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Chapter 589: Selection of the Champion and the Age Limit
Chapter 589: Selection of the Champion and the Age Limit
The sudden flame that rose from the cup startled the front-row young wizards.
Dumbledore continued speaking without pausing. "Students who wish to compete as Champions, please write your name and school on a piece of parchment and throw it into the Triwizard Cup after the feast ends.
I will give you twenty-four hours to think about it and decide whether to participate. At this time tomorrow, the Triwizard Cup will select three Champions it deems most capable of representing the Three Schools!"
"As for tonight, I will leave this cup in the entrance hall so you can approach it conveniently..."
Dumbledore spoke fluently, explaining various details about the selection process of the Champions. He then specifically mentioned that this year's Champions must meet an age limit, prohibiting students under seventeen from participating.
After finishing, Dumbledore looked down at the crowd and asked, "That's about all I have to say. Does anyone have any questions? If not, the feast is over for tonight..."
At that moment, a voice rang out.
"Professors, how exactly does the Triwizard Cup select the Champions? What are the specific criteria? How can we be sure it will choose the most outstanding students?"
Dumbledore turned to the direction of the voice and saw that it was Ivan who had asked the question.
However, the other young wizards were equally interested in this question. Although no one was as bold as Ivan to ask directly, their eyes were fixed on Dumbledore, waiting for his response.
"This is a very complex process involving many aspects," Dumbledore explained vaguely. "What I can tell you is that in previous Triwizard Tournaments, the Champions were also chosen by the Triwizard Cup. History has shown that the selected Champions were always well-accepted, and I believe this should prove its reliability!"
However, this did not convince Ivan, who continued to press the issue. "If the Triwizard Cup truly selects the most outstanding students automatically, why impose an age limit on the participants?"
"If a younger student is chosen, wouldn't that prove they are more capable than older students and better suited to be a Champion?"
Ivan had always found this point puzzling. Wizards over seventeen were generally graduates with considerable power, but who could guarantee that there wouldn't be any prodigies among the fifth or sixth-year students?
For example, Snape created the powerful spell Sectumsempra in his fifth year, and Tom Riddle, at the same age, had casting skills on par with elite Aurors.
From a purely protective standpoint, the age limit seemed entirely unnecessary...
Ivan's question was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, and the Great Hall became lively with discussion. Many young wizards who were dissatisfied with the rule began whispering among themselves, their voices growing louder.
George and Fred were particularly vocal, shouting that they were just as capable as the upper-year graduates and demanded the removal of the age limit for a fair and just selection!
"Silence!" Dumbledore raised his hand and cast the Sonorus Charm on himself. In the next moment, a thunderous voice drowned out the noise.
As the Great Hall gradually quieted down, Dumbledore explained.
"Regarding the Age Limit, I can answer your questions right now. The Ministry of Magic and we, the Judges, unanimously believe that wizards over seventeen years old will have the strength to complete the three high-intensity challenges!"
"Moreover, they are sufficiently mature and can take full responsibility for every decision they make!"
As he spoke, Dumbledore emphasized the words "adult" and "responsibility."
Ivan immediately understood. The Ministry of Magic and the school were trying to avoid responsibility as much as possible.
After all, in the Wizarding World, turning seventeen means a wizard is considered an adult, with the right to make their own decisions. If they voluntarily participate in the tournament and something goes wrong, it can be more easily justified, without causing too much negative impact.
However, if a minor wizard were to participate, any mishap could lead to the officials who reopened the Triwizard Tournament being held accountable.
An angry public wouldn't care if the participation was voluntary; they would see a minor wizard as incapable of assessing danger.
Although Ivan understood this, he still asked his final question with determination: "Professor Dumbledore, if a wizard who is under age puts their name into the Triwizard Cup, will it recognize it?"
Dumbledore's expression grew serious: "This is precisely what I wanted to warn you about. The Triwizard Tournament is not a game; do not rashly participate."
"Once your name is selected by the Triwizard Cup to represent your school as a Champion, a binding Pact will form between you and the cup. All Champions must see the tournament through to the end, with no option for regret!"
Dumbledore didn't directly answer Ivan's question, but the young wizards in the audience understood his meaning. The Triwizard Cup wouldn't distinguish between adult and underage participants; any student who put their name in had a chance to participate!
"Brilliant!" George and Fred hugged each other excitedly, envisioning the thousand Galleons in prize money within their reach.
Other aspiring participants who had been discouraged by their age also erupted in cheers, as if they had already been chosen as Champions.
However, Karkaroff and Maxime, seated in the VIP area, frowned. This was not what they had agreed upon!
They suspected Dumbledore might have changed his mind to allow Hogwarts' prodigy wizard to compete.
Just as they were about to protest, Dumbledore raised his left hand and waved his wand. A string of golden flame appeared around the table.
No one understood what Dumbledore was doing until the flame dissipated, revealing a thin golden thread on the ground, forming a circle with a ten-foot radius around the Triwizard Cup.
Dumbledore, under the puzzled gazes of the crowd, pointed to the line. His gaze lingered on George, Fred, and others before finally settling on Ivan, emphasizing his words.
"To prevent underage students from succumbing to temptation, I have placed an Age Line around the Triwizard Cup. No one under seventeen years old will be able to cross it!"
"So I implore some of you to abandon your thoughts and save your efforts!"
(End of Chapter)
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