Under normal and safer circumstances, if they wanted to secure that one point from the first event, they would send either Charlie, a seventh-year, or Theo, a sixth-year. Both had already taken N.E.W.T.-level Potions classes and were more confident in brewing advanced potions.
If they wanted to take a risk and save Charlie and Theo for the team battle, then at the very least they could send Zacharias Abbott, the fifth-year, to try the first event.
Of course, sending Sean to compete in the first event might also work. Even though Sean had performed exceptionally well in Snape's class, Snape still wouldn't risk having a second-year brew an advanced potion.
"The participant lineup can change after each event," Professor Flitwick explained. "It's not fixed from the beginning who will compete in which event. We'll adjust our strategy depending on the opponents' choices."
"That's right," McGonagall added. "Which means that by the time we reach the team battle, any two of you might end up forming a pair. That's why you've been brought back a week early—to train your teamwork."
Sean quickly did the math. There were six of them. If they paired up two at a time, there were fifteen possible combinations. Training every pairing would take an enormous amount of time.
"Professor, will two groups spar against each other?" Sean asked.
"No," McGonagall replied. "The four of us heads of house will spar with you."
All six students instinctively glanced at Snape, feeling a chill run down their spines. Everyone had heard rumors about how merciless and ruthless he was during combat training.
Sean's magical power was already close to that of a sixth-year. For the Hogwarts team, this was a considerable advantage.
The rules of the Four-School Friendship Tournament required each school to select one representative from each year—from second year through seventh year. The purpose was to compare the teaching quality of each school. Having a student from every year made the comparison more straightforward.
However, that also meant the second-year representative usually became the weakest member of the team.
Normally.
But Sean was no ordinary second-year.
"This afternoon, Sean and Penelope will form a team and spar with me," Snape said calmly, looking directly at Sean.
"Alright, Professor," Sean replied casually.
Penelope, however, looked as if she had just drawn the worst possible lot. She nodded reluctantly.
"Percy and Zacharias, you two will train with me," Professor Sprout said with a warm smile.
Percy and Zacharias cast somewhat gleeful looks at Sean before walking over to stand beside Professor Sprout.
Professor Flitwick turned to the remaining two students.
"Theo, Charlie—you're with me."
"Yes, Professor."
Afterward, everyone returned to their dormitories. Taking advantage of Theo's absence from the Slytherin common room, Sean lit the fireplace and used it to travel through the flames into Merlin's hidden chamber.
He needed to bring the Wizard's Heart back to his dormitory. Otherwise, constantly traveling in and out of Merlin's chamber would become troublesome. He definitely didn't want to keep emerging from that girls' bathroom again.
During the summer, Sean had already mastered the Purification Charm. Now was the perfect time to absorb the magical power from the Wizard's Heart. Perhaps before the Four-School Friendship Tournament began, his magical reserves would increase dramatically.
Lunch was still held in the Great Hall. However, the six representatives did not sit at their respective house tables. At McGonagall's request, they all sat together at the Gryffindor table.
"For the next seven days, you will eat all three meals together," McGonagall instructed. "Get to know each other. I know some of your houses don't get along very well, but until the Friendship Tournament ends, you must cooperate."
She looked directly at Theo and Charlie as she spoke.
The implication was obvious—she was referring to Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Theo, to his credit, understood the bigger picture. Earlier he had argued with Kurt precisely because he believed house prejudice shouldn't interfere with the competition.
Sean had no strong opinions about Gryffindor or the other houses. He was simply here to study. Working hard and improving himself was the real goal.
Sean quietly ate his strawberry pudding. When he looked up, he noticed Percy and Penelope beside him chatting happily together.
"Wait… don't tell me this is where their relationship starts?" Sean wondered to himself.
Zacharias, sitting diagonally across from Sean, took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
"I'm Zacharias Abbott, a fifth-year from Hufflepuff."
"I know. The ironclad Abbott," Sean replied.
"What?" Zacharias looked puzzled, clearly having no idea what Sean meant.
"Nothing. Nice to meet you. I'm Sean Grylls, a second-year from Slytherin."
Zacharias smiled.
"You're quite famous. Cedric is considered outstanding among your second-years, but if you weren't around, he probably would've been the second-year representative this time."
As fellow Hufflepuffs, Zacharias got along fairly well with his junior Cedric. He thought highly of him too. Unfortunately, someone as overwhelmingly talented as Sean existed in the same year.
Because of that, the other talented students from that year were largely overlooked. Whenever people mentioned second-years, the first name that came to mind was Sean Grylls.
At one-thirty in the afternoon, the three training groups arrived at the Quidditch pitch. All future practice sessions would be held here.
To Sean's surprise, Madam Hooch was present as well.
That alone wouldn't have been strange—but she had brought six broomsticks.
"Professor… the team battle doesn't involve playing Quidditch, does it?" Sean asked uncertainly.
"No," Madam Hooch replied. "You only have six people—you couldn't form a team anyway."
"Quidditch requires seven players," Sean said, thinking it over before asking again. "Then what are the broomsticks for?"
"They're equipment for the team battle," Snape said coldly. "Did I ever say broomsticks weren't allowed?"
Sean's mouth twitched.
He wanted to argue, but couldn't find the words. After all, Harry had used a broomstick during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. Flying during a chaotic team battle wasn't unreasonable.
But Sean had failed his flying class.
If he got on a broom, he would fall off within a minute. He had never intended to invest effort into Quidditch, so he had ignored the subject entirely. Besides, flying lessons were only mandatory during the first year.
"Professor… can we bring other things?" Sean asked weakly.
"What do you want to bring?" Snape glanced at him.
"For example… magical creatures."
Sean might be terrible at flying, but he knew magical creatures that could fly.
"Do you plan to bring a dragon?" Snape asked flatly.
"No, no… just something like a hippogriff," Sean said awkwardly.
Snape flicked his wand, sending a broomstick flying straight into Sean's chest. Sean barely managed to catch it.
Snape rolled his eyes.
"Don't even think about it. The only thing you can bring into the team battle is a broomstick. Of course, you can choose not to bring one—then you'll simply be the only person stuck on the ground."
Flying on a broom drastically increased mobility, which also made hitting an opponent much more difficult.
The team battle would essentially turn into an aerial pursuit—and those with superior flying skills would have a significant advantage.
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