The Bard at Hogwarts

The last weekend of September 1994.

On the top floor of the Astronomy Tower, Ino waited until almost noon before he cleverly said goodbye to Hermione.

Although he had been chatting for several hours in the morning, he did not feel bored. On the contrary, he felt that time passed a little too quickly.

…

At noon that day.

During lunch, the Great Hall seemed unusually lively.

Because with the posting of the notice, everyone knew that the teachers and students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would visit Hogwarts before six o'clock this evening.

Therefore, even on weekends, no one chose to go to Hogsmeade.

The Gryffindor long table.

After Ron quickly finished the food on the plate, he was full of energy again.

"Have you heard, Harry? They have decided on the champion."

Ron's voice was not loud, but it seemed to spread widely. With him as the center, the little wizards within a radius of ten meters seemed to slow down their eating pace.

As a news expert, Ron easily noticed the surrounding situation, which made him nod with satisfaction.

But before Ron could continue, an inappropriate counter-argument sounded around him.

"You're here again! If the professors really choose the designated champion, I will definitely not attend the so-called Triwizard Tournament."

The speaker was Dean Thomas, who was also one of Harry and Ron's roommates.

After the voice fell, another roommate sitting next to Dean, Seamus, whispered to dissuade him:

"Listen to what he says, anyway, we can't think of any interesting topics."

A standard five-person dormitory for boys perfectly embodies the vertical and horizontal alliances at this moment.

Dean always couldn't stand Ron and always sang the opposite tune. Although Seamus was closer to Dean, he also had a little connection with Ron, and it seemed that both sides could get the best of him.

At the same time.

Ron ignored Andy's rebuttal. After all, this was not a dormitory, and he didn't lack an audience now.

Looking around, after discovering the curious eyes of other little wizards, Ron cleared his throat and pretended to look at Harry.

"Harry, I just learned this secret news. It is said that the professors accidentally let it slip..."

The words are secretive, but the voice sounds like a speech.

A small-scale cultural salon was born.

But in the same way, in addition to the discussion organized by Ron, there are also many other discussions in the hall.

From the least two people to the most dozen people, everyone is talking about who can become the warrior of Hogwarts.

Of course, the little wizards of each academy hope that someone from their academy can be elected.

But in the discussion, Ino and Cedric are the most talked about.

Seriously speaking, Cedric has been in school for six years and has accumulated a lot of prestige. Although most of this prestige is limited to Hogwarts, it is enough.

When everyone is discussing enthusiastically.

The atmosphere in Slytherin is a little low. After Draco's unintentional spread, they now know one thing, Ino is unlikely to participate in the Triwizard Tournament.

Reason told them that Ino's approach was correct. After all, the medal of the Merlin Knights was always higher than the glory of the Triwizard Tournament.

But emotionally, the Slytherins still felt a little disappointed.

Lunch ended quietly in the noise and depression.

...

Time soon came to the afternoon.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, with the joint efforts of all the prefects, the castle became empty.

In fact, there was no need for the prefects to remind them. Faced with such a new thing, no one would be willing to miss it.

On the lawn by the Black Lake.

Professor McGonagall stood at the designated position early.

As if to attach importance to the etiquette of the welcome, Professor McGonagall not only changed into a brand new robe, but also meticulously put on a pointed wizard hat.

This scene also looks very beautiful from a distance.

By the lake, an old witch led the neatly arranged young wizards, and everyone stood together quietly.

But unfortunately, beauty is meant to be broken.

With the first whisper in the crowd, it gradually developed in an uncontrollable direction.

The discussion gradually changed from cautious at the beginning to unbridled.

"Quiet! Line up! Prefects, keep an eye on them!"

With the blessing of magic, Professor McGonagall's voice was clearly heard by every little wizard.

It seemed that she was in a bad mood, and Professor McGonagall's tone was also emotional. However, the effect was also significant. Under the loud scolding, all the little wizards were as obedient as puffs curled up.

After everyone became decent again, Professor McGonagall turned her head and looked into the distance again.

In fact, she was really upset now, and the source of this annoyance was the famous Merlin Sir Group.

"It must be set in October, it's really a rigid and inflexible old antique..."

Professor McGonagall couldn't help but criticize in her heart. The three major magic schools in Europe have been fighting openly and secretly for hundreds of years, and everyone wants their school to be the real first.

The birth of the Triwizard Tournament was for the same purpose.

Let the three magic schools, in a competition with reasonable rules and standards, give birth to the nominal first place.

But the news that Ino, her most promising student, might miss the competition because of the Merlin Jazz Group award in October also reached her ears.

This is very annoying.

When Professor McGonagall secretly criticized, the noisy voice behind her gradually sounded again.

"Quiet! Everyone..."

Amid the loud scolding, the little wizards were silent again.

But unlike Professor McGonagall who cared about etiquette, the other three deans, including Dumbledore, were all silent.

The next time was very interesting. About every fifteen minutes, Professor McGonagall's scolding would be heard by the Black Lake.

...

One scolding, in exchange for fifteen minutes of peace.

After six rounds of this cycle, a full hour and a half had passed.

"It's five forty, will they be late? If they are really late in this kind of occasion, it will be a lot of fun."

Ron took out his pocket watch, with an expression of waiting for a good show.

But what's interesting is that although he was talking nonsense, he didn't take back the pocket watch in his hand, as if he was showing it intentionally or unintentionally.

This is a mechanical pocket watch with a fingernail-sized ruby ​​inlaid and exquisite shape.

The bright red gemstone flashed a ray of light from time to time, and George and Fred at the back of the crowd showed a speechless expression at the same time.

"I just said to give him two Sickles, just send him off casually! You insisted on giving him two Galleons." Fred lowered his head helplessly.

"How could I know he would be like this? He won't get a Knut pocket money from me in the future." George also turned his head and looked to the side.

In front, Ron's low-level show-off behavior, just watching from a distance, both of them felt embarrassed.

At this moment, they really regretted giving Ron pocket money generously after the World Cup.

...

Coincidentally.

While Ron cleverly showed off his pocket watch, Draco in the Slytherin team also took out the pocket watch in his pocket.

The difference is that Draco just glanced at the time and put it back.

"Ino, do you think they will be late?"