章 191: Chapter 191: Post-Match Scoring
Augustus smiled lightly and said, "You're awake. I'm sorry you had to endure being held as a hostage at the bottom of the lake."
Lillian shook her head with a soft smile, saying nothing, though an inexplicable sweetness welled up in her heart.
Half an hour later, Krum emerged from the water with Hermione, his head still partially in shark form. He glanced at Augustus, seemingly surprised to see that he had been waiting ashore for quite some time.
Ten minutes after that, Fleur emerged from the lake, her expression crestfallen—she had failed to find Gabrielle.
Another half an hour passed before Harry finally dragged Ron and Fleur's sister back to the surface. A group of twenty merpeople escorted them, singing shrill, discordant songs that grated on the ears.
Madame Pomfrey brought heavy blankets to wrap the champions, while Dumbledore and Ludo Bagman looked on with smiles. Percy, pale as a sheet, rushed over with an urgency that made him look even younger than usual. Meanwhile, Madame Maxime restrained the hysterical Fleur, who was crying out:
"Gabrielle! Is she alive? Is she hurt?"
Dumbledore and Bagman helped Harry to his feet. Fleur broke free of Madame Maxime's grasp and embraced her sister tightly.
"It was Grindylows—they attacked me… Oh, Gabrielle, I thought… I thought…"
Harry, meanwhile, overheard Percy enthusiastically describing Augustus's miraculous walk across the lake. Jealousy flickered in Harry's eyes. He knew that when he arrived at the merpeople's square, Lillian's pillar was already empty. Clearly, Augustus had reached her much earlier. Despite this, Augustus had not stayed to assist the other hostages; he simply rescued Lillian and left. Such selfishness and malice, Harry thought, justified his decision to sever ties with him.
"You're such a fool, Harry," Ron said. "You didn't really believe that song, did you? Dumbledore wouldn't let anyone drown!"
"But the song said—" Harry began.
"That was just to make sure you returned on time!" Ron interrupted. "I hope you didn't waste too much time playing the hero down there!"
Harry felt both deflated and irritated. These ingrates, instead of appreciating his efforts to save them, were mocking him. In hindsight, he thought bitterly, he should have just brought Ron back and claimed second place.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore was crouched by the water's edge, deep in conversation with the rough and menacing-looking leader of the merpeople. Dumbledore spoke in their sharp, high-pitched language, his tone respectful yet commanding. Finally, he straightened and addressed the other judges, suggesting a quick meeting to finalize their scores.
"Mr. Augustus," Krum said as he left Hermione's side to approach Augustus with a smile. "Competing alongside you is truly overwhelming. In these last two events, your accomplishments have made the rest of us look like mere amateurs."
Augustus gave a modest wave of his hand, his silver eyes gleaming with humility. "Everyone has their strengths. The essence of competition is the freedom to strive for excellence together. Even the most dazzling performance would be dull without others to share the stage."
Krum chuckled knowingly. "Well said. I'll admit, standing alongside you, I can't help but feel admiration."
At that moment, Bagman's magically amplified voice boomed across the venue, silencing the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the judges have reached a decision. The merpeople's leader, Merkus, has provided us with a detailed account of everything that transpired underwater. Based on their testimony, we have awarded the following scores out of 50 points…"
"Fleur Delacour demonstrated excellent application of the Bubble-Head Charm but was unable to rescue her hostage due to an attack by Grindylows. She is awarded 25 points."
"Victor Krum used partial Transfiguration effectively and was the second to return with his hostage. He is awarded 40 points."
"Harry Potter employed an unknown magical item with astonishing results," Bagman announced. "Although he returned last and far exceeded the one-hour time limit, most judges"—Bagman shot a disgruntled look at Karkaroff—"believed his actions demonstrated commendable moral integrity. Harry Potter is awarded 45 points."
Harry beamed with surprise and joy. He hadn't expected to score higher than Krum, and the unexpected victory filled him with satisfaction.
"Finally, Mr. Augustus," Bagman continued, "his unparalleled feat of walking on water allowed us to witness magic's power to transform nature itself. I often ponder the essence of magic—what it truly means to us. Today, Augustus showed us that magic is the power to create miracles, a force that exists to protect. His score is the highest ever recorded: 50 points!"
The stands erupted into cheers. Students from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang alike celebrated Augustus's triumph. Waves of applause and shouts of admiration surged to the heavens, the sound echoing across the lake. Augustus's charisma had transcended borders and time, captivating everyone.
Even Fleur clapped enthusiastically, her face lighting up with delight. Beside her, Gabrielle glanced at Harry's sullen expression and tugged at her sister's sleeve.
With his unprecedented score, Augustus had secured a commanding lead over Krum. Yet Krum remained gracious, genuinely applauding Augustus's achievement. Some rivals, Augustus thought, carried themselves with such dignity and elegance that animosity was impossible.
Dumbledore's sharp eyes, hidden behind his half-moon glasses, fell on Harry. Observing the boy's dark, jealous expression, he sighed quietly. Growth, it seemed, was veering off course. The once-pure-hearted, fiery young man was slipping further away. Environment, Dumbledore reflected, played a pivotal role in shaping character. For a boy like Harry, the attitudes of those closest to him—Hermione and Ron—were profoundly influential.
"The third and final task will take place on the evening of June 24th," Bagman announced. "The champions will receive details one month in advance. Thank you all for supporting our champions!"
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