Bab 72: Wand Checking
While his name was called, Harry Potter was stunned and didn't believe his ears. As the people around spotted him and looked at his direction, he said in a low whisper to Ron, "I didn't put my name in, you know I didn't. But Ron was just staring at him in a shock.
Just then, Dumbledore spoke out loud, "Harry Potter". As Harry slowly stood up and walk towards him, Dumbledore said, "go through the door, Harry". Unlike previous champions, there wasn't any applause nor Dumbledore was smiling.
As Harry entered the chamber, Fleur asked him, "What is it? Did they want us back in Hall?", mistaking him for a messenger. Seeing Harry stood silent, Neal's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Harry, don't tell me you are the fourth Champion".
Fleur looked at Neal in a surprise, "what do you mean by that? There are only three schools and three champions". Neal shrugged his shoulders and just then, Ludo Bagman, Barty Crouch, along with the Three Headmasters entered the chamber.
As Soon as Dumbledore entered the room, he ignored everyone else and hastened his steps towards Harry and grabbed him tightly. While looking into his eyes through his half-moon spectacles, he asked him seriously, "did you put your name in the Goblet?", Harry replied, "No, sir". Dumbledore once again asked, "did you ask an older boy to put your name?", Harry once again said, "No, sir. Believe me, I didn't put my name".
Maxime then said, "what's the meaning of this Dumbledore? You said your age line will keep out the younger contestants out of the tournament. Not only a younger champion is being selected but two of them?".
Karkaroff then said, "Goblet must have made a mistake. I'm ready to step back if you can just send Potter back and let it proceed as it is planned". Dumbledore then looked at Ludo and Barty Crouch, "you two are objective judges. What's your opinion on this?".
Barty Crouch replied, "the fire will only reignite at the next Tournament. We all have no choice but to accept Harry Potter as the fourth Triwizard Champion. The Goblet of Fire creates a magically binding contract that we cannot break. Mr. Harry Potter has no choice in it".
Dumbledore and others stared at him while thinking someone must have set up a trap for him. Meanwhile, Neal looked at him and thought, "while it is easy to bypass the age line, he certainly has no capability to use a Confundus charm to make the Goblet choose him. Who might it be? Must be an exceptional seventh year or a teacher. Certainly not Dumbledore. Either must be someone who favors him or who hates him. Who knows..."
Then after it is sorted out that Harry will be participating whether he likes it or not, Barty Crouch spoke, "ok, champions, now listen, carefully. The first task is designed to test your daring. So, we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard.
The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges and the champions aren't allowed to take help from the Professors and armed only to use the wands for the first task. Getting caught while breaking the rules will make their overall score reduced. So, mind that".
After everyone else left, Dumbledore looked at Neal and Harry with a smile, "I suggest both of you go to your dormitories. I am sure Gryffindor and Slytherin are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise".
While Harry started to walk, Neal stood there and asked, "is it, Sirius Black?". Harry stopped hearing the name and Dumbledore also suddenly looked at him sharply, "hmm?", Neal then said, "the one who hoodwinked the Goblet. He already infiltrated Hogwarts to kill Harry last year, might try again".
Later, Neal returned to his dormitory where everyone is waiting for his arrival to congratulate him. As they asked him about the Tournament, Neal said, "no, they revealed nothing about it".
The next day morning, the Champions were called to a fairly small classroom; most of the desks had been pushed away to the back of the room, leaving a large space in the middle; three of them, however, had been placed end-to-end in front of the blackboard and covered with a long length of velvet.
Five chairs had been set behind the velvet-covered desks, and Ludo Bagman was sitting in one of them, talking to a witch Neal was familiar with. Neal then saw Krum and Fleur waiting in each corner alone and not talking to each other. And in another corner, a paunchy man stood around by holding a black camera. Seeing him, Fleur stepped forward and greeted him with a smile, "good morning, Neal".
While Neal and Fleur were in the middle of a conversation, he was interrupted by Ludo and the witch who was talking to him earlier. "Neal, this is Rita Skeeter, She's doing a small piece on the tournament for the Daily Prophet. She was hoping for a personal interview..."
Neal looked at her seriously and said, "I believe you have already been warned last time, Ms. Skeeter. If you want an interview, you can take Harry's when he comes here". As the atmosphere turned awkward due to his blatant rejection, Ludo said, "why don't the three of you go upstairs. Harry Potter will join you when he arrives".
After they went upstairs, they saw Olivander who then checked their wands. After Krum's wand checking is over, he checked Fleur's wand, "9 1/2 inch, rosewood containing Veela's hair...oh, dear me..." Fleur replied, "one of my grandmother's".
Neal nodded and thought, "no wonder, I felt a strange attraction towards her. A part Veela, eh?". Just then, Harry arrived with not so good expression on his face after his interview with Rita. Then, Neal handed both of his wands.
Fleur asked, "you use two wands?". Neal shrugged, "one was mine and the other was passed down in the family". After giving back the Black walnut wand, Ollivander was excited to examine Basilisk wand, "Aha, it seems you finally mastered this wand, Mr. Slytherin. It's true loyalty now lies with you".
Neal smiled while taking back his wand, "thank you". After that, Olivander looked at Harry's, oddly for a longer time than the other three. After that, they took photographs for a long time mainly because of Madame Maxime who cast others into shadows wherever she stood.
The next day, as Neal saw the Daily Prophet, he mumbled, "I knew it. the article is about Harry's biography instead of the Triwizard tournament". Meanwhile, Malfoy who wanted to go and trouble Harry stayed silently because of Neal's warning which actually brought Harry, a piece of joy in the hatred he's facing now from all the houses except Gryffindor.
A few days later, on Karkaroff's request, Dumbledore announced that Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students can also participate in various club activities in order to increase the bond between the academies.
Somewhere in the UK, In one of the secret buildings which were hidden from Muggle society, a dozen or more witches and wizards from all parts of the world gathered in a room. As Dumbledore arrived, everyone stood from their seats and greeted him.
Dumbledore then said, "from now onwards, stop all of your current activities and everyone will only concentrate on one thing". After he explained everything, Dumbledore made his way towards a person who is standing alone in the corner silently.
His face turned serious as he asked, "have you found them?". The Wizard replied with his hoarse voice, "The last location was New York City. Current whereabouts unknown. I still need more time". Dumbledore replied, "ok, what about your partner? Got a word from him yet about Sirius and Remus?".
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