"Wait... haven't we seen Harry for a long time?"
Staring at Yamamoto, who was like a headless fly wandering in a narrow, dark room on the big screen, Hermione suddenly blinked — this was a tournament, not some variety show called "Walk Slowly", there wasn't any fan culture about why my pigeon has less screen time than others —
So, all the live broadcast footage allocation was completely free from capital intervention, but... this Yamamoto had been on the screen for more than ten minutes, and he hadn't even left the room yet — this wasn't normal. Not to mention Harry, even Cedric, Alexander... all the other champions hadn't appeared for a long time.
Even Krum, who was found by the riverbank, had no further updates —
"...Yes, did something happen?"
Neville squinted, instinctively stood up, and looked towards the main guest seat, but he didn't see William, who should be sitting next to Professor Lupin, "The senior isn't here, either."
Soon, more people began to notice this, and the audience started to become noisy. Even the headmasters in the main guest seat instinctively turned to look at Lupin, who was staring at a screen from the last row — "..." Confronted by a bunch of gazes, Lupin's eye twitched slightly.
"The equipment had a bit of an issue, currently under repair —"
Thus, under the questioning of the elderly people, Lupin could only sigh and use the excuse of a technical malfunction.
The excuse worked like a charm; these old folks couldn't understand this kind of newfangled thing — so, hearing the excuse, they could only nod and, after urging Lupin to settle it quickly, continued to turn back to watch someone who was locked in a small black room anxiously crawling all over the place.
"...So embarrassing, I want this fool to withdraw from the competition."
Lupin even heard the headmaster of the Magic Institute mutter to himself, obviously, Yamamoto's performance was far below his expectations.
"Something happened?"
A deep inquiry sounded in Lupin's ear.
"No, of course not!"
But Lupin immediately responded firmly.
"Then tell me, what technical issue is it?"
"It's..."
Lupin turned his head, looking at Grindelwald who was squatting behind him, and his eyelid couldn't help twitching again.
"You know me."
Grindelwald's mouth curled up, he examined Lupin's tense face for a moment and revealed a "nuclear grin", "Seems like William can't keep anything to himself."
"Yes, yes, William told me, it was you who invented these things..."
Lupin still wanted to help cover up.
"Don't talk nonsense, tell me, where did that guy go?"
Grindelwald waved his hand, indicating for Lupin to shut up and talk about serious matters.
"Ahem, don't know."
Lupin decisively shut his mouth, no matter how much Grindelwald tried to provoke, he just shook his head and played dumb.
Finally, Grindelwald sighed, got up, and left — it was only then that Lupin finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had even put his hand on his wand at his waist. The Dark Lord who once stirred up storms all over Europe was standing right behind him — who wouldn't be flustered?
Watching the screen where Yamamoto was already sniffing the ground, Lupin couldn't help but sigh.
He also wanted to switch the camera to others, even just for the ratings — but now, looking at the other perspectives, with that shameless Dark Lord using a maxed-out account to bomb fish, chasing Harry and others all over the map, Lupin could only feel helpless.
This thing... can't be live-streamed, can it?
Moreover, William specifically emphasized this point — so now all Lupin could do was pray for the former to act faster.
Before he couldn't hold on anymore —
...
Ten minutes ago.
"Name—"
"...Where is this?"
"Name—"
"Wait, is that you? How am I—"
"Na·me."
"Vi, Viktor Krum..."
Finally hearing a proper response, William satisfactorily put down the magic wand in his hand, continuing to stare at Krum's pale face, "Then, do you remember anything? About everything that happened today—"
"I, I remember... I was going to participate in the second task of the tournament, because I practiced Transfiguration Technique for a long time last night... and then I was about to go out, then, then... I can't remember clearly, but it seems like I was... attacked?"
Krum blinked, a hint of confusion flashed in those whites of his eyes.
"...He's not lying."
Alastor Moody's Magic Eye blinked, staring at Krum for a long time. Then, the man said in a deep voice.
"That would mean that Mr. Krum really doesn't know much."
William nodded, gesturing to the Merpeople floating at the shore, and so, a still bewildered Krum was taken away by the Merpeople.
"So, this person is the real Krum, but the one underwater — Mr. Richard, I think we might need to halt the competition."
Moody's blue Magic Eye had been following Krum's silhouette, until the latter and the Merpeople disappeared below the water's surface. Then, the man finally tapped the soft soil of the shore with his cane, coughed twice, and said in a serious tone.
"... That's unlikely, Mr. Moody, we shouldn't stop the competition because of a small accident."
William pondered for a moment, then shook his head, his eyes filled with hesitation, but his words were decisive, "Do you know how many people are sitting on their sofas at home, or in taverns, watching this championship — even pausing for a moment would cost me countless Golden Galleons!"
"Galleons? Wait, Mr. Richard, don't you realize the seriousness of this issue?"
After hearing William's typical capitalist rhetoric, Moody seemed quite infuriated, he shouted loudly, "This is an invasion! The fake Krum has already joined the Champions' battle! If he makes any move — young lives will surely be lost!"
"But..."
William still appeared somewhat hesitant.
"... I'm going to report to Dumbledore, you probably aren't too suited for the role of a Referee, Mr. Richard."
Disappointment flashed in Moody's eyes, he shook his head, turned around, and prepared to leave with his cane.
"No, indeed, we should halt the competition."
William seemed to have been persuaded, he shook his head, "reluctantly" giving up those easily obtainable Galleons.
"... Thank you for retaining some last bit of reason, so, is there any way to bring back those Champions?"
Moody stared at William with his Magic Eye for quite some time before finally nodding and continuing to ask.
"No, there isn't, this round requires them to touch the gem at the maze's end, then they'll be Portkeyed back to the shore — "
William shook his head, seemingly helpless as well, he gazed down at the dark, cold lake water, "So, I think I'll need to dive underwater to bring them back — Mr. Moody, are you interested in joining me?"
"No... ahem, of course, of course I would."
Moody's voice noticeably faltered for a moment, but he quickly clutched his chest, using a cough to cover up that odd moment, "Perhaps we should notify Professor Dumbledore?" Yet the old man still seemed uneasy, continuing to ask.
"No, that's unnecessary."
William still kept his head down, not letting those nearby notice the blue glow flickering in his eyes, the boy's voice appropriately tinged with frustration, "The fewer people who know about this the better, Mr. Moody — damn, I need to find a way to explain this away..."
As he spoke, he lifted his head, his blue eyes filled with a pleading look, "Mr. Moody, you mustn't let this out — "
"... Certainly."
Moody nodded, agreeing to this request.
"That's good, you should first still..."
"You go ahead, I'll follow you."
William nodded and didn't argue, he cast the Bubble-Head Charm over his head, then the two of them dove into the lake, their figures swiftly crossing the riverbed, soon reaching the Merpeople's settlement, blue specks of light illuminating the murky water, the Merpeople crowded into their rooms, curiously observing the unexpected guests outside the door.
"You have arrived."
The Merpeople Leader held the trident in his hand, rising from the plaza as he looked at William, "Those little seedlings have already entered the tower."
"I know, but I'm here to—"
William raised his hand, speaking somewhat helplessly, but the next moment, the heavy trident pierced through his chest suddenly, the boy's eyes filled with disbelief as he looked at the Merpeople Leader with the trident, who was similarly shocked, wanting to speak, but only able to make a hoarse sound.
"Pfff— "
The trident was pulled out, blood instantly dyeing the water around William red, the Merpeople Leader instinctively flinched back a couple of steps, flicking his tail.
So, the lifeless body could only float helplessly in the water, the pallid face filled with intense disbelief.
"Wasn't it too easy..."
"Moody" spoke with an odd tone, not even opening his mouth, the voice just emerged from him.
Then, under the bewildered gaze of the Merpeople Leader, "Moody" flicked his Magic Wand, and a pillar of scorching air shot out from the tip of his Wand, striking William's body, the boy's form exploded into a mass of blood, slowly dispersing in the lake water.
"... Is he really dead?"
"Moody" was stunned briefly, his face suddenly changing, seeming to realize something, he quickly tried to retreat backward —
"You're quite perceptive—"
Voice came from behind "Moody," causing him to instinctively halt once more... Wait, weren't they underwater? Why are there footsteps? Suddenly realizing this point, the world in front of "Moody" changed instantly—
Overcast sky, the cold Black Lake, the distant castle, and the boy who should have already died...
"So, you are the one Tom refers to as the 'foolproof plan'?"
William squinted, his voice gentle, his smile sunny — but the long sword in his hand wasn't nearly as "friendly," the sword that once belonged to Gryffindor lightly resting on the man's shoulder, just one more inch would slice his head halfway.