The sky gradually darkened, and the lights in the Great Hall were already lit.
Charlie stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes.
"It's time to go back. The feast is about to start."
Hagrid also stood up, and his chair let out a groan of relief.
"I'll go with you." He walked to the cupboard and pulled out a small bottle.
"Wait for me a moment, I need to put on some cologne."
Hagrid unscrewed the cap and sprayed himself vigorously. The strong scent of cologne instantly filled the entire hut, as if an entire perfume shop had been moved inside.
Charlie's nose was nearly overwhelmed. He quickly pulled out his wand and cast a Bubble-Head Charm on himself.
The transparent bubble covered his head, finally isolating that dreadful smell.
Harry and the other two were also choking and coughing, so Charlie casually cast the Bubble-Head Charm on them as well.
Hagrid froze, watching their reactions.
"You guys... don't like it?"
Charlie shook his head and said.
"Hagrid, you put on too much."
"But it smells fine to me," Hagrid said, lowering his head to sniff his sleeve.
"You deal with magical creatures all year round, so you're immune to irritating smells," Charlie explained.
"But for others, this scent is too strong; it could knock someone unconscious."
"Oh, sorry, I'll wash it off."
Hagrid's face flushed slightly. He walked out of the hut and washed the cologne off himself in a water bucket.
Ten minutes later, Hagrid reappeared at the doorway. Although there was still some scent, it was no longer suffocating.
"Let's go," Hagrid said.
"Wait."
Charlie suddenly stopped Hagrid.
Although he felt this was likely a fruitless effort, he still pulled out his wand.
"Stand still."
With a flick of the wand, Hagrid's suit immediately became flat and well-fitted, the brown fabric shining with a soft luster.
The tie automatically formed a Windsor Knot, and the orange pattern became much more subdued.
Next was his hair. The hair gel plastered to his scalp was cleaned away, his long hair fell naturally, and was then neatly combed by magic and tied into a low ponytail.
Finally, his beard.
The messy beard was trimmed neatly, with clear contours.
Hagrid's entire demeanor instantly changed.
"Oh my," Hermione said in surprise.
Ron's eyes widened too: "Hagrid, you look... like a gentleman."
Hagrid rushed to the mirror, looking at his reflection, his spirits lifted.
"Charlie, thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Charlie put away his wand, considering it payment for the Blast-Ended Skrewt.
"Let's go, don't be late."
Stepping out of the hut, the rain had stopped, and the air still carried the scent of damp earth.
A flurry of footsteps came from a distance. Madam Maxime, along with the Beauxbatons students, emerged from the carriage, clearly heading to the feast as well.
Hagrid's steps suddenly halted.
He adjusted his tie, smoothed his hair with his hand, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.
"Good evening, Madam Maxime." Hagrid's voice was slightly nervous.
Madam Maxime turned her head, her grey-blue eyes sweeping over Hagrid, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Mr. Hagrid, you look very handsome today."
Hagrid's face instantly flushed, even his earlobes were bright red.
He opened his mouth, and after a long pause, managed to stammer out: "Th-thank you."
Charlie stood nearby, watching Hagrid's flustered appearance, and shook his head helplessly.
Poor Tom, being played like a fiddle.
"Let's walk together," Madam Maxime said.
Hagrid nodded repeatedly, quickly matching her pace.
The Beauxbatons students had to jog to keep up; the two of them had legs too long for ordinary people to follow their pace.
The two half-Giants walked side-by-side toward the Castle; they actually looked quite well-matched walking together.
"Oh my goodness," Hermione whispered, her eyes shining, looking exactly like a gossip watcher.
"Hagrid is trying to woo Madam Maxime!"
Ron looked as if he had just witnessed something incredible.
"Hagrid actually likes her! Tell me, if they really had a baby, would it be born about our age?"
Charlie ignored Ron's uniquely imaginative question.
Returning to the Castle, they pushed open the Great Hall doors, and found it already full of people.
The Durmstrang students had also taken their seats, occupying one side of the Slytherin table.
The goblet of fire had been moved to a chair in front of Dumbledore's seat, its blue-white flames particularly noticeable in the dim light.
Fred and George waved at Charlie.
The beards on their chins had vanished completely. They seemed to have accepted reality: the 1,000 Galleons were not meant for them.
Charlie walked over and sat down at the Hufflepuff table, while Harry and the other two returned to the Gryffindor table.
The atmosphere throughout the Great Hall was tense. Although the students were eating, their attention was clearly not on the food.
Everyone was guessing who would become the Champion, and quiet murmurs rose and fell.
The dinner dishes were as sumptuous as usual, but most people were distracted, except for Charlie, who continued to eat heartily.
Charlie glanced at the high table. Karkaroff was lightly tapping his fingers on the surface, and Madam Maxime sat upright in her chair, her eyes fixed on the goblet of fire.
Both Principals looked a bit nervous.
Ludo Bagman, however, was all smiles, constantly talking to those around him. Mr. Crouch leaned back in his chair, his eyelids drooping, radiating exhaustion.
Finally, the feast ended. The plates on the long tables became spotless, and all food remnants vanished.
Dumbledore stood up, and the Great Hall instantly fell silent.
"The goblet of fire is about to choose the true Champions," Dumbledore's voice echoed through the Great Hall.
"Once the Champions' names are determined, please ask them to enter the room next door." He pointed to a door behind him.
"There, staff members will greet you and tell you what you should do next."
Dumbledore pulled out his wand and gave it a slight wave.
The lights in the Great Hall instantly went out, leaving only the flickering candlelight inside the Pumpkin Lanterns along the walls.
In the darkness, the glow of the goblet of fire became particularly dazzling.
The blue-white flames suddenly began to leap, making crackling sounds. Everyone held their breath.
Suddenly, the flames turned red, and sparks flew everywhere.
A piece of burnt parchment flew out of the cup.
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