"Want to become my apprentice?" Sunny Finch glanced at Charlotte, a smirk playing on her lips. "You'd have to study under me properly!"
Charlotte knew Sunny Finch was joking. She smiled but said nothing.
The Cavendish family's cleanup team arrived, swiftly restoring the battlefield to order. Fleur was escorted to the infirmary by the Beauxbatons students, settling into the bed beside Sunny Finch. The sight of their battered state startled Madam Pomfrey, but fortunately, their injuries were mostly superficial. The Durmstrang contestants were also taken away by the Cavendish family and deposited in the infirmary.
The second round had concluded. Once the denizens of the Forbidden Forest were returned to their habitats, that was it.
The tournament's impact, however, continued to ripple outward. Fleur's performance had been the most spectacular; overnight, she became a celebrity. The wizarding world spoke of nothing but the resilient French girl—her indomitable spirit, her calculated strategy of waiting until the last possible moment to unleash her trump card. Every detail was a topic of conversation.
Naturally, these matters didn't concern Fleur herself. What mattered to her was that through their collective effort, Beauxbatons had finally claimed first place. They were no longer mere background noise.
That evening, Old Tom approached Charlotte and handed her a letter.
"Miss Charlotte, this is from your master," he said. "He mentioned that if you hadn't emerged by the end of the competition, you were to receive this."
Charlotte nodded, accepting the letter and unfolding it immediately. After reading the contents, her brow furrowed. "Sir, are you ready?"
"I don't know the specifics," Old Tom replied. "But since Master has instructed you to prepare, his decision is already made. All we can do is obey."
"Have you contacted him?" she asked.
"I reached him through the Communication Rune," Old Tom said. "But Master is likely very busy. He simply told me to proceed with the original plan and not to worry about anything else. He should return before the third match."
"Understood."
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave," Old Tom continued. "I need to prepare the venue for the third round and establish the rules. Master has set the framework; I merely need to fill in the details."
Charlotte nodded. "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Tom."
Old Tom smiled. "Serving the Master isn't work; it's my duty." With that, he turned and departed.
Charlotte stared at the letter in her hand for a moment, then Apparated away from Hogwarts. With the match concluded, the restrictions on her ability to travel were lifted. She went straight to the Cavendish Tower in Diagon Alley, easily navigating to Erwin's office on the top floor.
She sat at the desk, produced some stationery, and penned a letter using the Cavendish family's unique encryption method. An owl was summoned to carry it away. Watching the bird vanish into the night, Charlotte knew this letter marked a new beginning.
She sighed. This tournament had, in many ways, brought her peaceful student life to a definitive close—though she suspected she wasn't the only one.
Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye. Everyone was discharged from the infirmary, and Hogwarts returned to its usual calm. Classes resumed as normal. Aside from the murmurs regarding Erwin's continued absence, nothing seemed particularly unusual.
The transition from spring to summer was peaceful, though the temperature seemed to spike overnight. The young wizards changed into their summer robes, shedding their heavy winter layers.
One evening, after the banquet, Old Tom ascended the podium to the teachers' seat. All eyes turned to him expectantly; the moment for the third trial's announcement had arrived.
Old Tom cleared his throat and spoke.
"Now, I will announce the rules for the third round. This round is the final test of the tournament and will begin on June 24th. As for the location... this round will take place in the Changbai Mountain range."
Silence descended upon the Great Hall. The professors exchanged bewildered glances. This wasn't the agreement.
The exchange students frowned. Sunny Finch, seated beside Charlotte, looked particularly displeased. Recently, Sunny Finch had spent much time with Fleur at the Slytherin table, displacing several Slytherin students to other benches due to lack of room.
"What's wrong?" Charlotte asked quietly. "Is there a problem?"
"The Changbai Mountains are a place of profound magic," Sunny Finch murmured, her expression dark. "In legends, Changbai was once considered one of the most powerful magical sites. Though its influence has waned for various reasons, the mountains are shrouded in endless mystery. Erwin must have chosen this location, but... something feels off."
Charlotte's heart skipped a beat. Could this be the battlefield her master had selected? If so, the place must hold extraordinary significance.
The professors exchanged looks, clearly wanting to object, but Dumbledore shook his head, signaling for them to listen.
Old Tom continued, "From today onward, all contestants must find their own way to the Changbai Mountains. The school will not provide assistance. However, you may use your connections and abilities as you see fit. You have one goal: to reach Changbai before June 24th."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"And from this moment on, your competition has begun. You may even prevent others from reaching the destination. By the competition's end, those who have not arrived in Changbai will be directly eliminated."
Krum stood up. "Wait. I have a question. Holding the competition at Changbai gives some students a natural advantage, doesn't it? Isn't that a bit unfair to the rest of us?"
"The only advantage anyone possesses is familiarity with the terrain," Old Tom countered smoothly. "Therefore, to ensure fairness, maps will be provided to every contestant. With maps in hand, you will all start from the same point. Any other questions?"
Krum shook his head and sat down.
Old Tom nodded. "Then, I will continue. This trial is divided into three parts. The first part is your journey to the Changbai Mountains."