Wade tapped a nearby pumpkin leaf with his wand, and the leaf transformed into a brass-colored bell.
He rang the bell, capturing everyone's attention.
"Alright, I'll announce the rules."
"Since this is our first time playing, we can keep the rules simple."
"Everyone will be divided into two teams. I, Fred, and Harry are the Black Team, responsible for hunting."
"The rest of you are the White Team; you can escape, hide, or of course, counterattack."
"Hagrid is the referee."
"The game time is thirty minutes. After the whistle blows, you'll have one minute to hide or prepare. After one minute, the Black Team will begin the 'hunt'."
"After thirty minutes, if anyone from the White Team survives, the Black Team loses; if no one from the White Team survives, the Black Team wins!"
"The rules are: no using Dark Curses, no using magical items other than wands. Being hit by a spell counts as 'death,' and 'corpses' are not allowed to provide any form of help to teammates."
"Any team that violates the rules is immediately considered to have lost."
"Is that clear to everyone?"
Everyone nodded. Fred whistled, "Let's start! I can't wait!"
Hagrid had already brought a large rock. He climbed onto it and sat down, so the entire field was within his sight.
"Are you all ready, kids?"
"Ready!"
The young wizards, who had already instinctively split into two groups, raised their wands and shouted loudly, even Hermione and Padma couldn't help but join in.
"Alright then." Hagrid smiled happily, put the whistle to his lips, and blew hard!
"Beep—"
A clear, sharp whistle sounded, and the White Team immediately scattered in all directions through the gaps between the pumpkins.
As for how to hide or counterattack, everyone already had ideas in mind from the past few minutes.
Hagrid diligently watched his pocket watch. After one minute, he blew the whistle again.
"Black Team, go!"
The three members of the Black Team didn't immediately set off.
Wade and Harry immediately cast Shield Charms on themselves. Fred exclaimed, "Wow! Shield Charm... I still can't do that!"
"Need help?" Wade pointed his wand at him.
"Thanks," Fred said. After Wade cast the Shield Charm on him, he looked down and asked, "Doesn't seem quite like a normal Shield Charm?"
"Wade's Shield Charm can last for about ten minutes," Harry reminded him. "Normal spells can only block two or three hits."
"Then I understand." Fred said, looking at the tall pumpkin nearby, and asked, "Can I climb on top of this?"
Wade replied, "What is not forbidden by law is permitted."
So Fred climbed up.
"Want to go together?" Wade asked Harry.
Harry shook his head, "We only have thirty minutes; searching separately will be faster... I don't want to lose."
"Okay, good luck."
Wade didn't waste time either, immediately choosing a direction and walking off. Harry walked along another narrow path.
It was very quiet around them.
The tall pumpkins were like small houses.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of plants, and vines crisscrossed underfoot, forming what seemed like invisible traps.
Harry didn't want to lose, and naturally, neither did Wade. Even if his opponents were just a group of students, he would give his all.
Wade tapped his wand on the top of his head, and his body immediately became invisible among the pumpkins, like a chameleon.
He then pointed to his feet, and the faint sound of footsteps also vanished.
He followed the winding paths for only a few minutes before hearing hurried breathing and smelling a faint scent.
Padma was hiding behind a pumpkin, her right hand tightly gripping her wand, occasionally peeking out to see if anyone was coming.
She completely failed to see the wand so close to her, until a red light suddenly appeared in her vision!
"Bang!"
The thin, invisible armor shattered like a soap bubble. The girl was hit by the spell and immediately fell down.
In the moment before losing consciousness, she thought, angry and bewildered, "Why didn't I see anyone?"
"Just half an hour... just hold on for half an hour!"
Hermione muttered, quickly moving several pumpkins together to form a makeshift barrier.
Then she pulled a few vines together, peeking out through the gaps.
No matter who passed nearby, she could strike first, gaining a complete advantage!
"Petrificus Totalus!"
When Hermione heard Fred quietly incant the spell, the Full Body-Bind Curse had already descended from above!
She turned around in shock, and as she fell like a stone statue, she saw Fred squatting on a pumpkin, grinning:
"A few pumpkins this close together, they're just too obvious from above, Hermione!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Another Full Body-Bind Curse flew in from the side, unexpectedly hitting Fred.
George jumped out and looked at his brother, just about to let out a cheer of victory, but then he himself was hit by a spell.
"Luckily, I had a Shield Charm."
Fred grumbled, picked two leaves, and covered George's surprised eyes.
"You're a corpse now, brother."
Fred said triumphantly, standing up to continue the "hunt."
"Stupefy!"
Two or three spells simultaneously flew in from the side. The shield shattered with a "pop," and Fred fell beside his brother in the same posture.
George, whose entire body except his eyes could move, blinked happily.
"Sorry, we can't undo your spells right now."
Theo apologized, then immediately ran off in another direction.
He, Michael, Neville, and Ryan had only just split up, but quickly reunited.
"The Black Team has fewer people, the White Team has more. Wade's looking down on our strength!"
Michael said seriously, "We definitely need to teach them a lesson so we can be the Black Team next time!"
The remaining three nodded seriously.
No matter how good their relationships usually were, they were opponents now!
Hearing sounds from another direction, Harry immediately knew he had chosen the wrong path.
He carefully pinpointed the sounds, then moved quickly in the other direction, crouching low.
As he rounded a pumpkin, he unexpectedly locked eyes with Ryan.
Ryan, who was setting a trap with Michael, paused, then shouted loudly, "He's here!"
Harry didn't even know he could react that fast.
His mind was blank, but his hands and feet moved on their own—
"Expelliarmus!"
Ryan's wand flew away.
Two spells flew past, crossing paths. Harry tripped over a vine while dodging, rolled with the momentum, and cast a spell before even getting up!
"Stupefy! Stupefy! Stupefy!"
Beams of light from the spells shot out; one flew into the sky, one hit a pumpkin and rebounded onto Theo, and another hit Neville.
"Flank him!"
Michael roared, running over from both sides with Ryan!
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