"It looks like Jabari Viven is about to be eliminated! Even though he's already secured two of the items, if the judges rule him as [dead] due to being in mortal danger, then even if he's rescued, his qualification will be revoked!"
Bagman stamped excitedly on the commentator's platform, as if he could hardly restrain himself from diving right into the screen.
"We can see Aurors already waiting at the surface above him. The moment the judges give the signal, they'll swoop down and rescue this unfortunate champion!"
Two Aurors hovered on broomsticks above the water where Jabari was trapped with wands in their hands and serious faces.
Bagman gave a theatrical sigh, shaking his head as he said:
"What a pity! Jabari Viven's strongest skill is transforming into a mouse—which may be quite useful on land, but underwater it's completely useless! If only he had mastered Freezing Charms or Banishing Charms, he wouldn't be in such a helpless position right now…"
At the judges' table, all eyes were fixed on Jabari's mirror feed. Headmaster Adeso of Uagadou looked as dark as still water and slowly lifted his wand.
With a single spark from its tip, the Aurors would rush to save Jabari—but at the same time, it would mean his "unfortunate death" in the tournament, and his disqualification.
The young champion was clearly on the verge of losing consciousness, with no chance of breaking free from the grindylows by himself. Many gazes shifted to Adeso, waiting for the signal.
Suddenly, Bagman's voice shot up several pitches as he shouted:
"An unexpected turn! Wade Grey has appeared right beside Jabari Viven! What will he do? Could the Uagadou champion still have a chance?"
Crouch gave a subtle wave of his hand, signaling the Aurors above to hold off, while the faint light at the tip of Adeso's wand also dimmed.
Everyone leaned forward tensely, eyes locked on the image of Wade Grey in the mirror, whose face was unreadable.
Yet, in their hearts, they already knew the likely outcome—if it had been any other contestant, perhaps Jabari might have been saved.
But this was Wade Grey.
Given his ruthless display in the first task, sparing Jabari a blow would already count as mercy. How could he possibly lift a hand to help?
Percy, who had followed the Ministry of Magic officials to Hogwarts, sat in the back row. He tried to gauge his superior's intentions and craned his neck toward Minister Fudge. Adjusting his glasses, he whispered:
"I must say, acting purely for personal gain and eliminating other champions so recklessly runs contrary to the true spirit of the Tournament. We British wizards should demonstrate the host nation's unity and grace."
Fudge nodded approvingly. "Quite right, Percy. That is the most proper view. I must say—"
"Oh, Cornelius, I'm afraid I'll have to interrupt you."
Dumbledore spoke with a genial smile. "By that logic, why don't we award the team with the most losses in the Quidditch World Cup a golden medal for Best Sportsmanship?"
Fudge froze.
England was the birthplace of Quidditch and had often reached the quarterfinals in the past.
But in the most recent World Cup, they had been utterly crushed by perennial underdogs Transylvania, by a score of 390 to 10—a humiliation the Department of Magical Games and Sports preferred never to mention again.
Fudge's face flushed crimson and his expression became almost incredulous—how could Dumbledore, a fellow English wizard, speak of such a disgrace so casually?
A breath caught in Fudge's throat; his eyes bulged, and he was at a loss for words. Dumbledore, smiling pleasantly, said:
"Though it may appear cruel, the true charm of magical competition lies in each contestant displaying their full abilities and striving to defeat their opponents. To restrict that, or to deliberately falsify the contest, that would be the real desecration of the tournament, and an insult to one's rivals. Don't you agree?"
Fudge: "…"
Before he could think of a reply, Headmaster Adeso nodded.
"Exactly," said the dark-skinned man in a deep voice. "Even if Jabari is eliminated, the only reason would be that his skill fell short. There's no need for resentment, nor for anyone to hold back. Besides…"
His gaze turned to the mirror feed.
The grindylows entangling Jabari had all been driven off. He was coughing violently as bubbles burst from his catfish-like head.
Floating nearby, Wade Grey had just cast a clean Banishing Charm. Now he tapped his palm with his wand as his tail swayed lazily behind him. He neither approached Jabari, nor took the chance to strike him down.
…
"Cough, cough, cough, cough…"
Jabari's body curled like a freshwater shrimp as he broke the surface, gasping for air. He exchanged a glance with the Aurors hovering above, then dove back into the lake.
The rippling surface light fell across Wade Grey's face, hiding his expression.
Unable to speak in his catfish-headed form, Jabari's wand glowed gold as he wrote a line in the water:
[Why did you help me?]
"Where did you find the heart of steel?" Wade asked, and a string of bubbles rose from his mouth.
Jabari raised an eyebrow: [You could just take it from me by force.]
Wade replied coolly, "If you insist on keeping it to yourself, that's exactly what I'll do next."
Jabari: "…"
This guy really isn't polite at all! Couldn't he at least pretend a little?
Casting a peculiar look at Wade's tail, Jabari wrote again: [Do you remember, right after we entered the water—the underwater forest-like patch of waterweed?]
Ah… that.
The scene flashed across Wade's mind. His expression froze as he blinked slowly.
Jabari gestured as he wrote: [I found this shortsword beneath that weed-bed, in the mouth of a stone turtle statue.]
Wade: "…That was the so-called 'shadow'?"
[Yes.] Jabari glanced again at his tail, suppressing a smile as he wrote: [I'd guess you swam too fast, and missed the clue you should have noticed.]
Wade narrowed his eyes slightly. "Have you gathered all three of your items?"
Jabari hesitated before writing: [I still lack the 'Full Moon'.]
"That one is in the Merpeople settlement. I imagine you'll find it soon enough."
Returning favor for favor, Wade pointed in the right direction, then turned and swam swiftly the way he had come.
In the blink of an eye he was gone from sight. Jabari let out a sigh of envy, though relieved that Wade hadn't stolen his prize. Turning himself around, he resumed swimming forward.
Though he mocked Wade for swimming too fast and missing clues, Jabari himself had been laboring with arms and legs for over an hour without rest. Wasn't he exhausted?
Had he not been so worn out, he wouldn't have been caught by that swarm of grindylows.
But in front of a rival, he refused to show either envy or fatigue.
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