Under the attentive eyes of all the teachers and students, Dumbledore drew his wand and tapped it three times on the lid of the box.
The lid slowly creaked open.
Dumbledore reached inside and pulled out a large, crudely carved wooden goblet.
The cup itself was utterly unremarkable, but it was filled with dancing blue-white flames.
Dumbledore closed the box and placed the goblet on top of the lid, so that everyone in the Great Hall could see it clearly.
Dumbledore continued calmly,
"Allow me first to invite you all to behold this magical creation blazing with blue flames—the Goblet of Fire. Since the Triwizard Tournament of centuries past, it has witnessed the inheritance of courage and glory, and today, it shall bear a new mission.
After multiple rounds of consultations among the Ministries of Magic, the school boards, and the judging panels of the three participating schools, we have jointly decided to revise the champion selection rules for this tournament. At this moment, on behalf of all decision-makers, I announce this important adjustment to you all.
First, regarding the selection of champions. The Goblet of Fire will serve as an absolutely impartial judge. It will select three wizards possessing the greatest courage and potential from each of the three schools—Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang to serve as representatives for their respective schools."
"Three—" Fred couldn't help but cry out loudly, "You're not joking, are you?"
Three champions, not one champion. Though the tournament had been discontinued for over a century, the tense atmosphere was suddenly broken, and almost everyone burst into laughter. Dumbledore also chuckled appreciatively.
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said, "but since you've mentioned joking, I did hear a rather amusing joke about a hag..."
Dumbledore clearly wanted to finish the joke he hadn't completed last time. However, this time he had barely begun when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat very loudly.
"Oh—now is probably not quite the appropriate time... not quite appropriate..."
He immediately changed course, decisively backing down. "Where was I? Ah, yes, the new rules! Although the Triwizard Tournament, established over seven hundred years ago, has always revolved around the model of each school sending one person, it has been discontinued for over a century for various reasons. Now that it's being restarted this year, some rules should also change.
In addition to what I just mentioned about each school's representation changing from one champion to three champions, the Goblet of Fire will also designate one captain based on comprehensive qualities to coordinate the team's task collaboration. Please rest assured that the magical core of the Goblet of Fire remains entirely unaltered. Its standards for judging courage, wisdom, and sense of responsibility remain the foundation we trust."
Dumbledore raised his voice slightly, quieting the excited young wizards.
"Secondly, regarding the age requirement for champions. To balance the professionalism and safety of the competition, we have added a new regulation: among the three champions from each school, at least one must be seventeen years of age or older.
This measure is quite necessary, as the tournament events remain extremely arduous and dangerous, no matter how many precautions we take. This champion who is seventeen or older will, with their more abundant magical practice experience, provide necessary guidance and support to the team, especially bearing more coordination responsibility when facing high-risk tasks.
Perhaps some students will ask, why break the tradition of single-champion participation that has continued for so many years? I'd like to share our considerations with you from two core perspectives."
"I don't care why we're breaking this tradition!" Fred said enthusiastically.
"That's right, traditions are meant to be broken, and this is broken well!" George promptly followed up.
If they had simply proposed that only students seventeen or older were allowed to enter, everyone would certainly have raised objections. But now that each school had three participants, even though they mentioned that at least one participant must be seventeen, there were still two other spots available besides that quota! Although they might be at a disadvantage compared to students already seventeen, they at least had a chance.
"Thank you for your trust, Mr. Weasley, but I still need to explain the basis for these rule changes. First, it's to better protect everyone's safety. As you all know, the Triwizard Tournament tasks have always been accompanied by arduous challenges.
From confronting powerful magical creatures to deciphering complex ancient spells, any misstep in any link could bring unpredictable risks. When three champions fight side by side, they can remind each other and complement each other's weaknesses: students skilled in charms can break through obstacles, those proficient in Herbology can handle poison barriers, and the experienced older champion can control the overall rhythm.
This collaborative model can minimize the risks of solo adventure, which is also the highest priority consideration for the Ministry of Magic and all the headmasters.
Second, it's to demonstrate the true values of the magical world. Teamwork is far more worthy of praise than lone-hero-style adventures. The significance of the Triwizard Tournament has never been to cultivate solitary strong individuals, but to showcase a school's overall spirit and character.
How to communicate, how to trust, how to find the optimal solution amid disagreements—when three champions move forward hand in hand toward a common goal, the cohesion they demonstrate far better reflects the achievements of magical education than a single person's victory.
I know some students may have doubts about team combat, worried that their individual brilliance will be overshadowed. But please believe that true courage never stems from walking alone, but from daring to stand shoulder to shoulder with others.
The Goblet of Fire will see each champion's contributions within the team, and the judging panel will fully consider collaborative contributions in scoring. Those actions taken to protect teammates by temporarily postponing tasks, or to perfect plans by listening to suggestions, will all receive additional honor points.
I want to say that traditions are precious not because they remain unchanged, but because they can continuously optimize with the times to better serve the values we cherish. The rule revisions for this tournament are precisely to allow courage and wisdom to grow in safer, fairer soil, and to let every participant gain growth more important than victory through challenges."
After these words, all the professors and students began applauding warmly. The young wizards under seventeen were particularly excited. The Weasley twins clapped their hands until they were red, almost matching the color of their hair.
"Every student wishing to compete for champion must write their name and school name on a piece of parchment and throw it into this goblet. Those aspiring to become champions may register within twenty-four hours. Tomorrow evening, on Halloween night, the goblet will select the names of the nine students it believes can best represent the three schools. Tonight, the goblet will be placed in the Entrance Hall, accessible to all students willing to participate in the selection.
Here, I want to remind every student intending to participate: this tournament is no game, and you must not enter rashly. Once a champion is selected by the Goblet of Fire, they must see the competition through to the end.
Whoever puts their name into the cup is actually forming a binding magical contract that must be honored. Once you become a champion, you're no longer allowed to change your mind. Therefore, please think thrice, and only put your name into the cup when you're certain you wholeheartedly want to compete.
Finally, let us give our applause to thank the Ministry of Magic and our brother schools for their trust and support, and look forward to the Goblet of Fire selecting those champions who possess courage, wisdom, and collaborative spirit. May this Triwizard Tournament become a grand event that truly embodies the wizard spirit. Well then, I think everyone should get to bed. Good night to all."
Amid warm applause, the Halloween evening feast came to an end.
"Brilliant!" Fred's eyes sparkled. "This makes it so much easier, they've increased it from one spot to three spots!"
"Two, only two," Hermione shook her head. "You're not yet seventeen, so you can only compete for the remaining two spots."
"That's enough!" George said with a laugh. "This change is absolutely wonderful!"
At this point, students were all passing through the Great Hall, heading toward the double doors leading to the Entrance Hall.
"Where is he?" Ron's attention wasn't on the Goblet of Fire at that moment. He hadn't heard a single word of what the others were saying, only searching the crowd for Krum's figure.
"Dumbledore didn't say where the Durmstrang people are sleeping, did he?"
However, his question was answered almost immediately. They had now reached the Slytherin table, and Professor Karkaroff hurried over to his students.
"Well then, back to the ship," he said warmly to Krum. "Viktor, how are you feeling? Have you eaten enough? Should I have someone bring some hot wine from the kitchen?"
Krum shook his head without speaking, merely putting on his fur cloak again.
"Professor, I'd like some wine too," said another Durmstrang boy upon hearing Karkaroff's words, practically drooling.
"I didn't ask you!" Karkaroff's gentle, fatherly expression from when he faced Krum vanished instantly. He said severely to the boy, "I noticed you've dripped food on the front of your robes again, Poliakoff. You really are a disgusting boy—"
After scolding him, Karkaroff turned and led his students toward the door. By sheer coincidence, they ran right into Sherlock and his group at the entrance.
Sherlock didn't stop walking, and Hermione followed suit.
In her view, although Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang were the three great European schools, Hogwarts was the best magical school in Europe, indeed in the entire world. She had believed this unwaveringly since before her first year began.
So, she not only looked down on Beauxbatons, but equally on Durmstrang. It was rather like thinking these rural bumpkins had come to beg at their Hogwarts.
However, Ron intentionally slowed his pace to get a few more looks at Krum. Harry, being the kindest-hearted, seeing this situation, simply stopped and indicated that Professor Karkaroff and his students should go first.
"Thank you," Professor Karkaroff said nonchalantly, glancing at Harry. But the moment he saw Harry, Karkaroff froze completely.
Slowly, very slowly, he turned his head back toward Harry, staring at him fixedly, as if unable to believe his eyes.
The Durmstrang students had been following behind their headmaster, and seeing him stop, they too halted.
As Karkaroff's gaze slowly moved to Harry's face, fixing on that scar, the Durmstrang students also looked curiously at Harry. Several of them showed expressions of recognition. The boy who had just been severely criticized by Karkaroff, his chest covered in soup stains, even nudged the girl beside him and pointed openly at Harry's forehead.
Harry immediately regretted having offered to let Karkaroff pass first. He should have walked out with Sherlock instead. Sherlock, who had taken in everything, frowned. Karkaroff and the Durmstrang students' behavior was seriously affecting his friend.
Just as he was about to step forward, an angry voice came from behind them. "That's right, that's Harry Potter."
Karkaroff spun around sharply. Mad-Eye Moody stood there, his heavy body was leaning on his staff, his magical eye was staring unblinkingly at the Durmstrang headmaster.
"It's you!" Karkaroff seemed not to have expected that Moody would initiate conversation with him, and couldn't help showing a surprised expression.
"That's right, it's me," Moody said grimly. "Unless you have something to say to Potter, Karkaroff, you'd better move along. You're blocking the doorway."
This was true. At that moment, half the students in the Great Hall were waiting behind them, craning over the shoulders of those in front to see what was causing the blockage.
Professor Karkaroff said nothing more. With a wave of his hand, he led his students away. Before leaving, he took one deeper look at Harry.
Moody continued glaring at him until he was out of sight. His magical eye followed Karkaroff's retreating figure, his mutilated face showed an expression of extreme disgust.
Taking in this entire scene, Sherlock's lips curved into a smile. With more and more people getting drawn into this, things were starting to become increasingly interesting. It seemed he wouldn't be feeling bored today.
Halloween was a holiday. Generally, students would sleep in quite late before going to breakfast. However, today proved to be an exception. By the time Sherlock returned to the dormitory with Harry and Neville after morning practice, they discovered that Ron and Dean were already gone.
When they entered the Entrance Hall to eat, they saw over twenty people gathered there, several still eating toast, all carefully examining the Goblet of Fire. Just as Dumbledore had said, the Goblet of Fire was placed in the center of the Entrance Hall, on the stool that usually held the Sorting Hat.
Hermione and Sherlock's two roommates were among them. Seeing Sherlock, Hermione immediately smiled. "Going to eat?"
Harry asked curiously, "Has anyone put their name in yet?"
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