A School of Their Own, the Four-Way Tournament / Unrelenting Pressure, the Truth Revealed

"Harry, why didn't you wait until he left before saying that!"

Upon seeing this, the two brothers were both on the verge of tears, and even began to loudly complain that Harry had ruined their 'dream', but the latter had already left without a trace of his accomplishment.

"Harry ..." Dumbledore's face darkened as he watched Harry's departing figure.

Harry clearly noticed the flaw in the Age Line in what just happened, which is why he used the banter with the Weasley Brothers to remind himself of it.

This child has always been like this; his meticulousness is almost unmatched. He can easily spot the flaws in any scheme once he has a glance at it.

Why can't he consider the bigger picture?

If he were constantly helping me fill in the gaps in my knowledge, then the likes of Voldemort probably wouldn't be able to cause any trouble at all...

For the rest of the day, due to Dumbledore's double restrictions, only seventeen-year-old students were able to successfully register.

For example, most of Beauxbatons and the entire Durmstrang contingent, Hogwarts naturally had no shortage of successful Champion, including Cedric Diggory, the idol of Hufflepuff House.

Soon, the Halloween dinner finally arrived, but the students' attention was clearly not on the delicious food. Instead, they kept craning their necks towards the Entrance Hall, waiting for the exciting moment.

"Alright, the Goblet of Fire is about to make a decision!" Dumbledore finally stood up, and the Great Hall fell silent instantly.

"In one minute, the names of the chosen Champion will be announced. The chosen Champion, please proceed to the room next to the Great Hall..." As he spoke, Dumbledore pointed to the door behind the faculty seating area. "There, the Champion will receive their initial instruction."

He pulled out his wand and waved it dramatically, instantly extinguishing most of the candles in the Great Hall and plunging it into darkness.

The blue and white flames in the goblet suddenly shot up high, becoming the most dazzling presence in the Great Hall!

Almost everyone was watching the flames, and many were constantly checking their watches, anxiously awaiting the results of the Champion's Selection.

Suddenly, the flame in the goblet turned red, sparks crackled and flew out, and then a Fire Serpent shot out, dancing wildly in the air, from which flew a piece of charred parchment.

Everyone in the Great Hall held their breath. Dumbledore caught the parchment and held it far away so that he could read the words on it by the light of the flames.

But when the flames returned to their blue-white color, everyone noticed that Dumbledore's expression had become incredibly solemn for some reason.

"This, this is?!" He looked around blankly, his gaze finally landing on a girl in Eagle House who was equally shocked.

At that moment, he seemed to be muttering to himself, yet also questioning in bewilderment.

Hermione Granger... Champion of Hogwarts?

The first Champion has been chosen, but there was no applause in the Great Hall, only a gradually spreading noise.

The students whispered among themselves, casting all sorts of glances at Hermione —some of them resentful, some envious, but mostly puzzled.

This question lingered in almost everyone's mind. No one could understand how Hermione, a young wizard who had just turned 15, had managed to 'cheate' and successfully break through the age limit set by Dumbledore!

Even Hermione herself was stunned. She slumped stiffly in her chair, her brown eyes wide open, as if she had lost all ability to think.

"Harry, I didn't! I..."

After a moment of stunned silence, Hermione turned to Harry blankly, mechanically trying to explain herself.

However, when she saw Harry's calm expression, her previously flustered emotions immediately calmed down.

Yes, what do I have to worry about?

If it wasn't done, it wasn't done. This is an absolute fact that cannot be distorted, and the truth will eventually come to light.

Moreover, Harry is by his side, and he will surely turn this unexpected situation into the most favorable one for them.

What I need to do is cooperate with him fully!

"Let's go first, I'll go with you." Harry took Hermione's hand and got up from his seat with her.

"She's not old enough, so why is she a Champion?" Phoebe questioned, extremely dissatisfied. "You also need to give Beauxbatons an explanation for this!"

"It's not just Beauxbatons; we ourselves need an explanation." Harry looked at Phoebe expressionlessly. "Miss Delacour, you'd better not have the wrong target."

"The key issue isn't who put it in, but when it was put in." Before leaving, Luna Lovegood whispered a reminder, her two short sentences hitting the nail on the head.

"Don't worry, Hermione will be fine." Harry nodded and led Hermione to the front of the Great Hall.

"Headmaster, please continue reading the results of the Champion selection; new parchments have been sent out," Harry whispered as he passed Dumbledore.

Dumbledore immediately snapped out of his daze, grabbed the parchment, and loudly read out the name on it.

"Viktor Krum, the Champion of Durmstrang!"

Scattered applause broke out in the Great Hall, but because of Hermione's earlier incident, the students' attention hadn't fully shifted, and only Durmstrang cheered the most enthusiastically.

"Next is, this..." But when the next piece of parchment flew out, Dumbledore got stuck again.

"Cedric Diggory, the Champion of Hogwarts..."

After being separated by an outside school, Hogwarts has now produced another Champion!

A brief silence fell over the room, then when Cedric Diggory walked out of his seat with a puzzled look on his face, the entire Great Hall erupted in chaos.

"Quiet! Pay attention to me!!" To maintain order, Dumbledore had to use the Amplifying Charm, while also raising the parchment he had just obtained.

"The Champion of Beauxbatons is Phoebe Delacour!"

Chapter 628 Independent School Formation, Four-way Battle for Supremacy

Three schools, four Champion... On the day of the Halloween feast, none of the people at Hogwarts expected that they would witness such a huge juicy story.

The scene was completely out of control after Dumbledore announced Phoebe... no, actually, it was long before he announced that Cedric Diggory had also become a Hogwarts Champion.

Despite Professor McGonagall's repeated insistence that the party was over and everyone had to go back to sleep, the students ignored her and continued to shout loudly.

In contrast, a tense silence fell over the room behind the faculty seating area. Neither the four Champion chosen by the Goblet of Fire nor Harry, who had accompanied Hermione, spoke for the time being.

"Harry... is something wrong?" After a long pause, Cedric Diggory asked tentatively, in a concerned tone.

Perhaps because he was the second chosen one, but more so because of his friendship and understanding of Harry, Cedric Diggory never considered suspecting Hermione from the moment the incident occurred.

"It's a bit of a hassle, but it'll definitely be resolved in the end." Harry nodded. "Not just you, but also Miss Delacour and Viktor Krum. I'm here to tell you... no one in this room has ever cheated in the Champion Selection. And the one who did cheat is right outside. If you trust me, I'll make sure you get an explanation!"

"No problem!" Cedric Diggory was the first to speak up. "I believe Hermione didn't cheat, and I will definitely support you!"

"Hmph, considering Olympe Maxime's matter, you have a lot to explain, don't you?" Phoebe scoffed dismissively, but did not object.

As for Viktor Krum, who had been huddled in the corner since he entered, he didn't say anything, only nodded silently.

Considering Igor Karkaroff's attitude towards him, Harry felt that Viktor Krum's behavior was understandable.

After the four Champion and Harry reached a simple agreement, a large crowd of people poured in from outside.

The principals of the three schools, the heads of the Four Houses, Mad-Eye Moody, and the two officials from the Ministry of Magic all looked quite grim.

"Why hasn't this student left yet?" Rufus Fudge swaggered up to Harry as soon as he entered. "We need to discuss this matter immediately. Everyone else, get out of this room!"

"Oh... were you talking to me just now?" Harry slowly raised his head, looking indifferently at the idiotic spoiled brat in front of him.

"Of course... um!"

Rufus Fudge's previously arrogant expression froze on his face, replaced by utter terror, as if he were witnessing the most horrific scene in the world.

He was trembling all over, desperately twisting his upper body to try to escape, but his legs seemed to be welded to the ground, and he couldn't move at all.

Only after Harry looked away did he sway a few times and begin to pant heavily.

"Headmaster, could you perhaps teach these unruly fellows some manners before they come to school again?" Harry turned slowly to Dumbledore.

"I will pass on the message to Cornelius Fudge, but I also have something to ask you now." Dumbledore turned his attention to Harry, his face grim. "Harry, is there anything you can tell me about this?"

"I don't have it yet, but they definitely do!" Harry's expression suddenly changed, his gaze sharp as he pointed at the two Ministry of Ministry of Magic officials. "As the custodians of the Goblet of Fire, can you give us an explanation... why did the Goblet of Fire utter four names?!"

"This... Granger, I think your question is really strange." Ludo Bagman scratched his head in confusion. "The Goblet of Fire spitting out four names, how can that be our problem? It must be the fault of you students."

"That's right! You guys cheated, and now you dare to turn around and accuse me?!" Rufus Fudge, who had just been intimidated, huddled in the corner and protested incessantly, his eyes constantly darting towards Dumbledore.

"Headmaster, could you perhaps do something about him?" Harry frowned slightly, a hint of annoyance on his face. "I know you may have promised Cornelius Fudge to look after this good-for-nothing, but if he dares to yell at me like that again, I really won't be so polite."

"Alastor Moody." Dumbledore didn't reply, but simply called Mad-Eye Moody's name with a grim face.

"Langlock!" Moody demonstrated his execution to the fullest, casting a spell that stuck Rufus Fudge's tongue and lips together.

"Very good." Harry nodded calmly. "Only by silencing that annoying fellow for now can we continue our discussion."

"Mr. Granger, do you mean that no one cheated in this incident?" Karkaroff asked doubtfully, "Then why did the Goblet of Fire spit out four names?"

"Indeed, Granger, although I am reluctant to doubt your and Miss Granger's character, it is indeed puzzling that two Champion have emerged from Hogwarts." Olympe Maxime also gracefully offered her opinion.

"To explain this, all we need to do is have the Headmaster bring out those four pieces of parchment," Harry said with a smile. "I'm sure there's something there."

"Parchment... I think I know what Harry's going to say. Everyone, come and see."

After a moment's thought, Dumbledore placed the several pieces of parchment he was holding on the table.

After observing for a while, the people present also noticed some very important details.

"This is definitely not Granger's handwriting!" Professor Flitwick was the first to protest for Hermione. "Homework and exam papers can be presented as evidence, and the heads of the four houses all know that Miss Granger's handwriting is definitely not like this. Someone else must have written her name!"

"And more importantly, it only has names on it!" Professor McGonagall continued, "The other three Champion's parchments clearly show their names and schools, but Miss Granger's parchment has no school written on it!"

"But what does that mean?" Phoebe couldn't help but interject. "In the end, didn't she become Champion of your Hogwarts?"

"However, in reality, Hermione isn't representing Hogwarts, at least that's what the Goblet of Fire thinks." Harry glared at Phoebe before continuing, "Obviously, someone cast a powerful Confundus Charm on the Goblet of Fire, making it believe that Hermione, whose name doesn't include a school, is an applicant from another school besides the three main schools! But for the Goblet of Fire, it's hosting a four-school Triwizard Tournament, so naturally it needs to select four Champion!"

"And since Hermione's school, Blank School, only had her sign up for the competition, she's naturally the one who will become Champion!"

(P. S. In the previous chapter, when Sanmiao read out that Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore, Hermione was very hesitant because 'Hogwarts' was something he subjectively added himself; in reality, only Hermione's name was written on the parchment, and the school was blank.)

In both the novel and the movie, Dumbledore never pronounced "Harry, Hogwarts" aloud; he only ever called him by his name. Even in the movie, when he later used the Pensieve to store memories, the slip of paper only had the name and not the school.

The reason I'm mentioning this at the end of the chapter is because, in Sanmiao opinion, given the circumstances, it would have been easy for Dumbledore to prove Harry's innocence, and there were many ways he could have done so, but he didn't.

If that matter could be made public, although Harry might still inevitably have to participate, at least no one in the school would wear the stinky badge, and public opinion would generally be on Harry's side as the innocent party. Perhaps then, there wouldn't be any drama of best friends turning against each other.

Chapter 629 Aggressive Approach, Revealing the Truth

"Personally, I think Harry's deduction is completely correct."

After careful consideration, Dumbledore said apologetically to everyone, "It seems there was a problem with the Age Line I set; it didn't block everyone as intended..."

"Headmaster, you know perfectly well that the Age Line you set wasn't problematic at all!" Harry suddenly spoke up, interrupting Dumbledore's apology. "Hasn't that one loophole already been fixed?"

"Harry?" Dumbledore looked at Harry with a deep gaze, but found that the other's eyes showed no sign of yielding.

This made him realize that Harry had seen through his thoughts and was determined to confront him head-on!

"The headmaster's Age Line is infallible. What happened in the Great Hall this morning proves it. Even those only a few months shy of seventeen will be excluded from the Age Line. And right now, several students are already lying in the Hospital Wing, having been punished by magic for cheating."

Harry recounted the morning's events casually, but his tone gradually turned serious. "Furthermore, there's no doubt this wasn't a simple case of cheating, but a meticulously planned conspiracy! Because Confundus Charm of that caliber could never be cast by a student who hasn't graduated yet!"

"Harry, I admit you have a point, but that's not what we should be focusing on right now." Dumbledore calmly shook his head. "No matter how much we investigate the cause and effect, the conclusion is unchangeable... all four of them can only participate in the competition at a time; that's an unalterable contract! Mr. Bagman certainly knows this too."

"Ah...that's probably right." Ludo Bagman nodded quickly. "Although those rules, I...but anyway, once you're chosen for the Goblet of Fire, you have to participate in the competition."

"Whether they participate or not is another matter. What I need to know now is the truth!" Harry immediately retorted. "Knowing the truth may not change the fact that they have to participate at the same time, but it can give them justice and an explanation to everyone who doubts this matter! If we stop investigating now, then either Hermione or Cedric Diggory will definitely face overwhelming suspicion and accusations!"

Harry knew perfectly well who Albus Dumbledore was protecting, so he wouldn't let such a good opportunity slip by and was determined to get to the bottom of this matter!

"But we have absolutely no leads!" Harry's aggressive attitude made Dumbledore frown slightly. "Besides... Harry, have you forgotten? The student who could cast that Confundus Charm on the Goblet of Fire, wasn't that you?!"

"However, I stayed in the janitor's hut all night, and my movements during the day are all clearly documented. I simply didn't have the opportunity to commit the crime. Besides, Principal, have you forgotten that the school recently placed Sneakoscope in many corners of the Great Hall to keep an eye on a certain fugitive? If someone with ill intentions had approached the Goblet of Fire, the Sneakoscope alarms would have gone off long ago!"

"Gentlemen, could you please stop arguing?" Seeing the tension between the old man and the young man escalating, Olympe Maxime quickly intervened. "However, Dumbledore, I personally support Mr. Granger's idea and hope to find out the truth of this matter, which is very important to us."

"Olympe Maxime, if I could, I would certainly like to continue the investigation, but we have absolutely no leads right now, do we?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

"If the forward investigation doesn't lead anywhere, then we'll use the process of elimination." Harry continued, "I've just basically proven that the Goblet of Fire couldn't have been touched by anyone with malicious intent since last night. So, excluding the possibility that the incident happened at the school, there's only one possibility left... the Goblet of Fire was tampered with before it was sent to Hogwarts!"

After saying this, Harry stared intently at Ludo Bagman and the mute Rufus Fudge, while Dumbledore frowned for a moment.

As expected, Harry's insistence on finding the so-called truth was not to seek justice at all; he wanted to take the opportunity to continue suppressing the Britain Ministry of Magic!

"I see." Igor Karkaroff seemed to understand something now. "No wonder Mr. Granger questioned those two officials from the beginning; he had already figured out that the Goblet of Fire was already faulty before it was even delivered to the school!"

"No...that's impossible!" Ludo Bagman panicked immediately. "Rufus and I came to Hogwarts as soon as we received the Goblet of Fire. No one...no one touched it in between. How could it have been tampered with on the way? And..."

He pointed frantically at Harry: "And didn't Dumbledore say that Harry Granger can also cast the Confundus Charm? So it's obvious he's cheating!"

"I've said before that I didn't, and to prove it, I'm willing to hand over my memories, even use Veritaserum to verify it. But what about you, Mr. Bagman ... do you dare drink the Veritaserum and answer my question again?" Harry stared coldly at Ludo Bagman, his eyes full of aggressive intent. "If you dare nod, I can ask Professor Snape to provide the Veritaserum right now!"

"Absurd...absurd! This is utterly absurd!" Ludo Bagman shook his head in protest, trembling. "Mr. Granger, you're threatening a Ministry of Magic official! No...you can't do this, Dumbledore, you should also control your students!"