Ludo's voice rang out, flamboyant as ever, drawing thunderous cheers from the audience.
A majestic griffin soared through the air, smashing through a sunken ship, tearing apart a thestral, and finally snatching up a pitiful little green snake before stretching its neck and swallowing it whole.
The Slytherins' faces turned green—fine, they could understand targeting Durmstrang and Beauxbatons as a spectacle for the Triwizard Tournant.
But what the hell was that snake at the end?!
What did Slytherin have to do with this tournant at all?
Stupid Gryffindors!
Ludo continued his dramatic praise.
"We must admit that Mr. Potter's performance exceeded all our expectations. A fully developed, masterful potion—one I can already see becoming a comrcial success... if the cost isn't too outrageous."
Dumbledore suddenly chuckled.
"His execution was outstanding, completing the task in under half an hour, successfully rescuing his treasure—none other than Gryffindor's own Hermione Granger!"
"And he displayed true chivalry—when he saw Miss Delacour eliminated, he imdiately extended a helping hand, retrieving her treasure in record ti!"
"Even with two trips underwater, his total ti still did not exceed the one-hour limit."
Krum felt his face burn.
Another mystery solved.
So that's why Gabrielle was onshore despite Fleur's elimination—Potter had saved her.
But that only deepened his humiliation.
Two round trips.
He did two round trips, and his total ti was still shorter than Krum's one.
Mada Maxi was just about to raise her wand for scoring when Ludo, taking a deep breath, continued.
"I understand—so of you may be confused by Mr. Potter's actions. The rules clearly state that once a champion exits the water, they are not allowed to re-enter."
He cast a aningful glance at Karkaroff.
"But Mr. Potter's situation is different. The rule exists to maintain fairness—each champion gets only one chance to rescue their own treasure."
"But he had already retrieved his treasure."
"When he went back in, it wasn't as a 'Triwizard Tournant Champion of Hogwarts'—it was as a true hero, saving another's treasure."
"You all saw how dangerous the lake was."
The Slytherins scoffed loudly.
Dangerous?
Was there a single mont where the Black Lake had actually been dangerous for Harry Potter?
Not even a dozen rpeople could take him down.
Did Ludo even believe his own nonsense?
Ludo remained completely serious.
"Mr. Krum's experience underwater speaks for itself—his struggle was intense. Even a powerful witch like Miss Delacour nearly t disaster in the lake."
"This is the limit of what young wizards can endure. But Mr. Potter? He was willing to risk that danger, to risk possibly violating the tournant rules, to save soone else's treasure."
"That is the true spirit of a champion!"
"That is the courage and conduct worthy of the title."
His words ended to thunderous applause.
With the exception of the Slytherins, everyone—students, Hogwarts visitors, and Hogsade spectators—cheered wildly.
"He's so over-the-top," Hermione muttered, looking exasperated. "Is this just to make sure Karkaroff doesn't give you a low score?"
"I'm wondering how many Galleons he's bet, and on what exactly." Harry's voice was flat. "I have no idea how soone like him is still allowed to run the Triwizard Tournant."
"It was supposed to be Crouch," Hermione reminded him, blinking innocently. "But he just had to go for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position instead. And then, well... you two didn't exactly get along."
Harry swiped at her playfully.
Hermione giggled, dodging him. "Harry, stop it."
"And now, let's begin the scoring!" Ludo announced, bringing his grand speech to a dramatic close. "We always start with Mada Maxi—but this ti, how about we begin with Karkaroff instead?"
Karkaroff's face darkened. He gritted his teeth and slowly raised his wand.
He desperately wanted to give Harry a low score.
But all the excuses he had prepared had been preemptively shut down by Ludo. He couldn't even co up with a fake reason.
Even he knew how to spell "barely justified."
"Karkaroff, sir, did you fall asleep?" Ludo asked, his tone overly kind and genuinely concerned. "Or are you feeling unwell?"
"Would you like to call Madam Pomfrey?"
His Sonorus charm was still active—everyone in the arena heard him crystal clear.
Karkaroff flinched, turning his head away. His wand trembled slightly.
A tiny "8" appeared in the sky, flickering so briefly that the wind almost imdiately blew it away.
"My apologies, Karkaroff sir—I didn't quite see that. Would you mind redoing your score?" Ludo's face was all innocence.
Karkaroff's body tensed.
He flicked his wand again, conjuring the sa tiny "8," this ti holding for three seconds before dissolving.
"Excellent! Even under Karkaroff's extrely high standards and uncompromising expectations, Mr. Potter has still earned a comndable score of eight points!"
Ludo applauded enthusiastically, voice filled with warmth and admiration.
He heavily emphasized "perfect performance" and "no ti overage."
The audience booed.
"Eight?! Eight?! THAT'S ALL?!"
Was Karkaroff judging with his brain or his ass?
Dumbledore, still smiling pleasantly, raised his wand and conjured a brilliant "10."
Ludo and Umbridge both followed suit.
Mada Maxi hesitated, glanced at Fleur—still holding Gabrielle—sighed heavily, and finally, also gave a "10."
"Unbelievable!" Ludo shouted, raising both hands triumphantly, face flushed with excitent.
"Forty-eight points! Mr. Potter has achieved an almost perfect score—forty-eight points in the second task!"
"And now, let's move on to scoring Mr. Krum."
"Although he exceeded the ti limit, his performance underwater was still impressive. He displayed the courage, responsibility, and skills of a true champion."
"Mada Maxi—"
Before Ludo could finish, Karkaroff impatiently raised his wand.
A massive "8" appeared in the sky, lingering dramatically.
Ludo froze.
The audience erupted in loud boos, while Krum buried his face in his hands.
After a long pause, Ludo sighed and continued, "Karkaroff has given Krum a generous score of eight points!"
"Perhaps there's so extraordinary quality in Krum that truly moved him."
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