Chapter 347: Victory
Chapter 347: Victory
By now, it was pitch black, and Liam was sprinting toward the Trophy, the hedges on either side blurring as he ran. Thanks to Martial Agility, he reached the Trophy in less than ten seconds.
Liam smiled as he grabbed the handle of the Trophy, imagining a bag brimming with Galleons. The feeling of having money but not being able to spend it was truly miserable. Even though he had warehouses of wealth in other worlds, he couldn't use it openly in this one. His previous investments with the Weasley Twins were made through property and technology, and the profits were reinvested, leaving him with little cash. Winning the championship and receiving a thousand Galleons would really solve his problems.
The Trophy was still a Portkey, but this time it was personally crafted and placed by Headmaster Dumbledore, so there was no issue. As Liam was whisked away, he saw Fleur turn the corner, her face showing a look of extreme disappointment when she saw Liam's hand on the Trophy before he vanished.
After a moment of disorientation, Liam appeared in a clearing facing the stands. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as they saw him holding the Trophy, especially the Hogwarts students, who waved their school flags and the red banner of Gryffindor with enthusiasm.
"Now, we have our champion of the Triwizard Tournament", Bagman's booming voice echoed across the grounds. "Let's give him a round of applause."
Liam, guided by officials, placed the Trophy on a stand in the clearing and then followed Madam Pomfrey to a temporary tent behind it. Along the way, he earned 10 Deviation Points.
"Are you all right?" Madam Pomfrey asked, sounding anxious. "I saw on the screen that you faced the Scream of Terror without any defense. Do you feel dizzy or nauseous? I never agreed to the other schools using dangerous Dark Magic. But Albus insisted on international cooperation and allowed Durmstrang to use it—"
While speaking, Madam Pomfrey didn't stop moving. She had Liam sit in a chair similar to a dentist's and then pulled out a bottle of blue Elixir that looked like liquid ice, trying to get him to drink it.
"Madam Pomfrey, I'm really fine", Liam tried to explain to the School Healer that he didn't need the potion, but Madam Pomfrey didn't believe he could withstand a Dark Magic spell without protection.
"Even if you're not injured, this potion will help calm your nerves, which have been on edge all year", Madam Pomfrey explained. Reluctantly, Liam swallowed the potion.
Fortunately, this potion tasted different from the others Madam Pomfrey had given him; it wasn't as unpleasant. It tasted like a mint-flavored iced tea, and Liam felt a cool sensation travel from his mouth to his stomach, then spread throughout his body. His brain felt as if it were submerged in ice water, and his slight fatigue disappeared.
"Don't think about using this regularly. If you take too much of this Elixir, you'll lose the normal range of human emotions", Madam Pomfrey warned, seeing Liam staring at the empty bottle. "Rest for a bit. I'll come back to get you in a while. There's an award ceremony at the banquet you need to attend."
A short while later, the other contestants who were still in the maze began to arrive. The first to enter was Fleur, her face full of disappointment. It was understandable; losing when victory was so close is harder to accept than losing in other circumstances.
Next came Krum and Diana, another student from Beauxbatons. Both were injured, and Madam Pomfrey's complaints revealed that they had learned the tournament had ended during their battles.
The last to arrive was Harry, who looked extremely disheveled, covered in dirt, and with twigs and leaves in his hair. However, upon seeing Liam, he seemed very excited and was genuinely happy that Liam had won the championship and brought glory to the school.
"I had such bad luck. I was attacked by three Flobberworms on my way and ended up running in the wrong direction", Harry said with a gloomy expression. "So when you got the Trophy, I was still circling around outside the maze."
After waiting for about half an hour, Madam Pomfrey informed them that they could go to the Great Hall.
Even from outside the Great Hall's Golden Gate, Liam could hear the noisy chatter inside. It seemed that the students had already gathered there.
A few minutes later, the massive doors swung open, and Dumbledore's voice echoed out. "Now, please join me on the stage, our Champions."
The six of them walked down the central passage of the Great Hall toward the stage, and the students from the three schools, seated at the long tables, cheered and clapped enthusiastically. Liam noticed that one more judge, Bagman, was missing. He must have fled, fearing Goblin reprisals after losing everything. It was clear that gambling was a dangerous game.
"As you all know, the Triwizard Tournament is designed to promote friendship among wizards—" As the six of them stepped onto the stage, Fudge began his lengthy speech. Liam could see the students below looking exasperated.
Finally, Fudge finished reading his thick stack of notes. He raised his voice and announced, "Now, I will present the Triwizard Tournament trophy to the champion."
"Finally", Liam sighed in relief. At Fudge's gesture, he approached the Minister.
"Congratulations on bringing Honor Points to the British Wizarding World", Fudge said, patting Liam's arm as he handed him the Trophy. Liam then held up the Trophy for the photographers, followed by a series of group photos with Fudge, the Headmasters, and the other contestants.
Just as the photo session was wrapping up, Fudge stepped back to the center of the stage, apparently ready to speak again. Suddenly, two owls flew in through the skylight, dropping letters to Headmaster Dumbledore and Minister Fudge.
An unexpected delivery at this moment was unusual. Fudge opened his letter, and Liam, standing slightly behind him, glanced over his shoulder. Several professors also gathered around Dumbledore to read the letter in his hand. The students below started murmuring, creating a buzz of whispers.
Due to the Ministry officials blocking the view, Liam couldn't see the full content of the letters. But the words "Azkaban" and "Escape" he caught through the gaps made his heart sink. Clearly, something serious had happened.
Sure enough, Fudge's subsequent speech was brief. After a few words of formalities, he handed a bag of gold coins to Liam and left with his Ministry staff, making the award ceremony feel anticlimactic.
After a moment of stunned silence, Dumbledore announced that everyone could disperse and return to their dormitories. However, he kept Liam and Harry behind.
"Professors, what is it you need from us?" Harry asked directly.
"Bad news", Dumbledore said, looking at the students filing out before lowering his voice to address Liam and Harry. "Voldemort took advantage of most people being at Hogwarts today to launch a sudden attack on Azkaban. It seems he has managed to recruit some Dementors. We can confirm that prisoners have escaped, though the exact number and identities are still being determined."
No wonder Fudge left so hastily, and the professors who read the letter looked grim. This indicated that Voldemort had regained some of his strength in a short time after leaving Britain and was now back. The wizarding world was about to be in turmoil.
(End of Chapter)
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