Chapter 543: Wisdom and Judgement
The next day, morning.
Kyle had just finished breakfast when Professor McGonagall summoned him. This time, the viewing area for the competition was even closer—directly across from the castle gates, encircling Black Lake.
By 9:50 a.m., just ten minutes before the competition's start, the seats were already packed with spectators. Despite the biting cold, the crowd seemed unbothered, energetically waving flags and eagerly awaiting the event.
The five referees were already in place, and after a month's absence, Dumbledore made his return to Hogwarts. His face looked slightly haggard, as though he hadn't had much rest, but his eyes remained sharp, and his expression brimmed with excitement.
As Kyle passed by, he caught Dumbledore cracking a joke to Professor McGonagall, who walked behind him. However, Professor McGonagall was far too tense to laugh. Her gaze was fixed nervously on Black Lake and occasionally darted to Kyle standing beside her.
As the start time approached, Ludo Bagman stepped forward, raising his wand to his throat. "Sonorus!" he declared, his voice instantly booming like thunder, echoing across the lake.
"The Champions have all arrived, and the competition is about to begin. Allow me to explain the rules for the benefit of our audience."
"This task tests both wisdom and judgment. The Champions will first venture into the Forbidden Forest to locate three keys, then use those keys to rescue their most precious treasures, which are trapped in Black Lake."
"I'm sure the Champions are already aware of this, so I won't go into further detail. However, let me remind you of one crucial point: make good use of the stones in your possession. Each stone can be traded with a Centaur in the Forbidden Forest for a clue to a key. Three stones, three keys. Your ability to decipher these clues swiftly will be pivotal to your success."
He paused, scanning the crowd before turning toward the judges' table. After receiving an approving nod from Chris, he continued, "There is one more thing. We've made some minor adjustments to the scoring criteria for the Second Task, dividing results into broader categories."
"Firstly, Champions who complete the task within one hour will receive a minimum of eight points."