On the morning of the second competition day, Albert, who had gotten enough sleep, woke up early. He stood up and half leaned against the head of the bed, gently stroking Tom who was begging for breakfast in a coquettish and cute manner. He slowly turned his newly awakened brain and thought over the original plan again in his mind to ensure that there would be no fatal loopholes in all links.
Although the possibility is almost zero, but... Well, Albert admitted that he was a little annoyed. Maybe this is what they call caring too much and becoming confused.
As far as he knew, Hermione and Ron had quietly "disappeared" yesterday afternoon, while Fred, George and Lee Jordan were still sleeping soundly in their warm beds.
This is not a good sign.
Since none of his three good roommates was chosen as the baby by the event organizer, the baby candidate could only be Isobel or Nia. Nia was directly ruled out by him, and Isobel was the most likely candidate for the baby.
To verify this, Albert tried to contact Isobel last night, but there was no response.
In fact, Albert didn't want to involve Isobel in the Triwizard Tournament, and he didn't want her to encounter any possible danger. Although the possibility was extremely low, who knew if little Barty would suddenly go crazy
It is well known that Death Eaters are usually not in their right minds.
He wanted to nip the danger in the bud, but the time was not yet right.
However, since it has already happened, there is no point in complaining now. The key is to complete the second project as soon as possible.
The original plan was to use the Bubblehead Charm to supply air, the Warming Charm to maintain the temperature, the propeller to provide power, and the Water Breathing Agent as a backup plan for any accidents to prevent oneself from drowning in the water.
Then, he used the tracking spell to lock the coordinates of the mermaid village where he had left last time, and quickly found the mermaid village.
As for the Grindylows that he might encounter on the road, Albert really didn't take it seriously. It was estimated that they were unavoidable anyway, so he just dealt with them all. The Water Monster Expelling Spell had been upgraded to level 2, so it was not difficult to deal with a group of Grindylows that had little combat power. The only thing he had to pay attention to was not to let a large number of Grindylows get close to him.
This plan can be summed up in one word: stable.
However, Albert felt that there was no need to keep any backup plan now. This plan was actually reserved for a possible sneak attack. The Bubble Head Curse was still not safe. If the wizard removed the spell at the bottom of the lake, he would probably not be able to float to the surface and would drown in the water.
If Albert wanted to murder a warrior, he would do this. After all, Avada Kedavra will leave no trace, which is the biggest trace, while drowning in water will really leave no evidence.
If anyone dared to use this method against him, Albert would teach the other person a lesson so profound that he would be killed.
However, this time he planned to use all the resources he could to complete the second project as quickly as possible and rescue Isobel from the lake.
After thinking it over in his mind several times and making sure that he could deal with any possible accidents, Albert put on his clothes and began to pack the things he would need next.
To be honest, it had been a long time since he had faced something so seriously.
As soon as Albert went downstairs for breakfast, he was surrounded by a large group of students. Everyone was offering their blessings at the same time. The voices were so chaotic that he couldn't hear clearly what they were saying.
Compared with Albert who was surrounded by countless people, Harry Potter who was alone was simply a pitiful creature, especially since Ron and Hermione were not around. Harry Potter's back looked even more frail and desolate. Only his roommates were there to have breakfast with him.
After nine o'clock, Professor McGonagall appeared in the hall on time and led the two to the competition venue. Compared with the first event, she seemed to have gained a lot of confidence.
Albert and Harry had no intention of listening to her, they were both thinking about their own things.
"Are you ready?" Professor McGonagall looked at Harry's backpack.
"Very well prepared, Professor," Harry said calmly. "I just need a place to change."
"There's a tent over there." Professor McGonagall turned around and asked, "Where's Albert?"
"no problem."
"Go in, good luck!"
Professor McGonagall led the two to the entrance of the tent by the lake, and Albert and Harry walked in one after the other.
This tent was more luxurious and comfortable than the previous one. It had separate compartments and comfortable seats. Krum was wearing a cloak and sitting in an armchair with his head down, wondering what he was thinking.
After noticing someone entering the tent, he looked up at the entrance. When he found that it was Albert who came in, he nodded at him.
Opposite Krum, Fleur was also wearing a cloak and her face was not looking very good. She was obviously worried about her sister Gabrielle. She had no reaction at all after the two entered the tent. Albert could understand Fleur's current mood very well.
Harry and Albert went to their respective cubicles to change into clothes for diving in the lake.
Albert put on his special clothes and a bracelet for detecting wizards. He tied his wand to the detection bracelet with a rope, took out a medicine labeled underwater breathing agent from his cloak pocket, poured out two pills similar to cod liver oil and stuffed them into his mouth. He would just chew and swallow them when he went down to the lake later. Time was almost up anyway.
Two underwater breathing pills can keep him in the water for about half an hour. For Albert, half an hour is enough to complete the task.
As for taking underwater breathing agents, it is more of a safeguard.
After changing into a black tight suit and coming out of the cubicle, Albert found that Harry was wearing a diving suit that was somewhat similar to his, and he was holding diving fins in his hand, as if he was planning to put them on after going into the water.
The warriors didn't stay in the tent for too long. Dumbledore walked into the tent with the other referees. He cleared his throat and told the warriors about the content of the second task: to take back the stolen treasure within an hour.
This was originally Ludo Bagman's job, but ever since that unfortunate guy went on the run from debt, the Triwizard Tournament, which was originally supposed to be presided over by officials from the Ministry of Magic, has changed completely (there are three fewer referees), and Cornelius Fudge, Amelia Bones and Rufus Scrimgeour who came to act as temporary referees were not suitable to host the game (they were not familiar with the situation), and in the end the job of commentary had to be handed over to Dumbledore, and Madame Maxime had no objection anyway.
Well, actually, there is no one available to take this job.
As for finding another explanation
No, the Ministry of Magic can't afford to lose face. This Triwizard Tournament is almost becoming a joke.
"Okay, it's almost time, let's go and get ready!" After Dumbledore gave a brief explanation, he led the warriors to the lake to make preparations.
Krum took off his cloak and placed it on the chair, revealing his thin body wearing only swimming trunks. He was the first to walk out of the tent.
Fleur also took off her cloak, revealing a decent swimsuit underneath. It was undeniable that Fleur looked very sexy in the swimsuit. Albert couldn't help but take a few more glances at her. Harry, who was standing next to her, almost couldn't look away until Albert gently patted his shoulder. He came to his senses and looked a little embarrassed. The two of them left the tent one after the other.
The circular stands that surrounded the Fire Dragon Stadium last November were now extended in an arc shape to the shore of the Black Lake. They were filled with excited spectators, some of whom even whistled at the warriors entering the stadium.
Dumbledore ordered the warriors to line up on the shore, then returned to the judges' seat covered with a golden tablecloth. He pointed his wand at his throat and said to the audience by the Black Lake: "Our warriors are in their positions. They have a full hour to take back what has been taken from them. Now listen to my whistle! One... two... three!"
A shrill whistle echoed in the cold, still air.
There was immediate cheering and applause from the stands.
However, to their surprise, the warriors were all making their own preparations and were not in a hurry to go down to the lake.
Harry Potter was performing various spells on himself and putting on his diving flippers before staggering towards the Black Lake. However, he was not the fastest.
Well, Miss Furong might be the only exception, she just cast a bubble spell on herself and hurried down to the lake. Perhaps, she had never tried diving in the lake before, and she seemed the most hurried among all the warriors.
Krum used transformation magic on himself and ended up going into the water with a shark's head on his head.
While all the warriors were taking action, Albert was patiently waiting for the underwater breathing agent to take effect.
There was a hint of Slytherin boasting from the stands ahead, but more people were curious about what he was going to do, at least no one thought he was afraid to go in the water.
"It seems our Mr. Anderson has other plans."
Amid everyone's astonished gazes, Albert stretched out his hands in front of him, as if looking at something carefully.
His fingers were webbed together and the underwater breathing agent began to take effect.
"Look, he used a sophisticated Transfiguration spell to turn the stone into something." Dumbledore looked at the man who bent down to pick up a stone from the lake and cast a Transfiguration spell on the stone with his wand. "Let us wait and see what surprises Mr. Anderson will bring us."
Surprise, no, it should be said that it is a shock!
After Albert went down to the lake with the underwater booster, he moved towards the center of the Black Lake at an extremely astonishing speed. The speed was so terrifying that in just over a minute, he had arrived at a certain location in the Black Lake, which stunned the students and referees in the audience.
How did he do it? This is the question everyone wants to know.
Albert arrived at the lake and used the tracking spell again. After determining the distance and position of the three anchor points, he turned over and dived deep into the lake.
The lake water was no longer freezing cold, but rather cool and comfortable, and my body became very light in the water, all due to the effect of the underwater respirator. Most importantly, after diving into the lake, my vision became better, and I could even see very far and clearly.
Albert no longer had any moral principles. From the very beginning, he didn't need to search for the mermaid village in the lake like the others did. Instead, he dived directly from above the mermaid village.
The scene in front of me was changing rapidly. The deeper I dived, the lower my visibility became. The light became hazy and dim. Directly below me, the dark green lake was constantly surging. It was a large patch of tangled waterweed. There must be a lot of Grindylows hiding in the waterweed jungle. I might be attacked as soon as I approached.
So, Albert stopped diving when he reached above the aquatic plant jungle.
He waved his wand and began to stir the lake water below, trying to force out all the Grindylows nearby. Once they lost their sneak attack advantage, the Grindylows would no longer be dangerous.
This was like stirring up a hornet's nest. A large number of Grindylows emerged from the aquatic plants and jungle and quickly rushed over here. Albert did not give them any chance. He directly created an undercurrent and swept the unfortunate guys away.
The few remaining Grindylows who were able to get close were all knocked down by Albert using the Water Monster Expelling Spell. The speed and violence of the method stunned the mermaid who was hiding in the water grass and secretly observing.
It really couldn't understand what was wrong with this human. The game should have just begun, so why did the opponent come to the door? And the previous move was too violent. And why did you repeat it twice? Is it worried that there are still Grindylows below
The mermaids hiding in the aquatic jungle were almost wiped out as well.
Albert made sure there were no grindylows below before diving again, and soon heard the haunting song of the mermaid.
Only one hour.
To find and take back what we have taken...
Albert followed the mermaids' singing and dived into the water grass jungle, and soon found the mermaid village.
In the village square, there are a large number of mermaids holding spears. Some of them are singing in unison, as if calling on warriors with their singing.
Four hostages were tied to the tail of the tall mermaid statue behind them.
“Your singing is beautiful.”
Albert swam over, waved his wand and made a sound to greet the mermaids, but his appearance seemed to scare the mermaids so much that even their singing stopped abruptly.
"Thanks."
The mermaids looked at Albert curiously, pointing at his webbed hands and gill sacs.
Albert swam to Isobel's side and checked her condition. He heaved a sigh of relief after confirming that she was fine. Isobel seemed to be sleeping soundly, her head drooping weakly on her shoulders, and a string of fine bubbles kept coming out of her mouth.
The situation of the other hostages was similar, except that it was a bit eye-catching that Ron was tied up here as a hostage.
Harry's baby.
If you don’t know, you might think they have something beyond friendship.
After shaking off those terrible thoughts, Albert waved his wand to cut the water plants on Isobel's body.
Seeing that Albert was about to rescue the hostages, the leading mermaid asked, "Is the competition time advanced?"
"No." Albert removed the water plants on Isobel and said calmly, "Because I have been here once before, I found it quickly. The other warriors may need to wait for a while."
"Faster?" the merman repeated softly, obviously not believing Albert's nonsense.
"Anyway, I'll take the person away first."
Albert didn't care what the mermaids thought. He put his arm around Isobel's waist and tapped the underwater booster with his magic wand. He then floated vertically up from the mermaid village, leaving the mermaids looking at each other in bewilderment.
However, the most confused ones were not the mermaids, but Fred and George who were opening the market by the Black Lake. The two guys were holding boxes and looking for people to place bets, but they were confused by the sudden black spots on the lake.
Not only the Weasley twins, but also the referee and other spectators were all confused and even forgot to give enthusiastic applause to the returning warriors.
Albert seems to have gotten his baby back
It seems that less than half an hour has passed since the start of the game.
The second project is actually very simple
While the audience was whispering, Albert was checking Isobel's condition. The girl's lips were pale, obviously frozen by the lake water.
"What's happening to you?" Isobel didn't pay attention to her own situation, but was curious about the changes in Albert.
"The effect of the underwater breathing agent will probably return to normal after a while."
Albert waved his wand, and a small boat slowly floated up from the lake, pushing Isobel's body out of the lake. He waved his wand again, drying the water stains on Isobel's body and making her clothes warm.
"Aren't you coming up?" Isobel asked in confusion when she saw Albert staying in the water.
"No, you won't feel cold in the water in this state." Albert waved his wand gently, and the boat slowly moved towards the shore.
"How did you become a baby?" he asked.
"Dumbledore contacted me a few days ago, so I agreed. You don't seem happy?" Isobel asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.
"I just don't want you to get into trouble. After all, the Triwizard Tournament is never safe."
"I'm sure you can get me back." Isobel leaned over and kissed Albert on the forehead. "Principal Dumbledore assured us that there is absolutely no danger and that he will wake up as soon as he comes out of the water."
"No, that's not what I mean. Forget it. Besides, I usually won't let anyone take my treasure away." Albert stopped the boat at the shore, and amid the cheers of countless people, he waved his wand to form a stone path away from the lake. He reached out to help Isobel get off the boat, and the girl hugged her warrior and gave him a passionate kiss, pushing the atmosphere on the scene to its climax.