The Scene Was Too Beautiful

"They can't do that!" Ron said indignantly as he followed the crowd toward the door after the banquet. "I'll be fifteen next March, why can't I try!"

"Yes..." Harry said.

He naturally wanted to be Champion, but his birthday celebration was later, in July.

Hermione kept her head down and didn't say anything.

"There's nothing I can do, Ron." Fred suddenly walked up from behind and said with a smile, "These are the rules of the school and the Ministry of Magic; you have to abide by them."

"Yeah, just be a good spectator," George said, walking over from the other side. "Just remember to cheer us on."

"Hmph!" Ron scoffed.

Fred and George actually said they would follow the rules... It was the funniest joke he'd heard all year.

"Why are you allowed to sign up!" Ron said sourly.

"I always thought you were just stupid, but I never imagined you were this brainless." Fred looked at him with a strange expression. "We were able to sign up, of course, because we were old enough!"

"Sixteen years old, a year older than the legal age," George said. "You haven't even forgotten our ages, have you... If so, we're really heartbroken."

"I haven't forgotten!" Ron said. "I just think it's unfair... that's a thousand Galleon!"

"Then you have to win the championship first," Fred said.

"Have you ever gotten an O in your Transfiguration and Spells exams?"

Ron blushed slightly, but still stubbornly said, "The Triwizard Tournament isn't an exam; it has nothing to do with grades. What if I just happen to win?"

"Ha..." George couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"That's a real shame... You're too young, future champion," Fred said, raising an eyebrow.

The two then ignored Ron and walked forward arm in arm, loudly discussing that they must be the first to sign up.

Ron, however, was still complaining that the competition was unfair and that everyone should be able to participate.

"But so many people died in the tournament," Hermione whispered outside the Entrance Hall. "Dumbledore just said that's why the tournament was suspended for a century."

"Yes," Ron said nonchalantly, "But that was many years ago, wasn't it? And Dumbledore said they did a lot of work to make sure every Champion was safe from danger, didn't they?"

If fifteen-year-olds can do it, then there's no reason why we can't.

Hermione, unusually, did not refute, but continued to ponder something with her head down.

"Hahaha..."

Just then, she suddenly heard a burst of laughter coming from the Hufflepuff group not far away.

Mikel waved his hand and laughed, saying, "Tell me, Kyle or Cedric, who will be the Champion representing Hogwarts?"

"It must be Kyle; his Special Award for Services to the School could practically fill the entire Trophy Room!" someone said.

"No, I think it's Cedric." A sixth-grader shook his head. "He's in sixth grade, so he has the age advantage."

"But Kyle received the Order of Merlin, Second Class..."

"Hehe..." Amidst the heated discussion, a different voice suddenly rang out.

"I think the Champion should come from Ravenclaw, because we are the smartest students at Hogwarts, not you mediocre Hufflepuff!"

The heated debate came to an abrupt halt, like a bucket of cold water being poured over it, extinguishing the previously lively atmosphere.

Although many people previously considered Hufflepuff to be synonymous with mediocrity, in recent years, thanks to their four consecutive Quidditch Cup and House Cup victories, few have said that anymore.

Of course, they might still think that way in their hearts, but at least they didn't say it out loud.

Mikel looked at the speaker, "Oh, I thought it was someone else, isn't this Davis...?"

He pursed his lips and said, "I don't deny what you said, that most Ravenclaw are intelligent, but I have only one question... Does anyone here have Cedric who got first place in his grade for five consecutive years?"

Or like Kyle, get a perfect score, and receive three Special Award for Services to the School... no, just one will do."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone around him burst into laughter.

Roger Davies's face turned bright red. "Lobo... he's the number one student in seventh grade!"

Several Ravenclaw nearby echoed this sentiment, believing that Lobo was the best choice for the Champion.

Their performance has always been overshadowed by Kyle and Cedric, and they are eager to turn the tide. This Triwizard Tournament is a great opportunity. If Lobo can stand out and become Champion, it will prove that they are better than Hufflepuff.

"Oh, I thought you were going to talk about yourself, Davis. You must be over fifteen years old by now."

Ryan chuckled and said, "Don't deny it, you want to be Champion too... Too bad, if you'd won Quidditch Cup once, you'd probably have something to show for it by now."

Speechless after being rebuked, Davis's face turned even redder. He wanted to retort, but didn't know what to say, so he could only leave with the words, "We'll see, and see who becomes the Champion in the end," before turning and heading up the stairs.

But because he was walking too fast, he didn't pay attention to his footing and got stuck on a step in the middle of the stairs.

Hogwarts has many such tricks up its sleeve, and as an upperclassman, Davis could have easily avoided them, but he was clearly too angry to notice and had forgotten about it.

The people around laughed even harder. Even the suit of armor at the top of the stairs creaked and clanged, as they laughed until they were breathless.

"Shut up!" Several Ravenclaw students stepped forward, dragged Davis out of the steps, and quickly walked upstairs.

On the other side, Kyle, who had brought the new students back to the common room ahead of time, still couldn't understand why the Age Line for the Triwizard Tournament had been lowered so much.

Cedric called him three times before he snapped out of his daze.

"Sorry." Kyle let the freshman go back to his dorm on his own, then turned around and asked, "I was thinking about something. What were you talking about?"

"I mean, would you sign up for the Triwizard Tournament?" Cedric asked again.

"Of course I'll sign up." Kyle nodded.

Although he didn't know why, if he was old enough, he had no reason to miss this grand event, not to mention there was something else about the competition that he cared about a lot.

Kyle glanced at Cedric.

"What, is there something dirty on my face?" Cedric rubbed his face, somewhat puzzled.

"No." Kyle shook his head. "So, you're signing up too?"

"Of course, I feel like I have a pretty good chance of being selected," Cedric said. "Although it's not nice to say it like that, I don't really have many competitors."

"Lobo from Ravenclaw is one, you, Kanna, and Cho... there doesn't seem to be anyone else."

"Fred and George won't let it go if they find out you've excluded them," Kyle said.

"Of course I haven't forgotten them, but..." Cedric said, barely suppressing a laugh, "To be honest, I can't quite accept the image of the Hogwarts Champion pulling out Dungbomb during the Triwizard Tournament."

"That scene would be absolutely spectacular," Kyle said with a laugh. "I don't think Professor McGonagall could handle it either."