A moment later, Sunny Finch raised an arm.
The crowd erupted in excitement. Had the exchange students won? The other exchange contestants clenched their fists. Among the exchange delegation, the silence was so profound you could hear a pin drop.
In the instructor's office, the exchange elder sat up slightly, his eyes fixed on Sunny Finch via the enchanted projection. If she could stand, this battle—which had consumed every ounce of their energy—had ultimately been won by the exchange students.
Sunny Finch's arm swayed. She pressed it to the ground to support her body, but her limb trembled violently. Even these two simple movements seemed to have exhausted her completely.
"Get up, Sunny!" an exchange student shouted. Soon, all of them were chanting, "Go, Sunny, stand up!"
Even the exchange delegation members watching began shouting encouragement.
Sunny Finch heard the cries. The trembling in her arms lessened slightly, but she was truly spent. Her close combat exchange with Fleur had drained her reserves. She tried to stand, but her body refused to obey.
Just as everyone's attention focused on Sunny Finch, a Beauxbatons student cried out, "Fleur!"
Heads snapped toward the other contestant. While the exchange students and Hogwarts had performed brilliantly throughout, everyone had subconsciously overlooked Beauxbatons—specifically the girl who had battled Sunny Finch to a standstill on sheer willpower.
Now, Fleur's arms were pressed against the ground as she struggled to push herself up.
A collective gasp rippled through the stands. Could it be? Would Fleur be the ultimate victor?
In the office, Headmistress Olympe Maxime leapt from her chair. Seeing Fleur's ragged state, her eyes reddened, yet she remained silent, terrified of disturbing the girl's focus. The other Beauxbatons students were the same: red eyes, clenched fists, silent prayers.
At Beauxbatons in France, every girl held her breath, watching the projection.
Fleur forced herself up. Agony screamed through every cell, begging her to surrender. Lying down meant no more pain. But she refused. The entire school had poured their hope into her. They were students who had never suffered before, yet they had survived days in the Forbidden Forest without a single complaint. This was their collective triumph—the chance to face Sunny Finch. How could she lose?
"Ah!" Fleur's voice tore from her throat. With that roar, she forced herself upright, swaying twice before locking her knees.
Beauxbatons' side erupted in tears of joy, chanting her name. Olympe smiled as tears streaked down her face. The entire hall seemed ready to lift from the sheer force of the cheers.
The audience was in a frenzy. No one had expected Fleur to succeed.
From the ground, Sunny Finch forced a glance at Fleur. A faint smile touched her lips. She couldn't hold on any longer—her arm collapsed, and she lay still.
At Hogwarts, the Great Hall—save for the unconscious Durmstrang students—erupted in applause for Fleur.
A vortex swirled in the air, and Albus Dumbledore appeared in the Forbidden Forest. He glanced at Fleur, then announced, "On behalf of Erwin Cavendish, I declare the winner of the second round of this tournament to be Beauxbatons!"
Fleur's smile deepened. Her body slumped backward, but Beauxbatons' girls caught her before she hit the ground. She opened her eyes, looking at her teary teammates.
"We won!" she whispered.
The girls nodded vigorously. "We won, Fleur! You were amazing!"
"It hurts so much!" Fleur laughed weakly. "Sunny Finch really didn't hold back!"
Across the clearing, Charlotte approached Sunny Finch, extending a hand. Sunny Finch glanced at it, then took it, leaning against Charlotte as she stood. She looked at Fleur, who met her gaze.
Sunny Finch gave her a thumbs-up. "Amazing, Fleur!"
Fleur's smile widened. Her head lolled, and she fainted into her teammates' arms.
Charlotte helped Sunny Finch toward the edge of the forest, glancing back. "Your acting was really good."
Sunny Finch grinned. "Right? I think she deserves this victory. Doesn't she?"
Charlotte nodded. "She does. Which leaves the exchange students with only the third trial. If we don't win that, we're finished."
Sunny Finch laughed, leaning heavily on Charlotte. "You should worry about yourself. The final gamble is coming—I won't hold back."
"I hope you have the ability," Charlotte smirked.
"Then," Sunny Finch groaned, "could you please take me to the infirmary? Honestly, it hurts. Fleur's team uniform hides strength that's hard to believe. You should try it sometime—that pain is unforgettable."
Charlotte chuckled. "Of course. But remember, you owe me a favor. Once you're better, you're teaching me formations."