"I can't believe it!" said Ron in a tone of great shock as the Hogwarts students lined up to climb the stone steps behind the Durmstrang delegation. Krum!"
"For God's sake, Ron, he's just a Quidditch player.”said Hermione.
"Just a Quidditch player?”said Ron excitedly."Hermione-he's one of the best Seekers in the world! I didn't expect him to be a student!"
"Hermione's actually right, do you have to get so worked up, Ron?”Bance said.
As they crossed the entrance hall again with the rest of the Hogwarts students toward the Great Hall, Bunce saw many people jumping up and down to get a better view of Krum's back. A few sixth-year girls were rummaging frantically in their pockets as they walked-
"Well, I can't believe I don't have a quill with me-"
"Do you think he will sign my hat with lipstick?”
"This is ridiculous!" said Hermione haughtily, as the four of them passed the girls who were arguing over a lipstick.
"I'd like to ask him for an autographed photograph, if possible," said Ron."Did you bring a quill?”
"No, they're all in my bag upstairs.”said Harry.
They went over to the Gryffindor table and sat down. Ron made a point of sitting on the side facing the door, because Krum and his Durmstrang schoolmates were still gathered there, seemingly unsure where they should sit. The students from Beothbatons had already taken their seats at the Ravenclaw table. They sat down and looked around the Great Hall with sullen expressions on their faces, three of them still wearing tight scarves and headscarves around their heads.
"It can't be that cold," said Hermione disapprovingly."Why aren't they wearing cloaks?”
"Here! Come and sit here!" said Ron hoarsely. Bunce, move over a little, make room-"
"Is that really necessary, Ron?" Bance said.
"Sigh, it's too late!" said Ron regretfully.
Krum and his Durmstrang friends were already seated at the Slytherin table. Bunce saw Malfoy lean forward to talk to Krum.
"Ah, yes, Malfoy's sucking up to him.”said Ron sharply."I bet Krum knows what he's made of. I bet Krum's got people sucking up to him wherever he goes. Where do you think they're sleeping? We can provide him with a bed in our dormitory. I'm willing to give him my bed. I'll sleep on the camp bed.”
"Be reasonable, Ron," Bance said.
Filch, the caretaker, was adding chairs over there at the staff table. He had put on his moldy old tuxedo for today's grand occasion.
"Why is Filch bringing out four chairs, it's only two extra people, who else is coming?”said Harry.
"Crouch and Bagman," Bangs said briefly.
"Oh." said Ron vaguely, still staring at Krum.
When all the students had entered the Great Hall and taken their seats at their House tables, the staff entered and filed over to the chairs. Professor Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime were at the back. The Beothbatons students sprang to their feet at the sight of their headmaster. Several Hogwarts students couldn't help but laugh. But the Beothbatons representatives did not look embarrassed until Madame Maxime had sat down on Dumbledore's left. Dumbledore remained standing, and the Great Hall grew quiet.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts, and-especially-distinguished guests," said Dumbledore, beaming at the foreign students."I welcome you to Hogwarts with great pleasure. I hope and trust that you will be comfortable and happy here.”
One of the Beothbatons girls, still clutching her scarf tightly around her head, let out a sneer that was undoubtedly derisive.
"No one forced you to stay!”said Hermione in a low voice, as though she had been irritated by the girl.
"The tournament will officially begin at the end of the banquet.”said Dumbledore."I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!”
The plates in front of them were full of food as usual. The house-elves in the kitchen seemed to be doing all they could. It was the first time Bangs had seen such a sumptuous meal in his long time here. There were all kinds of dishes placed in front of them, and some of them were definitely foreign.
"What's that?" asked Ron.
"It should be French mixed fish soup." Bangs said as he ate his steak.
"Good fellow." said Ron.
"That's French," said Hermione."I had it the summer before last. The taste is very fresh."
"I'll believe you just this once." said Harry.
Twenty minutes after the party had started, Hagrid slipped through a door behind the staff table into the Great Hall. He took his seat at the end of the table, raised a heavily bandaged hand, and waved it at Bunce, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"How's the skrewts, Hagrid?”said Harry loudly.
"The growth is gratifying." said Hagrid happily.
"Yeah, I bet," whispered Ron."Looks like they've finally found something they like, eh? That's Hagrid's finger."
At this moment, a voice said,""Excuse me, are you still going to eat this plate of fish soup?”
It was the Beothbatons girl who had laughed when Dumbledore had spoken. She finally took off her scarf. Her long silver hair fell to her waist like a waterfall. She had a pair of big blue eyes and a set of neat white teeth.
Ron went very red. He stared at her and opened his mouth to answer, but all he could make was a strange little noise, as if something was stuck in his throat.
"Alright, go ahead." said Harry, pushing the plate toward the girl.
"Are you guys done eating?"
"Yes," said Ron breathlessly."Yes, it's delicious.”
The girl carried the tray carefully to the Ravenclaw table. Ron was still staring at the girl as though he had never seen her before. Bangs laughed. The sound seemed to rouse Ron.
"She's a veela!" he said hoarsely.
"Definitely not!" said Hermione sharply."I don't see anyone staring at her like an idiot!”
"I say, that girl is really extraordinary!”said Ron, leaning sideways so that he could still see her clearly.”
"The girls at Hogwarts aren't bad either.”said Harry without thinking.
"When you two look away, you'll see who just came in.”said Hermione sharply.
"Bunce seems to be right again," said Harry, looking at the staff table.
"What else does he not know? Sigh, how am I supposed to live?”said Ron with a dramatic sigh.
"I heard you loud and clear, Ron.”Bance said.
As the golden plates were scrubbed clean again, Dumbledore stood up again. A mixture of excitement and nervousness seemed to fill the Hall. A few seats away, Fred and George were leaning forward, staring intently at Dumbledore.
" The moment has finally arrived," said Dumbledore, smiling." The Triwizard Tournament is about to begin. I'd like to explain a bit before I bring the box in-"
"Bring what in?" asked Harry.
"-I'm going to explain our program for the school year. But first, please allow me to introduce two guests, because there are still people who don't know them. This is Barti8226; Mr. Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation "-there was a sparse round of applause in the Great Hall-" this is Ludo-8226; Mr. Bagman, Head of the Department of Physical Education and Sports at the Ministry of Magic.”
The applause for Bagman was much louder than for Crouch, perhaps because of his small reputation as a batsman, or perhaps simply because he looked much friendlier. He waved his hand happily in thanks. Crouch hadn't smiled or waved when he had been introduced.
"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the past few months to arrange the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore continued,"and they will be joining me, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime in forming a panel of judges to judge the efforts of the champions.”
When they heard the word " warrior," the students seemed to be even more focused. Dumbledore seemed to have noticed the sudden silence, too, for he smiled and said,"Mr. Filch, please bring up the box.”
Unnoticed, Filch, who had been lurking in a corner of the Hall, was now approaching Dumbledore, carrying a large, jeweled wooden box that looked very old.
"Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman have examined the details of this year's champions 'games," said Dumbledore, as Filch placed the box carefully on the table in front of him."They've made many necessary arrangements for each of them. There were three events, at different times throughout the school year, which would test the champions in many different ways of their magical talents-their courage, their reasoning abilities-and, of course, their ability to overcome danger.”
" As you already know, there will be three champions participating in the competition," Dumbledore continued calmly." Each representing a participating school. We will score them based on the quality of each event they complete. After the three events are over, the warrior with the highest score will win the Triwizard Cup. The person in charge of choosing the champion was a fair and just person, the Goblet of Fire.”
At this point, Dumbledore drew his wand and tapped it three times on the lid. The lid creaked open slowly. Dumbledore put his hand inside and pulled out a large, crudely carved wooden goblet. The cup itself was not eye-catching at all, but it was filled with blue and white flames.
Dumbledore closed the box and placed the cup on the lid so that everyone in the Hall could see it clearly.
" Every student who wants to be a champion must write his name and school name on a piece of parchment and throw it into this goblet," said Dumbledore." Those who want to be a champion can register within twenty-four hours. Tomorrow night, which was also the night of the festival, the goblet would choose the names of the three students who it thought best represented the three schools. Tonight, the goblet would be placed in the entrance hall, accessible to anyone who wished to run.”
"To prevent underage students from succumbing to temptation," said Dumbledore, looking in Bunce's direction,"I'm going to draw an age line around the goblet once it's in the entrance hall. No one under the age of seventeen could cross this line.”
"Finally, I would like to remind every candidate that this tournament is no child's play and that you must not enter it recklessly. Once a champion was chosen by the Goblet of Fire, he had to persevere until the end. Whoever put their name into the cup actually formed a magical contract that had to be followed. Once one became a warrior, one was not allowed to change their mind. Please, therefore, think twice before you put your name in the cup, and make sure that you really want to play. Well, I think it's time for everyone to go to bed. Good night, everyone."
"Age limit!" said Fred, his eyes glittering."That's easy, the Age Potion will fool you, won't it? Laugh as long as your name is in that cup-it can't tell seventeen from seventeen!”The students were now crossing the Great Hall toward the two doors leading into the entrance hall.
"But I don't think anyone under seventeen can win," said Hermione."We haven't learned enough."
" You're talking about yourself," Bangs said with a smile.
"Where is he?" said Ron."Didn't Dumbledore say where the Durmstrang representatives slept?”He didn't listen to a word they said, but kept searching the crowd for Krum.
However, his question was answered almost immediately. By this time they had reached the Slytherin table and saw Karkaroff hurrying up to his students.
"Alright, let's go back to the ship." he said."Viktor, how are you feeling? Are you full? Shall I send someone to bring some warm wine from the kitchen?”
Bunce saw Krum shake his head and put his fur cloak back on.
"Professor, I'd like some wine.”said another Durmstrang boy, salivating.
"I didn't ask you, Polyark," said Karkaroff sharply, and his fatherly warmth vanished."I noticed you've dripped food on the front of your robes again, you nasty boy-"
Karkaroff turned and led his students toward the door, which they reached at the same time as Bunce, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry stopped and let Karkaroff pass first.
"Thank you." said Karkaroff casually, glancing at Harry.
For a moment, Karkaroff was completely stunned. He turned his head back to Harry, staring at him as though he couldn't believe his eyes. The Durmstrang students following behind the headmaster also stopped in their tracks.
"That's right, that's Harry 8226; Potter." An angry voice came from behind them.
Karkaroff spun around. Moody was standing there, his heavy body leaning against his cane, his magical eye fixed unblinkingly on the Durmstrang headmaster.
"It's you!" said Karkaroff, looking incredulously at Moody.
"It's me," said Moody darkly."Unless you have something to say to Potter, Karkaroff, keep moving. You guys are blocking the entrance."
Indeed, half the students in the Hall were waiting behind them, scrambling over the shoulders of those in front to see what was causing the traffic jam.
Karkaroff said nothing more. With a wave of his hand, he led his students away. Moody stared at him until he was out of sight. His magical eye was fixed upon Karkaroff's back, and a look of extreme disgust came over his mutilated face.
"Where have you been, Bunce? I haven't seen you all day.”asked Ron.
"I'm sleeping. If you look closely in the dormitory, you'll find that I've been sleeping there.”said Bunce as he sat down. It was evening the next day.
"Hurry up and eat. We still want to know who the warrior is.”said Harry eagerly.
"You'll know soon enough." Bangs said with a smile as he ate the delicious food.
At last, the golden plates returned to their original spotless state, and the voices in the Great Hall suddenly rose a great deal. Then Dumbledore stood up, and the Great Hall fell silent again. On either side of Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as nervous and expectant as anyone else. Ludo Bagman was beaming and winking at the students of the various schools, while Mr. Crouch looked bored, almost bored.
"Well, the goblet is about to decide," said Dumbledore."I reckon it'll take another minute. Listen, when the champions are announced, I want them to go up to the top of the Hall, then along the staff table and into the room next door "-he pointed to the door behind the staff table-" where they will receive their first instruction.”
He took out his wand and gave it a great wave. Instantly, all the candles except those in the jack-o'-lanterns went out, and the Great Hall was plunged into a state of half-darkness. The Goblet of Fire was now shining brighter than anything else in the Hall, its bluish-white sparks almost blinding.
"Soon." said Hermione, keeping her eyes on her watch.
The fiery eye of the goblet suddenly turned red, and sparks shot out. Then a tongue of flame shot into the air, and out of it flew a piece of charred parchment-and everyone in the Hall held their breath.
Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it so far away that he could read it in the light of the flames. The flames returned to their bluish-white color.
"Durmstrang's champion," he said in a clear, powerful voice,"is Viktor 8226; Krum."
"Not at all!" Ron shouted as applause and cheers filled the Great Hall.
"Excellent, Viktor!" bellowed Karkaroff, so loud that everyone could hear him through the applause in the Great Hall.”
The applause and conversation gradually died down. Now everyone's attention was once again focused on the goblet, and a few seconds later, the flame was red again. A second parchment shot out of the cup, propelled by the flames.
"The champion of Beothbatons," said Dumbledore,"is Fleur 8226; Delacour!"
"It's her, Ron!" Harry shouted, and the veela girl rose gracefully to her feet, shook her silver hair, and glided between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.
"Oh, look, they're all disappointed.”said Hermione over the clamor. Bones thought the word "disappointed" was underused. The two girls who weren't chosen had tears streaming down their faces. They buried their heads in their arms and cried sadly.
When Fleur Delacour had entered the next room, the Hall fell silent again, this time with a strong excitement that could almost be tasted. It's time for the Hogwarts champions
And now the Goblet of Fire was red again, sparks flying, tongues soaring high into the air, and Dumbledore pulled a third piece of parchment from its tip.
He stared at the note and said slowly,"The champion of Hogwarts is-Buns8226; Foley!"
There was silence, followed by deafening applause. Everyone in Gryffindor was clapping hard, but they did not notice that Bunce was underage and was making his way, smiling, to the room behind the staff. When Bangs passed by the staff table, every staff member had a different expression. Most of them looked at Bangs with surprise, suspicion, and disbelief.
After Bangs entered the room, he closed the door and looked at the two people inside.
"Are you also a warrior?" asked Fleur.
"More or less." Bangs said casually.
"But are you of age?" asked Fleur incredulously.
"Age is not the standard to measure a warrior.”Bance said.
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