"Merlin's beard! It's Hogwarts' champion, Jane Yu!"
Bagman's exclamation nearly sent ripples across the lake. His rapid-fire commentary brimmed with excitement:
"She brought back all the champions' treasures using a small boat! And look at her—not a drop of lake water on her! Wait—what's that—a mermaid?"
"The mermaids themselves escorted her back! She didn't even dive underwater; they voluntarily handed her the treasures!"
The stands erupted into chaos!
The students, who had been staring at the still, uneventful lake surface for what felt like hours, their hearts as calm as the Black Lake—
Now surged forward, scrambling for a spot at the railing to catch a glimpse of Jane Yu.
"Magnificent! Glory to Jane Yu, glory to Hogwarts!"
Daphne screamed, jumping up and down in excitement, completely forgetting her ladylike demeanor:
"Jane! First the dragon, and now she's conquered the mermaids!"
Her voice was drowned out by the thunderous cheers of the Hogwarts students, who clapped so vigorously their hands were raised above their heads.
The Weasley twins, in their usual flair, mounted their broomsticks and launched water-activated fireworks into the lake. The surface erupted in dazzling displays of fiery trees and silver flowers, red and blue stars scattering across the sky. Meanwhile, senior students conjured musical instruments with Transfiguration spells, creating a lively and rousing celebration.
The chant began, growing louder and more synchronized:
"Jane Yu!"
"Jane Yu!!"
"Jane Yu!!!"
Even the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, struck speechless by the spectacle, seemed to forget their own champions, Fleur and Krum, still struggling underwater. They inexplicably joined the chorus:
"Jane Yu! The true champion!"
Amid the deafening cheers, Jane Yu stepped off the small boat and onto the shore.
The sheer volume of the cheers and fireworks made her ears ring.
But her mind was elsewhere—on the Galleons and Nifflers in her suitcase.
Thankfully, everything was intact. The Nifflers, sensing their surroundings, were amusingly attempting a dog-paddle in the Galleons.
They couldn't comprehend how a nap had nearly turned them into amphibious creatures.
Given time, they might well become expert swimmers.
With her money and Nifflers safe, Jane Yu finally felt at ease.
Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall, who had intended to wrap her in a blanket, halted in surprise at her completely dry appearance.
"Well done, Jane!" Professor McGonagall praised, recovering from her amazement. "Communicating with the mermaids—how extraordinary!"
"Thank goodness you didn't catch a cold." Madam Pomfrey's stern expression softened. "If only all the champions were as sensible as you. Swimming in the Black Lake in this weather—why don't they ask me for cold medicine beforehand like you did?"
They hurriedly wrapped blankets around the human treasures, who were gradually regaining consciousness.
"Jane... did you save me? Again...?"
Hermione, now fully awake, looked around and gasped at the neatly seated hostages:
"Merlin's beard—you brought them all up? From the mermaids? How did you manage that?"
Ron, sneezing but recovering, chimed in. He had been semi-conscious when the mermaids brought him to the boat:
"She can talk to mermaids! Merlin's beard—they obey her commands!"
"You don't understand, Hermione—I heard the mermaids screaming at her in their language. They brought her back!"
Gabrielle, a little girl of about eight who had just been given cold medicine by Madam Pomfrey, stared at Jane Yu with wide, curious eyes. She muttered a string of French, seemingly thanking her. Then her gaze locked onto the Nifflers.
Jane picked up the gentlest one and placed it in Gabrielle's arms. The girl beamed a radiant smile.
"Thank you—" Cho Chang, wrapped in a blanket, approached Jane with gratitude. "I never thought you'd bring us back too—"
But suddenly, her expression changed. She turned to Professor McGonagall in alarm:
"What about them? The champions—Cedric and the others—surely they didn't—"
As her words fell, several heads emerged from the water—a shark head, two heads encased in fishbowl-like spells, and one with gills—gradually approaching.
Krum's shark head reverted to normal, his face dark and uneasy.
"Our treasures are gone!"
Cedric frowned. "The mermaids drove us away—they said the hostages were already taken—"
Fleur, her fishbowl spell fogged with tears, cried out:
"Gabrielle—my Gabrielle—my sister is gone—"
Her cries abruptly stopped as she spotted her sister beside Jane Yu, playing with a Niffler. She rushed over and hugged her tightly.
Harry, flailing his gilled and webbed limbs, struggled ashore like a stranded fish:
"Ron... Hermione... how did you..."
The champions stood frozen in shock. They had never imagined that all the hostages had already been brought back to shore by Jane Yu!
What kind of extraordinary power did it take to single-handedly confront those fierce mermaids?
In the face of such overwhelming strength, did their participation in this competition make them look like fools?
Was she really a fourth-year student? Or was she Dumbledore in disguise?
...
The judges left their seats and approached.
"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
Madame Maxime, her usual elegance overtaken by excitement, clapped so vigorously her palms turned red:
"To achieve this in such a short time, communicating with the mermaids, and safely rescuing all the hostages—it demonstrates noble character and exceptional ability!"
She pulled Jane Yu into an embrace and declared to Dumbledore:
"I must give her full marks! Who could possibly deny her full marks for this performance?"
Dumbledore, though immensely proud, resisted the urge to grin broadly, his head tilting slightly upward.
"Oh... indeed... an entirely unexpected performance... This surely deserves high marks..."
But soon, he frowned. The mermaid leader had refused to communicate, no matter how he called. Its testimony was the gold standard for understanding the champions' underwater actions!
"Mermaid tantrums? Irrelevant!" Madame Maxime dismissed with a wave, her jewelry jingling. "The results are clear—only she succeeded in bringing back all the treasures!"
"Exactly!" Ludo Bagman rubbed his hands eagerly. "I couldn't have done it myself—I must give full marks!"
Karkaroff scowled but, under the watchful eyes of everyone, reluctantly gave a near-perfect score.
"Well, that's settled!" Bagman announced. "First place goes to Jane Yu! She rescued all the hostages in an incredibly short time!"
The stands erupted once more!
Students cheered, danced, and even broke into impromptu disco moves. The makeshift band played triumphant tunes.
The scene was a cacophony of celebration.
Overwhelmed by joy, the Hogwarts students soon found cheering, dancing, and music insufficient—
Many stripped down and dove into the Black Lake, engaging in a raucous winter swim and water fight!
They seemed impervious to the freezing cold, their hearts ablaze with fiery passion!
The heads of the four houses collectively blacked out!
Professor Snape waved his wand, and the students, dripping wet, floated back to shore like drenched chicks.
"Stop! Stop!" Professor McGonagall shouted. "What do you think you're doing!"
"Points will be deducted! Points will be deducted!" Professors Flitwick and Sprout scolded. "You'll all be bedridden with colds tomorrow—"
Despite all precautions, the professors couldn't prevent it—
The students still jumped into the Black Lake—for Jane Yu's victory!
Once again, Hogwarts' reputation was thrown to the winds in front of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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