The Quidditch Pitch was no longer as smooth and flat as usual. It appeared as if someone had built countless long, low walls here, intricately crisscrossing in all directions.
It's like a maze.
"They're walls! Is our final task related to a maze?" Victor said, squatting down and observing the nearest low wall closely.
As a typical Slav, squatting with feet flat on the ground was a piece of cake for him.
Perhaps finding just looking a bit unsatisfying, Victor placed his hand on the wall.
It was quite cool.
"Hello there!"
A cheerful voice called out.
Ludo Bagman stood in the center of the field, with a vibrant Fleur beside him.
Victor stood up and, along with Harry, stepped over the low walls towards them.
As Harry approached, Fleur gave him a dazzling smile—since Harry had the merfolk rescue her sister from the lake, her attitude towards him had taken a 180-degree turn.
It seemed that Vivi spared the poor girl, Harry thought to himself.
But speaking of which, Vivi being a bit jealous actually made Harry quite happy, as it made her seem very cute.
"So, what do you think?" Bagman asked cheerfully as Harry and Victor climbed over the last low wall. "Making good progress, right? In one month, Hagrid will have them grown to twenty feet high. Don't worry," he added with a smile as he saw the displeased look on Harry's face, "after the tournament project ends, your Quidditch Pitch will be back to normal! So, I imagine you can guess what we're doing here?"
There was a pause before anyone spoke, and then—
"Maze," Krum said gruffly.
"Correct!" Bagman said, "It's a maze. The third task is quite simple and clear. The Triwizard Cup is placed in the center of the maze, and the warrior who first reaches it will earn full marks."
"We just need to get through the maze?" Fleur asked.
"There will be many obstacles," Bagman said joyfully, hopping about on his toes, "Newt has provided a bunch of creatures... and there are some talismans to undo... things like that, you know... Also, the top-scoring warrior enters the maze first, Harry."
Bagman smiled at Harry.
"Wait!" Harry suddenly asked, "So what have the scores we earned from the first two tasks been for?"
"Yeah," Victor also interjected, "Just for entering the maze first? What impact does that have, really?"
"Mr. Krum's guess is correct, it is indeed for who enters the maze first," Mr. Bagman said helplessly, "In fact, I don't even know what use this bizarre rule serves, and I don't think entering first has much impact."
He paused before continuing, "According to the upcoming order, Mr. Krum will be next... and lastly, Miss Delacour, but you'll all have to fight to succeed, it's about your ability to overcome obstacles—should be a lot of fun, right?"
"Indeed, a lot of fun," Harry said expressionlessly, "Newt Scamander providing magical creatures for the last competition, that really is delightful, so much fun!"
"Yes, indeed, a lot of fun!" Mr. Bagman said happily, "I saw those Exploding Snails bred by Hagrid at his place, a truly genius creation... So, on Dumbledore's suggestion, Exploding Snails were added to the list of the maze's magical creatures."
"Oh, I really hope he only ever eats piles of cockroaches from now on," Harry said through gritted teeth.
He wasn't afraid of the Exploding Snails themselves; he was afraid of their chemical attacks...
Just think about it, even if you defeat such a creature, it leaves behind that pungent smell that's hard to remove even with magic...
Not very harmful, but highly insulting.
"Haha, I think so too." Mr. Bagman said, then added to them, "Alright... if you have no questions, let's head back to the castle, okay? It's a bit cold out here..."
Everyone followed Mr. Bagman's suggestion, after all, it really wasn't very warm outside, and they weren't dressed very warmly, so it was indeed a bit chilly.
They stepped over the low walls that were slowly growing upward and walked towards the castle.
"How is it going?" Mr. Bagman purposefully lingered at the back, walking to Harry's side and asking, "How's the preparation going, Harry? Feeling confident?"
"Not too bad," Harry thought for a moment before saying, "Anyway, you know me, Mr. Bagman, I never really feel any pressure."
"Haha, you really shouldn't feel any pressure." Mr. Bagman said with a laugh, patting Harry on the shoulder, "This time I've placed some Galleons on you again, hoping you'll secure the final victory for me... Thanks to you and Miss Grindelwald, I always feel like my fortunes are prospering..."
Finally, a bit casually, Mr. Bagman asked, "By the way, Harry, has Miss Grindelwald mentioned anything about Mr. Crouch?"