Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 179, Project 3

As time gradually moved into the end of May.

With the final match drawing ever closer, even Harry, with his calm demeanor, couldn't help but feel anxious.

Fortunately, the dueling training organized by Thea and her group continued, which prevented Harry and his two companions from having to find other venues for training.

“Go to the Quidditch pitch down there at 9 o’clock tonight,” Professor McGonagall said, keeping Harry behind after her Transfiguration lesson. “Mr. Bagman will be there to tell the champions what the third project is.”

So at 8:30 that evening, Harry and Cedric arrived at the Quidditch pitch, where they learned what the third project was—the maze.

After learning the specifics of the project, Harry felt strangely relieved.

He stopped practicing various spells aimlessly and instead spent more time on books about magical creatures in the library and on the dueling training grounds.

What intrigued him was that Thea seemed to spend all her time in the library, to the point that he rarely saw her in the dueling arena anymore.

Of course, this does not rule out the possibility that Thea has no rivals left.

Harry chuckled at his own guess, then immediately immersed himself back in the ocean of knowledge.

Thea, who "couldn't find an opponent," wasn't actually spending all her time in the library; she was simply immersing herself in a secluded room. She needed to find a way to both save others and protect herself.

Thea subconsciously rubbed the time converter around her neck. It had helped Thea so much that it didn't seem as bright as before...

Time flies like an arrow, passing in the blink of an eye.

On an ordinary day, after Thea had perused nearly a hundred ancient books and almost a thousand parchments, she finally found the fulcrum that could move the world in those fragmentary records.

Unbeknownst to anyone, on this ordinary day, a girl secretly devised a plan concerning the entire wizarding world…

On this day, an owl flew out of Hogwarts...

That day, Thea avoided everyone and quietly went to the principal's office...

On this day, at the girl's pleading, Dumbledore cast a masterful Oblivion Charm on a minor—a Oblivion Charm that even Lockhart might not be able to cast…

Apart from Dumbledore and the phoenix, no one knows what the two talked about.

"Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes I will be inviting you to the Quidditch pitch to watch the final game of the Triwizard Tournament. Now, warriors and the eight Mans, please proceed to the pitch!"

Harry stood up, and the Gryffindor students applauded him. The Weasleys and Hermione also wished him good luck.

He walked out of the auditorium with Cedric, Frenk, and Rum.

"How are you feeling?" Bagman asked as Harry and the others walked down the steps. "Are you confident?"

“It’s good,” Harry said, and it was the truth. Although he was a little nervous, he kept going over the spells he had practiced in his mind and remembered them all. This conclusion made him feel much better.

They entered the Quidditch pitch, which had become completely unrecognizable. A 20-foot-high hedge surrounded the edge of the pitch, and in front of them was a gap—the entrance to this maze, the passageways of which were dark and somewhat frightening.

Five minutes later, people began to enter the stands. Hundreds of students filed in and took their seats, and the air was filled with excited voices and the sound of hurried footsteps.

Hagrid, Professor Moody, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick approached Bagman and several warriors. They would be in charge of patrolling outside the maze.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the final match of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin. Let me announce the current scores: Sedric, Diggory, and Harry Potter—85 points, tied for first place, Hogwarts School!"

The enthusiastic applause and cheers startled the birds in the Forbidden Forest into the darkening night sky. "Viktor Krum – 80 points, second place, Durmstrang School!" Another round of applause followed. "Fleur Delacour, third place, Beauxbatons Academy!"

While Mr. Bagman was giving his opening remarks, Harry glanced at Cedric beside him. He had just sensed that something was wrong with Cedric; had he eaten something bad? Harry was a little worried.

Cedric immediately noticed Harry's gaze, and shook his head at Harry to indicate that he was alright.

Little did he know that this action only fueled Harry's growing suspicions, but with the competition about to begin, Harry had no choice but to suppress his unease.

Maybe he's just a little nervous? Harry secretly scolded himself for being overly suspicious.

Thea watched Harry's vivid expressions, and a smile slowly crept onto her lips.

That's right, the one standing on the field now is Thea, who has drunk the compound decoction.

Let's rewind to the day Thea went to find Dumbledore.

"Is there really no other way?" Dumbledore adjusted his glasses, his tone hesitant. "That child...would he be willing?"

“Compared to losing my life, the price of losing my honor is far too small…” Thea shook her head. “Besides, you should know… her style better than I do…”

After another moment of silence, Dumbledore spoke again, "And what about the other two contestants?"

Thea felt certain that Dumbledore had accepted the plan. "I will personally get rid of Fleur. Professor McGonagall and the others will take her away, and Krum... Moody will deal with him."

When Thea mentioned Moody, a glint flashed in Dumbledore's eyes; it had been a long time since anyone had dared to deceive him like this...

"...And what about you?" Dumbledore pondered the plan repeatedly in his mind, but found no flaws in it.

The girl seemed to include everyone, except... herself.

"Me?" The girl's weary eyes were full of nonchalance. "Let's just take it one step at a time... It's just a few Heart-Rending Curses..."

A fleeting look of pity crossed Dumbledore's eyes. No matter what she had done, she was still just a child...

"Alright!" Seemingly sensing the impending emotional atmosphere, Thea called a halt in time. "Don't worry, I'll try my best to come back alive..."

Thea spoke with extreme lack of confidence, which was quite different from her usual style.

There's nothing you can do; normal people can't fathom the thoughts of that madman, Voldemort...

Moreover, this madman possesses combat prowess comparable to an atomic bomb. No matter how meticulous Thea's plan is, she cannot be certain whether Voldemort, who was laughing one second ago, will be targeting her with his Killing Curse the next.