章 566: 0564 Choices (Big Chapter)
The stadium for the Triwizard Tournament, while impressive in its own right, paled in comparison to the grandeur and magnificence of the Quidditch World Cup finals held earlier that summer.
After all, the latter was organized and funded by the Ministry of Magic and had used nearly all the resources available to British wizarding society to create a truly awe-inspiring spectacle. In contrast, the Triwizard Tournament stadium was the product of Bryan's efforts alone, without the backing of any government institution.
Despite this disparity in resources, the Triwizard Tournament stadium was by no means lacking. Bryan had put forth a tremendous effort to ensure that every aspect of the venue was of the highest quality.
Moreover, what the Triwizard Tournament may have lacked in scale, it more than made up for in the prestige of its attendees. While no Ministers of Magic from any country were present in person, the event still had an impressive guest list.
The judges' panel included Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch from the Ministry, as well as Amelia Bones, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Even Mrs. Fudge, wife of the Minister himself, was in attendance to show her support for Hogwarts.
But perhaps the most remarkable presence was that of Gerson Barnah, the president of Gringotts World Bank and leader of the goblin nation. Barnah, who had not been seen in public for nearly half a century, also attended the event in person, perhaps both for the goblins' business and to support his 'friend', Bryan Watson.
Not to mention, the event also gathered the chairman and vice-chairmen of the International Confederation of Wizards: Albus Dumbledore, Vipor Dreghorn, and Bryan, who also held the title of vice-chairman.
Kakus Fawley, who could be considered a magnate in the underground world of Magical Britain and held a pivotal position in the shadowed world of the entire European magical community, was also present at the scene.
Sitting in the section filled with pure-blood wizard families, Lucius raised his head and watched Kakus Fawley chatting amicably with Bryan Watson. His face turned pale with hatred, and he clenched his jaw tightly. He finally figured out how Bryan had seen through the grand stunt he had created at the Quidditch World Cup to please the Dark Lord, whose return was possibly imminent.
However, looking at the wizards who held pivotal positions in their respective fields, enjoying the best spectator seats near the judges' area, Lucius was also secretly shocked. Objectively speaking, even Fudge did not have the power to bring so many people to Hogwarts simultaneously to watch the Triwizard Tournament. Bryan Watson's secretly accumulated connections were astonishing.
Of course, Lucius also understood that Dumbledore's influence could not be ignored either. Staring at the old and young faces standing side by side, both with equally tall figures, Dumbledore and Watson, Lucius's unwavering gaze became even more determined.
Today, the sun was shining brightly, and not a single cloud could be seen. Otherwise, given Bryan's sometimes stubborn personality, if the weather did not cooperate, he was very likely to fly up to the sky and use magic to shatter those rain clouds before he would give up.
However, at the end of November, it was almost impossible to enjoy warm and comfortable sunshine at Hogwarts. The cold wind wandering in the desolate mountains was still biting. Fortunately, Bryan had also considered this in advance. To provide everyone with a comfortable environment, all the winds blowing into the stadium were gentle and warm.
The competition was scheduled for the afternoon. The guests who came to watch obviously could not swarm into the Great Hall of Hogwarts to enjoy lunch. Although none of them came for food and drink, they couldn't be left hungry while expressing their appreciation for Hogwarts.
Therefore, when it was time for the meal, the young wizards running along the aisles separating the spectator areas told everyone in a vigorous tone that there was also a menu hidden in the armrest space of their seats. As long as they spoke the name of the food they wanted to eat from the menu, the Hogwarts kitchen would immediately send the food to them.
"A very interesting idea, isn't it, Barty?" Ludo seemed to have already forgotten about the failed negotiation with Bryan earlier in the morning. He said to Barty, who still looked unwell, with a smile, "The next time the Ministry of Magic holds a big event, we can also learn from this idea. Let me think—"
The judges' seating area was much larger than the spectators' seats, allowing for several long tables to be placed in front of the seats. Ludo tentatively shouted, "How about a steak?"
BANG!
After a slight explosive sound, a sizzling, oily, fragrant pan-fried steak appeared on the table in front of him, served on an iron plate!
"Remember to control your appetite, Ludo—" Bryan said with a smile, "I forgot to add a bathroom when designing this building, so if you feel uncomfortable, you'll have to run outside and find a way to deal with it yourself—"
The people around them let out kind laughter, while the goblin Barnahh looked at the embarrassed Ludo, and his eyes gleamed with amusement.
At this moment, a goblin quickly ran out of the small room behind the judges' seats. Its eyes hesitated for a second on the backs of Watson and Barnah, but it still ran to Barnah's side and whispered for a while.
"The viewing equipment we have installed in each section has been fully tested. Do you think it's—"
"Oh, most certainly," Bryan stood up with a smile, and the people beside him, including Dumbledore, knew what he was going to do. So, one by one, they all looked at the large viewing screen with great interest.
Bryan immediately left his seat and turned to walk into the broadcasting room. After a slight tremor, several brilliant blue lights suddenly flashed across the black screen that had been in a constant state of darkness. Then, under the curious gazes of hundreds of eyes, the frequency of the light on the screen flickered faster and faster. Finally, after a collective gasp, the complex terrain of the competition field in the center of the stadium was finally projected onto the screen.
"It's amazing, Bryan--" Amelia, who had already learned about it in advance, exclaimed in admiration, "Your invention is very practical. If it can be widely--"
Amelia stopped mid-sentence, obviously realizing that she should be careful not to say anything sensitive on such an occasion.
The sounds of admiration and amazement filled the entire stadium, especially in the area of the pure-blood wizard families. These family heads, who controlled key industries in all aspects of the wizarding world, without exception, realized the wide applicability of this invention. Even Lucius, who had ulterior motives, looked at the clear projected image on the opposite side, his eyes revealing a glimmer of excitement.
Of course, not everyone expressed admiration for this technology that was being displayed to the world for the first time.
At the bottom of the stadium, Moody, who was patrolling and inspecting the environment, uncontrollably revealed a hint of unease when he saw his own figure projected in a corner of the screen, as well as the omnioculars dancing nimbly in mid-air. He turned his head to look at Bryan Watson, who was chatting and laughing with many dignitaries on the high platform. His intact blue eye showed a startled look!
Buzz—
At this moment, the ground suddenly began to vibrate slightly. Amidst the gradually clear buzzing sound, the cheering voices of the young wizards became more and more evident.
"Oh, my God, they've arrived—"
Bryan let out a small exclamation of surprise.
"Come on, Ludo, Barty, the champions are about to arrive. We still need to witness them choosing their opponents—"
Bryan, Ludo, and Barty lingered patiently on the bustling transfer platform, enveloped by the frenzied clamor of the swarming young wizards who occupied every passable space. The students from the physical education class, tasked with maintaining order amidst the chaotic sea of spectators, strained their voices to the limit, their shouts were barely audible above the roaring crowd as they frantically attempted to herd the excited young wizards towards their designated seating areas.
The palpable excitement emanating from the children was hardly surprising, given the breathtaking sight that greeted them upon entering the stadium - the intricately designed complex terrain of the central arena, with an enormous screen suspended high above capturing and magnifying every detail of the venue.
In short, the already lively atmosphere in the stadium was pushed to another climax by these children. It seemed that with just a spark, the cheers could ignite the entire stadium.
"I dare say, people will definitely remember this day, Bryan!" Ludo exclaimed, his voice trembling with barely contained excitement as his eyes took in the sea of eager, anticipation-filled faces.
"We mustn't dally, Bryan, keep a watchful eye on the time--" Barty Crouch interjected impatiently.
The trio descended to the circular passage on the ground floor. As they approached, Bryan noticed the figure of Moody, as a security officer, standing guard before the railing. Moody's gaze was fixed upon the flickering screen and the numerous omnioculars with wings hovering in mid-air, seemingly oblivious to the presence of the three men behind him.
This was extremely unusual.
"Is all well, Alastor? No cause for concern, I trust?" Bryan inquired, his voice calm as he stopped abruptly behind Moody, turning to face him with a searching gaze.
"What?" Moody spun around, startled by the unexpected interruption. Upon recognizing Bryan, the magical eye within his socket automatically shifted to the side. For a few moments, Moody appeared stunned, his mind struggling to process the sudden intrusion, before finally regaining his composure.
"Ah, yes, all is well, Bryan. Just lost in thought, pondering your innovative setup. It's nothing to worry about," Moody reassured, his gruff voice tinged with a hint of distraction. "If you'll excuse me, I must check on Charlie Weasley. We can't afford any mishaps, not now!"
With that, Moody hastily fled into the passage leading to the temporary confinement of the dragons. Bryan watched him go as his purple eyes flickered with an inscrutable emotion.
Barty's insistent urging spurred Bryan into motion once more, and he led the small group towards a tent located just outside the main venue. This tent also connected the outside with the safety passages inside the arena. Bryan lifted the heavy curtain, and the three men stepped inside, one after the other.
Within the tent, the air was filled with a soothing warmth, a stark contrast to the biting chill of the world outside and there were not many people here. A few officials from the Department of Magical Games and Sports were waiting here to guide the champions into the arena when the time came.
In addition, the protagonists of this Triwizard Tournament, the three champions, were each resting on one side of the tent. Professor McGonagall was also there, comforting Hermione.
In the last few days, Bryan had to deal with countless things and had no time to pay attention to the mental state of these kids who were about to become famous.
Bryan's gaze first fell upon Fleur whose eyes had locked onto him the moment he entered. Yet, in this moment, the amorous glimmer that had once always twirled in her eyes was noticeably absent, replaced by a glassy, shocked expression after being thoroughly frightened. Moreover, Bryan discovered that the hint of pink on Fleur's originally snow-white skin was gone, vividly interpreting what it means to be as pale as snow.
In contrast, Krum was much calmer. After glancing at Bryan, he lowered his head and stared gloomily at his open hands, his fingertips trembling slightly. Cedric seemed to want to stand up and greet Bryan, but when he propped his arms on the bench to forcefully lift himself up, he failed, which made him a little embarrassed, so he dared not move again.
And the youngest champion in this tournament - Hermione.
Hermione had her mouth slightly open, her eyes wide and glassy with a mix of confusion and helplessness. When she noticed Bryan walking in, the hollow look in her eyes revealed a pleading look. She tightly grasped Professor McGonagall's hand with one of her own. Although Professor McGonagall had been comforting her, judging from the situation, she probably didn't take in a single word.
The air was filled with a sense of tension, especially when the champions discovered that Bryan and the two officials from the British Ministry of Magic had entered. This tension reached its peak, and Bryan was even worried that these champions would burst into tears at any moment.
"Is it time, Bryan--" Professor McGonagall's voice was shaky, and she looked a little more nervous than Hermione.
Bryan's gaze swept over the four champions. When he found that the champions had all put on the competition uniforms he provided in accordance with the rules, he nodded with satisfaction. He heard Professor McGonagall's question and said with a smile,
"We still have to wait a little longer!"
Then, Bryan turned around to face Ludo and Barty,
"So, gentlemen, which of you will do the honors?"
"Ah, this is your home turf, Bryan, you do it!" Ludo responded, his jovial tone at odds with the solemnity of the occasion.
Bryan's gaze shifted to Barty Crouch, seeking his input, but the man simply nodded, his expression listless and detached.
"Very well then," Bryan acquiesced, his voice attracting the attention of all present. "Gentlemen, ladies, if you would be so kind as to gather before me."
At his words, the champions began to move, their steps sluggish with anxiety as they approached the center of the tent. A member of the staff insightfully handed a purple small silk bag to Bryan.
The kids all stared at the bag in Bryan's hand at the same time. Their expressions were surprisingly consistent - panic, rejection, unwillingness to face it.
"Relax everyone, feel free to show your courage, strength and wisdom. I can assure you that no one will die miserably here today--"
Bryan said humorously. Ludo was amused and laughed holding his belly, but none of the champions showed a trace of relief on their faces, and Professor McGonagall glared at him fiercely.
Ahem--
Bryan coughed awkwardly a couple of times. Then, he flicked out his wand from his sleeve to unlock the magic on the silk bag, while gripping the mouth of the bag with the other hand,
"It's quite simple," The shouts from the arena outside were surging and Bryan knew he had to hurry. He smiled at the champions and said,
"This bag contains models of a few things you'll need to wrangle with later. You need to snatch a golden egg from them. That golden egg is put together with normal eggs, it's very obvious, you'll know it when you see it. So, any questions?"
It's indeed snatching eggs from dragons, this thought flashed through Hermione's muddled mind. Then, before her thoughts could become muddled again, Bryan had already handed that terrible purple bag to her.
"I think there should be no objection to letting our youngest champion choose first. Come now, Miss Granger, your fate rests in your hands--"
Hermione's lips, chapped and raw from the constant worrying were pressed together in a thin line. Her mind was still repeatedly memorizing the few spells she had practiced these days, until Bryan urged her again. Only then did she come back to her senses.
She found that everyone's eyes were on her, and she also felt her heart beating wildly in her chest, so much so that her chest was aching with occasional pain.
Let fate decide, she thought, steeling herself as she plunged her hand into the depths of the bag.
Clatter--
A soft clatter, barely audible over the howling wind that whipped around the tent, echoed from somewhere outside, the sound too faint to draw the attention of those gathered within. In that same instant, unseen by any eye, a tiny bolt of lightning arced through the inky depths of the bag, guiding one of the four miniature models into Hermione's waiting palm with precision.
Hermione subconsciously retracted her hand, and then her choice was revealed to everyone.
"Ah, the Chinese Fireball" Ludo exclaimed, his initial excitement giving way to a flicker of suspicion as he turned to Bryan. "It seems you've drawn the fourth slot, my dear."
'To prevent from losing, changed the order—'
Bryan's expressionless gaze withdrew from the corner of the tent. Just now, a short, dark shadow flashed by there.
"Is that so--"
Ludo mumbled something that only he could hear. Then, he seemed to understand something. The suspicion in his eyes vanished when he looked at Bryan. He looked at Hermione, and his cheeks were flushed due to excitement, and his eyes burst with a sharp glow!
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章 567: 0565 Surprises
After Hermione, it was Fleur's turn. With a trembling hand, she reached into the depths of the bag, feeling the miniature dragon figurines squirming in her fingers. Her heart pounded in her chest as she grasped one and carefully withdrew it. As she opened her palm, she saw the small green dragon perched there - the Welsh Green.
An immense wave of relief crashed over Fleur and she let out the breath she had been holding in a huge sigh. Although facing a dragon was still frightening, at least she knew she wouldn't have to be the first champion to enter the arena. That dubious honor went to one of her male competitors.
Unfortunately, neither Krum nor Cedric were as lucky in their draws. Krum pulled out the third slot, but found himself matched up against the most vicious and ferocious of the four dragons - the Hungarian Horntail.
Cedric, on the other hand, would have to battle the Swedish Short-Snout right out of the gate as the first champion.
No sooner had the champions seen their fate than two tournament staff members sprinted out of the tent, clutching the parchment recording the results of the draw. One dashed off to inform the dragon handlers of the order the beasts should be brought into the rocky arena. The other hurried over to the broadcast booth to deliver the news to the commentators so they could share it with the eager crowd.
"Alright, champions, you have just a few short minutes to collect yourselves and make any final adjustments to your strategy," Bryan said calmly. "When you hear the whistle, follow the directions of the tournament staff and make your way through the outside tunnel. Understood?"
The four young competitors nodded stiffly, their faces etched with lines of tension and worry, indicating they understood.
There was nothing more for Bryan to say. The rest depended on their own preparations. Giving them a brisk nod, he turned to exit the tent.
But before he could take more than a step, Fleur suddenly broke away from the cluster of champions. She rushed toward him, her clear blue eyes flickering with a tempest of emotions - fear, doubt, determination. When she spoke, her voice quivered and her words tumbled out in a breathless gush.
"What if... what if something goes wrong? What if the dragons break free of their restraints and rampage out of control?"
Bryan met her anxious gaze, wanting to offer reassurance but knew he couldn't indulge the champions or give them false confidence. After all they had to be prepared for the danger they faced.
"Professor Dumbledore and I will do everything in our power to control the situation and prevent any tragedies, Miss Delacour," He said solemnly. "But you, and all of you-"
He raised his voice slightly and looked around at the other three champions, "must understand and accept that the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament are inherently dangerous. I wish I could promise you'll emerge completely unscathed, but that's simply not realistic. Sustaining some injuries, even serious ones, may be unavoidable. In the end, once you step into that arena, you'll have to rely on your own skills, instincts, and determination to overcome the obstacles in your path."
He hadn't wanted to dampen their spirits, but he felt it was necessary to give that sobering reminder of what they were up against.
Fleur paled slightly and took a step back, but lifted her chin, and gave him a slight nod.
Breathing a small sigh, Bryan exited the tent, with Ludo and Barty trailing behind him.
The three men began ascending the stairs to the tall circular viewing platform that surrounded the arena below. But halfway up, Bryan halted abruptly.
"Ludo, Barty - go on ahead and get settled. I'm going to check in with Charlie and the other dragon handlers one more time. I'm worried something unexpected might happen when the dragons enter the arena."
Barty dipped his head in acknowledgment and continued climbing without pause. But Ludo lingered for a moment, watching Bryan's tall figure striding back down the stairs and towards the tunnel leading outside. A pleasant smile appeared at one corner of his mouth, but after a moment he turned and rushed after Barty.
The large scoreboard screen at one end of the screen shimmered and dissolved into a new image. Four lines of brightly colored text appeared, one after the other:
CEDRIC DIGGORY (HOGWARTS) vs SWEDISH SHORT-SNOUT
FLEUR DELACOUR (BEAUXBATONS) vs WELSH GREEN
VIKTOR KRUM (DURMSTRANG) vs HUNGARIAN HORNTAIL
HERMIONE GRANGER (HOGWARTS) vs CHINESE FIREBALL
The greatest of efforts had been made to keep the details of the tournament tasks a closely guarded secret from anyone not directly involved in the planning. Until this very moment, neither the eager students filling the stands nor the visiting bigwigs in the top box had the slightest hint of the nature of the challenge their champions would be facing.
When the vibrant text materialized on the screen, a hush fell over the loud crowd, leaving the stadium eerily silent for a few long heartbeats. Then, all at once, a roar of noise erupted from the section at the base of the stands where the youngest students were gathered. Shouts, cheers, and applause rippled through the assembled mass of spectators like a wave crashing onto a beach during a storm.
"Dragons! It's dragons! This is so cool. I can't believe they dared to do this!" shouted one onlooker, leaping up in excitement.
The youthful Gryffindors in particular were beside themselves. Seamus leapt up from his seat, accidentally toppling a full goblet of pumpkin juice in the process and sending a mini flood of orange liquid flowing across the tabletop. But he paid the spill no mind, cupping his hands around his mouth as he screamed himself hoarse, his face glowing red with exhilaration.
All around him, his housemates reacted similarly, almost competing to see who could cheer, whistle and stomp their feet the loudest to express their excitement and nervous anticipation for the spectacle about to unfold.
Of course, there were a few exceptions to the celebrations.
Neville, who hadn't been lucky enough to witness the Quidditch World Cup in person over the summer and experience that unparalleled energy and enthusiasm, looked utterly overwhelmed by the near-pandemonium breaking out around him. But when he saw the eye-catching lines on the big screen, his whole body froze as if he had been hit by a Stunning Spell, and he remained frozen in place, gripping the edge of the bench.
Next to him, Ron hadn't fared much better. Thoroughly drenched by the flood of pumpkin juice Seamus had released, Ron gaped open-mouthed at the giant scoreboard, apparently rendered temporarily mute with shock. But after a few seconds, he leapt up.
He hadn't misheard that night. The tournament organizers were really making the champions face dragons.
"Gerroff, out of my way!" he roared, frantically shoving at a lump of younger students blocking the aisle. "I need to check on, make sure she's alright! Bloody hell, I still can't believe they're making her battle a dragon, what are they thinking?!"
But the others, all caught up in the jubilant emotions, paid no attention to him or made way for him. After a few futile attempts to force his way through the crowd, just as desperation rose inside him, Ron's frantic gaze suddenly spotted Harry, who was also staring at the big screen with a grim expression, in the aisle separating the viewing areas.
"HARRY!" Ron roared, waving his arms wildly to get his attention. "Did you hear that? How is Hermione now? Has the Ministry gone mad? They're really making her fight dragons!"
Professor Watson had instructed the physical education students to maintain order at the tournament venue. They had to stay vigilant for any overexcited spectators acting out, as the arena was packed with students and important figures from the wizarding world. But when Hermione's name appeared on the tournament screen, Harry couldn't help his face darkening.
Amidst the surging cheers, Harry vaguely heard someone calling his name, but his attention was suddenly captured by an unexpected flicker of movement below.
Narrowing his eyes, he peered down intently at the platform at the base of the stands. To his astonishment, he spotted a furry black shape crouched there - an enormous black shadow was poking its head out to look right up at him, and its front paws were waving madly.
Harry's eyes twitched fiercely. He almost thought he was seeing things, but after rubbing his eyes, the shadow was still there, and was even clearer than before.
Excitement and relief surged through Harry washing away the dread that had been squeezing his heart. Without a second thought about the earlier indistinct voice and the orders to remain at his post, Harry turned and sprinted down the aisle.
The black shadow, realizing it had successfully caught Harry's attention, opened its mouth in a grin, swished its tail, and withdrew its head out of sight.
A large dog scurried happily through the tunnel, running all the way outside the stadium. Seeing no one around, it stopped and turned to wait for the pursuing Harry.
"Sirius!"
Harry chased after him, panting. The huge temperature difference between inside and outside the stadium made him shiver, but he ignored it. Instead, he stared in surprise at the big black dog in front of him, almost as tall as himself.
"Sirius! I can't believe it's really you! What are you doing here? And why are you transformed where anyone could see you?"
In a shimmer of magic, the shaggy black fur seemed to melt away, and suddenly a beaming Sirius was standing before Harry in the flesh.
"Why, I came to watch the tournament, of course!" Sirius said, reaching out to clap a hand on Harry's shoulder. He turned his head to peer cautiously back down the tunnel for a moment before continuing.
"Fudge has been getting a lot of leave applications lately. Everyone wants to go to Diagon Alley to watch the live broadcast. Oh, you probably don't know yet. The goblins have set up a viewing area in Diagon Alley. For 20 Galleons, you can go in and watch the tournament live. Because of the flood of applications, I heard Fudge got so fed up he started chucking the latecomers' requests straight in the rubbish bin without even reading 'em!"
Mischief sparkled in Sirius' gray eyes as he tossed his long dark hair back from his face with a roar of laughter.
"So, I figured, why settle for watching the action secondhand in Diagon Alley with everyone else when I could come see it in person? I just fed ol' Scrimgeour some poppycock about having an important mission, transformed, and secretly snuck out! Of course, I can't show my face in front of Madam Bones, Barty, and Ludo, or my cover would be blown!"
The excitement on Sirius' face was just like a young wizard who had successfully skipped class and Harry grinned too.
But the smile soon faded as Sirius leaned a shoulder against the red metal rod supporting the stands, his expression sobering. "But never mind my sneaking around - the Champions are really having to battle dragons, eh? Awfully big ask of a handful of teenagers, if you ask me. Is Hermione ready for this?"
"I wish I knew," Harry admitted heavily, digging the toe of his trainer into the dirt. "I mean, we found out ahead of time thanks to Hagrid, so it's not a complete shock. And we helped Hermione prepare as much as we could. But with something like this, there's only so much you can do, y'know? And I don't know if she's had any time for extra practice this morning. Professor Watson sent us off to Hogsmeade Station first thing in the morning, so I didn't even see her at breakfast... Did you spot her when you came in?"
"Actually," Sirius said, his brow creasing thoughtfully, "when I was sneaking over here, I spotted a house-elf running over from that direction in a fluster. Maybe she's over there. We can go take a look."
Before Harry could reply, a thunderous roar suddenly exploded from inside the arena. A split second later, Ludo Bagman's magically amplified voice boomed out from inside the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the wait is over! The day you've all been anxiously awaiting has finally arrived! In mere moments, the first task of the Triwizard Tournament will begin! Now, put your hands together and show your support for our first brave champion... CEDRIC DIGGORY OF HOGWARTS!"
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