The news soon reached the students through various channels.
All they knew was that Professor Douglas would personally design the second task, and that it would be much harder. No one knew the specifics.
This only sparked even more widespread speculation, mingled with fear and excitement.
The three champions-Cedric, Krum, and Pheobe-all felt immense pressure when they heard the news.
They all realized that, from now on, their true opponents might no longer be one another.
Instead, it might be the meticulous, inscrutable Professor Douglas Holmes.
Harry felt a surge of pride and excitement when he learned that his maternal cousin would take full charge of the second task.
This only strengthened his resolve to complete Professor Moody's mission as a "sentinel."
He would show his maternal cousin that he could handle things on his own, too.
Hermione's brow, however, furrowed even more deeply.
The more Douglas demonstrated his ability to control everything, the more dangerous Moody, excluded and unpredictable, seemed to her.
On the very afternoon the meeting ended, Fred and George received a notice from the Academic Affairs Office, personally signed by Sirius.
The two exchanged excited glances, then mysteriously disappeared before the astonished eyes of everyone in the Gryffindor Common Room.
As core research and development staff at the Marauders Power Company, they would officially participate in the project.
Rita Skeeter had also signed a confidentiality agreement and could not report the specifics of the task.
But her keen nose immediately picked up another, even more explosive story-"Official Ministry of Magic backing: Werewolf Company to build venue for international top-level tournament!"
She licked her lips, already excitedly planning her next front-page headline.
As the meeting ended, Dumbledore glanced at Douglas, his eyes gleaming behind his half-moon glasses.
He steered the conversation toward specific preparations and announced that