Chapter 271: The Fourth Champion
Chapter 271: The Fourth Champion
There was no applause when Dumbledore read out Harry's name. Instead, a buzzing, argumentative noise filled the Great Hall.
Harry sat in his seat, staring blankly at the many eyes that turned to look at him, one after another, as people left their seats.
"You know", he muttered to Ron and Hermione, "I didn't! I never even signed up."
Hermione and Ron also looked bewildered; they had no idea why this was happening.
The Great Hall was filled with a loud, chaotic din, making it impossible to hear what the students were saying.
Sherlock, seated at the high table, watched Harry with a thoughtful expression. The scene of Dumbledore calling out Harry's name brought back some memories.
In his hazy recollection, Harry had indeed participated in the Triwizard Tournament in the original story and even won the Triwizard Cup in the end.
So, why was Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire?
As this question formed in Sherlock's mind, Professor Mcgonagall stood up from her seat with an urgent look on her face and hurried over to Dumbledore.
Sherlock could faintly hear her saying, "Let Harry go to the back first."
Dumbledore nodded and then restored order in the Great Hall.
"Harry, please come up and wait behind the door."
Every eye in the Great Hall was on Harry. At that moment, he felt no sense of honor, only the overwhelming desire to disappear into a crack in the floor.
As he walked up to the high table, he met Dumbledore's gaze. Dumbledore's face was expressionless, even somewhat grim.
Almost all the teachers at the long table were watching him. Harry felt at a loss, but Sherlock's wink gave him a slight sense of relief from his nervousness.
Harry was led to the room where only the chosen champions could enter. Dumbledore then asked Flitwick to maintain order in the Great Hall and called Mcgonagall, Snape, and the two guides for the champions, Sherlock and Mad-Eye Moody, to join him in the room.
Karkaroff and Madame Maxime also followed, their faces grim. They were the most visibly displeased with this unexpected turn of events.
The other two judges, Bagman and Crouch, remained calm. One expressed amazement at the development, while the other looked troubled and sullen.
They entered the room behind the Great Hall.
Harry stood there, fidgeting, under the focused gazes of the other three eligible champions.
Bagman explained to Fleur and Cedric that Harry had been chosen as the fourth champion.
This sparked a heated debate among the others, with Karkaroff and Madame Maxime expressing strong dissatisfaction.
Hogwarts now had an additional contestant, and even a fourth-year student could significantly improve their chances of winning.
Snape, in a sarcastic tone, questioned what means Harry had used to sign up. Professor Mcgonagall angrily defended Harry, insisting that she believed he would never break the rules by having an older student sign up for him.
As they argued, Sherlock and Mad-Eye Moody sat in an unobtrusive corner, whispering to each other.
"Look at Harry", Mad-Eye Moody's magic eye fixed on Harry, spinning incessantly. "I've interrogated many criminals, and I can tell that his behavior is not an act. Harry is genuinely unaware of being chosen as a champion."
Sherlock stroked his slightly stubbled chin, pondering.
"The possibility that Harry cheated and entered himself is zero. If he didn't do it himself, then someone else must have secretly thrown a parchment with his name into the Goblet of Fire without his knowledge."
Mad-Eye Moody's voice was raspy and low.
"The person who did this knew about the age restriction for the Triwizard Tournament, which was only added this year. The Goblet of Fire doesn't just consider students over seventeen; anyone whose name is thrown into the cup becomes a potential candidate."
"But this person couldn't guarantee that the Goblet of Fire would select Harry as Hogwarts' champion. Despite his fame, he's only a fourth-year student with limited magical knowledge. There are many older students in this castle who are more powerful."
"So this person used a highly sophisticated Confundus Charm to make the foolish wooden goblet believe that four schools would participate in the tournament, with Harry Potter being the sole candidate for the fourth school. This ensured that he would be selected!"
"We all know that when the Goblet of Fire selects a champion, it forms an unbreakable magic covenant. Once chosen, no one can back out of the tournament!"
Mad-Eye Moody concluded definitively.
"Someone wants Harry to participate in this Triwizard Tournament! The ultimate goal is likely to have him killed during the competition!"
Sherlock shook his head, disagreeing.
"I don't think it's that simple. Wanting Harry to participate in the Triwizard Tournament is one thing, but if the person truly wants Harry dead, they would have a better opportunity when everyone's attention is focused on the tournament. By doing this, they've only drawn more attention to Harry, making it harder for them to act."
Mad-Eye Moody's brow furrowed as he listened to Sherlock's reasoning.
"So what is their true purpose?"
Sherlock narrowed his eyes.
"We can't know for sure, but do you think the person who threw Harry's name into the Goblet of Fire might be in this room?"
Mad-Eye Moody's hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched tightly, but he soon relaxed it.
Looking at the five judges who had ended their argument and reluctantly accepted Harry as the fourth champion, Mad-Eye Moody said calmly.
"Dumbledore is certainly not the one, but the other four cannot be ruled out."
After confirming that Hogwarts would have two champions in the Triwizard Tournament, Karkaroff and Madame Maxime's faces grew even more grim.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
