Chapter 691 - 692: Preparatory work; The competition starts

Although Evan and Gabrielle have been lying honestly, the situation now presents many changes that appear with nonchalance.

Upon following Charms class, Evan effortlessly completed Professor Flitwick's assignment.

This wasn't a big deal; he usually handles such matters, and everyone has grown accustomed to it. But after Evan and Gabrielle's recent interaction, the attention and admiration they received were beyond imagination.

Her appearance was attractive, her demeanor gentle, and her talents in magic were outstanding. Gabrielle was very popular among the younger male students, and their lingering gazes made Evan uncomfortable.

On the other hand, Gabrielle showcased her strengths. She enjoyed the company of other female students due to her association with Evan and Ginny. Many people were amazed at how well Evan got along with girls.

Colin, on the other hand, discreetly sought advice from Gabrielle on how to approach her.

After a tiring morning, both were eager for lunch, hoping the day would end soon.

Ludo Bagman looked cheerful at the teachers and staff's table while Fudge was absent. After a few minutes, Fleur made a rare appearance at the Gryffindor table, giving Evan a mischievous grin.

"My dear younger sister, Madam Maxime, has a message for you after lunch," she casually said as she took Colin's seat. "She's waiting for you in the entrance hall. You can go see her alone."

"I understand," Evan replied, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Fleur. Why couldn't she be more discreet when Gabrielle wasn't around?

Whispers spread around them as people noticed Fleur and Evan sitting together while Gabrielle and Hermione sat across from them. Many students connected the dots after witnessing their morning encounter in the entrance hall.

The atmosphere at the dinner table grew awkward due to Fleur's sudden appearance, and Ron was too anxious to say anything. With so many people around, they couldn't discuss certain matters openly.

After lunch, Evan tightly held Hermione's hand and walked towards Madam Maxime. She waited in the entrance hall, looking troubled and confused.

"You're here, Gabrielle!" Madam Maxime said. "Come with me to Dumbledore's office. Everyone is waiting there."

"What's going on?" Evan asked, trying to mimic Gabrielle's expression.

"It's about the second competition of the tournament. Each champion needs to find someone to assist them," Madam Maxime explained as she led Evan toward the building. "Gabrielle, you are Fleur's most important person. According to the arrangement, you will be taken to the front of the castle lake and wait for her to rescue you."

"To the lake?" Evan inquired.

"Yes. Although Dumbledore has repeatedly guaranteed your safety, you are still quite young. Madam Maxime is concerned about you diving into the deep lake," she said. "If you decline, we can find someone else."

"I want to try," Evan replied. For this moment, he had become Gabrielle, and there was no way he could refuse.

They arrived at Dumbledore's office, where Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Ludo Bagman, Moody, Snape, Professor Flitwick, and Cho Chang were waiting. Cho Chang was Cedric's most important person, and there was also a student named Poliakoff, who was Krum's goal. Originally, Krum wanted to choose Hermione, but Evan and Hermione hadn't agreed, so the replacement was decided by Karkaroff.

Upon seeing Evan enter, Dumbledore greeted him cheerfully, "Good afternoon, Gabrielle!"

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore," Evan replied and sat in the corner.

Dumbledore confirmed everyone's identities and ensured that all preparations were in order. Afterward, Harry arrived with Professor McGonagall and joined Evan.

"Excellent, everyone is here," Dumbledore said calmly. "As you are aware, the competition is about to begin. You will enter the lake in front of the castle, and I will put you into a trance to allow you to breathe underwater. I assure you there is no danger; you will wake up on the water's surface. Any questions?"

The four participants shook their heads, indicating their agreement.

"Very well. The competition is designed to ensure your safety," Dumbledore continued. "I suggest you rest this afternoon, as the second task will occur tomorrow. We have prepared guest rooms in the castle, and house elves will deliver your dinner. We will start at six o'clock tomorrow morning."

Throughout the afternoon, Professor Dumbledore and Poliakoff explained the details of the competition process to Evan, Harry, and Cho Chang. They also practiced spells for the underwater portion of the task, which involved communicating with the fierce and vocal Merpeople leader.

Cornelius Fudge arrived at Hogwarts around 3:00 PM, wearing a stern expression. He didn't seem very pleased. He was accompanied by five Aurors and Sirius. It appeared that Fudge had brought the Aurors mainly to ensure his own safety, considering the recent disappearance of Barty Crouch and the realization that the magical world was not as gentle as he had thought. However, these Aurors wouldn't play a significant role in ensuring the safety of the competition. Barty Crouch Jr. would also be involved in security measures during the event.

In summary, preparations for the second competition proceeded smoothly. However, the other three champions seemed a bit tense. Poliakoff, in particular, was unfamiliar to everyone. Harry wanted to converse with Cho Chang but didn't know what to say, so he silently followed the group.

Finally, Cho Chang initiated a conversation with Lavin during the afternoon, mostly doing the talking herself. She discussed various topics, including school gossip and rumors about the upcoming competition. She also spoke about her impression of male students, giving Evan a glimpse into her thoughts. She seemed to appreciate having "Gabrielle" by her side, possibly because it made her feel less lonely, and she invited "Gabrielle" to sleep in her room later that evening.

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Evan couldn't rest with Cho Chang (Autumn) due to the Polyjuice Potion's one-hour effectiveness. Sleeping in the evening would undoubtedly result in a transformation, and Evan couldn't wake up every hour to take the potion. So, after dinner, when the house elf delivers their meal, he declines Cho Chang (Autumn)'s invitation to play wizard's chess with Harry. Evan returned alone to the guest rooms in one of the castle's two buildings, locked the door, extinguished the candle, and went to bed early. As he lay down, thoughts swirled in his mind. He eventually began to undress, layer by layer, pondering the challenges of transforming into Gabrielle later.

Evan sighed in the darkness, recognizing that this was an extraordinary day. Tonight was destined to be sleepless, but that didn't mean Evan couldn't try to fall asleep.

Meanwhile, Hermione and Gabrielle had chatted late into the night in the Gryffindor common room. When they finally realized it was time to sleep, they spoke hushedly.

"Come on, they should be asleep by now. We should keep our voices down," Hermione said, her face flushed.

Unusual feelings stirred within her. She knew it was Gabrielle, but Gabrielle was now taking on Evan's appearance. Hermione personally prepared "Evan's" bed, her mind whirling.

"I'll stay here if we're discovered," Gabrielle worriedly suggested.

"No, as long as we're cautious, everything should be fine," Hermione reassured Gabrielle, leading her towards her bedroom. "Come on, I can't leave you alone here. You can't stay up all night."

Hermione repeatedly reminded herself that this was Gabrielle, not Evan, and that there was no reason to be embarrassed. She felt that she needed to set an example for Gabrielle.

The protective charm at the entrance of the female student dormitory remained undisturbed, allowing both girls to relax. They tiptoed into Hermione's bedroom, where there was no sound. Everyone had fallen asleep.

Hermione and Gabrielle exchanged glances before they hurriedly removed Gabrielle's clothing with Hermione's assistance. Since neither of them wore nightclothes, they quickly climbed into bed. Hermione drew the curtains of her four-poster bed, and Gabrielle settled inside.

In the darkness, they lay on the spacious bed, unaware that Gabrielle, now in Evan's form, had undergone a transformation while they slept.

Around 4:00 AM, Evan opened his eyes and woke up. He reached for a vial of Polyjuice Potion, put on his clothes, and left the room. At the end of the corridor, Dumbledore awaited him as if anticipating Evan's awakening.

"Good morning, Professor," Evan greeted, noticing Moody lurking in the dark corner. Moody's scarred face appeared especially menacing in the dim light, his eye fixed intensely on Evan. Today was a crucial day, and his plan had to proceed. He would deliver Harry Potter to the Dark Lord, proving his loyalty. This was his dream, his ultimate desire. Even though there had been unexpected twists, such as the escape of the cunning vampire, the murder of his father, and the risk of being sent to Azkaban or facing death, he didn't care. It was all worth it as long as he could help the Dark Lord return.

With these thoughts in mind, Barty Crouch Jr. exuded a manic aura.

"Hello, Gabrielle," Dumbledore greeted with a smile. "You look rather weary. Did you not sleep well last night?"

"Yes," Evan nodded, his gaze shifting towards Moody. "I guess I was too anxious, thinking about diving into that giant lake. You know, I'm not much of a swimmer."

"Don't worry, there won't be any danger," Dumbledore reassured him, gently patting Evan's shoulder. "We have made all the necessary preparations. Trust me, everything will go smoothly. Good luck."

"Thank you," Evan replied, standing beside Dumbledore.

After a while, Fudge, Bagman, Madam Maxime, Karkaroff, Sirius, Snape, and Professor McGonagall arrived in the corridor of the castle's second building. Harry and Cho Chang (Autumn) emerged from their room as well. They appeared to have had a restless night, with dark circles under their eyes. Everyone engaged in hushed conversations, with Sirius pulling Harry aside to offer some advice, to which Harry nodded.

Unnoticed by the others, Evan discreetly drank another dose of Polyjuice Potion. He knew he would need to drink it several times when he reached the bottom of the lake. At around 5:00 AM, Poliakoff still hadn't appeared, seemingly sleeping soundly, to the frustration of everyone.

"Hurry up, Poliakoff, you lazy boy!" Karkaroff impatiently banged on his door, showing little concern for subtlety.

Five minutes later, Poliakoff stumbled out, and Dumbledore addressed the group. A blue light flashed, and Evan lost consciousness, entering the darkness.

Meanwhile, Hermione had also awoken early. She felt someone holding her body and opened her eyes, only to see Gabrielle in her arms. She initially had a strange dream last night where she and Evan were on her bed. Hermione quickly shifted her thoughts away, knowing Evan was probably already at the lake's bottom. She daydreamed for a while and then shook Gabrielle awake. She handed Gabrielle the jar of Polyjuice Potion and Evan's clothes. After Gabrielle transformed into Evan's appearance with Hermione's help, the two hurriedly made their way to the common room, avoiding detection.

The common room filled with students, all excitedly discussing the upcoming competition. Dumbledore had announced the previous night that today's task would occur in the castle's lake, sparking anticipation among the young wizards and witches. They all knew the lake was deep, inhabited by a fearsome giant squid and a Kelpie. The fact that they would be going underwater was an achievement in itself.

These discussions left Hermione feeling disoriented. She didn't want to stay in the common room, so she led Gabrielle to the Great Hall for breakfast. They chose a secluded corner, and it was almost eight o'clock when Ron joined them. He had his wand in his pocket and was thinking about Gillyweed. (To be continued...)