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Karkaroff did not ask Dumbledore because he knew Dumbledore would certainly disagree. He did not ask Madame Maxime either, because the high score she had given made him feel she had already given up.
Beauxbatons' champion was only that Fleur girl, an ordinary young witch.
His champion was Krum.
A member of the Bulgarian national team. One of the finest Quidditch players in history.
With such an outstanding student on his side, how could Karkaroff possibly be willing to admit defeat?
Under Karkaroff's expectant gaze, Lucius glanced at the others and slowly spoke.
"I believe it would be best to follow the rules already established, Mr. Karkaroff. The Goblet of Fire's contract magic is in effect."
That sentence was the same as declaring that Lucius stood on the opposite side. Karkaroff's expression twisted.
There were five judges in total. Apart from himself, not one of the remaining four stood with him.
It was infuriating.
But he could only accept the fact. His malicious score just now had nearly driven the spectators into a riot. If he insisted on having his own way again, even the judges would not stand by him.
That would be the worst possible outcome.
Barely containing his excitement, Bagman announced the result of the first task of the Triwizard Tournament:
Dudley Dursley, forty-six points.
Viktor Krum, zero.
Fleur Delacour, zero.
Harry Potter, zero.
One near-perfect score followed by three large zeroes. In the history of the Triwizard Tournament, this was unique.
It would be interesting to see how Poisons and Antidotes Daily reported the first task tomorrow.
As the judges announced the result, staff members also informed the remaining three champions. Harry was very calm, because this was exactly what he had expected. Viktor was rather surprised by Dudley's performance. He had not expected Dudley to truly obtain the golden eggs from four dragons, and his expression turned solemn. He wanted very much to win, but although he regarded Dudley as his greatest opponent, he admired him even more. No wonder this was the genius wizard who had invented Wizard Cards.
As for Fleur, she was close to losing her composure. She intended to have a serious discussion with Madame Maxime that night about how to face the next task.
After the first task ended, the spectators left with satisfied smiles, bursting with things they wanted to tell the friends who had not come today.
The judges also left one after another, each with their own thoughts.
However, a small incident occurred as Dudley was leaving.
The Romanian dragon handlers blocked his way. They wanted Dudley to hand over the four dragons.
To make the Triwizard Tournament look more magnificent, the four dragons had been transported from the Romanian dragon reserve. Now that the first task had ended, the handlers naturally wanted their dragons back.
Unfortunately, the four dragons were already in Dudley's hands.
He had no intention of returning them.
There was no room for negotiation.
Thus, the two sides had a small disagreement, a small contradiction, a small dispute, and a small conflict. After a round of friendly and cordial communication, Dudley remained standing where he was, while the Romanian wizards lay across the ground.
"What happened, Mr. Dursley?"
Bagman, who had heard that the two sides had clashed, hurried over.
He first glanced at the Romanian wizards lying on the ground. His gaze remained on them for less than a moment before turning to Dudley.
He hoped Dudley would tell him exactly what had happened.
Dudley spread his hands and said in a very casual tone, "Nothing especially serious. They wanted to take my prizes from me. I refused. They tried to use force. I was forced to defend myself, and then things became what you see now. It is that simple, Mr. Bagman."
Simple?
Not remotely.
Looking at the Romanian wizards scattered across the ground, Bagman felt a stampede of garden gnomes running through his mind.
From Bagman's perspective, the Romanian wizards had not done anything wrong. The four dragons had indeed been borrowed by the Ministry, though the Romanian reserve had also wanted to use the event to promote itself.
Both sides had quickly reached an agreement and signed a contract, which was why the dragons had been transported here.
Since they were borrowed, they naturally had to be returned.
Bagman felt he should reason with Dudley properly. Otherwise, he would have no way to explain matters to the Romanian dragon handlers.
So, although Dudley made him rather nervous, he still forced himself to speak.
"Mr. Dursley, those four dragons..."
He had only just begun when Dudley interrupted him.
"Mr. Bagman, you are not also trying to ask for those four little fellows back, are you? According to the Goblet of Fire's contract, they are now my prizes. How to handle them is for me to decide."
That answer put Bagman in a difficult position. Dudley's attitude was obvious. He did not want to return the four dragons.
"The contract should not..."
"No, it does." Dudley interrupted Bagman again. After looking him over with suspicion, he said, "Mr. Bagman, surely you did read the Goblet of Fire contract carefully?"
With a wave of his wand, the contract text from the Goblet of Fire appeared in the air.
"Champions who participate in the tournament are responsible for their own lives and safety. However, any additional value produced by certain events during the tournament belongs to the champion, unless the champion chooses to give it up. No one else has the right to dispose of it."
This additional value referred precisely to the situation Dudley was describing.
It was equivalent to signing a contract in which one accepted the risks of life and death. Risk and reward depended on the champion's own ability. In return, magical creatures, plants, and other things defeated or obtained by a champion during the task became that champion's personal prizes.
"So there is no doubt that the four dragons are my prizes."
Dudley's tone left no room for doubt.
Bagman said weakly, "But they were leased by the Ministry."
Although he was a Ministry department head, Bagman acted almost like a subordinate in front of Dudley, who was still a student. He had never shown such an expression even in front of Fudge.
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