By evening, after class, the weather remained persistently foggy. Harry and his friends left the castle, heading toward an area they'd never explored before. A winding path led them through the wild fields surrounding Hogsmeade. There were only a few wooden cottages in this area, but each had an expansive garden. They continued toward the mountain base, where Hogsmeade sat in its shadow. Rounding a bend, they came to a fence at the end of the path.
Waiting for them was a scruffy black dog, its front paws resting on the topmost rail of the fence, holding a few newspapers in its mouth. The dog looked very familiar.
"Hello, Sirius," Harry said as they approached.
The black dog stood still for a moment before suddenly rearing up on its hind legs and transforming into a tall, thin man.
Sirius, dressed in a sleek black robe, appeared surprisingly refreshed. His hair was neatly groomed, and his complexion was much healthier than before, a stark contrast to his previous gaunt appearance.
He looked at Harry with a smile, though Harry managed only a forced one in return.
"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Fulfilling my duties as your godfather," Sirius replied.
"There's been so much going on—the World Cup, the Triwizard Tournament—and your situation is precarious," Sirius said seriously. "Worse still, I hear from Ron that you've fallen out with Augustus. At a time like this, internal divisions are far more dangerous than external threats. Your behavior has been childish."
Harry shot Ron an irritated look. "I've simply seen through the façade of certain hypocrites. On one hand, he courts Cho Chang, but during the second task, he reveals that his true love is Lilian. This two-faced noble? It's better to break ties early."
Sirius shook his head in exasperation. "What are you thinking? From the Dark Mark at the World Cup to your name being mysteriously entered into the Goblet of Fire, everything reeks of a sinister conspiracy. Yet here you are, distracted by petty romantic disputes. You're truly disappointing me."
Hermione, looking worried, interjected, "Sirius is right. We still haven't figured out who entered your name in the Goblet or why. Internal discord is exactly what they want. Besides, Augustus has helped us so many times. Without him, Sirius wouldn't have been exonerated and freed. Whether morally or practically, your behavior has been unfair and foolish."
Harry's expression darkened. "You're right. My actions might seem indefensible. But has anyone considered how I feel? Augustus is the official Hogwarts champion. My name appeared a second later, branding me an impostor. I can endure that. Slytherins mocking me with badges saying 'Potter Stinks'? I can endure that too. Even at the Yule Ball, where he was the center of attention, and I had to settle for what was left—I didn't mind. But how dare he toy with Cho Chang's feelings, using her as a shield while chasing Lilian? Is that the noble gentleman everyone admires?"
A chill wind swept across the cliffside, cooling the tense atmosphere. Sirius sighed, choosing not to argue further.
As May rolled into its final week, after a Potions class, Snape asked Augustus to stay behind.
"Augustus," Snape instructed, "go to the Quidditch pitch at nine tonight. Mr. Bagman will explain the third task to the champions."
That evening, Augustus left the Slytherin common room and walked across the darkened lawn toward the pitch. Entering through a gap in the stands, he noticed that the once-smooth Quidditch field was now covered with long, low walls crisscrossing in all directions, forming a complex maze.
The other three champions were already there, waiting.
"Good evening!" called a cheerful voice.
Ludo Bagman stood in the middle of the pitch, accompanied by Krum and Fleur.
"Well, what do you think?" Bagman asked enthusiastically. "Coming along nicely, isn't it? In another month, Hagrid will have the walls grown to twenty feet high. Don't worry," he added, noticing Harry's disgruntled expression, "the pitch will be restored to its original state after the tournament!"
"What's the task, then?" Krum asked in his gruff voice.
"A maze!" Bagman exclaimed. "The third task is straightforward. The Triwizard Cup will be placed at the center. The first champion to reach it gets full marks."
Augustus stroked his chin thoughtfully. Mazes were an ancient test of wit, strength, and judgment. It would be an intriguing challenge.
"There will be plenty of obstacles," Bagman continued, bouncing on his toes. "Hagrid's contributed a host of creatures, and there will be enchantments to overcome. Oh, and the champion with the most points enters first, followed by the others in descending order."
"So, Augustus will go first, then Krum, followed by Harry and Fleur," Bagman concluded. "Any questions? If not, back to the castle."
As Augustus and Krum walked back, Krum turned to him with a rare smile. "I'm good at mazes. This time, I won't let you steal the show. I'll do everything to surpass you."
Augustus smiled faintly. "I'm sure it'll be a thrilling challenge. As long as you give it your all, there won't be any regrets."
Suddenly, a man stumbled out from behind a tall oak tree. Augustus glanced over, frowning as the figure came into view. It was Crouch, though he looked drastically different.
Crouch appeared as though he had been wandering for days. His robes were torn and bloody at the knees, his face bruised and weary, and his once-tidy hair and beard were unkempt and dirty. What was most peculiar, however, was his behavior. He muttered incessantly under his breath, gesturing wildly as if arguing with someone unseen.
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