Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 842 213: Conversation Before the Goblet of Fire

Back in the stands, Antoine still carried the unique scent of mixed magic potions from the treatment tent.

Delaine gave him a disdainful look and asked, "Is it necessary? You're about to resign from Salem, and yet you spend time comforting little girls?"

"How can that be a waste?" Antoine said with a grin, "Don't tell me you didn't think of turning this girl into an ally when you saw her stick her arm into a lizard's mouth."

Delaine didn't argue, but said calmly, "The more determined someone is, the harder it is to change their stance. Bringing her in, be careful not to turn her into a ticking time bomb trying to blow us up."

"Haha," Antoine laughed, "People from Salem Academy don't have such a clear sense of morality. To them, family, friends, and emotions are the most important things."

He squinted slightly and said, "Besides, Salem isn't just Hope... most of the students at that school are a bit crazy, which matches well with us."

"Suit yourself," Delaine said, "But if you bring danger in, don't blame me for being harsh on your recommendation!"

"Stay calm, stay calm. I won't cause trouble for myself either," Antoine said casually, "By the way, how's the match going?"

"That Potter is about to encounter Vid..."

Next to them, "the middle-aged wizard" Grindelwald had been closely following the match, indifferent to their discussion, as if he didn't care, or as if he'd left the decision-making power to them.

...

Harry trudged through the narrow bramble passage, where time became very ambiguous.

It might have been ten minutes, it might have been an hour—the serene darkness stretched every second.

Though he used the Lumos Spell for light, his face and body were occasionally scratched by thorns, but compared to previous dangers, this pain was almost negligible.

When a glimmer of light finally appeared ahead, Harry instinctively squinted—

The end of the passage opened up suddenly, revealing a circular clearing embraced by ancient trees, where the Goblet of Fire quietly sat on a moss-covered stone platform, illuminated by moonlight, appearing tranquil and mysterious.

Harry flashed a delighted smile and was about to rush over when he suddenly stopped.

Just a step away from the trophy, Vid stood with his back to him, seemingly untouched by any danger. His clothes didn't have a single crease.

Unlike Harry, who had rolled in the dirt and crawled through the grass, covered in filth, his clothes torn in several places, with streaks of blood on them.

His heart suddenly sank, yet strangely, he wasn't particularly surprised, even finding it somewhat expected.

Harry noticed that Vid, at the front, seemed to have been there for some time, but had neither reached for the trophy nor used any defensive magic, just silently observing the engravings on the cup as if waiting for something.

Moonlight cast his shadow long. He didn't even hold the Magic Wand in his hand, leaving it casually tucked in a side pocket.

Harry's breath became suddenly rapid. Several times, he wanted to raise his Magic Wand, but then hesitated and lowered it.

Finally, the boy sighed heavily, oddly feeling a sense of relief.

Dragging his weary steps forward, he rasped, "Pick it up, Vid. You're already here. What are you hesitating about?"

Vid didn't move, just turned around.

Harry was surprised to find that those gray eyes didn't hold the joy of victory, but a complex, almost sympathetic expression.

His heartstrings suddenly tightened, and a bad premonition surged like a tidal wave.

Vid adjusted the badge on his chest, his voice unusually calm: "If we take the trophy together, becoming champions at the same time... what do you think?"

Harry frowned, a dull pain throbbing in his forehead, his heart bristling with irritation.

"Why yield?" he said angrily, "You got here first, you're much stronger than me! The champion should obviously be you!"

Vid's lips curved in a peculiar smile: "But what if I told you, this trophy doesn't lead to victory, but to danger?"

He looked directly at Harry and asked, "Do you still have the courage to touch it?"

When Vid first reached the location of the Goblet of Fire, he thought he would encounter an interception or ambush—

According to Barty Crouch Jr's words, Voldemort still intended to use Harry's blood for resurrection, as originally planned, and wouldn't allow anyone other than Harry to be the first to touch the trophy.

But Vid didn't meet any unexpected interceptors.

He thought it was because he had taken a shortcut and, after waiting a long time, saw no similar figures appear, realizing the situation seemed to have changed.

Perhaps because there were too many powerful opponents, this time, Voldemort's people hadn't chosen to secretly help Harry eliminate competitors and send the chosen boy to the designated graveyard.

Then Vid inspected the Goblet of Fire and discovered the clue—

This time, the trophy wasn't designed to be a regular Portkey that moved with the user, but instead, it would continuously transport the toucher like the ring Grindelwald had used in Gray Castle.

So they didn't need to risk targeting all the champions, only ensure that Harry made it to the end. When he saw the trophy, he would naturally take it without caution.

Even if someone were transported away in front of Harry, he would only think it was a way to send contestants out of the Forbidden Forest and wouldn't think much more of it.

Vid couldn't help but applaud Voldemort's design; this method was indeed safer than Barty Crouch Jr's escort.

Harry was puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Vid waved his wand, making the blue birds around them close their eyes. Harry watched but didn't intervene, though his expression visibly tensed.

But in a distant ancient pine tree, there was a blue bird standing there from the beginning.

It was there to capture the moments when each champion approached the Goblet of Fire. At the moment, it provided the only perspective near the trophy for all the people in the stands.

Vid pretended not to notice this, feigned being very cautious, checked around once more, and then began to speak.

The young wizard's voice was deep and clear, echoing across the moonlit clearing:

"I left my poppet to eliminate the others, not because I'm unwilling to give others a chance to compete, but because the end of this match is no celebration and glory..."

He paused, glancing at the Goblet of Fire, "This is a carefully designed trap, and the winning champion will become someone's sacrifice."

Harry's pupils shrank suddenly, his scar throbbed painfully, as if someone also heard Vid's analysis and felt immense anger.

He cried out in pain, clutching his forehead, inexplicable anger surging within, his green eyes faintly glowing red.

Vid's gaze fell on him, speaking calmly: "I believe the targeted person is either you or me, so I'm here waiting for you."

Vid's gaze passed over Harry, as if he could see through the dense forest to the distant Hogwarts Castle.

"Harry, the reason we can live peacefully under the sun is because people like Dumbledore have always been bearing the burden. But when things can no longer be stopped, someone must stand up to face it."

Harry suddenly understood: "You mean... Voldemort?"

The mention of the name made the air around them suddenly still, as if it cast a Quietening Charm over the distant stands, silencing the murmuring audience instantly.

In the next moment, a tsunami of noise erupted in the stands.

"Dumbledore!" Fudge couldn't contain his emotions, shouting loudly, "What are they talking about? Are these two competitors just prattling nonsense? Is this Vid Gray's strategy?"

He shouted words he didn't even believe himself, and a look of obvious surprise appeared on Dumbledore's face.

And in the silent forest, Vid nodded lightly, "Very likely."

His mind flashed back to before the match, to what Dumbledore said to him when he met in the Headmaster's Office:

"Vid, what I'm about to say may be hard to understand—but this time, I hope you can help Voldemort resurrect."