"Every student who wants to compete for the title of Champion must write down his name and the name of his school on a piece of parchment and throw it into the Goblet of Fire," Dumbledore said sternly.
"The registration period is only 24 hours. Tomorrow night, the Goblet will choose, from all the applicants, the three students it deems best able to represent the three schools."
"Tonight, the Goblet of Fire will be placed in the Entrance Hall, where all students wishing to take part can approach it."
"Of course, in order to prevent underage students from being tempted, I will in a moment draw an Age Line around the Goblet. Any student under 17 will not be able to cross that line!"
"Finally, I must solemnly remind everyone that the Triwizard Tournament is no child's game. Do not rashly put your name in."
"Because throwing your name into the Goblet of Fire is in essence signing a very old contract with it. According to this contract, once you are chosen as a Champion, you must go through to the end! Therefore, think thrice before you act! Well then, I think it's time for everyone to rest. Good night."
Saying this, Dumbledore led the staff out of the Hall.
The Hall was still lively, the excited students continuing to discuss the Goblet of Fire.
Even the usually most honest and quiet Rolf secretly clenched his fists at this time, sitting there trembling with excitement.
John too was extremely excited.
But clearly, what he was excited about was not the Goblet of Fire at all, but Krum.
No sooner had Dumbledore announced the end of the feast than John shot toward the Slytherin table like a cannonball.
Link didn't care about him, but tentatively asked Fleur beside him, "Where are you planning to stay tonight?"
"Oh?" Fleur gave a charming smile. "Are you hoping we'll come stay with you?"
"You know I didn't mean that!"
Seeing Link roll his eyes, Fleur covered her mouth and laughed lightly, then said gently, "Don't worry. We won't be staying inside Hogwarts Castle. During the Tournament, we will live in the carriage. After all…"
"I get it, can't be too trusting of others."
Link said with a grin. Just as he'd said before, the Triwizard Tournament was never some kind of friendly exchange event, but a bloody struggle for interests.
To seize victory, none of the schools would miss any chance to play dirty tricks outside the competition.
By this time, the Beauxbatons group had already gathered and were heading out of the Entrance Hall.
Strangely, no one paid the slightest attention to Fleur and Gabrielle, as if the two of them didn't even exist.
Fleur sighed, as if long used to such disregard, and said, "Well, we're going now. Good night."
"Good night," Link replied. "Oh, and, you'll be the Beauxbatons Champion. I'm certain of it."
Link's words made Fleur freeze for a moment. After realizing, she gave him a small smile and said, "Thank you."
The Beauxbatons group finally left.
As a prefect, Link gathered his housemates and prepared to lead them back to the Hufflepuff common room.
Emily hadn't come rushing up to settle accounts with him as soon as the feast ended, which made him breathe a huge sigh of relief.
But during roll call, Link noticed that John was missing.
"Where's John?" He asked Cedric.
Cedric shook his head, but Rolf nearby hesitantly pointed to a direction and said, "H-He's over there."
Link turned his head, and saw John surrounded near the Entrance Hall by a crowd of Durmstrang students, and the situation looked not so good.
Link and Cedric exchanged a look, then immediately led the Hufflepuffs over.
"I just wanted an autograph, that's all, I didn't mean any harm."
"Blocking our way is what you call not harmful?"
"I... I didn't block your way, you could leave anytime, I just came to ask..."
"Enough! Stop quibbling! You damned mudblood! Come with me to see Dumbledore. I'll have him teach you a good lesson, best if he expels you directly!"
Link and Cedric had barely approached when they heard John and Karkaroff locked in a heated quarrel inside the crowd.
At the end, Karkaroff had already seized John by the back of the neck, trying to drag him outside.
"Stop!"
Cedric and Link rushed forward without hesitation. The other Hufflepuffs, though timid, followed once someone took the lead, surrounding the dozen Durmstrang students at once.
"Ah-ha! More troublemakers!" Karkaroff still showed no sign of releasing John, and snarled viciously, "Do you think we'll be scared just because you have numbers? Ready!"
As soon as he finished, the Durmstrang students inside the circle let out a synchronized roar, and pulled wands from their robes.
At this, the Hufflepuffs recoiled several steps.
Cedric's face darkened, while Karkaroff sneered with pride.
Link shook his head. With a flick of his spell, the invisible power of a curse invaded Karkaroff's wrist. With a cry of pain, Karkaroff released John, who rushed back to Link's side.
"What exactly happened here?" Link said coldly.
"I just wanted an autograph, really, I just wanted an autograph…"
John now looked utterly wronged, choking and repeating those words over and over, almost in tears.
Link took a deep breath, and didn't press further.
Things had already gone this far, nothing more needed to be said.
Right or wrong didn't matter, Durmstrang's people behaving this arrogantly on their turf was unacceptable.
Thinking this, Link raised his wand at Karkaroff again.
This movement startled the Durmstrang students, who instantly pointed their wands back at him.
The Hufflepuffs, not to be outdone, rallied under Cedric's command. The senior Hufflepuffs quickly pushed to the front, wands raised, their tips glowing with faint blue halos.
The scene was on the verge of spiraling out of control.
Then, clutching his wrist in pain, Karkaroff's eyes fell on the noble ring engraved with the Flamel family crest on Link's finger. His expression suddenly changed, and he shouted something in an unknown language.
Immediately after, the Durmstrang students unwillingly lowered their wands.
"You are… from the Flamel family?"
Karkaroff looked nervous now, switching to English to speak to Link.
Link said nothing, only stared firmly into his eyes.
Thanks to the power from Legilimency, he could feel from Karkaroff an inexplicable fear.
It was as if Karkaroff was… afraid of him?
"We're leaving."
Since Link didn't answer, Karkaroff raised his hand to lead the Durmstrang students out of the Hall.
Like Beauxbatons, they too planned to return to their ghostly ship to live.
But they had only taken two steps when Link's cold voice rang out, "Wait. You must apologize."
At these words, a few Durmstrang students immediately bristled.
They drew their wands again, looking ready to fight Link to the death.
But Karkaroff stopped them.
His face pale, he stepped forward and asked, "Why?"
"You just called John a mudblood, didn't you?" Link said expressionlessly. "At Hogwarts, that is absolutely not allowed."
Hearing this, John, who had been shrinking at the side feeling wronged, suddenly lifted his head and stared at Link in disbelief. His emotions could no longer be suppressed, he began sobbing and choking.
On the other side, Karkaroff clenched his fists, locking eyes with Link in tense silence. At last, he gritted his teeth and said,
"…I'm sorry."
With that, they fled the Hall as if escaping.
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