Bryan withdrew his gaze from the gem-like blue sky, letting it fade from his consciousness as he turned his attention inside. He walked slowly back to his desk, and picked up a thick stack of parchment. Tucking the documents under his arm, Bryan left his office behind.
It was Friday morning, one week before the Triwizard Tournament's final task. The time had come to brief his students about the competition.
Ten minutes later, Bryan arrived at the Physical Education classroom, where his students were eagerly awaiting him as they had been throughout the entire school year.
Bryan didn't call out warm greetings to his students as he sometimes did. Instead, his bright purple eyes swept across each young wizard's face, lingering just long enough to truly see them as if he were reminiscing about something precious, something that would soon slip away like water through his fingers.
This demeanor, so distinctly different from his usual manner of warm engagement and laidback humor, was immediately noticed by this perceptive group of students.
Watching Professor Watson's unexpectedly nostalgic expression, Harry felt something stir uneasily in his chest. Without truly understanding why, he opened his mouth instinctively and glanced toward Hermione, searching for some kind of confirmation or explanation in her face, only to see a sad expression etched on her face.
Harry's heart skipped a beat with a sudden lurch that made him forget to breathe for a moment. He immediately realized his initial guess was correct, confirmed by Hermione's expression. A sour sensation spread through the bridge of his nose.
"Good morning, everyone," Bryan said, breaking through the gathered tension with his voice.
After all, these were the first Physical Education students he had ever taught. He had watched them grow and develop throughout these years, had pushed them beyond what they believed were their limits, had transformed many of them from uncertain children into capable young wizards.
And now that he had to bid them farewell, some sentimentality was inevitable.
But Bryan quickly controlled his emotions and smiled warmly at his students.
The voices greeting him from below were more unified than usual, and louder than usual.
"Now then..." Bryan placed the stack of parchment on the teacher's desk and cleared his throat.
"We won't have regular class today. Let's talk about something else. Um, first of all, Miss Granger, Mr. Diggory, would you two please step forward?"
Hermione had been listening intently to what Professor Watson was about to say, her mind was already sprinting through possibilities and preparations. She never expected to be singled out, and a small cry of surprise escaped her lips before she could contain it.
After the brief exclamation, she hastily squeezed past Fred and George who were blocking the most direct path forward. Her robes swished around her as she maneuvered through the crowd of students, who shifted to accommodate her passage, and she came to stand at the front of the group.
Cedric who had been standing beside Cho Chang, also left her side, and made his way to join Hermione at the front.
"Here's the situation..." Bryan said to the two somewhat nervous students.
"You two certainly haven't forgotten that next Thursday will be the final task of the Triwizard Tournament, have you?"
"Of course not, Professor Watson!" Hermione's voice suddenly became high-pitched and shrill.
"Haven't forgotten, Professor Watson," Cedric interjected more calmly. He looked composed on the surface, but his fingers curled and uncurled against his thighs.
The students who had been immersed in sadness and confusion regarding Professor Watson's earlier sentiment immediately perked up with intense interest. Their eyes burned with curiosity and yearning as they looked at Professor Watson.
"Good then," Bryan said, and he smiled with approval. He looked at Cedric, who was now almost as tall as himself. Then his gaze shifted to Hermione, whose figure had also become beautiful and tall throughout the school year.
"Because I still have other important matters to address with the rest of you, and there are other preparations required, I'll make this brief,"
Bryan continued.
"The challenge you'll face in the third task is extremely arduous and demanding. Both of your previous tasks tested your abilities profoundly, and this final trial will surpass them both. Fighting alone will likely leave you with almost no hope of victory.
Therefore, in the competition mechanism I've designed, each champion may have two teammates."
The effect was like an unexpected explosion detonated in the heart of the classroom.
Commotion and discussion suddenly filled the Physical Education classroom like a tide's wave breaking against a shore. Voices erupted from dozens of young wizards, overlapping and competing for attention. Some shouted questions, others expressed excitement, and still others let out cries of apparent disbelief at this extraordinary turn of events.
Hermione and Cedric, the two champions, looked at each other, unsure whether to feel delighted or alarmed.
In the first two tasks, they had faced vicious dragons and the terrifying underwater environment of the Black Lake. Both had been extraordinary tests of their magical abilities and courage.
As the climactic third task, designed solely by Professor Watson who was 'renowned' for his creative and unconventional approaches, the difficulty would surely be extraordinarily high and unpredictable. This was something all four champions had mentally prepared for during their long nights worrying about what was to come.
But Professor Watson was actually allowing them to recruit teammates. Did this mean the difficulty would be even higher than they had anticipated?
"Professor Watson..." Hermione nervously raised her hand.
"May I ask what the criteria are for selecting teammates?"
The young wizards immediately pricked up their ears, all eyes turning eagerly toward Bryan at the front of the classroom. The answer to this question would determine everything about the approaching opportunity.
Since the beginning of the school year, when their school announced that it would hold the Triwizard Tournament, there wasn't a single young wizard in the castle who hadn't fantasized in their heart about becoming a champion. They had imagined themselves fighting valiantly on the tournament field, overcoming impossible obstacles, and winning glory and prestige for their respective houses.
However, the reality was cruel.
Only three champions would be selected through the mysterious mechanism of the Goblet of Fire. Of course, due to some unprecedented accidents, the tournament had four champions instead of three, but most people didn't have Hermione's remarkable "luck" to enjoy this accident and could only watch anxiously from the stands as spectators.
And now, thanks to Professor Watson's wise and creative decision, they might have an actual chance to get on the field. Many young wizards, mainly those from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff houses, inevitably became excited at the prospect.
"There are no criteria, Miss Granger," Bryan said with a warm, encouraging smile.
His next words fell like a blessing upon the nearby students.
"Any young wizard from this school will do. The only requirement is that they are willing to participate and that you believe they will be suitable teammates. That is entirely your decision."
Harry's heart leapt into his throat with such force that he thought for a moment it might escape his body completely. His emerald eyes widened, and even his cheeks flushed with excitement.
No criteria at all.
This meant that the Triwizard Tournament's age restriction was not an obstacle to becoming a champion's teammate. He truly might have a chance to become Hermione's teammate on the tournament field. He could fight side by side with her, facing whatever challenges lay ahead together!
"Hey, little Scarhead!" Fred's voice immediately penetrated Harry's moment of wonder, Fred's voice's tone was dripping with mock urgency.
Harry turned to see Fred moving around to glare at him through clenched teeth, his expression was dramatic and exaggerated.
"We're willing to pay fifty Galleons to purchase the opportunity to participate," Fred announced, as if proposing a business transaction of great importance. "How about it? Deal?"
"No!" Harry cheerfully gave an absolutely resolute answer, not even taking a moment to consider the offer.
"Sixty Galleons at most, and we guarantee we won't renege!" George immediately chimed in, glaring at Harry with mock indignation, clearly enjoying the banter.
"I advise you not to be ungrateful, Scarhead! Think of what you could do with that much money!"
But Harry still gave a definite and final refusal, his smile remaining firmly in place.
What a joke! For this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Harry wouldn't give it up even for a cartload of gold. Not for a hundred cartloads. The Weasley twins knew this, of course, which was precisely why they were engaged in this cheerful teasing.
"Any young wizard from this school will do..." Hermione fell into a momentary daze. But then, as new questions formed in her consciousness, she asked eagerly, her voice rose with excitement.
"Does this mean the teammates we select don't necessarily have to be from Physical Education class, Professor Watson? Could we choose students from other houses? From other years?"
"Haha, of course, Miss Granger," Bryan smiled cheerfully.
"I've already said it, haven't I? Any young wizard from this school will do. If you're willing, you could find two first-year students and I wouldn't object in the slightest. The only limitation is that they must be students currently attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
Professor Watson's earlier answer had already made Harry's heart leap so hard it nearly burst from his chest, sending adrenaline surging through his veins and making his hands tremble slightly.
But this response to Hermione's question made even Harry's brain throb with excitement so intense that he wondered if it was actually possible to feel this much happiness without one's head exploding.
He could hardly believe such good fortune could happen!
"I think you two have figured it out by now," Bryan said gently, watching the two champions whose breathing had become rapid and shallow.
"Then, please tell me the names of your respective teammates. And I apologize, but there isn't much time for you to consider the matter at length. I need your answers now."
The previously bustling classroom once again returned to silence. The young wizards below all fixed their gazes intently on Hermione and Cedric, their eyes eager and hungry waiting to hear their answers.
Hermione turned her head slowly to look at the Gryffindor group.
The Weasley family members: Fred and George, and Ginny.
Her dormitory roommate: Parvati Patil.
Several spirited girls from the Gryffindor team: Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell.
Neville Longbottom, who had helped her cleanly defeat that utterly detestable Ministry official just a few days ago.
These were all her best friends in Gryffindor.
From the eager looks they cast her way, Hermione felt as if she could actually hear their thoughts. Each face turned toward her seemed to silently plead: 'Choose me.'
After watching the dangers of the first two tasks, none of them had been frightened into cowardice. Instead, they all hoped to fight alongside her on the field. Of course, she couldn't rule out that some of them harbored an understandable desire to show off, to prove themselves in a grand and public manner.
But still, this support, made Hermione immensely gratified and deeply moved.
But ultimately, she could only choose two teammates for herself and couldn't bring everyone onto the field with her. Some of her friends would inevitably be disappointed.
Every time Hermione's gaze swept over someone, she gave them an apologetic look, as if silently saying: 'I'm sorry I can't choose you all.'
Finally, her eyes settled on Harry, who was grinning at her.
After shooting Harry an exasperated look, a warm smile appeared on Hermione's lips. Then she turned to look at Professor Watson, who was waiting patiently to hear her answer.
Victory wasn't the most important thing. Winning the Triwizard Tournament championship, while certainly desirable and something she had hoped for, paled in significance compared to something far more precious: being able to fight side by side with her best friends.
That experience carried a significance that surpassed any trophy or accolade. That surpassed the prestige of winning the Triwizard Tournament championship.
"I've made up my mind, Professor Watson," Hermione said, her voice was trembling slightly with the emotion of the moment.
"Who would that be, Miss Granger?" Bryan smiled, asking the question despite already knowing the answer.
"Harry Potter and Ron Weasley," Hermione took a deep breath and announced loudly to everyone the choice she didn't need to think deeply about to make.
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