The celebration belonged to Hogwarts alone. The other two teams could only stand awkwardly on the sidelines, swallowed by disappointment.
Matthew blamed their loss entirely on Claven's relentless interference, while Claven shot back with a sneer, "What's it to me? We're competitors. You expect me to just let you win? You're about to graduate—don't be so naive."
"You—!" Matthew pointed at him angrily.
"What, not satisfied with how it ended? Want to keep going?" Claven snapped, his frustration boiling over.
"Claven!" Kelly Ann intervened, stopping him before things escalated further. Even though she was equally unwilling to accept defeat, as a professor she had to keep her students in line.
After Wagadu's disqualification, the remaining three teams had performed steadily. Aside from Sean's stunning use of flight magic, nothing particularly extraordinary stood out—not even Claven's later performance.
Ilvermorny departed Hogwarts aboard their magical airship soon after. They didn't want to remain in such an uncomfortable atmosphere for even a day longer.
Seeing them off wasn't Professor McGonagall, but Professor Morley. He spoke a little awkwardly, "Professor Lindsay… I was thinking of visiting America this summer."
"Is that so? Perfect timing. Come find me—I'll show you around the wizarding world there," Kelly Ann replied generously.
Morley looked like a child who had just been handed candy. Though he tried to hide it, his joy was obvious to everyone.
After the airship lifted off, Joanna leaned toward Kelly Ann and said, "Professor, he likes you, doesn't he?"
Sam Winchester, ever shy, blinked in confusion. "Really? I didn't notice."
Joanna shook her head. "Typical. Men are so clueless."
"I know," Kelly Ann replied softly, gazing out the window toward Hogwarts. Over the past few months, Morley had found many excuses to spend time with her—drinking, chatting, lingering. She didn't dislike him. She was simply waiting to see what he would do next.
Castelobruxo had arrived in London by Muggle airplane, and they left the same way. From Hogsmeade's Floo Network to Diagon Alley, then by taxi to the airport—it was a far more ordinary journey.
As for Wagadu, their students were placed under supervision. Though investigations confirmed they knew nothing about Coates' plan, the act of cheating itself was undeniable.
"I'll take Conrad Coates with me," Barty Crouch said. "He's a foreign national. Wagadu will come for him sooner or later."
Dumbledore still had questions for Coates, so after Snape escorted him to the dungeon, he spent the entire night attempting Legilimency. However, Coates was a master of Occlumency. The mental barriers he constructed were incredibly strong. Even Snape needed a full night to break through—and when he did, he discovered something troubling.
Coates' memories had been altered.
By the time the students returned from their celebration, Snape still hadn't found anything useful. Now that Crouch intended to take Coates away, Dumbledore spoke up.
"Take him back to the Ministry if you must, but the matter of Herpo will soon reach the papers. We know almost nothing about him. Coates is our only lead. I need him here for a few more days. You can return the Wagadu students first."
"I'm afraid not," Crouch replied stiffly. "I'm the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Detaining a foreign national challenges my authority."
"Crouch, you know that's not my intention," Dumbledore said calmly, then added meaningfully, "Minister Fudge has only just taken office. Any disturbance now would reflect poorly on him."
"You intend to use Coates?" Dumbledore asked.
"I have my own methods. I'm taking him today," Crouch said firmly.
"The wizarding world has only just regained peace after the Dark Lord's fall. I hope you won't create panic for personal reasons," Dumbledore replied.
Crouch gave no answer. He simply turned and left.
Not long after, Snape entered the office.
"Professor, Herpo's followers have already infiltrated Britain. They will attack Hogwarts again," he said.
From Coates' memories, they had learned that Herpo's followers called themselves "Fangs." They had come from Greece to reclaim the scepter.
As for the Pain Mask, its origin remained unclear. Snape had only seen a hooded figure handing it to Coates.
That afternoon, Crouch took Coates and the Wagadu students back to the Ministry. Soon after, his furious shout echoed through his office.
"Dumbledore!"
Coates had been reduced to a blank slate.
He remembered nothing.
Not even himself.
Before handing him over, Snape had cast a powerful Memory Charm—enough to send Coates to St. Mungo's for years.
Meanwhile, in the Headmaster's office, Hogwarts' six representatives stood before Dumbledore, receiving praise—and, more importantly, their reward.
"You have brought honor to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said. "Your names will be engraved on the trophy for all students to see."
Naturally, they were proud. But when it came to the prize money, their excitement grew even more.
Twenty thousand Galleons, jointly funded by the four schools, had been placed in a Gringotts vault. Since they were underage, the money would be managed by their guardians.
"Sean and Penelope, as the final victors, will each receive four thousand Galleons. The remaining four will each receive three thousand," Dumbledore announced.
By contribution alone, Penelope hardly matched Sean—but no one objected.
"Professor, can I manage the money myself?" Sean asked.
"It's not a small sum," Dumbledore replied gently. "Your guardians will hold it until you come of age."
Sean could already imagine his miserly uncle Hens locking it away in Gringotts for ten years to collect interest.
After the others left, Sean remained behind.
"Professor… what happened to the scepter? Was it destroyed?"
"It's not so easily destroyed," Dumbledore said with a faint smile. "I doubt Herpo would guess—it's still hidden inside the Mirror of Erised."
Sean was stunned. Not even he had expected that. That meant next year, the Philosopher's Stone and the scepter would both be inside the mirror.
"And the Runespoor?"
"Hagrid is likely giving it a funeral," Dumbledore replied.
That sounded exactly like Hagrid.
Sean hurried out of the castle and found him by the forest near the Black Lake, digging a grave beside the massive three-headed snake.
"Hagrid, are you… giving it a funeral?" Sean asked.
"Yes," Hagrid said sadly. "Poor thing. Used and discarded by its master."
"Can I… take some of its blood? For potion research," Sean asked.
In truth, he wanted to see if his Magic vision could absorb it.
Hagrid nodded. "Snape already took some venom. Go ahead."
Sean drew a full syringe of dark red blood. The creature had been dead nearly a day—he wasn't sure if it would still work.
Back in his dorm, Jerry suddenly bristled, fur standing on end.
"Is it reacting to the magical aura?" Sean muttered.
With no better option, he slipped into the Room of Requirement.
He placed a drop of blood on his fingertip and activated his Magic vision .
The power within it was immense—far beyond anything he had tested before.
The drop dissolved into red light.
And in his vision—
a miniature Runespoor appeared.
"It worked."
Excitement surged through him.
He immediately summoned it. Though only half its original size due to his current magic limits, it was real.
"Another addition," Sean murmured, satisfied.
This year had been incredibly rewarding—he had mastered the Patronus Charm, developed his flight spell, gained a new summon, and learned numerous spells from others.
And it wasn't over yet.
That night, while replenishing his magic using the Wizard's Heart, he felt the "container" expand once more.
His magical capacity had increased again.
Two full hours of absorption before reaching saturation.
"It's been a while since I felt this full," he muttered, slumping into his chair.
Now, his magic had reached roughly half of Snape's level. One more expansion, and he might rival elite Aurors.
Despite going to bed at two in the morning, he woke up refreshed.
Unlike everyone else.
"Help! I didn't learn anything this term!" Cassius groaned at the breakfast table.
Final exams were next week. The top students remained steady, while the struggling ones were even worse off.
"Hope your parents go easy on you," Sean said dryly.
"I don't even want to go home. I want to go to America with Professor Morley," Cassius complained.
"America?" Sean raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't hear? It's all over the school—he's leaving after this term."
"Why?"
"They say… it's for love."
Chris rolled her eyes. "Clueless. Completely clueless."
"You mean me?" Cassius asked.
She ignored him, reading the Daily Prophet—then suddenly froze.
"Look at this."
Sean took the paper.
"Barty Crouch Caught in International Dispute — Wagadu Professor Dies Mysteriously at St. Mungo's!"
"…Coates is dead?"
Sean's expression darkened.
His first thought was simple—
Silenced.
But there was no mention of Herpo.
Not a single word.
Dumbledore had clearly intervened.
Just then, Hagrid entered the Leaky Cauldron, carrying a box.
Sean froze.
July 31st.
Harry Potter's birthday.
And the day his Hogwarts letter would arrive.
"Hagrid, where are you heading?" Sean asked, though he already knew.
"Going to pick someone up," Hagrid said. "Someone just as famous as you."
Sean smiled slightly.
"Someone as famous as me? Mind if I come along?"
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