After resting for a good while in Hermione's arms, Amanda finally caught her breath. She looked up at Hermione, who was gazing down at her with a face full of smiles.
Blinking with a calm expression, a faint trace of shyness appeared on Amanda's face.
Looking at the crimson flush on Amanda's face and the dazed look in her eyes, Hermione had to use the greatest willpower she had possessed since birth to keep herself from laughing out loud.
Amanda's expression right now was truly… she didn't know how long she had been looking forward to this.
Sitting up straight, Amanda turned her gaze back to the surface of the Black Lake. At this very moment, Harry had already found the Merperson settlement and was pointing his wand at the ropes binding Ron.
"Harry was the first to reach the Merperson settlement," Amanda said, her voice trembling slightly yet remaining incomparably cold and serious.
"Hmm," Hermione's attention also shifted, and she nodded as she watched the scene above the Black Lake. "But I don't think he'll just leave like that."
Marietta Eckmore, who was sitting nearby, froze for a moment, then turned to look at Hermione and Amanda in disbelief.
"No way, surely Harry isn't that simple-minded?" She emphasized the word'simple-minded'. "This is a competition; it's obvious they wouldn't actually let these hostages come to any harm. Harry should be able to figure that out, right?"
Hermione smiled and shook her head. "Even if he could figure it out, Harry would still insist on bringing everyone up. Even if there was only the slightest possibility that those hostages might be in danger, Harry wouldn't let that tiny possibility become reality."
This was the real Harry Potter; he had always possessed a heart that shone like gold.
"Hmm," Amanda, having fully caught her breath beside Hermione, said, "Based on an analysis of Harry's personality and behavioral habits, he will definitely make sure all the hostages are safe before coming up."
"This kid." Marietta Eckmore smiled helplessly, though in her heart, she knew just how kind-hearted this junior, whom she had spent four years with, truly was.
Cho Chang also sighed as she watched the scene above the Black Lake. "With a personality like Harry's, it's like he was born to save everyone."
"They say one's upbringing shapes one's character," Penelope reached out to tidy Amanda's hair, which had become messy from rubbing against Hermione's chest earlier. "But Harry and Amanda, you two are excellent refutations of that saying."
Even when placed in unfavorable environments, you still maintained hearts like gold.
Who could say that the two of them were changed by their environments?
Her own and Harry's personalities? Amanda blinked, her expression remaining entirely unchanged. Their personalities certainly did have parts shaped by their environments, but this time, Amanda didn't voice that thought.
It seemed her brain vaguely understood that in the current atmosphere, saying that wouldn't be very appropriate.
The final outcome was exactly as the girls had just said. Even though Cedric and Krum had each rescued their respective hostages, Harry remained in the Merperson settlement, refusing to leave.
The discussions in the surrounding stands grew louder. The vast majority of the Young Wizards admired Harry's behavior, though, of course, a small minority felt that Harry's actions were a bit ill-considered.
After all, this was a competition, and with a little thought, anyone could tell that the organizers, including Headmaster Dumbledore, would never allow the hostages to actually die.
It wasn't until the time was about to run out that Harry realized Fleur was not coming. He forcefully rescued Fleur's sister along with Ron, used his wand to drive back the Merpeople who were crowding forward to stop him, and pulled the two of them as he swam vigorously toward the surface.
Watching Harry's figure, Amanda frowned slightly. "Harry has exhausted too much stamina, and the gillyweed's effectiveness is running out. It's expected to wear off completely when he is half a meter from the surface of the Black Lake."
"Half a meter…" Cho Chang whispered. "That distance should be enough for the Professors to react and help Harry from the shore."
"There is no need for the Professors," Amanda said, denying the statement before anyone else could speak. Her eyes were fixed on Ron, whom Harry was holding in his right arm, and Fleur's sister, whom he was pulling with his left hand. "Ron and Fleur's sister will wake up at the exact same moment Harry's gillyweed wears off."
At this point, even Amanda couldn't help but fall silent; the timing of these two events could only be described as too coincidental.
The moment Harry's gillyweed wore off, the spell on Ron and Fleur's sister would also expire, thereby causing them to wake up.
Just as Amanda had said, when he was half a meter from the surface of the Black Lake, Harry's stamina was almost completely exhausted, and the effect of the gillyweed had run out.
No matter how hard Harry tried to swim upward while grabbing the two of them, he couldn't change the fact that he was exhausted and sinking.
Just as the Professors on the shore were about to draw their wands to help, Ron and Fleur's sister opened their eyes at the same time.
The newly awakened Ron looked around with confusion in his eyes. Upon seeing Harry, who was exhausted and struggling to pull him toward the surface, he didn't even need to fully regain his senses; by reflex, he reached back to grab Harry and swam upward.
Fleur's sister, upon seeing Harry's condition, also instinctively grabbed him. The young girl cooperated with Ron, and together they pulled Harry out of the water.
"Merlin's Merpeople, Harry has finally come up."
Hermione let out a sigh of relief, grabbed Amanda, stood up, and ran toward the bottom of the stands.
Amanda nodded at the three senior students from her house and followed Hermione as they rushed to the bottom of the stands, to the place by the Black Lake where Harry and the others were coming ashore.
Harry, having just been pulled ashore by the Professors, was lying exhausted on the grass. Beside him, Ron carefully checked him over, and after confirming he was alright, gave him a rough smack on the arm.
"You're a bit of an idiot, mate. This competition wouldn't actually let us hostages die."
Exhausted, Harry rolled his eyes speechlessly. Gasping for air, he said, "Even if there was… just the slightest possibility of facing danger, I still had to… ensure the safety of all the hostages."
Taken aback by Harry's words, Ron smiled and shook his head. "You really are something. Your character is absolutely top-notch."
As he said this, he gave Harry a thumbs-up. Then, the two of them were wrapped in thick blankets by Madam Pomfrey, who had rushed over, and were each handed a bottle of Cold Potion.
"Oh… I don't have a cold yet. Is it really necessary to drink this?"
Ron looked at the Cold Potion in his hand with some distaste. The taste of the Cold Potion was truly indescribable, plus its side effect of making steam puff out of one's ears made one want to keep their distance from it.
"I advise you to drink it obediently, Ron," Hermione said, leading Amanda to his and Harry's side. She unceremoniously took the Cold Potion, opened the lid, and handed it back to him. "Otherwise, if you don't drink it now and end up catching a cold later, you'll have to face Madam Pomfrey's wrath."
Thinking of Madam Pomfrey's authority in the Hospital Wing, Ron pursed his lips and "obediently" took the Cold Potion, downing it in one gulp.
On the other side, Amanda watched Hermione's actions and followed suit, taking the Cold Potion from Harry's hand, opening the lid, and handing it back.
"Uh, thanks?"
Harry took the Cold Potion back, feeling somewhat awkward, and drank it all in one go. Come to think of it, he hadn't intended not to drink the Potion.
After both boys finished their Potions, Fleur, who had just settled her sister, ran over. She thanked Harry with extreme enthusiasm, and even Ron received her gratitude.
Watching Harry and Ron, who were blushing furiously because of a polite thank-you kiss from Fleur, Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Boys."
Amanda tilted her head, her face completely expressionless, and a question flashed through her mind as she looked at the expressions on Harry and Ron's faces.
When she was kissed by Hermione, did she have the same expression as Harry and Ron?
"Not at all," a voice with a hint of a smile sounded in Amanda's ear. Hermione looked at her with a beaming smile, leaned into her ear, and blew gently. "Amanda's expression is much cuter than theirs."
Amanda's face turned bright red instantly, and she asked without much inflection, "Did I say that out loud just now?"
"Mm." Hermione nodded in confirmation. Amanda immediately lowered her head, unable to suppress the heat on her face.
Harry and Ron, the two boys, sat nearby wrapped tightly in their thick blankets, steam rising from their ears, saying nothing. Hermione could praise Amanda all she wanted… but why did she have to put them down to lift her up?
However, thoughts aside, the two boys didn't actually mind this; if asked, they were just used to it.
Besides, given Amanda's place in Hermione's heart, let alone them, no one could compare to her.
The scoring for the second task began soon after. Looking at Harry's final score, Ron patted him on the shoulder with emotion.
"Demonstrated fine character, tsk tsk tsk, Harry, your score isn't low at all."
Harry shrugged and said nonchalantly, "Either way, this is as far as I go."
For the upcoming third task, Professor Snape would be disguising himself as him to participate. It was also in this next third task that Voldemort was about to be resurrected.
Seeming to think of this, the expressions of the three children, with the exception of Amanda, became slightly solemn.
Amanda blinked, looking at the expressions on Hermione, Harry, and Ron's faces. She froze for a second, thinking they were worried about Professor Snape's safety, and spoke mechanically.
"You don't need to worry. I have already made some preparations in advance at the place where Voldemort is preparing to resurrect, and before Professor Snape goes over, I will give him some protective items."
"Is that the preparation you went to make during the time after Harry finished the first task?"
Hermione turned to look at Amanda. She knew that Amanda had gone to the destination to make preparations during that time, but she really didn't know what specific preparations Amanda had made.
"Mm," Amanda nodded expressionlessly and began to explain the situation in detail. "I found a professional to bury remote-controlled bombs in the most likely standing position at Voldemort's resurrection site."
"Pfft—cough, cough, cough…" × 2
Ron, not understanding what remote-controlled bombs were, had no reaction. Hermione and Harry, who clearly knew what remote-controlled bombs were, couldn't help but cough violently.
Good grief, a professional who buries remote-controlled bombs? What kind of person is that?
Hermione leaned into Amanda's ear to mention the "professional" she had in mind, and Amanda nodded affirmatively.
Giving her a thumbs-up, Hermione was completely speechless.
Thinking of something, Harry frowned, stood up wrapped in his thick blanket, and asked Amanda in a low voice.
"The remote-controlled bombs, they won't blow Voldemort to death, will they?"
According to what Amanda had revealed about Headmaster Dumbledore saying Voldemort's resurrection had a purpose, he shouldn't be able to die again right after being resurrected, right? Wouldn't that mean he was resurrected for nothing?
"He won't. Considering Voldemort's own magical abilities, it is expected that the remote-controlled bombs will cause him to lose a leg."
"That's just great!" Harry blurted out without thinking. Being able to make Voldemort suffer and get injured was such a wonderful thing!
Ron, also wrapped in a thick blanket, stood up and interjected into the conversation with a complex tone. "Is none of you really planning to explain to me what a remote-controlled bomb is?"
Hermione carefully considered it and used an analogy that Ron could understand. "You can think of it as an Explosion Charm that can be controlled manually, can be detonated whenever you want, and can be as powerful as you want."
"Merlin's Explosion Charm…" Ron clicked his tongue. "That really is a terrifying thing."
He was now truly starting to doubt whether Muggles were really the weaker side.
Thinking from another perspective, if Voldemort really followed his own ideas and launched a war against the Muggle World, attempting to control Muggles, would he be able to defeat them?
Both boys had recovered, and the scoring was finished, so the four of them walked slowly toward Hogwarts Castle.
"I'm definitely going to drink a few bowls of cream soup in a while." Ron licked his lips, feeling his stomach protesting.
"I also feel like I could eat a cow right now," Harry said, rubbing his stomach through the thick blanket.
"You can eat as much as you want," Hermione said, walking beside them with her arm around Amanda's waist. "But before that, you two might need to go back to the Dormitory to put on some clothes."
"Merlin, I almost forgot. Amanda, Hermione, you two go to the Great Hall first; we're going back to change."
Harry and Ron suddenly remembered that they were still wrapped in blankets. After saying this to Amanda and Hermione, they took off running toward Hogwarts Castle.
"Always so unreliable." Watching Harry and Ron's backs, Hermione shook her head with a laugh.
"Because they are relaxed, they can still be so unreliable," Amanda said, a faint, calm smile appearing on her face. She looked at Hermione, who was smiling gently beside her, and watched the two youths running happily ahead. "Because they are not worried about the future, they can rejoice in the present."
Without heavy responsibilities on their shoulders, whether it was Hermione, Harry, or Ron, they were all continuously blooming with the vitality that belonged to young people of their age.
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