Karkaroff in Danger

After the first task of the Triwizard Tournament ended, Elegant Wizarding Apparel sent someone to collect the Dragonhide Robes. Mike Dabo offered to design a full set of formal wear for Albert and his dance partner for the Christmas Ball, but Albert refused. It was not as though he lacked formal wear. The main reason he had been willing to wear the Dragonhide Robes for the first task was that they gave him a sense of security.

Ignoring the stunned look on Mike Dabo's face, Albert bade him farewell and turned to leave.

Mike Dabo had never expected Albert to refuse outright, and the reason left him feeling stifled: I already have formal wear. There's no need to trouble Elegant Wizarding Apparel.

Could the formal wear designed by Elegant Wizarding Apparel really be inferior to the ordinary stuff you bought for ten Galleons? Albert did not care what Mike Dabo thought. He did not particularly like the man anyway; Mike Dabo merely wanted to profit from Albert's fame.

Over the past few days, reports about the first task had been everywhere, and the Daily Prophet naturally did not miss out. Rita Skeeter's article once again appeared on the front page.

She showed no mercy as she kicked Karkaroff while he was down, embellishing her report with plenty of exaggeration.

The headline was roughly: A terrible judge, the Durmstrang headmaster who would stop at nothing for victory, and the story of how he was driven from office by his students.

The later pages of the paper also included interviews with other students.

Rita Skeeter had thoroughly ruined Karkaroff's reputation.

Of course, Miss Beetle still had some restraint. She did not mention in the article that Karkaroff had been a Death Eater. Otherwise, this "Mr. One Point" would truly have become a