Chapter 512: Imperius Curse!!
This was a pitch-black, shifting passage.
Darren had barely taken two steps inside when he ran straight into a Blast-Ended Skrewt.
There was no doubt about it—this was Hagrid's handiwork.
He flicked his wand almost casually, and the Blast-Ended Skrewt was stopped mid-air by an Impedimenta.
After dealing with the little monster, Darren heard Ludo Bagman's voice announcing that Harry was allowed to enter.
He continued forward.
Before long, he noticed a hedge blocking the path ahead.
Out of curiosity, he stepped closer, only to realize that the hedge was actually some kind of magical creature in disguise. Without hesitation, he cast Stupefy on it.
At the same time, he heard the third whistle.
Fleur and Krum had entered as well.
Up to this point, images of the champions' positions appeared in the air above the stadium.
However, just like what the warriors themselves could see inside the maze, only about a one-meter radius around each person was visible. Everything else was blurred.
This was clearly to prevent the champions from using the projected images to guide their movement.
Darren clicked his tongue lightly.
He kept moving.
Then—
[Ding, sensing a Boggart extracting memories. Should the memories be falsified?]
[Forge them!]
Darren answered without hesitation. After all, this was being broadcast live.
He didn't have the luxury of being too picky.
As a result, the Boggart in front of him transformed into Rita Skeeter, brandishing her oversized quill and shouting dramatically,
"I'll fabricate stories about all your relatives and leave you completely alone!"
Darren watched her performance for a moment.
Then, pretending to be furious, he shouted, "Enough of this nonsense!"
The Rita Skeeter Boggart vanished in a puff of blue smoke.
He gained a Father value.
Another stretch of path appeared ahead.
This time, Darren encountered a Dementor.
He raised his wand.
"Expecto Patronum."
A silver dragon burst forth, smashing straight into the Dementor.
The dark creature recoiled and retreated rapidly.
After that, no matter what obstacle or magical creature appeared, Darren dealt with it cleanly with a single flick of his wand.
This drew wave after wave of applause.
Countless eyes were fixed firmly on him.
Once he had attracted almost everyone's attention, Darren began thinking about how to do something truly worthy of the Holy Father points.
He remembered that this was the place where Barty Crouch Jr. had attacked Fleur in the original events.
This was his chance.
He slowed down and listened carefully.
Finally—
A scream rang out.
Immediately afterward, a red distress signal shot into the air.
"Fleur?"
Darren called her name almost instinctively.
He saw that Fleur's area was shrouded in thick fog.
Spells flickered within it, mixed with the silhouettes of strange creatures. After champions entered once, they usually didn't dare go in a second time.
The spectators in the stands grew anxious.
They didn't want Darren to enter, yet they desperately wanted to know what had happened to Fleur.
The fog completely blocked their view.
Everyone thought Darren would hesitate. After all, it was dangerous.
But Darren rushed in without a second thought.
Fleur lay unconscious on the ground.
Her wand had been knocked some distance away.
As for the fog—there were no creatures, no dangerous spells at all.
Darren waved his wand, dispersing the fog instantly.
Now, the entire audience could clearly see what was happening inside.
Ignoring the reactions around him, Darren walked over to Fleur. Just as everyone assumed he was about to send another distress signal for her—
He instead cast a quick recovery spell.
Fleur slowly regained consciousness.
The moment she woke up, she burst into tears.
"Darren, Darren! Someone attacked me!"
"Attacked you?"
Darren looked around nervously.
Then he shook his head.
"I don't see anyone else here. Are you sure you didn't misjudge it? There are no other wizards nearby—only Professor Moody patrolling the perimeter."
Fleur was still shaken.
She took a deep breath and said, "Darren, stay with me for a moment. I sent the distress signal before I lost consciousness. Could you wait here with me until a professor arrives?"
Her voice clearly carried outside the maze.
The stands immediately erupted in curses.
Stopping to wait for her during the Triwizard Tournament? Why didn't she just fly up into the sky while she was at it?
Darren laughed lightly.
"Of course. The competition comes second—friendship comes first."
[Ding, Father value +50]
[Ding, Holy Father value +80]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
His words moved many people.
Naturally, some disagreed.
But without exception, even they felt a trace of emotion.
A moment later, Moody arrived.
He clearly came through a special passage.
Just earlier, he had most likely used that same passage to attack Fleur.
Seeing Moody, Fleur finally relaxed.
She urged Darren to hurry on and continue the competition, completely unaware that the righteous-looking professor in front of her was the one who had attacked her moments ago.
After watching Fleur leave safely, Darren continued toward the center of the maze.
Ludo Bagman had said that the Triwizard Cup was located at its heart.
All he had to do was reach it.
But then—
Krum appeared.
He charged at Darren wildly.
A Stunning Spell shot toward Darren's back.
Darren paused, then dodged it cleanly.
He looked at Krum in confusion.
"Krum… what's wrong with you? No—something's not right. You should send up a distress signal!"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
Darren spoke loudly, making sure everyone could hear.
But Krum said nothing.
Instead, he continued casting Dark Magic at Darren, clearly trying to knock him out.
In front of so many eyes, Darren was more than willing to play along.
After all, it earned Father points.
And more importantly, he was already certain—Krum was under the Imperius Curse.
Some of the spells Krum was using would normally land someone straight in Azkaban.
Darren dodged without counterattacking, focusing only on disarming him.
It wasn't until Krum fired another vicious, piercing curse that Darren finally frowned.
He cast Impedimenta again.
Krum was blasted into the air and slammed heavily into the ground.
He struggled to get back up.
But Darren had already pinned him down and fired a red distress signal into the sky.
Then, with a deeply troubled expression, he looked upward.
"I believe the Triwizard Tournament should be suspended immediately. Krum has clearly been placed under the Imperius Curse.
"This match cannot be counted. And Fleur—she really was attacked.
"I don't acknowledge this result. Only a victory earned fairly should be recognized as first place."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]