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Chapter 569: Diana
🕑 Added 2025-03-02 14:13:27 +0000 UTCIn just one day, the OWLs had made many students understand the true horrors of being a fifth year at Hogwarts.
The lights in the common rooms of all four houses had remained on through the night, burning steadily into the next day. Meanwhile, this was also the day the final competition of the Triwizard Tournament would begin.
At breakfast, the Great Hall was alive with activity, and the swarm of owls delivering letters nearly obscured the enchanted ceiling. Some students were already celebrating the upcoming holiday, while others eagerly anticipated the evening’s event. The fifth years, however, remained as tense as they had been the day before, their nerves fraying further with each passing moment.
Kyle was contemplating whether to stay in the common room or retreat to the library when Professor McGonagall strode past the Hufflepuff table.
“The Champions should gather in the classroom next to the Great Hall after breakfast,” she announced crisply.
“Is it starting already?” Susan Bones, seated nearby, blurted out. “But Professor, I thought the tournament doesn’t start until tonight! We still have an exam this morning.”
“I’m aware, Miss Bones,” Professor McGonagall replied with a stern look. “This is a matter for the Champions, unrelated to the tournament.”
“Ah, sorry, Professor,” Susan mumbled, looking abashed.
Without further comment, Professor McGonagall turned and walked away.
After breakfast, the students dispersed to their respective activities. Kanna and Cedric headed to the greenhouses for their Herbology exam, while Kyle rose from the table and made his way to the room where the Champions had previously tested their wands. Fleur followed closely behind him.
When they pushed open the door, they found Viktor Krum already there, speaking rapidly in Bulgarian to two dark-haired individuals who appeared to be his parents. The man, with his prominent hooked nose, bore a striking resemblance to Krum.
Fleur’s mother had also arrived and was hurrying toward her daughters, Gabrielle’s small hand clasped tightly in hers. Fleur smiled warmly and rushed to greet them.
Near the fireplace, Diana stood quietly, her serene smile directed at Kyle.
“Your father is one of the judges, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to be here,” she murmured softly.
“I understand,” Kyle replied with a nod. He knew that while Chris’s score had been fair, the mere presence of his father might raise suspicions among the other Champions or their families.
“Are you comfortable being at the school?” Kyle asked in a low voice. “I mean, there are quite a few people around.”
“Of course,” Diana said with a light laugh. “My work doesn’t mean I can never be around others. We simply avoid unnecessary contact when we’re on missions requiring strict confidentiality.”
“So, no high-priority mission right now?”
“There is one,” Diana admitted, smiling, “but it’s not urgent. And this is the final competition of the Triwizard Tournament—I wouldn’t miss it.”
They continued chatting for a while by the fireplace. Kyle noticed Diana glancing at the portraits on the walls, her expression touched with a hint of nostalgia.
“Would you like me to show you around the castle?” he offered.
Diana’s eyes brightened, and she nodded.
The two stepped out of the classroom and headed toward the door leading into the Great Hall.
“I haven’t been back in over ten years,” said Diana, her gaze sweeping over the portraits and stone statues lining the walls. “It’s exactly the same as when I was a student—not a single change.”
“Didn’t you come when I received my second-class Order of Merlin?” Kyle asked, recalling her presence on that occasion.
“That was different,” Diana replied. “I didn’t have the time to explore the castle as leisurely as I do now.”
Kyle led her to the Hufflepuff common room, which was empty due to exams.
Diana surveyed the barrel-shaped room, sunlight flooding in through the windows. She nodded in approval. “It’s really nice,” she said. “Back when I was in Slytherin, all I could see out the windows was the Black Lake. A completely different view.”
“We’re also very close to the kitchens,” Kyle added with a smile. “Right next door, in fact.”
“I know,” Diana replied with a knowing grin. “Your father used to send me cookies and treats all the time. By the time I graduated, I could barely fit into my gown.”
Kyle’s eyes lit up, eager to hear more, but Diana smoothly changed the subject.
They left the common room and strolled across the warm castle grounds. Kyle showed her the Beauxbatons carriage and Durmstrang’s ship, though Diana seemed uninterested. The Whomping Willow, however, caught her attention.
“When I was in school, it was much smaller,” Diana remarked, gazing at the ancient tree.
“Hey, Kyle!”
Hagrid’s voice rang out, drawing their attention. “What are you doing outside during exams? By Merlin’s beard, is that you, Diana?”
“Hello, Hagrid...” Diana greeted him warmly.
Kyle blinked in surprise. “You two know each other?”
“Long before I met you,” Hagrid said with a grin, striding over. “Back then, only Chris and Diana ever visited me in the Forbidden Forest. Chris always liked my rock cakes.”
“With all due respect, Hagrid,” Diana said with a smile, “he only liked them because they saved him time studying Magical Creatures. A single rock cake meant he didn’t need to eat for the rest of the day.”
“I thought he liked the taste...” Hagrid looked momentarily crestfallen, but his good nature quickly returned.
It had been over ten years, and it was all just a memory now. For whatever reason, Chris had “liked” his rock cakes, and that was enough.
At lunchtime, Kyle suggested heading back to the castle, expecting Diana to decline. To his surprise, she agreed.
The Great Hall was already buzzing with students when they entered. Though many glanced curiously at Diana, the sight of Fleur’s and Krum’s parents earlier had tempered their reactions.
“She’s really pretty, isn’t she?” Susan whispered to Hannah. “No wonder Kyle is so good-looking...”
“Yes,” Hannah agreed, nodding.
At the Hufflepuff table, Kanna looked even more anxious than the day before. She picked at her food with a solemn expression, her fork stabbing erratically at her plate.
Diana, after a brief meal, stood up. “I’m going to find your father and discuss when we’ll pick up Molly and the others.”
“Now?” Kyle rose as well. “I’ll walk you there.”
“No need,” Diana replied, shaking her head. “You eat. Don’t worry about me.”
With an enigmatic smile, she left the Great Hall.
As soon as she was gone, Kanna exhaled a long sigh of relief. She glanced at her plate, where her steak had nearly been reduced to mush, and took a large gulp of pumpkin juice.
Kyle quietly refilled her glass.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier that your mother was coming?” Kanna asked hesitantly. “We could have...welcomed her properly.”
“I only found out this morning,” Kyle said with a shrug. “You were still taking your exams then.”
He could sympathize with her discomfort. To be fair, if Snape were sitting across from him at the table, he doubted he’d be able to eat either.
