Time passed quickly, and before long it was June.
For most students, June was a painful month—final exams were approaching at the end of it. Everyone was busy reviewing their lessons.
Everyone except Sean.
He was rarely seen.
When Sean wanted to analyze the magical framework of the Purification Spell, he usually went to the library, borrowed a random book, and opened it.
He didn't actually read it.
It was just for appearances—so that professors and passing students would think he was diligently studying, while in reality his mind was occupied with entirely different things.
As for practicing magic, he did that after curfew, in the second-floor girls' bathroom.
Compared with normal classes, Sean's lifestyle was actually far more monotonous.
He had almost no entertainment.
At mealtimes, he occasionally chatted with Cassius and Chris.
But he rejected all student group activities.
Even so, that relentless diligence had produced results.
"Finally understood the complete magical framework of the Purification Spell," Sean muttered.
"If I spend another month practicing during summer break, I should be able to cast it successfully."
This was Sean's greatest achievement of the second semester.
The Wizard's Heart could not leave Hogwarts.
But starting in his second year, he would have the right to absorb its power.
When that happened, his magical reserves would experience a qualitative leap.
The only problem was that next year he would have second-year classes.
He wouldn't have nearly as much free time to research the spells he truly wanted.
"Unless," Sean thought,
"I apply to Dumbledore again and finish all my course assessments during the first month of the new term."
At dinner that evening, Cassius looked miserable.
"This is impossible. What even is this stuff? Why does Potions exist as a subject?"
He sighed dramatically.
"I envy you, Sean. You don't even have to take final exams."
Chris laughed.
"If you passed all your final assessments in the first month of school like Sean did, you wouldn't need to revise either."
Sean shook his head.
"Cassius, who told you I don't have exams? I still have Potions."
At the beginning of the school year, Sean had completed assessments for six subjects, leaving only Potions and Flying.
He had already given up on Flying.
But Potions was different.
Brewing potions required hands-on practice—you couldn't just figure it out mentally.
At the professors' table, Snape finished his meal, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood up.
He walked over to the Slytherin table.
"Grylls," he said coolly. "Come to the headmaster's office after dinner."
"Yes, Professor," Sean replied immediately.
He had actually been planning to discuss second-year arrangements with Dumbledore anyway.
Looks like Dumbledore had summoned him first.
Cassius watched Snape leave and sighed enviously.
"Chris, have you noticed? Professors treat Sean completely differently from the rest of us."
"Professor Snape has never used that tone with me."
Sean grinned.
"How does he usually talk to you?"
Cassius tried to imitate Snape's deep voice.
"He usually lowers his voice and says, 'Cassius, you idiot.'"
Unfortunately, his young voice completely failed to reproduce Snape's cold tone.
"Sorry, Cassius," Chris said calmly. "Professor Snape never talks to me like that either."
"Why do all the professors pick on me?" Cassius groaned, collapsing face-down onto the table.
"If you were as outstanding as Sean," Chris said, glancing at Sean, "the professors would treat you differently too."
In truth, Sean's extraordinary talent had earned him special treatment.
The biggest privilege was that he didn't have to attend classes.
And the professors were noticeably friendlier toward him.
Even Snape—who had initially thought Sean arrogant and eager to show off—had gradually changed his opinion.
At the very least, Sean was not the type to become blindly overconfident.
When Keith attacked him earlier in the year, Sean had taken the initiative to report it to Snape.
After dinner, Snape found Sean again.
They arrived outside Dumbledore's office.
Snape spoke the password.
"Lemon."
The stone gargoyle rotated upward, revealing a spiral staircase leading to the headmaster's office.
They stepped onto it and were carried upward automatically.
Inside, Dumbledore stood near a bookshelf flipping through a book.
When he saw them enter, he closed the book and walked forward.
"Sean," Dumbledore said warmly, "your first year is nearly over. What do you think you gained this year?"
Sean blinked.
Was he really called here for an annual performance review?
Sean quickly organized his thoughts and prepared to deliver a perfect summary.
"Professor, although I only attended classes for one month this year, during that time I learned many noble qualities from the professors—things that cannot be found in textbooks."
"That's enough," Snape interrupted impatiently.
"Professor, just tell him about the matter."
Dumbledore smiled kindly.
"Sean, have you ever heard of the Four-School International Magical Friendship Tournament?"
"The Four-School International Magical Friendship Tournament?" Sean repeated.
He shook his head.
He knew about the Triwizard Tournament, but this four-school event was completely unfamiliar.
"Four schools?" Sean asked. "Isn't there only the Triwizard Tournament between three schools?"
Dumbledore gave him an approving look.
"You even know about the Triwizard Tournament."
"It was a competition between three European schools held every five years. However, due to the high number of casualties, it hasn't been held for many years."
"The Four-School International Magical Friendship Tournament," Dumbledore continued,
"is an international event involving four magical schools. It takes place once every ten years."
"It is larger in scale and lasts longer."
Sean searched his memories of the Harry Potter world and was certain:
He had never heard of such a tournament.
For him, this meant yet another new experience in the magical world.
"Professor," Sean asked curiously, "which four schools?"
Dumbledore listed them calmly.
"Castelobruxo in Brazil."
"Uagadou in Uganda."
"Ilvermorny in the United States."
"And of course—Hogwarts."
"I see," Sean thought.
There were eleven internationally recognized magical schools around the world.
Some smaller ones existed too, though they weren't officially recognized by the International Confederation of Wizards.
The three schools Dumbledore mentioned were among the most prestigious.
"Professor," Sean asked slowly, "are you saying Hogwarts will host the Four-School Friendship Tournament next semester?"
Dumbledore smiled.
"You are a very clever child."
"And you called me here… because you want me to participate?" Sean asked uncertainly.
"Each school must select six students to participate," Dumbledore explained.
Sean quickly did the math.
Four schools meant twenty-four participants.
This tournament was much larger than the Triwizard Tournament.
And like that famous competition—
it would probably last an entire school year.
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