Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 567: Chapter 565: Cheating

Bagman left the Quidditch Pitch with them, but he didn’t head towards Hogwarts Castle; he deliberately slowed his pace and walked alongside Karkaroff at the back of the group.

”I really don’t understand why we have to wait until the evening to start preparations. Haven’t they considered the weather?”

”Yes, you’re quite right,” Karkaroff said with a concerned expression, ”So, would you like a drink? I have some treasured gin on my ship, which should warm you up quite a bit.”

”Durmstrang’s gin...” Bagman appeared somewhat tempted but shook his head shortly after, ”Forget it, Igor, I must oversee the maze construction shortly... Moreover, Chris and Barty are both around, you know, they work diligently and might not appreciate me drinking at this moment...”

”I think that’s a bit of an overreaction,” Karkaroff said indifferently, ”Just a small glass; they wouldn’t notice.”

”Better not,” Bagman cast a casual glance at Kael ahead, ”But there is something I need to tell you... Hmm, regarding the number of seats reserved for Durmstrang on the stands, do you have any requests?”

”Of course,” Karkaroff immediately replied, ”This event is quite rare. Many professors and honorary alumni want to witness Viktor’s final championship moment. I request twenty more positions in the first three rows.”

”That might be quite a lot, a maximum of ten more...”

”Not enough, at least fifteen...”

”You know I’m in a difficult position. Let’s talk more over here.”

The two walked away, leaving the group, and headed towards the direction of the Black Lake.

Meanwhile, Kael had already reached the stone steps before the castle.

He looked at Fleur and asked, ”Are you heading back to the dormitory?”

”No, I’ll be staying in the carriage these days.”

She glanced back, ”Besides, I need to wait here for Ms.Maxime. If Durmstrang can add seats to the stands, we must also make the same request... It’s strange, she hasn’t returned yet.”

”Alright then.” Kael said.

Then he walked up the stone steps alone and returned to the castle.

It was already half-past nine, during curfew time, with no one in the castle, eerily silent.

At this time, the sound of Filch’s footsteps could usually be heard in the castle, but recently, the caretaker seemed to have lost the enthusiasm to patrol the castle, spending most of his time in his narrow office, accompanied by Mrs Norris.

”Fred, George, are you heading back to Gryffindor’s common room?” Kael asked.

But he received no response; the surroundings remained quiet.

”Cedric?” Kael tried another name, but again no one answered.

Presumably, they were still outside and hadn’t returned.

Kael initially thought of waiting for them a bit, but after standing in the chilly entrance hall for five minutes, he turned back to the common room.

Standing alone in the entrance hall post-curfew did seem a bit silly.

The common room was crowded, and as Kael entered, everyone, as if planned, turned to look.

”What’s the third task? Is it a treasure hunt?”

”Nonsense, I guess it’s a duel.”

”Agreed, only the strongest will become champions.”

Everyone speculated enthusiastically about the third task.

”None of them,” Kael shook his head.

However, on the way back, Chris reminded him to maintain some mystery, so Kael didn’t reveal much, merely saying the competition would surely be exciting.

By ten o’clock, finding no further answers, everyone gradually dispersed to the dormitories, and soon, only a few remained in the common room.

At this moment, the wooden door on the wall suddenly opened, and in the next moment, three people appeared out of nowhere in front of Kael.

Besides Cedric, there were Fred and George, who hadn’t returned to Gryffindor’s common room but came over instead.

”You wouldn’t believe what we’ve heard,”

Fred couldn’t wait to say as soon as they entered, he seemed quite agitated, even his ears were red.

”We were curious and wanted to hear what Ludo Bagman and Karkaroff were discussing.”

George said angrily, ”We didn’t expect them to discuss the content of the third task.”

”That Ludo Bagman, who would’ve thought he wants to help Durmstrang against Hogwarts, and here I thought he was the best Beater.”

”We’ll tear down his poster and throw it into the fireplace when we get back!”

”As a judge, aiding a champion in cheating, it’s a serious violation of the Triwizard Tournament rules!” Cedric was quite enraged too.

He was initially worried Fred and George might get caught, which was why he went with them, not expecting to stumble upon such a big secret.

”Wait...” Kael furrowed his brows, ”Are you sure you heard him reveal the task details?”

”Heard very clearly,” George said, ”They probably thought no one was around, so they didn’t disguise it at all.”

”We have to go report them to the Headmaster!”

Fred was too angry, immediately wanting to go outside, but Cedric stopped him.

”It’s useless; we don’t have direct evidence; they won’t admit it,” Cedric sighed.

”But we can’t just let this slide!” George slammed the table, ”Such disgraceful cheating.”

”What exactly did they say?” Kael suddenly asked, ”Did they mention the correct route through the maze?”

”Well...I don’t think so,” Cedric thought for a moment and shook his head, ”Though Karkaroff asked, maybe because the maze isn’t fully built yet, Bagman said he’s also unsure which path leads to the central trophy.” ℯℯ𝘭.

”No, they did mention something close,” Fred interjected, ”Bagman said anywhere with the Sphinx and Manticore is correct; just keep following along... It’s basically the same as directly telling him the correct route.”

”Hey, guys.” George suddenly thought of something and slammed the table, ”I agree with Cedric; it’s better not to inform Dumbledore of what happened today.”

”What? You...” Fred was just about to say something but was stopped by George.

”We were so angry we didn’t notice the most important point,” he hinted, ”Remember? Kael is the first one to enter the maze.”

Fred quickly understood the implication of this statement, his face swiftly transitioning from anger to excitement.

”Damn it, how could I forget this,” he whispered, ”Bagman revealed the third task’s content to Karkaroff, but we heard it; this means Kael also gained this information.”

”Exactly,” George said, ”And Kael will enter the maze ahead of Krum. By the time Krum finds the Sphinx, Kael might already be near the trophy...”

”Krum’s expression will be amazing at that moment...”

”And Karkaroff’s too...”