Chapter 219
In the stands, although Pansy Parkinson was overwhelmed with anxiety, she forced herself to stay composed.
Beside her, Narcissa Malfoy looked on the verge of collapse—her face pale, her hands trembling as she clutched Lucius Malfoy's collar.
"Save Draco… please…" she begged.
Lucius, usually composed, had completely lost his calm. He stood up abruptly, shouting toward the field, even attempting to rush down from the stands.
Pansy gripped the armrest tightly.
Malfoy's earlier confidence echoed in her mind.
Trust me.
"Aunt Narcissa… please believe him," she said softly, though even she knew how weak it sounded.
---
Elsewhere, Hermione Granger stared in shock.
Her nightmare—was becoming reality.
She didn't even realize she had bitten her lip until she tasted blood.
---
Then—
everything changed.
---
"Oh my God—what is happening?! This is a miracle!" shouted Ludo Bagman.
The Fire Dragon… stopped.
It glanced once at Malfoy—
then spread its wings and flew away.
---
A powerful gust swept through the arena, nearly knocking spectators off balance.
Panic erupted instantly.
Students scrambled, shouting, trying to escape the dragon's path.
And yet—
in the center of the arena—
Malfoy simply walked forward.
Calm.
Unhurried.
He picked up the golden egg—
and raised it high.
---
Bagman's voice cracked with disbelief:
"He's done it! Mr. Malfoy has completed the task! But—the dragon is heading toward the audience! Dragon tamers—move quickly!"
---
Before chaos could escalate further—
Albus Dumbledore stood.
"Stop."
He raised his wand.
---
The arena itself responded.
Two massive stone pillars twisted and transformed—
stretching, bending—
becoming gigantic stone hands.
They shot upward and seized the dragon mid-air, gripping its wings with overwhelming force.
At the same time, dragon tamers looped reinforced restraints around its legs.
The creature was completely subdued.
---
Moments later—
multiple Stunning Spells struck in unison.
The Swedish Short-Snout collapsed into stillness.
Control was restored.
---
Among the dragon tamers was Charlie Weasley—though few in the stands noticed.
---
After the Trial
Malfoy exited the arena, walking across shattered stone.
Waiting for him:
Severus Snape
Minerva McGonagall
Alastor Moody
—and his parents.
---
Narcissa rushed forward first, gripping his shoulders.
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," Malfoy replied calmly. "That dragon wasn't very bright. It didn't even touch me."
It was clearly an understatement—but it worked.
Narcissa exhaled in relief.
---
Lucius nodded, pride replacing panic.
"Well done. As expected of my son."
---
McGonagall, usually strict, allowed herself visible admiration.
"Exceptional Transfiguration… but what happened at the end?"
---
Before Malfoy could answer—
Dumbledore approached, robes flowing.
Behind him followed Maxime and Karkaroff, both clearly unsettled.
---
"If I am not mistaken," Dumbledore said gently,
"you used the ancient Draconic language."
His blue eyes gleamed with insight.
---
Karkaroff immediately cut in:
"Even if that's true—what words could make a dragon abandon its own egg?"
---
Malfoy answered calmly.
"That would only matter… if it were truly her egg."
---
He continued:
"The golden egg contains clues for the next task. It cannot be real."
"And dragons have low reproduction rates. No organizer would risk a genuine egg."
"So I simply… told her the truth."
---
He added:
"She verified it herself—when her tail touched the egg."
"Dragons are extremely sensitive to their own offspring."
"Once she realized it wasn't hers… there was no reason to stay."
---
Silence followed.
The logic was flawless.
---
Karkaroff's face darkened.
"Petty tricks! This tournament tests courage—not deception!"
---
Dumbledore did not respond.
But his faint smile suggested otherwise.