Chapter 490: Scores!!
Darren, of course, refused Krum's offer.
He said he didn't really like Quidditch and had no intention of competing with Harry.
He also stated clearly that Harry would always be the person he admired the most.
This left Krum extremely confused.
He kept staring at Harry, as if trying to understand exactly what kind of charm Harry possessed that made Darren worship him so deeply.
Harry, feeling uneasy, glanced back at Krum. He even began to wonder whether Krum wanted revenge on him because of the strength he and Darren had shown.
Fortunately, Ludo Bagman was about to announce the scores.
Krum finally looked away.
Otherwise, Harry felt he might really have gotten angry.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Ludo Bagman announced loudly,
"we have just finished communicating with the mermaid chieftain.
They were… somewhat displeased. They felt it was rather humiliating to be almost completely subdued by Mr. Darren this time.
Especially because projection magic was used, which made them feel extremely uncomfortable. The incident nearly spread throughout the entire wizarding world…"
"Of course, these are all minor matters. They've decided to forgive Darren, because he didn't do it intentionally. Yes, Darren, they've forgiven you—no need to look so surprised."
Ludo Bagman said this with a grin.
Darren scratched his head shyly.
"I thought I'd need to form a formal bond with them to apologize. I was even planning to thank them—they helped me a lot."
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
"Oh, Darren," Ludo Bagman laughed,
"I don't think they need that right now. In fact, they probably don't want to see you for a while, so you might want to avoid appearing in front of them."
Not only Bagman laughed—many of the wizards burst out laughing as well.
It was clear they were rather pleased to see the mermaids so thoroughly deflated.
"Alright, children, let's move on.
We'll now begin scoring. This task will be evaluated on a fifty-point scale.
First, Miss Fleur Delacour.
You used an excellent Bubble-Head Charm, which earned you a good number of points. However, during your confrontation with the merpeople, you did not use your spells skillfully enough, resulting in injuries.
Therefore, we award you twenty-five points."
"Second, Mr. Viktor Krum.
You used an excellent Transfiguration spell against the merpeople. However, like Miss Delacour, you ultimately had to retreat.
Thus, you are also awarded twenty-five points."
"Third, Mr. Harry Potter.
Although you did not engage in combat when encountering the merpeople, you escaped quickly and reached the merpeople's village intact.
Don't laugh, everyone—luck and speed are also forms of strength.
Mr. Potter is likewise a champion who arrived safely at Mermaid Square and successfully retrieved his hostage. With a bit of luck on his side, he still completed his objective.
For this, we award him thirty-five points."
Darren clapped enthusiastically for Harry.
Many students around them cheered as well.
Of course, the Malfoys could only mutter sour remarks about Potter running away.
Finally, Ludo Bagman turned his gaze toward Darren.
Instantly, countless eyes focused on him.
Most people believed Darren would receive a perfect score.
Yet some worried that forcing the merpeople might affect the fairness of the competition.
Ludo Bagman, however, clearly thought otherwise.
"The fourth contestant I'd like to introduce is Mr. Darrenport.
He cleverly employed a waterproof spell that he invented himself. For a fourth-year student to develop a spell independently is already a remarkable achievement—this was his first highlight."
Hermione clapped vigorously, shouting at the top of her lungs,
"You're the best!"
Soon, the entire stadium erupted into cheers.
The noise was so overwhelming that Dumbledore had to use magic to suppress it.
"Silence!"
He called out sharply.
Many students quieted down at once.
After all, Ludo Bagman hadn't finished speaking.
Darren's score hadn't been announced yet.
"Many of the judges believe that Darren's attack on the merpeople was understandable, as he was acting out of desperation to save his friends.
This reflects a noble character, and I don't think anyone can criticize such conduct.
However, because one judge raised an objection, his final score is—forty-five points!"
Ludo Bagman shouted.
The stadium exploded.
Cheers roared through the air once more.
This time, even magic couldn't fully suppress the sound.
Naturally, no professor was willing to silence such heartfelt applause.
Hermione and Fleur rushed forward and hugged Darren tightly.
"Oh, Darren, I told you you'd win!"
Hermione shouted happily.
Fleur planted a firm kiss on Darren's cheek.
Hermione's expression stiffened slightly—but she said nothing.
Because she heard Fleur add gratefully,
"Darren, you saved my sister. I truly thought I was going to lose her."
"But—but Headmaster Dumbledore said it was all staged…"
Darren said awkwardly.
He clearly felt as though he had caused everyone unnecessary worry.
"But that kindness was real, wasn't it?"
Fleur said, kissing him again.
After the competition, Ludo Bagman announced that the third task would begin on June 24.
That meant the champions would have another four months to prepare.
Once the second task ended, everyone was in high spirits.
Many people excitedly discussed Darren's underwater performance.
At first, the stories were fairly grounded—but soon, they became wildly exaggerated.
In areas the projections couldn't illuminate, people invented all sorts of dramatic incidents—so shocking that even Darren himself was stunned by the tales.
Seamus claimed that Darren had blasted the mermaid chieftain's head off with a single flick of his wand.
Ginny immediately corrected him.
She insisted Darren would never do such a thing, and that people shouldn't make up nonsense.
Aside from the gossip, Ron and Hermione were far more focused on discussing what had happened in Dumbledore's office.
They explained everything Darren had seen after drinking the Water of Life and Death, recounting the events back and forth.
Only then did Harry finally understand why Ron and Hermione hadn't returned that night.
"Dumbledore forgot to inform me,"
Harry said in disbelief.
"After he forgot Darren, he didn't think about it again. I was waiting for you… so you were both forgotten?"
"So that's it?"
After agreeing to be best friends, he'd been left alone in the common room.
He hadn't slept the entire night, constantly dreaming that something terrible had happened to them. If Dobby hadn't woken him that morning, he might even have missed the task.
Was that really what friendship was supposed to be like?