"Are you feeling all right, Harry?"
As they walked down the steps, Wade heard Bagman call out enthusiastically, "You didn't forget to prepare your supplies, did you?"
"Of course not," Harry replied simply. When he saw Wade, he let out a small sigh of relief and immediately walked over.
Cedric came out of the Great Hall right after and joined Wade and Harry. Soon after, the other champions followed.
Natalia glanced at Wade with a teasing smile, one brow raised. Her golden hair was tightly braided and coiled neatly behind her head.
Clementine from Beauxbatons and Hope from Salem walked side by side. Both girls were petite; even in their sleek protective gear, they looked somewhat delicate.
Krum's expression was grim—he seemed tense—but on his face, the tension only made him look more intimidating.
Jabari from Uagadou looked far more at ease; the forest was his comfort zone. Still, the stories about the Forbidden Forest's horrors made his brow furrow slightly.
To prepare for the task inside the Forbidden Forest, everyone had changed out of their flowing robes and into practical gear, with sturdy backpacks strapped securely on their backs.
Wade wore a dark green dragon-hide protective suit; the cuffs of his trousers were tightly bound to his boots to prevent any dangerous insects from crawling inside.
Harry was adjusting his sleeves as they walked. His outfit had been prepared by Sirius himself—almost identical to the one Lupin had made for Wade.
The two former Marauders, seasoned explorers of the Forbidden Forest, had provided plenty of useful advice—and even a rough map showing the general territories of the forest's magical creatures.
When Wade saw the map, he immediately realized that before the organizers had even announced the third task's location, Lupin and Sirius had probably already guessed it and sneaked in for a few reconnaissance trips.
Of course, such "cheating" was happening in every school behind the scenes; everyone tried to find ways to give their champion an advantage. But in the end, results would depend on personal skill.
The night before, Lupin had given Wade one last reminder:
"Make sure to pull away from the others as soon as it starts… Because if I were one of the champions, I'd team up with everyone else and take you out first—you're the biggest threat."
"Look over there!" Cedric suddenly said as they made their way toward the task site, pointing toward the main gates. "The audience is arriving."
The champions turned their heads and saw wizards from many countries entering under Hagrid's guidance, heading toward the Quidditch pitch. Some were waving colorful flags, and others wore cloaks that shimmered like neon lights.
"Merlin's beard," Jabari muttered. "Thank goodness we're not competing in the middle of the pitch—otherwise I'd probably forget how to walk."
No one else spoke, but they all nodded in silent agreement.
Before long, the group reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A twenty-foot-high hedge completely enclosed the area, with only a single opening before them.
Professor McGonagall stood at the entrance. She was dressed today in a dark red hunting outfit, and the usual pointed hat on her head had been replaced by a soft, narrow-brimmed cap. Harry almost didn't recognize her at first glance.
Professor Flitwick, Professor Moody, and about a dozen Aurors stood on either side of the gate. When Wade looked over, Flitwick secretly winked at him, and Wade responded with a small, knowing smile.
Near the entrance, several small blue recording birds fluttered about—used to capture footage for the live broadcast. No one knew which one was currently being shown on the big screen.
Harry instinctively avoided looking at any of them, while Clementine turned toward one and gave it a sweet smile.
"Champions."
Professor McGonagall spoke in a stern voice:
"We will be patrolling near the Forbidden Forest. If you encounter any danger and need assistance, shoot red sparks into the sky, and someone will come to help you. Is that clear?"
Everyone nodded together.
The patrollers mounted their broomsticks and flew off in different directions, disappearing from sight in an instant.
Bagman checked the time, then said brightly, "Excellent! It looks like everyone's ready. Let's begin, shall we?"
He tapped his wand to his throat and cast Sonorus. His magically amplified voice boomed across the entire area:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final showdown of the International Wizarding Schools Magic Tournament!"
With a broad grin, he made an exaggerated bow. From the distant Quidditch stands came thunderous cheers and applause.
"After two rounds of fierce competition, the remaining champions will now face each other in one of the most dangerous and extraordinary forests in the world!
They'll have to contend not only with deadly magical plants and bloodthirsty creatures—but also with each other!"
"There can only be one champion! And the rules are simple—"
Bagman flicked his wand, and a burst of red light shot into the air, forming a huge golden goblet shimmering above them.
"The first champion to touch the Goblet of Fire will win eternal glory for their school!"
Another wave of cheers erupted from the stands—louder and more enthusiastic than even the competitors themselves.
Then Bagman canceled the Sonorus spell and turned back to the champions with a cheerful smile.
"According to the rules, the first champion to return with an intact compass from the last task will enter first. After that, the others will enter at two-minute intervals—priority given to those with complete compasses."
"So, the order will be as follows: Wade Grey, Viktor Krum, Natalia Petrova, Harry Potter. Then, those who retrieved partial compass fragments—Clementine Durand, Cedric Diggory, Jabari Vivane, and Hope Cruz."
Harry looked a little surprised. He had been the last to reach the shore in the previous task, yet now he would enter the forest fourth.
The others, however, grew visibly tense the moment they heard Wade would be going first.
Bagman cleared his throat and added:
"Once inside the forest, you must keep moving. For the first half-hour, champions are forbidden from attacking each other. Please respect the rules—and may Merlin bless you all!"
"All right now… Wade Grey, wait for my whistle!"
He raised the whistle to his lips and counted down:
"Three… two… one!"
A sharp whistle sounded, and Wade dashed through the entrance, with two blue recording birds flying close behind him.
The moment he stepped into the forest, all outside noise vanished. The world became still and eerie, the light dim as twilight.
The scent of plants filled the air—but the Forbidden Forest before him looked utterly different from what he remembered.
Whatever enchantments the Ministry had placed here had made the trees grow taller and thicker; their tangled roots seemed almost alive. The ground was carpeted with dark-purple moss that made each step slippery and uncertain.
Vines coiled among the branches, writhing faintly as though breathing, and from somewhere nearby came faint rustling sounds—like whispers of unseen spirits.
Between the trees, their twisted branches formed several natural archways. Wade pulled out his compass; the red needle wavered for a moment, then pointed steadily in one direction.
He followed its line of sight—to a cluster of enormous trees whose thick trunks completely blocked the view ahead.
After a moment's pause, Wade flicked his wand to check for illusions. Finding none, he chose a nearby path and stepped quietly into the shadows.
--------------------------------
🙏🙏Please consider supporting this translation project by becoming a P@treon member!!!
Your support is greatly appreciated!
Available on my P@treon page for just $4!!
Early access to the following translations:-
⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- 200+ Chapters
⭐MCU: Druid's Adventures (MCUDA)(⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 460
⭐Famous Police Detective in Detective World (FPDDW)- +165 advance chapters
⭐Marvel: Little Genius (MLG) (⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 450
[email protected]/Lightreaper457
--------------------------------