Watching Moody sit at the Staff Table, Amanda turned back to ask Senior Marietta, who had just gasped upon hearing Moody's name.
"Senior Marietta, did Professor Moody lose his leg recently?"
Marietta Eckmore paused for a moment, then shook her head. "Of course not. He lost that leg years ago while fighting Death Eaters. Why do you ask?"
The image of Moody's walking posture resurfaced in Amanda's mind. Simultaneously, in her brain, Moody was slowly simplified into a stick figure made of lines.
All data regarding his gait changed in real-time as the stick figure moved.
After confirming three times, Amanda looked up at Marietta Eckmore, Cho Chang, and Penelope, who were still watching her and waiting for an answer.
"Based on my simulation and analysis, Professor Moody's gait doesn't look like that of someone who has been without a leg for years. It's more like someone who just got that wooden leg—someone who has practiced but hasn't fully adapted to it yet."
"Just got the wooden leg and hasn't fully adapted..."
Cho Chang and the other two looked at each other. None of them doubted the accuracy of Amanda's analysis; everything over the past three years had been enough to prove the exceptionally high accuracy of her deductions.
"Unfamiliar gait, not adapted to his wooden leg," Penelope said, lightly tapping the table with her left hand. "But his eyes look normal, and he doesn't seem dazed."
"It probably isn't the Imperio."
"Then it can only be Polyjuice Potion," Cho Chang added from the side.
A flash of realization hit Marietta Eckmore, and she nodded slightly toward the flask Moody was holding. "Mad-Eye Moody never drinks water from outside; he only drinks from his own flask. This is something many in the Wizarding World know. If his flask contains Polyjuice Potion..."
"Then it is indeed very discreet and not easily discovered," Cho Chang agreed with a nod. "But the question is, why would this unknown person impersonate Mad-Eye Moody to sneak into Hogwarts?"
"The answer to that question is basically beyond dispute." Amanda answered Cho Chang's question. Her gaze rested on Harry, who was feasting at the Gryffindor Table, her tone slow and calm.
"There is an eighty percent probability that someone sneaking into Hogwarts with unknown motives is coming for Harry."
"Ugh, poor, ill-fated Harry," Penelope said with a sigh, taking a sip of pumpkin juice.
"If his target really is Harry, then Harry will have to be careful."
Marietta Eckmore spoke with considerable worry. "Mad-Eye Moody is very powerful. He's caught countless Dark Wizards, and he's filled more than half of Azkaban. Someone who could successfully ambush him and impersonate him must be a very, very formidable Dark Wizard."
Putting down her knife and fork, Amanda unhurriedly served herself a bowl of ice cream. She picked up a spoon, her face devoid of any expression.
"It's fine. Tonight I'll go find Headmaster Dumbledore, and then go with him to catch this fake Mad-Eye Moody to see who he really is and what his purpose is."
Hearing that Amanda was planning to take action again, the three seniors—who knew her strength well—did not stop her. Instead, they all reached out to pat her back.
"Go ahead, but stay safe. Don't charge in if you encounter danger; that's what Headmaster Dumbledore is for."
Though it might sound a bit selfish... when the sky falls, the tall ones should hold it up. With Headmaster Dumbledore, the greatest white wizard, present, their Amanda could certainly hang back if things got dangerous.
Moreover, they believed that if there truly was danger, Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't let Amanda charge ahead anyway.
After finishing the last bite of ice cream and wiping her mouth, Amanda leaned back against her seat, waiting until the last Young Wizard in the Great Hall finished their final bite of dessert.
Only then did the desserts on the four long tables vanish completely. Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and walked slowly to the front of the Staff Table.
"Everyone, now that you have eaten and drunk your fill, I need to say a few things."
His gentle, steady voice reached every corner of the Great Hall, and the Young Wizards present immediately fell silent.
Headmaster Dumbledore smiled appreciatively and held up a finger.
"First, I must say that we have had to cancel this year's school Quidditch tournament."
"What?!"
"Why? You can't do that!"
The Quidditch players from all four houses let out simultaneous cries of woe.
Of course, Cho Chang and Harry—who had been told by Amanda beforehand that Hogwarts would host the Triwizard Tournament—were not among those wailing.
They had already guessed this. The Triwizard Tournament was a massive event, more than enough to consume the energy of Headmaster Dumbledore and the Professors.
The school definitely wouldn't have the spare capacity to hold the internal Quidditch matches. Even if the Professors had the energy, the students wouldn't.
Sure enough, the next moment Headmaster Dumbledore raised his hands to signal for everyone to calm down. "This is because a grand event is to be held at Hogwarts this year. Because of this event, I believe that neither you nor the Professors will have the spare energy or extra time to prepare for the school Quidditch tournament."
The Great Hall fell silent again in an instant. All the Young Wizards were curious as to what this grand event Headmaster Dumbledore mentioned would be.
"I am pleased to announce," Headmaster Dumbledore said, a smile appearing beneath his long white beard, "that the Triwizard Tournament will be reinstated at Hogwarts this year."
After five seconds of silence, the Great Hall suddenly erupted with the sounds of the Young Wizards' discussions and gasps.
"That's impossible!"
"You must be joking!"
"It is certainly not a joke," Headmaster Dumbledore had to raise his voice to be heard over the Young Wizards in the Great Hall. "Though speaking of jokes, I do know one..."
Before he could start, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat from the Staff Table and shot Headmaster Dumbledore a glare. Was this the time for jokes?
"Ahem, of course, now is not the time, not the time." Headmaster Dumbledore stopped himself just in time and brought the topic back.
"As I was saying, the Triwizard Tournament will be reinstated at Hogwarts this year. I, along with the Principals of the other two schools and the Ministry of Magic, have made preparations to ensure the safety of the champions participating in the competition."
"However, considering the inherent danger of the competition, this Triwizard Tournament requires that only adult Young Wizards may participate."
"Oh, you can't do that!"
"That's not fair!"
The Weasley Twins shouted in unison from below. Harry and Ron looked at each other and shook their heads in amusement.
If they hadn't learned this news in advance on the train, they probably would have had the same reaction.
But their initial excitement and thrill had already passed. Thinking about the danger and the unstable factors of that competition... the two of them wished they could stay far away and just sit comfortably in the stands to watch.
They already had enough trouble; they didn't need to go looking for more.
"I will personally ensure this—ensure that only adult Young Wizards can participate in the Triwizard Tournament."
Headmaster Dumbledore smiled toward the Weasley Twins, a sly blue light flashing behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Well, that is all for now. You've eaten and drunk your fill; everyone, go and enjoy your sleep. Sweet dreams to you all."
Headmaster Dumbledore clapped his hands, and the Great Hall doors swung open. The Young Wizards from the four houses stood up and lined up to walk toward the exit.
Amanda watched Moody leave the Staff Table, then turned to speak to Senior Cho Chang, who was standing in front of her.
"Senior Cho Chang, I'm going to see Headmaster Dumbledore," she paused, then followed her thoughts and added, "Help me let Hermione know."
Hermione would surely be staying in their Dormitory later and would notice she was gone. So she had to ask Senior Cho Chang to pass the word along, lest Hermione think something had happened to her.
"Okay, don't worry. Remember to be careful." Cho Chang nodded, then turned back with Marietta Eckmore and Penelope to watch Amanda walk toward the Staff Table.
"Let's go. We just need to wait back at Ravenclaw Tower." Penelope patted Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore on the shoulders.
The two girls nodded and followed the crowd out of the Hogwarts Great Hall.
Seeing Amanda walking against the flow of people straight toward the Staff Table, Headmaster Dumbledore immediately stopped his departure. Seeing this, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick beside him also stopped.
Perhaps thinking that every time Amanda sought out a Professor it was for something major, Professor Snape and Professor Sprout also gave up on leaving and turned to look at her.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I'm sorry to disturb your rest."
Amanda walked up to Headmaster Dumbledore, nodded politely to him, and greeted the other four Professors as well.
"It's quite alright, Miss Amanda. Is there something the matter?"
Headmaster Dumbledore smiled gently and stroked his white beard.
"Professor Moody is an imposter using Polyjuice Potion."
His right hand jerked, and Headmaster Dumbledore nearly plucked out a strand of his beard. Keeping his expression calm, he lowered his head slightly and looked seriously at Amanda.
"Please, tell me more."
Amanda nodded, her voice as deep as the bottom of the Dead Sea, without wind or waves. "By observing and analyzing Professor Moody's gait and physical coordination, I've determined that he hasn't fully adapted to that wooden leg. It's more like he just got it and has undergone a certain amount of training to try and walk smoothly."
"He has achieved some results, and his walk is indeed smooth, but his physical coordination and naturalness are severely lacking. The signs of deliberate training are too prominent."
"Furthermore, by asking Senior Marietta, I learned that Professor Moody should have gotten that wooden leg a long time ago. Therefore, the current Professor Moody is very likely someone else impersonating him via Polyjuice Potion."
"Astonishingly observant, Miss Amanda." Headmaster Dumbledore praised her, then turned to Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape.
"Minerva, come with me. Severus, I'm afraid I must trouble you to fetch some Veritaserum."
Nodding without a word, Professor Snape strode out of the Great Hall, his black robes billowing behind him like waves.
Professor McGonagall also nodded, while casting a glance at Amanda. "Should Filius take her back first?"
Professor Flitwick stepped forward, ready to lead Amanda away, but Headmaster Dumbledore shook his head.
"Let Miss Amanda come with us. I must admit, young people are indeed smarter than I am. Perhaps with Miss Amanda along, we might receive some very good advice."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, clearly reluctant to let a student face danger, but thinking of Dumbledore's presence and Amanda's own strength, she said nothing more.
However, Professor Flitwick took a step forward and stood behind Amanda. "Then I shall go as well. I will protect my student."
"Very well." Headmaster Dumbledore nodded. Professor Sprout, who had been standing by silently, drew her wand.
"I'm coming too, to help you guard the door and ensure he doesn't escape to threaten other students."
Amanda blinked as she listened to the Professors. Actually, with her and Headmaster Dumbledore together, it would be more than enough to trap the person impersonating Professor Moody.
With the two of them there, let alone anyone else, even if Voldemort himself were impersonating Professor Moody, he wouldn't be able to escape once cornered.
But seeing the Professors' current state, Amanda's brain quickly concluded that it was better to be obedient and not argue.
Without waiting for Professor Snape to return with the Veritaserum, Headmaster Dumbledore set off with Amanda and the three Deans.
Severus would go to Moody's office on his own. It was better for them to arrive first and control the fake Moody for peace of mind.
Arriving at the door of Moody's office, Headmaster Dumbledore said no more, simply drawing his wand and giving it a light flick to open the door.
Inside, Moody was packing his things. Seeing the newcomers through his magical eye, he immediately snapped his trunk shut and reached for the wand on the desk.
A red light shot out, and Moody's wand instantly flew away. Headmaster Dumbledore nodded to him with a smile.
"Alastor, we've come to have a chat."
"A chat?" Moody turned around, narrowing his eyes and saying gruffly, "You don't look like you're here for a chat with this lineup, Albus."
"Ah," Headmaster Dumbledore nodded slightly, "could I see your flask?"
As he spoke, he pointed to the container most likely to hold Polyjuice Potion: Moody's flask.
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