Bab 190: Chapter 190: The Lake and the Sky as One
Harry Potter pulled a pale blue pearl from his robes, placed it in his mouth, and leapt straight into the water. The freezing lake was repelled by a faintly yellow, spherical shield that enveloped him. With a slight movement, he realized there was no resistance from the water, and a hint of joy flashed across his face. Locking onto a direction, he surged forward at incredible speed.
Before diving in, Krum cast a simple partial shark transformation spell, turning his head entirely into that of a shark. He plunged into the water, hot on Harry's trail.
As for Fleur, the flawless application of the Bubble-Head Charm allowed her to breathe easily underwater. However, her speed couldn't compare to Harry's or Krum's.
"Our three champions are fully in action! This task is a true race against time. Yet, Augustus seems neither to have cast any spell nor used any items. Could it be that the dragon-slaying champion of the first task will falter here?" Bagman's voice rang out with undisguised curiosity.
Augustus' supporters responded with angry boos at the commentator, and a bead of sweat rolled down Bagman's smooth forehead as he realized he had provoked the crowd.
Standing calmly at the shore, Augustus remained motionless, his silver eyes glowing faintly blue. The wind picked up, the clouds stirred, and beneath the serene lake, countless creatures sensed danger and scattered. The lake's once tranquil surface was now hiding turbulent undercurrents. Augustus opened his mouth slightly, uttering an unfamiliar word in a serene tone. His robes billowed as he took a step forward and entered the lake.
"Finally moving? But shouldn't he prepare before going in?" Bagman muttered, his voice tinged with confusion.
What happened next stunned everyone.
"Oh my! What am I seeing?" Bagman's doll-like face froze in astonishment.
In front of the crowd, the black-robed boy walked directly onto the lake. Beneath him, the deep water seemed alive, retreating with each step he took, forming a straight, dry path to the lakebed. The scene was otherworldly.
Walking on air amidst the lake, surrounded by rolling blue waves, a chasm of empty space stretched before him. The black-robed boy strolled forward leisurely, as if taking a casual walk.
Cho Chang's eyes glimmered with admiration, entranced by the sight. In the crowd's focus, that figure shone as brightly as ever. Yet, why was it that the person in the depths of the lake wasn't her? She recalled a phrase: "I know one day he'll arrive, under the gaze of everyone, clad in golden armor and riding a seven-colored cloud to find me."
Bagman, regaining some composure, commented with a sigh, "History exists to be surpassed. A hundred years from now, I doubt anyone will forget this moment—'no matter the deluge, he forges onward.'"
Dong Zhen watched Augustus walk in the void with a complicated expression, a flicker of awe in her eyes. She thought of a line from a book: "I have a dream. I believe when I take flight, the sky will make way. When I enter the sea, the waters will part. The gods and immortals will call me their equal. Nothing in this world will bind me; nothing will stop me; nothing will defeat me." Was this any different from a celestial being?
Dumbledore's deep gaze held a trace of shock. Since the Dementor incident during the Quidditch match, Augustus had already become an enigma. And now this… If Dumbledore were to attempt the same, could he do better? The times, it seemed, had slipped from his grasp. Both he and Voldemort were relics of the past. The baton of history was ready to pass to the younger generation.
In the depths of the lake, Augustus' expression remained calm. A face with deep red eyes flickered in his thoughts. Small silver fish darted past him like arrows. Other underwater creatures, curious, peered through the water curtain at the figure strolling in the void.
Ahead, a large rock adorned with carvings of merfolk came into view. The merfolk, armed with spears, were chasing what appeared to be giant squids.
A haunting song drifted through the water:
"Don't delay, for time is halfway gone,
Lest what you seek decays here forlorn..."
Augustus' pupils contracted slightly, and his usually serene heart felt a sudden unease.
He cast a spell for enhanced speed, moving swiftly toward his destination.
Soon, clusters of rough stone huts appeared, covered in algae. More huts emerged, some surrounded by gardens. Merfolk peeked through the water curtain at the unexpected air-filled passage cutting through the lake.
Angered, they pointed at Augustus and whispered behind their hands. Augustus glanced at them indifferently, flicked a finger, and sent them tumbling back into the lake. He continued forward, undeterred.
After about a hundred meters, he arrived at an extraordinary sight.
At the end of the path was the village square, surrounded by merfolk houses. A crowd of merfolk floated nearby, singing in unison to beckon the champions. At the center stood a crude statue of a giant mermaid carved from stone. Tied to the statue's tail were four people.
Lillian was bound between Ron and Hermione, with a young girl, likely Fleur's sister, beside them. All four appeared to be in a deep sleep, heads drooping, bubbles escaping their lips.
Augustus walked calmly to Lillian. With a subtle motion of his fingers, the ropes binding her loosened. He lifted her into his arms and glanced at the others still tied to the statue. After a brief pause, he turned and left.
The lake waters closed behind him as he ascended into the stands, Lillian in his arms.
The audience erupted into a deafening roar. Supporters from all three schools cheered wildly, overwhelmed by the legend of the boy who walked through the lake. Once again, Hogwarts' uncrowned king had proven he never failed to amaze.
"Without a doubt, Augustus has set a new record in both method and time. Now, we'll wait patiently for the other champions to return," Bagman said, at a loss for words, resorting to a simple summary.
Under the warm sunlight, Lillian's long lashes fluttered slightly. Her sea-blue hair glistened with golden highlights, shimmering softly in the light.
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