After the twins left, Vincent was finally able to analyze in peace who the Black Cloak was who had tampered with the Goblet of Fire.
Based on our brief encounter, Madame Maxime doesn't seem like the type to resort to underhanded tactics.
On the contrary, Karkaroff is the most suspicious; hypocrites usually try their best to hide their true colors.
Of course, the answer will be revealed soon.
Outside the castle,
The twins found Bagman, who was setting up Magical Projection with staff from the Ministry of Magic.
By the time they finished their work, it was almost noon.
The twins seized the opportunity to block the target who wanted to go back to rest.
"Mr. Bagman, we have something very important to discuss with you."
"I'm very busy."
"It won't take up too much of your time."
Bagman and the twins arrived at the secluded Quidditch Pitch, looking somewhat impatient.
"Sir, we have a grand plan to make a fortune!"
"Oh, I'm not interested." Bagman turned and left with a cold expression.
The twins quickly grabbed him.
"With just a flick of your finger, you can acquire a fortune of hundreds of Gold Galleons."
Bagman smiled and gently pried their hands apart. "Child, I have something more important to do. Let's talk properly after I finish setting up the live broadcast equipment in the castle Great Hall this afternoon, okay?"
After saying that, he turned and left quickly without looking back.
The twins looked at each other silently.
"Does he think we're not giving him enough?"
"A few hundred Galleon is only half a year's salary, and he has already paid off his debts. It seems unnecessary for him to take the risk to earn this little bit of money."
"Then we..."
"We're doomed..."
As evening approached, the twins again blocked Bagman's way when he tried to go back to change his clothes.
Before the two could even explain their purpose, he decisively rejected them.
"Kids, to tell you the truth, I'm not interested in anything right now. All my attention is focused on the global live broadcast of the Triwizard Tournament."
The twins grabbed him again, saying, "But you only need to do us a small favor; it's just a piece of cake for you."
Bagman shook his head decisively once again, "I have turned over a new leaf and am no longer the gambling addict you know. I want to be a good person."
The twins let go of his hand helplessly, and once again watched him leave in silence.
It's certainly a good thing to turn over a new leaf, but their plan was thus completely ruined.
"Ah... our prize money is gone..."
"Champion... we can't be Champion anymore..."
Feeling utterly dejected, the two returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, where they ran into Vincent, who had been busy all day in the Room of Requirement.
"It failed?"
"Don't even mention it, he actually wanted to be a good person."
Vincent blinked his big eyes. "A good person? He really turned over a new leaf?"
Fred raised his hand and wiped away non-existent tears from the corner of his eye. "We were rejected before we even finished speaking."
George blew non-existent snot. "Dude, didn't you say gambling addicts are incurable? How come you changed your mind so easily?"
Vincent patted the two on the shoulder reassuringly, "Since he wants to be a good person, then give him a chance and let him go."
The twins hugged him tightly, "Waaah... If we don't get selected as Champion, we won't have the funds to continue our research..."
"Don't cry, don't cry." Vincent patted the two of them on the back. "Actually, even if you are selected, you may not win. Even if you do get the prize money, preparing for those three competition events will cost a lot of Gold Galleons."
Being selected doesn't guarantee a win, but not participating means not spending money, and not spending money is equivalent to making money.
The twins stared at him blankly. "Dude, I have a feeling you're just kidding us."
"No way." Vincent led the two into the boys' dormitory. "Don't overthink it. Change your clothes before coming down. I'll wait for you in the Great Hall."
He slammed the twins' dorm room door shut from the outside.
The logic is correct, and in fact it is correct as well.
Vincent was in a particularly good mood, feeling that he had done a good deed.
After a long day, a shower and a change of clothes make me feel refreshed.
When they arrived at the common room, Hermione was already sitting at the round table waiting for quite a while.
"What's making you so happy?"
Vincent told her what had just happened as they walked.
They arrived on the first floor, and even before entering the Great Hall, they could smell a strong cologne scent in the air.
Following the smell, they saw a particularly horrifying scene.
Hagrid is wearing a suit!
Even her hair was carefully styled!
He even went into the castle with Madame Maxime!
That entranced expression, those misty eyes, it was as if he had seen a fire dragon.
Vincent stiffly turned his neck. "Hagrid's spring has arrived."
Hermione stiffly turned her head to look at him. "Now no one should gossip about your relationship with Madame Maxime."
That is indeed the case.
Before the Halloween Feast even started, the Hogwarts students were already discussing Hagrid and Madame Maxime.
Wearing an oversized Hagrid had dressed up carefully and was no longer as slovenly as before, but he still looked a little out of place standing next to the elegant and proper Madame Maxime.
Not long after, Karkaroff and Viktor Krum walked into the Great Hall side by side, with Durmstrang students following behind them.
Once the long tables in the Great Hall were full, Dumbledore announced the start of the dinner.
Today's dishes were more plentiful than last night's, but most of the students weren't really interested in enjoying them.
They looked anxious and restless as they stared at the Goblet of Fire placed on Dumbledore's table.
Vincent, now enjoying his meal without any pretense, made the professors at the staff table think he had the victory in the bag.
When Neville ate the last dessert from the golden plate, Dumbledore immediately stood up.
The entire Great Hall fell silent. Madame Maxime and Karkaroff became just as nervous as the students.
Bagman looked at the students with a smile, while Barty Crouch looked completely uninterested.
"Alright, the Goblet of Fire is about to make a decision." Dumbledore looked at the wooden goblet placed in front of him. "I estimate it will take another minute."
Listen, after the Champion's names are announced, I want them to walk to the top of the Great Hall, then down the staff tables, and into the next room.
He pointed to a door behind the staff's desks, "They will receive initial guidance there."
He took out the Elder Wand and gave it a wide, light wave.
Except for the candle inside the jack-o'-lantern, all the other candles went out, plunging the Great Hall into a state of semi-darkness.
The Goblet of Fire emitted a dazzling light, brighter than anything else in the entire Great Hall, its blue-white flames, sparking with Mars, were particularly blinding.
Suddenly, the flames turned red, and Mars crackled and sputtered out.
Then a tongue of fire shot into the air, from which flew a piece of charred parchment.
Everyone held their breath, including Vincent had been nonchalant just moments before.
The first Champion was born, Dumbledore solemnly received the parchment.
He held the paper far away so that he could see the words on it by the light of the flames, which had returned to their blue-white hue.
"The Champion of Durmstrang is—" he announced in a clear and forceful tone, "Viktor Krum."