Chapter 674
Signed Book
Chapter 674 Signed Book
The time for the third match is finally approaching.
Dawn came exceptionally late that day; heavy, pale gray clouds pressed down on the tops of the towers, thick fog hung over the castle, and the air was thick with a suffocating heat.
Vader got up very early as usual. He exercised as usual, then carefully wiped his wand clean and put the spare wand into his wand pouch.
Next are commonly used potions—healing potions, antidotes, energizers, and so on.
Finally, there was the food. The house-elf had prepared a large bag of bread, sausages, roast chicken, and vegetables including potatoes and carrots for him.
Fortunately, Vader was able to use magic to lighten the weight of the pack; otherwise, carrying so much, he probably wouldn't have been able to walk very far in the forest.
In the third event, many of the restrictions from the previous two competitions were lifted. Considering the dangers of the Forbidden Forest, the warriors were allowed to bring various items that could help them in the competition.
Bagman also specifically reminded the participants that the Forbidden Forest environment is complex, and they may not be able to finish the competition within half a day. If the competition lasts for two or three days, the ability to replenish their physical strength in time will become the key to the outcome.
However, well-made magic puppets can certainly serve as an extra helper. If a warrior carries a large number of magic puppets, what difference does it make if he carries an army with him?
In this way, the competition became a contest of financial resources among schools, completely losing its original purpose as a championship.
Therefore, puppets remain on the list of prohibited items, but the Ministry of Magic has specifically stated that they do not prohibit warriors from making their own puppets during the competition.
In addition, items such as anti-curse vests, anti-curse hats, items cursed by dark magic, the Hand of Glory, and Muggle ammunition are also on the prohibited list. Using them will result in disqualification from the competition, and everyone was aware of this beforehand.
The entire match was broadcast live on the third floor, so containers with expanded space, like pencil cases, couldn't be taken out. But Wade, having learned his lesson from being kidnapped by Grindelwald, still stuffed the pencil case into his pants pocket.
After everything was ready, the sun came out, its rays piercing through the clouds, dispelling the thick fog, and shining on the surface of Black Lake, where the shimmering waves looked like a dazzling gem added to the earth.
Wade took a deep breath, suppressed the emotions surging in his chest, and walked towards the auditorium.
At breakfast time, students in the auditorium yawned as they spread blueberry jam on their toast or peeled boiled potatoes, their faces showing the bewilderment and exhaustion of several days of exams.
This morning, Hogwarts students had their final exams, so much so that many forgot that the third match was also taking place today.
Wade was putting sandwiches on his plate when a tall, slender figure sat down beside him.
Good morning, Wade.
Natalia, full of energy, smiled and said, her golden hair gleaming like honey in the morning light.
"Good morning, Natalia," Wade said with a smile. "Looks like you slept well last night."
"Of course, I'm ready to meet today's challenge."
Natalia cut a hard-boiled egg with elegant yet powerful movements.
She said, "I will try my best to beat you, Wade Gray. And I hope you won't hold back on the field either—that's the biggest insult to your opponent."
Wade looked up and met her eyes, chuckled softly, and said, "If you don't want to be a champion, what's the point of stepping onto the field?"
“Um…” A younger Hufflepuff student approached timidly and said, “Excuse me, Mr. Grey, Miss Petrova, the professor said… after the warriors finish breakfast, they should gather in the meeting room next to the Great Hall.”
"I understand, thank you for passing on the message," Wade said with a smile.
The Hufflepuff blushed slightly, glanced around, and then, like a thief, quickly pulled a notebook from his pocket and whispered:
"Mr. Gray, I... I've always admired you. Could you please give me your autograph?"
Wade glanced down at the notebook and said gently, "The competition isn't over yet. It would be too arrogant of me to sign it now. Wouldn't it be more meaningful to sign it for you after I win the championship?"
The Hufflepuff student stepped forward eagerly, his cheeks flushed with excitement: "Mr. Gray, whether you win or not, you're still the best player in my eyes! So, could you...?"
"I can't pretend I didn't hear that. Am I, a player from Cordosdoris, really that bad?"
Natalia suddenly said in a joking tone.
"I..." The Hufflepuff student panicked and stammered, "I, I didn't mean that..." "Alright, alright, I know you just idolize Grey," Natalia laughed, pushing the plate aside and saying, "Let's go, Vader. We should go to the meeting room."
Wade smiled apologetically at the younger students and left with Natalia.
After walking a distance, the girl looked back and saw the little boy standing there blankly for a while before finally leaving dejectedly.
She asked in a low voice, "It's just a signature... or is there something wrong with it?"
"After learning alchemy, I understood a principle."
Wade also lowered his voice and said, "Never make any contracts with anyone lightly, whether they are written promises or casual vows."
Natalia understood: "So you're worried... about some contractual clauses written in invisible ink in his notebook?"
Wade nodded: "Although I might be overthinking it... but if it's true, then I'll be bound when I sign my name."
Natalia raised an eyebrow, incredulous at his caution: "Is Hogwarts really that dangerous? Or is it just like that around you?"
She recalled Hogwarts' new professor this year… Alastor Moody was supposedly known for his “extremely vigilant paranoia,” and she had heard him yell more than once while attending classes with seventh-year students:
"Stay alert! If someone like you were to become an Auror, you'd be buried within three months!!"
—Is it really that contagious?
Wade could tell the girl didn't approve, but he just smiled slightly and didn't say anything more.
Natalia stared at him for a few seconds, inexplicably sensing something in his smile that she couldn't decipher—not contempt or arrogance, but something deeper, more subtle…
"Oh, Miss Petrova!"
A very young reporter ran over and said enthusiastically, "I came all the way from Russia! Your heroic performance in the competition has already won over countless viewers in our country! Could you please sign your autograph? I'll put it on the front page of the newspaper!"
Natalia: “…”
The girl was startled and subconsciously glanced at Wade beside her.
The boy stood there quietly, looking at her with clear and calm eyes.
"Sorry," Natalia said unconsciously, her tone more abrupt than she had expected, "we need to go to the assembly point now."
Before the other person could say anything more, she grabbed Wade and strode toward the small room next to the auditorium.
The reporter seemed surprised to be rejected, and stood there blankly for a while, watching the two figures walk away, looking quite disappointed.
Suddenly, his arm was grabbed.
"What are you doing?" the photographer with a camera around his neck asked urgently. "Didn't we tell you before we came that we shouldn't disturb Miss Petrova before the competition, so as not to affect her performance!"
"Ah, I..." the reporter said blankly, "It's just an autograph..."
"No autographs allowed!" His companion decisively pulled him away, scolding him as they walked, "How could you behave so unprofessionally? Don't even think about coming with me on another overseas interview trip!"
"Oh? I'm sorry, I know I was wrong! Please give me another chance..."
The reporter hurriedly begged for mercy, and when he chased after them, he accidentally dropped the autograph book without even noticing.
One hand picked up the notebook, gently dusted off non-existent dust, and sighed regretfully.
"What a pity... It's just an autograph, why are you being so stingy?"
(End of this chapter)