Chapter 75

Chapter 75: International Interference

Cyrus Gaunt's escape through the swirling portal left a chilling silence in the heart of the Forbidden Forest. The shadowy figures dissipated, leaving Elara, Liam, and Maya standing amidst the ancient trees, their expressions grave. The realization that the international competition had been a carefully orchestrated deception, a stage for Gaunt's dark agenda, weighed heavily on their minds.

They returned to Hogwarts, their faces etched with concern, their minds filled with the weight of their discovery. The grand ballroom, once a scene of chaotic darkness, was now eerily quiet, the remnants of the duel still visible. The foreign delegations, their expressions a mix of fear and suspicion, gathered in small groups, their voices a hushed murmur.

Elara, Liam, and Maya approached the judges, their voices firm, their words laced with urgency. They recounted their encounter with Cyrus Gaunt, their discovery of the Disciples' manipulation of the competition, their fears of a larger conspiracy.

The judges, initially skeptical, were forced to acknowledge the truth of their claims. The evidence was undeniable: the corrupted challenges, the stolen artifacts, Lyra's dark magic, and now, Cyrus Gaunt's chilling declaration.

"We have been deceived," a judge from the Romanian delegation declared, his voice filled with anger. "The competition was a sham, a tool for their dark agenda."

"We must expose them," a judge from the Japanese delegation added, his voice laced with determination. "We must warn the wizarding world."

But the task was not as simple as it seemed. The Disciples had infiltrated every aspect of the competition, weaving their dark magic into the very fabric of the event. They had manipulated individuals, corrupted challenges, and sown discord among the delegations.

As the judges discussed their next course of action, a figure emerged from the crowd, his expression calm, his demeanor composed. He was a member of the delegation from Beauxbatons, a young wizard named Antoine, known for his charm and his mastery of illusion magic.

"I believe I can offer some assistance," Antoine said, his voice smooth and reassuring. "I have been observing the events closely, and I have noticed some… irregularities."

Elara, Liam, and Maya exchanged a look of suspicion. Antoine had always been friendly, always helpful, but something about his calm demeanor, his knowing smile, sent a shiver down their spines.

"What kind of irregularities?" Elara asked, her voice laced with caution.

"Subtle manipulations," Antoine replied, his eyes fixed on Elara. "Whispers in the wind, shadows in the corner of your eye. I believe the Disciples have been using illusion magic to influence the participants, to manipulate their perceptions."

"That's how they corrupted the challenges," Liam exclaimed, his eyes widening in realization. "They've been using illusions to subtly alter the spells, to twist the magic."

"Exactly," Antoine said, his smile widening. "And I believe I know who is responsible."

He turned to a member of the Bulgarian delegation, a young witch named Irina, known for her mastery of dark magic. "Irina," he said, his voice laced with accusation. "You have been working with the Disciples, haven't you?"

Irina's eyes widened in shock, her expression a mixture of fear and confusion. "What are you talking about?" she stammered. "I would never work with those… those monsters."

"Don't lie," Antoine said, his voice turning cold. "I saw you. I saw you communicating with Lyra, sharing secrets, plotting your dark agenda."

Irina's face turned pale, her eyes filled with terror. She tried to deny the accusations, but her words were weak, her denials unconvincing.

"You're one of them," a judge from the Bulgarian delegation shouted, his voice filled with anger. "You've betrayed us!"

Irina, her dark intentions exposed, unleashed a torrent of dark magic, her spells aimed at Antoine, her voice filled with rage. But Antoine, his true allegiance revealed, countered her attacks with a chilling efficiency, his illusions twisting and distorting her spells.

"You should have known," he said, his voice laced with a dark amusement, "that you couldn't deceive me."

He revealed himself, no longer the charming student from Beauxbatons, but a disciple of Cyrus Gaunt, a spy among the international delegations. He had used his charm, his illusions, his knowledge of the competition to infiltrate their ranks, to manipulate their perceptions, to further the Disciples' dark agenda.

The international interference had been exposed, the Disciples' deception laid bare. The competition, once a symbol of unity, had become a battleground, a testament to the insidious power of darkness, and the threat of Cyrus Ga

unt loomed ever larger.