Chapitre 255: Chapter 255: "The Underwater Savior"
Time rewound, and the clock's hands spun backward to a few minutes before chaos erupted underwater. Above the surface, the excitement that followed Harry's quick completion of the task had faded. For over thirty minutes, the Black Lake remained calm, offering no clue about the drama happening below. The spectators, who had come to see a spectacle, grew restless and annoyed.
"This is rubbish!" someone yelled from the Gryffindor section of the stands. "We can't see anything!"
The complaint spread through the crowd, soon echoed by many others. Within moments, boos and jeers filled the air. It was clear that the organizers had made a major mistake by not providing a way for the audience to see the underwater action.
Amidst the growing frustration, Harry Potter, who had been watching the lake calmly from his spot near the judges' table, suddenly stood up. His quick movement caught the attention of those nearby, including Ludo Bagman, who was struggling to keep the crowd entertained.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Bagman announced, his voice sounding relieved to have something to comment on, "it appears Hadrian Potter is on the move again! Perhaps he's about to show us some extraordinary magic? Is he going to entertain the crowd and give us the show we've all been waiting for?"
But Harry had no time for showmanship or explanations. The charm he had placed on Gabrielle had alerted him to danger, confirming the fears he'd had since the task began. He knew the trouble he anticipated had finally arrived, and he needed to act quickly to save her and the others.Without saying a word, Harry conjured another ice platform, to the amazement of the crowd. He sprinted up the icy steps and, without hesitation, dove back into the lake.
"Incredible!" Bagman shouted, his voice cracking with excitement. "Potter has conjured another ice structure and is now... wait, is he... yes, he's diving back into the lake! But why? Has something gone wrong underwater? The judges don't seem worried, so maybe Potter was just bored like the rest of us and decided to check on the progress of the task himself!"
Underwater, Harry used the same combination of the Bubble-Head Charm and wandless propulsion to speed towards the merpeople's village. As he approached, the scene that greeted him was one of complete chaos—much worse than he had imagined.
Charles Potter and a shark-headed Krum were locked in a frantic battle, their movements wild and dangerous. Their hostages, Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley, were still tied to the statue, guarded by a group of aggressive merpeople.
Off to one side, Fleur was desperately defending herself from another group of mer-warriors, trying to protect her sister. She was doing well, but Harry could see she was slowly being overwhelmed by their numbers.
Harry's first priority was Fleur and Gabrielle. He had no time to make a detailed plan. Acting on instinct and years of training, Harry cast his Patronus. A massive, glowing thunderbird burst from his wand, its light so bright that it blinded every merperson near Fleur for a moment.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Harry put away his wand and clenched his fists. Drawing on his mastery of wandless magic, he channeled his power until sparks of purple lightning danced around his hands. Then, using a modified flying technique he had developed for underwater movement, Harry rushed towards the group surrounding Fleur and her sister.
What followed was a one-sided fight that would have amazed even the most battle-hardened warrior. Harry moved with incredible speed, his lightning-charged fists striking with perfect accuracy. Each hit sent shockwaves through the water, temporarily paralyzing his opponents. Within moments, all the merpeople surrounding Fleur were stunned and immobilized, floating helplessly in the water.
Catching Fleur's eye, Harry urgently motioned for her to leave with Gabrielle. He mouthed, "Go! I'll handle this," and turned to face the larger group of angry merpeople who had come to replace their defeated comrades. The newcomers seemed torn between chasing Fleur and dealing with this new, clearly dangerous threat.
Harry's earlier display of power had clearly intimidated them, and they hesitated, unsure whether to attack or retreat. This hesitation worked perfectly for Harry, as it gave him time to ensure Fleur and Gabrielle reached the surface safely. While keeping an eye on the merpeople, he turned his attention to the ongoing battle between Charles and Krum.
The situation was getting worse. Charles was struggling, his movements becoming sluggish as the effects of the Gillyweed began to wear off. Krum, still partially transformed into a shark, seemed to be acting purely on instinct, his attacks becoming more erratic and dangerous.
After confirming that Fleur and Gabrielle were safely out of the water, Harry decided it was time to end the chaos. He began channeling even more power into his hands. The purple lightning around his fists grew in intensity, lighting up the underwater battlefield with an eerie glow.
The merpeople watched in growing fear as Harry's power built to levels they had never seen before. Some began to back away, while others raised their weapons in a futile attempt to appear threatening. But Harry ignored them, focusing entirely on the task at hand.
Once he had gathered enough power, Harry released it in a controlled burst. Sparks of lightning spread through the water in all directions, temporarily paralyzing everyone nearby—including Charles, Krum, and their hostages. This was exactly why Harry had waited for Fleur to be safely away before acting; he didn't want to accidentally hurt her or her sister.
Taking advantage of the temporary calm, Harry quickly moved to Charles's side. With a wave of his hand, he cast a Bubble-Head Charm on his struggling brother, ensuring he could breathe normally again. Then, with practiced efficiency, he freed the remaining two hostages from their bindings.
The shock of Harry's lightning seemed to bring Krum back to his senses. His shark features started to fade, and the wild look in his eyes was replaced by confusion and an understanding of what had happened.
Harry urgently gestured for both Charles and Krum to take their hostages and leave immediately. As they began their ascent, Harry positioned himself between them and the recovering merpeople, acting as a living shield to make sure they got away safely. The group, realizing they couldn't help and trusting Harry, retreated quickly to the surface.
As the last of them disappeared from view, Harry turned to face the mer-warriors. Now free from the paralyzing effect of his lightning, they were furious. They advanced on Harry, their spears pointed at his chest, their faces twisted in rage.
But Harry stood his ground, unflinching. Tendrils of purple lightning continued to radiate from his body, creating an intimidating aura that made even the bravest merperson hesitate. The message was clear: "Attack at your own risk."
This tense standoff continued for what felt like forever, with neither side willing to make the first move. The merpeople, despite their anger, were clearly afraid of this human who had powers beyond their understanding. Harry, for his part, didn't want to escalate the situation further. He had no desire to hurt an entire group of merpeople and create a diplomatic problem that could have serious consequences.
Just as it seemed like the standoff was about to reach a breaking point, a loud, screechy noise pierced the water. The merpeople in front of Harry moved aside, creating a path for a fierce-looking female merperson who approached, flanked by two bodyguards. Harry instantly recognized her as the Merchieftainess, her regal presence unmistakable even in the murky water.
The Merchieftainess's eyes blazed with fury as she spoke to Harry, her voice an eerie mix of anger and melody. "Human!" she screeched, her voice distorted by the water but no less fierce. "Dumbledore has broken our agreement! My people have been hurt in this foolish game of yours. We demand compensation for this outrage!"
Harry stayed calm and replied, "I understand your anger, but you should take this up with Dumbledore. I'm only here to make sure the champions and hostages are safe. I have no intention of making things worse."
The Merchieftainess's eyes narrowed. "You think you can just leave after hurting my people? No, human. You will face consequences for your actions."
But even as she spoke, a calculating look appeared in her eyes. She had seen Harry's power, and it was clear that a direct fight would likely end badly for her people. But she couldn't let this insult go unpunished. As their leader, she needed to demand some form of retribution.
After a moment of silence, the Merchieftainess made an unexpected suggestion. "Let us settle this our way, human. You will fight my two strongest warriors, without using magic. If you win, we will consider the matter closed, and you may leave in peace. If not..." She left the threat hanging between them, the meaning clear.
A smile crossed Harry's lips. He understood the chief's attempt to exploit what she thought was a wizard's physical weakness. Little did she know that Harry was far from an average wizard—his body had been strengthened by years of intense Knight training.
"I accept your challenge," Harry said, his voice carrying a hint of excitement that seemed to catch the Merchieftainess off guard. "Let's settle this now."
Surprise flickered across the Merchieftainess's face, quickly replaced by smug satisfaction. She gave orders, and the surrounding merpeople moved away, creating a large circular arena. Harry found himself facing two imposing warriors, their muscular bodies ready for battle.
Without any warning, the warriors sprang into action. They swam with incredible speed, circling Harry like sharks closing in on prey. Their movements were fluid and well-practiced, clearly suited for underwater combat. But Harry stayed calm, his eyes following their movements easily. Their speed, though impressive, was not enough to intimidate him.
Wanting to end the fight quickly so he could get back to the surface where his friends were surely worried, Harry deliberately left an opening in his defense. The warriors saw their chance and rushed in, their powerful tails propelling them forward.
But at the last moment, Harry pivoted with lightning-fast reflexes. His fists struck both attackers at the same time, sending them flying backward through the water. They tumbled head over tail, stunned by the unexpected strength of his blows.
The watching merpeople gasped—at least, the underwater equivalent of a gasp—clearly shocked by this. The Merchieftainess's smug expression turned to one of concern and growing respect.
Realizing they were facing a much stronger opponent than expected, the warriors regrouped quickly. They grabbed spears that were handed to them by the crowd. Although this wasn't part of the original agreement, Harry's smile didn't fade. He welcomed the challenge, his body ready.
What followed was a stunning display of underwater combat that left even the most experienced mer-warriors in awe. Harry dodged and weaved between the spears with skill, his movements fluid and precise. He used the resistance of the water to his advantage, allowing it to slow the spears just enough to make them easier to avoid.
The merpeople watched in stunned silence as Harry effortlessly evaded their best warriors in their own environment. It was a show of skill and physical ability that defied their understanding of surface dwellers.
After allowing the fight to go on for a while, partly to give the warriors a fair chance and partly because he was enjoying the challenge, Harry decided it was time to end it. He knew Fleur and his friends above would be worried about how long he was taking, and he didn't want to stress them out.
In a blur of motion that the spectators could barely follow, Harry disarmed one of the warriors, grabbing his spear in one smooth movement. With the weapon in hand, he quickly defeated his opponents. His strikes were powerful and precise, targeting pressure points that were just as effective on merpeople as on humans.
Within moments, both warriors were floating in the water, disarmed and beaten. They were still conscious but made no move to continue, recognizing they were completely outmatched.
As the defeated warriors sank to the lakebed, Harry turned to the Merchieftainess with a proud smile. "Is that enough, or do you have more challenges for me?" he asked, his tone light but with an edge.
The Merchieftainess looked at Harry with a mix of respect and caution. It was clear she was rethinking everything she knew about this young human. After a moment of silence, she spoke, her voice sounding resigned.
"You may leave, human," she said grudgingly. "There will be no bad blood between us. In fact," she added, a calculating look in her eyes, "consider yourself a friend of the merpeople. You are welcome in our waters if you wish to return."
Harry, recognizing the political maneuvering, simply nodded. He knew she was more interested in avoiding a powerful enemy than gaining a true friend, but he appreciated the gesture. In the world of magical politics, alliances like this, even if made out of convenience, could be valuable.
With a final nod to the merpeople, Harry prepared to leave. Then, in a display of wandless magic more powerful than anything he'd shown before, he propelled himself upward at incredible speed, leaving behind a group of stunned merpeople and a story that would be told in the depths of the Black Lake for generations.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone