Chapter 510: A Competition Between Headmasters
Hagrid's eyes were glazed as he stared at the Dragon before him. It was as if he had forgotten there were two other people nearby. He unconsciously stepped forward, drawn to the creature, his awe palpable.
"Stay where you are, Hagrid!" shouted a wizard standing near the fence. With short, spiky red hair and a muscular frame, it was clear the speaker was Charlie.
"This one can spit fire forty feet, so you'd better keep your distance!"
"Oh, how beautiful," Hagrid murmured, his voice soft and soothing, reminiscent of the tone he used with young Fluffy, his Three-Headed Dog.
After several tense moments, the dragon keepers finally managed to subdue the agitated Dragons with Stunning Spells. Hagrid took another two steps forward, his gaze fixed on the Hungarian Horntail.
"Well, Hagrid," Charlie said, panting as he approached. "It was hard work getting them here. Thankfully, there weren't too many, or even twenty of us wouldn't have been enough."
"Oh, yes..." Hagrid replied absentmindedly, his attention still locked behind Charlie.
Charlie, catching the direction of Hagrid's gaze, understood exactly what he was thinking. But just as he was about to comment, he noticed the two figures standing beside them—Madame Maxime and Professor Lochneal.
"I didn't realize you brought them along, Hagrid," Charlie said, frowning. "A Champion shouldn't know what they're up against ahead of time... She must've told her students, hasn't she?"
"Oh, I just thought they'd be keen to come along for the ride," Hagrid said vaguely, his eyes never leaving the Dragon.
Charlie shook his head. The group had already seen what they came for, and there was no point in sending them away now. Still, to keep the competition fair, Charlie resolved to take matters into his own hands. He could take a casual walk near the Forbidden Forest tomorrow, ensuring Kyle saw him "by chance." He wouldn't need to say a word—just being seen should give Kyle the hint about Dragons. That way, he wouldn't technically be breaking any rules.