Krum stood there, feeling completely unwell.
Louis walked over, looking at him cautiously. "Krum... how about we... give up?"
Krum didn't speak.
He just stared fixedly in the direction Lynn had disappeared, his chest heaving violently.
On the Quidditch Pitch, the Durmstrang camp was in an uproar.
The students were incensed, waving their fists and roaring at the large screen.
"This is cheating!!!"
"How can he steal someone else's golden egg?!"
"Unfair!!!"
A few emotional students even stood up and rushed toward the Hogwarts camp, but fortunately, they were stopped by their Professors in time.
"Calm down! Everyone calm down!"
A Durmstrang Professor spread his arms, blocking the students from both sides, his face flushed bright red.
"The match isn't over yet! We still have a chance!"
But as he said this, even he didn't quite believe it.
In the Hogwarts camp, the students were laughing together.
"Let them steal! Serves them right!"
"Lynn is too awesome!!!"
"Go, Durmstrang!!! Just two more days!!!"
Those shouts were filled with undisguised schadenfreude.
...
Two days and two nights.
For the audience, it was a two-day, two-night feast of joy.
For the three Durmstrang champions, it was a two-day, two-night cycle of nightmares.
Every time Krum found a golden egg, Lynn would appear and take it away.
Every time Katya found a golden egg, Lynn would appear, take it away, and enjoy watching him gag.
Louis... Louis hadn't found a single golden egg. He spent the entire time trying to stop Krum and Katya from looking for more, but to no avail.
"The match is over!!!"
Ludo Bagman's voice was clearly transmitted to every champion through the recording device that looked like a golden snitch.
"All champions, please touch the recording device near you! It will bring you to the Quidditch Pitch!"
The three Durmstrang champions were instantly overjoyed.
Their expressions and reactions were as if they had heard the music of the spheres.
Crack—
Crack—
Crack—
After a sensation of the world spinning, all nineteen champions gathered in the center of the Quidditch Pitch.
Sunlight bathed them, and mountain-shaking cheers erupted from the stands.
The judges sat in golden chairs on the podium.
Six Principals, plus two Ministry of Magic officials, formed an eight-person judging panel.
Ludo Bagman stood in the center of the pitch and cleared his throat.
"The first task is over!" his voice rang out. "Now, please have the judges score the performance of each school's champions! The points will be included in the final score!"
The school crests of each school appeared on the large screen, with blank scoring columns beside them.
First was Beauxbatons.
The large screen began to replay clips of the Beauxbatons champions' match—being attacked by Red Fire Ants, Chloe getting injured, barely finding a golden egg, and then the long trek and rest.
The judges began scoring.
Madame Maxime was the first to hold up a card: 8 points.
Her expression was calm, but her eyes clearly said, "I've done my best."
Piquery: 5 points.
Okoye: 4 points.
Lema: 4 points.
Arthur: 5 points.
Bagman: 5 points.
Then it was Karkaroff.
He expressionlessly held up his card—0 points.
A chorus of boos rang out from the stands.
Angry shouts came from the Beauxbatons camp, but Karkaroff didn't even spare them a glance.
Final score: 35 points.
Madame Maxime sat in her chair with a polite smile, but in her heart, she was nursing a grudge: Just wait until Durmstrang's score comes out. Let's see how I pay you back.
Next was Hogwarts.
Dumbledore was the first to hold up a card: 8 points.
Then it was Karkaroff again.
He expressionlessly held up his card—0 points.
Boos rang out from the stands once more.
"We invite Principal Karkaroff to state the reason for his score."