Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 180 The Labyrinth

When Cedric was knocked unconscious by Thea without any mercy, he still couldn't understand why she was so strong.

That's right, Dumbledore, quite concerned about his image, entrusted the task of knocking out Cedric to Thea.

Although his reason that "the principal is hard to approach students" was convincing, Thea was still very impatient, but had no choice but to accept the task.

Then everything went smoothly.

Thea first convinced Barty to follow her plan: she would take this time bomb away from Hogwarts, and as for the reason, there was no better one than that Voldemort needed him.

Next, Thea easily smuggled some compound potions without added hair into the Black Magic Defense office.

When Cedric arrived as promised, he was knocked unconscious from behind.

Then they stuffed this troublemaker into the broom room and had the house-elf throw him into the principal's office when no one was around.

Everything went smoothly, the only downside being that Cedric seemed to recognize that he was the one who knocked him out...

Thea stood there for two seconds, thinking, and then decisively handed the question over to Dumbledore!

Thea felt absolutely no remorse for shirking her responsibilities...

"Now... Harry and Cedric, listen to my whistle, 3-2-1!"

With a short whistle, Harry and Cedric hurriedly ran into the maze.

They initially walked side by side, and Harry tried several times to turn his head to ask the other person a question, but no matter how many times he opened his mouth, he couldn't say anything.

He wouldn't just ask him directly if he hadn't rested, would he?

This is so embarrassing!!!

Harry was so caught up in his own internal turmoil that he didn't notice the smile on the other person's face—it was Thea's smile.

Before Harry could figure out the answer, they arrived at the first fork in the road.

"Let's part ways here!" Thea said in a relaxed and natural tone, as if she were that spirited young man.

“Okay!” Harry replied.

The two then parted ways.

Many years later, Harry dreamt of this scene again. When he woke up from the dream, he suddenly realized that the words of separation seemed to be a key to unlocking misfortune...

From that moment on, he seemed to never see the girl smile again…

At that moment, Harry was focused on honor and victory and never looked back, so he didn't see the boy standing there.

As Thea watched Harry's departing figure, a deep sorrow immediately washed over her.

Fortunately, she quickly realized that she still had things to do!

Furong simply couldn't understand why such an inconspicuous vine would so humanely attack her...

Watching Professor McGonagall take Fleur, who was temporarily unable to move, away, she leisurely walked into the depths of the maze, concealing her merits and fame.

"Heart-piercing and bone-scraping!"

Just as Thea was passing a fork in the road, an ominous beam of light shot straight at her.

Thea calmly dodged the curse, then retaliated with a killing curse.

"Is this your new method of verifying identity?"

Thea stroked the ebony wand in her hand. It really was a good companion!

“Sorry…” A blond man dressed in Moody’s clothes emerged from the shadows, his deep voice and eerie background making it seem like a horror movie had come to life.

"Where is Krum?"

“He was in the way, I’ve already kicked him out.”

Thea frowned, and Little Barty immediately knew what Thea was worried about, adding, "Don't worry, I did it very cleanly, he didn't see me."

“Okay,” Thea replied simply.

"Do you need my help?" Thea knew what Little Barty was talking about and immediately refused.

"No need, you go to Father's place and help with the preparations... They only have Insect Tail there... I'm not entirely comfortable with that..."

Thea stopped there, and Little Barty quickly frowned, "Then I'll go first..."

Thea nodded, and Little Barty immediately disappeared using the door key he carried with him.

Thea didn't linger long; she quickly discovered the marks left by Little Barty... and she was ready to put on an act...

"Squat down!"

Harry never expected that the first truly terrifying scene he encountered after overcoming so many obstacles would be Cedric!

If Harry hadn't learned his lesson, he would never have imagined that such seemingly delicate vines could possess the power to crush human bones...

As the vine slowly approached the boy's neck, Harry couldn't imagine what would happen if it wrapped around someone's neck...

Without a second thought, Harry blurted out a sharp shout!

Immediately, a precise fire spell shot straight towards the vine.

"Zizzizi!"

The smell of burning mingled with a tooth-grinding crunching sound.

"Thank you, Potter!"

Cedric looked relieved to have escaped unscathed, and his sincere gratitude made Harry blush.

"It's okay...we're from the same school!"

“Oh, right, I just met a Sphinx, and it said I’m getting close to my destination!” Harry said excitedly.

“Really? That’s great!” Cedric was extremely enthusiastic.

Harry then realized that they were rivals...

The atmosphere between the two suddenly became a little awkward.

"Look! What's that!"

A cry of surprise rang out – Harry saw it too – a glowing trophy…

Before Harry could even start running, Cedric, with his long legs, immediately took the lead.

Harry followed closely behind.

"careful!"

Harry reminded Cedric again that there was a spider ahead.

"Except your weapons!"

"They've all turned to stone!"

"Flames are raging!"

The spell, as if it cost nothing, was unleashed instantly.

In the end, Harry's leg was scratched by the spider, leaving it bloody.

The spider was also defeated by the two.

"Are you alright?" Cedric asked, a little worried.

"It's nothing!" Harry couldn't hide his dejection. His opponent was stronger than him, and he was the first to see the trophy, and now he was the closest to it...

“You deserve to win!” Harry said to Cedric with utmost sincerity after a brief moment of disappointment.

Thea fell silent for a moment, staring into those emerald green eyes, when a sudden, sharp pain shot through her heart.

“We can share the honor, can’t we?” Thea shrugged. “After all, the rules don’t say that there can only be one person in first place.”

Harry had a feeling that something was off about the other person; this way of speaking... didn't seem like something a Hufflepuff would say...

"You really don't want to win?" Thea's tone, like Satan tempting Eve, slowly stirred Harry's own desire for honor...

"……good……"

Just as Harry was about to grasp the trophy, "Cedric" abruptly cast a healing spell on Harry's injured leg.

"...Run faster in a bit!"

Before Harry could ask what that meant, a sensation of something hooking his belly button immediately washed over him…