https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-603-Leaving-Some-Dignity-for-the-Ministry-of-Magic/13685778/
Chapter 604: Let's Go, Harry
"Grab the Golden Egg—let’s go." Wade took the first step, moving forward a short distance before realizing there were no footsteps behind him.
He turned, only to find Harry still standing where he’d left him, head lowered, staring at the heavy Golden Egg in his hands. The faint flame-light flickered across his messy black hair, casting uneven shadows that danced like whispers in the dark.
"Harry?" Wade raised an eyebrow, then suddenly smiled. "Don’t treat it like charity—or get caught up in some silly idea that you have to earn it through strength alone."
Harry looked up, his green eyes flickering with complex emotion.
"Tell me," Wade idly spun his wand between his fingers, "if champions from other schools helped each other to claim a Golden Egg—would you call that a violation?"
"Of course not," Harry replied instantly, thinking of Cedric. He was generous toward others, but held himself to an unyielding moral standard.
"Then why feel guilty about taking it from me? I helped you this time. Next time, maybe it’ll be your turn to help me."
A faint smirk tugged at Wade’s lips. "Besides, by the second task, I’ll be the one everyone’s gunning for. Do you really think you’ll just stand by and watch someone attack me?"
Harry shook his head. "No way. I’d help you."
"Exactly." Wade chuckled. "Champion may be one, but until we’ve beaten all the others, we’re still allies, right?"
Harry stared at his companion’s open, unburdened face. The weight in his chest, the lingering doubt—like mist at dawn—dissolved. The Golden Egg in his hand felt less like a burden, more like a promise.
"Yeah… you’re right."
A smile finally broke across his face, and he quickened his pace to catch up with Wade.
A blue bird perched on a nearby candle holder, watching them with unblinking eyes, occasionally flapping its wings. Harry glanced at Wade, then murmured under his breath, "If you know this kind of approach draws hostility from someone inside, why don’t you tone it down?"
Wade sighed, lowering his voice. "Can’t. The opponents are too weak. This way’s more interesting."
Harry exhaled through his nose, rolling his eyes. Even with a teammate, he was tempted to punch him.
They walked side by side. The tunnel had felt endless when they entered—but now, emerging, it seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. The light at the exit was already close, almost within reach.
Harry had just begun to relax—when a flicker of shadow in the corner of his vision caught his eye. On the wall beside the exit, a shape shifted slightly, unnaturally. It looked like someone raising a wand toward them.
In an instant, his mind didn’t even register—his wrist snapped up, and his wand flew out in a swift arc.
A blinding red flash erupted, striking the shadow with perfect precision. The figure was thrown backward, crashing hard onto the ground. The spell meant for him veered wildly, slamming into the tunnel ceiling. Debris rained down like dust.
Harry didn’t hesitate. He dropped into a low crouch and charged forward like a cheetah, bursting out of the tunnel just in time to see the attacker struggling to rise, reaching for his wand, which had skidded across the floor.
With a final burst of speed, Harry cut off any chance of recovery. Just as the boy’s fingers brushed the wand, Harry swung his own wand again.
Two Disarming Charms in rapid succession—neither spell was spoken. He didn’t even realize he’d used silent magic.
Boom!
The second spell struck the boy square in the chest. He flew backward again, crashing to the ground. As he hit the floor, his arm cracked audibly. A scream tore from his lips, his face pale with sweat, eyes burning with fury and betrayal as he stared up at Harry.
Harry stepped forward, voice firm.
"Stupefy!"
The boy’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.
Only then did Harry seem to register what he’d done. He panted, scanning the Chamber of Secrets for danger, then glancing down the other tunnel.
Wade strolled over slowly, crouched to examine the fallen boy.
"Durmstrang’s Caspar… unlucky fellow," Wade said, a mocking smirk curling his lips. "We were already preparing to leave. If he hadn’t interfered, he could’ve easily earned his place in the Tournament."
The traps in the tunnel had mostly been destroyed by earlier competitors, and the mechanisms had all been deactivated. A dozen Golden Eggs still hung inside the scorpion puppet’s belly, suspended from the ceiling—visible if one looked closely. The first task had no time limit, so there was no rush.
"Yeah," Harry frowned. "He didn’t even know who we were. Why ambush us? What if it had been his own teammate?"
"Maybe he was afraid he’d miss his chance," Wade speculated. "We know there are still plenty of Golden Eggs left. But from Caspar’s perspective, he arrived too late—most were probably already taken. The ones left? Maybe not many."
"So… even if it was a teammate, he’d still try to steal the Egg?"
Harry shook his head, unsure how to judge such a mindset.
"Come on," Wade said, stepping over the unconscious boy and heading toward the Golden Compass at the center of the chamber. As he turned, something flickered in his vision.
He paused.
Then he looked back.
Caspar lay on the ground, brow furrowed. A silver necklace had slipped partially out from beneath his collar. The pendant bore a shape resembling a three-horned eye.
Wade’s brows knitted. He recognized the symbol instantly—the mark of the Deathly Hallows. It had once been Gellert Grindelwald’s emblem.
This kid… was he connected to the Wizard Purity Party?
But not necessarily. Years ago, Grindelwald had carved that symbol into a wall at Durmstrang. For reasons no one knew, the school had never removed it. In fact, according to legend, some Durmstrang students still copied the symbol onto textbooks or clothing—just to scare others. Maybe Caspar was just another teenage rebel with a flair for dramatics.
Wade pushed the unease aside, turned away from the boy, and joined Harry by the compass.
They exchanged a glance. Without words, they both reached out.
Their fingers touched the compass.
A sudden, overwhelming pull seized them. The world twisted and spun, colors blurring into a swirling light.
Boom!
They landed on a high platform, steadying themselves with a slight wobble.
Harry pushed himself up, gasping for breath, scanning the arena. Wade’s calm gaze swept over the stands.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of eyes were fixed on them—faces frozen, expressions blurred, as if painted in shadow.
In Wade’s vision, Dumbledore stood out—his white beard and hair gleaming under the light, a familiar, reassuring smile on his face. Slowly, he raised his hand.
Clap… clap… clap…
Then, like a storm breaking, the stands erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. Students waved frantically, eyes alight with wild admiration. The air vibrated with excitement.
Harry spotted Hermione and Ron among the Gryffindors, jumping up and down, arms flailing. A radiant smile spread across his face.
If only the other school heads weren’t scowling so darkly, it would’ve been perfect.
(End of Chapter)
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