Stars began to appear in the clear, deep-blue sky.
In the stands before the maze, the seats that had been empty earlier were now packed, and the air was filled with excited chatter and the shuffle of footsteps.
This time, the audience also included over a thousand Muggles, all elite professionals who lived permanently in Hogsmeade.
Now they were looking around curiously, eager for an event considered grand even in the wizarding world to begin.
The six champions stood nervously before the maze entrance, cramming at the last minute as they quietly reviewed their spells.
Bagman, the host, made his introductions with exuberant enthusiasm.
"Ladies and gentlemen, in just a few minutes, our champions will enter the maze to complete the final task of the Triwizard Tournament.
"They will enter at three-minute intervals, in an order determined by their combined scores from the first two tasks. Now, allow me to announce the standings.
"Hogwarts champions Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter both have eighty-five points, tying for first place!"
Clap, clap, clap!
"Yes! Absolutely brilliant!"
The applause and cheers startled birds from the Forbidden Forest into the darkening sky, while countless restless beasts roared in succession.
"Durmstrang champion Viktor Krum has eighty points, placing second!"
Viktor's popularity as a Quidditch star remained strong, and he too received a wave of applause.
"Boris Porskoff has seventy-five points, placing third... Gais Fontana has seventy-four points, placing fourth... Fleur Delacour has sixty-eight points, placing fifth!"
Many people in the stands also cheered loudly for Fleur, not only because of her beauty, but because Beauxbatons now counted entirely as an English school of magic!
Of course they had to support one of their own!
Facing the six champions, Bagman pointed at the cloaked figures hovering on broomsticks above the maze, their hats adorned with glittering,