Four Champions

The students throughout the Great Hall were discussing it—their Champion had vanished.

Rumors had spread that morning that Albert Anderson had disappeared.

But if Albert had really vanished, how had he entered himself as a Champion? Or had someone entered him on his behalf?

What on earth was going on?

Everyone was bewildered, their minds full of questions.

It was not just them. Even Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime could not make sense of the situation.

Hogwarts' Champion seemed to have... vanished?

What were they supposed to do now? The two of them looked together at the two officials from the British Ministry of Magic. Crouch and Bagman exchanged glances as well, equally unable to understand what was happening.

As everyone discussed the matter in low voices, the blue-white flames in the Goblet of Fire, which had already fallen still, suddenly turned red again. A piece of scorched parchment shot out from the Goblet.

As though by instinct, Dumbledore reached out with his long fingers and caught the piece of parchment.

The buzzing in the Great Hall gradually faded away. Everyone stared at the parchment in Dumbledore's hand, their stomachs full of questions. What was going on?

Had Albert failed to appear, so the Goblet of Fire had chosen a new Champion for Hogwarts?

They could hardly wait to find out what was written on the slip.

Staring at the slip in his hand, Dumbledore remained silent for a long time before finally clearing his throat and reading the name aloud. "Harry Potter."

An eerie silence fell. There was no applause. The air itself seemed frozen.

Too many unexpected things had happened during tonight's Champion Selection. First, Hogwarts' Champion had mysteriously disappeared. Then, the Goblet of Fire had selected another Champion for them.

It was utterly ridiculous. Since when was