The next day, Harry, Hermione, and Victor were walking through the Entrance Hall after leaving class.
Students filled the corridors and nearly every conversation still revolved around the Triwizard Tournament.
Victor broke the silence. "Those dragons were magnificent. I think I finally understand why Hagrid always wanted to raise one."
Harry stopped. "Wait — you saw them?"
"Harry, I'm the one who delivered Hagrid's message to you. You really think I wasn't curious enough to find out what was so important?" Victor gave him an amused look.
"I stayed far enough away that neither of you noticed."
Harry shook his head. "I didn't even realize you were there."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Harry's expression soon turned serious.
"Hagrid let something slip. He said the other two headmasters have already hinted about the First Task to their champions."
Hermione frowned. "So Fleur and Krum already know they're facing dragons."
"Exactly." Harry looked ahead where Cedric was standing at the end of the corridor. "Cedric's the only one who doesn't know."
"So you're going to tell him," Hermione said.
"It isn't fair. If Krum and Fleur have both been warned, Cedric deserves the same chance."
Victor glanced sideways at Harry and smiled faintly. "That's exactly what I expected from you."
As they turned the corner, they found Cedric surrounded by a crowd of Hufflepuffs — Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, and several others talking excitedly.
Many wore the enchanted badges flashing between "Support Cedric Diggory — The Real Hogwarts Champion" and "Potter Stinks." Whenever the words changed, several students laughed.
Victor's expression went cold. He walked straight toward them. "What exactly are you all laughing at?"
The laughter stopped immediately.
Ernie frowned. "What does it matter to you?"
Victor's eyes settled on the badge pinned to Ernie's robes. "It matters because you've already decided someone is guilty without understanding what actually happened."
Justin crossed his arms. "Harry obviously found a way to enter."
"So you genuinely believe a fourth-year student outsmarted Dumbledore, fooled the Goblet of Fire, bypassed the Age Line, deceived Ministry officials, and tricked the heads of three magical schools." Victor let out a quiet scoff.
"If that's the conclusion you've reached, Hogwarts has failed to teach basic reasoning." His gaze swept across the group.
"Spend less time playing with enchanted badges and more time opening your textbooks."
The Hufflepuffs shifted awkwardly.
Harry took advantage of the silence. "Cedric — can I have a word? Somewhere private."
Cedric looked between Harry and the group before nodding. "Sure."
They walked away toward a quieter corridor.
Victor looked back at the Hufflepuffs. "I always thought Hufflepuff valued fairness." His voice stayed calm. "Apparently gossip is more important than facts."
Hermione grabbed his sleeve. "That's enough. They're not worth arguing with."
Victor sighed and allowed himself to be dragged away.
Only after they disappeared did the Hufflepuffs relax.
Justin let out a slow breath. "I don't know why... but when he looked at us, I felt like he could see straight through me."
Ernie rubbed the back of his neck. "I've never met a Malfoy who could make an entire group go quiet just by looking at them."
Susan glanced in the direction Victor had gone. "He's definitely a Slytherin."
"The way he looked at us," Hannah murmured. "Like a snake sizing up prey."
Nobody disagreed.
Then Victor's voice drifted back down the corridor.
"You're still wearing those stupid badges?"
Almost immediately, everyone still wearing one ripped it off and shoved it into a pocket. Only after he disappeared around the corner did they let out relieved sighs.
"I swear that bloke's scarier than Professor Snape," Justin muttered.
Ernie silently nodded.
***
The days continued to pass as the First Task drew closer.
The atmosphere around Hogwarts grew tense. Champions were constantly surrounded by curious students while teachers quietly watched over them.
Professor Moody in particular took an unusual interest in Harry — calling him over after Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons, offering subtle hints, repeatedly reminding him that the First Task was designed to test resourcefulness rather than raw power.
Victor noticed the pattern almost immediately. Every piece of advice Moody gave appeared casual yet was always aimed at steering Harry toward the correct solution on his own.
He also noticed something else.
Every now and then, Moody's magical eye would swivel toward him.
Sometimes only for a moment, other times his normal eye lingered before turning away. Not open hostility — closer to scrutiny.
Victor pretended not to notice.
Maybe Voldemort told him about me, he thought calmly. He did ruin Quirrell's plans during first year and nearly prevented him from obtaining the Philosopher's Stone.
If Voldemort had mentioned him to Barty Crouch Jr., it would make sense for the fake Moody to keep watch.
Victor smiled to himself.
'Watch all you want.'
*****
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