harry potter book of crimes

The weather is already getting warmer, but it's still a bit cold outside the castle.

The little wizards who were having breakfast in the auditorium could hear the howling wind outside the window from time to time, and the Forbidden Forest in the distance was being blown. Everyone sitting in the castle could vaguely hear it.

Fortunately, the clear blue sky and bright sunshine put everyone in a good mood.

Today is February 24th, the day when the second event of the top three competition begins.

At this moment, Maka was sitting at the long table, slowly enjoying a sumptuous breakfast. And right next to his dinner plate, he casually placed the box he obtained from the previous project.

"McLean, why don't you hurry up?" Professor Orson muttered from the side, "It's already eight-thirty, and there's only one hour left... I know you should be very sure, but... too much

You can’t go wrong with being prepared.”

It can be seen that he attaches great importance to Durmstrang's honor. Maca is currently only ranked second, which makes him unable to sit still.

"I think you should worry about yourself...the members of the referee team should be there first, right?" Maka said casually while chewing grilled sausages.

"Oh - yes, that's right - but you are the one competing, McClane!" Orson said, taking out his pocket watch again and looking at it, "Okay, okay! I really have to leave first..."

…Remember to hurry up!”

Maka waved her hand casually, indicating that she understood.

When Professor Orson hurriedly left the auditorium, Maka was still eating slowly, not looking at all anxious.

When the students in the auditorium gradually left and there were fewer and fewer people, he wiped his mouth and stood up with the box in hand.

"McLean, the game is about to start... As a warrior, you should enter the field and prepare as soon as possible."

A voice sounded from behind Maka. He turned around, only to find that it was Barty Crouch, the director of the Department of International Magical Exchange and Cooperation.

"Oh, of course - I plan to go there right now!" Maka nodded slightly, "Mr. Crouch, aren't you sick? Are you feeling well?"

"Please worry, it's no problem anymore. I've asked...well, Weatherby to go back." Crouch still had the serious face that was tense all the time, and he still spoke in a business-like manner.

Of course, I still can't remember Percy Weasley's name.

"Please! All the warriors are already at the resting place..."

After Mr. Crouch said that, he turned around and walked out of the auditorium door first, seemingly trying to lead Maka the way.

The venue for the competition is still located within the same wall where the first event was held.

In fact, venue preparations have begun there since last week. Dumbledore once again participated in the construction of the competition venue, but judging from the time spent, this time the venue setup was obviously more complicated than the last time.

few.

"Mr. Crouch, I think... there are some things we must talk about first..." Maka, who had been following Crouch, suddenly stopped him, "Yes, about this 'commotion'

.”

"What are you talking about? What 'riot'?" Crouch turned around, frowning and looking puzzled.

"Stop acting, no one here can hear it - we have to talk to avoid things going wrong!" Maka said impatiently, "Do you understand?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about -" Crouch frowned even more tightly. He looked at Maka with a puzzled look on his face.

But Maka snorted slightly, and Crouch immediately felt something pressing against his abdomen.

"You don't know what I'm talking about? Do you need me to help you recall it, huh?" Maka tilted her head and said, "Minibus——"

"That's enough! That's enough!" Crouch suddenly lowered his shoulders and lowered his voice, "Don't call me by my name here! Okay, okay, let's talk first, let's talk... over here!"

There were already very few people here - most people had already rushed to the competition venue, and the two people's small actions did not attract anyone's attention.

One after another, they quickly left the open space in front of the castle, turned a corner, and walked into a garden on the side.

At the same time, in the tent with the wooden sign "Warriors Resting Area" on the edge of the competition venue...

"I...I'm coming..." Harry said out of breath, slipped at the entrance of the tent, and fell to sit at Fleur's feet.

"oh!"

Fleur, who was looking at the box in her hand, was startled, and she quickly shrank her feet - fortunately, Harry didn't sit on her feet, otherwise today's game would be in trouble.

You know, she was already upset because of what was in the box!

"Oh - where have you been?" Ludo Bagman stretched out his hand to help Harry up, "Are you okay?"

"It's okay, I'm okay -" Harry stood firm, then waved his hands repeatedly, "Am I late?"

"Well... I was late, but..." Ludo Bagman saw Harry, and it seemed as if a stone in his heart fell to the ground. He spread his hands easily and said, "Look, Mr. Crouch and

Mr. McClain hasn't even arrived yet! The game can only be postponed a little bit... You can take a breath first."

Dumbledore smiled at Harry, but Madame Maxime seemed unhappy to see him... From the expression on her face, it was obvious that she thought he would not show up.

Of course, she actually prefers to see Maka never show up again. Because in her opinion, even if Harry is still ranked first, the biggest threat to Beauxbatons is Maka McClain.

As for Professor Orson, he is standing outside the tent and looking into the distance!

Harry bent over, holding his knees with his hands, gasping for air. Probably because he ran too fast, there was a sudden sharp pain on the side of his chest and abdomen, as if a knife had been inserted between his ribs.

.

"Are you okay?" Hermione walked over and looked at Harry worriedly, "Why did you come now? Ron and I didn't see you all morning -"

"I'm looking up information in the library," Harry and Hermione walked aside and he said softly, "I have to prepare more - you know, I'm not as smart as you and Maka -"

But Hermione obviously didn't agree with Harry's behavior. She said disapprovingly: "You should have done this earlier, didn't you? I have urged you many times, but you always feel that there is still a lot of time..."

"Isn't this because of the news Moody revealed that night..." Harry pushed up his black-rimmed glasses and subconsciously lifted the waistband of his trousers - the waistband seemed a little loose after running so fast.

"Don't say it here!" Hermione winked at Harry quickly to prevent him from saying everything he shouldn't have said.

At this moment, a voice came clearly from outside the tent.

"Oh - thanks Merlin! You're finally here -"

"Am I late?"

Those are the voices of Professor Orson and Maka. Everyone is familiar with these two voices and can tell them apart at a glance.

Sure enough, Maca and Professor Orson walked in from the tent entrance side by side.

"It looks like I just happened to catch up?" Maka looked around and asked doubtfully, "Where's Percy?"

"Mr. Crouch was originally back today, but he left just now and hasn't come back yet!" Ludo Bagman shrugged and said, "Didn't you meet him when you came?"

"Sorry, I don't think I met Mr. Crouch." Maka also shrugged and replied calmly.

"Hmm -" Bagman thought for a moment, then turned back to look at Dumbledore and the other principals, "What should I do? Do we have to wait a little longer to see?"

"I'll ask the teachers to help find it later. The game can't be delayed any longer... Let's start now!" Dumbledore looked around at Orson and Mrs. Maxim. After confirming, he said decisively.

Bagman immediately nodded and announced to the four warriors: "Then, warriors, please choose a doorway on the wall to stand and wait for the order to start!"

The wall that originally had door openings on all four sides has now been blocked up, with only four small door openings opening on one side of the wall that can only allow one person to pass through.

The four warriors discussed with each other and then walked towards the doorway they selected.

"How's it going, Harry?" Bagman led Harry a few steps forward, avoiding the others, and asked in a low voice, "Do you know what you want to do?"

"I know." Harry replied breathlessly, while gently massaging his ribs - the pain caused by running just now has not completely disappeared, and he still has a slight pain under his ribs!

Bagman squeezed Harry's shoulder hard, and then walked to the referee's table on the wall.

After a while, he came to his position and pointed his wand at his throat.

"The sound is loud!"

Then his voice was like thunder, passing through the ears of all the audience.

"I believe everyone is a little impatient to wait, but I think everyone's wait must be worth it!" His voice easily suppressed the buzz on the walled stands, "Actually, I am just like everyone else.

I can’t wait! But, I have to tell you about the second event of this Triwizard Tournament, don’t I?”

Bagman paused and said loudly: "As you can see, this is a huge maze! I think everyone must understand that the walls of this maze are made of thorns of doom! In this maze

, the first thing the warriors have to face are these thorny tentacles that will attack you inadvertently from time to time!"

"Of course, this maze is obviously not that simple! Because everywhere in the maze - yes, 'everywhere'! There are dangers hidden everywhere in the maze, including creatures, mechanisms, and puzzles... Believe me

, there are definitely many difficulties here! If you are not careful, you will lose all your previous efforts!"

"And in each warrior's box, in addition to the most important clues, there is also one-eighth of the map of this maze! They are naturally different. As for whether it will help the warrior holding it

To win – who knows?”

"Yes... then, the last thing! The task that the warriors are about to challenge is-"