"This… how… how is this possible?"
Staring at Link, who had already stepped out past the age limit, Hermione murmured to herself.
There were plenty of others around her reacting the same way. After all, Link was a big name at Hogwarts, and everyone knew very well he was only in fifth year.
But how could a fifth-year student possibly already be 17?
Or… had Link actually found a way to break through the age limit?
Many who thought they had grasped the truth were getting excited, while only a few Hufflepuffs showed complicated expressions, staying silent.
"I get it now!"
Harry suddenly shouted as if he'd just realized something. "Link said before, that year he started late, "
Before Harry could finish, Hermione slapped her hand over his mouth.
But it was already too late.
Not only Link, but quite a few other Hufflepuffs turned their heads toward them. John and the others' expressions were faintly hostile. Only Link smiled faintly, turned back, and left the hall with Cedric.
It wasn't until the crowd slowly dispersed that Hermione finally released her hand.
"What are you doing, Hermione!?"
Harry complained unhappily. Hermione's movement had been so rough just now that his lip had smashed against his teeth, he was even bleeding.
But hearing this, Hermione was even angrier than him. She whispered sharply, "I should be the one asking you what you're doing! Link started late because he was sick, no House wanted to accept him, so he entered school two years later, you know that already, so why shout it out in front of everyone? When it spreads, how do you expect Link to keep his dignity?"
With those words, Harry finally realized.
This time Hermione didn't even need to stop him, Harry himself clapped both hands over his own mouth in horror.
Ron, however, looked utterly disappointed.
Just like the other idiots, he had believed Link had cracked the age line method.
Seeing the two of them like this, Hermione let out a deep sigh, pulled out a badge engraved with S.P.E.W., and muttered regretfully, "Honestly, it's all your fault. I'd planned to use this opportunity to get Link to join the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare!"
———
At the same time, Link hadn't actually gone far. He had slipped into the library.
Because of Halloween, the corners of the library were packed with all sorts of jack-o'-lanterns. Even overhead, swarms of bats fluttered in circles.
More importantly, Hagrid had provided a massive supply of pumpkins this year. After the house-elves cooked them up, the pumpkin fragrance drifted out of the kitchens and filled the whole library.
Link's love for pumpkins was as strong as ever, so he hadn't gone anywhere else. He nestled in the library, nibbling pumpkin candies while reading an OWL textbook.
There were quite a few others studying hard like Link, though most were fifth-years or seventh-years. After all, the OWL and NEWT exams weren't going to be postponed just because of the Triwizard Tournament.
The only lower-year student present was Rolf, who sat obediently at Link's side, focused on writing a potions essay.
Link liked this kid a lot. He ruffled his hair, then pulled out a pile of pumpkin-based snacks from his pocket and stuffed them into Rolf's arms.
The two of them ate in secret like that, not even going to the Great Hall for lunch, simply lazing quietly in the library, enjoying themselves.
But such leisure didn't last. As the sky outside grew dim, a familiar voice rose from behind Link.
"Good afternoon, Link, Rolf."
Link and Rolf exchanged a look and sighed before turning their heads.
There stood Fleur, in a sky-blue silk robe.
What was unusual this time was the green silk scarf wrapped around her head.
That scarf seemed to carry some strange power, cutting off her alluring aura completely.
Fleur, who didn't know the word "reserved," sat herself confidently on Link's other side, so close her arm brushed against his as she spoke, "Link, that scene this morning, when you declared yourself Hogwarts' true champion, it was absolutely stunning."
"Everyone outside is talking about it! But… are you really confident you'll be chosen as Hogwarts' champion? As far as I know, Cedric from your House is also a favorite."
Her body carried a strong, rich fragrance. It wasn't any magical perfume, it was more like natural body scent.
Link guessed this was another talent granted by her Veela blood. Honestly, whenever he thought of this, it made him wary of the smell and he tightened his Occlumency defenses.
But he couldn't deny, it smelled really, really good.
His nose twitched; he couldn't help but inhale twice before lifting his head in an air of supreme confidence and declaring,
"The Goblet of Fire chooses champions based solely on strength. And I… am the strongest student in all of Hogwarts! So the Hogwarts champion can only be me!"
Fleur seemed stunned by the sheer confidence radiating from him.
Her silver eyes flickered. She stared dazedly for a moment, then finally covered her mouth and laughed softly, "Oh my! That was so handsome! No wonder Gabrielle likes you so much, at this rate, even I feel like I might fall in love with you!"
She leaned closer still, tongue darting lightly over her lips, expression sultry.
With a kitten-like voice she whispered, "So then, my champion. Since you're so certain of victory, you must already know what the three tasks Dumbledore and the others set are, right? Hmm? Couldn't you tell me?"
Even though Link was sure his Occlumency and the headband blocked Fleur's allure, he still felt his heart lurch violently, like a wave crashing into it.
This was pure beauty. At the end of the day, Link was still a healthy young man, and what man could resist this kind of temptation?
Just as he was about to slip, a sharp noise snapped him awake.
Rolf had been staring so blankly he'd dropped his book on the floor.
Link gave him an approving look, then turned back with a cold expression.
He knew perfectly well Fleur didn't actually like him. Aside from their prior acquaintance, she was only here to extract information about the Triwizard Tournament.
Such "off-field" tactics were common in the Tournament, an accepted unspoken rule for centuries.
But Fleur wasn't even confirmed as Beauxbatons' champion yet. Was there really any need to be this impatient? Or was this Madame Maxime's order?
And besides, Link had just saved Gabrielle's life that summer. As her sister, Fleur trying such tricks on her sister's savior felt too shameless.
As these thoughts swirled, his gaze grew colder.
Knowing her beauty trap had failed, Fleur sighed, withdrew her arm from his, and left decisively.
Watching her retreat, Rolf swallowed hard, then hesitated, "Link… actually, Sister Fleur really is a good person."
"Ha!"
Link grinned, ruffling Rolf's hair until it became a messy bird's nest, then led him toward the Great Hall.
Judging from the time, the feast was about to begin.
As for Rolf's words, Link simply thought he hadn't yet shaken off Fleur's charm.
When they entered the Great Hall, it was already packed.
The Goblet of Fire had been moved back onto the platform, waiting to announce the champions after the feast.
Link sent Rolf off, but didn't sit down himself. Instead, he slipped into the shadows near the Slytherin table, and from behind wrapped his arms around Emily, who was either directing the other Slytherins or waiting just for him.
Emily wasn't startled at all, she had noticed him coming.
But when she caught the scent of Fleur clinging to him, her brows furrowed deeply.
"You went to see Fleur again?" Her tone was cold.
Link acted as though he hadn't heard the anger in her voice. Closing his eyes, he rested his chin on her shoulder, nuzzling as he said, "To be precise, she came to find me. You know what? This afternoon she even tried…"
He slowly recounted Fleur's attempted beauty trap.
As he spoke, Emily's frown smoothed, and finally her lips curved into a slightly smug smile.
"Now you've seen that woman's true nature, haven't you?"
"Of course."
Link hugged her tighter, blowing warm breath in her ear as he whispered, "My Emily is the best. I love you."
Emily's body softened, blush blooming across her cheeks. Breath quivering, she still swatted away his wandering hand and stammered, "D-Dumbledore and the others are already seated. We should go back too!"
Link didn't press further. He just pecked her cheek lightly before returning to Rolf's side.
That kid hadn't taken his eyes off Link the whole time, now his face was burning red.
Seeing this, Link laughed and messed up his hair again.
Amid Rolf's protests, the Halloween feast finally began.
But perhaps because there had been so many feasts lately, no one was really focused on the food, except Link, the pumpkin fanatic. Most kept glancing at the Goblet of Fire on the platform.
By the time the last pumpkin tart was gone, the students, who had only been pretending to eat, stopped pretending. They all stared expectantly and nervously as Dumbledore stepped slowly up to the platform.
Pointing at the Goblet, he said, "All right. In one more minute, the Goblet will make its decision. Listen carefully, once your name is called, I want you to walk up to the front, pass the staff table, and enter the next chamber. There, you will receive initial instructions."
With a wave of his wand, all candles but the jack-o'-lanterns went out. The Hall plunged into darkness. Only the Goblet's flame still burned, bright and almost dazzling to those staring.
Yet no one looked away.
Not a soul wanted to miss this historic moment.
The tension was unbearable.
Link could even faintly hear someone counting down. He turned to look and saw Fleur at the Hufflepuff table, hands clasped in prayer, silver eyes reflecting the flickering fire, her expression both nervous and devout.
Whoosh!!
With a crackle of sparks, the flames flared scarlet and spat out a long tongue of fire.
The sudden sound startled everyone, but then they saw a scorched slip of parchment drifting down.
Dumbledore caught it, studied it closely, then proclaimed loudly, "The Durmstrang champion, Viktor Krum!"
Applause and cheers exploded like thunder through the Hall.
Krum himself seemed indifferent, almost listless. Calmly, he followed Dumbledore's earlier instructions and walked into the chamber.
"Excellent! Krum!" Karkaroff howled behind him, looking ecstatic. "I knew you'd do it!"
When the noise finally settled, the flames turned red again, and another slip flew out.
"The Beauxbatons champion!" Dumbledore looked toward the Hufflepuff table. "Fleur Delacour!"
"I did it! I did it!"
Fleur leapt to her feet.
Her movement knocked the scarf off her head, and her silvery hair cascaded down, shining like a river of stars in the dim light.
She hugged Gabrielle, spinning with joy, then turned to embrace others, only to freeze.
Because the scene among the Beauxbatons students was strange.
The boys' eyes glowed with beast-like hunger. The girls either clung together crying, or glared at her with deep disgust.
Her smile slowly faded. Her excitement dimmed.
Looking around, she saw barely anyone applauding her, apart from the professors, a few Hogwarts girls, and… Link.
He still had half a pumpkin pasty in his mouth, clapping lazily.
'Huh? Link?'
In the darkness, Fleur's eyes lit up again.
Without hesitation, she threw herself into Link's arms.
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