Chapter 498: Harry's Face Turns Green!!
Darren smiled, giving a perfectly fair, sportsmanlike smile.
Although, deep down, he wanted to say that as long as he was willing to spend Father Value, Krum would be nothing more than trash—
He didn't say it.
After all, he was a little holy father.
He certainly wasn't that kind of person.
So he spoke cheerfully instead.
"As long as the next task isn't dangerous, even if I come in last place, I hope this Triwizard Tournament ends without any accidents."
"I want everyone to return safely!"
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
［...］
"Darren's right. I also want us to be safe. Who cares what kind of competition it is!"
Fleur immediately echoed him.
Krum and Harry nodded vigorously.
None of them had expected the Triwizard Tournament to be this dangerous.
As they walked across the grass toward the Quidditch pitch, they kept complaining about the absurd risks of the tournament.
Then they all froze.
Because the Quidditch pitch in front of them was no longer flat or smooth.
Countless low stone walls had been built across it.
They twisted and turned in every direction, crisscrossing chaotically.
"Ah—you've seen the walls already, have you?"
A cheerful voice rang out.
"I reckon in another month, Hagrid will have the whole place properly sorted."
It was Ludo Bagman.
Seeing Harry's shocked expression, he quickly explained, clearly thinking Harry was upset about the Quidditch pitch being ruined.
"Don't worry, don't worry! Once the Triwizard Tournament is over, everything here will be restored."
"You'll be able to play Quidditch again next year!"
Darren silently felt that Harry might gladly trade an entire year of Quidditch for one safe, peaceful school term.
"A maze!"
Bagman announced enthusiastically.
"I'm sure you can tell—this is a labyrinth. Hagrid will be placing obstacles inside."
"The Triwizard Cup will be at the center. Whoever makes it through the maze and reaches the Cup will become the true Triwizard Champion!"
He smiled at Darren.
"The order of entry will be based on scores."
"First in will be Mr. Darren Potter, followed by Mr. Harry Potter, then Mr. Krum, and finally Miss Fleur Delacour."
"Sounds exciting, doesn't it?"
"Hagrid's provided a whole collection of creatures—ones he's gathered over the years."
"I was thrilled when I saw them! I think the audience will enjoy it too!"
Darren: …
Hagrid's creatures were either dangerous or disgusting.
And disgusting creatures, given time, usually evolved into dangerous ones anyway.
Even Darren deeply despised Blast-Ended Skrewts.
He glanced at Harry.
Harry's face had already turned green.
Harry clearly wanted to say that buying magical creatures from elsewhere would be far better than letting Hagrid breed them himself.
But for the sake of a champion's dignity, Harry ultimately nodded.
"All right then, I've delivered the announcement."
Bagman said cheerfully.
"The point was just to let you see the maze. Now off you go!"
Fleur immediately tugged Darren toward the castle.
Harry was about to follow, but Krum stopped him.
"Potter… could you come with me?"
Krum asked hesitantly.
"There's something I want to ask you."
Darren pretended not to notice.
He calmly escorted Fleur back toward the castle, planning to return afterward and rejoin the plot.
Things were starting to get dangerous now.
At the moment, Harry was clearly less important than Fleur.
Of course—
More importantly, Dumbledore definitely had backup plans for Harry.
Under normal circumstances, Harry couldn't die.
Even Voldemort wanted the Death Eaters to bring Harry back alive.
After all, Voldemort wanted to prove—before all his followers—that he could defeat Harry Potter.
He wanted to wash away the humiliation of having been "killed" by Harry.
Especially since, this time around, Voldemort didn't have many truly loyal Death Eaters left.
The loyal ones were either locked in Azkaban or had been killed after his downfall.
Barty Crouch Jr., who was still alive, counted as one of the few truly faithful.
Darren had no intention whatsoever of siding with Voldemort.
A leader destined to fail was not worth investing in.
Even if Darren shared Voldemort's bloodline, he wasn't stupid enough to act on it.
At most, he planned to enjoy the convenience of having Voldemort's bloodline—
He had no intention of fulfilling any obligations tied to it.
That said…
If, at the very end, when Harry faced Voldemort, Voldemort truly didn't resist—
Then that bloodline might still come in handy.
He could instantly transform into Voldemort's "loyal son."
Darren snickered inwardly.
Of course, on the surface, he continued chatting gently with Fleur.
It wasn't until he escorted her all the way to the Beauxbatons carriage that he finally left, somewhat reluctantly.
Meanwhile, Harry followed Krum past Hagrid's hut to the edge of the forest.
"Why bring me here?"
Harry asked, puzzled.
"It's quiet here."
Krum replied calmly.
He stopped beneath the shade of a tree.
Then he turned and looked directly at Harry.
"What exactly is your relationship with Hermione?"
Harry had been expecting something—
But not this.
He replied impatiently.
"What does that have to do with you?"
"Darren saved my life!"
Krum said seriously.
"I've heard rumors about you and Hermione. If you really are involved with her, I think you should end it."
"A good girl should belong to Darren. He's your brother, he's better than you, and I think he deserves someone better!"
Another victim of Rita Skeeter's poisonous writing.
Harry sighed inwardly.
He was tempted to tell Krum that Darren and Hermione weren't like that either—
That Krum was overthinking everything.
But he worried that saying so would only make Krum think Harry was trying to steal Hermione.
So he explained plainly.
"I have nothing to do with Hermione. We're just friends. She's definitely not my girlfriend."
"You… you two… don't… you know…?"
Krum asked awkwardly.
Harry felt miserable.
Here he was—a fourteen-year-old boy—discussing this kind of thing with Viktor Krum.
"No! I'm only fourteen! I'm not at that stage yet!"
"Oh—oh! I see!"
Krum immediately looked relieved.
"Then I really misunderstood!"
He smiled.
"I watched the first task. You were excellent."
Harry felt genuinely happy.
Being praised by someone like Viktor Krum—a Quidditch World Cup star—felt amazing.
He was just about to return the compliment when he heard movement behind Krum.
Harry grabbed Krum and pulled him down into the grass beside him.
His movements were smooth and practiced.
Clearly, he'd done this before.
"Shh—don't make a sound!"