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[HP:Failed Art Student]-Chapter 50: The Secret Realm Seeking Challenge
🕑 Added 2025-08-06 23:48:00 +0000 UTCEthan Vincent blinked his cobalt blue eyes, which shimmered under the moonlight like the Black Lake lapping gently against the cliffs before them. The water’s surface sparkled, reflecting an almost innocent glow that belied the mischievous glint in his gaze.
Across from him, Sean Mike seethed, his breath heavy like an old ox too winded to plow past thirty seconds. His glare bore into Ethan, but before he could spit out a retort, Professor McGonagall’s sharp voice cut through the night. She strode over, her stern gaze sweeping over the two boys.
She paused on Ethan, her expression softening slightly, and gave him a small, encouraging nod. Then, clapping her hands to silence the gathered students, she announced, “Alright, everyone who signed up for the Secret Realm Seeking Challenge, the on-campus preliminaries are about to begin.”
The low hum of conversation among the students faded instantly, all eyes turning to Professor McGonagall. In the crowd, Ethan spotted Cedric Diggory, standing out in his yellow-and-black Hufflepuff robes—the only Hufflepuff brave enough to join. Cedric, not yet the polished champion of the Triwizard Tournament, radiated youthful energy, his face alight with expectation and confidence.
Ethan’s gaze lingered briefly before returning to the task at hand. The selection competition was about to start, and he was itching to deliver a surprise that would leave them all reeling.
Sean, meanwhile, shot Ethan a venomous glance, his thoughts a storm of indignation. Why waste my energy on this kid? He’s doomed to crash and burn in the preliminaries. I’ve been preparing for this challenge for three years. Three years! His lips pressed into a thin line, determination flaring in his eyes. He’s no match for me. He can flap his mouth all he wants now, but when I claim first place, I’ll be the one laughing.
With a slow exhale, Sean’s mood lifted. This time, I’m winning.
On the raised rock platform, Professor McGonagall continued, “Twenty-five students are participating in the selection, divided into groups of five. Each of you must enter the lair of the giant purple toad and retrieve an item you deem most valuable.” She pointed toward the cliff’s edge, where shadowy forms crouched on the rocks jutting from the lake. “Your assessment will hinge on how you bypass the toad cordon outside the cave and navigate the labyrinthine paths to the treasure point—where the Toad King resides.”
Her voice grew grave. “I must remind you all, though our professors have tested this challenge and will monitor the process closely, the Toad King is an extremely dangerous creature. If threatened, the entire tribe will frenzy, attacking everything in sight until they calm. For your safety, act with caution and do not provoke the Toad King.”
A tense silence fell over the group. Wands were gripped tighter, faces taut with apprehension. Satisfied with their focus, Professor McGonagall nodded, but her thoughts snagged on one name—Ethan Vincent. Her eyes darted to the slight figure in the crowd. Despite Hogwarts’ hearty meals, Ethan remained lean, as if every ounce of nourishment fueled the vivid, almost magical paintings he created.
Had he even listened to her warning? She spotted him, standing alone, holding a square card and nodding thoughtfully. He looked deceptively well-behaved.
“Don’t worry, Minerva,” Professor Flitwick whispered, sensing her unease. “Ethan’s just here to try. In a real test of skill like this, he’s out of his depth. These are Hogwarts’ best students, and with Snape overseeing the cave, nothing will go wrong.”
Professor McGonagall hesitated. Her Animagus instincts prickled—Ethan’s quiet demeanor often meant he was scheming. Yet, Flitwick’s logic was sound. With professors like Snape watching, what could possibly go awry? She pushed the unease aside and produced a lottery tube, instructing each student to draw a ball marked with a letter to determine their teams.
With a wave of her wand, the balls transformed into butterflies, fluttering away in the moonlight. “I hereby declare the 1991-1992 Secret Realm Seeking Challenge School Preliminaries officially begun!”
A sharp crack, like a firecracker, electrified the air. By chance, Ethan, Sean, Penelope Clearwater, and two Slytherin students were grouped together.
“Tch, a team of four, huh?” Sean sneered, his lip curling as he turned to the Slytherins. “I’ve been top of my year for six years running and scored ‘Outstanding’ in all twelve OWLs. We should use the Disillusionment Charm, paired with a hypnotic spell and scent-masking herbs, to slip past the toad cordon undetected. Agreed?”
The Slytherins exchanged a glance, nodded, and shot Ethan cold, malicious looks. Their resentment was no surprise—Ethan’s last speech had cut too deep, exposing truths the Slytherins preferred to keep buried. Only the Malfoys had sidestepped his verbal daggers, and even then, it was more out of self-preservation than forgiveness.
Penelope frowned, draping an arm protectively around Ethan’s shoulders. “Sean, Ethan’s on our team too.”
“Oh, is he?” Sean’s eyebrows arched, his tone dripping with mockery. He raised his wand, casting a Disillusionment Charm that cloaked everyone but Ethan and Penelope in a shimmering veil, rendering them nearly invisible. “Since our genius first-year Ravenclaw, Mr. Vincent, is so talented, he can cast it himself, can’t he?”
Penelope sighed. “Don’t be childish, Sean. You’re better than this.”
Sean’s face flushed, but hidden by the charm, he doubled down, crossing his arms. “If Ethan wants to tag along, he’ll have to manage the Disillusionment Charm himself.”
Ethan stared at Sean, his expression unreadable. Truth be told, his Disillusionment Charm was shaky at best—he hadn’t mastered the advanced spell. But Ethan had other tricks up his sleeve. His paintings, vibrant and almost alive, were more than enough to compensate.
