"Pwah-!"
Krum surfaced with Hermione, gulping down the grass-scented air he had gone so long without.
Cedric and Pheobe followed close behind, along with Cho Chang and the younger sister.
Their swim up had been unbelievably smooth.
When they breathed the air above the water again, what greeted them was no longer simple cheering.
Instead, it was a tidal wave of uproarious laughter, applause, and heartfelt admiration for a magnificent show.
"My goodness! Did you see Krum's face when he was being tickled? I laughed so hard my stomach hurt!"
"Miss Pheobe was so elegant! She was practically dancing underwater!"
"I bet five Sickles Cedric memorized every word of Professor Holmes's lecture notes! Did you see that 'I've done this question before' look on his face?"
The three Champions and the three "treasures" they had "rescued" were safely returned by magic to their respective schools' preparation areas, where Madam Pomfrey immediately came forward to examine them.
On the enormous Water Vapor Screen, the images in the three windows finally froze, permanently recording the three Champions' competition times.
Overall record.
Krum had finished fastest, Cedric came second, and Pheobe last.
Scattered but proud cheers erupted from the Durmstrang stands.
"See that? That's strength and speed!"
A Durmstrang student spoke proudly to a Beauxbatons student beside him.
"First to finish! The championship is definitely ours!"
But no sooner had he spoken than the Weasley Twins' two enlarged, beaming faces appeared in the center of the screen again.
Their flamboyant formal robes glittered in the sunlight, more dazzling than any magic.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Fred's voice brimmed with theatrical excitement. "Our Champions have returned! But the competition..."
"...isn't over yet!" George's voice followed immediately, full of infectious excitement.
With a mischievous grin, Fred winked at the entire crowd:
"Because at Hogwarts..."
George caught