Chapter 242

After returning to Beauxbatons, Luo En waved goodbye to Hermione and Ailina, and then his face visibly withered.

"What's wrong with you, Luo En?" Harry asked deliberately.

"Sigh, I don't know who I like now," he kicked the lawn unhappily. "It seems Hermione is not that good either, just happened to be a bit prettier; she doesn't suit me."

"Why would you think so?" Harry really admired Zhang Qiu a bit this time; it seemed it was all said by her.

"She doesn't seem to take these things seriously at all. I mean, I feel she is not a person of the Wizarding World," Luo En said. "She doesn't have much affection for Hogwarts, perhaps she won't stay here to develop in the future."

"She stays in Britain, there are two situations," Harry said. "If the Dark Lord is defeated, she can rely on hard work and wisdom to be a respected person, such as a professor or a Ministry of Magic official; and if the Dark Lord is not defeated, then she will be the leader of Muggle-borns, a representative, which will be very dangerous, and also very glorious."

"It seems no matter how you choose, it can't compare to following Tang Tang Nade and doing some easy and interesting work in America," Luo En said unhappily.

"I don't want that; I really like Hogwarts," Luo En shook his head. "But I'm so poor; even if we defeat the Dark Lord, I'm still poor; I've had enough of the taste of poverty."

"You don't have to think that way, Luo En," Harry persuaded very seriously. "The role of money is to make you happy, but spending money extravagantly can only bring short-term happiness; realizing your ideals is permanent happiness. What's important is what your ideal is."

Luo En fell into silence.

"I am determined to defeat the Dark Lord because he has already threatened our survival. Afterwards, I want to build a world where everyone can pursue their ideals," Harry said. "For the current Hermione, she is undoubtedly confused; she is just being led forward by Tang Tang Nade and hasn't found her true ideal, not even a firm idea of defeating the Dark Lord. So you will feel she is a fickle and difficult-to-understand person."

"Alright," Luo En let out a long sigh of relief. "You're right, but if you defeat the Dark Lord and become the Minister of Magic, you'd better raise everyone's wages; my dad always complains that the wages are not enough."

"I think, your dad raised so many children alone," Harry smiled awkwardly. "This wage is already very high. Even if the wage were a little higher, maybe he would give birth to another one, and by then, what's allocated to you would still be this much."

"Ah, I understand this now; then we should issue a law that each family can have at most three children," Luo En's tone was much more relaxed.

"That's still too early," Harry also laughed. The consensus between them seemed to have been reached again.

In the following days, Ailina would still come to play with them, and always seemed most intimate with Luo En. But Hermione didn't care about this at all, and even said several times in front of them: "Ailina, go play with Luo En; don't add chaos to me here."

She soaked in the library whenever she had time, preparing for the third task, collecting information on all dark creatures or spells that might be used for questions, and also copied many old-fashioned riddles, and even cold jokes. Fleur or Ailina sometimes went to help her, but more time was spent in class or playing games.

Luo En would have originally gone to collect information, but Harry told him there was no need, because he had already learned the shortcut from Tang Tang Nade.

A week before the competition, Cedric came over and asked: "Luo En, did you go to help collect information?"

"No," he shrugged. "Harry feels there's no need."

"Is that so?" Cedric looked at Harry. "You have prepared?"

"I have full confidence," Harry said vaguely.

"Then I believe you," Cedric trusted Harry very much. "You will take out new trump cards, defeat all monsters along the way, and easily win the competition, right?"

Harry pursed his lips and looked at him.

"You will do that, right?" Cedric's voice appeared with a hint of trembling.

"I will take a shortcut," Harry suddenly decided to tell Cedric the truth once. "Using that key, I will take a small path, bypass all the tests along the way, and go directly to the last level."

"Are you kidding?" Cedric sat down and asked seriously. "Or is this related to some plan?"

Harry hesitated. According to the latest plan, he didn't need to reach the top of the tower immediately. Because Voldemort intended to ambush him in advance, and the doctors and Deng Buliduo would ambush him in advance. He could completely participate in the competition honestly, instead of cheating again with the convenience given by Tang Tang Nade—because he no longer had the reason that he must cheat.

"From the moment you took out those knives and swords in the first task, I knew this was not the level a student of our age should have. The Ocean-Opening Curse is also the same, and those questions made me feel something was wrong. Who can solve a problem of that difficulty within an hour?" Cedric looked into Harry's eyes. Harry didn't see anger or suspicion in his eyes, only purity and sincerity. "Fleur is playing a fixed match, Krum is playing a fixed match, Ailina also seems not very normal; all this is to let you win the Triwizard Tournament beautifully, right?"

"Is this related to some plan to deal with the Dark Lord? I saw the interview about you in the newspaper; are you planning to duel him?" Cedric sighed. "I thought we were winning the first two rounds uprightly, but the facts are not like this, are they? Now the third task is right in front of us, and you are preparing to continue that plan?"

"Sorry," Harry hung his head guiltily.

"It doesn't matter; I know your cause is just," Cedric paused. "Just this once, I am willing to give up honor and give up the persistence in my heart for the greater good. If you want to do that, then do it; I won't stop you, and I won't tell others."

Harry also hesitated. A voice was telling him that he deserved this honor; he had paid a lot for the whole plan, and now it was just a small unexpected harvest, helping him become the champion of this Triwizard Tournament. And, this was unprecedented, using magic levels far exceeding people's imagination to complete all three tasks, huge fame, and Deng Buliduo was already at the end of his life; he would undoubtedly become the second Deng Buliduo.

However, Harry thought, if he used dishonorable means to earn political capital for himself, once there was a first time, there would certainly be a second time. When he held up the trophy, perhaps he would not be able to turn back.

Deng Buliduo was afraid that he would lose himself in power and was unwilling to run for Minister of Magic. If he became that Deng Buliduo who went to run for Minister of Magic...

Harry's superficial history of magic didn't tell him the consequences of doing so, but he thought of a name from modern history, the person who kept stewed beef with potatoes on his lips. This made him feel a bit reluctant. Perhaps, before being well-prepared, it was better not to take the initiative to seize power.

"Actually, you're right; I was just joking just now," Harry looked at Cedric and revealed a smile. "We can participate in the third task uprightly; losing or winning doesn't matter, because the plan only needs to use the first two tasks."

"Then is it okay?" Cedric tilted his head and looked at Harry. "You don't have to take care of me or—"

"It doesn't matter, Cedric," Harry said seriously. "This is very fair. Although I used some dishonorable means in the first two tasks, we can compete fairly in the third task. Deng Buliduo is the formulator of this plan; you have to believe he won't stop at nothing."

Right, Harry also noticed at this time that if he speed-ran the third task, how would he explain it to Deng Buliduo by then? Therefore, don't rashly touch things beyond his ability; Harry thought this was reasonable.

"Then shouldn't we go and collect some information now?" Luo En suddenly asked.

"Shouldn't be needed," Harry calculated. "Cedric and I are enough to deal with various enemies. As for riddles or knocker questions, even if we can't figure them out, there are still keys, right."

"You're right, and we have prepared too fully for the first two tasks," Cedric said. "Starting the third task without any preparation can relatively make up for some things."

June 24th finally arrived. The competition would start at nine o'clock that day. The breakfast table was unusually lively, and everyone was offering blessings to the champions they supported. Harry saw the Daily Prophet sent by the owl, which made his heart feel warm.

"Hogwarts' champion is about to open the final final, and has a considerable possibility of winning the championship—Special Reporter Rita Skeeter reports.

Determined to shine in the Triwizard Tournament, thereby forcing the Dark Lord to face him, Harry Potter is now about to welcome the most important test in his life. His confidence comes from his magic level far exceeding his peers, from his honest, reliable, and capable teammate Cedric Diggory, and also from the blessings of all British wizards to him. Next, we will publish some messages selected from readers' letters, wishing the two champions of Hogwarts to achieve proud good results in the competition..."

"This old witch rarely did a human thing," Luo En commented.

"But what about Zhang Qiu?" Harry scanned the dining table.

"Alright, now please champions board the aerial carriage," Madame Maxime shouted. "Children who want to go to the competition site to watch, please board the carriage too; we will depart on time at eight-thirty."

"She might have overslept; it doesn't matter; we can find a professor to take us there later," Luo En said. "You and Cedric go first; I'll look for her."

Harry nodded, and he and Cedric walked out of the auditorium. The huge pumpkin carriage was shining in the sun, and twelve snow-white flying horses were snorting. Students followed the champions and filed in.

At eight-thirty, Prince Mountbatten cleared his throat, stood up and announced: "Now, we head to Tranzero."