With the arrival of the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, everyone at Hogwarts finally no longer had to freeze outside on the grounds.
Together, they returned to the castle and took their seats in the Great Hall, waiting for the welcoming feast to begin.
The Durmstrang students sat at the Slytherin table. They seemed interested in everything about Hogwarts Castle and appeared to genuinely like the place.
The Beauxbatons students sat at the Ravenclaw table. They were guests too, but their behavior was far less likable. They complained about this and criticized that.
Compared to Beauxbatons, Hogwarts Castle seemed to them like a rubbish dump.
If you don't like it, you can leave. No one's forcing you to stay, honestly.
Along with the house-elves' signature dishes, several French dishes had been added to the long dining tables, including bouillabaisse. There were also a number of dishes nobody could identify, likely prepared to suit the tastes of the Durmstrang students.
The Hogwarts and Durmstrang students ate with great enthusiasm, while the Beauxbatons students once again displayed their less endearing side. They seemed somewhat disdainful of the food.
Emmmmm...
Well, that was actually perfectly normal. It was already merciful that nobody had introduced them to Stargazy Pie.
Once the feast began, the crowded Great Hall grew lively. At that moment, Hector Rosier ran over from the Ravenclaw table to Eda's side.
"Hi, Eda!" Hector said excitedly. "Surprised?"
He greeted her in English rather than French. Not only did Eda turn to look at him, but all of her friends did as well.
To be fair, Hector was undeniably handsome. The lovestruck expressions on Angelina's and Alicia's faces were proof enough.
"No surprise, only shock," Eda said. Then she introduced him to her friends. "This is my cousin, Hector Rosier. A handsome simp."
"What?" Hector hadn't understood her words, but the twins and Lee Jordan certainly had.
Lee Jordan especially seemed to gain a great deal of confidence instantly. Even his dreadlocks seemed to perk up.
If someone this handsome could be a simp, what was there to be embarrassed about when he did it?
Angelina and Alicia both shook their heads and sighed in unison.
What a waste, they both thought.
"It's nothing. I was complimenting your looks," Eda said. She thoroughly understood the essence of bluffing. As long as she believed it herself, the other person would believe it too.
Sure enough, Hector believed her. He nodded happily, grinning from ear to ear.
This kid was so innocent.
So easy to fool.
Hector sat down beside Eda and chatted with everyone for a while. He claimed that he hadn't come for the Triwizard Tournament. He had come to fulfill his duties as a cousin and check on Eda.
Eda almost believed him.
Almost.
This kid really did spend his time learning all the wrong things. Of all things, he had chosen to learn how to lie.
"Hector, did Fleur Delacour come too?" Eda asked.
After Hector nodded, she continued, "Which one is Fleur? Show me."
I knew you were lying!
Coming here to fulfill your duties as a cousin? To check on me?
You came to Hogwarts because you followed Fleur Delacour here!
That was what Eda was thinking, though none of it showed on her face.
Hector didn't dare point directly at her. How could someone point at the goddess of his dreams?
Instead, he simply gazed in her direction with deep affection.
Following his gaze, Eda finally got a good look at Fleur Delacour.
No wonder she had completely captivated Hector Rosier.
The girl truly was stunning, as though she possessed a magic that enchanted boys and made girls feel inferior.
Her long, silvery hair cascaded all the way to her waist like a waterfall, and her azure eyes shone with a mesmerizing brilliance.
"She's a..."
"You mean a Veela?" Hector Rosier finished for her. "She does have Veela blood, but that's not why I fell in love with her."
"She doesn't seem particularly close to the other Beauxbatons students," Eda observed.
Hector explained, "There's a bit of that. You know how it is. Outstanding people are always envied. That's true for you, and it's true for Fleur as well."
Without putting one person down to praise another, Hector complimented Fleur while casually praising Eda at the same time.
That way, it was much harder for anyone to argue with him.
"That girl is really beautiful," Angelina sighed.
Beside her, Alicia nodded in agreement. "Yeah, even the way she frowns is especially pretty."
At the Ravenclaw table, Fleur speared a small piece of steak with her fork, sniffed it lightly, then set it back down with a frown. It was obviously not to her taste.
"Really?" George said. "I think Eda is prettier than her! Besides, Eda would never put on such a delicate act. She eats whatever she's given and is incredibly easy to feed."
George probably meant well and was trying to defend Eda, but somehow it didn't sound much like a compliment.
"Compared to Eda, she's not even close," Fred said solemnly. "Eda can eat a baked potato like it's the greatest thing in the world."
"Not only does Eda enjoy it, everyone watching her eat starts feeling hungry too!"
Eda suddenly wanted to pinch the bridge of her nose.
She felt that if she ever died young, it would definitely be because Fred and George had annoyed her to death.
Still, the way Fleur had frowned just now really did make people feel a little sorry for her.
She looked so delicate and pitiful.
Although Fleur couldn't compare to Eda when it came to eating, Fleur's figure was undeniably more womanly. Both girls were beautiful, but in completely different ways. Eda possessed a more heroic sort of beauty, while Fleur was softer and more alluring. Each had her own strengths.
"Uh... excuse me, but are you still eating this bouillabaisse?" Hector asked. His eyes were fixed on the bowl of French fish stew that had barely been touched.
"No," Fred said, waving a hand. "We're not really used to it. If you like it, feel free to take it."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Weasley," Hector said happily.
He immediately picked up the bowl of bouillabaisse and hurried toward the Ravenclaw table, straight toward Fleur Delacour.
Watching Hector present the fish stew to Fleur like a treasured offering, watching the smile on his face, Eda's brows twisted together.
This simp was simply too professional.
"Your cousin is an embarrassment to men everywhere, Eda," Lee Jordan suddenly said. "Just watching him gives me goosebumps."
"You think you were any better during the past two years?" Alicia replied with a curl of her lip.
Then she looked toward Hector and said gently, "Why can't a guy who looks like that treat me that way? The heavens truly envy beautiful women..."
At the Ravenclaw table, Fleur thanked Hector for bringing her the fish stew, but her attitude toward him remained quite cold.
In French, Fleur said, "Thank you, Monsieur Rosier."
"You don't have to thank me, Fleur. It's the least I can do," Hector replied happily. "As long as you like it."
"There's no need to trouble yourself with things like this next time, Monsieur Rosier. I can handle them myself."
The smile froze awkwardly on Hector's face.
He stood there helplessly, unsure whether he should shamelessly keep trying or quietly leave with his tail between his legs.
"I can't take it anymore. I seriously can't watch this. It's too damn embarrassing!"
Seeing her cousin make such a fool of himself instantly put Eda in a terrible mood. She immediately unleashed a string of colorful curses.
She tossed her fork onto the table and shot to her feet.
Fred and George immediately grabbed her arms and pressed down on her shoulders to stop her from doing anything reckless.
"Calm down, calm down! Don't be impulsive, she's a guest!" the twins said in unison.
"It's not worth it, it's not worth it..."
The way Fred and George were acting made it seem as though they were trying to soothe an upset child. They were only one step away from patting Eda on the back.
Practice makes perfect.
If there was anyone at Hogwarts who could instantly tell when Eda's temper was about to explode and stop her in time, it was probably only Fred and George.
...
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