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Chapter 566: Cheating
Chapter 566: Cheating
Bagman left the Quidditch field with them, but instead of heading towards Hogwarts Castle, he slowed down and walked alongside Karkaroff, who was at the back of the group.
"I don't understand why we have to wait until evening to prepare. Don't they consider the weather?" Bagman said.
"Yes, you're right," Karkaroff said with a concerned look. "So, would you care for a drink? I have some fine gin on my ship that should warm you up."
"Demelza gin..." Bagman looked tempted but shook his head. "Never mind, Igor. I still need to supervise the construction of the maze... and Chris and Batty are there too, you know. They take their work seriously and might not appreciate me drinking at this time..."
"I think you're making a big deal out of it," Karkaroff said dismissively. "Just a small cup, they won't even notice."
"No, thanks," Bagman said, glancing at Kyle ahead of them. "But there is something I want to discuss with you... Well, about the number of reserved stands for the Durmstrang side. Do you have any more requests?"
"Of course," Karkaroff said immediately. "This event is a rare opportunity, and many of our professors and honorary alumni want to witness Viktor's final triumph. I request an additional twenty seats in the first three rows."
"That might be a bit too much. I can add ten at most..."
"That's not enough. The minimum is fifteen..."
"You know I'm in a difficult position. Let's walk over here and talk."
As they walked, the two men detached themselves from the group and turned towards the Black Lake.
Kyle, at this moment, had reached the stone steps leading to the castle.
He turned to Hibiscus (Fu Rong)
and asked, "Are you going back to the dormitory?"
"No, I'll be staying in the carriage for the next few days." Fu Rong glanced back. "And I'm waiting for Madam Maxime here. If Durmstrang can add more seats in the stands, we should make the same request... It's strange that she hasn't returned yet."
"Okay, then," Kyle said.
He then climbed the steps alone and reentered the castle.
It was already 9:30, past curfew, and the castle was eerily deserted. Usually, at this time, Filch could be heard pacing the corridors, but lately, the caretaker seemed to have lost his enthusiasm for patrolling the castle, spending most of his days in his tiny office, keeping Mrs. Norris company.
"Fred, George, are you heading back to Gryffindor common room?" Kyle asked, but received no response. The room remained quiet.
"Cedric?" Kyle tried another name but still got no answer.
They must still be outside, he thought.
Kyle had intended to wait for them, but after standing alone in the chilly entrance hall for five minutes, he turned back towards the common room.
After all, standing alone in the entrance hall past curfew seemed rather foolish.
The common room was bustling with people, and as Kyle entered, they all looked at him as if they had rehearsed it.
"Is the third task a treasure hunt?"
"Nonsense, I bet it's a duel."
"Agreed, only the strongest should be crowned champion."
Everyone speculated about the content of the third task.
"None of the above," Kyle shook his head.
However, on his way back, Chris had reminded him to maintain some mystery, so he didn't divulge too much, only saying that the competition would definitely be exciting.
In addition to Cedric, Fred and George had also come along, foregoing the Gryffindor common room to join them here.
"You won't believe the news we've just overheard," Fred blurted out excitedly, his ears reddening with anger.
"We were curious about what Ludo Bagman and Karkaroff were discussing, so we decided to eavesdrop," George explained, his voice filled with indignation. "And we couldn't believe our ears—they were talking about the content of the third task!"
"That Ludo Bagman! I used to think he was the best Beater, but now... Helping Durmstrang cheat like this goes against the entire spirit of the Triwizard Tournament!" Fred exclaimed, his fists clenched in anger.
"I'll rip down his poster and throw it into the fireplace when we get back!" George added, his eyes flashing with determination.
"Indeed, it's unacceptable for a judge to aid the champions in cheating. This severely violates the rules of the tournament!" Cedric chimed in, equally outraged. He had initially followed Fred and George out of concern for their safety, but now he, too, was caught up in the gravity of their discovery.
"Wait a moment..." Kyle furrowed his brows, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Are you certain they revealed details about the task?"
"We heard them loud and clear," George asserted. "They probably thought no one was around, so they didn't bother to lower their voices."
"We should go straight to Dumbledore and report this!" Fred insisted, making a move towards the door. However, his impulsiveness was checked by Cedric, who placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.
"It's useless," Cedric sighed. "Without concrete evidence, they won't admit to anything. They'll just deny it, and we'll be left looking like fools."
"But we can't just let this slide!" George slammed his hand on the table in frustration. "This is a blatant case of cheating!"
"What exactly did they say?" Kyle, who had remained quiet until now, suddenly interjected. "Did they mention which path through the maze is the correct one?"
Cedric shook his head after a moment's thought. "Not exactly. Karkaroff asked about it, but Bagman claimed he didn't know the exact path to the center either, likely because the maze isn't fully constructed yet."
"However, they did mention something similar," Fred piped up. "Bagman said that the path with the Sphinx and the Chimera is the right one, and all one needs to do is follow it... That's practically the same as telling Karkaroff the correct route!"
"Hey, guys," George said, his eyes lighting up as if he'd just had a brilliant idea. "I agree with Cedric. Perhaps it's best if we don't tell Dumbledore about this just yet."
"What? You..." Fred began, but George cut him off.
"We were so angry that we overlooked the most crucial detail," George said, his eyes glinting with a mischievous gleam. "Remember, Kyle here is the one who enters the maze first."
As soon as Fred heard this, the realization hit him, and his expression shifted from anger to excitement. "Damn, I completely forgot about that! Bagman revealed the details of the third task to Karkaroff, but we overheard it too, which means Kyle has the same advantage!"
"Exactly," George said, a smile spreading across his face. "And Kyle will enter the maze before Krum. By the time Krum reaches the Sphinx, Kyle might already be standing before the cup..."
"Krum's face will be priceless..." Fred added, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"And just wait until Karkaroff finds out..." George finished, a similar gleam in his eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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