Chapter 256: Centipede? All Wade's Fault

Colliver, who was in charge of broadcasting the event, displayed a keen journalistic instinct. The moment his camera captured the boy with the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead, he immediately recognized what would truly captivate the audience.

No matter how successful or comedic the performances of other teams or young wizards, none could rival the significance of the young savior in the eyes of the public.

In the stands, some spectators had seen Harry Potter during Sirius Black's trial, but for most, it was their first time seeing him. A ripple of excitement surged through the crowd.

The majority turned their attention to Harry, leaving only a few—such as the fathers of the Weasley and Diggory families—searching the side screens for glimpses of their own children.

…

With so many participating teams, the order and entrance point into the maze had been determined by a lottery.

Entering earlier offered a time advantage but also meant facing more traps, making it a matter of luck rather than fairness.

The Umbrella House team had to wait nearly half an hour before their turn came.

By then, only a few teams remained outside the maze, while a significant number of students had already been sent out after failing.

Those injured were sent for treatment, the frightened were given a warm cup of chocolate, and those unscathed made their way to the stands to join the spectators.

Harry and his team stood tensely at the open maze entrance, and they spoke in low voices.

"I didn't expect the secret weapon Wade mentioned to be this," Neville muttered, touching the broomstick Harry held.

Just minutes earlier, they had heard strange noises from the bushes near the maze and turned to see a house-elf waving at them.

Knowing Wade's good relationship with the house-elves, Michael approached and asked a few questions before returning with the broomstick in hand.

It was Harry's trusty Nimbus 2000.

Hermione said:

"No wonder he didn't say anything earlier! If the other teams had seen it, they'd definitely have brought their brooms too!"

"If that happened," Michael speculated, "the school might have banned broom usage in the maze altogether."

"So, can Harry use it?" Theo asked.

"If it's not prohibited, then it's allowed," Michael said pragmatically, handing the broom to Harry and giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Fly well!"

Michael, who sounded like an elder giving advice, encouraged Harry.

"Even if we all get thrown out, you must fly in front of the ball python, even if it's just to give it a single clean sweep! That way, we can proudly say—our team also challenged the final boss."

Ryan was speechless. "Michael, could you be a little less pessimistic?"

It sounded as though he was preparing for imminent doom.

Michael sighed, just about to reply when a bell suddenly rang.

It was their turn to enter. The wall in front of them rippled and formed an archway.

Professor McGonagall gave them a slight nod, offering a faint smile.

"Don't be nervous. Good luck!"

The professor spoke in a gentle voice, and she watched as her students stepped into the maze.

Particularly Neville, who looked as though he might collapse at any moment but managed to hold himself together. He was rewarded with an encouraging look from McGonagall.

"Believe in yourself, Longbottom! Hold your chest up!"

"Y-yes, ma'am!"

Neville stammered, and moved awkwardly with mismatched steps.

On any other day, Michael would have corrected him with an air of disdain.

But today, he was equally nervous and too preoccupied to notice his friend's clumsy movements.

Once they all entered the maze and the hedges closed behind them, the group finally relaxed a little.

The maze had changed somewhat, but it didn't matter; it was still a familiar setting.

Over the past few days, they had trained here numerous times.

Some might treat this challenge like a game, showing up with poorly coordinated teams and a casual attitude, but not Hermione.

Hermione approached every competition like a critical exam, dragging her teammates along in her competitive fervor.

Sometimes Harry felt relieved—relieved that Hermione wasn't interested in Quidditch.

Otherwise, he suspected that after Wood's graduation, Hermione would have taken over as team captain and taken Wood's rigorous training style to new, even more intense heights.

The group quickly formed a line, wands at the ready, and began walking along the left path.

"Look, there's a centipede," someone remarked.

Ryan whispered.

In the middle of a corridor, a giant centipede lay charred and bound in vines with its numerous legs still twitching on either side.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Hermione couldn't help exclaiming, "This is all Wade's fault."

Everyone nodded in agreement, still shaken.

Before Wade, no one had thought of using the Engorgement Charm this way. But ever since Wade created his "Insect Squadron," these creatures had become permanent NPCs in the maze.

Every single one of them had been pounced on by oversized insects, entangled in spider webs, or doused in sticky green insect goo at least once.

Hermione rubbed her arms vigorously, and the group quickened their pace as they moved forward.

They had only gone a few steps when a sharp noise, like a swarm of mosquitoes, echoed down the corridor.

"Protego!" 

Harry shouted instinctively, casting the Shield Charm. The invisible Shield blocked the first wave of the assault.

The others quickly cast Finite Incantatem, and when the shrill noise stopped, they discovered that their attackers were nothing more than dozens of paper airplanes.

Harry murmured, "No wonder one Shield Charm took care of all of them."

"Keep going," Michael urged. "There's plenty more danger ahead!"

From all directions in the maze came rustling sounds.

Oversized "monsters" hunted for prey. A giant lizard swatted away several students with a flick of its tail before hissing at Professor Flitwick.

Seemingly harmless plants stealthily extended their branches, and their tips bloomed into beautiful flowers that emitted a faint, sweet fragrance.

A swarm of ants, each the size of small dogs, scurried past. One of them curiously approached a flower and sipped the droplets of liquid on its petals. After pausing for a moment, it suddenly turned and bit off one of its companion's legs.

The enormous Hagrid used two fingers to pick up an unconscious student who had fallen into a perilous situation. He gently placed the student onto the back of a thestral, instructing it to carry the injured person out of the maze.

Cedric, who watched as a second teammate of his was taken away by a house-elf due to injuries, took a deep breath. He tightened his grip on his wand and stared down an Acromantula the size of a small car.

The path to the maze's core was proving far more difficult than anyone had imagined.

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