Chapter 450: The Champions of Hogwarts!!
Karkaroff laughed loudly.
"I knew it would be him!"
But his joy had nothing to do with Krum himself.
Krum, on the other hand, looked slightly displeased.
Still, he walked toward the room behind Dumbledore without a word.
A few seconds after Krum went in, Fleur's name burst out of the Goblet. She rose gracefully, smiling as she blew Darren a flying kiss.
That single kiss immediately made quite a few Hogwarts girls unhappy.
Even some of the Beauxbatons girls looked unhappy too.
They were annoyed not because Fleur had been chosen—but because she dared to flirt so openly with a boy from Hogwarts.
As if all Hogwarts boys belonged to Beauxbatons by right.
Fleur, of course, paid no attention to any of it.
She walked lightly toward the room behind Dumbledore, looking pleased.
Madame Maxime finally let out a breath of relief.
She smiled softly.
"Now… the Hogwarts champions. Here it comes."
Darren straightened immediately.
He saw Dumbledore take the slip of parchment from the Goblet.
The moment Dumbledore read it, his expression changed.
Shock.
Concern.
Unease.
He looked at Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch.
"I believe there is a problem with Hogwarts's selection. The student chosen does not meet the age requirement. I believe the list must be redrawn."
"No!"
Before Bagman or Crouch could speak, Karkaroff sneered.
"No. Whoever the Goblet chooses is the champion. Dumbledore, are you suggesting we break the rules?"
"But this student absolutely did not put his name into the Goblet," Dumbledore said firmly. "I can personally guarantee it."
Barty Crouch spoke coldly.
"The Goblet of Fire has never produced a name that did not compete. Headmaster Dumbledore, I assume you do not intend for this student to die by refusing a magical contract?"
Dumbledore's expression darkened at once.
Anger flashed through his eyes.
But in the end… he compromised.
Slowly, he looked toward Darren.
There was concern in his gaze.
"The Hogwarts champion… Darren Potter."
His voice was low when he announced it.
Completely different from the energetic, ceremonial tone he'd used earlier.
But those few quiet words exploded through the Great Hall like thunder.
"You're joking!"
"That's impossible!"
"Darren didn't enter!"
"I've been with him the whole time!"
The Hogwarts section erupted.
Total chaos.
Dumbledore raised his hand.
Silence fell instantly.
Then he looked directly at Darren.
"Darren… step forward."
Darren froze, then forced himself to show a stunned, disbelieving expression.
"Headmaster… I—I didn't… I swear I didn't put my name in! This tournament is only for students over seventeen—I'm only fourteen, I…!"
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the identity of the person who submitted the host's name.]
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining Voldemort's motive for wanting to see the host.]
Name: Cedric Diggory.
Reason: Voldemort wishes to let his 'child' witness the downfall of a so-called great man at the final moment.
Darren's eyelid twitched.
Voldemort's motive didn't surprise him much.
But Cedric?
Cedric Diggory?
That was something he absolutely did not expect.
He had literally saved both Cedric and Amos Diggory during the summer.
Although…
He had also incidentally gotten Amos kicked out of the Ministry of Magic.
But Cedric didn't know that.
Right?
Darren looked over.
Cedric actually looked… happy.
Happy.
Darren had no idea what kind of logic led to that expression.
Was he thinking this was some elaborate way of thanking him?
Was this revenge disguised as kindness?
Darren instantly understood the full chain of events.
Those people only needed to tell Cedric one thing—
That Darren wanted to participate in the Triwizard Tournament but was underage—
And Cedric would absolutely help him without hesitation.
Darren really wanted to sing:
Listen to me say thank you…
But obviously this was not the time.
Snape interrupted his thoughts.
His face was dark, his voice sharp but controlled.
"Of course it can't be you. If little Potter had that level of intelligence, he would have conquered the Ministry of Magic by now."
Then he turned to Dumbledore.
"This is clearly a prank. Someone deliberately put little Potter's name into the Goblet."
"Whoever did it—step forward. Now."
Cedric hesitated visibly.
He did not originally intend to step out.
But Darren was already irritated.
Participating in the Tournament was one thing.
Someone making that decision for him behind his back was another.
So Darren spent one hundred Holy Father points.
Cedric's arm rose.
"It was you." Dumbledore's voice was calm, but heavy.
Cedric looked confused at first.
Then realization hit him.
And after a second, his expression became awkward… but firm.
"…Yes. It was me."
He clearly believed he had done the right thing.
Darren curved his lips slightly.
Then, in a careful, gently wounded tone, he asked—
"Senior… did I offend you somehow? Or are you disappointed in me? Is that why you forced me into the Triwizard Tournament like this?"
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding, Father value +100]
[Ding…]
The Holy Father points surged.
No one would ever think being entered without consent was a good thing.
Yet Darren was here, openly asking Cedric why he did it—like he was genuinely afraid he'd done something wrong.
If it were any other student, they'd already be furious.
Snape sneered.
"I believe everyone knows exactly why Mr. Diggory did this."
"After all—during the summer, you personally sent Mr. Diggory's father straight out of the Ministry of Magic."
He spoke to Darren.
But his eyes were locked on Cedric.
Cold.
Sharp.
Merciless.
Like he wanted Cedric dead.
Then Snape turned to Dumbledore, his voice fully hard now.
"I don't believe Hogwarts needs students who make life-and-death decisions for others without permission."
But before he could continue—
The Goblet of Fire suddenly burst into flame again.
Another piece of parchment shot into the air.
Gasps rang through the hall.
Dumbledore caught it in mid-air.
His eyes widened.
"…Harry Potter."