The Admiral of Hogwarts

The day of the competition arrived quickly, and although Hugo really wanted to complain about having normal classes in the morning before an afternoon competition, thankfully it was just History of Magic class, which gave Veneto and the others enough time to go over the details of the afternoon's competition again. Uh, to rehearse.

Because Quidditch had been canceled this year, the students of Hogwarts poured their enthusiasm into the Triwizard Tournament. Even though school was still in session in the morning, it didn't diminish everyone's enthusiasm at all.

By noon, all the students' attention was focused on the competition that was about to begin in the afternoon. After lunch, the Great Hall quickly filled with the noisy voices of the students.

Of course, this commotion had nothing to do with Veneto—because just after lunch, Professor McGonagall came over and asked Veneto to go to the competition arena ahead of time.

"Veneto, Potter, the champions must go down to the arena now... You must be prepared to complete the first task."

"Okay," Harry said, standing up, his fork falling into his plate with a clatter.

"Wish you all the best," Hugo said, hugging Veneto, who gracefully put down her cutlery, amidst the whistles and cheers of a group of classmates, and then watched her leave the classroom with McGonagall to the applause of everyone.

Professor McGonagall looked a little distraught, which was understandable. After all, seeing her students face dragons, most normal teachers would be worried about their students, especially since Harry's level in this area was somewhat questionable.

After the two contestants left, everyone stayed in the restaurant for another seven or eight minutes, and then crowded together and walked towards the competition venue. By the time Hugo and the others arrived at the competition venue, many students were already seated.

This was a structure similar to an ancient Roman Colosseum, and the arena for the competition was on the ground in the center of a circle of stands.

The arena in the middle of the seats was not flat ground, but a terrain temporarily constructed with magic, like the wilderness.

This kind of terrain looked like a mountainous area, which, when combined with dragons, would create a better viewing experience. At the same time, the rugged terrain would also make it easier to showcase the competitors' abilities.

After finding a place to sit down, Hugo and Hermione immediately contacted Veneto through the Admiral Network, and then saw the situation inside the tent through her eyes.

At this time, Bagman had just entered the tent and was encouraging the champions with some words. However, possibly because his thinking was different from normal people, the encouragement effect was very average.

For example, this uncle actually said something like 'make yourself at home.' For the contestants who already knew they would be facing dragons next, this kind of talk would only fill everyone with the urge to complain, because even wizards don't keep fire-breathing dragons at home.

"Okay, very happy that everyone is here now, hope I'm not too late—it's time to explain the situation to you!" Bagman said cheerfully. "After the audience gathers, I will pass this bag around to each of you."

He held up a purple silk bag and shook it at all the champions—"You will pick out a small model of the thing you will each face! They have different, um, species. I also have one more thing to tell you, um, your task is to retrieve the golden egg!"

His words were disjointed, but the champions sitting here now all knew what he was talking about—crossing the fire-breathing dragon and obtaining the golden egg.

However, everyone couldn't show that they understood this matter, because theoretically they shouldn't know this information in advance, so the scene was slightly awkward.

It was also at this time that Hugo and Hermione noticed that the people around them had gathered, especially the students from the other two schools, who had all lined up and entered the arena.

"I think the time is almost here," Hugo raised his arm and looked at the time on his wristwatch, and then said. "Next, we'll have to see if Veneto draws lots early or late."

Veneto had said before that she wanted to fight that most powerful Hungarian Horntail, after all, since she had chosen to come out to compete, she naturally hoped to leave a deep impression on everyone.

After all, in future wars, there would always need to be someone who could unite the students in Hogwarts. Originally, Hugo had hoped to do it himself, but the ship girls felt that if the Admiral had to worry about everything, then their existence would not be of much significance.

Unlike ordinary humans, the ship girls' hands were able to feel the most subtle differences on those models, so as long as Veneto touched them, she would basically be able to feel the dragon she wanted.

"Ladies first." At this time, Ludo Bagman in the tent first looked at the pocket watch he was carrying, and after looking at it, untied the purple cloth bag, and then handed it to Fleur Delacour.

In fact, under normal circumstances, he should have handed it to the younger Veneto first, but Fleur's Veela bloodline was too attractive to men.

Fleur put a trembling hand into the bag and took out a small, lifelike dragon model—it was a Welsh Green, with a number tied around its neck: One.

Fleur looked relieved, and Veneto also breathed a sigh of relief in her heart at the same time, then stepped forward and gently touched the model inside that looked the most rough and took it out.

"Hiss—" When the others saw the model of the small dragon in Veneto's open palm, they all gasped, because this represented that the smallest contestant on the field was facing the most powerful dragon at the moment.

"Don't worry, these are all pretty easy guys to deal with," Veneto said with a smile to the few people who were looking at her with concern, while teasing the small dragon model in her hand.

Seeing her so calm, Harry obviously became a lot calmer as well, and drew a model of a Swedish Short-Snout from the bag, while Krum got a Chinese Fireball.

"Okay, you've all got them!" Bagman said after seeing that all the contestants present had finished drawing lots, "You've all drawn the fire-breathing dragon you're going to face, and the number on its neck is the order in which you'll deal with the dragon, understand?"

"Now, I'm going to leave you for a while, because I'm going to commentate for the audience. Fleur, you're first, and you go into that arena as soon as you hear the whistle, got it?"

"Now, Harry, I want to say a few words to you before the competition. The others prepare here, Harry, you come outside with me."

"Bagman doesn't owe money this time, does he? Why do I feel like he's gambling again?" Seeing Bagman take Harry out, Veneto quickly asked Hugo through the Admiral Network.

"You have to know, for these gambling addicts, whether they win or lose, they will keep gambling until they lose everything one day," Hugo was very clear about this situation.

"Something like the Triwizard Tournament is as attractive to a gambler as a delicious meal is to a gourmand, so a gambling addict like Bagman will definitely not let go of such an opportunity."

"Welcome everyone to watch the first match of the Triwizard Tournament." After a preparatory whistle, Bagman rushed to the podium from the side of the tent, panting, and then cast a Sonorous charm on his throat and said loudly.