Chapter 354: Always Stay Alert
Chapter 354: Always Stay Alert
"The headmasters and carefully selected competitors from the four magical schools will arrive in October, and the champion selection ceremony will take place on Halloween."
"Besides bringing glory to their schools, the winner will also receive a thousand Galleons as a prize."
"However—only students aged seventeen and older are allowed to enter, as the tasks of the tournament are still very challenging and dangerous. No matter how many precautions we take, students in grades six and below will not be able to handle them."
"The delegations will be with us for most of the school year, and I hope you will be warm and welcoming. For this reason, we have prepared some exchange activities..."
Dumbledore concluded the feast amidst a contentious din, the students grumbling about the age limit.
"Are we just supposed to sit and watch?" Ron stomped down the stairs, heading towards the common room.
Hermione said sternly, "It's for our protection, to prevent us from getting into danger due to recklessness. The tournament was discontinued in the past because many people died—"
Ron wasn't really listening, muttering to himself, "A thousand Galleons, though." He looked at Fred and George Weasley, who were walking ahead, discussing whether age-enhancing potions would work.
"I think a drop or two should be enough. We're only a few months away from being adults, George..." Fred mused seriously.
Ron said sourly, "We've got half a year, but I hope they succeed." He turned to Harry, "What do you think? If Fred and George Weasley manage it, I mean, do you think our knowledge is enough...?"
Harry shook his head, pushing away the vivid images in his mind. He couldn't help but imagine himself bypassing the headmaster's age restriction, winning the tournament, and lifting the trophy amidst cheers and screams.
"Yeah, I guess it's a bit of a stretch", Ron misinterpreted Harry's head shake, thinking he was answering the question. He counted on his fingers, "Even though we have the Dueling Class, study groups, and the Runes Club, but..."
He said dejectedly, "Unless Professor Hepprofessor teaches us a powerful Ancient Magic in private, we won't stand a chance against the older students. We can't expect to blind our opponents with Lumos, after all."
In the discussion about the tournament, Ron talked the most, but it was more like an emotional outburst of unfulfilled desires. He knew his chances of being selected were slim, but his words left Harry and Hermione in silence.
Harry recalled the two times Professor Hepprofessor had demonstrated Continuous Apparition in front of him. The first time was in the Forbidden Forest during his second year, when they suspected the new professor was involved with the Chamber of Secrets. They followed and discovered the professor practicing magic. It was impressive, but Harry had almost forgotten about it. The second time was at the Quidditch World Cup, just recently, and it was in real combat. Professor Hepprofessor had toyed with hundreds of troublemakers using Continuous Apparition, and their eyes couldn't keep up with his movements!
'What if I could do the same? I'm already good at Dark Magic defense, and when it comes to the Disarming Charm, no student in the school can match me. Add Continuous Apparition to that...' Harry's heart grew hot with excitement.
Meanwhile, Hermione thought about the Ancient Magic the professor had taught her during the summer. Golden fire danced on her fingertips, turning into a sea of flames in an instant... Of course, that was the effect the professor had demonstrated; she hadn't learned it herself yet.
Hermione shook her head. What was she thinking? She wasn't going to try to break the age limit.
In the Great Hall, the professors remained behind.
Dumbledore and Mad-Eye Moody were talking, with Moody answering in a gruff voice, "Yes, Arthur and the others arrived just in time. They got up early and scared off the attackers!"
Professor Mcgonagall looked at him in surprise, "You were attacked this morning?" She suddenly remembered that Moody had been plagued with trouble since retiring, often suspecting Dark Wizards of trying to harm him. Even if someone walked with him for a short distance, he would suddenly draw his wand and loudly question why they were following him.
This had happened more than once, and for it, Moody had to live in seclusion in a remote area, apparently in a Muggle community.
Mcgonagall suspected he might be overly sensitive.
"How could it be fake!" Moody roared, "A bunch of scoundrels tried to ambush me while I was sleeping, but who am I? I was prepared. However, those scum were not weak. They cornered me in my house, so I had to blow up two trash bins to draw attention."
He spoke in a rough voice, his magical eye swirling in its socket, making people's teeth ache. Few of the professors met his gaze.
"Did you get a clear look at who it was, Alastor?" Dumbledore asked softly.
"No, I'm getting old, Albus." Moody patted his prosthetic leg, reluctantly saying, "If it were a few years ago..."
His two eyes finally focused on Felix, and he calmed down. "Now, I can only offer advice and use my past experiences to embellish things a bit."
Felix met his gaze calmly while soothing the restless Niffler. This was the first time he had met Moody, having only heard of the legendary name before.
One could say that Alastor Moody was largely responsible for Barty Crouch's reputation. He was once Crouch's sharpest blade, the most outstanding Dark Wizard hunter in the history of the Ministry of Magic, and he had filled half of Azkaban's cells.
Just as he had left a psychological shadow on many Dark Wizards, he had also left a strong personal mark on the Auror Office of the Ministry of Magic.
However, after experiencing countless dangers, he became somewhat paranoid and even overly suspicious. Despite this, he remained an idol to all Aurors in the Ministry of Magic—comparable to the former Head of St. Mungo's, Dorothy Boham.
Of course, with his rough, irritable, and inflexible personality, he had offended many people, making it difficult for him to remain in the Ministry of Magic in a management position.
Tough, brave, battle-hardened, now sensitive and paranoid, and somewhat neurotic...
This was the image of "Mad-Eye" Moody that Felix perceived after their brief encounter. It was said that Moody had a favorite saying—
"Constant vigilance!" Moody suddenly roared, startling everyone. He then walked around the Great Hall as if nothing had happened.
Felix looked at Dumbledore. "Headmaster, you mentioned some exchange activities earlier?"
"Ah, yes." Dumbledore, who had been listening quietly, seemed to finally come back to the present. His pleasant gaze swept over the group. "That's one of the reasons I asked you to stay."
He nodded slightly, thinking for a moment. "Ilvermorny and Beauxbatons are participating in the Tournament for the first time, which makes them more passionate, like young people. They are not content with spending nearly a year preparing for just the competition. The Headmaster of Ilvermorny hopes that students from different schools can have more interaction."
"Exchange students?"
"Close, Felix." Dumbledore nodded. "But this time, it's one-sided. They hope to audit Hogwarts classes, and beyond that—" He smiled. "I believe they also have the intention of challenging Hogwarts students."
The professors exchanged glances. Did this mean their classes would be open to students from other schools?
As Deputy Headmistress, Professor Mcgonagall thought more deeply. She pursed her lips and frowned, saying sternly, "Dumbledore, you can't mean—this is outright provocation!"
Dumbledore shook his head slightly, his silver beard trembling. "Minerva, there are many areas where they can compete, not just in combat, which is the worst option." He smiled. "I welcome this idea. Let the students see the outside world and broaden their horizons."
"I remember, seven or eight years ago, we had contact with Castelobruxo. Many students from both sides formed deep friendships. Felix, you must remember?"
Felix smirked. "I don't have a pen pal in Brazil."
...
After the professors dispersed, Felix and Snape walked out of the Great Hall. Snape's face was grim. "Be careful with that man. Don't let him fixate on you."
"You mean Professor Moody?" Felix asked curiously. "He seems quite upright—"
"He's a madman. He can cast a curse on you at any moment based on some unfounded suspicion." Snape said coldly. "He never moved on. He still lives every day as if it's wartime!"
"I don't understand why Dumbledore brought him here. Even another Lockhart would be better than him."
Snape waved his sleeve and strode away.
Felix watched Snape's retreating back. In the distance, Moody was limping forward. Snape moved faster, and they didn't meet. In the entrance hall, Snape turned into the dungeons, while Moody shuffled up the stairs.
When he raised his arms, Felix noticed, in addition to the curved flask at his waist, the half of a wand protruding from his sleeve, bound to his arm.
"Constant vigilance, huh? He really practices what he preaches."
...
The next day.
The storm had finally subsided, and the skies were clear. Hogwarts welcomed a new school year.
(End of Chapter)
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