Old Blood at Hogwarts

"Now, let me see..." Rita Skeeter opened her alligator handbag, pulled out a handful of candles, lit them all with a wave of her wand, and then used magic to keep them suspended in mid-air. Aaron, you won’t object if I use a shorthand quill to take notes, right? This way I can free up my hands to talk to you normally.”

"I don't mind," Aaron said.

The smile on Rita Skeeter's face widened.Aaron saw three gold teeth in her mouth.She reached into her crocodile leather handbag again and took out a long, dazzling green quill and a roll of parchment. Then she spread the parchment on a box between the two of them, which contained SCO Elf brand all-purpose miracle stain remover.She popped the tip of the green quill into her mouth, sucked on it for a moment, and then placed the pen vertically on the parchment.The quill tube stood on the tip of the pen and trembled slightly.

"Try it out... My name is Rita Skeeter, reporter for the Daily Prophet."

Aaron quickly looked down at the quill.As soon as Rita Skeeter finished speaking, the green quill began to write in a flurry, and the tip of the pen slid across the parchment dexterously: Charming blonde Rita Skeeter, now 43 years old, her unruly The unruly quill has exposed many treacherous and false names...

"That's great," Rita Skeeter said, tearing off the first piece of parchment, crumpling it into a ball, and stuffing it into her handbag.

Then she leaned toward Aaron and said, "So, Aaron...what made you decide to sign up for the Triwizard Tournament?"

Aaron was about to answer, but before he spoke, the pen was already moving on the parchment.Where the pen tip slipped, Aaron recognized a line of newly written text: green eyes, light golden hair, Aaron Elf's handsome and charming face...

"Leave the pen alone, Aaron, just answer my question. Why did you decide to sign up for the Contest?" Rita Skeeter asked again.

Aaron reluctantly raised his head and laid his eyes on her face: "Because it sounds interesting, and there is a bonus of a thousand galleons."

Rita Skeeter raised a heavily drawn eyebrow: "Did you sign up for the bonus?"

"Not really," Aaron said, "but it's an important reason."

"How do you feel about the events you're about to compete in?" Rita Skeeter asked. "Excited? Or nervous?"

"There are some of them." Aaron thought for a while and said, "But it's more about expectations."

"Many brave men have died in the past, haven't they?" Rita Skeeter asked reluctantly, "Have you ever thought about that?"

"Well... they say it's much safer this year than it has been in the past," Aaron said.

The quill swished across the parchment between the two of them, skating back and forth like an ice skate.

At this moment, the door to the broom closet was opened.Aaron turned his head, and the dazzling light made him squint.Ludo Bagman stood looking down at them.

"Ah, you are here." Bagman said, "I am here to tell you that the fourth warrior - Harry has just arrived, and the wand testing ceremony..."

"Harry Potter!" Rita Skeeter shouted, looking delighted. "I was about to interview him!"

"I'm sorry, Aaron. Although there are still many questions to ask, I want to interview Harry first, and we can continue next time, okay?" After saying that, Rita Skeeter hurriedly waited for Aaron to answer. Walked out of the cubicle.

When Aaron followed Bagman back to the room where the wand test was conducted, he saw Rita Skeeter grabbing Harry and walking out the door.Aaron could see that Harry's face was full of confusion, and it was obvious that he still didn't understand what was going on.Aaron only had time to give him a good-luck look before he was pulled out of the door by Rita Skeeter.

In the room, Krum was still standing in the corner with a gloomy face.Fleur was still tossing her hair.Bagman walked up to the photographer and talked to him.Aaron himself is not a person who likes to interact with others enthusiastically, and he doesn't know what to say when facing several strangers and future competitors.So he came to the window and looked out.

But if Aaron didn’t go to others, others would come to him.

Fleur came to Aaron's side and asked him. "Did you just go for an interview?"

"Yes," Aaron replied.Rita Skittle just now dragged him for an interview, which was seen by everyone.

"What did she interview you for?" Fleur asked curiously.

"She asked me why I wanted to participate in the tournament and how I felt about the upcoming competition."

"Then how did you answer?" Fleur said with interest.

"I told her to participate in the competition mainly for the prize of one thousand galleons." Aaron said, "I am very much looking forward to the upcoming challenge."

"Are you participating in the tournament for money?" Fleur said contemptuously, "I thought everyone chose to become a warrior just for honor."

"Honor is indeed very important." Aaron said nonchalantly, "However, I have always believed that people can only talk about honor when they have enough food and clothing."

Fleur wanted to say something else, but then Professor Dumbledore opened the door and walked in, followed by Professor Karkaroff, Mrs. Maxim, Mr. Crouch and a man with two large light-colored eyes. old wizard.Aaron recognized the old wizard as Mr. Ollivander at a glance.Two years ago in Diagon Alley, Aaron bought his wand back from this wandmaker.

"Okay, the wand testing ceremony will begin immediately." Dumbledore said, "We have invited Mr. Ollivander to test the wands for the warriors. He is an excellent wand maker. Warriors who have finished testing and who have not had their turn can Sit there and wait." He pointed to a few chairs placed by the door, "So..." He looked around, "Where is the other warrior?"

"Harry was taken away by Miss Rita Skeeter," Ludo Bagman said. "Miss Rita Skeeter wanted to conduct an interview with him."

"Oh, I'll go find them. Please wait a moment." Dumbledore said and walked out of the room.

After Dumbledore left, Professor Karkaroff, Mrs. Maxim, Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman walked to the referee's seat behind the velvet table and sat down in turn.Mr. Ollivander walked to the window and waited quietly.The three warriors Aaron, Fleur and Krum also sat down on the chairs next to the door.

After a while, Dumbledore led Harry and Rita Skeeter back into the room.

Seeing Aaron, Fleur and Krum all sitting by the door, Harry came over and sat down on a chair next to Aaron.Rita Skeeter found a corner and sat down. Aaron saw her take out a roll of parchment from her handbag, spread it on her knees, smacked the tip of her shorthand quill, and then put the pen upright on the parchment. On paper.

Dumbledore sat down on the referee's bench and said to the warriors: "Please allow me to introduce Mr. Ollivander. He will be checking your wands to make sure they are in good condition before the game."

"Mr. Krum, you come first, okay?" Mr. Ollivander said, walking to the open space in the center of the room.

Viktor Krum stood up, with slumped round shoulders and splayed feet, and walked toward Mr. Ollivander listlessly.He thrust his wand away and stood frowning, his hands in the pockets of his robes.

"Well..." Mr. Ollivander said, "If I'm not mistaken, this is a product of Gregorovitch. He's an excellent wandmaker, although I don't quite like his style... but ..." He raised his wand, turning it over and over in front of his eyes, inspecting it carefully, "That's right...hornbeam wood contains the heart tendons of a dragon, right?" He glanced at Krum. .

Krum nodded.

"Much thicker than one usually sees..." Mr. Ollivander went on to inspect, "very stiff... ten and a quarter inches... Flock of birds!"

The hornbeam wand thumped like a pistol fire, and a flock of birds flew out of the wand head, flapping their wings, and into the dim sunlight through the open window.

"Very well," Mr. Ollivander said, handing the wand back to Krum, "Miss Delacour, it's your turn."

Fleur Delacour walked lightly towards Mr. Ollivander and handed him her wand.

"Hmm..." Mr. Ollivander twirled the wand between his slender fingers like a conductor's baton, and the wand sprayed out many pink and gold sparks.Then he brought the wand close to his eyes and held it carefully.

"Not bad," he said softly. "Nine and a half inches...very strong...made of maple...and contains...oh, my God..."

"Contains a Veela hair, my grandmother's hair." Fleur said.

(Fleur's grandmother is a Veela. So Fleur has Veela blood, no wonder she is so charming.) Aaron thought secretly in his heart.

"Yes." Mr. Ollivander said, "Of course, I have never used Veela hair myself. I think wands made of Veela hair are too sensitive and willful... But everyone has their own Hobby, since it suits you..."

Mr. Ollivander ran his fingers over the wand, apparently checking it for scratches and bruises.Then, he whispered: "The orchids are blooming!"

A bouquet of flowers blooms on the wand head.

"Very good, very good, in good condition." Mr. Ollivander said, gathering the flowers and handing them to Fleur along with the wand, "Elf, it's your turn."