Let me see where you're hiding...
Outside the window, the massive eyeball sharing vision with Ethan slowly rotated. Its pitch-black pupil gazed into the room, sweeping like a searchlight as it carefully scanned every piece of furniture in the mansion, casting dangerous red light across the surfaces.
The overturned and chaotic hall, the damaged stairs, the study scattered with books... First floor, second floor...
Ah. Found you.
Ethan curved his lips, his gaze fixing on the washroom on the second floor. With a flick of his wrist, he gripped his wand and began taking light, bouncing steps while humming a cheerful tune. He walked leisurely toward the washroom.
"Little bunny, be good, open the door quickly, I want to come in~"
In the second-floor washroom, Fleur Delacour desperately covered her mouth, curled up in a corner away from the window, trembling uncontrollably. At this moment, her beautiful, stunning face was deathly pale, not a trace of color to be seen.
Her emerald eyes stared wide with terror at the red light so close before her, not daring to breathe. Earlier, that eyeball had spotted her...
"Tap, tap."
Light footsteps approached from far to near, stopping directly at the door. Fleur's eyes were bloodshot as she desperately covered her mouth, barely holding back her whimpers.
"Disillusionment Charm," she whispered with barely audible breath.
Her wand lightly traced through the air, and cool liquid enveloped her entire body, making her transparent.
The door handle turned with an ominous click.
A handsome black-haired boy entered, scanning the small washroom that could be seen in its entirety at a glance. Tilting his head like a hunter who couldn't find his prey, he showed a puzzled expression.
Behind him, the massive heads of the three-headed dog moved restlessly, looking eagerly at their master. That scent of rust and burning drifted through the door into Fleur's nostrils.
Please, please... please leave quickly!
Fleur gritted her teeth and held her breath desperately. Although Ethan didn't look terrifying at all, at this moment, in Fleur's eyes, he was like a possessed doll moving on its own in the middle of the night, radiating pure horror.
After several tense seconds, the boy looked around a few more times and left, closing the door behind him.
"Tap, tap..."
The footsteps faded away, and the smell gradually dissipated. The massive eyeball watching from outside the window also turned toward other directions.
"Phew... survived."
Fleur almost collapsed to the ground, tears rolling from her eyes as she couldn't help but curve her lips upward in relief. As her magical power fluctuated from the emotional release, the Disillusionment Charm was also broken, her body becoming visible again.
She had made it through, she had actually done it...
Fleur bit her lip lightly, suppressing the wild joy bubbling up in her heart, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes. Having come this far, she absolutely had to get the Portkey!
Although from beginning to end, the rules of this battle royale game were all set by Ethan himself, Fleur inexplicably had the intuition that Ethan would abide by his own game rules. If someone really lasted until after the thirty minutes, he would give that person the Portkey and let them pass the competition.
"Whoosh."
Fleur waved her wand, golden dust forming numbers in the air to show the current time. Less than three minutes remained until the thirty-minute time limit.
"Yes!" Fleur couldn't help but clench her fist and pump it happily.
She could get a much better ranking than expected! This way, she could at least make the top five, right? As long as she could successfully last until time was up.
"Ugh, this curse is really ugly though..." Fleur muttered, looking down at the red rashes sprouting on her fair arms and frowning in disgust.
So itchy...
After returning home, she definitely had to soak in healing hot springs thoroughly. She scratched around restlessly, leaving crisscrossing red marks on her skin.
What kind of existence was that first-year child? Why could he use such terrifying magic?
Fleur had only read similar descriptions in advanced textbooks. That was magic from the ancient golden age over a thousand years ago. Now, very few people studied or cast those complex enchantments anymore.
"Is this Hogwarts' new talent cultivation plan? So frightening... but..." The next second, Fleur curved her lips again, musing thoughtfully: "That child is quite interesting, though. After the competition, I could have some deeper exchanges with him..."
"Oh? What would you like to have deeper exchanges with me about?"
A pure, clear voice sounded from directly behind her, like a death knell ringing in her ears.
Fleur shuddered violently, her relaxed smile instantly freezing on her face.
No... impossible... how could he be behind me?
Fleur moved her eyes bit by bit, looking toward the tightly closed door on the other side. Even if that child was Merlin reincarnated and could Apparate as a first-year, there should have been a distinctive cracking sound...
How could there be no sound at all...?
Like standing naked on a snowy plain in a blizzard, Fleur trembled uncontrollably, unable to move her body. She couldn't even turn her head to look.
Outside the window, the pitch-black night sky was slowly covered by red light. The massive, terrifying eyeball slowly turned toward her again. But just before the red light could reach her, the pupil closed like a shutting door.
A small, cold hand pressed against her trembling shoulder from behind.
"Miss Fleur, Ethan's here~"
"Ethan has come~"
"Wuu..." Fleur couldn't suppress the whimper that escaped her lips. Even so, she clenched her teeth and willed herself to stay upright, determined not to fall.
Taking a deep breath, she whipped around and glared behind her!
She met the boy's cobalt-blue eyes filled with amused delight. The various terrifying scenes she had imagined didn't appear. The handsome black-haired boy smiled at her warmly, and behind him stood an open doorway that definitely hadn't been there before.
Impatient barking came from the other side of the door.
Fleur's heart settled down slightly. So it was this child's magical ability again, more convenient and silent than Apparition... Truly remarkable.
"Ta-da~ I caught you, Miss Fleur," Ethan spread his hands, saying cheerfully.
When first entering the washroom, Ethan had actually seen Fleur immediately. Perhaps due to excessive emotional fluctuation, her Disillusionment Charm wasn't very effective. Looking carefully, he could see obvious body contours.
But for more entertainment and dramatic effect, Ethan had deliberately decided to teleport over instead. When the eyeball first glimpsed Fleur's figure hiding in the washroom, he had already set up the portal connection.
Which meant from the very beginning, Miss Fleur had absolutely no chance of winning.
Looking at Fleur's dazed expression, Ethan couldn't help but think to himself: Mm, it seems the performance effect was quite good~ Miss Fleur looks completely stunned. My artwork must have left a very deep impression on her.
Ethan glanced at the time formed by golden dust and said with exaggerated regret: "Oh my, less than a minute until the end. What a pity. Try harder next time~"
Fleur pressed her lips together with obvious frustration. Suddenly gathering courage, she grabbed Ethan's sleeve and said awkwardly: "Can't you... be a little more flexible with the rules?"
Ethan looked at her tear-glistening face, which, like an enchanted mirror, emanated mesmerizing magical power that could captivate most people.
But just moments later, Fleur was escorted away by an Auror and Apparated with a sharp pop to the starting point, reuniting with other eliminated contestants.
"Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere?" The Auror looked at Fleur, who kept biting her lips with her head down, not saying a word, and asked with genuine concern.
Like a bursting dam, Fleur's nose tingled, and she burst into tears with a heartbroken wail!
Completely ignoring the surprised and sympathetic gazes of others, she collapsed to the ground, pounding the earth unwillingly and angrily while shouting: "Idiot! Stupid! Four-legged Flobberworm!"
"You can just go live with your stupid trophy... wuu wuu wuu..."
What made Fleur most ashamed and angry was: Why was that nose-in-the-air Slytherin girl allowed to stay? Why couldn't she? Wasn't she a hundred times prettier than that person?!
"Wuu wuu... I want to go home, I want to send that hateful brat a hundred harassment letters, I want to drown him... wuu wuu wuu..."
Your artwork has left an incredibly deep impression on everyone! You've perfectly conducted an interactive exhibition!
Soul Fusion increased! 39% → 44%!