After the six champions learned that the task involved dragons and were briefed by Regulus Black about the dragons' habits and names, their week of preparation passed by amid feasts of dragonfire barbecue.
Each time Regulus Black brought a cow, it was roasted to a mouthwatering degree. Then, as was his custom, he would carve off a leg to take with him, while the Chinese Fireball enjoyed the remaining bulk.
Recently, the six champions had been enjoying daily dragonfire roasts. Regulus Black no longer invited the other two headmasters or Hagrid.
As it turned out, without the Aurors taking half and the headmasters and Hagrid claiming the other half, the champions could now devour the entire leg—whether front, back, left, or right—on their own.
Even Regulus Black only ate modestly at their side.
"Thank you, Mr. Black, for your hospitality. Gabrielle and I have been feeling much healthier lately,"said Fleur Delacour, her gaze soft and shimmering like spring water as she looked at Regulus Black. It had to be said—such nourishing food naturally heightened certain desires. However, she was Madame Maxime's student, and Regulus had no desire to attract the attention of that giantess.
Although both Delacour sisters had confessed their affection to Regulus Black at last night's champions' ball—an act they could carry out freely due to their Veela blood—Regulus couldn't reciprocate so freely. After weighing all possibilities, he made a pact with the sisters.
They would not encounter any safety issues during the tournament.
That answer might have seemed perfunctory, as if he had seen through the sisters' Veela nature and was simply shielding himself from manipulation. But in truth, Regulus Black genuinely understood their feelings—after all, he kept 81 Veela in the enchanted amulet known as the Red Nightmare Witch Monastery. How could he not be familiar with Veela tendencies?
"Today will be the final feast. The fire dragons will be sent away after the task, meaning there'll be no more dragonfire barbecue,"Regulus Black announced, bringing disappointment to the group. The six champions had grown addicted to the special treat, and now it was about to end.
All four boys wore looks of dismay, while the Delacour sisters maintained a graceful demeanor.
"How are your preparations going? Actually, never mind—don't tell me. Otherwise, there'll be no surprises tomorrow."
Regulus Black rose, shaking hands with each of them and wishing them luck.
It felt like he had become their nutritionist, chef, and coach all rolled into one over the past week.
Then, Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, appeared once again. The champions were gathered into a lounge.
"First, we need to determine the order of the task. Here is a pouch containing six dragon orbs. Whichever orb you draw will determine which dragon you face."
These dragon orbs had all been crafted by Regulus Black to match the appearance of the six fire dragons. However, since the champions might be able to identify them by touch, each orb had been coated in a uniform spherical shell to prevent that.
Collecting seven dragon balls might summon Shenron, but here, there were only six.
The drawing process was broadcast live. Students outside the lounge could watch through magical windows, and three headmasters along with reporters from The Daily Prophet were present as overseers.
Rita Skeeter had repeatedly sworn to Regulus Black that she wouldn't fabricate anything, only then being brought before Headmaster Dumbledore. After further assurances, she was granted exclusive reporting rights.
But the night before, in the Room of Requirement, this infamous truth-bending journalist had been lying on a bed, a silver collar locked around her neck. From it, silvery threads had emerged, taking control of her body and twisting her into an extremely contorted pose.
This collar was designed by Regulus Black—an upgraded version of the one once worn by little Sirius. It was more refined and came equipped with binding contracts, enchantments, tracking spells, and more. He only developed this enhancement after witnessing the Dark Mark.
Her body had remained in a constant state of stimulation, and Rita Skeeter had lost count of how many times she had passed out from sheer pleasure.
She had thought she had finally escaped this devil of a man, doing everything she could to avoid contact with him, reporting on his affairs either truthfully or not at all—anything to avoid drawing his attention.
But to her dismay, the Triwizard Tournament brought her back to Hogwarts, and upon arrival, she was immediately dragged into the Room of Requirement.
Here is the Room of Requirement, a fact that Rita, a Ravenclaw by origin, naturally knew. She was also aware that in recent years, this most magical room at Hogwarts had been occupied by the Regulus Black standing before her. The room's decor, she noted, was quite impressive.
A large cauldron was simmering with a potion, the rolling steam stirring the viscous liquid into bubbles.
"What am I supposed to say about you, Rita?" Regulus Black said. "You actually dared to avoid me! It makes me want to hit you, hurt you, torment you when I finally see you."
Regulus Black's hands roamed over her body. The sweat on her skin glistened like oil, but it was clear that this body was no longer young. Her skin had grown rough, no longer smooth, with various blemishes dotting its surface.
As he touched her, Rita Skeeter climaxed once more, her body now hypersensitive, perfectly meeting Regulus Black's demands.
"But I don't want your body," he continued. "This body stirs no desire in me. So, Rita, transform into something I like!"
With that, under the control of a collar, Rita Skeeter climbed into the cauldron of her own accord.
Regulus Black mused that if Voldemort would one day use a cauldron to "cook" himself, perhaps he could do the same. But before cooking himself, he could start with others—those who needed to be changed, whether they agreed or not. Regulus Black would ensure their compliance.
Thus, upon seeing Rita Skeeter, the first candidate for the cauldron was chosen.
Regulus Black quickly devised a plan for Rita's transformation—not a menu, but the precise potion mixture for the cauldron.
To highlight the transformation of the person being "cooked," Regulus Black adapted the internal-use potion "Fountain of Youth" into one for immersion.
An hour in the cauldron would drown any living person, but Rita Skeeter did not drown. Instead, she curled up like a chrysalis, her body wrapped in silver threads from the collar. These threads extended to hold her at the center of the cauldron, allowing all the potion to flow into her through the silver.
Soon, the potion's liquid was fully absorbed, and Rita Skeeter was about to awaken.
A 20-year-old Rita Skeeter emerged. Not only was her body youthful, but her spirit and soul were rejuvenated as well. The decades of aging seemed to have never touched her, and her face had even become more beautiful.
This change in appearance was, of course, the result of Regulus Black's subtle adjustments using the silver threads. Concepts from games used for character customization were applied here, manipulating the potion to reshape her face and body.
The silver threads acted like a mold. Had no adjustments been made, the potion would have restored Rita's original face under natural forces. But with the silver threads as a mold, the subtle changes were accepted without affecting her recovery, ensuring her new appearance would not revert over time.
"How do I look now?" Rita Skeeter asked.
Unable to resist what Regulus Black had done to her, she was more concerned about the changes to her appearance. For a woman, after all, her face and body were paramount.
The silver threads transformed into a mirror in front of her, allowing Rita Skeeter to examine her body from head to toe.
"As a reward for your loyalty to the Black family and to me, I believe you'll adapt well to this youthful body," Regulus Black said.
At his side was a lantern-shaped cage of white bone, imprisoning a "Soul of Bone"—the deadly weapon once used to control Rita Skeeter.
"Regulus, is there anything you need me to do?" Rita Skeeter asked, slipping the ornamental piece around her neck.
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