Chapter 512: The First Task
The atmosphere in the Changing Rooms was tense, as if time itself had slowed to a crawl since the Champions had been handed their quills.
Ludo Bagman, ever the optimist, attempted to lighten the mood with a stream of jokes, but his words fell on deaf ears.
"Well, I can see you don't like jokes," Bagman remarked with forced cheerfulness, though it was clear he didn't particularly care. "I'm stepping out for a bit; I need to explain a few things to the audience. Remember, don't let go of your quills, got it? Now... Mr. Krum, can I have a word with you? Outside?"
Krum looked up, his expression blank. Although he wasn't sure what Bagman wanted, the man was a judge in the Triwizard Tournament, so after a brief hesitation, he stood and followed him into the corridor.
"What could they want?" Fleur muttered, frowning. "Is there something else they need to tell us... privately?"
"Who knows," Kyle replied nonchalantly, though he was becoming increasingly aware of the noise outside. The laughter and cheering were growing louder, a vibrant hum filling his ears.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the din.
Kyle's focus snapped back to the quill in his hand. It was growing hotter by the second, and he felt a strange, forceful pull. Before he could react, the sensation intensified—his whole body was abruptly sucked into the quill.
When he came to, Kyle found himself standing on the Quidditch Pitch, surrounded by deafening cheers. He glanced around in confusion. The field stretched out vast and empty, with no sign of Fleur or Krum. Weren't they supposed to compete together?
"Welcome to the Triwizard Tournament!" Bagman's enthusiastic voice boomed from the stands.
"As you can see, the Champions are already in position, but they've been placed in separate areas and cannot see one another... Of course, we can see them all, which leaves us with a delightful dilemma: whom should we watch?" Bagman chuckled at his own wit, though the joke fell flat.