Hogwarts: Starting as a Card Maker from a Failed Art Student

Chapter 293 The Egg-Protecting Squad?! The Episode Where Dumbledore's Defenses Are Most Broken

Chapter 294 The Egg-Protecting Squad?! Dumbledore's Most Heartbreaking Episode

The shores of Black Lake were bustling with noise.

I am afraid.

This is the liveliest moment in this tranquil lake, rumored to be inhabited by sea monsters.

A thin layer of frost had formed on the dark blue-green lake surface.

Ripples spread across the surface in the biting cold wind.

Mrs. Maxim, the headmistress of Beauxbatons.

They are casting one warm spell after another on their own players who are shivering from the cold.

Glancing at Durmstrang, those solidly built men.

They couldn't help but mutter things like "It's unfair" and "They should get extra points."

however.

When she saw the "blonde elf" in the Hogwarts team, who was noticeably smaller than the others.

He involuntarily shut his mouth.

His eyes widened in surprise: "Hogwarts actually sent that little girl onto the field... She looks like a gust of wind could blow her over!"

Furong let out a haughty snort from the tip of her pert nose.

He glanced sideways at Luna, who stood quietly outside the crowd.

Her hands, red from the cold, gripped the magic wand tightly.

This is not just a competition between her and other schools.

It's also a battle with Ethan Vincent!

"Since you've chosen that girl, let me see just how capable she really is!"

Furong murmured.

While saying this, he never believed in his heart that he would lose.

In my mind, I even started to fantasize.

She "kidnapped" Ethan back to sunny, mild France.

It's a picture of them living happily together.

"Hehe...hehehe..."

"

Furong grinned, under the suspicious gaze of her own principal.

A strange flush rose on her face.

Speaking of which...

I haven't seen my younger sister since this morning...

They probably went somewhere to have fun.

After all, it's Hogwarts, which is known as the safest place in Britain, so nothing bad will happen.

in fact.

It wasn't just Beauxbatons who questioned the players Hogwarts sent this time.

Even the students at Hogwarts themselves were astonished!

This competition.

Durmstrang and Beauxbatons once again fielded star players Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour, respectively.

But on Hogwarts' side...

But it was a huge upset!

Cedric Diggory, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood.

—Is this a direct elimination?!

Cedric is one thing, but he's already somewhat well-known in Hufflepuff.

But who the hell are Neville and Luna?!

One student questioned, "Why not send Harry? Or the Weasley twins would have been fine too!"

In the battle of Black Dragon.

The Weasley twins proved that they were more than just troublemakers.

"Oh no, oh no, Neville is a notorious Gryffindor coward," and Luna is often acting crazy too.

"They sent a team of freaks!"

"Passing the game is secondary; just don't embarrass Hogwarts."

In a short time.

The noise and commotion continued.

Questions and dissatisfaction came rushing in.

This made the already nervous Neville tremble even more, his face turning ashen.

"Ignore what others say, Neville."

Luna said softly, her tone as calm as still water.

"Just do your own thing."

Neville stammered, "But I...I...I..."

Luna turned her head.

Those blue eyes seemed to see right through a person's soul, piercing straight into Neville.

This made him involuntarily flinch.

Luna said, enunciating each word clearly, "You don't want to disappoint Ethan, do you?"

"6

'

Neville's shaking stopped.

A few seconds later.

His habitually hunched back slowly straightened.

With her lips tightly pressed together and her round face covered in cold sweat, a resolute look appeared: "I...I won't let Ethan down!"

—A trembling yet resolute voice, from the herbalist master and future Gryffindor swordsman, echoed all around.

"very good."

Luna smiled and her eyes crinkled.

I looked up and met those questioning gazes.

She whispered, "The night doesn't need to explain its existence to people... and when it falls, everyone will know."

the other side.

Rita, a reporter for The Daily Prophet, was intently watching the game.

Before the competition even started, the stenographer was already writing line after line.

"A disappointing match," "a publicity stunt"... "The untold deal between Hogwarts and Ethan Vincent"... Very good!

Rita licked her red lips, looking at the words under her pen with satisfaction.

Every word seemed to be stirring up trouble.

She believed it.

No matter the type of competition, nothing can be as exciting as a straight run.

News is always time-sensitive.

Preparing your draft early allows you to gain an advantage.

"Oh dear~ it seems that this time, the front page headline will be mine again."

Rita curled her red lips into a smile.

I firmly believe that this time, it won't be a scrap of paper.

All forces and ideas converged.

They flowed together into this ancient black lake, stirring up its centuries-old silence.

"Woo-yi"

As the low, mournful bugle call sounded, signaling the start of the match.

The crowd gradually quieted down.

I looked toward the black-haired boy at the very front.

Did he leap off the plank road and stand on thin air?

The students were stunned.

Even the professor looked surprised.

"Knock knock."

Ethan tapped his feet with his gold-plated cane, making a crisp sound.

It's like hitting something hard.

"Welcome everyone to the second match of the Goblet of Fire."

Ethan opened his arms.

Looking down with pleasure at the huge crowd of people on the field.

"Now, I will explain the rules of this competition to you."

"It's very simple."

"The goal is to cross the glass bridge over the Black Lake within a specified time, reach the center of the lake, defeat the giant monster, and rescue your family."

Everyone: ? ? ?

What bridge? What was saved?

There's just too much explosive information; I can't possibly keep up!

The warriors stood by the Black Lake, looking at each other in bewilderment.

...So, the plan wasn't to make them jump into the lake?

Yes, as expected of Ethan.

Their way of thinking is completely different from that of normal humans.

Furong's heart skipped a beat.

He thought of his missing sister.

No, no way.....

Ethan: "There is a glass walkway that is invisible to the naked eye suspended on the lake."

Professor.

An elderly man with a graying beard proudly declared, "This is a miraculous creation made using the alchemy I taught!"

Ethan: "Please use your intelligence to find the right path and successfully reach the middle of the lake."

At this time.

Luna raised her hand and asked, "What happens if we take the wrong turn?"

Ethan snapped his fingers: "Good question."

Everyone:

'

'

So you're going to put on a show of mutual support and backing, huh?

Ethan: "If you take the wrong step—actually, if you 'step into thin air,' you'll fall into the Black Lake."

"Of course you can climb back onto the glass bridge... but there are many creatures that live in the Black Lake."

Talk about the underworld.

All that could be seen was the rippling of the lake.

Several mermaids wielding sharp tridents were rapidly hovering beneath the water's surface.

An angry roar came from its mouth.

Malfoy asked in bewilderment, "Why are they so angry? They're usually quite calm."

In the Slytherin common room, located in the Black Lake.

Occasionally.

You can see through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

I saw a fleeting shadow in the dim lake water.

Ethan tilted his head, looking shy, and said, "I reached an agreement with them to let them participate in the competition too. They were so happy!"

【*&；￥————%*%！ ！ ！ (Angry mermaid roars)】

Everyone: ...It doesn't sound like they're so "willing" to do so.

"In short, it's still about killing monsters, only with added time limits and obstacles."

Krum said in a deep voice, a hint of anxiety in his eyes.

"I understand, can we begin the match?"

"Don't rush, there's one last thing, something extremely important."

Ethan smiled slightly.

With a flick of his wrist, he produced a card.

The card then transformed into a pitch-black egg about half the length of a forearm.

When he sensed the dark power emanating from it, Dumbledore's expression changed drastically!

His usually smiling face suddenly showed a look of surprise and panic!

As if touching the deepest shadows of the heart, Ethan's clear yet chilling voice echoed throughout the arena: "This is the [Black Egg] that houses the Obscurus. Once it is attacked and shattered, the dark power within will erupt and launch an indiscriminate attack."

"Each squad has one egg."

"The team that still possesses a complete [Black Egg] at the end of the match will receive bonus points."

Ethan squinted, amidst the astonished gazes of the other event organizers.

He stroked the cold shell of the black egg with fascination: "Ah~ I really want to see this horror come into being."