Just as the argument between "Moody" and Madame Maxime was about to escalate—
Dumbledore cut in decisively.
"The exact circumstances will only become clear once we hear from those involved."
"Come along."
With that, Dumbledore motioned for everyone present to head toward the side chamber.
Inside the side room, Hermione was chatting animatedly with Fleur.
Despite having become champions of their respective schools, there was no hostility between them at all. Instead, they were getting along remarkably well.
Then Harry walked in.
"Harry?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Why are you here?"
"I… I think I've become the fourth champion," Harry said.
His voice was filled with confusion. Even now, he had no idea how his name had ended up in the Goblet of Fire.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak—
—but at that moment, Dumbledore entered, followed by several professors, the two visiting headmistresses, Crouch Sr., and Arthur.
Dumbledore strode straight up to Harry and asked gravely,
"Harry, did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?"
"No, Professor," Harry answered without hesitation.
"Then did you ask someone else to submit it for you?"
As he spoke, Dumbledore turned his gaze toward Arthur.
Arthur raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
"Why are you looking at me? What reason would I have to put Harry's name in? What do I gain from that?"
Dumbledore paused.
Right—Arthur was the type who never acted without benefit.
And Harry simply didn't have enough leverage to make Arthur do something like this.
Before Dumbledore could continue, Madame Maxime cut in sharply, pointing at Arthur.
"Then how do you explain that little witch?"
"What's there to explain?" Arthur replied calmly.
"You yourself heard it—Dumbledore said that even if someone is underage, as long as they can break through the restriction, they qualify."
He continued evenly,
"Besides, Hermione submitted her name in full view of everyone. Are you suggesting she managed to cheat in front of the entire Great Hall?"
Madame Maxime was left momentarily speechless.
But she wasn't willing to let it go so easily.
She turned and pointed at Harry instead.
"Then he must be lying. He clearly used some underhanded method."
"Harry isn't lying."
"Moody" stepped forward.
"The Goblet of Fire is extremely powerful. Only a very advanced Confundus Charm could deceive it. I don't believe Harry is capable of that."
He had originally intended to say no fourth-year student could do such a thing—
—but then he remembered there were two glaring exceptions standing right there.
"You seem to know quite a lot about this, Mad-Eye," Karkaroff said suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.
As the saying went, the person who understood you best wasn't your friend—but your enemy.
Back when Karkaroff had still been a Death Eater, he'd been hunted by the real Mad-Eye Moody for six straight months before being captured and sent to Azkaban.
So he knew "Moody" very well.
And tonight, something about this one felt… off.
Not that Karkaroff suspected he was an impostor—only that he seemed to be hiding something.
"My job required me to think like Dark Wizards, Karkaroff," "Moody" replied coldly, fixing him with a piercing stare.
"You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
The implication was unmistakable.
And to be fair, Barty Crouch Jr.'s imitation of Alastor Moody was flawless—down to the intimidation.
Karkaroff fell silent.
"This argument isn't getting us anywhere, Alastor."
Dumbledore turned to Crouch Sr.
"Barty. The decision is yours."
Under the lingering influence of the Imperius Curse, Crouch Sr. spoke stiffly:
"The rules cannot be changed. The Goblet's selection is binding and absolute. Mr. Potter has no choice. From this night onward, he is a Triwizard champion."
Harry stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
No one had asked his opinion at all!
He hadn't agreed to join some deadly tournament!
From what he'd heard, people could die in this thing—and he was far too young to want an early grave.
Desperate, Harry looked to Arthur for help.
Arthur patted him on the shoulder and said calmly,
"Life is like… well, that. If you can't resist it, you might as well enjoy it. At least now you've got a chance to bring glory to Hogwarts."
"But didn't you say this tournament is extremely dangerous?" Harry asked anxiously.
"That people could actually die?"
"Relax," Arthur replied.
"With your level of ability, the worst you'll suffer is a few injuries. Think about Quidditch—have you ever not gotten hurt?"
That… was depressingly true.
Harry felt his anxiety ease a little.
Crouch Sr.'s decision was obviously unfair to the other two schools.
After explaining the competition rules, the two visiting headmistresses left in displeasure, taking their champions with them.
Dumbledore dismissed Harry, telling him to return to his dormitory.
Arthur and Hermione, however, were asked to stay behind.
Also remaining were Snape, Professor McGonagall, and "Moody".
When Dumbledore mentioned Arthur staying, "Moody's" heart skipped a beat.
He was terrified that something else might go wrong.
Dumbledore, unaware of his thoughts, simply turned to Arthur.
"You truly didn't tamper with the Goblet?"
"Absolutely not," Arthur said flatly.
"Then may I ask how Hermione managed to submit her name?" Dumbledore continued.
Professor McGonagall looked over as well, clearly curious.
She was proud of her student—but also deeply interested in how Hermione had done it.
As for Hermione's safety, McGonagall wasn't worried in the slightest.
She'd already witnessed Hermione's strength last year—stronger than most Hogwarts professors.
At the start of term, McGonagall had tested her again, expecting possible regression.
Instead, Hermione had improved.
Considering her mysterious trip to the East with Arthur over the summer, it was obvious she'd gained something extraordinary.
"The truth is much simpler than you think," Arthur explained.
"For certain reasons, Hermione's actual age already meets the seventeen-year requirement."
McGonagall's expression changed instantly.
"That… won't have any negative effects on her, will it?" she asked worriedly.
She had no children of her own. Since taking Hermione as her student, she'd long since begun treating her like a daughter.
Arthur answered without hesitation.
"Please rest assured. For Hermione, there are only benefits—no drawbacks."
Snape, standing nearby, already had a rough idea.
He'd been to Arthur's Zen Garden and knew about its altered time flow.
Combine that with Hermione's obsessive dedication to learning, and the conclusion was obvious.
Having the Philosopher's Stone really did let one be extravagant with time.
McGonagall finally relaxed.
Then her concern shifted to Harry.
She turned to Dumbledore sharply.
"Albus, Hermione's selection was legitimate. Harry's clearly wasn't. He doesn't even know why his name appeared."
"What are you suggesting, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.
"Disqualify him. Don't let him compete."
"Barty said the rules can't be changed."
"To hell with Barty and his rules!" McGonagall snapped.
"Since when did you start bending to the Ministry?"
Snape spoke up then, his tone measured.
"I also don't believe this is a coincidence," he said.
"But if we want the truth… we may need to let events unfold."
"You mean use him as bait?" McGonagall shot back.
"Harry is a child, not meat for a trap!"
She vehemently opposed the idea.
But Dumbledore sided with Snape.
"I agree with Severus."
He turned to Arthur.
"Arthur, I'll need you to keep an eye on Harry."
Arthur shrugged.
"I can watch him occasionally, sure. But I'm not following him around twenty-four seven."
"Of course," Dumbledore nodded.
"Only intervene when necessary. The rest of the time, Professor Moody will keep watch."
He looked at "Moody".
"Alastor, you're fine with that?"
"Of course," "Moody" replied smoothly.
In truth, he desperately wanted Harry under his control alone.
With Arthur involved, he was constantly afraid that something—anything—might expose him and ruin his master's plan.
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554