Hogwarts Champion // Triwizard Tournament

VI

PREPARATION AND DISCORD

As I turned the doorknob to my dorm room the following morning, I was taken aback to find Sebastian leaning against the wall in the corridor. His presence was unexpected, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of surprise.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity.

Sebastian let out an exasperated groan and pushed himself off the wall, straightening up as he replied, "It's not like I want to be here, but I have to help you prepare, remember?"

His tone was brusque, and I sensed a hint of irritation beneath his words. It was clear that he wasn't thrilled about our arrangement, but I couldn't deny the practicality of having his assistance in preparing for the challenges that lay ahead.

"Right," I muttered in response, sensing the tension lingering in the air between us. Sebastian rolled his eyes before turning to walk down the corridor, leading the way out of the common room. I followed behind him, our footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor as we made our way through the castle halls.

The silence between us was palpable, filled with unspoken words and unresolved tension. I couldn't help but wonder what had prompted Sebastian to take on the task of helping me prepare for the tournament, especially given our strained relationship.

As we reached the library, Sebastian pushed open the heavy wooden doors, revealing the vast expanse of shelves lined with books of every shape and size. He gestured for me to follow him inside, and I complied, stepping into the quiet sanctuary of knowledge.

The library was bathed in soft light, the gentle hum of whispered conversations filling the air as students poured over their books and scrolls. Sebastian headed towards a secluded corner, where a table sat bathed in sunlight streaming in through the tall windows.

Without a word, he pulled out a chair and gestured for me to take a seat. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to expect, but eventually obliged, settling into the chair across from him. Sebastian immediately started searching the bookshelves with a sense of purpose, his fingers lightly brushing over the spines of various volumes.

"What are you looking for, Sebastian?" I asked, my tone more curious than confrontational.

He glanced back at me briefly, his knuckles resting against his chin as he scanned the titles. "I'm searching for something on riddles," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of determination. "I've heard rumors from students at the other schools that the first trial might involve a sphinx, and solving riddles might be the key."

I nodded, understanding the urgency behind his search. "That makes sense." I agreed, joining him in scanning the shelves for relevant books.

After a few moments of searching, Sebastian pulled out a dusty tome from the shelf, its spine adorned with faded gold lettering. He flipped through the pages, scanning the contents intently.

"This looks promising," he remarked, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes as he began to read.

I settled into my own search, pulling out a few books that seemed relevant to the topic. As we delved deeper into our research, the tension that had lingered between us seemed to dissipate, replaced by a shared focus

As Sebastian and I delved deeper into our research, we found ourselves engrossed in the ancient texts and accounts of previous Triwizard Tournament challenges. With each page we turned, we discovered new insights and clues that could prove invaluable in the trials to come.

"Ugh, this is tedious," Sebastian muttered, his frustration evident as he flipped through a particularly dense tome.

I couldn't help but agree, feeling a similar sense of annoyance bubbling within me. "Tell me about it," I replied, my voice tinged with irritation. "Who knew preparing for the tournament would involve so much reading?"