The Tournament Committee was always astonishingly efficient.
A few months of preparation had completely transformed Hogwarts' Quidditch Pitch.
Apart from the stands, almost the entire field had been enclosed by towering walls.
Around the walls grew twenty-foot-high thorny hedges, dark and terrifying.
One of the walls had an opening—the entrance to the maze. From the outside, all you could see was a dark, ominous passage.
Desolate and quiet.
Yet filled with danger!
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Triwizard Tournament!"
Bagman, the head of the Department of Magical Sports and Games and today's host, was brimming with enthusiasm.
Even in the early summer heat, he wore an elegant suit, his plump face flushed red.
"Roar!"
The wild celebrations after the Demon King Squid roast still seemed fresh in everyone's memory. The spectators were thrilled to be there, and made their feelings known.
"Thank you, thank you all for your applause."
Bagman cracked a joke, then continued.
"I'll once again be your referee today. After several months, our Champions have reached their final challenge.
"Yes, the eight-month-long Triwizard Tournament is about to draw to a close.
"But before that, let's take a look at the current standings."
As he spoke, fiery letters appeared on the magical Light Screen.
[First place, Hogwarts, Klein Grindelwald, fifty points]
[Second place, Beauxbatons, Fleur Delacour, forty-seven points]
[Third place, Durmstrang, Viktor Krum, twenty-four points]
Compared with the top two, Krum's twenty-four points didn't look like much. But the audience was still enthusiastic and obligingly applauded.
"As you can see, our Third Trial will take place in this maze, which the Council spent months constructing.
"The three headmasters have endowed the maze with powerful magic, allowing its internal structure to change. And that's not all: the maze is home to all sorts of dangerous Fantastic Beasts and