For several days after the first task, Draco Malfoy deliberately avoided Lucian Thornwick.
The arrogance that usually filled his face had been replaced by something new.
Fear.
But Slytherin wasn't the only house that had changed.
Cedric's Public Apology
The next morning, something unexpected happened in the Entrance Hall.
Cedric Diggory—Hogwarts' respected champion—arrived with a crutch, still recovering from his burn injury.
Behind him stood nearly the entire Hufflepuff House.
They were waiting along the path Gryffindor students usually took to class.
When Lucian appeared, Cedric immediately stepped forward.
"Lucian."
His voice carried sincere humility.
"We… I want to apologize."
He glanced at the students behind him.
"We allowed prejudice to blind us. Some of us supported those badges mocking you. That was wrong."
Cedric took a breath.
"What you did in the arena… that wasn't just a competition."
"That was true magic."
He bowed deeply.
"You are the real champion of Hogwarts."
Behind him, hundreds of Hufflepuffs bowed as well.
Students passing through the hall stopped in shock.
Scenes like this had never happened before.
Lucian's reputation rose even higher.
Gryffindor Celebration
That night, the Gryffindor common room exploded into celebration.
The party lasted until midnight.
Fred and George Weasley brought out every prank snack they owned.
Even Sirius Black briefly appeared through the fireplace flames, giving Lucian an excited thumbs-up before disappearing again.
The excitement from the first task slowly faded.
But a new problem troubled the champions.
The Mystery of the Golden Egg
The golden egg retrieved from the dragon's nest became the next puzzle.
It was made of solid gold.
Smooth.
Featureless.
But whenever someone opened it—
A horrible sound burst out.
A piercing, unbearable scream.
Like hundreds of fingernails scratching a blackboard at once.
The sound was so painful that listening too long caused headaches and dizziness.
The castle often echoed with that eerie noise.
Cedric spent nights in the library researching ancient sound magic.
Krum tried brute force, casting silence spells and breaking charms.
None worked.
He nearly collapsed a section of the Durmstrang ship trying.
But Lucian…
didn't even open his egg.
As a transmigrator—and with his Eyes of Insight—he already understood the truth.
The scream wasn't random noise.
It was language, twisted and encrypted.
Like a crumpled letter.
You just needed the right method to unfold it.
So he simply tossed the egg into his trunk beside his bed and ignored it.
Fleur Visits Lucian
One snowy afternoon, Lucian sat by a library window reading an old book on Advanced Transfiguration Paradoxes.
A faint scent of French perfume broke the silence.
He looked up.
Fleur Delacour stood beside his table.
But she looked different today.
Her usual pride was gone.
She wore a simple wool cloak, her silver-blonde hair tied loosely behind her.
Her blue eyes carried curiosity… and a trace of humility.
"Sorry to disturb you," she said softly.
"May I sit?"
Lucian nodded.
Fleur sat down carefully.
After a moment of hesitation, she spoke.
"The spell you used during the first task…"
"I've never seen anything like it."
She glanced at him seriously.
"I asked Madame Maxime about it. Even she couldn't explain it."
"She said it felt less like a spell… and more like a fundamental law."
Fleur looked directly into his eyes.
"So I came to ask you."
"What is the principle behind the Dragon Soul Calming Spell?"
For the first time in her life, Fleur set aside her pride and asked someone her own age for guidance.
Lucian closed his book calmly.
"You can't learn it."
Disappointment flashed in Fleur's eyes.
But she didn't argue.
"Because," Lucian continued,
"it doesn't come from technique."
"It comes from understanding."
He spoke evenly.
"You tried to control the dragon."
"Your sleeping charm forced it to submit."
"Krum attacked it."
"Both approaches impose your will."
"But I simply understood its soul."
He paused.
"It was a mother protecting her eggs."
"It wasn't violent because it wanted to kill."
"It was violent because it was scary."
"So I showed it something else."
"Understanding instead of control."
Fleur whispered slowly:
"Understanding… not control…"
Her entire view of magic shifted in that moment.
She had always believed powerful wizards forced the world to obey them.
Lucian showed her a different path.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
Then she stood up to leave.
But Lucian spoke again.
"Oh, one more thing."
Fleur turned back.
"The golden egg," he said casually.
"The screaming is annoying."
Fleur sighed.
"Yes…"
"But some sounds," Lucian continued while turning a page,
"cannot be understood in air."
"Change the medium…"
"And they might become clear."
He added one final sentence.
"For example… underwater."
Then he returned to reading.
Fleur froze.
Underwater?
Her mind raced.
Scream.
Sound.
Water.
Suddenly her eyes lit up.
She had just solved the puzzle.
The Yule Ball Announcement
As Christmas approached, the tension in Hogwarts finally softened.
During Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall made an announcement.
To celebrate the Triwizard Tournament, Hogwarts would hold a grand Yule Ball.
"And as tradition dictates," she said sternly,
"The four champions must open the dance with their partners."
The word partner exploded through the student body like a bomb.
Suddenly:
boys awkwardly rehearsed invitationsgirls waited nervouslywhispers filled the corridors
For Harry and Ron, asking someone to the ball felt harder than fighting a dragon.
After several humiliating attempts, they finally ended up going with the Patil twins.
Meanwhile, Lucian faced a completely different problem.
A pleasant one.
Hermione's Attempt
One afternoon in the library, Hermione sat across from him.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her cheeks were slightly red.
"Lucian… have you found a partner for the Yule Ball yet?"
"Not yet," he replied.
Hermione's eyes brightened.
"Oh… well… I… I haven't either."
Her hint was incredibly obvious.
But Lucian simply nodded.
"Don't worry. It's just a partner. I'll find one soon."
Hermione felt a tiny sting of disappointment.
Maybe he just needed more time.
Unfortunately…
time ran out.
Cho Chang's Bold Invitation
A few days later, Lucian and Hermione approached the Ravenclaw common room door.
Suddenly someone stepped out.
Cho Chang.
The Ravenclaw Seeker spotted Lucian instantly.
Her friends giggled behind her and pushed her forward.
She took a deep breath.
Then walked directly toward him.
"Lucian…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I… don't have a partner yet."
"If you don't mind…"
"Would you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
She asked him openly.
Right in front of Hermione.
Gasps echoed around them.
Hermione's hands tightened around her books.
Lucian hesitated for a moment.
Refusing Cho now would embarrass her badly in front of everyone.
So he nodded.
"Of course."
"It would be my pleasure."
Cho's face lit up with joy.
"Really?! Thank you!"
She left with her friends, glowing with happiness.
Hermione's Regret
Hermione stood silently.
Her chest tightened painfully.
She regretted everything.
Why hadn't she asked directly?
Why only hint?
If she had just been braver…
Now it was too late.
The Yule Ball
On Christmas night, the Great Hall transformed into a magical winter palace.
Silver frost draped the walls.
Icicle chandeliers sparkled from the ceiling.
Hundreds of Christmas trees glowed with enchanted candles.
The four long house tables had been replaced with dozens of small round tables.
Students wore elegant robes.
Music floated through the hall.
It felt like a fairy tale.
Then the doors opened.
The champions entered.
First:
Fleur Delacour, stunning in rose-silver silk.
Next:
Cedric Diggory, still graceful despite losing Cho.
Then:
Viktor Krum, in a crimson military uniform.
Hermione sat alone at a table.
She had refused Krum's invitation.
And everyone else's.
She quietly watched the entrance.
Trying to hide the sadness in her eyes.
Then the final pair entered.
And instantly…
all other conversations stopped.
Lucian Thornwick walked into the hall—
with Cho Chang at his side.
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