Conspiracy

"I really didn't put my name into the Goblet of Fire."

On the way back to the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry finally couldn't help confiding in Albert.

"You've already said that," Albert said gently. "I believe you didn't do it."

"Why?"

Actually, Harry did not know why he had said that. Maybe he was too frustrated, or maybe he simply wanted someone to talk to.

"Why what?"

"Sorry." Looking embarrassed, Harry quietly apologized to Albert.

"What do you want to know from me?"

Albert looked Harry over, amused by his awkward expression.

"I want to know... why you believe me." Harry looked even more embarrassed after saying it.

"Then I'll tell you, though I hope it won't make you uncomfortable." Albert paused before the secret passage, reached out to pull aside the tapestry in front of him, and stepped inside. "Your Magical Power is indeed a little stronger than that of the other students in your year, but in my view, you still can't be considered a powerful wizard."

"What do you mean?" Harry felt inexplicably irritated.

"To fool a magical object as powerful as the Goblet of Fire, your current magical skill isn't enough." Albert explained, "That would require an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm. I'd bet that your piece of parchment only had your name on it, not your school's name."

"How did you know?" Harry could not help asking. He had always felt that Albert knew a great many things.

For a long time now, he had gotten that impression from him, as though he knew a little about everything.

"The person who threw your name into the Goblet of Fire couldn't actually interfere with how it selected Champions. So he could only use the simplest method: a Confundus Charm to confuse the Goblet, making it believe that