The long line moved forward a couple of steps now and then, resembling a slowly writhing snake from above.
The Harry trio started at the back, but soon more than ten people had gathered behind them.
"It's almost dinner time," Ron said hopefully, looking at the line ahead, "I hope everyone goes to eat then, and it'll be our turn right away."
"Trust me, that's what everyone else is thinking too," Harry replied.
Hermione nervously bit her finger. "Listen, Michael and them said something about putting some dangerous magical creatures in there... and plants cultivated by Professor Sprout..."
"I really should have re-read 'Thousand Magical Herbs and Mushrooms' and 'Monsters and Their Origins' before coming here... Why do we only start Care of Magical Creatures in third year?"
"Probably because they're waiting until third year for us to be ready to handle those dangerous creatures?" Harry remarked offhandedly.
Hermione visibly grew more nervous.
"Should we back out of the line? I don't think I'm very good with the Iron Armor Spell yet..."
"Don't even think about it, that would be too embarrassing! Look, even first-year new students are taking the challenge!" Ron disagreed.
Just then, a Hufflepuff student standing behind them said, "Potter, is this your first challenge?"
Harry nodded.
The boy laughed, "Don't worry. The first layer is just ordinary flora and fauna. As long as you're careful, even ordinary people won't get hurt. It's surely simple for you all."
"Yo, little Ronnie, Harry, and Hermione! I've been waiting for you guys to come over!"
A voice suddenly rang out from above, and before Harry could turn around, Ron said irritably, "I told you not to call me that, Fred!"
"When you can finally tell I'm George and not Fred, I'll stop calling you by your nickname." One of the red-haired twins said.
Ron was speechless.
All these years, even his mom couldn't always tell these twins apart, let alone him.
"George, what are you holding?" Hermione asked.
"Good question."
George was holding a large cage covered with a green cloth, with strange squeaking sounds coming from inside, like a cage full of rats.
Hearing this, he excitedly reached in and pinched out a slim, green root-like creature with two small brown eyes and slender fingers like vines.
"Tree-Protector Lofa!" Hermione exclaimed, "I know it's a creature that guards trees, really fond of soil beetles."
"Well done, Hermione, but unfortunately, I can't give you any points."
George winked, scribbled "Hermione Granger" on a note, and handed it to the Tree-Protector Lofa.
The little thing clamped onto the note, timidly climbed onto Hermione's shoulder, and sat down.
Hermione cautiously looked at it, "...?"
The Tree-Protector Lofa also stared at her, but with its sesame-sized eyes, it was hard to discern any emotion.
"Take good care of these little guys."
As George distributed Tree-Protector Lofas to Harry and Ron as well, he added, "They're cultivated generations in Mr. Scamander's estate, very clever, and they are your scorekeepers."
"Scorekeepers?" Harry repeated.
"That's right!" George said. "You can't expect the professors to follow each challenger around and score them, can you?"
He was about to leave but turned back after a few steps:
"By the way, in case you haven't heard—if your Tree-Protector Lofa dies during the challenge, all points are nullified! And whether you can attempt the challenge again is unknown!"
"What?" Ron raised his voice in horror, "But it's so weak!"
His Tree-Protector Lofa angrily tugged at Ron's hair.
"That's why it's the ultimate challenge!" George waved dismissively. "You understand, right? These smart Tree-Protector Lofas are not infinite!"
He went on to distribute Tree-Protector Lofas to other first-time challengers, leaving the Harry trio exchanging glances.
"If there's any danger, start with an Iron Armor Spell for them?" Hermione suggested.
Harry nodded silently.
Ron had a worried look – although Harry was teaching him the Iron Armor Spell, Ron hadn't mastered it yet.
He pondered all the way, and when they were about to reach the entrance, his eyes suddenly lit up.
Ron picked up some nutshells from the ground, used an immature Sticky Spell to stick them together, and fashioned a "shield" for the little Tree-Protector Lofa.
"I hope it protects you, and make sure to take care of yourself too, don't make me worry."
Ron carefully placed the 'armor' on the little guy and earnestly advised.
It's uncertain if the Tree-Protector Lofa understood, but it tapped the shield with its long fingers, not seeming very comfortable.
Finally, it was their turn.
Ron went in first, followed by Harry, and lastly Hermione.
When Hermione entered, she realized that Harry and Ron, who went in just a few seconds before, were already out of sight.
"Well, I guessed it. Since we're going in one by one, they surely won't let everyone gather together."
She muttered to herself for encouragement, continuing to explore forward.
"It's just the first layer. Surely it's not too hard, right? Uh... How about I call you Glorie? Do you like that name?"
The newly named Tree-Protector Lofa suddenly squeaked and pointed to the side.
Hermione jumped in surprise and turned to see—it was a small, snow-white rabbit.
"Oh—"
Hermione's expression softened, and she slowly approached, reaching out to pet it.
The little white rabbit took a step back.
"Chi—"
Glorie suddenly squeaked again.
Hermione paused, suddenly realizing. She tried to retreat, only to discover she was surrounded by seven or eight rabbits.
As she turned her head, the little white rabbit jumped up, ramming toward Hermione!
In the maze, the screams of students echoed continuously.
Even the most ordinary animals can be quite shocking when showing aggression.
Vid, temporarily acting as a patrol, soared on the Thestral, surveying the maze from above.
Ron was running, clutching his head while being pursued by a flock of geese.
Hermione, after escaping from the rabbits, was tangled with monkeys. Though she wasn't incapacitated, her reflexes were slower in stressful situations;
Harry, on the other hand, managed quite smoothly, already entering the second loop, struggling to reclaim his glasses from a Niffler.
He couldn't see the path clearly, stumbled several times, appearing rather disheveled.
Neville finally found the passage connecting the outer and second circle, but accidentally fell into a trap, hanging upside down. This guy always had low luck;
Vid watched nearby for a while, noticing Neville was still trying to cut the vines with Diffindo, then went to check on others.
Theo had just been sent out by the House-Elf, while Leian was still persisting in the third circle. A few Oracle Birds nearby let out haunting calls, plunging him into a deep, melancholic mood, unable to move for a long time.
A Red Cap was silently approaching Leian from behind, and if he didn't snap out of it soon, he'd likely be eliminated in this manner.
Vid saw the House-Elf already standing guard nearby and turned away with ease.
Padma had just been scared by a Boggart and eliminated... Surprisingly, Rolf had reached the third circle; this area was mostly filled with third-year and older students...
Vid then thought, given Rolf's family background, dealing with these magical creatures must be easier for him than most students.
Some even came from their family's suitcase space, creatures Rolf had been feeding since childhood, without any fear of being harmed by them.
If not for the various Hogwarts-specific obstacles in the maze, this little guy might've rushed straight to the seventh circle!
Vid observed from above and saw Rolf stuck on one of Professor Snape's riddles, unable to proceed temporarily, then continued to check on other students.
"Ahhh—"
Suddenly, screams echoed from many people inside the maze.
Vid was startled.
Without needing instructions, the Thestral swiftly flew toward the source of the commotion.
"Bang!"
Under the frightened stares of several girls, Harry was suddenly blown backward, a stream of blood spurting from his chest!
What the others couldn't see was a Thestral raising its hooves high, about to stomp on the boy on the ground!