Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 164 The Goblet of Fire

When Thea and her companions arrived at the hall following the flow of people, the Beauxbatons students were already seated at the Ravenclaw table, while the Durmstrangers eventually chose the Slytherin table as well.

But as Thea got closer to the long table, everything around her fell silent, a stark contrast to the chattering of the other three houses.

Snape, sitting on the professor's bench, noticed this and looked down.

Ok?

How did he happen to sit in that spot?

Krum also sensed that something was off about the atmosphere in Slytherin.

Hey!

Why are you all looking at me like that? What did I do wrong?

Krum carefully recalled everything that had happened since he disembarked, and finally focused his gaze on the seat beneath him...

Is there anything special about this seat?

It's not in the most conspicuous spot in the front row...

If anyone else could hear Krum's question, they would surely answer, "There's nothing special about this seat, it's just that the person who usually sits in this seat is a bit special."

"...Krum seems to be sitting in the seat that Thea usually sits in..."

Hermione intended to glance at Thea as usual, but found someone else sitting in that familiar spot. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Krum.

Ron was also taken aback by Hermione's words for a moment, and he didn't notice where she was sitting.

"It shouldn't matter..." Harry whispered.

“That’s hard to say. Maybe Thea won’t mind, but the other Slytherins might not. They… are very xenophobic…” Ron was also a little worried.

As Thea and her companions drew closer, the young wizards around them grew increasingly nervous...

Finally, after glancing at Krum, who was sitting in his usual seat, Thea casually found a few empty seats at the long table, and the group sat down.

Seeing that Thea didn't make any unnecessary movements, the others were relieved.

Krum also noticed that everyone's attention was focused on the girl with black hair and black eyes, and realized that he must have sat in her seat.

His gaze unconsciously drifted toward where Thea and the others were sitting, only to be surprised to find that those sitting next to her were all from the Malfoy, Nott, and Parkinson families, and they seemed to be... leading her?

So this person is the heir to the Black family?

I heard that the other party almost single-handedly brought down a director of the British Ministry of Magic?

Krum's prolonged gaze at Thea also caught Karkarov's attention, and he couldn't help but look in the other's direction.

Upon noticing the resemblance between the other person's appearance and that of a certain... colleague, a chill instantly crept up from the soles of my feet to my back.

In an instant, countless rumors echoed in his ears...

He swallowed hard, repeatedly emphasizing that he had only managed to suppress his fear at Hogwarts.

Karkaroff's unusual behavior drew the attention of both Snape and Moody.

The former's eyes showed contempt and disgust, while the latter's eyes showed pure loathing.

Just then, Dumbledore spoke.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and especially—distinguished guests,” Dumbledore said with a smile to the group of foreign students. “Welcome to Hogwarts. I hope and believe you will feel comfortable and happy here.”

"The tournament will officially begin at the end of the banquet," Dumbledore continued. "I now invite you all to eat and drink to your heart's content, as if you were in your own home."

He sat down after he finished speaking, and Thea saw Kakarov and immediately went up to him to talk.

Not long after the banquet began, Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman arrived.

As each of the golden plates was scrubbed clean, Dumbledore stood up again. "The moment has finally arrived," he said. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to begin. Before that, I'd like to explain a few things and then bring in the box—"

"What box?" Daphne asked softly.

"I want to explain the program of activities for this academic year."

However, please allow me to first introduce our two guests, as some may not recognize them. This is Mr. Barty Crouch, Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Magic, and this is Mr. Ludo Bagman, Director of Sport at the Ministry of Magic.

Dumbledore introduced the two people at the head table.

“Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the past few months to arrange the Triwizard Tournament,” Dumbledore continued.

"They will join me, Professor Karkaroff, and Mrs. Maxim to form a judging panel to evaluate the warriors' efforts... Mr. Filch, please bring the box up."

Filch then emerged from the corner, holding a large wooden box inlaid with jewels.

"Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman have carefully reviewed the specific events for the Warriors' competition this year, and they have also made many necessary arrangements for each event."

"There are three projects in total, which will be carried out at different times throughout the school year. They will test the warriors in many different ways... test their magical talents, their courage and their reasoning abilities, and of course, their ability to overcome dangers."

Dumbledore's gaze swept across the Great Hall before he continued, "Three champions will participate in the competition, each representing one of the participating schools."

"We will score them based on the quality of their performance in each event. After the three events, the warrior with the highest score will win the Triwizard Cup. The warriors will be selected by a fair selector, the Goblet of Fire."

Dumbledore drew his wand and tapped the lid of the box three times. The lid slowly slid open, and Dumbledore took out a large, rough wooden goblet and placed it on the lid. The goblet's overall shape was unremarkable, but the blue and white flames leaping and dancing inside the rim gave off an unusual aura.

“Every student who wants to run for Warrior must write his or her school’s name on a piece of parchment and drop it into this goblet,” Dumbledore said. “Aspiring Warriors can register within 24 hours.”

Tomorrow night, Halloween night, the Goblet will select the names of the three students it believes best represent the three schools.

Tonight, the wine glass is placed in the foyer, and all students who wish to run for office can have access to it.

He paused, then continued, "To prevent underage students from being tempted, I will draw an age line around the wine glass after it is placed in the foyer."

No one under the age of seventeen may cross this line.

"Finally, I would like to remind every student who is going to participate in the election that this competition is not a game, so please do not participate rashly."

Once a warrior is chosen by the Goblet of Fire, he must fight to the very end.

Only after Dumbledore finished speaking did Thea look at the other three long tables.

Sure enough, even with Dumbledore's personal endorsement, quite a few young wizards were still willing to take the risk, after all, it was a very profitable business for them.