The bell rang, and the students streamed out of the classroom, excitedly discussing the unusual Disillusionment Charm lesson they had just finished.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances, then hurried through the crowd to catch up with Sagres as he left.
"Professor!"
Harry was slightly out of breath.
"We have something to tell you."
Sagres stopped and turned to face the three of them.
"Already?"
"It's about Karkaroff," Harry said quietly. "Last night, we saw him leave the Durmstrang ship and go to Professor Snape's office in the dungeons."
"They must be plotting something!" Ron added eagerly.
Sagres's expression did not change, though his grey eyes narrowed slightly.
"I know," he said calmly. "I will keep an eye on the matter."
Harry hesitated before gathering the courage to continue.
"Professor, we also saw Charlie Weasley, Ron's brother. He's supposed to be in Romania studying dragons. We were wondering... could the first task involve dragons?"
Sagres's calm gaze passed over their tense faces.
"I don't know," he replied directly. "And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. That would be the most basic form of fairness owed to every Champion."
Harry's face flushed slightly, and he nodded sheepishly. The answer was more or less what he had expected.
After a brief silence, Harry realised that he was still following Sagres, even though they were walking in the opposite direction from Gryffindor Tower.
Sagres stopped again and tilted his head slightly.
"Do you have another question, Mr Potter?"
"N-no, Professor," Harry replied quickly.
"Then why are you still following me?" Sagres asked, a trace of curiosity in his voice.
Harry looked up, wearing a nervous and helpless smile.
"All the Champions have to go to the staff room to have their wands examined, Professor. I thought... perhaps we were heading in the same direction."
Sagres studied Harry's face for a moment before giving a slight nod.
"Indeed."
He turned and continued walking, his black robes swaying gently behind him.
"Then we may as well go together."
Harry immediately lowered his head and followed.
"If I remember correctly," Sagres said suddenly, "holly, with a phoenix feather core?"
Harry froze for a moment before realising that the professor was referring to his wand. He quickly nodded in surprise.
"Yes, Professor."
He unconsciously tightened his grip on it, a hint of nervousness entering his voice.
Just then, Ron and Hermione caught up, both slightly breathless, with Cedric Diggory following not far behind.
"We just ran into Cedric," Hermione said quietly. "We hoped he might know something about the first task."
Cedric had already reached them. He gave everyone a friendly nod, a helpless smile on his face.
"Unfortunately, I don't know anything either. I'm only on my way to have my wand examined."
Sagres's gaze swept over them before finally settling on the wands in their hands.
"Wands often reveal their owners' secrets. In many cases, the choice of wand is not determined by the Wizard's wishes, but by the interweaving of fate."
"Sorry, Professor, what did you say?" they asked in unison, looking confused.
Sagres did not answer. Instead, he pointed towards Hermione's wand.
"Vine wood with a dragon heartstring core, correct?"
Hermione nodded in surprise.
"Vine represents foresight and ambition, while dragon heartstring symbolises power and grandeur," Sagres said with a slight nod. "The combination is rather rare. Its owner possesses a strong desire to explore the unknown and will never be satisfied with superficial knowledge."
Hermione beamed.
His gaze then shifted to Ron, who unconsciously tightened his grip on his wand.
"Willow with a unicorn hair core."
Sagres identified the materials accurately.
"Willow represents healing and potential, while unicorn hair symbolises loyalty and affinity. This combination suits highly talented Wizards, though its owner often lacks confidence and is easily influenced by emotion."
"Does that mean I'm actually very talented and have unlimited potential?"
"Precisely. However, your current behaviour is a perfect example of being influenced by emotion," Sagres replied calmly.
The other three immediately burst into laughter, while Ron's face turned bright red.
"What about me, Professor?" Cedric asked curiously.
Sagres glanced at his wand.
"Ash with a unicorn hair core."
He paused, then asked, "Do you want me to continue? It may reveal your weaknesses, and you and Harry are both Champions."
Cedric considered this for a moment before replying, "That's fine, Professor. Please continue. I'm curious."
Sagres nodded.
"Ash represents unwavering conviction, and unicorn hair has already been explained. Those chosen by this combination often possess noble ideals and a chivalrous spirit. Naturally, that is both a strength and a weakness."
"Both a strength and a weakness..." Cedric repeated thoughtfully.
Harry could no longer contain himself.
"Professor, you still haven't said what my wand represents!"
Without turning his head, Sagres replied, "Holly symbolises spiritual pursuit, while phoenix feather represents initiative and selectiveness. Those chosen by this combination possess clear goals and strong determination, but they are also prone to emotional reactions."
His comments left all four young Wizards deep in thought.
At last, Hermione's gaze involuntarily fell upon the wand Sagres always carried.
It possessed a peculiar translucent quality, as though it had been carved from grey crystal, yet under the corridor lamps, several different colours shimmered within it.
"Professor," Hermione asked curiously, unable to restrain herself, "what about your wand? It looks very unusual. I've never seen that kind of wood before."
Ron, Harry, and Cedric immediately pricked up their ears, their gazes fixing on Sagres's wand.
Sagres did not appear surprised, nor did he refuse to answer.
He calmly raised his hand, allowing them a clearer look at the translucent wand, though his tone remained flat.
"Everlasting Flower Wood, representing death. The core is confidential."
"Everlasting Flower Wood?" Harry repeated.
The name sounded both beautiful and contradictory.
"Why is it called 'Everlasting' if it represents death? And I've never heard of that plant."
A faint light flickered in Sagres's grey eyes.
After a moment's thought, he explained, "The Everlasting Flower does not celebrate the immortality of life. It is an ominous flower that blooms upon corpses, feeding on decaying flesh and dying souls. The soil in which it grows must be watered with death. The more lives it consumes, the longer it remains in bloom."
The image conjured by his words was so eerie and disturbing that all four listeners froze in stunned silence.
A chill seemed to settle over the corridor and creep beneath their collars.
Ron's face went pale. Hermione instinctively covered her mouth, and even the usually composed Cedric looked visibly astonished.
Harry felt an inexplicable shiver crawl up his spine. He could not imagine what sort of experience would lead someone to choose a wand wood that fed upon death.
Sagres observed their reactions but had no intention of explaining further.
He calmly put away his wand, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
Casting pearls before swine.
They were merely vulgar people, unworthy of appreciation.
"Very well. The staff room is here," he said expressionlessly, pulling the four of them back from their shock. "Do not keep Mr Ollivander and the other judges waiting."
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