HP: Becoming a Maiden Heartthrob

Harry hadn't reacted when Dumbledore announced the fourth champion.

He kept looking at Nalilian.

Is she crying?

"Harry!"

Hermione, who was sitting far away from him, called out to him.

Harry finally reacted and saw that everyone around him was looking at him with surprise, confusion, and hostility.

Dumbledore, holding the parchment, nodded to Professor McGonagall, who then called out to him, "Harry Potter, please come up here!"

Harry's heart sank. He glanced at Ron beside him, but Ron had turned his head away and didn't look at him. He could only leave the Gryffindor table alone and walk up in silence.

Walking down the aisle, he could feel everyone's gaze on him, which was uncomfortable because unlike the applause from the three warriors before, their gazes were full of doubt.

But as he passed Nalilian, he turned his head to look at her.

She is crying.

She watched him cry, tears falling one by one. She cried without any sound, but it made people feel that she would break at any time. His heart was torn. She was so scared and worried, as if taking this road would cost him his life.

But I don’t know if she was doing it for him or for Senior Ende.

Harry was confused and sad. He didn't know why his name appeared in the Goblet of Fire, but he felt a little courage from the girl's tears. He decided to do something for Nariel and walked towards the staff seats.

In the staff seats, Hagrid stared at him blankly, without his usual enthusiasm. Dumbledore looked at him gravely, Professor McGonagall looked at him in disbelief, and only Sirius, who had been casually leaning on the back of his chair, sat up straight and looked at him worriedly.

No blame, no confusion, only concern.

Harry's eyes warmed and he walked into the door.

Passing through the door, he saw a series of murals depicting wizards. The people in them were looking in the same direction, and from that direction came a burst of discussion—

"...Regarding the Golden Snitch research, how did you manage to analyze so many factors? And how did you manage to control the wind?"

"Model, make a complete restoration."

"How do you achieve such a complete restoration? How do you ensure the accuracy of your measurements?"

“Compare with the actual situation and adjust the formula and parameters.”

Harry looked over and saw the three chosen warriors gathered around the fire. Kronston was sitting on the sofa with his back straight. Krum was very close to Kronston and asking questions. Fleur was standing next to them.

When Harry walked over, Fleur turned around. Her silver hair looked like silver satin. She saw him and asked, "What's wrong? Do you want us to go back to the Great Hall?"

She thought he was there to deliver a message.

Harry said nothing, but looked at Kerston.

He glanced at him as he walked in.

He had noticed him a long time ago.

"Senior Ende," Harry began, thinking of Narielen's tears, "you shouldn't have come to—"

"That's outrageous!"

At that moment Ludo Bagman burst in and interrupted Harry by grabbing his arm.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this may be incredibly outrageous, but there is a fourth champion in this Triwizard Tournament!"

Krum sat up straight, frowning as he looked at Harry. Fleur smiled in surprise. "It's a joke, isn't it, Mr. Bagman?"

Harry stared at Kerston.

Kerston looked at him calmly, as if he had expected all this.

"A joke?" Bagman shook his head. "No, Harry's name came out of the Goblet of Fire!"

"According to the rules, he must participate in this Triwizard Tournament—"

At this moment the door behind them opened and a large group of people squeezed in, including the headmasters of the three houses, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, and Mr. Crouch.

"What exactly is going on?"

"Your academy has two warriors? There's no such provision in the charter. The host school can have two warriors?"

Madame Maxime and Karkaroff engaged in a heated debate with Dumbledore over Harry's participation in the match, blaming him for allowing two champions to compete in order to win the Triwizard Cup.

Harry didn't listen, he just stared at Kersten.

Kerston looked away and looked at the young wizards who were talking in the auditorium outside the door.

"Why blame Dumbledore, Karkaroff?" Snape whispered as others blamed Dumbledore. "Why wasn't Potter the one who violated the school rules? You know, he's done this more than once or twice, and no one can stop him."

Harry looked at Snape suddenly, who looked at him coldly, his eyes flashing with malice.

"If Harry wants to do this, why don't you deduct his points?" Sirius walked in from the door and said, closing the door. "This is worthy of your attention to him, Professor Snape."

As soon as he appeared, Karkaroff fell silent, and Madame Maxime also reluctantly softened her tone.

Snape kept silent with a cold face, looking at Sirius with disgust.

"Harry," Dumbledore looked at Harry and asked, "Did you enter your name into the Goblet of Fire?"

"No," Harry shook his head.

"Did you ask the seniors to help you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?"

"No."

"He's lying!" Madame Maxime didn't believe it.

Sirius walked over to Harry and blocked him behind him. "I am sure that Harry is not lying. If anyone does not believe me, you can make an unbreakable vow with me."

Harry was stunned, looking at Sirius's back.

Sirius...

Karkaroff and Madame Maxime were so frightened by the man's quiet madness that they kept silent.

The scene quieted down, and Kersten spoke up at this time, "Perhaps this matter should be decided by the two adults."

He looked at Bagman and Crouch. The others looked at them automatically, and Bagman looked at Crouch.

Crouch, who had been looking at Harry, glanced at Kersten and said, "We must abide by the charter. It clearly states that anyone whose name appears in the Goblet of Fire must participate in the Triwizard Tournament."

"Oh, Barty always knows the rules by heart," Bagman said, looking relieved that the matter was finally settled. "In that case, Harry should enter the tournament, too."

Karkaroff disagreed, "Then my other students will have to put their names back into the Goblet of Fire until our house has another competitor!"

Mr. Crouch rejected it outright, saying, “The process is set, this is impossible.”

"But it's not fair!" Karkaroff roared.

"Don't you realize it yet?" Sirius frowned. "Harry didn't volunteer at all. Someone else voted for him. He doesn't qualify at all. Someone wants to harm him."

"He's only in fourth grade, a fourth-grader, and he's competing more for the danger than the glory."

"I'd rather he didn't play in this game."

Karkaroff's face turned pale, and Madame Maxime looked even more angry as if she had been deceived, even though they could accept Harry's participation in the competition somewhat because of Sirius's statement.

After all, Harry was only a fourth grader and not very threatening.

"Perhaps," Harry said, standing behind Sirius, "I will represent Hogwarts in this tournament, so Senior Ender won't have to participate."

Karkaroff and Madame Maxime paused.

"That's a good idea," said Madame Maxime.

Karkaroff looked at Kerston.

This genius is indeed the biggest stumbling block.

Fleur and Krum, however, showed expressions of disbelief.

"You shouldn't be in this game, Potter," Krum couldn't help but say.

He didn't want to let go of the opportunity to compete with Kerston Ender again.

Furong also glanced anxiously at Madame Maxime.

Harry just looked at Kersten, "What do you think, Senior Ender?"

Everyone looked at Kerston.

Kerston looked at Crouch, "According to the rules, the person whose name comes out of the Goblet of Fire must participate in the competition."

Mr. Crouch nodded. "That's right, Mr. Ende." Then he looked at the others. "He must participate in the competition. This cannot be changed."

Karkaroff and Madame Maxime were clearly unconvinced.

"But Senior Ende," Harry said excitedly, "Na Lilian is crying. She's so worried about you, but you don't care at all—"

He wanted to question him, but when he met Kersten's gaze, his pupils shrank.

That kind of cold and warning look.

He didn't dare to continue and was stunned by Sirius blocking him.

So Senior Ende has always hated him?

"Okay, shall we continue?" Bagman said, rubbing his hands. "Barty, come and give our warriors some guidance."

Mr. Crouch nodded and spoke to the four warriors, "The first task will test your courage. It will be carried out on November 11th..."

*

"Lillian..."

While everyone in the hall was discussing Harry's name being uttered in the Goblet of Fire, Cedric carried Nariel out of the hall.

The moonlight was like water. Nalilian stayed in his arms and cried silently, as if she had lost her soul and cried numbly.

Cedric kept wiping her tears, his fingers trembling with fear.

In recent days, her body has not been so good that she doesn't cry after falling asleep at night.

But this time she cried to make up for all the tears she had missed before, crying so hard and so silently, as if she were losing her life.

"Don't cry, Lillian," Cedric persuaded, helpless, pressing his forehead against hers, his throat bitter, "Don't cry."

Her tears soaked his clothes.

Cedric was overwhelmed by self-blame.

He hadn't expected Lillian to be so opposed to Kerston participating in the Tri-Nation Tournament.

And it was him who voted for Kerston...

When he no longer felt the warm tears, Cedric looked at the girl in his arms.

Nalilian just stared at Yuehui in a daze.

Cedric breathed a sigh of relief, put his hand against the side of her cheek, and gently coaxed her, "Let's go back, okay?"

"Kerston will be back in a bit. How about we talk to him about his game?"

"Everything is solvable, everything is fine."

So stop worrying so much and stop crying so much.

"No, Ced," Nalilian began.

The silencing spell that had been cast on Kerston when he pulled her hand away was broken by Cedric when Kerston entered the door.

Now, her voice was so hoarse that she seemed like a different person.

"I think we'll call it a day."

Cedric was startled and called out, "Lillian?"

Did he hear wrongly?

Nalilian said, "I actually don't like the way we are getting along now. I don't want to be together in such a twisted and complicated way anymore."

"Are you mad at me?" Cedric asked, realizing his voice was trembling. "You blame me for stopping you?"

Blame him for signing up for Kerston?

"You were right that day, I don't actually love you--" Nalilian just said.

"I said I wouldn't leave you," Cedric interrupted her, struggling to breathe, "Don't do this."

Let's talk about cutting his heart.

"I'm actually wondering, Ced," Nalilian said, her quiet, raspy voice like a knife, "why you stay with me."

"I've lost my magic powers, and I'm not the kind of person who would take care of you. I'm of no help to your career or future. Why on earth are you still by my side?"

"Lillian..."

"Are you staying with me because you desire the honor and money that Kerston can bring you?"

Cedric, who had been about to refute her, was stunned after hearing her last sentence. He looked at her in disbelief, "Lillian..."

How could she think of him like that?

"It seems so," Nalilian determined softly, pushing him away, but was held back by him.

"Naililian Ende," Cedric grabbed her wrist and looked at her closely, his eyes full of pain, "What do you take my feelings for?"

"You can perform Legilimency on me, or you can swear an Unbreakable Vow to me."

"I, Cedric Diggory, only love you. If it were for the sake of wealth and honor—"

Meeting Cedric's eyes, Nalilian felt a pain in her chest and could hardly breathe.

How could she tell him?

His fate, which she had tried so hard to prevent, ultimately fell upon Kerston.

Is this retribution?

She pulled his hand away forcefully, "Then why do you allow Kersten to touch me?"

"Are your feelings so cheap?"

"Why do you stay with me?"

"Stop pestering me."

"I don't love you, Digory!"

She pushed him away and ran away into the dim night.

Cedric stared at her running back in a daze.

"Senior Diggory?"

After an unknown amount of time, a shout was heard behind him.

He suddenly woke up, turned around, and met Qiu Zhang's concerned gaze.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Cedric then noticed that people were gradually leaving the auditorium, and everyone was looking in his direction.

He stood there too long.

"Thanks for your concern," he replied, turning and walking back to where Nalilian had left.

But the word "I don't love you" pierced his heart like a thorn, making him walk slower and slower, until his knees gave way and he knelt on the ground.

"Senior Diggory!"

There was a cry of surprise from behind him.

Cedric clutched his chest, the pain choking him.

He is just a coward.

He always knew.

Even if it meant death, he should have taken Lillian out of the environment she didn't like, instead of letting Kerston do that.

But he was afraid, he couldn't do what Kerston did.

Can give Lillian a better future.