Chapter 737 - 288: The Third Task
Chapter 737: Chapter 288: The Third Task
What Fleur and Victor did not expect was that Lady Grindelwald first encouraged them gently with a few words, then called Harry over alone.
"Harry."
The two of them walked aside, Vivi smiled and reached out to pat Harry’s head.
Harry quite enjoyed this feeling of being patted, and he said happily, "I thought you weren’t going to come."
"Why?" Vivi asked with interest.
"I saw the newspaper this morning," Harry said, "Oh, I haven’t congratulated you yet on becoming the Minister of Magic."
"It’s not something worth congratulating, Harry," Vivi said with a soft sigh, "Becoming the Minister of Magic means carrying more responsibilities. It seems glamorous, but at the same time, you bear the burden of hundreds of thousands of wizards in the Great German Region..."
Those words made it sound like you were a weightlifting champion, why not say you’re bearing all of Europe on your shoulders?
Harry thought that in his heart but wasn’t tactless enough to say it out loud.
"Sometimes I think, how big does the office need to be to be called big?" Vivi lamented with her hands behind her back, and with her current identity, these words actually had some sense to them.
If an ordinary Ministry of Magic official said this, it might be funny, but as Minister of Magic, especially one who has swallowed several ministries of magic, Vivi is qualified to say this.
"Can I understand this as a bit of Versailles?" Harry asked, pursing his lips.
"Let’s say so," Vivi smiled softly, tucking her hair behind her ear, and said to him, "The European Magic World has been divided for too long, and the American Magic Congress is eyeing it greedily, wanting to gain the highest voice. If Europe remains in its current state of disunity, it will be hard to compete against the American Magic Congress and will only be divided and ruled by it. Harry, do you understand me?"
As she said this, Vivi’s eyes flickered, seemingly anticipating Harry’s response.
"Of course I understand." Harry nodded without hesitation and said, "I will always support your decisions, Vivi!"
"That’s great," Vivi said with satisfaction. She took out that silver-white princess crown, thought for a moment, but did not put it on Harry’s head.
"You intend to put this on me?" No matter how Harry looked at it, he felt that the princess crown wasn’t made for him.
How can a grown man wear a princess crown?
"This isn’t suitable for you."
Vivi said, then somehow produced a silver-white bracelet, engraved with a phoenix poised to fly.
"Wear this," she said, "It will be of some help to you, Harry."
"Alright." Harry took the bracelet and put it on without hesitation, "I feel full of power, power!"
Saying that, he struck a pose full of strength, making Vivi laugh out loud.
"Alright, alright," she said with a smile, "But this bracelet won’t provide you with strength; it can precisely locate your position and will also assist you, providing some protection... I hope you stay safe, Harry, and when it’s time..."
"...I will come to find you," she added.
"Okay," Harry nodded.
"Go join the competition," Vivi said, "I’ve delayed you for too long; the other two warriors must be eager to start the event."
She walked a few steps away, turned, and said, "Good luck!"
"Good luck!" Harry smiled and waved to Vivi.
At this moment, seeing Vivi leaving, Mr. Bagman pointed his magic wand at his own throat and said "Loud Voice", so his magically amplified voice echoed in the stands.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the final event of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me report the current scores! Harry Potter—87 points, in first place, from Hogwarts School!"
The applause and cheers startled the birds in the Forbidden Forest into the gradually darkening night sky.
"Victor Krum—80 points, second place, Durmstrang Institute!"
Another round of applause.
"Fleur Delacour—third place, Beauxbatons Academy!"
Harry could recognize Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Ron, and Hermione in the stands politely applauding for Fleur.
He waved to them, and they smiled and waved back at him.
"Now... Harry, listen for my whistle!" Bagman said, "Three—two—————"
With a short whistle sound, Harry drew out his magic wand and stepped into the maze.
The high hedges cast dark shadows on the path, and whether because the hedges were tall and dense or because magic had been applied, as soon as he entered the maze, he could no longer hear the audience’s sounds.
Harry almost felt like he was underwater again; he held up his magic wand and said, "Lumos Vivus! (Fluorescent Flickering Live Version)."
A silver-white ball of magic light rose from his magic wand and then acted like a light bulb, helping Harry to clearly see the surroundings.
He continued forward, and after about fifty meters, he came to a fork in the path.
"Show me the way!" Harry laid his magic wand flat on his palm and whispered to it.
The wand rotated like a compass for a long time, choosing the path to Harry’s right.
Harry heard Bagman’s whistle sound again; Krum had entered the maze.
He quickened his pace, turned right, and hurried forward, with the glowing orb above his head acting like a spotlight, helping him determine the direction ahead.
From afar came Bagman’s third whistle, all the warriors were now in the maze.