"Oh, lucky Viktor Krum, lucky Durmstrang!"
At the viewing grounds by the edge of Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest, the giant screen showed Cedric, Hermione, and Viktor, the three champions, drawing lots under Fleur's organization.
Bagman shouted loudly,
"Lucky boy, he has won the second key to victory!"
Compared with Ludo Bagman's high spirits, however, a regretful sigh rose from the stands.
In this difficult written test, Hogwarts' two teams had clearly contributed a great deal, yet Durmstrang had ultimately reaped the benefit.
"Oh, how awful. They were just short on luck!"
Mrs. Weasley said unhappily.
"Just like last round—if that Beauxbatons girl had discovered the secret of the glass walkway earlier, Ron wouldn't have had to drop out, right?"
Mrs. Weasley asked, waiting for the men beside her to agree. But after waiting for quite some time, she heard nothing.
"Oh, what's going on?"
Mrs. Weasley cast an annoyed sidelong glance, but when she saw the heavy gloom on Mr. Weasley's, Sirius's, and Remus's faces, her displeasure turned to surprise.
"Even if Harry and Hermione didn't get the key, you don't need to look like that. Really, what happened? Why won't you tell me? Ever since Scrimgeour came to speak with Bones, the expressions on all your faces have been off!"
Faced with his wife's questioning, Mr. Weasley opened his mouth. His shifting gaze flicked over the young wizards around them before he forced out an ugly, reassuring smile at Mrs. Weasley.
"It's nothing, Molly. Some troublesome things happened at the Ministry. Oh, but when is there ever a day without trouble at the Ministry? If you're curious, I'll tell you after the match. You know, there are children everywhere here."
Mrs. Weasley was far from satisfied with her husband's perfunctory answer. She was about to say something when Remus suddenly