None of the wizards knew that, on the shores of the Hogwarts lake yesterday afternoon, a place had been chosen that would one day be known to the wizarding world as the Throne.
Nor could they have known that Romania was about to welcome a group of young wizards who had not yet even reached adulthood, a group destined to change everything…
And after that, amid everyone's anticipation, the young wizards gathered at the station entrance, ready to board the express train that would carry them away from Hogwarts.
For both students and professors alike, this meant that a wonderful holiday was finally waiting for them, so long as the express arrived without incident.
Before that, with Professor McGonagall at the front, the other professors and students stood neatly and quietly behind her. As the hosts of Hogwarts, they first had to see off the wizards from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang…
"Although it's regrettable that the Triwizard Tournament couldn't be carried through to the end, I believe it was still a competition worth remembering, for both your school and mine."
The speaker was a wizard with a goatee whose tip curled slightly.
Compared to Igor Karkaroff, this professor who had arrived later was clearly far more adept with words.
That said, the thick leather hat and coat he wore, along with the goatee on his chin, made one wonder if this was simply the fashion over there.
In fact, after Igor Karkaroff's sudden disappearance, Durmstrang had sent another male professor to take charge of the mess… or rather, the overall situation. That professor was the wizard now standing before Professor McGonagall.
It was also worth mentioning that because of Igor Karkaroff's unexplained departure, he was no longer the headmaster of Durmstrang.
No one knew what had happened to make him abandon such an important position…
"Yes, you're quite right. In that case, may you have a smooth journey. Merlin be with you."
"Ah, thank you for Hogwarts' hospitality during this time. I hope you'll be able to resolve your troubles. Merlin be with you."
After exchanging a wizard's salute that symbolized friendship, the Durmstrang students, who looked somewhat dispirited due to the disappearance of both their headmaster and their champion, began boarding their enormous Durmstrang ship one after another.
Putting aside their air of defeat, it had to be said that whether it was their blood-red robes or the pirate-ship-like vessel before them, both made every male wizard present feel a stab of envy.
After all, looking impressive was a lifelong pursuit…
…
Draco's gaze grew distant as he watched the massive pirate ship gradually fade into the horizon, his eyes filled with thoughts he never voiced.
It was at that moment, arms folded across his chest, that he suddenly felt someone tug at his robes…
"What are you thinking about? Do you want to go aboard and take a look?"
Pansy's somewhat naïve question made Draco smile faintly.
"Hardly. I'm just curious about the real situation of that Quidditch player."
"You mean… Viktor Krum?"
"Yes. After all, he was the one chosen as the unlucky soul headed straight for hell."
"...…"
Judging from the reports that he was found unconscious at home and had somehow become bald, he had likely received the same treatment as Alastor Moody.
After all, one of the main ingredients in Polyjuice Potion was hair taken directly from the person being impersonated.
What intrigued Draco even more was this: if Alastor Moody had been replaced by Barty Crouch Jr., then who had taken the place of that famous Quidditch star?
Which Death Eater who had yet to be caught was masquerading as him?
'Perhaps Father knows who it is…'
The thought made Draco frown slightly.
Although the family had sent a letter to warn him and pass down instructions shortly after Voldemort's resurrection, that was all there had been.
As for their stance on the situation, what decisions to make, or even whether to defy Voldemort's summons, his father hadn't discussed any of it with him. Not even his mother, who usually doted on him endlessly, had said a word on the matter.
To put it plainly, they had no intention of dragging Draco into it…
Trying to obtain information from the Parkinson family or the Greengrass family had also ended in failure.
They had all tacitly agreed to keep their mouths shut, and there was no hope of accessing anything classified through the Goyle and Crabbe families either.
It had to be said that if he didn't have Lockhart as a collaborator, he would truly be stumbling around in the dark right now, knowing nothing at all…
'Hogwarts is certainly safe, but gathering information has become much harder. Maybe I can get something through Lockhart…'
Just as Draco was lost in thought, a sweet, childish cry suddenly rang in his ears.
He looked up.
Before he could even make out who it was, the voices carried clearly from a distance.
"Brother Draco! My sister and I came to find you!"
That familiar form of address instantly brought to mind a certain little girl who loved playing pranks on her sister.
"Gabrielle! I told you not to call him that! And who said I came to see him anyway?!"
"Oh~? Didn't Sister come especially to say goodbye to Brother Draco? Or did I get it wrong?"
"Shut up! You should go back and stay in the carriage!"
"Don't be like that! We're already here~"
Accompanied by a mischievous, sugary voice and a clear tone laced with flustered irritation, two figures appeared in the distance. Their shimmering silver hair caught the light as they came into view before the Hogwarts wizards.
They were Gabrielle Delacour and her older sister.
Fleur Delacour of Beauxbatons…
…
Since the students of Durmstrang were leaving, the delegation from Beauxbatons was naturally no exception. There was no reason for them to remain behind.
In fact, Beauxbatons should have departed alongside Durmstrang. At the very least, their departure times shouldn't have differed by much…
However, after Rubeus Hagrid pulled Madame Maxime aside for a private conversation, it became clear that their departure would be delayed. Judging by Hagrid's excited yet reluctant expression, it seemed he needed a bit more time.
That was precisely why Fleur wasn't waiting inside her school's carriage at the moment, but had instead appeared here with Gabrielle clinging tightly to her…
At the same time, Hagrid's actions stirred a hint of curiosity in Draco.
After all, one was the lofty headmistress of a prestigious magical academy, while the other was a professor whose reputation wasn't particularly stellar.
Could it really be because they both shared giant blood in their lineage…?