Vinda's arrival seemed to accelerate the passage of time. Eda felt that she had barely had a proper chance to talk with Vinda when the third task was already about to begin.
On the morning of the competition, the relatives of the champions gathered in a meeting room beside the Great Hall.
Before the competition officially began, they could meet their children and cheer them on.
The atmosphere in the room was somewhat strange. It was not because everyone's children were champions and therefore competitors, but because of Vinda.
The dark-haired couple were Viktor Krum's parents. The two of them sat in a corner, quietly conversing in Bulgarian. Every now and then, they would raise their heads and glance at Vinda. Their eyes contained hatred, and they made no attempt to conceal it.
This was not particularly surprising. Vinda's past was hardly some great secret. Although she had kept a low profile over the years, it was perfectly normal for someone with ulterior motives to recognize her.
After all, Grindelwald and his followers had been responsible for countless blood debts back then, so Vinda's hands must have been stained with blood as well.
The Delacours on the other side had also recognized Vinda. Living in France as well, the Delacours could naturally recognize someone from the Rosier family.
This mismatched-looking couple seemed somewhat hesitant, unsure whether they should go over and greet their fellow French citizen.
As for Vinda, she did not care about other people's gazes. She had seen such looks far too many times already.
Vinda ignored them and was instead chatting with Mrs. Weasley, thanking the Weasley family for all the care and attention they had given Eda over the years.
Sirius, Lupin, and Bill sat beside the two ladies, quietly chatting as well. From the sound of it, they were like two middle-aged uncles who refused to behave themselves, teasing Bill.
After a while, the champions entered the room. Fleur and Krum came in first, followed by Eda and Harry.
Eda first hugged Mrs. Weasley and Bill separately and exchanged a few words with them before walking toward her grandmother.
"Krum, Viktor Krum from Bulgaria." Eda said, having noticed the looks from the Krum family ever since she entered the room. "Does his family have a grudge against us?"
Vinda glanced at the dark-haired Krum family. She said, "Not against us. They should have a grudge against us. I just can't remember what it was about. The surname Krum really doesn't ring any bells."
The first "us" referred to Vinda and Eda, while the second "us" referred to Grindelwald and Vinda. Vinda did not want Eda to become entangled in the grudges and grievances of the previous generation.
Back then, Grindelwald had possessed countless followers and supporters, while also hurting countless people.
After Grindelwald imprisoned himself in Nurmengard, those people had taken plenty of bloody revenge against his remaining followers.
Vinda did not want Eda to inherit the hatred of the previous generation. This was also why Vinda never introduced her old friends to Eda.
Doing so would certainly provide some assistance, but it would also create many enemies for Eda. The disadvantages outweighed the benefits.
"Don't worry about them. You only need to be yourself." Vinda said. "So, are you ready to welcome the honor that belongs to you?"
Eda did not nod confidently as she usually did. Instead, she said, "There is a huge conspiracy hidden within the third task. I don't have the confidence to stop it. I can only do my best."
Over the past few days, Eda had told Vinda a great deal, including Dumbledore's plan, Voldemort's conspiracy, and her own thoughts. Eda felt that she should no longer keep these things hidden.
"Doing your best is enough. Where in this world is there such a thing as perfection?" Vinda comforted her. "Even Dumbledore, does he do everything perfectly? Ask him to give birth to a child. Can he do that?!"
Eda burst out laughing.
She did not consider the possibility of Dumbledore becoming pregnant. Instead, she was wondering whose surname the child would have if he really did give birth to one.
Would it be Dumbledore, or Grindelwald?
"Be serious. Don't laugh. I'm talking seriously to you!" Vinda turned Eda around, making the girl who was laughing so hard she could barely close her mouth look at her. "Remember, don't have any reservations. Whatever you want to do, Grandmother will support you."
"Anything?" Eda asked.
"Anything." Vinda replied firmly. "Even if you wanted to pluck all of Dumbledore's beard."
The day soon passed. As the sun set, everyone returned to the castle.
Dinner was considerably more lavish than usual. Excitement showed on the students' faces as they all waited for the real feast that would begin after dinner ended.
Harry did not eat much because he was genuinely nervous.
Ron and Hermione beside him kept trying to reassure him. Even Ginny, who had been sitting beside Eda, had defected and gone over to comfort the love of her dreams for a few words, but that did not help either.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Eda was happily stuffing her face without a care in the world. Vinda's words had helped her cast off her final burden.
A carefree person with no worries was naturally able to enjoy every bite, while building up her strength.
Originally, Angelina, Alicia, and her other close friends had wanted to cheer her on, but after seeing her looking like such a glutton, the four of them put those thoughts aside.
There was simply no need for any encouragement. With that enormous appetite of Eda's, everyone was worried that once she entered the maze, if she had not eaten enough, she might swallow the remaining three champions whole.
The twins sat quietly beside Eda, tirelessly fetching food for her, looking rather like the men standing behind a successful woman.
When the magically enchanted ceiling changed from blue to the dark purple of dusk, Dumbledore stood up beside the staff table, and everyone in the Great Hall immediately fell silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, in five minutes' time, I shall ask everyone to proceed to the Quidditch pitch to watch the final event of the Triwizard Tournament. Now, will the champions please accompany Mr Bagman to the grounds."
At this point, Eda finally put down her knife and fork, wiped her mouth with satisfaction, and elegantly rose from her seat. Eda high-fived everyone who held out a hand to her.
This was probably the most approachable she had been since entering Hogwarts.
The champions followed Ludo Bagman out of the castle and down the steps. Bagman kept sidling up to Harry and whispering to him.
If Eda had not known the reason, she would have wanted to call the police.
Mr Ludo Bagman was a compulsive gambler who had accumulated enormous debts, and his creditors were goblins, creatures skilled at squeezing the last Knut out of a person.
In order to repay his enormous debts and avoid being skinned and dismembered by the goblins, Ludo Bagman had placed his hopes on the suddenly rising Harry.
If Harry won the Tournament on his own, Ludo would be able to pay off all his debts.
That was why Ludo Bagman had been constantly pestering Harry. He wanted to give Harry some assistance and make this boy with the higher odds the eventual champion.
The group entered the Quidditch pitch, which had become completely unrecognizable.
A twenty-foot-high hedge surrounded the entire edge of the field. There was an opening directly in front of them, which was the entrance to the enormous maze. The passages inside were pitch-black, gloomy, and frightening.
Eda raised her head and gazed at the night sky. It was a clear, deep blue, and the stars were beginning to appear. It was a rare night of good weather, yet it could very well become a terrible day.
Five minutes later, people began entering the stands. Hundreds of students filed into their seats, and the air was filled with excited chatter and the sound of bustling footsteps.
Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid, and Moody entered the grounds and walked toward Bagman and the champions.
These four professors were responsible for patrolling outside the maze and carrying out rescues, ensuring that the competition proceeded smoothly.
"We will patrol outside the maze," Professor McGonagall told the champions. "If you encounter difficulties and want to be rescued, shoot red sparks into the air. Someone will come to help you. Is that understood?"
After saying this, the four of them walked away in different directions, spreading out around the maze. Before Professor McGonagall left, she discreetly nodded at Eda, giving her beloved student some encouragement.
Bagman then pointed his wand at his throat, magically amplifying his voice, and announced the official start of the third task.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the final event of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin! Let me announce the current scores! Esmeralda Twist, 93 points, first place, Hogwarts!"
The applause and cheers startled the birds in the Forbidden Forest into flight, sending them soaring into the gradually darkening night sky.
"Harry Potter, 85 points, second place, Hogwarts!" Ludo Bagman continued announcing the champions' scores, while the applause and cheers continued. "Viktor Krum, 80 points, third place, Durmstrang Institute! Fleur Delacour, Beauxbatons Academy!"
Eda raised her head once again and looked toward the stands. She saw her grandmother Vinda applauding her, saw Lola beside Vinda, saw the twins, Mrs Weasley, Bill...
She also saw Minister of Magic Fudge sitting in the judges' seats. That position had originally belonged to Barty Crouch.
During Crouch's "illness," the seat had belonged to Percy, whom Crouch had designated.
Tonight was the final event. The ultimate winner was about to be decided.
How could Fudge possibly miss such an opportunity to show his face?
As for Percy Weasley, he could just stay wherever it was cool and mind his own business!
"Now... Esmeralda, listen for my whistle!" Bagman said. "Three, two, one!"
With a short blast of the whistle, the final event of the Triwizard Tournament began!
...
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