Bonds

Splash!

Amosta burst from the water, bringing Harry, Ron, Hermione, Gabrielle, Sparkle, and Old Barty Crouch with him as he landed on the platform from which the champions had previously dived. His gaze swept toward the long table draped in a golden cloth and the dense crowd gathered around it.

Dumbledore was saying something to Fudge, whose face was flushed red and expression fierce. Umbridge and a grim-faced Amelia stood behind Fudge, while Sirius's superior, Rufus Scrimgeour, had also appeared.

All of Hogwarts' staff were there. Before Amosta appeared, Professor McGonagall had been staring blankly at the shimmering water, her face as pale as snow. Professor Snape beside her looked no better.

Madame Maxime was comforting Fleur. The girl sat on the grass by the lake, her head buried between her arms wrapped around her knees, shoulders trembling without pause. Meanwhile, Ludo stood with the only pair to complete the second task—Cedric and Cho Chang—whose arms were pressed tightly together, their expressions both bewildered and terrified.

Krum stood with his schoolmates. These young men were also staring blankly at the water. Most of them were powerfully built, yet now they looked so helpless.

More than a hundred Ministry of Magic Hit Wizards had appeared. Quite a few were familiar faces who had accompanied him during the investigation into the attack on Hermione. Even as Amosta came ashore, they were still moving up and down the lakeside, refusing to give up the search for the missing children.

Panic hung in the air. Almost everyone wore an expression of utter confusion and impending doom, unsure what to do or how to face what had happened.

The huge screen erected by the lakeside had gone dark. The goblins had cut off the broadcast when the accident occurred, and they had gathered beneath the