Chapter 156: Summer Vacation Invitation

After Dumbledore announced the results, the ranking of the total points of the two challenges for the four warriors also came out.

John led with an absolute advantage of 70 points.

After that was Harry's 50 points, Krum's 49 points, Fleur's 48 points, arranged in order.

After the scores were announced, it was Old Barty's turn to speak, but he only spoke to the four warriors.

"The third challenge will be held on the evening of June 24th."

"We will notify you of the specific competition content one month before the competition begins."

"During this time, you can have a good rest."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the four warriors.

"But remember, the third challenge will directly determine the champion, and the difficulty will far exceed the first two, please don't slack off."

Hearing this, John raised his hand.

"Do you have any questions, Mr. Merrick."

Old Barty looked at John and asked.

"Since the third challenge will directly determine the champion, what's the use of us scoring these points now?"

John asked strangely; he had long been confused about this scoring mechanism, because no matter how you think about it, it's impossible to rely on a score to determine the final champion.

And for this question, Old Barty obviously expected it long ago, but didn't answer John immediately.

"The points are naturally useful, but I can't tell you yet; when the challenge content is announced one month before the challenge begins, you will naturally know."

John had no choice but to nod and didn't ask any more questions.

The second challenge ended here, and Madam Pomfrey immediately checked the hostages and warriors, confirming that they had no major problems except for slight hypothermia.

The students also took small boats back to the castle one after another.

Those three high platforms finally sank slowly to the bottom of the lake, and the lake surface returned to calm, as if nothing had ever happened.

John stayed by Hermione's side all the time, and also learned from her what happened the day before the competition.

It turned out that on the eve of the competition, the professor gathered the four hostages uniformly and informed them in advance that they would be taken to the bottom of the lake as hostages.

At the same time, he also guaranteed that they would be absolutely safe, and the four warriors would come to rescue them.

Hermione said she was a bit nervous at first, but as soon as she thought that John would definitely be the first to rush to save her, she felt much more at ease.

Facts proved that Hermione's trust was not wrong.

She looked at John with a smile, her eyes full of trust and attachment.

John also smiled slightly and held Hermione's little hand tightly.

Because of this challenge, John became famous again and even made the front page of the Daily Prophet.

In the first challenge, he crushed the fire dragon with an absolute advantage, and in the second challenge, he broke through the merpeople and Grindylows alone, rescuing all the hostages.

Leading the other three warriors by a gap, he became the well-deserved champion favorite.

Most importantly, John is only 12 years old, but the means he displayed subverted people's cognition of a 12-year-old little wizard.

The news directly called the wizarding world welcoming another genius rarely seen in a century.

John also experienced the feeling of being a celebrity because of this.

Night, library.

It has been a week since the second challenge.

The school has returned to its previous state, learning what should be learned, and causing trouble what should be caused.

Hermione is also the same as before, soaking in the corner of the library every day to read.

"Hermione."

At this time, John poked his head out from the other side of the bookshelf, with a familiar smile on his face.

Seeing John, Hermione also showed a smile and patted the seat beside her to signal him to come over.

"Why so late today? I thought you weren't coming."

"I couldn't help it, was caught by Snape to do hard labor."

Hearing Hermione's words, John also complained speechlessly.

"Isn't today the day for tutoring with Professor McGonagall? Why did you go to work for Professor Snape?"

Hermione asked strangely; regarding John's daily arrangements, she is now also very clear.

"Because Snape said my potion homework has 'obvious arrogance'... but I clearly wrote it according to what he taught!"

"... how did you write it?"

Hearing this, Hermione seemed to know why John was punished, but still asked curiously.

"Like, the question on the homework is, should knotgrass powder be added when boiling?"

"I wrote 'Only an idiot would add knotgrass powder directly to a boiling cauldron'."

"And asked me when to add the stabilizer, I wrote 'Even a troll knows to wait for the cauldron to cool down before adding the stabilizer'."

Hearing John vividly imitating Snape's tone, Hermione couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"If you write like this, it's no wonder you're punished."

"Usually Professor Snape taught me this way; I followed his words one-to-one to restore the standard answer."

John stood with his hands on his hips and said righteously.

Hermione poked his forehead and said amusedly: "I think you did it on purpose."

"No!... Okay, just a little bit."

John chuckled; as it turned out, even Snape himself couldn't stand his own sharp tongue.

"Alright, stop talking nonsense, look at this."

Hermione finally eased her laughter and told John about the business.

Then she took out an opened letter from her arms.

John took the letter strangely and found that the sender was Mrs. Granger, Hermione's mother; obviously, this was a family letter sent to Hermione.

"Why show me this?" John asked strangely.

"You'll know when you look at it~"

Hermione supported her chin with one hand, smiling and saying.

This made John even stranger, but since Hermione let him look, he unfolded the letter paper and read it.

The first half was an ordinary family letter.

Talking about daily life, and the matter of Hermione being a hostage in the Triwizard Tournament, her family also knew.

The letter even praised John, which made John chuckle as he read it.

And the second half is...

"Aunt and Uncle invited me to play at your house?"

John suddenly raised his head and asked with bright eyes.

"Mm-hmm~"

Looking at John's excited look, Hermione nodded, the smile on the corners of her mouth unconsciously rising, and she said slowly.

"Didn't I go to your house to stay for a while before? That is, if you are willing, you can also come to my house to play this summer vacation; Mom and Dad are very welcome to you."

"Okay, okay, I'll go even if they don't welcome me."

Hearing John's shameless words, Hermione was instantly angry and amused.

"Then you should also tell Aunt and Uncle in advance; I will also reply to Mom."

However, confirming that John would come to her house to play, Hermione's mood was still quite good, so she smiled and continued.

John waved his hand.

"No need to be so troublesome, just let Aunt call my Mom; when the time comes, she can pack me up and send me over directly."

John's words made Hermione couldn'

This matter was quickly settled; the timing could be discussed later, and since it wasn't far, it would be convenient to visit.

Afterward, the two continued reading together, chatting off and on.

They didn't get up to leave the library until curfew approached.

As John was putting his books back on the shelf, he caught a glimpse of a pitch-black beetle sitting motionless by the window.

However, he didn't pay it any mind, just thinking that spring had arrived and there were more bugs lately.