Chapter 487: The End of the Maze Castle


    Harry was about to say something when suddenly he heard Ron''s desperate cry. Turning back, he saw Ron emerging from the bushes, clutching his face, followed by two furry hedgehogs – cloak hogs, their feet and noses peeking out, leaping high andnding on Ron''s back, eliciting another cry from him.


    "Stone them all!"


    "Knock them out!"


    Harry and Hermione cast spells simultaneously, hitting the two cloak hogs.


    "What happened to him?" Cedric asked, puzzled, as Ron groaned in pain.


    "He got a p from the cloak hogs'' tails," Hermione exined, fishing in her pocket for quite some time before pulling out a vial of potion.


    "You have some small quills on you... need to remove them. I''m not sure if it''ll hurt," Hermione said, plucking a tiny quill from Ron''s neck.


    Ron let out a loud yell.


    "Hold on..." Hermione''s fingers trembled as she pulled out another quill, causing Ron to scream even louder. She looked to Harry for help, and he approached."I''ll lend a hand." Cedric picked up his wand and stood.


    "The cup," Ron muttered incoherently.


    "What?" Harry asked, bewildered.


    "I think he means the trophy," Cedric chuckled. "Trophy,e here!" Pointing to a distant trophy, it flew into his hand. He nced at it with mixed emotions before reluctantly passing it to Harry.


    Harry hesitated for a moment.


    "Take it, it''s rightfully yours," Cedric said.


    Harry epted it and, after a thoughtful pause, said, "You''re a great opponent."


    Cedric grinned, "As are you, Harry."


    Meanwhile, Hermione, impatiently, said, "Could you two help a bit? We''re still in the middle of thepetition. It''s been ages, and others haven''t shown up yet."


    Cedric felt a bit awkward, rubbing his nose.


    "Well, I suppose they''re tangled up with the fluffy grass..."


    "Why thith happening?" Ron slurred.


    Cedric exined, "Roger and I met on the fourth floor and then found Collins on the fifth. So, we teamed up. That level had bizarre terrains..." Harry nodded; they encountered several themselves.


    "As we approached the entrance to the next level, we identally stumbled upon the domain of fluffy grass. These magical creaturesck blood and bones; they look like a big puff of fur at first nce and can split at will... but it''s a misunderstanding. They love to gather, often rolling into a bunch. They''re rted to the puffapod. Like nts, they roll wherever the wind blows. Their hunting method involves waiting for prey toe close, then rapidly extending their fur to entangle and trap you entirely..."


    "So, Collins and Roger got stuck?" Harry interrupted Cedric''s lengthy exnation.


    "Just Roger," Cedric rified. "Initially, we didn''t pay much attention. Though the fur of the fluffy grass is incredibly tough, as long as you don''t struggle or make noise, it won''t contract further, simr to a devil''s snare..."


    "There must''ve been an ident," Harry asserted confidently.


    "Yeah," Cedric sighed. "Actually, if they''d taken the time to calm it down, it would''ve settled. But two others from Vagadu came over—one turned into an elephant, the other rode on it, making the floor thump... Collins tried to persuade them to stop because there was a narrow passage inside, but they didn''t listen. They thought we were deliberately hindering them..."


    "Their suspicion was valid; the trophy''s song made everyone anxious..."


    Harry could vividly imagine the situation.


    "They got trapped naturally, and because they struggled too hard, some fluffy grass got blown around, blocking all nearby corridors. I had to split from Collins; he was soothing the grass at one end while I reached the sixth floor..."


    So, now all the other champions, except them, were soothing the fluffy grass? Harry envisioned the bizarre scene.


    After a while, Ron''s quills were removed, Hermione applied a healing solution to his face, and his wounds healed quickly. During this time, the trophy sang twice more, and Harry had to temporarily set it aside.


    ...


    "Well then... see youter," Cedric sat on the ground, leaning against a statue, with Nona Leberth and Krum asleep nearby. Ron and Hermione held the trophy on either side, and as soon as Harry ced his hand on it, the portkey''s function activated.


    Harry paused and extended an invitation to Cedric, "Why don''t we leave together? The rule only requires assembling a team; it doesn''t say we can''t add others."


    Shaking his head with a smile, Cedric replied, "I''ll wait for my teammates."


    "Alright," Harry said, turning his head to look at Ron and Hermione, both covered in dirt. He guessed he probably looked just as disheveled, but they all had excited expressions on their faces. "Ready? The portkey''s not a pleasant experience."


    "Is this thest bit of bitterness before receiving the award?" Ron asked cheerfully.


    Harry grinned too, ced his hand on the trophy, and felt as if a hook had pulled his navel. The seventh level of the maze vanished before his eyes, and he caught onest glimpse of Cedric smiling and waving at them.


    Thepetition ended sessfully; they had won the championship. All Harry wanted now was a deep sleep, preferably to wake up and find it was already summer vacation.


    ...


    "Atst..." Felix sighed. Clutching his hat, his figure abruptly vanished. When he reappeared, he was standing on a dpidated path, in a secluded vige. Not far from him, a small church stood darkly, its outline visible in the darkness.


    There were vague shadows in the distance.


    "Is that the graveyard?"


    "Yes, Professor," Hermione hidden in the hat confirmed. Felix rested his hand on the hat, bent down, and turned it over. Hermione cautiously jumped out, still adorned with a chain erged several times, almost as tall as her.


    Under the shrinking spell''s effect, Hermione slowly grew back to her original size.


    "This is your beaded bag." Felix took out a small bag from his clothing and handed it to Hermione. "Shrinking spells do affect these magical items, as does the Time-Turner... Oh, and the ring." He removed a ring from his hand and gave it to Hermione.


    "Keep it for now."


    "Professor, do you really think the Ministry woulde after you? How dare they?"


    "Just being cautious," Felix shrugged. "We''re parting ways. Estimate your time, use the Disillusionment Charm and other concealment spells to hide. Go over when the time is right... You''re capable of it, Miss Granger."


    "Understood!"


    Felix smiled slightly, turned, and walked towards the graveyard.


    >


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