Harry Potter and the Hidden Treasure (Volume 3)

Chapter 566 The Lineage Of The Veelas

"Of course, my sister will do it!" exclaimed Gabrielle excitedly.

"Well, I'll give you an exclusive interview. We can go out and talk. That woman makes me very uncomfortable," confirmed Fleur.

Evan, Fleur, Colin, and Gabrielle left the room, ignoring Rita Skeeter trailing behind them.

They didn't go far, but they arrived at the Muggle Studies Classroom just around the corner.

It was much larger than the classroom they were in before, but it was also very cold, and there was no one inside.

In the classroom, all the tables and chairs were arranged exactly like in a Muggle School. There was no mural on the wall, but there were many colorful images depicting Muggle figures and landscapes. At the back of the classroom, there was a large bookshelf filled with Muggle books.

Evan knew that behind that bookshelf, there was actually a secret passage leading to the sixth-floor bathroom.

The way to enter the secret passage was to arrange a few letters in alphabetical order, spelling "PREFECT."

This classroom was very suitable for conversing and interviewing. Usually, no one would come except for classes.

Even though Evan was already very familiar with Fleur and Gabrielle, he asked many detailed questions according to his previous outline.

Colin was taking pictures of Fleur. They needed special close-ups of the champions for the newspaper.

It could be said that as long as Fleur was willing, she and everyone could get along very well.

Perhaps because they were all familiar to her, she didn't mention discouraging subjects like the cold and dark decorations and the over-seasoned food at Hogwarts. Instead, she cooperated very well and joked with Evan and Colin from time to time.

About ten minutes later, the door of the classroom opened, and Dumbledore was standing outside.

"Obviously you are here, I must interrupt, the four of you, the Wand Weighing Ceremony is about to begin, Miss Delacour must be there!" said Dumbledore softly.

"No problem, professor, we're done here as well!"

They left. Evan gathered his things and walked at the rear with Gabrielle.

"My sister just told me you are the first to ask about the girls in this manner!" Gabrielle suddenly whispered, looking at Evan with a smile, her eyes curved in a cute crescent, "She wants me to be more attentive to you!"

Evan was speechless, it turned out the two sisters had just discussed this in French.

But, what did being attentive mean? The questions he had asked, although detailed, were only necessary for reporting!

Dumbledore did not return directly to the small classroom but stopped in front of a broom cupboard on the other side.

Just as everyone wondered what he was going to do, Dumbledore opened the door and entered.

Rita Skeeter and Harry were inside, and Harry seemed a bit excited.

It seemed that during the time Evan was away, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had also arrived.

As expected, Rita Skeeter once again interviewed Harry, even though he was not a champion.

"Dumbledore!" exclaimed Rita Skeeter, with a delighted expression. She quickly stowed the quill and parchment in her crocodile leather bag and shut it.

"How are you?" she said, standing up and extending one of her large, masculine hands to Dumbledore. "I hope you saw my article on the International Confederation of Wizards' Conference over the summer!"

"Delightfully unpleasant," said Dumbledore, his eyes sparkling. "I particularly enjoyed your description of me as a complete idiot."

Rita Skeeter did not seem at all embarrassed and continued, "I was just pointing out that some of your ideas are a bit outdated, Dumbledore, and that many wizards on the street..."

"I will be happy to hear the reasoning behind the rudeness, Rita," said Dumbledore, "But I'm afraid we will have to discuss the matter later. The Wand Weighing Ceremony is about to begin. I don't think you should miss it."

Everyone returned to the room. Besides Fleur, the other champions were already seated. Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Mr. Crouch, and Ludo Bagman were seated in their chairs.

Evan, Harry, Colin, and Gabrielle sat next to Hermione, and Rita Skeeter settled in a corner. She again pulled out the parchment from her bag, spread it on her lap, nibbled on the end of the quick-quotes quill, and placed it back on the parchment.

"Where have you been?" Hermione whispered quietly.

"Colin and I went to interview Fleur. Harry should have been called by Rita Skeeter for an interview," Evan said.

"Don't mention her, that woman is dreadful. Did you not see what she was writing?" sighed Harry, seeming slightly agitated, "She wanted to hear my opinion on the tournament, but didn't write what I said."

"You should have known long ago that she enjoys lying," remarked Hermione sharply, also pulling out her quill. "Remember the report on the Quidditch World Cup, that is, the article about Mr. Weasley, and what she said about rumors of several bodies being pulled from the wreckage..."

Upon hearing her reminder, Harry also recalled it. He knew he should have declined Skeeter's interview.

Evan glanced at Rita Skeeter. This woman could really stir up trouble. He had to deal with her as soon as possible.

It seemed she noticed Evan's gaze. Rita Skeeter lifted her head and gave him a nasty smile.

No one in the room was speaking, yet her green quill continued to write.

"Champions, allow me to introduce Mr. Ollivander," Dumbledore said, taking his place at the judges' table and addressing the champions, "He will inspect your wands to ensure they are in good condition before the tournament."

Then Evan saw an old wizard with large, pale eyes standing silently by the window. It was Mr. Ollivander, looking just as peculiar as before.

"Mademoiselle Delacour, could we have you first, please?" Mr. Ollivander said, stepping into the empty space in the middle of the room.

Fleur nodded, approached Mr. Ollivander's wand shop, and handed over her wand.

Mr. Ollivander twirled the wand between his long fingers as if it were a baton and produced a series of pink and gold sparks. He then held it close to his eyes and examined it closely.

"Not bad!" he murmured. "Nine inches (Translator's note: In the book, her wand measures nine and a half inches)... unyielding... made of rosewood... and it contains... oh, my!"

"A hair from a Veela's head," Fleur said, "One from my grandmother's."

Upon hearing this, Hermione hastily noted it down.

Although Evan had mentioned before that both Fleur and Gabrielle were quarter-Veela, it was much less impressive when she admitted it herself.

Ron, in particular, gazed at Fleur again, showing a clear interest in her.

From Evan's perspective, on Fleur's journey to Hogwarts, besides becoming a champion, she managed to capture the attention of a significant number of boys who were mesmerized by her beauty, likely the only aspect she was content with.

This was the Veela ancestry, nature causing men to fall in love with their magical blood.