When Dumbledore returned from the Forbidden Forest and approved Professor McGonagall's request for house points, adding fifty points to Slytherin, the students at Hogwarts learnt about Sean's paper making the front-page headline of Animagus.
They were amazed. But honestly? They got over it pretty quickly.
What surprised them was that Sean could still write a paper worthy of the top Transfiguration journal while serving as Hogwarts' champion. The paper being published in Animagus itself? Well, that wasn't exactly breaking news. Sean's papers showing up in journals hadn't been rare over the past four years.
The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students had bigger reactions than the Hogwarts crowd. The Durmstrang bunch kept quiet, though. Karkaroff had forbidden anyone from mentioning or discussing it, claiming it might mess with Krum's head.
The Beauxbatons students? They swarmed Fleur with questions about Sean.
Someone who could become a Triwizard Tournament champion and write academic papers for top journals was like a world-class athlete publishing in science journals. It was bound to get attention.
When Fleur learnt about Sean's Animagus publication, surprise and delight flickered across her face. But then she remembered how he'd disappeared after one dance at the Christmas Ball.
Her expression fell.
She shook her head hard, pushing down those messy thoughts. The second round needed her full attention.
Her first-round performance had been the worst. If she wanted that Triwizard Cup, she had to catch up now. Fleur knew the second round would be underwater, and she couldn't help but admire Sean's foresight.
It was because Sean had told her during the holidays at Castelobruxo to prepare for extreme environments that Fleur had done underwater training during break. Now she had real confidence for what was coming. Without that advice? She'd still be scrambling.
Everything Sean predicted came true. Did he have some kind of future sight?
Wait. Why was she thinking about Sean again?
Get out! Out! Out!
Madame Maxime watched Fleur shake her head repeatedly and sighed with worry. Then her gaze drifted toward Hagrid's hut outside the carriage.
Another sigh escaped her lips.
When they'd first met, Hagrid had been so enthusiastic. So friendly. But the moment she'd harshly denied being a half-giant after he mentioned it, everything changed. He went silent. Withdrawn. Now he avoided her completely.
She didn't even get a chance to speak up. To apologise.
Madame Maxime wanted to run over there, hug Hagrid, and tell him the truth. That she was a half-giant too, just like him. But if word got out, if news of her admitting it spread...
The position she'd earned through years of enduring discrimination would vanish overnight.
Her role as headmistress of Beauxbatons validated everything. All those years of suffering meant something because she'd succeeded.
But Hagrid was the only person like her she'd ever met. He was pure. Kind. He hadn't endured what she had. He had people who knew he was half-giant but still trusted him. Friends and mentors that Madame Maxime desperately longed for.
She was attracted to those qualities in Hagrid that she lacked. Love might be too strong a word this early, but the attraction was real.
Things hadn't developed like she'd imagined, though. Hagrid wouldn't speak to her now. It made her sad and helpless, because she wasn't just Maxime.
She was the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.
Taking a deep breath, Madame Maxime stepped forward to continue giving Fleur guidance for the second round.
The Triwizard Tournament was never just three champions competing. It was three schools.
Compared to the original first round, everyone knew more about the second round. Naturally, they prepared more extensively.
The supervisor watched all three champions brewing potions and creating alchemical items with enthusiasm. He already knew he'd probably work overtime today.
Unfortunately, he couldn't ask little Molly from next door out to play.
Sean glanced at Fleur and Krum, who were deep in their work. Both had been trained by their headmasters. He could see their preparations had been done beforehand. Their movements were skilled, their creations taking shape quickly.
Fleur had always had decent alchemical skills. Now she was showing them off, creating underwater auxiliary items. Breathing devices, movement aids. She wasn't the same Fleur from Sean's memory who'd tried completing the task with just a Bubble-Head Charm.
Krum focused mainly on potions.
Sean could see they were mostly for restoring strength and energy, with some enhancing bodily functions. It looked like Krum would rely on Transfiguration and Dark Arts tomorrow. Sean suspected Krum's Transfiguration had reached the fourth stage. Only fourth-stage Transfiguration could truly help him.
Champions who could outcompete entire schools and get chosen by the Goblet of Fire would be weird if they didn't have real skills.
The supervisor dozed off three times.
Finally, evening fell with the setting sun. Sean completed his preparations last.
Some items were useful. Others were meant to mislead. Otherwise Sean could've finished much earlier.
The supervisor checked each item individually, applying magical seals.
After the last item was inspected and sealed, the supervisor didn't waste words. He went straight home with his things.
Working life was tough.
With item preparation complete, the second round had finally arrived.