Chapter 132: Preparation and Rest

"Fire Dragon!?"

Titus's incredulous voice rang out.

The next day, John shared with his friends what he had seen in the Forbidden Forest yesterday.

After hearing it, everyone gasped, having imagined the Tri‑Champion Tournament would be dangerous, but they hadn't expected it to be this dangerous.

"Does the Ministry of Magic want you dead?"

Titus said excitedly.

"Don't get so worked up, Titus; it probably just involves the Fire Dragon and won't make us face it head‑on."

John patted Titus's shoulder and said.

He didn't know what was happening; the ones who were to compete were instead soothing those who weren't.

"So John, what do you plan to do?"

"How about learning a couple of secret Magic Spells?"

Ryan on the other side asked.

"Um... I plan to just charge at it, and if that fails I'll use an Illusion Body Spell or something to dodge it."

John shrugged, and his face once again showed his usual relaxed smile.

Listening to John's description, it sounded as easy as going to play with a puppy.

Ryan couldn't help rolling his eyes, but he felt a little more at ease.

As John's friends, they naturally had some understanding of his abilities.

Advanced Magic Spells are something he can pull out of thin air, so there shouldn't be much danger.

But thinking that he would face an adult Fire Dragon, he couldn't help being a bit worried.

"Let's all go to the Secret Base this weekend; it's Hogsmode Week, so we can relax a bit."

Ethan suggested, trying to ease everyone's tension.

Everyone nodded, except John; the three of them had already been there once before.

They said the place was all set up, so you could just move in with your bag.

John smiled and nodded in agreement.

Evening.

Because he had nightly missions lately, John rarely went to the Library except on weekends.

Today, after finally processing the material Professor Snape had left for him, he was finally able to make a trip to the Library.

Yay?

Everyone's been really into studying lately.

At this hour, there were still so many people in the Library.

When John arrived at the Library, he found it much livelier than usual.

But on closer look, most people weren't reading; they were chattering softly.

And occasionally someone cast their gaze toward a certain direction deep inside the Library.

Curious, John followed those glances and saw Krum sitting at a corner table with a book in front of him, but he wasn't turning the pages, instead occasionally looking toward another corner.

In that corner, Hermione was intently leafing through a bestiary on Fire Dragons, her brows slightly furrowed as if pondering a difficult question.

Tsk.

This guy still hasn't given up.

John saw it and understood what Krum was scheming.

But John didn't say much; who he likes is his own business.

However, John also wouldn't let anyone take Hermione away.

He walked straight to Hermione and gently sat beside her.

Hermione looked up at John, a flash of delight crossing her eyes.

Because John had been busy with training and missions lately, the two had spent much less time together.

She lowered her voice and said, "What brings you here? I'm researching the Fire Dragon's weaknesses, hoping to help you and Harry find some counter‑measures."

Hermione had already learned from Harry that the First Challenge involved a Fire Dragon, so she came specifically to gather information.

"What would I do without you, sis Hermione?"

John chuckled lightly as he spoke.

Hearing John's coquettish tone, Hermione gave him a withering look, though the tips of her ears flushed slightly.

"Stop being cheap, look at this— the Fire Dragon's belly scales are softer, especially near the inner side of the hind legs; that's the best point for an offensive Magic Spell."

Looking at the spot Hermione indicated, John was first stunned, then turned back to her with a teasing grin.

"Sis Hermione, we really are on the same wavelength; others teach me how to avoid the Fire Dragon, but you teach me how to counter it."

Hermione let out a light hum and said irritably.

"You act as if I just met you today; even if I teach you how to defend and dodge, you'd still just charge straight in."

Hearing that, John awkwardly scratched the back of his head and gave two dry laughs.

She really hit the nail on the head.

"It's not that exaggerated; I do have some sense of danger."

But Hermione clearly wasn't buying it; she tapped John's forehead with a finger—"You!"

John could only stand there silently, but he was still happy.

Hermione not only understood his personality, she also knew what he needed most.

And John had an immeasurable trust in Hermione.

This kind of tacit understanding is something no one else can interfere with.

After that, the two simply read the same book together, whispering about possible tactical details as they read, and also took the chance to think up a response plan for Harry.

Meanwhile, Krum, after John appeared, kept a sullen expression.

Now seeing the two huddled together over a book, John even rested his hand on Hermione's shoulder.

He couldn't stand it any longer, got up and left the Library.

After Krum left, the fangirls and fanboys who had been trailing him naturally also left one after another.

The Library fell quiet again, while the two were immersed in each other's world.

Time quickly moved to the weekend.

Early in the morning, John and two others met Titus in the Hall, and after the four finished breakfast together, they sneaked toward Beating Willow.

Most of the students had already gone to the main gate, preparing to head to Hogsmeade Village for leisure.

So no one noticed them.

Passing the back courtyard, they saw Big Orange lazily sprawled on the stone steps, basking in the sun.

John didn't say a word and scooped it up; Big Orange gave a symbolic struggle, then curled up in John's arms and fell asleep.

It had already gotten used to John's Rouneng, becoming shaped like John.

After a stretch of trekking, they finally arrived at the Screaming Shack.

The first floor of the place was still as gloomy and dilapidated, but when they went up to the second floor, opened the door, and changed into slippers before entering.

A warmly arranged living space appeared before their eyes.

The place had been renovated and refurbished by Titus and a few others last semester, and was already brand new.

To be honest, he had spent the previous semester's weekends serving Professor Snape as a black slave, so it had been a long time since he came.

"What a pity you turned this place into this state."

John looked at the newly refreshed room and couldn't help but sincerely praise it.

"Hehe, this is our Secret Base for the next six years, so we naturally have to put some care into it."

Titus raised his eyebrows proudly and immediately found a spot to sit down.

John casually tossed Big Orange, letting it find its own place to lie down.

But after Big Orange hit the ground, it simply stayed lying there.

The four sat in a circle, and Ethan pulled out a chessboard he had prepared long ago.

It was the Flying Chess he brought from the Muggle Community, which had undergone Magical Modification, allowing the pieces to truly fly and even use gadgets to attack each other's aircraft.

Strangely interesting.

Just as the four were having a great time, a sudden knock at the door sounded.

Hm?

The four all froze.

"Aren't we in the Screaming Shack? How can there be a knock?"

They looked at each other, while the knocking continued at an unhurried pace, as if it already knew someone was inside.

John was the first to tiptoe and crouch by the second-floor window to look down.

He discovered that Sirius was standing downstairs.

???

"Stop looking, I know you're inside."

Sirius noticed John's gaze, looked up and winked at him, while holding a bag of steaming food and a pack of drinks.

"No, why did you come?"

John blurted out a retort.

Sirius didn't mind John's disdain, grinned and continued speaking.

"Don't forget, last year I was also one of you; you always come during Hogsmode Week, so I naturally know your movements."

"And I even brought you Hogsmeade Village's fried fish and chips and pumpkin juice."

He shook the bag in his hand, and the aroma slipped through the window crack into the room.

John and the others exchanged glances, and finally chose to let him in.

The wooden door on the first floor of the Screaming Shack was sealed, but they had a slanted ladder kept on the first floor that could be taken out when needed to go out from the second floor and back.

When Sirius climbed up the slanted ladder, Big Orange saw him and let out a happy meow, rubbing against his feet and acting coquettishly.

Sirius smiled, placed the food on the table, and prepared to pet Big Orange.

But as soon as the food was set down, Big Orange immediately turned and leapt onto the table, not to be affectionate toward him but to rush straight for the bag of fried fish and chips.