"I don't have anything planned..." Orli felt a surge of anticipation rise within her chest, like a piece of dry wood suddenly bobbing to the surface—impossible to push back down no matter how hard she tried.
"This summer there's a conference—the International Potions Association's decennial symposium for potion scholars. You could come with me... if you don't have other arrangements," Snape said calmly.
"I don't have any other plans!" Orli replied almost instantly.
"When is it? Where?" she pressed eagerly.
"August." Snape glanced sideways at her, then quickly looked away. "In France."
"Of course I can go." Orli nodded, smiling. "No problem at all."
In the two-way mirror, Ludo Bagman's lengthy explanation of the tournament rules finally drew to a close.
"Now... Harry and Cedric, listen for my whistle!" Bagman announced.
"Three—two—one—"
At the sharp blast of the whistle, Harry and Cedric charged through the gap in the hedge before them. Both Orli and Snape leaned forward, focusing intently on the mirror.
This two-way mirror, enhanced by Dumbledore, functioned like a faithful camera, transmitting everything around Harry in real time.
The towering hedges cast pitch-black shadows across the narrow path. Whether due to their height and density or some magical enchantment, the moment Harry entered the maze, the crowd's cheers vanished completely.
Harry drew his wand and whispered, "Lumos."
Cedric, behind him, did the same.
Light bloomed from their wand tips. After roughly fifty meters, they reached a fork in the path and exchanged a brief glance.
"See you later," Harry said, then took the left path while Cedric went right.
In the distance, Bagman's whistle sounded again—Krum must have entered the competition. Harry clearly heard it and quickened his pace.
"This doesn't feel right," Orli frowned.
"Harry's path seems suspiciously easy."
Indeed, Harry had been in the maze for five or six minutes and encountered nothing but trees. He hurried forward, holding his wand high to see as far as possible, but there was still nothing in sight.
Bagman's whistle sounded for the third time in the distance—all the champions were now inside the maze. With each passing minute, the maze grew darker; the strip of sky above had turned deep indigo. Harry reached a second fork and cast a direction-finding spell—
"Point Me," he said softly, laying his wand flat on his palm.
The wand spun once and pointed toward the dense hedge on his right—that was north. Following its guidance, Harry pressed on. The path ahead remained empty. He turned right at the next junction, but still encountered no obstacles. Even Harry was beginning to look unsettled; he stopped in the middle of the passage, glancing around with obvious hesitation.
Suddenly, there was a commotion behind him. Harry quickly swung his wand around, ready to defend himself, but the light revealed only Cedric rushing frantically from a side path on the right. He looked rattled, smoke curling from his sleeve.
"Hagrid'sBlast-Ended Skrewt!" he shouted hoarsely. "Enormous—I barely escaped!"
Shaking his head, Cedric darted down another path, desperate to put as much distance as possible between himself and the creature.
Harry picked up his pace again, moving as quickly and quietly as possible, his wand held high as he strained to listen for any sound in the encroaching darkness.
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