Chapter 269: Halloween
Chapter 269: Halloween (Please Subscribe, Favorite, and Vote)
Liam was bowing to his classmates who were cheering for him when a low, amused voice came from beside him. "Ah, Mr. Liang, the Alchemical Product you made is quite impressive."
Liam turned his head to see Professor Dumbledore making his way through the crowd, who parted to let him through.
"Could you show me this interesting item?" Dumbledore asked, pointing to the Crystal Orb on the ground.
"Of course, it would be my honor." Liam bent down to pick up the Crystal Orb and handed it to Dumbledore with both hands.
"Oh, this Crystal Orb is truly ingenious", Dumbledore said after examining it closely. "You used these Runic Inscriptions to infiltrate the Age Line I drew, and then you exempted yourself as the target. To be honest, even at your age, I couldn't have done something like this. It seems your Merlin's Second-Class Medal wasn't just a stroke of luck, Mr. Liang."
"Thank you for your praise", Liam said, bowing his head slightly to show his respect to the Headmaster.
"I drew the Age Line to prevent those who aren't skilled enough from entering the competition and risking danger. However, someone like Liam, who managed to break through the Age Line on his own, I will acknowledge has the capability to handle the competition and deserves a chance to participate in the Champion selection."
After announcing this to everyone, Dumbledore turned to Liam and said, "However, I will need to keep your Crystal Orb until the Goblet of Fire selects the Champions tomorrow, as a safety precaution to prevent those who aren't skilled enough from entering the competition."
As Dumbledore walked away with Liam's Crystal Orb, a group of classmates immediately surrounded him, bombarding him with questions about his actions. They genuinely admired Liam for mastering Alchemy at his age, but felt a bit disheartened when they learned it would be impossible to create another Crystal Orb in such a short time. It took Liam a while to break free from the crowd, but just as he reached the door, Hermione intercepted him, eager to know how the Crystal Orb was made.
The news spread quickly throughout the school. By the time Liam and Hermione finished their discussion in an empty classroom and headed to lunch, he noticed several people pointing and whispering as he walked down the hallway. However, what was strange was that, despite the news being known to almost everyone, the Headmasters of the other two schools didn't protest his participation based on his age, as they had when Harry was selected.
It wasn't until he sat down to eat that Liam recalled the plot. The reason the other Headmasters had protested Harry's selection was because Hogwarts already had one contestant, and his age was just an excuse. In the current situation, where each school was supposed to have one contestant, they actually preferred Hogwarts to send a younger Champion.
Since it was a holiday, Liam decided to visit Wolf in the afternoon. As a friend, he couldn't let him (the wolf) spend the holiday alone.
After using the Emerald Dream to contact Wolf, Liam and Hermione set out for the Forbidden Forest around one o'clock in the afternoon. Normally, the Forbidden Forest was off-limits to students, so this area was usually deserted. However, today it was bustling with activity.
As Liam and Hermione took a few more steps, they finally found the source of the commotion: a huge, light blue carriage had stopped about two hundred yards from the front door of Hagrid's Hut. Beauxbatons students were milling around the carriage, and the giant Hippogriffs that pulled it were drinking from a trough of water in a makeshift enclosure nearby.
Liam saw this and flashed a knowing smile. At this distance, he absolutely didn't believe that Hagrid hadn't done anything inside. But it was quite normal; as a nearly sixty-year-old bachelor, pursuing his own happiness was nothing to be ashamed of, especially for a half-giant, for whom sixty was just middle age.
After circling around the carriage from a distance, Liam finally reached the familiar spot in the Forbidden Forest.
"The pumpkin balls and cupcakes from Hogwarts are a bit too sweet", Wolf complained slightly as he munched on the Halloween gift Liam and the others had brought. Then he said, "By the way, Bettie's due date is at the end of this month. You have to come when we plant the memorial tree after the baby is a month old."
"Plant a memorial tree?" Liam was a bit confused about the centaur custom.
"It's similar to a human baptism. Centaurs believe in nature, so they plant a tree in the forest behind the altar to announce the birth of a new member to nature. If it weren't for your young age and lack of marriage, Bettie might have even asked you to be the child's godfather. After all, it's because of you that you defeated that Dark Wizard, allowing this child to be born."
"Can Hermione come?" Liam turned to ask, glancing at Hermione, who was looking at him with hopeful eyes.
"Of course, we welcome anyone who comes with good intentions. Especially since she is your partner", Wolf replied without hesitation.
Hearing this, Hermione blushed and turned her head to look at a bird in a tree, though she didn't contradict Wolf's statement.
They then began to chat about recent events. When Wolf learned that Liam had signed up for the Triwizard Tournament, he told him that the centaur elders had once said that most of the time, the tournament would include a beast combat event. Traditionally, these colossal beasts would be placed in the Forbidden Forest in advance, so he would inform Liam of the type of beast once it was confirmed.
"From what you're saying, it seems you're quite confident I'll be chosen", Liam said, scratching Wolf's back as requested.
"Of course", Wolf turned his head to face Liam, his wolfish face serious. "Because I've fought alongside you. I believe your courage and strength are enough to make you Hogwarts' champion."
Around three in the afternoon, raindrops began to fall from the sky. Liam and Hermione bid farewell to Wolf, put their hoods up, and hurried back to the castle.
By the time they returned to the Common Room, the rain had intensified. Liam and Hermione sat by the warm fireplace, listening to the gentle tapping of raindrops on the glass window, each holding a book and reading quietly.
At dinnertime, Liam and a large group of Gryffindor classmates headed to the Great Hall. The hall was already packed, and the Goblet of Fire had been moved from the entrance to the front of Dumbledore's seat at the staff table. Clearly, the registration period was over, and they were now waiting for the true contestants to be chosen.
"Whether it's you or Angelina, I hope our school's champion is a Gryffindor", Fred said as Liam and Hermione took their seats.
From the conversations around him, Liam noticed that many people were rooting for him. On one hand, his Merlin's Second-Class Medal and the method he used to cross the Age Line this morning demonstrated his strength, giving many people confidence. On the other hand, Liam was, after all, a member of Gryffindor House, so naturally, everyone would support their own housemate.
Amid the noisy discussions, food appeared on the long tables. The Halloween feast began.
(End of Chapter)
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