"Hey! Is that Krum?"
"Merlin's beard! That is Krum!"
"Damn! I don't even have a single quill on me!"
"I've got lipstick! I want him to sign on the chest of my blouse!"
As the burly man behind Karkaroff removed the furry hat on his head and bowed to Dumbledore, the entire Hogwarts group exploded into commotion.
Several students had even already pulled out lipsticks and markers, ready to rush forward for an autograph.
Unfortunately, McGonagall's gaze, so cold it could have frozen them in place, firmly rooted them to the spot.
"Who's that guy?"
Seeing the commotion around her, Emily asked in confusion.
Link replied, "Bulgaria's national team's Seeker. We saw him at the Quidditch World Cup."
"Oh, really? I didn't notice. They all look the same, it's honestly too hard to tell them apart."
"Actually, I feel the same. After all, every one of them has the same strong build, they all like similar hairstyles, and wear the same style of clothes."
Emily nodded in agreement at this, she thought Link had really hit the nail on the head.
The two of them continued discussing this for a while, until the Hogwarts crowd and Durmstrang students began surging into the Great Hall.
Under McGonagall's murderous glare, Emily and Link finally parted ways, each returning to their own House's group.
Inside the Great Hall, the Beauxbatons students had already chosen their seats in advance. By now, they were already seated.
Yes, them, they had chosen the Hufflepuff table.
Back in the warm hall, the thinly dressed Beauxbatons students finally stopped shivering.
But they seemed dissatisfied with the Great Hall's rather old-fashioned style of decoration, on each of their faces lingered faint distaste, and they looked thoroughly unenthused.
The only exceptions were Fleur and Gabrielle, the half-Veela sisters.
They were staring eagerly at the stream of people entering the hall, as if searching for someone.
This gave Link a sudden bad premonition.
He turned his head toward the Slytherin table, and sure enough, he saw Emily glaring icily at Fleur.
Sensing his gaze, Emily shot Link a warning look.
Link hurriedly flashed her an "OK" hand sign, then followed Cedric and the others to sit with the Beauxbatons students.
Meanwhile, at the entrance, the Durmstrang students were still hesitating about where to sit, until Draco invited them to the Slytherin table.
This drew audible sighs from students of the other Houses inside the hall.
With foreign guests present, the already shy and modest Hufflepuffs became even more nervous.
They very tactfully cleared out a large space for the Beauxbatons students, then crowded tightly together in silence.
The girls stared intently at their own shoes, while the boys blushed furiously, sneaking glances at Fleur before ducking their heads down again in embarrassment.
John, however, was the lone oddball in Hufflepuff.
He completely ignored Fleur's natural Veela charm, and under the astonished and disapproving gazes of the Beauxbatons students, squeezed his way right into the middle of their group.
Then he craned his neck excitedly toward the Slytherin table, his spot was the only one on the Hufflepuff side with a clear view of Krum's seat.
Though in Link's opinion, John was probably going to be disappointed.
Because the Durmstrang students were acting like a bunch of country bumpkins entering the big city for the first time.
After removing their heavy fur cloaks, their eyes lit up as they stared at the starry enchanted ceiling. Two of them were even fiddling with the golden plates and goblets on the table, examining them with fascination, completely ignoring nearby Slytherins trying to strike up conversation.
"These Beauxbatons lot don't seem very friendly toward us." Cedric whispered this after he and Link sat in a quiet corner.
Hearing this, Link raised his head and saw that the Beauxbatons students were huddled together in groups, whispering among themselves, occasionally shooting mocking looks at John and the other Hufflepuffs.
Thanks to his Supersensory Charm, Link could clearly hear that they were discussing how crude the Hogwarts students were.
He nodded, replying in a low voice, "Understandable. They're from France. In their eyes, Hogwarts probably looks like some shabby country fort, and we're just a bunch of peasants living in it."
"What good is flashy style anyway? They're just all show. I'd bet the moment the Tournament starts, they'll surrender straight away!"
"That I completely agree with. After all, surrender is one of their traditions."
Cedric froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
Clearly, he understood the Muggle joke too.
While Link and Cedric chatted, the rest of the students had all taken their seats.
The professors who'd slipped away earlier now re-entered the hall and sat down at the newly arranged staff table.
Last of all came the three highest-ranking guests, Dumbledore, Maxime, and Karkaroff.
At the sight of Madame Maxime, the Beauxbatons students immediately leapt to their feet in utmost respect.
Many Hogwarts students couldn't help but chuckle at this, but the Beauxbatons students weren't embarrassed at all, they only sat back down once Madame Maxime had taken her seat to Dumbledore's left.
By contrast, the Durmstrang students were far less polished.
No matter how much Karkaroff tried to hint with his eyes, they ignored him, still playing with their plates.
Karkaroff's face turned thunderous.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "It is with great joy that I welcome you to Hogwarts. I hope and believe that you will find your time here pleasant."
At these words, a few Beauxbatons girls let out mocking little laughs.
Even the ever-polite Hufflepuffs around them frowned at this.
Dumbledore, however, acted as if he hadn't noticed, and directly announced the start of the feast.
At once, the golden plates filled with food, just as they always did.
The Durmstrang students jumped in shock, some even flung their knives and forks away.
"I bet the house-elves went all out this time!" Cedric exclaimed, staring at the spread. "I've been at Hogwarts for years, and I've never seen such a feast!"
Link nodded in agreement. Today's dishes were several levels above the usual fare, almost on par with Flamel Castle.
Normally, this wouldn't be an issue at all. But today's honored guests included French people.
They had come all the way from France, only to be served French cuisine here.
Really? Was that appropriate?
Link couldn't help glancing toward the Beauxbatons students, and froze.
Because Fleur and Gabrielle were also looking in his direction, their gazes colliding with his.
Surprise instantly bloomed on their faces. They stood up without hesitation, and to Link's despair, came quickly toward him.
"Excuse us, may we sit here?"
They asked ever so politely, addressing Cedric and another Hufflepuff boy beside Link.
That boy's face instantly turned beet red. Without even finishing chewing the chicken in his mouth, he bolted.
As for Cedric, after his initial surprise, he quickly caught on.
He gave Link a meaningful smile, then gracefully gave up his seat.
And so, Link found himself sandwiched between the Delacour sisters.
"Long time no see, Link! How have you been lately?" Fleur asked softly. Gabrielle too politely greeted him.
Link could only answer helplessly,
"Ah, I was doing fine… until the moment you two sat down beside me."
Fleur, having spent enough time with him, naturally understood what he meant.
With mischief in her eyes, she sneaked a glance toward the Slytherin table, then slid her chair even closer to him.
"Must you do this?" Link muttered gloomily.
Fleur pulled a face, then whispered in his ear, "Of course. You know I have one-quarter Veela blood. This is the kind of amusement only Veela can enjoy!"
At this, Link shut his eyes in pain.
He knew full well she wasn't lying. She wasn't doing this because she liked him, it was purely her twisted sense of fun.
The Delacour sisters might look sweet and angelic, but peel away the surface and it was pure darkness inside.
He could already picture Emily rolling her eyes at him from across the hall.
With a heavy sigh, Link channeled his frustration into his appetite, burying himself in food.
But Fleur and Gabrielle clearly weren't planning to let him off so easily.
Throughout the meal, they kept bombarding him with comments and questions about the food. Some were French dishes, yet they still asked how to eat them, tormenting Link endlessly.
The only small mercy was that Gabrielle no longer called him "Phantom Knight" or other such cringey titles. Otherwise, he'd have wanted to crawl into a hole.
It wasn't just him suffering. The surrounding Hufflepuffs could barely focus on the grand feast either.
They ate half-heartedly, their eyes locked on Fleur, occasionally shooting Link jealous, envious stares. Clearly, they were already completely bewitched by her Veela charm.
Finally, after the last dessert was eaten, Dumbledore stood again.
The hall fell silent, all eyes on him with nervous excitement.
Link suddenly noticed two new people at Dumbledore's side, familiar faces from the Quidditch World Cup, Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch Sr.
Link narrowed his eyes.
He still suspected it was Crouch Sr. who'd arranged to rescue Crouch Jr. If there was a mole in the Ministry, Crouch Sr. was the top suspect.
"The moment has finally come," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"The Triwizard Tournament is about to begin. Before that, allow me to introduce two special guests, Mr. Barty Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation; and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports!"
Crouch and Bagman stood one after the other, waving to the crowd. Sparse applause followed.
Link sharply noticed that compared to Bagman, Crouch's movements were noticeably stiff.
Clearly, the injuries he'd suffered from Kreacher's revenge attack hadn't yet healed.
This made Link smirk with schadenfreude.
"For the past several months, Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly to prepare the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore went on.
"They will join myself, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime as judges, to evaluate the champions' efforts. Mr. Filch, if you would bring the casket forward."
At the word champions, Link immediately felt Fleur beside him stiffen.
He slowly turned to see her muscles taut all over, her face tense with nervous anticipation.
"What's this? You really want to be Beauxbatons' champion?"
Link teased with a grin. Fleur only glared at him in reply.
She knew perfectly well this was his payback for her earlier behavior.
"This year, the Triwizard Tournament's events have been officially decided," Dumbledore continued, while Filch shuffled out from the shadows, placing an ornate jewel-encrusted wooden casket before him.
"There will be three tasks, spread out over the school year. They will test the champions' magical skill, daring, reasoning ability, and their ability to overcome danger!"
"As you know, only three champions may represent their schools," Dumbledore went on.
"They will be judged on their performance in each task, and the one with the highest total score will earn the Triwizard Cup. And the choosing of the champions will be left to an impartial selector, the Goblet of Fire."
At this, Dumbledore drew his wand and tapped the casket three times.
The lid creaked open, and from within he drew a rough-hewn wooden goblet, blue-white flames dancing inside it.
Dumbledore carefully set the Goblet of Fire on the lid of the casket, for all to see.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.