The questions in their minds were easy enough to settle, but turning those resolutions into reality was far less simple for Harry and Draco.
So Harry continued to endure the faint but persistent barbs and cold sarcasm. Thankfully, although most Gryffindor students didn't believe he was innocent of submitting the slip of paper, they were still willing to stand by him. Their support became his motivation to throw himself into his studies.
After reviewing the events of previous Triwizard Tournaments, Hermione even set aside the essay on house-elf equality that Tver had assigned her, focusing instead on designing an almost brutally strict training plan for Harry.
...
As for Draco…
When he finally reached the limit of his patience, he arranged a duel with Goyle and Crabbe in the dueling arena to put an end to their recent disputes.
Facing two opponents at once was effortless for Draco at this point. In the arena, he knocked both of them down in short order.
Unfortunately, in the chaos, a spell Goyle cast in panic struck Hermione, who had been practicing magic nearby with Harry…
Luckily, it wasn't a particularly powerful curse. Before Tver even had the chance to visit, Hermione was already discharged from the hospital wing.
Still, the incident caused enough trouble that Professor McGonagall imposed restrictions on the dueling arena. Most of the time, it could only be used for spell practice, with limited hours on certain weekends reserved for settling personal disputes.
As for whether she had any private intentions when it came to securing practice time and space for Harry… well, that was something only she could answer~
But there was one person who was unquestionably very concerned about Harry.
"I know this might be a bit of an imposition, but I really hope you can keep a closer eye on Harry while he's at school!"
Sirius's head emerged from the fireplace.
Tver's office didn't have a fireplace, so he had gone out of his way to ask Professor McGonagall if he could temporarily borrow her office.
This conversation happened because Sirius had learned about the recent events at Hogwarts from a letter Tver had sent to Lupin the day before, especially the part about Harry inexplicably becoming a Champion.
Worried about his godson, Sirius immediately wrote back, asking to speak with Tver today.
As for why Sirius was with Lupin in the first place… he had been drafted into it.
With anti-werewolf laws effectively becoming a dead letter, Lupin's recruitment efforts had grown much easier. At the same time, though, new problems followed.
He didn't have enough help.
Cynthia and Marvolio were both tied up dealing with matters at the Ministry of Magic, leaving werewolf affairs to the werewolves themselves.
The problem was that all the capable werewolves were now working in the Potions laboratory, earning Galleons for Tver and the others.
As for the less capable ones… they still had to go work in the greenhouses.
For a while, the only person who could help Lupin was Sirius, who happened to be free at the moment.
Sirius didn't complain about it.
As a member of the Order of the Phoenix who had fought in the previous war, he understood all too well how destructive werewolves could be. Not only did he trust Tver's plan to recruit them, he wholeheartedly supported it.
Now and then, Fudge would stir up trouble and demand his attention, forcing him to return to Britain occasionally.
Yes, Lupin had already expanded his recruitment efforts beyond Britain.
That was also why Tver had been corresponding with him more frequently lately.
In Britain, werewolves were either imprisoned in Azkaban or recruited by Lupin.
And as Lupin's efforts gradually spread among werewolf communities abroad, they didn't even need active promotion. Werewolves from nearby European countries like France and Germany began sneaking into Britain on their own.
If Marvolio hadn't casually asked about it, those internationally minded werewolves might have been arrested by mistake.
After discussing it with Lupin, Tver decided they couldn't afford to wait any longer and moved to expand outward.
That, however, placed even greater demands on Lupin.
Tver had very few connections abroad.
When it came to Muggle affairs, Ian Russell handled things perfectly. But in the wizarding world, the only people he could reach were the old wizards of the Wizards' Union.
Those old wizards had immense influence, but for Lupin, it was simply too much. They couldn't manage every detail the way Marvolio and Cynthia could.
As a result, overseas operations had to be carried out carefully by Lupin and Sirius themselves, with Tver's connections serving only as a last line of support.
Realizing his thoughts had wandered, Tver refocused his attention on Sirius in the fire.
"Are you planning to stand in the flames all day? I even prepared plenty of snacks for you."
Without much sincerity, he picked up a small biscuit and crunched on it.
"I snuck into this house. If the owner suddenly comes back, I need to be ready to make a quick getaway."
Sirius shrugged casually.
"Besides, it's not easy to find a fireplace abroad that connects back to Britain."
"You're not coming back at all? Harry's task is in less than two weeks."
Tver took a sip of pumpkin juice. The snacks in Professor McGonagall's office were far too soft and sticky. In hindsight, he really should have brought some proper desserts.
"I'll give him a surprise when the time comes." Sirius flashed a roguish, handsome grin, his playful expression glowing brightly in the flames. "That's exactly why I want you to look after Harry."
"But no one is allowed to help the Champion~"
Sirius immediately let out a chuckle.
"I don't think the rules say a Champion can't help another Champion, do they?"
"…You really are good at bending the rules."
"Hey, I'm not breaking them. I'm just—"
Knock, knock, knock.
The sound at the door cut him off. Sirius waved helplessly, and his figure and voice gradually faded from the fire.
"Remember to keep Harry safe…"
"Professor, Professor McGonagall said you were here—"
As Tver opened the door, he found a small boy with ash-brown hair standing outside.
Dennis Creevey, the younger brother of Colin Creevey, Harry's devoted admirer, and a first-year student this year.
A boy whose courage far exceeded his height.
Tver remembered him clearly. After all, not every student dared to loudly ask him how to cast a light-producing spell during their very first magic lesson.
"What is it, Dennis? I thought I didn't have any classes this afternoon. Or do you have another question for me?"
Dennis scratched his head sheepishly. Back then, his curiosity had been overflowing. He had shouted that he wanted to learn every kind of magic.
Of course, that curiosity hadn't faded at all.
"Well, Mr. Bagman from the Ministry of Magic asked all the Champions to gather. It seems like there's something they need to do."
Tver nodded in understanding and gently patted his head.
"Then let's go."
"Yes!"
Dennis nodded enthusiastically.
In just two months, he had come to admire this elegant professor just as much as his older brother did.