https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-621-Never-Thought-You-d-Be-This-Kind-of-Person-/13449361/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-623-Champion-Fighting-Fire-Dragons/13453005/
Chapter 622: The First Match
Chapter 622: The First Match
The next morning, the castle was filled with a mix of excitement and tension.
During classes, everyone seemed distracted, frequently glancing out the windows or whispering to each other in small groups. No matter how much the professors scolded them, it did little to improve their focus.
At noon, Dumbledore officially announced in the Great Hall that all afternoon classes were canceled. He invited any interested students to join him for lunch and then head to the Forbidden Forest's Arena to watch the Champions' first match.
"This is fantastic!"
As soon as Dumbledore finished speaking, the Great Hall erupted in cheers.
Many students, after finishing their lunch, rushed toward the Arena without even bothering to clean up, eager to secure a good spot for the match. There were only so many prime viewing positions, and arriving late would mean missing out.
Meanwhile, Ivan and Harry, as Champions, had already arrived at the competition site under the guidance of Professor Mcgonagall.
"Alright, this is it. Go on in! The other Champions are already here, and Mr. Bagman is inside. He'll explain the procedure to you shortly..."
Mcgonagall stood in front of a tent, pointing to the entrance, and then hesitated before adding a final reminder.
"Remember, no matter what you see during the match, don't panic. Only by staying calm and composed can you seize the opportunity to win!"
Ivan nodded and, along with Harry, entered the tent.
The interior of the tent was spacious, resembling a small living room.
Fleur Delacour, the Champion from Beauxbatons, was sitting on a low wooden stool. Her face was pale, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. She clutched her wand in one hand and the edge of her wizard robes in the other.
Viktor Krum didn't look much better, his brows furrowed, and his expression more somber than usual.
"Ivan, Potter, you're just in time!" As soon as they entered, Ludo Bagman greeted them warmly, even giving Ivan a meaningful look.
Ivan immediately understood; the task he had assigned to Ludo Bagman had been completed.
Sure enough, after a few brief words of instruction, Ludo Bagman picked up a large purple velvet bag from the table and addressed the group.
"Your task for the first match is to retrieve a Golden Egg from under the protection of a Dragon. There are four types of Dragons on the training ground, and their models are in this bag. You'll need to draw your opponent yourself..."
Upon hearing this, Krum and Fleur's expressions didn't change, indicating they were already aware of the Dragons. However, their tight lips and ashen faces betrayed their inner turmoil.
Harry was no exception. His hand trembled slightly as he gripped his wand. Despite his extensive preparations, the prospect of facing a Dragon still filled him with fear.
"Ladies first! You can go first, Miss Delacour!" Ludo Bagman's smile contrasted sharply with the tense expressions of Harry and the others. He untied the bag and presented it to Fleur.
Fleur took a deep breath and looked at the bag's opening, which was dark, as if a spell had been cast to block out light.
This realization made her hesitate, but she steeled herself and extended her left hand into the bag. After a few seconds of fumbling, she pulled out a palm-sized, intricately detailed Dragon model. It was a silver-blue Swedish Short-Snout, with a tag around its neck that read "Number 1."
Fleur's face turned grim, indicating that she would have to go first and wouldn't be able to gauge the specific strength of the Dragon from the performances of the other contestants.
Next, Ludo Bagman smiled and handed the bag to Krum, who drew a bright red Chinese Fireball, marked with the number three.
Harry's luck was particularly bad, as he had chosen the most aggressive of the four dragons, the Hungarian Horntail, which was number two.
Finally, Ivan solemnly reached into the bag and pulled out the last remaining sculpture, the Norwegian Ridgeback—Norbert!
"It looks like your luck isn't very good, Mr. Hals! This dragon is the smartest and most difficult to handle of all the Dragons. Getting the dragon egg from under it won't be easy!" Ludo Bagman remarked with a sigh.
Fleur and Krum looked at Ivan with a mix of sympathy, though they couldn't help but feel a bit of schadenfreude; the more challenges their competitors faced, the better!
Harry's gaze on Ivan was tinged with concern.
Unlike the varied expressions of the other Champions, Ivan's face remained calm. He quickly responded, "Mr. Bagman, the joy of life lies in the challenge, doesn't it? To be honest, I'm glad I drew the most difficult dragon to handle!"
"Excellent! That's the spirit of a Champion! I look forward to seeing your performance..." Ludo Bagman clapped his hands and praised loudly.
Upon hearing this, Harry, Fleur, and Krum all felt a deep sense of shame. Compared to Ivan's openness to the challenge, their timidity and occasional petty thoughts were unworthy of the title of Champion.
After a customary round of hype for Ivan, Ludo Bagman checked the time and quickly switched to business. "You have a little time to calm your nerves. When the competition officially starts, you will take turns according to the assigned order. Understand?"
The four in the tent nodded in unison, and Ludo Bagman turned and left, satisfied. In addition to being the referee, he also served as the commentator and needed to prepare in advance.
Once Ludo Bagman left, the tent was left with the four Champions. Ivan patiently waited in his seat, while Harry anxiously paced around the table, muttering incantations, likely Blinding Spells and Summoning Charms.
Gradually, the noise from outside grew louder, and Ivan guessed that the audience had gathered.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air, breaking the tense atmosphere in the tent. Fleur shakily stood up from her seat, forcing a smile at the others, and then walked toward the exit.
The first match had begun!
Ivan did not intend to wait idly in the tent. Instead, he carefully lifted the curtain at the exit and watched Fleur's performance from a distance.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Fleur took step after step into the Dragon's Arena. The Swedish Short-Snout in the center was agitated, exhaling sparks that flew in all directions.
In the farther corners, over a dozen professional Dragon Keepers stood ready, prepared to handle any unexpected situations.
(End of Chapter)
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