Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard-Chapter 513 - 511: The First Task

To the three people in the locker room, time seemed to freeze once they got the quill.

Ludo Bagman was quite cheerful, attempting to tell a few jokes to lighten the mood... but no one was really listening.

"Alright, looks like you don’t like jokes," Bagman said, not minding at all, "I have to step out for a bit to commentate for the audience. Remember, do not let go of the quill, understand?

Well then... Mr. Krum... could I have a word with you? Come outside?"

"Oh..." Krum raised his head somewhat dazedly.

Although he didn’t understand why Bagman wanted him outside, he hesitated for a moment since Bagman was one of the judges for the Triwizard Tournament, then got up and followed Bagman to the corridor outside the locker room.

"What are they talking about?" Fleur frowned, "Is there something to explain alone?"

"Who knows." Kael said casually.

He noticed the cheering and laughing outside were getting louder, buzzing in his ears.

At this moment, a whistle blew from somewhere.

Immediately, Kael discovered the quill in his hand was getting hotter, accompanied by a massive suction.

In an instant, Kael felt as if he was pulled into the quill itself. When he regained his senses, he found himself in the middle of the Quidditch Pitch... with deafening cheers around him.

Kael looked around; the vast field had only him. Strange, where are Fleur and Krum? Weren’t they supposed to compete together?

"Welcome to the Triwizard Tournament!"

Bagman’s voice echoed from the stands.

"As you can see, the champions are all set, but in separate places where they can’t see each other... of course, we can see them all; the only thing is deciding whom to watch... quite the puzzle."

Bagman said with a playful remark, although not very funny, it somewhat answered Kael’s question.

"First, the first challenge," Bagman shouted loudly, "Champions must pass through this door to reach the next stage. Let’s wish them luck... by the way, the little fellow guarding the key is quite troublesome."

Door?

Kael was stunned for a moment, then realized that indeed there was an oak door standing where the goalposts originally were.

However, there was nothing surrounding it, as if someone had left it there by mistake.

Kael immediately walked over.

There was only one door, and he could easily walk around it... but there was no change around him, evidently passing this way wasn’t counted.

"Alohomora!"

Kael attempted the Unlocking Charm, but as soon as he uttered the spell, a blue shadow suddenly lunged from somewhere.

Kael instinctively dodged.

"Crunch!" Several obvious scratch marks appeared on the oak door.

At the same time, he saw what it was - a cat, but much larger than a regular one, with big eyes resembling two blue glowing pebbles.

Zouwu!

And on its neck hung a large golden key.

That explained why he saw Professor Rockneil at Hogwarts.

This Beauxbatons professor was the most renowned Master of Fantastic Beasts in France, particularly fond of Zouwu, carrying it everywhere. He had one with him even at the Fire Dragon Reserve.

Thinking of this, Kael’s expression changed slightly, and he said softly, "Shaqiel?"

The Zouwu showed no reaction; its bright blue eyes remained fixed on him.

No need to say, he had mistaken the cat.

Though a bit disappointed, it was expected, or not surprising.

The Zouwu named Shaqiel at the Fire Dragon Reserve was quite familiar with him, and Professor Rockneil knew that, so he certainly wouldn’t bring it here to lower the difficulty for Kael.

After all, Fleur was the official Beauxbatons champion.

"Aha, everyone is now facing the little fellow guarding the key... what will you do... a friendly reminder, avoid using magic on the Zouwu, because...

Oh, Viktor Krum is such a hurry; if they were more patient, they’d know that Zouwu would split into two once hurt by magic... oh dear, there are three now... what’s he going to do!"

To be honest, Bagman’s words actually revealed quite a lot, technically breaching the rules, but no one seemed to care.

Kael had long known the traits of Zouwu, and Fleur undoubtedly didn’t need extra explanation, while the unaware Krum had already triggered issues before Bagman’s hint.

Thus... there was no effect whatsoever. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The audience was filled with gasps.

"Oh, look over there, what a clever girl..." Bagman continued shouting, "Oh, what a pity, I thought she had it, she should be more patient."

Kael listened for a while and then stopped paying attention.

No doubt, this was Beauxbatons’ challenge; Fleur would likely pass with ease, whereas Krum would take some effort since the split Zouwu would become more aggressive, not easy to handle.

Of course, that applied to Krum only.

Kael watched the Zouwu before him; it still stood there, seemingly uninterested in attacking unless approached the door.

Kael put away his wand, lowered his body with both hands on the ground.

Zouwu were high-alert creatures, especially upon seeing a wand; to them Kael’s current posture seemed the least threatening.

Moreover, lowering himself had an advantage – his face was hidden from spectators’ view by his robe’s hood.

"Oh, well done!" Bagman’s surprised voice came, "Our youngest champion found a way."

However, Kael didn’t care what he said.

Once Kael placed his hands on the ground, the Zouwu seemed less alert than before, gradually flattening its arched back, with its tail no longer twitching side to side.

Kael crept closer, pulling his robe’s hood further, as much as possible to cover his face.

Until the Zouwu arched its back again, letting out a deep growl did Kael stop, with his hooded mouth moving slightly, "Don’t worry, little one, I just want to use the key for the door, will return it soon."

The Zouwu’s bright blue eyes flickered again, emitting another growl.

"Your task is guarding the key from strangers, isn’t it?

I understand, but I’m not a stranger, I know Shaqiel, a beautiful female Zouwu, do you know her?"

"Growl..."

"Oh, of course I know her, I also know her one of her rear paws has a bald spot... caused by stepping on a student’s failed alchemy items."

"Humph..."

"See, I told you I’m not a stranger, actually, Professor Rockneil and I also have a good relationship... he told me you love to eat Long-Bearded Catfish, the kind with two long whiskers and three golden stripes on dried fish..."

Professor Rockneil naturally hadn’t said these, Kael just guessed... after all, no cat could resist Long-Bearded Catfish, including Wampus Cat and Nundu.

The stuff was premium among fantastic beasts, just too expensive, a bag of three for ten Galleons, yet hard to buy.