Chapter 615: Frenzied School
The surface of the Black Lake shimmered with tiny ripples of sunlight, presenting a sight rarely seen in recent days. Natalia, out for a stroll, extended her finger to gently prod the tentacle of a squid poking its head above the water, basking in the sun—when Olga strode over with long, decisive steps.
"Natalia!" His face was pale, his voice tight with suppressed fury as he clenched his teeth. "You invited Wade Gray as your dance partner?"
"Yeah," Natalia said, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe the water from her fingertips. "So? Who I dance with—does that need your permission?"
"He’s our enemy!" Olga snapped, his fist clenching. "Don’t you remember how he humiliated me during the Tournament?"
After the event, their headmaster had gathered everyone in the organization and used a streaming mirror to replay the first challenge—twice. And each time, Olga had been forced to relive the humiliation: his brave charge, the chain wrapping around his ankle, the way he’d been hoisted into the air, screaming in a way so undignified it made even him wince.
And then there was the FMC—somehow, they hadn’t filmed the champions in action. Instead, they’d lingered on him, capturing every flustered, panicked moment as he dangled from the ceiling, broadcasting it to every wizard in the world.
Afterward, Olga had received countless messages—friends, family, teachers, classmates—each one carefully worded, their pity barely concealed. The more careful they were, the more unbearable it felt. And the deeper his rage grew toward Wade Gray.
Now, Natalia—his partner—was about to walk into the Christmas Ball arm-in-arm with that man.
To Olga, it felt like betrayal. The fire in his chest surged, threatening to burst from his throat. His voice trembled as he said, "Natalia, have you forgotten which school you belong to? We should stand united against our enemies! Back out of this right now—otherwise, what kind of Kodostoriz student are you?"
"Olga," Natalia’s voice turned cold. She spoke calmly. "Even Professor Ivan didn’t interfere when I chose my dance partner. I don’t need your approval."
"Instead of obsessing over such trivial matters," she lifted her chin, her gray-blue eyes reflecting a quiet cynicism, "I’d suggest you focus on improving your spells. Next time you’re hung up, at least don’t let your wand fly out of your hand, okay?"
Olga’s face flushed red, then paled. He opened his mouth, words choking in his throat. Nothing came out. Finally, he kicked a stone hard, sending it skittering across the path, then turned and stormed away without looking back.
Natalia watched his retreating figure, sighing softly. Turning, she saw the squid’s tentacles slapping the water’s surface with a dull, rhythmic thud.
Most Hogwarts students avoided the squid when it surfaced, but Natalia stepped forward and reached out to touch its massive, ancient tentacle.
"You’re amazing," she murmured. "Growing this big… I heard you’ve lived for over a thousand years. In that time, if you were human… wouldn’t you have seen everything? Known every secret?"
The squid slowly rotated its eye, fixing its gaze on the outsider from another school.
Natalia stared at the towering Hogwarts Castle, frowning. "So… was Wade really the one from the World Cup Camp?"
A ripple spread across the lake’s surface.
She frowned, thinking hard. Then, quietly: "I think so… What do you think?"
The squid said nothing. Then, suddenly, its tentacle lashed out, sweeping Natalia off her feet and plunging her into the icy water. It sank slowly into the dark depths, its ancient eyes watching her flail in the water.
Of course, it knew she wasn’t an intruder—she was a guest invited by the school. It meant only to teach her a lesson, then return her to the surface.
But Natalia quickly calmed. Just as she’d told Olga, even in this moment, she didn’t let go of her wand.
She kicked and twisted, breaking the surface with a gasp. Shaking out her wet golden hair, she crawled onto the shore, her robes soaked through.
Suddenly, she froze.
Her hand flew to her pocket—her golden egg was gone.
"Damn it!" She cursed, waving her wand. "Golden Egg, come!"
Nothing happened.
She slapped her forehead. Right—during the Tournament, the golden eggs had been warded against the Accio charm. No summoning allowed.
She sighed, then cast a Bubble-Head Charm on herself. A transparent bubble enveloped her head, like a fish tank.
Taking a deep breath, she plunged back into the water.
Thankfully, the shallows near the shore weren’t too deep. Sunlight pierced the surface, casting dancing patterns of light onto the lakebed. Natalia pushed aside thick clumps of dark green seaweed, searching for minutes—until, among a pile of strange, jagged stones, she spotted the golden egg, wedged tight.
She grabbed it, pulling hard. At once, the egg cracked open.
Natalia instinctively braced for the scream—but instead, a haunting, ethereal voice filled the water:
"Come, come and seek us, where our voices rise. We cannot sing upon the ground…"
Natalia froze.
This was the clue for the second task?
The water erupted in violent waves.
She whipped her head up—her eyes locked onto dozens of glowing eyes, dozens of pairs, forming a fan-shaped advance.
Merpeople, armed with spears, moved toward her through the dark water. Their iron-gray skin, grotesque faces, yellow eyes flickering like ghost fires in the depths, their thick tails thrashing the surface.
Natalia’s blood ran cold. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She forgot to think—she just swam, clutching the golden egg, racing toward the surface.
But the merpeople didn’t follow. They remained below, silently watching her escape.
As she neared the surface, she heard a low voice behind her:
"Champion. The second task has not yet begun. You are not to approach the stadium prematurely."
"Puff!"
She burst through the surface, gasping violently. Collapsing on the shore, she lay there, drained. Then, with sudden resolve, she plunged her head back into the water.
But this time—neither the squid nor the merpeople were there. Only a Grendilo, wandering the lake’s edge, spotted her and charged forward with glee.
"Boom!"
A burst of water from her wand sent the creature tumbling through the air, flipping end over end before scrambling away in terror.
Natalia forced the golden egg shut. The screech cut off abruptly.
She turned, staring at the calm, deep lake. Her fingers still trembled. Her heart hammered against her ribs, echoing with unease.
—Hogwarts, this frenzied school…
Just beyond the reach of students, what deadly wonders were quietly waiting in the shadows?
(End of Chapter)
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