Early the next morning, before the sky was even light, Link was woken by a slippery, slimy sensation rubbing against his face.
He opened his eyes, sighed helplessly, and pulled Arkam off his face, who had been crawling back and forth.
"Any results?"
"Just like you told me, I stood guard all night with those two idiot Skarr dogs near the Goblet of Fire," Arkam said discontentedly.
"We did catch several people sneaking out at midnight to throw notes into the Goblet, but we didn't see anyone doing what you said, trying to tamper with the Goblet. Forget it, let me crawl back in, I'm freezing to death."
With that, Arkam burrowed back into Link's sleeve, curled around his arm, and quickly fell asleep.
Forcing a cold-blooded creature to keep watch through the freezing night really had been too much for him.
Link stroked Arkam's little head and sank into thought.
According to the original plot, in order to make Harry enter the Triwizard Tournament and thus become material for Voldemort's resurrection ritual, Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Moody, should have secretly cast a Confundus Charm on the Goblet of Fire last night and submitted Harry's name.
Now, although it had already been confirmed that this Moody was the real one, there was still the possibility that Hogwarts had another traitor.
That was why Link had asked Arkam to keep watch by the Goblet last night, hoping to catch someone in the act.
But unfortunately, nothing unusual had happened.
Could it be that he was completely overthinking it?
Did Wormtail, Barty Jr., and the Death Eaters actually not plan to use this Triwizard Tournament to bring back Voldemort?
Link felt his thoughts getting tangled and confused.
He sighed, got out of bed, and started washing up.
Because today was the day of the Goblet of Fire, even though it was Saturday, Link's roommates had all gotten up early. After greeting him, they left the dorm in a rush without even washing up.
Soon after, Cedric pushed the door open and came in.
He and Link exchanged a glance, then both turned their eyes to John, who was still curled up on his bed pretending to be asleep.
After last night's incident, John's emotions had been very unstable, so they hadn't asked anything and had just taken him back to the common room to rest.
But now, it was clearly time to find out the truth.
"John, let's talk." Link spoke gently.
As soon as the words fell, John's body trembled twice, then he stiffly sat up.
His eyes were still swollen red, his face pale, and with a sorrowful expression he said, "Thank you… for last night."
"You know we didn't do it just for a simple thank-you."
Link rubbed his temples, speaking tactfully. Cedric, however, was more direct, he sat down beside John and asked, "So what exactly happened between you and them last night?"
"I…" John's lips parted slightly. After hesitating for a long while, he finally said, "I told you, I only wanted Krum's autograph."
"But those Durmstrang people wouldn't allow it. I argued with them for a bit, and then, then they treated me like I was making trouble."
As he spoke, afraid Link and Cedric would misunderstand, John lowered his head and added, "It was really my fault too. Someone as important as Krum wouldn't just sign things casually, otherwise he'd be overwhelmed."
"Actually, last night Krum was willing to give me his autograph, it wasn't his fault. It was that man, Karkaroff. He told those Durmstrang students to drive me away, so really…"
"You're still defending Krum?" Cedric suddenly raised his voice and cut him off.
"Last night those people were his classmates and his professor! If Krum truly cared about his fans, he should've stopped them right from the start instead of letting them rough you up!"
"And what did he do? Just stood there like an idiot doing nothing! Admit it, John, that Krum is nothing but a bastard!"
John shut his eyes in pain and said nothing.
Seeing this, Link stopped Cedric from continuing and lightly kicked John's leg.
"John, it doesn't matter who's right or wrong. We don't care. What matters is that this is Hogwarts, and we're your best friends and strongest support. No matter who bullies you, we'll always stand up for you!"
"Link…"
John's eyes welled with tears as he spoke.
"It's alright, John. These are small things," Link continued.
"Even your liking Krum is a small thing. If you still want his autograph, we'll go with you to ask him next time. I believe he'd at least give us that much face."
"Of course, this depends on your studies. If you completely mess up your O.W.L.s this year, then forget about autographs."
At this point, John was already crying uncontrollably.
After a long while, he finally calmed down a bit and choked out, "I understand, Link, Cedric. I really do. Don't worry, I won't let you down."
Hearing this, both Link and Cedric finally smiled.
Cedric gave John a heavy pat on the shoulder.
"If you ask me, that Krum's nothing special. You'd be better off asking me for an autograph!"
Hearing Cedric say this, John stopped crying and just stared at him blankly.
Though he didn't say a word, Cedric and Link could clearly read the meaning in his eyes, 'And who do you think you are?'
That made Cedric both embarrassed and annoyed.
"Hey! Don't look down on me! Just wait, once I become Hogwarts' champion and beat Krum in the Triwizard Tournament, you'll see!"
"Oh? You're that sure you'll be chosen?" Link smiled. "I think I should be the one representing Hogwarts and winning the Triwizard Tournament."
"Then let's both enter. Let the Goblet decide."
The two exchanged a grin.
Then, side by side, they left the dorm and headed for the Entrance Hall.
This left John a bit dazed.
He couldn't quite understand why the two who had just been comforting him were now suddenly going to sign up for the Goblet of Fire together.
But after standing in a stupor for a moment, he hurriedly wiped his tears and chased after them.
———
By the time the three arrived, the Great Hall and Entrance Hall were already bustling.
The Goblet of Fire sat in the very center of the hall, placed on the same tall stool used for the Sorting Hat during the Sorting Ceremony.
On the floor around the stool was a fine golden line drawn into a circle, enclosing at least five or six square meters.
Outside the line, a crowd of curious students gathered, staring fixedly at the Goblet. Some even held half-eaten bread in their hands, chewing absently as they watched.
With so many eyes on it, stepping up to enter was a nerve-wracking ordeal, so for the moment, no one dared.
Cedric, however, wasn't the type to hesitate.
He raised his eyebrows at Link, then strode straight toward the Goblet.
The crowd parted to make way, all eyes fixed on him. When Cedric dropped in his slip of paper and the flames swallowed it, a cheer erupted.
Everyone had seen Cedric's excellence. Most Hogwarts students thought he was the perfect candidate for champion.
At this time, Harry, Ron, and Hermione came over, smiling as they greeted Link.
Hermione looked excited, tugging at Link's sleeve.
"Did you know, Link? The Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students already signed up! Lots of Hogwarts people too! Who do you think will end up as our champion?"
Before Link could answer, Ron shot a sour glance at Cedric, still surrounded by admirers, and muttered, "Oh, of course, it'll be our golden boy Cedric. Look at him, basking in the glory."
A few nearby Hufflepuffs immediately turned their disapproving eyes on Ron.
He quickly shut his mouth and said no more.
"Don't take it to heart, Link," Harry explained quickly, afraid Link might get upset.
"Ron's just a bit annoyed, you know. Hardly any Gryffindors we know can even sign up, so everyone's frustrated."
Link smiled faintly and pointed toward the hall.
"Who says no Gryffindors signed up? Aren't there two right there?"
The trio looked over, and sure enough, George and Fred were swaggering in, arms slung around each other, each holding a slip of paper.
"They're signing up too?" Ron shouted, shaking his head. "Impossible! They're months away from their seventeenth birthday!"
"Who says impossible?"
George and Fred grinned, speaking over each other. "This time we'll definitely succeed! We just drank the stuff!"
"What stuff?" Ron's eyes widened.
"Aging Potion!"
"That's right, one drop each!"
"Now we're officially seventeen!"
Laughing, they pushed through the crowd toward the Goblet.
"C-can that really work?" Hermione muttered blankly, turning to Link.
He first nodded, then immediately shook his head.
"Aging Potion can indeed temporarily increase a drinker's age physically, bone age, teeth, and so on. So in theory, their plan is sound."
"But… that age line was drawn personally by Dumbledore. I don't think a wizard like him would leave such a loophole."
No sooner had Link finished than a stir rippled through the crowd.
George and Fred had already crossed the golden line together and were making faces at the onlookers.
Seeing this, Ron's face lit up with joy. If they succeeded, it meant he too could cross the age line and enter.
He laughed aloud, about to refute Link's words, but before he could, the golden line suddenly flashed, and both George and Fred were thrown backwards.
Not only that, after they landed flat on their faces, great beards sprouted at lightning speed from their chins.
At once, the crowd that had been cheering fell silent.
George and Fred stared at each other, speechless.
But only for a moment. Then they both pointed at each other's beards and burst into roaring laughter.
Their laughter was infectious. Soon the entire hall was laughing with them.
"I warned you not to play tricks," Dumbledore suddenly emerged from the Great Hall, smiling as he said to the twins.
"I suggest you pay Madam Pomfrey a visit. She's already treating Miss Fawcett of Ravenclaw and Mr. Summers of Hufflepuff, both tried the same thing. Though I must say, their beards weren't nearly as magnificent as yours!"
With that, everyone laughed even harder.
George and Fred, not ashamed in the least, grinned and headed off cheerfully toward the hospital wing.
"Link, you were exactly right!" Hermione's eyes shone as she stared at him. Then she shot a sideways glance at Ron, who immediately dropped his head in embarrassment.
"Just ordinary reasoning," Link said with a smile, shaking his head.
He didn't feel it was anything to brag about.
But Hermione grew even more excited. Her little hands clutched tightly at his sleeve, and she cried out, "You still haven't answered me! Who do you think is most likely to be Hogwarts' champion?"
At that, Ron, who had been silent with his head down, lifted it. Harry, who had nearly laughed himself breathless, also looked on with curiosity.
Everyone waited eagerly for Link's reply.
Because in their eyes, Link was one of the rare few in school who could truly be relied on.
And under their expectant gazes, Link smiled confidently. "Isn't it obvious?"
With that, he pulled from his robe pocket a slip of paper with his own name written on it, held between his fingers.
"Hogwarts' champion, of course, it'll be me."
As soon as he spoke, Link strode toward the Goblet with a swagger reminiscent of Snape, his cloak billowing.
The students in his path, who had been laughing at George and Fred moments ago, suddenly froze as if sensing something, and stepped aside in awe.
Just like with Cedric earlier, a neat path opened before him.
"Link, you…"
Hermione finally snapped out of it, her voice rising in an attempt to stop him.
But her words caught in her throat, because Link had already crossed the golden line and tossed his slip into the Goblet.
Whoosh~
The new fuel made the flames roar higher for a few seconds before subsiding again.
And throughout it all, the golden age line remained perfectly still.
From within the crowd, Link lifted his head and looked at Dumbledore, who had not yet left.
The headmaster was already watching him.
Slowly, Dumbledore's lips curved into a smile of approval, and he gave Link a small nod.
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