"Even our youngest warriors took the Dragon Egg, at the smallest cost!"
The applause was thunderous on the scene, with many people standing to offer their cheers to Hermione. Harry was still shouting in excitement, and so was Professor McGonagall, who was looking at the big screen. On it, the little girl holding up the Dragon Egg, slightly out of breath but with her brown eyes shining brightly, was happily shedding tears and sniffling!
Fleur Delacour and Hermione Granger.
The two girls in the finals of the tournament this time seem to be completely different styles, one interpreting the beauty of girls to the full, while the other directly shows the toughness of girls.
It was not until he saw Charlie step in to lead the fire dragon away from Hermione that Ron truly felt at ease. He turned to look around, and those who were celebrating Hermione were still enthusiastically clapping. His gaze shifted back to the big screen, to the girl with a dirty face, and a hint of sadness and pain flickered across his eyes. At this moment, Ron's heart suddenly surged with realization, as if he suddenly understood what it meant to grow apart from each other.
Then, a smile also appeared on his sweaty face, and he loudly clapped for Hermione.
"Come on, dear, lie down on the stretcher. With your golden egg, we need to go and check it out --"
Madam Pomfrey and several healers rushed to Hermione's side, watching her with pride — though Hermione Granger and her two friends had given her no less a challenge than any junior wizard, she had indeed grown into a source of pride for Hogwarts!
"I'm fine, Madam Pomfrey -"
The scene before her became a dream-like dream again, just as it was when she first took the stage. Hermione, dazed, looked at the big screen playing repeatedly her cool and brilliant response in the end. She couldn't believe it was herself that she heard Madam Pomfrey's voice, turned her head and said coyly.
"Oh, Miss Granger, that's not for you to decide. We need to check it out before we can make a conclusion."
Madam Pomfrey firmly pushed Hermione onto the stretcher.
"Outstanding."
Professor Dumbledore wiped away the moisture from the corner of his eye with his sleeve, speaking sentimentally.
"These outstanding young people will always grow into surprising shapes and sizes without us realizing it."
"Growth in young people is always too dazzling, so the older ones naturally tend to overlook it."
Amos Diggory said with a smile.
Professor Dumbledore nodded in approval, but then he looked at Amos with a comical expression on his face, as if he suddenly realized something.
"Let's start scoring, judges!"
Ludo Bagman exclaimed happily,
"I can give Hermione Granger a ten. I think this score is very reasonable. Her outstanding response deserves this score!"
The highest score today was set.
Apart from Ludo Bagman, Barty Crouch Jr., Madam Maxim, and Albus Dumbledore all scored 9 points. Finally, the sarcastic Severus Snape scored only 5 points, which was his lowest score of the evening!
Facing Ludo's shocked question, Card Catalog calmly said,
"I stick to my opinion. I believe that the Invisibility Cloak that Hermione summoned in the beginning of the game belongs to breaking the rules. These five points are for her outstanding final performance."
Then, the scores of the four champions appeared on the big screen.
Cedric Diggory: 9, 9, 9, 8, 6, Total: 41 points
Fleur Delacour: 8, 8, 9, 8, 7, Total: 40 points
Voldemort Crabbe: 9, 8, 10, 8, 6, Total: 41 points
Hermione Granger: 10, 9, 9, 9, 5, Total: 42 points!
As the result was announced, the scene instantly turned into a sea of joy. Even Pansy Parkinson, who disliked Hermione the most in Slytherin, clapped her hands a few times without much enthusiasm.
"Come along --"
Barty Crouch Jr. stood up, smiling happily at Ludo and Crouch Sr.
"The champions are now probably too tired to move. Let's go to the tent to tell some information about the second match --"
After nodding and apologizing to the distinguished guests, Amos led Ludo and Barty away from the jubilant arena.
"You are the first place, Hermione!"
After hearing the scores from the judges, Harry quickly ran into the tent where the champions were resting. Inside, it was much quieter than outside. Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor were lying on temporary hospital beds with bandages wrapped around them and their eyes closed, resting.
Harry's abrupt entrance and the words he shouted caused the three champions to open their eyes. They looked at Hermione Granger, who seemed to be in the best condition, and all showed a degree of astonishment at the result.
"Oh, congratulations!"
Cedric struggled to smile at Hermione, while Hermione also smiled at Cedric.
"The champions need rest, Mr. Potter!"
Madam Pince, who was applying some kind of ointment on Fleur's leg, couldn't hold it any longer. She sternly scolded, causing Harry to look embarrassed.
"We'll go outside and talk --"
Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and walked out of the tent, with a few strips of white gauze on her cheeks, the scars from the splashing rocks. Apart from that, she hadn't sustained any serious injuries. Madam Pomfrey harrumphed disapprovingly at their backs but eventually did not disturb this moment of celebration.
Harry and Hermione pulled back the canvas flap of the tent and stepped outside, the sudden cold outside making them both shiver uncontrollably. But it didn't matter. When they saw the person outside, staring at the tent with a gaze full of struggle and hesitation, Harry and Hermione both froze. Of course, Ron, who was also caught off guard by their sudden appearance, was silent.
"You coughed, hmm, well, I wanted to say how are you?"
Harry and Hermione were both looking at him, which put a heavy pressure on Ron. His lips moved, and he stammered out.
Harry remained silent and didn't speak, while Hermione suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes shining with tears.
"I want--"
The cold wind howled, and the noise from the nearby competition field never ceased. After waiting for a long time without a response, Ron awkwardly scratched his freckled nose.
"I -- I want to apologize -- because. Well, my thoughts were just absurd, for the dragon. It's amazing they could do it --"
Ron finally realized his mistake, but Harry wasn't as happy as he thought. He remembered what Hagrid had told him --
"Oh, it wasn't that stupid," Harry said in a low voice. "Everyone wants to make a name for themselves, Seamus, Neville, Dean. You just got confused at a bad time."
The two of them locked eyes, and suddenly, at the same moment, they both forced smiles.
"Oh, you two idiots!"
Hermione suddenly burst into tears, stamping her feet on the ground, her tears streaming down to her chest. Harry and Ron rushed to her side, but before they could stop her, she hugged them and then turned and ran into the tent.
Harry and Ron looked at each other for a long time, before both shrugging their shoulders.
"How did you know in advance that the match was against a dragon?"
"Oh, that's a long story, quite a lot has happened over these days, Ron --"
Harry and Ron, who hadn't spoken for over a month, were chatting outside the tent, while Hermione, with tears in her eyes, burst into the tent. Coincidentally, at this moment, Professor Binns and Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch Jr. walked into the tent from the other side.
Seeing the girl hurriedly wiping her tears, Ludo asked in surprise,
"What's wrong, Miss Granger? You won the first place, didn't you?"
"Oh, I just --" Hermione blew her nose, "Well... Too happy to cry..."
"It's too early to be happy yet, Miss Granger," Amos said without changing his expression, giving a discreet glance at the two boys whispering outside the tent. "The future challenges will be even more daunting. Well, let's talk about some serious matters --"
Amos turned his head and looked around the tent, and all the champions were watching him.
"--The second event will begin on February 24th, 2006 at nine thirty in the morning. Unlike the first event, we have decided to give you some hints for the second championship, and that is the golden egg you received today. There's a riddle hidden inside it. Once you've solved it, you'll know what you're facing."
(End of chapter)
