Chapter 200: Chapter 200: The Trophy Within Reach
"Ladies and gentlemen, the final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me announce the current standings! Augustus—98 points, first place!" Applause and cheers erupted, startling birds from the Forbidden Forest into the darkening sky. "Harry Potter—85 points, second place." The clapping weakened. "Viktor Krum—80 points, third place, Durmstrang Institute!" More applause followed. "Fleur Delacour—fourth place, Beauxbatons Academy!"
"Alright, spectators, Augustus will enter the maze first, thanks to his leading score. Listen for my whistle!" Bagman said. "Three—two—"
A sharp whistle blew, and Augustus strolled into the maze.
The towering hedges cast pitch-black shadows over the paths. Whether due to their height and density or some enchantment, all outside noise vanished once inside. With a whisper of magic, Augustus granted himself dark vision. Within the maze of black hedges, every detail became clear.
Drawing his silver wand, Augustus cast a phase-shift spell on himself. His form became semi-transparent, allowing him to pass through walls effortlessly. The maze's intricate defenses were no match for his abilities, its barriers as fragile as paper to him.
Before entering the maze, Augustus had already memorized the layout where the Triwizard Cup was placed. Now, without walls obstructing him, he calmly advanced in its direction.
Passing through the third wall, he encountered a Dementor slowly approaching. Twelve feet tall, with a hood concealing its face and decayed hands reaching out, it groped blindly toward him.
It's been a while. Though you're just a fake. Augustus smirked slightly, raised his wand, and cast, "Riddikulus!" The floating Dementor exploded into a cloud of unstable black mist, dispersing into the distance.
Moving forward, Augustus passed the eighth wall, encountering a floating mass of golden mist.
He paused, stroking his chin. Activating his magical eye, his silver pupils contracted. The mist shimmered with properties of illusion, reversal, and void—clearly a rudimentary illusion barrier. A direct magical attack would suffice.
Pointing his wand, he summoned a pure black flame. It touched the mist, spreading like wildfire, consuming it entirely within seconds.
After scanning his surroundings, he proceeded onward.
Soon, he faced a Blast-Ended Skrewt. Hagrid had apparently nurtured these creatures far too well. The once-small creatures were now ten feet long, resembling giant scorpions. Its thick shell glistened under the dim moonlight, and its stinger curled menacingly.
The Skrewt seemed puzzled by Augustus's translucent figure. After a brief hesitation, it lashed out with its enormous stinger.
Augustus, unimpressed, waved his wand. A towering fire elemental emerged from thin air, flames licking its massive form. It stepped between Augustus and the Skrewt, grabbing the creature's tail effortlessly.
Watching the clash of giants, Augustus grew bored. Just as he turned to leave, a scream pierced the silence.
Fleur? Augustus glanced around curiously. A moment later, a red flare soared into the sky several hundred meters behind him.
Looks like one's out. He shrugged and continued toward the finish.
Through countless walls and long corridors, the darkness thickened, though it didn't impair his vision. Estimating his position, Augustus realized he was near the maze's end.
Passing another hedge, he found himself on a straight path. In the shadows ahead, an extraordinary creature stood still—the Sphinx.
Its body resembled a massive lion with gigantic paws, a golden tail, and a tuft of hair at the tip. However, its head was that of a woman, with almond-shaped eyes that fixed on Augustus. She stepped into his path, her deep, raspy voice breaking the silence.
"Clearly, you are close to the end. To pass me, you must answer my riddle correctly."
"Alright," Augustus replied lazily. "What's the riddle?"
The Sphinx began:
"What animal always carries an umbrella?
What animal becomes murky when polluted by water?
What animal feigns understanding?
What animal's time strikes precisely at midnight?"
Augustus pondered briefly.
"Correct, you may pass," the Sphinx abruptly declared, stepping aside without waiting for an answer.
Augustus stared at the Sphinx, baffled. Since when did magical creatures cheat?
"Fine," he muttered, shaking his head as he walked past.
Finally, he breached the last hedge. A hundred meters ahead, the Triwizard Cup glimmered invitingly on its pedestal. At the crossroads before it, a giant spider scuttled into view.
With a casual wave of his wand, Augustus launched a massive fireball the size of a basin. It collided mid-air with the spider, exploding in a deafening blast. The spider twitched briefly before going still.
This feels like a free win. Augustus shook his head, unimpressed by the challenge. Stowing his wand into his robes, he stepped lightly toward the glowing trophy.
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