Unexpected Contestants: Sure Enough, Something Happened on Halloween Eve

Halloween Eve.

After the banquet began, the Goblet of Fire was moved to the Great Hall.

Faced with a banquet even more lavish than yesterday, most people seemed distracted, constantly glancing at the wine glasses with blue flames burning at the front of the Great Hall.

With the 24-hour registration deadline fast approaching, everyone is anxiously waiting to know who will be selected as the Champion for the Triwizard Tournament.

Finally, after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Dumbledore stood up. "Now is the time for the long-awaited selection of the Champion. The Goblet of Fire is about to make its decision."

He drew his Wand and waved it around the Great Hall's pumpkin lanterns and burning torches, extinguishing all the flames except for the Goblet of Fire, which emitted a blue flame.

The next moment, the flames suddenly turned red, and a wave of scorching heat surged upwards.

A charred piece of parchment flew out of the flames and landed in Dumbledore's hand.

Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the parchment, hoping Dumbledore would pronounce the name of the first Champion.

"Durmstrang Champion, Viktor Krum."

Applause and cheers immediately filled the entire Great Hall. Krum's selection was seen as a matter of course by everyone. Durmstrang and his students were all quite excited, and Principal Karkaroff almost clapped his hands until they were sore.

Krum stood up from his seat at the Slytherin table, shook hands with Dumbledore, and walked toward the door behind the faculty desk.

A few seconds later, the flames turned red again, and Dumbledore caught the second charred parchment in his hand.

"Beauxbatons Champion, Phoebe Delacour."

The students of Beauxbatons applauded and cheered. A silver-haired girl gracefully rose, walked to Dumbledore, nodded in greeting, and then went into the next room.

At that moment, the third parchment was spewed out by red flames, Dumbledore loudly proclaimed, "Cedric Diggory, Champion of Hogwarts."

A deafening cheer erupted from the Hufflepuff Long Table. Cedric gave an embarrassed smile and walked into the next room amidst the cheers of all the Hufflepuff and most of the Hogwarts students.

"How could it be Hufflepuff?" Draco said, looking annoyed. "Only Slytherin can represent Hogwarts."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Goblet of Fire blazed red again, and the name of the fourth Champion was about to be revealed.

Everyone was focused intently on the falling piece of paper, including Principals Maxime and Karkaroff.

Although the Triwizard Tournament is no longer limited to three students, everyone knows that the Champion selected by the Goblet of Fire are all geniuses of the same level.

This fourth Champion is probably no worse than the top three. If he is from their school, their chances of winning the championship will increase by one.

Dumbledore held the piece of paper in his hand, glanced at the name on it by the firelight, and couldn't help but smile, "Hogwarts Champion, Aaron Gaius."

Aaron sighed slightly, Draco to take Abei back to the Common Room, and then walked up to Dumbledore under hundreds of envious and jealous gazes.

"I knew it would be you, Mr. Gaius." Dumbledore patted Aaron on the shoulder. "I look forward to your performance."

Aaron forced a smile and turned his gaze to Adrian on the faculty Long Table. Seeing her beaming smile, he felt so frustrated he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

As expected of my sister, she can scheme against her brother so calmly and without a trace of remorse.

"Mr. Gaius, three other Champion are waiting for you in that room!" Dumbledore reminded him.

Aaron nodded slightly, and as soon as he took a step, red flames erupted from the Goblet of Fire.

Dumbledore grabbed a charred piece of paper, and Aaron leaned over to glance at it, inexplicably feeling a sense of relief.

It's not normal for something not to happen on Halloween Eve.

"The first Champion."

"I don't know who it is."

Is there a sixth one?

Whispers filled the Great Hall as many people stood on tiptoe to look at Dumbledore. Maxime and Karkaroff exchanged a glance, both unable to suppress their curiosity.

Two students from Hogwarts have already participated in the competition. If the winner is not a student from their school, it will be somewhat disadvantageous for them.

"Harry Potter," Dumbledore.

Harry sat at the Gryffindor Long Table, completely bewildered when he heard his own name, his head buzzing.

He didn't know why he heard his own name, and he certainly hadn't thrown his own name into the Goblet of Fire.

Although he had fantasized about successfully registering and achieving Eternity Glory, he was mostly filled with fear at this moment. After all, he had a clear understanding of his own level and knew that he was no match for those Champion.

The Gryffindor students cheered spontaneously. Hermione and Ron were incredulous; they hadn't expected Harry to have signed up without their knowledge.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Draco shook his head in disbelief. He never expected Harry Potter to have the guts to sign up, let alone be chosen as Champion.

"Harry Potter," Dumbledore called again, "Harry, come here."

Harry was still in a daze when Hermione nudged him and brought him back to his senses.

He stood up from his seat and, under everyone's gaze, walked dazedly to Dumbledore.

"Professor, you, you may not believe it, but I really didn't put my name in."

Dumbledore moment, then instinctively clenched the piece of paper in his hand. He wanted to ask more questions, but it wasn't appropriate to do so in public.

"I believe you, I really do..."

Go next door with Aaron first, we'll talk about it later.

Aaron smiled and shrugged. He was still feeling quite depressed, but compared to Harry, he felt that he wasn't so miserable after all.

At most, he was forced into the situation, and he knew Harry's background well. Harry, on the other hand, was clearly set up, and what's even more tragic is that he doesn't even know who set him up.

The two walked along the faculty Long Table into the next room. Apart from Adrian waving to Aaron, everyone else looked at Harry Potter with disbelief.

After passing through several gates, the two arrived at a room that was neither too big nor too small.

The walls on both sides were covered with portraits of Warlock, and sets of trophies and gold and silver utensils were neatly arranged. Here, a fireplace was burning brightly, and Viktor Krum, Phoebe Curadel, Cedric Diggory sat together around the fire, maintaining the distance of strangers.

"Good evening, everyone." Aaron waved familiarly and then sat down by the fire. "Let me introduce myself. I am Aaron Gaius, a fourth-year student of Slytherin House at Hogwarts, and the fourth champion of the Triwizard Tournament."

"I expected this." Phoebe gave a light hum.

Aaron was both amused and exasperated. Judging from Phoebe's attitude, he knew that he wouldn't be able to get rid of the "nepotism" label anytime soon.

"Hello." Viktor nodded expressionlessly.

Cedric flashed a bright smile. "Welcome, I really didn't expect it to be you."

"Actually, I completely understand. To many people, I'm just an excellent level 4 Warlock." Aaron chuckled self-deprecatingly, then changed the subject, "But after participating in this competition, many people's impression of me will probably change!"

"And who is this?" Phoebe looked at Harry, who was standing awkwardly to the side, and a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes.

"Harry?" Cedric said, somewhat surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Aaron pulled Harry to the three of them and said, "Let me formally introduce you all. This is Harry Potter, a Class 4 wizard from Gryffindor House at Hogwarts, and the fifth champion of the Contest of Champions."

Phoebe and Krum glanced at the scar on Harry's forehead simultaneously, their gazes becoming more serious.

To be honest, they didn't care about Harry Potter's name. A fourteen-year-old Warlock wasn't much of a threat to them. But Hogwarts had three Champion, which made them seem weak and alone.

Harry stood there awkwardly, wanting to say something but unable to, unsure how to explain.

About ten minutes later, a flurry of hurried footsteps approached.

Dumbledore, along with the referees, Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody, and Professor Snape, all walked in.

"Madam Maxime," Phoebe frowned slightly, "Aren't there any other Champion?"

Maxime knew that Phoebe was the one who asked if there was anyone else in Beauxbatons, but she could only shake her head regretfully. After Harry Potter's name was mentioned, the Goblet of Fire remained silent.

"This is somewhat unfair to us," Karkaroff said coldly. "Even if Hogwarts is the organizer, aren't three Champion a bit too many?"

"Professor Dumbledore, if possible, I would like you to give us an explanation. I think the other three judges would also find this inappropriate."

"Ah..." Barty Crouch hesitated for a moment before saying, "Anyone whose name comes out of the Goblet of Fire must participate in the Triwizard Tournament."

"No, no, no, you've misunderstood, Mr. Crouch." Karkaroff revealed two rows of yellow teeth. "What I mean is that our two schools should recruit more students to sign up until the numbers are equal, that would be fair."

"The Goblet of Fire has been extinguished," Ludo Bagman said with difficulty. "It will not be reignited until the next Triwizard Tournament."

"There's absolutely no need for that, Professor Karkaroff," Adrian said with a faint smile. "If you knew the competition format, you would know that the Triwizard Tournament is not about the number of participants, but about individual ability."

In this kind of competition, there's no possibility of forming alliances for mutual support. If a participant lacks ability, they will only become a foil for the other Champion.

"Hmph! Easy for you to say, Miss Klein."

Your brother is one of the five Champion; who knows if you'll secretly help him.

"If I could quit, that would be wonderful!" Aaron whispered.

"Unfortunately, you don't have the chance to withdraw." Adrian with a playful tone, then looked at Karkaroff. "I can guarantee that I will not provide any assistance to the participants in any way. If you don't believe me, we can make a pact. How about the Fidelity Charm?"

If you feel that's not enough, Unbreakable Vow is fine too.

"Hehe! You really are my sister."

"Cousin," Adrian emphasized, "What kind of contract does Mr. Karkaroff want to draw up?"

"I disregard what I just said," Karkaroff said, his face flushed. Having made Unbreakable Vow, he had no choice but to believe that Adrian wouldn't show favoritism.

Just because Adrian won't use his position as a referee to help the contestants doesn't mean he'll give up. If he could, he would definitely help Krum.

It wasn't just Karkaroff who thought this way; Maxime thought the same. After all, it concerned the school's honor, and it was only natural for the two principals to help their own contestants within the limits of their means.