Volume 5: The Burning Golden Flame Chapter 398 30 minutes
"Where did Jon Green get 180 points!"
The first person to question this was Boster.
The smile on his face was the first to freeze, and he was the first to react among everyone. He almost couldn't help but interrupt Matthew on the spot.
On the shore, the students in the castle were also staring at Matthew. When they heard someone take the lead in asking questions, they also started shouting.
"That's right! Jon Green scored 100 points in the first game, and now 50 points in this game. The total is not 180 points!"
"Did Mr. Graves make a mistake?"
"Could he have done such a simple addition on purpose?"
Hearing such doubts, Matthew simply put down the parchment in his hand and stared at everyone calmly.
"It's true that Jon Green scored 50 points in this competition, but he didn't just get 100 points in the first event."
"There were no students around at the time, but we were all there! He found the most Snitches, so he ranked first and got 70 points. The second one came back from the Forbidden Forest and got 30 points. This is not 100 points, but something else! You announced it in front of all the judges!"
Bulstrode could no longer hold back, he seemed to sense some conspiracy, Matthew might want to work with Dumbledore to confuse right and wrong, the result of the second project could not be changed in front of everyone, so he decided to tamper with the first project.
As he shouted, he turned to look at Snape.
"You were there at that time, right? Say something, Snape! They are cheating!"
Snape just responded with a cold look and did say something, but the words were directed to him.
"Incorrigible idiot."
After saying this, he nodded to Matthew as if to say hello, then turned around and walked towards the castle under everyone's puzzled gaze.
Naturally, none of the students surrounding him dared to stop him. They all hurriedly made way for their vice-principal to pass through.
Bulstrode didn't react at first and just stood there in a daze. Only after Snape had walked away did the expression on his face begin to distort.
"What does he mean by this? How dare he scold me like that! Like that!"
The expression on Matthew's face did not change from beginning to end, and he continued what he had not finished saying.
"I think you may have forgotten, Mr. Bulstrode, that after the first competition, the referee team launched an investigation into the dragon disaster. Although there were no clues or results in the end, the compensation for Jon Green was recognized by all the referees at the time, including the headmaster of Hogwarts Castle. The compensation was 30 points added to his first competition."
The distortion on Boster's face froze in an instant.
When this matter was confirmed, he was naturally notified, but he didn't care about it at the time. He thought that Jon was already the first in the first project, and giving him more points would not affect anything.
But it was not until the second event was over that he came to his senses. The scores of the first two events had to be added together to calculate the ranking, which would then affect .
In other words, the 30 points given to Jon at the beginning were actually crucial, and basically ensured his invincibility!
No wonder he could go ashore without batting an eyelid even though he only got one pearl, and acted as if he didn't care about Emile and Draco's results.
In fact, even if Jon didn't go looking for the pearls, as long as he returned immediately after entering the water and got the guaranteed 50 points, he would win!
As for whether the 30 points given to him as compensation were reasonable, this was something Voldemort had agreed to, so Bulstrode could not raise any objection to it.
So the situation was already doomed.
And he is still like a clown, questioning whether Dumbledore colluded with the referee team to cheat, and even let Snape speak?
Bulstrode's face flushed almost at a speed visible to the naked eye, because all the students were looking at him at that moment. Snape left quietly, and they could only get the answer from the vice-headmaster of Beauxbatons whether the news was true.
"Yes, there is such a thing!"
Boster almost squeezed these words out from between his teeth.
Matthew looked away from him. He never understood from the beginning why the vice-principal could be so happy.
The students around you don’t understand how the score for the first project is calculated. Don’t you understand it either?
It really proves what Snape said before he left, he is hopelessly stupid.
At this moment, Emil felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured on him, and he became completely depressed.
When Jon got the extra points, not only the referees were informed, but the contestants below also knew about it. However, at that time they had already acknowledged that Jon was the first, so they didn't think it was a big deal.
But when the two competitions were completely over and the total scores were added together, this advantage was fully demonstrated.
After hearing Boster's personal confirmation, no one in the castle smiled anymore.
The expressions on their faces might even be a little awkward, like a group of ducks bringing swan eggs back to their nest, only to be openly pointed out that ducks are ducks and cannot lay swan eggs.
As for George and Hermione, no one cheered after Jon confirmed that they had first place in the total score.
It was as if things were supposed to be this way, and the cheers of the students in the castle before were completely meaningless in their eyes.
Matthew asked again one last time in front of everyone.
"Does anyone have any questions about the total scores for the first two events?"
The scene became extremely quiet. Now every point scored by the four warriors was traceable and in compliance with the rules. Of course, no one would have any questions.
At this time, Matthew also breathed a sigh of relief.
Anyway, the first two games were finally passed safely. As for the abnormalities that occurred underwater in the Black Lake during the game, it is probably just a mess, just like the dragon disaster in the first game.
"Then, I declare that the third match will begin at 10 a.m. on April 12 of this year. The specific rules will be announced on the same day."
When Matthew said this, it meant that today's game was completely over.
The students in the castle seemed not to want to stay any longer. They turned around and hurried back to the castle, as if every extra second they stayed would make their faces more embarrassed.
Little Barty was watching the scene from the top of the castle tower.
He had already determined the outcome of the game before it even started, so there was no need for him to watch it.
Only a fool like Boster would have any illusions about the final outcome of the game. If he calculated Jon's score in the first game, he wouldn't be so confused.
After returning to the castle, Snape did not go to his office, but came to the tower and stood next to little Barty.
"There was an accident during the game."
"Can you confirm who did it? Dumbledore? Or was it a trick left by the master before?"
"I will go to the lake to check later, and the exact source remains to be determined."
Little Barty squinted his eyes and looked at the group of people returning to the Hogwarts carriage. There was a girl with long chestnut hair.
"No matter what the result of the game is, as long as Dumbledore and the others don't discover the disappearance of the master, it won't be a big deal. If we lose the first two games, then we lose. The key to victory is not here. Even if we have a big advantage, it can only provide some help in the last game. If we really want to win, we still have to lift the Triwizard Cup."
Snape was also looking down, squinting his eyes at John, who was being hugged by George and Lee on the shoulders and following Dumbledore playfully.
"Master, do you have any plans for the third game?"
"Of course I don't know what the master has arranged. Even now, I don't know what this final crucial match is about. But since the master didn't leave us any message, either he has already arranged everything, or..."
Little Barty finally took a deep look at Hermione, a look at the girl who had caused him to stumble, and finally turned around and left the tower.
"The master actually doesn't care about the Triwizard Tournament at all. The so-called blood oath and the current attitude of attaching importance to it are just to attract Dumbledore's attention."
After he left his last words, he disappeared into the doorway. Only Snape was still standing on the tower. He did not continue to look at John and his group who had returned to the carriage, but raised his head and looked at the blue space.
The dazzling sunlight shone on his empty eyes. I didn't know whether he was whispering to someone or talking to himself.
"No matter what...live well..."
…
Jon wasn't surprised that the second race ended like this.
He and Daisy knew the content of the second event very early on. The competition system was the same as the first event, so they had naturally figured out that they only had to go through the motions in this competition and their first position would basically not change.
Increasing the score a little bit may have a better impact on the third project, but there is actually no need for that.
After returning to the carriage, just like after all major events there would be a summary meeting in the principal's office, this time Jon also followed Dumbledore to the principal's office.
"Is there anything wrong with that giant squid?"
Jon asked, blinking as he sat down.
Dumbledore's face remained calm.
"Fawkes helped bring it to Lyon, where there are magical animal experts who are treating it. But even if it doesn't die directly from this incident, it won't be alive for many years."
Jon was silent for a moment.
He had never seen this giant squid before today, but whether in the original book or from other students' words, he could hear that this huge guy always maintained the friendliest attitude towards every student.
"May I know why this squid was tortured by the Dark Lord?"
Dumbledore's eyes showed a heavy look.
"Because its existence is deeply related to another founder of Hogwarts, Godric Gryffindor. That's what Riddle saw. If the four things in the headmaster's office are relics left by the creators, then this squid is a living fossil. It means even more to the entire castle."
Jon frowned. Even though he was not deeply involved in Dumbledore and Hermione's previous plans in the castle , he could now see the problem.
"But professor, if the Dark Lord really cares about taking the castle into his own hands, why hasn't he appeared to stop us until now? Let's not talk about the runes in the Chamber of Secrets for now. Whether it's in the headmaster's office or in the Slytherin common room under the Black Lake, we have basically left a lot of traces. I don't think the Dark Lord will not realize that we have discovered his secrets."
Dumbledore spoke softly.
"In fact, it's not just John you mentioned. We haven't even figured out Riddle's purpose in wanting to gain control of the castle. This castle should be meaningless to him. Now that he has the nominal position of headmaster, it is enough, but he still wants to go to great lengths to get the complete Hogwarts."
Jon also became curious about this.
"Does Hogwarts really have its own consciousness?"
"Why not?" Dumbledore asked, "Gryffindor took off his hat, and that hat became the Sorting Hat that can definitely identify students. Hogwarts Castle is a school founded by four great wizards. Every student and student living here is a little wizard with magical powers. It will also have its own recognition standard."
"Then how did the Dark Lord determine whether he was accepted by the castle or rejected?"
Dumbledore did not answer his question , but a look of sudden interest appeared on his face.
"If you ever get a chance, Jon, promise me something."
Jon was a little stunned. He didn't know why Dumbledore suddenly said this.
"What's up?"
"Next time you return to the castle and enter openly, try to go to the principal's office again and say a few words in the principal's office."
Dumbledore said with a smile on his face.
"Just think of this as you are talking to yourself, [Throw rotten eggs at my head, Hogwarts]."
Jon couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.
"Is this a secret order?"
"If you have the chance, just give it a try. This is not a mission or a secret order. It's just an interesting experiment."
Dumbledore seemed to have really just made up his mind about this matter on a whim. After he said this, his expression became serious again.
"Okay, let's get back to the point. There are still four months until the final match that will decide the winner, and during this time, Salazar has something to entrust to you."
