Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

”I remember now!” Harry said suddenly, ”I heard someone say a few days ago that Filch was giving you trouble, and I thought it was odd because he’s never been so rude to you before... Did you discover his identity then?”

Vid inwardly praised Harry for his unintentional cooperation. His gaze fell on the Goblet of Fire and he said:

”Yes. But before escaping, he revealed that what Voldemort wants is one of the champions in the third task. I’ve checked, this trophy is indeed a Portkey, but someone erased the original destination and changed the final location.”

”Where would it lead to...” He looked at Harry, ”I think you might have a guess.”

Harry’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated. He stared into Vid’s eyes, trying to find any hint of deceit or manipulation.

But there was none.

In those gray eyes, there was only familiar firmness and sincerity.

”So what’s the plan?” Harry asked in a low voice, ”Are we just going to jump into the trap? Without telling Dumbledore?”

”And then what?” Vid retorted, ”Even if the Headmaster believes us, he checks the Goblet of Fire and discovers its destination. But when he reaches the place, will Voldemort be stupidly waiting there?”

”Of course not.”

Harry murmured, his fingers subconsciously tracing the scar on his forehead, enduring the faint pain as he said, ”He will lie in wait like a venomous snake, changing places, trying again and again until he achieves his target!”

At this thought, he shivered involuntarily, a vague fear rising in his heart.

”Voldemort will stop at nothing to accomplish his goals! During the World Cup and now this time, if it weren’t for your Poppet eliminating the other contestants, perhaps all the champions would be in danger!”

He couldn’t help but look towards the direction of the school, through the dense shadows of the trees, as if he could see Sirius laughing broadly and Remus gently encouraging him to keep trying. And Hermione, Ron, Neville, Michael, Leian...

”That person will not care about his plan whatsoever if it will involve others again... Everyone around me will be in danger!”

He said angrily and with certainty, the stinging pain in his forehead causing his vision to black out, but when he looked up again, a determined fire had already been kindled in his eyes.

”Rather than constantly guarding against Voldemort and the Death Eaters, who could surface at any time, and letting more innocent people be hurt by their ambition, we should follow his plan and see his true intentions!”

”That’s my thought as well.” Vid nodded slightly, then continued, ”But you know, once you hold the trophy, there’s no turning back!”

Harry took a deep breath: ”I didn’t have any other choice to begin with. But at least... this time, I know what I’m facing!”

Vid smiled: ”Then... together?”

”But Vid...” Harry stopped him, saying, ”I don’t want to seem like an arrogant fool. I know you’re strong. But... but I think...”

He took a deep breath, trying not to show any signs of wavering or regret.

Harry felt he had to finish the rest of his sentence quickly, or he feared he might change his mind.

”I think... Voldemort wants me! So you don’t actually need to risk yourself with me! I want you to go back to the stadium immediately, tell Dumbledore everything, and then...”

”Then wait to pick up your corpse?” Vid interrupted him, not too politely.

Harry: ”...”

It was hard to describe the Savior’s expression at this moment, like the courage he’d barely mustered being punctured by someone, leaving his face somewhat blank.

”Listen, Harry,” Vid said earnestly. ”I’m not rashly deciding to join your adventure; I’m standing here because I’m prepared. You might be going on this adventure with the courage to face death, but I’m not... I will definitely come back alive, and I will never watch you die in front of me.”

Harry opened his mouth, but found he couldn’t speak. His clenched fists trembled slightly, and after a long while, he said:

”Then you must promise me that if things get out of hand, you prioritize getting yourself out safely.”

Vid was slightly taken aback, then showed a genuine smile:

”Of course, you think I’m a Gryffindor?”

He turned towards the Goblet of Fire, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, ”Count to three?”

”Alright,” Harry said, ”One... two... three...”

They simultaneously grasped the handles of the Goblet of Fire.

In an instant, a strange magic erupted from the goblet, like an invisible hook grabbing their navels and yanking them forward forcefully.

”Hold tight!”

Harry thought he shouted, but his voice was fragmented in the howling wind.

The world twisted and spun before his eyes, his entire being thrust into a whirl of colors, as everything around them elongated into streaks of light and Vid remained by his side.

”Bang!”

The two landed heavily on the hard ground, Harry could barely support himself, his glasses hanging askew on his nose; Vid had adjusted his posture in the instant they touched the ground, ending up half-kneeling.

He first looked at his palms, then at the surroundings.

Sure enough, the Goblet of Fire hadn’t transported with them; it had vanished from their hands.

...

After the initial shock, Dumbledore clutched his head, unable to speak for a long moment, surrounded by a cacophony of voices—

”Quirrell? That stuttering professor?” a fourth-year student exclaimed, looking at a fellow student: ”Did you hear that? Did they just say Professor Quirrell got involved with the Mysterious Man? Did I hear wrong?”

Fudge knocked over the cup beside him in agitation: ”Utter nonsense! Barty Crouch Jr. died in Azkaban long ago! Dumbledore, is this what you teach your students?”

The Bulgarian delegation collectively changed color: ”I knew it! That Veela madness was definitely no accident!”

Several Irish wizards suddenly covered their faces and began to sob, their shoulders trembling violently. They once regarded Leprechauns as family-like companions, but after that night, most of the frenzied Leprechauns were executed by wizards.

In the stands, many who had personally experienced that terrifying night began to sob quietly.

”Cut the broadcast! Stop airing it!” Fudge shouted at the FMC, ”How long will you let these two kids fool the audience on camera?”

”Keep the broadcast,” came the excited command in the ear of the broadcasting staff: ”Oh my! The whole world will change because of our program today!”

And so everyone pretended not to see the agitated Minister of Ministry of Magic.

However, when the pair reached simultaneously for the Goblet of Fire, the audience cried out with the most synchronized and urgent shout yet—

”Stop!!!”

”No, no, no, no! Don’t go, Harry, Vid!” Sirius screamed, heart-wrenchingly: ”Stop them, Dumbledore!”

As he shouted, he jumped straight from the stands, racing toward the Forbidden Forest.

The next moment, the image on the large Flow Mirror suddenly went black, and even the sound disappeared.

The bluebird broadcasting hesitated for a moment, then seemed to receive some command, diving towards the Goblet of Fire still placed in the middle of the open area, and it too instantly vanished from its place.