Chapter 517: It’s All a Scam, Just a Scam
After spending some time in the Changing Rooms, Kyle and the others returned to the stands. Professor McGonagall had arranged for them to sit in a section adjacent to the judges' table.
"You'll need to wait a little longer," she informed them. "The scores will be tallied once all the Champions have completed the task."
Kyle nodded in acknowledgment. Once Professor McGonagall left, he settled into his seat, now just another spectator enjoying the match. It felt oddly relaxing.
Out in the arena, Krum and Fleur had both reached the third level. But as Kyle watched, a realization struck him—his early completion had inadvertently made the competition far more difficult for them.
With the third level already cleared, the two dragons had no one left to distract them. Instead of one person creating an opening while the other retrieved the stones, Krum and Fleur were now forced to confront the dragons head-on.
The challenge was compounded by their exhaustion. After the first two grueling levels, both Champions were visibly worn down. Fleur was pale and panting heavily, while Krum clutched a Firebolt in one hand, blood dripping steadily from a gash on his arm.
Kyle couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. He'd assumed their earlier levels would be less taxing—after all, each Champion only faced one segment of the trial. But clearly, the task had taken a harsher toll than he'd anticipated.
"You're amazing," came a hoarse voice from behind him.
Kyle turned to see Professor Moody, his magical eye swiveling animatedly as he approached. The scarred professor looked pleased, his expression bordering on proud.
"Your Summoning Charm," Moody began, "that was clever—simple, efficient. Could've been even better if you'd used it during the first level. Matagots can't keep up with the speed of a Firebolt, you know."
He sounded as though he were evaluating Kyle's performance in a field exercise. "But the third level, now that was something. Bold, decisive, confident... If you're interested in joining the Aurors, I could recommend you straight into the Auror Office based on this competition alone."