The Fair Selector: The Goblet of Fire / Karkaroff Knows Which Way the Wind Blows ...

His good-for-nothing nephew was someone Fudge had nepotistically promoted to the position when he was in cahoots with the Pure-blood Family and felt he had the upper hand over the Ministry of Magic. At the time, he replaced Barty Crouch Sr. Crouch.

However, since then, the situation at the Ministry of Magic has deteriorated. Fudge, not wanting his nephew to become a political stain on his reputation, naturally had to help him achieve some political success... such as hosting the Triwizard Tournament.

Fudge now has the full support of Albus Dumbledore, so in his opinion, as long as Albus Dumbledore is there to protect him, the competition will definitely go smoothly.

And even if something goes wrong, his nephew could simply sit behind Albus Dumbledore and claim credit for Albus Dumbledore capturing the Death Eater, since Albus Dumbledore certainly wouldn't mind, and it would be a sure-fire way to make money.

However, when Fudge sent this idiotic rich kid to "gild his resume," he clearly hadn't taught him how to respect others, and more importantly... how to familiarize himself with some obscure but crucial laws beforehand.

For example, in the 1930s, the French Ministry of Magic, one of the participating nations in the All-European Wizarding War against Grindelwald, spearheaded and was authorized to implement... the <International Confederation of Wizards Human Species Registration and Rights Protection Law>!

Grindelwald once gathered a large number of Werewolf, vampires, Giant and other humanoid creatures throughout Europe. Their ferocity and elusiveness caused great headaches for wizards at the time.

However, upon closer examination, they were merely misled by Grindelwald. Ultimately, it was the unfair treatment they received from the Wizarding World that drove them to the opposite side.

Therefore, after the Dark Lord's eventual downfall, the French Ministry of Magic spearheaded the drafting of this law, requiring all human beings, including half-human wizards, to publicly register their identity and lineage!

In exchange for attracting them to register, these people who are willing to accept unified management are also entitled to certain rights under the law, such as respect for lineage.

Unfortunately, in some places—such as Britain —the enforcement of this law has been quite limited, and opposition has been consistently high since the beginning of its legislation.

Otherwise, according to the law, Hagrid's past should have been thoroughly investigated to find out the truth, and he wouldn't have been expelled or had his wand broken!

This law is precisely why Harry just sent Hagrid to "save the day".

However, he's not so kind as to voluntarily clean up the Ministry of Magic's mess.

(P. S. There's a plot hole I started digging from chapter 20; I don't know if anyone noticed it.)

In the original Harry Potter books, Hagrid's bloodline was a secret until the Goblet of Fire. It was Rita Skeeter who exposed his Half-blood- Giant identity, and Hagrid almost lost his job because of it.

Similarly, in the Goblet of Fire, when Hagrid asked about Olympe Maxime's bloodline, she explicitly denied it, indicating that Olympe Maxime also did not acknowledge the bloodline of the Half-blood- Giant.

Sanmiao, when I was writing the story, starting from Hagrid's appearance in Chapter 20, his identity Half-blood- Giant was always made public. All the characters who knew Hagrid, including Lucius Malfoy, knew that Hagrid was Half-blood- Giant, and his bloodline was completely public knowledge.

The reason has now been revealed, and this original legal drama will involve some other plot points later on, all of which are related to Hagrid. That's all~)

Chapter 625 The Fair Selectors, the Goblet of Fire

Harry truly hadn't expected that Rufus Fudge, that idiot, would give him such a huge gift right from his first appearance.

Hagrid stood up to take his place, and almost everyone—including Rufus Fudge himself—would have assumed that he was there to save the day.

In reality, Harry made Hagrid do this simply to stir up trouble!

Imagine if Hagrid hadn't moved; then this spoiled brat would have had no choice but to sit next to Olympe Maxime, feeling utterly disgusted... He had no other option, because Dumbledore would never allow him to be impolite.

But with Hagrid's intervention, the evidence of Rufus Fudge's discrimination against Half-blood -Giant bloodlines was now completely confirmed!

Olympe Maxime has been persuaded by Hagrid, but she may not be able to swallow her anger after the Triwizard Tournament ends; and the France students who witnessed the whole thing will certainly not let it go either!

Harry had made a promise to Beauxbatons' students, so he's sure he'll make a big deal out of this, maybe even taking it to the International Confederation of Wizards.

When that time comes, Dumbledore, as the Grand Master of the International Confederation of Wizards, will be making a choice that is highly anticipated.

Harry could feel Dumbledore casting a gloomy, resentful glance at him, but he didn't care at all.

Albus Dumbledore wanted to protect the Britain Ministry of Magic at all costs, while Harry wanted to crush Cornelius Fudge and his ilk; they were simply relying on their own abilities.

Now that Rufus Fudge is so considerately offering himself up for Harry's life, it would be incredibly hurtful if Harry refused.

Oh, by the way, although Harry came up with a plan on the spur of the moment and took advantage of the unexpected situation, the Beauxbatons students and teachers who were secretly used as pawns should thank Harry afterwards.

Because he will definitely do his best to get justice for Olympe Maxime!

This minor incident seemed to be quickly forgotten, and the welcoming banquet continued enthusiastically until all the plates were washed clean, at which point Dumbledore stood up again.

As he moved, a feeling of both excitement and nervousness began to spread throughout the Great Hall.

"The moment has finally arrived!" Dumbledore smiled at the raised faces below. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to begin, but before that, please allow me to introduce two guests, as some may not yet recognize them. First, we have Mr. Rufus Mr. Fudge, Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation."

Completely unaware that he had caused trouble, the spoiled brat stood up triumphantly from his seat and waved arrogantly at the Great Hall.

However, apart from a few Slytherin who had quibbled with the Fudge family, almost no one else applauded, especially Beauxbatons' students, who glared at him angrily.

However, this awkwardness did not affect Dumbledore at all. He continued, "Next is Mr. Ludo Mr. Bagman, the Director of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."

This time the applause was undoubtedly much louder. Ludo was once a world-class Quidditch Beater, and he looked much more approachable than the arrogant Rufus Fudge.

"Over the past few months, Mr. Bagman and Mr. Fudge have worked tirelessly to prepare for the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore said, uttering platitudes that even a ghost wouldn't believe. "They will join me, Professor Karkaroff, and Olympe Maxime as the judging panel to evaluate the Champion's performance."

The noise in the room began to get louder, and there were even occasional boos, mostly directed at Rufus Fudge.

He looked like he had only graduated a year or two ago. Many students felt that this guy who used his uncle's connections to get ahead had no right to judge the Champion!

"Mr. Filch, please bring the box up." Dumbledore then demonstrated his powerful ability to control the situation, successfully diverting everyone's attention before the doubts intensified.

Filch, who had been waiting in the corner long ago, was now walking briskly towards them, carrying a glittering wooden box in both hands. The students' eyes followed him, and they began to discuss it excitedly.

"Mr. Fudge and Mr. Bagman have carefully reviewed the specific competitions for the Champion this year," Dumbledore continued after Filch put the box away. "They have made the necessary arrangements for each competition, a total of three, to be held at different times throughout the school year. These competitions will test the Champion's magical talents, their courage, their reasoning abilities, and of course, their ability to overcome danger in many different ways."

Upon hearing the last sentence, the students held their breath, and the entire Great Hall fell silent.

"As you already know, only three Champion can represent their respective schools in the competition. We will score them based on the quality of their performance in each event, and the Champion with the highest score after all three events will win the Triwizard Cup."

Dumbledore briefly explained the tournament format, then pointed to the box in front of him. "The one responsible for selecting the Champion is a fair selector— the Goblet of Fire!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Dumbledore took out his wand and tapped the box three times.

The lid slowly opened, Dumbledore reached inside and pulled out a huge wooden goblet.

The cup itself was unremarkable, but it was filled with leaping blue and white flames, which immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.

"Every student who wishes to become a Champion must write their name and school on a piece of parchment and toss it into the Goblet of Fire," Dumbledore explained to the crowd. "Those aspiring to be Champion can register within 24 hours. Tomorrow, on Halloween night, the Goblet of Fire will select the three Champion it deems most worthy of representing the three schools. Tonight, it will be placed in the Entrance Hall, and all students who wish to participate in the election can touch it. But..."

Dumbledore paused briefly, glancing at some of the overly excited individuals—such as the Weasley family twins—before continuing, "To prevent underage students from succumbing to temptation, I will draw an age line around the Goblet of Fire. Anyone under the age of seventeen will not be allowed to cross that line!"

As night fell, the welcome dinner finally came to an end. Dumbledore gave everyone a final reminder to think carefully before bidding them goodnight.

However, the enthusiastic atmosphere at the scene did not subside. The students were still discussing it, with older students agreeing to sign up together, while some who were too young were quietly discussing how to become Champion.

The students from both schools, who were visiting, were also preparing to leave. They would not be staying in the castle; the Beauxbatons were going back to their carriages, while the Durmstrang students were heading back to their ships.

However, just as Durmstrang students were lining up in the Great Hall, Principal Igor Karkaroff suddenly appeared at the long table in the Eagle House.

"Harry Potter ...no, Harry Granger, right?"

He blocked Harry's path, his previously cold expression now appearing somewhat... fawning.

Chapter 626 Igor Karkaroff, very pragmatic

"Professor Karkaroff, is there anything I can help you with?"

Harry was puzzled when someone suddenly blocked his way in the Great Hall, since he had no connection with the person at all.

"Yes, I also want to know what you want, Igor Karkaroff."

However, just as Igor Karkaroff was about to organize his thoughts, a deep voice came from behind them, startling the Durmstrang principal.

"It's you?!" Igor Karkaroff turned around abruptly, his face turning deathly pale.

Mad-Eye Moody came over at some point. He now had a new demonic eye, but it was smaller than the original and lacked the agility and sharpness of the first one.

However, Mad-Eye Moody still posed a significant threat to Igor Karkaroff, making him tremble with fear at any moment.

"You're blocking the way, Igor Karkaroff," Moody demanded, his face grim. "What important matter do you have that requires you to stop Granger right now?"

"I... of course I have something important to tell Mr. Granger!"

It was clear that Igor Karkaroff was apprehensive about facing Moody, but after stealing a few hesitant glances at Harry, he suddenly regained his composure.

He called a student from the far end of the Great Hall and presented Harry with a beautifully crafted cloth bag from the student's hands.

The contents of the bag were square, and Harry glanced at them briefly and found that they were several very old books.

"Professor Karkaroff, what do you mean by that?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"Well, I heard that Mr. Granger is planning to rewrite the History of Magic in Britain, so I thought I'd give you these things as a gift for our first meeting," Igor Karkaroff explained, rubbing his hands together. "These books are Norse History of Magic from our Durmstrang Library's collection, including a considerable portion of pan-European History of Magic and some magical legends from the Britain Isles. I believe they will definitely be helpful to you."

"In that case... thank you so much." Harry calmly put away the package, smiled kindly at the other person, and said, "Professor Karkaroff, it's our first meeting, and you've already given me such a generous gift. I'm truly unworthy of it."

"I can do it, Mr. Granger, you absolutely can!" Igor Karkaroff waved his hands hastily, practically bowing and scraping to Harry. "You are the powerful wizard who repelled the You-Know-Who, and what you are doing is world-renowned. It would be my honor to be able to help, and it would also be an honor for all of Durmstrang! So, you see..."

"Thank you again for your kindness, Professor Karkaroff." Harry nodded knowingly. "I heard Viktor Krum isn't feeling well. You should take him home and rest. These precious History of Magic remind me of your selfless help today every time I see them."

"Alright, I'm glad you found this helpful! I'll take my leave now. If you have the chance, Mr. Granger, please visit our ship. The entire Durmstrang would love to welcome you."

"That would be my honor as well."

Seeing that Harry accepted the gift and did not object to further contact, Igor Karkaroff's tension seemed to lessen considerably, and he took his leave with a lighter step than when he arrived.

"Hmph, that guy's still as spineless as ever." Moody sneered disdainfully as he watched the other man's departing figure.

"But undeniably, he is a very pragmatic person, and besides, it's only natural for him to do this." Harry turned to Moody with a wistful look. "After all... you can't guarantee he'll stay alive, so naturally he has no choice but to come to me for help."

Igor Karkaroff, being Death Eater, must have sensed Voldemort's return, so his actions today clearly indicate that he wanted Harry's protection.

This didn't bother him at all. If he really had any backbone, he wouldn't have betrayed other Death Eater to gain his freedom back then.

Moreover, he had known Albus Dumbledore and Moody for over a decade, so he naturally knew that even if these people verbally agreed, they certainly wouldn't care much about his life as a former Death Eater. So he might as well find another powerful figure to rely on.

Even so, the possibility that he's a master of disguise cannot be ruled out, and Harry will not let his guard down against him.

"Granger, don't forget, he used to be a Death Eater!" Moody reminded him with a sour face. "And you're a Hogwarts student, so you should try not to get too close to outsiders."

"Mr. Moody, have you forgotten that it was you who pardoned this Death Eater back then?" Harry shook his head slightly. "Besides, to you... I'm actually the outsider."

"You..." Moody tried to say something, but Harry had already turned and left.

Ha, these wizards in the Britain Wizarding World don't even understand the principle of "brothers fighting amongst themselves, but uniting against external threats." When it comes to important matters, they're not as insightful as an outsider like Igor Karkaroff. And now they have the nerve to blame Harry for siding with outsiders?

What the heck is this?

The next day was Monday, and the students at Hogwarts had to attend classes, but their minds were elsewhere, as the Goblet of Fire of Fire in the Entrance Hall was simply too alluring.

The Goblet of Fire was left in the Entrance Hall last night, on the same stool used during the annual Sorting Ceremony, with a thin ring of gold thread floating around it on the floor, and many intricate Study of Ancient Runes outlined below.

It can be said that just by looking at this Age Line, one can see just how skilled Dumbledore was in the field of magic circles.

Therefore, Harry had no faith in the Weasley Brothers' opportunistic actions, especially since using Ageing Potion to fight the Age Line was practically suicide.

Unfortunately, the two brothers, who were completely caught up in the moment, hadn't considered this aspect at all. At that moment, they were excitedly boasting in the Great Hall, claiming that they would definitely be able to break through the Age Line set by the principal.

Cheers!

The two clowns each took out a medicine bottle, and after performing a public drinking demonstration with their arms crossed, they held hands and jumped into the Age Line together.

"Aha, we did it!" "Age Line can't stop us at all!"

At that moment, almost everyone in the Great Hall thought they had succeeded, and the twins themselves certainly thought so too.

But just as they were getting carried away, a crisp sound suddenly came from under their feet. Then, as if they had been grabbed by the tail, they were thrown out of the Age Line as if they were flying through the clouds, and white beards, the kind that only old men have, sprouted on their chins.

In an instant, everyone in the Entrance Hall burst into laughter, and the Weasley Brothers, seeing each other's embarrassment, also began to laugh heartily.

However, the one laughing the loudest among everyone was none other than the headmaster, Dumbledore, who had been hiding in a corner all along.

Chapter 627 Champion Emerges, A Sudden Change Occurs

"I warned you before."

After laughing for a while, Dumbledore slowly emerged from the corner. "You two should hurry and go see Madam Pomfrey. Many students who had the same idea as you have already fallen for it. However, your beards are probably the most impressive you've ever seen."

"Indeed, using Ageing Potion to fight the Age Line is a really bad idea," Harry chimed in with a laugh. "The purpose of the Age Line is to prevent all students under seventeen from entering and from touching the Goblet of Fire in any way. If you really want to get in, why don't you ask the older students who are over seventeen to help you and have them put your names in?"

"Yes, that's another way!" "Then let's hurry and go find someone!"

Reminded by Harry, the two brothers suddenly realized what was going on and hurriedly prepared to leave to find help.

"No, you have no choice but to go to the Hospital Wing now, and I've already heard about this plan." Dumbledore suddenly cast a spell on the Goblet of Fire. "Now it's foolproof. I've added a screening spell to it, so everyone can only submit their own name."

"Huh? Why?"