Eight-Way Championship

Sure enough, a child did fall in, but he was lucky enough to be dragged back by Giant Squid in the Black Lake. That child was Dennis Creevey, Colin's brother who loved taking pictures, and he was sorted into Gryffindor.

Headmaster Dumbledore sat in the center of the teachers' desk. His long, silver hair and beard were thick and shiny, reaching all the way to his waist and almost tucked into his belt. Half-moon Spectacles sat on the bridge of his nose, behind which were a pair of bright blue eyes that seemed to glow.

Today he was wearing a dark green robe embroidered with stars and the moon, over which he wore a floor-length purple cloak.

He rested his chin on his fingertips, his gaze drifting towards the magical ceiling, as if deep in thought.

He only lowered his hands and smiled when he saw the new students enter, as if welcoming them.

A group of freshmen walked in shivering. They were all soaked through by the rain, especially the child who had fallen into the lake. They not only had to endure the biting cold, but also the fear of the future. They stood in a row, filled with anxiety.

Professor McGonagall brought out the tattered Sorting Hat, and everyone began to listen to Sorting Hat sing its awful song. Malfoy scoffed at the Sorting Hat's intellect, saying it must have taken it a year to come up with a song.

"Stuart Ackley!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Malcolm Bardock!"

Slytherin!

As Professor McGonagall called out names one by one, the Sorting Hat quickly assigned all the students. After all the students were assigned, Ka-jie waved her wand, and all the rainwater on all the first-year Slytherin students was sucked out and casually tossed outside the Great Hall. Ka-jie also waved Daphne wand, and a flame appeared in front of each first-year student, warming everyone.

The freshmen from the other colleges watched this scene with curiosity, hoping that the upperclassmen from their own colleges would do the same. However, the upperclassmen from their own colleges were also curious!

These are all Ancient Magic, and they want to learn them too, but they can't because the Slytherin students have already used them all! What can they do? They can only ask the new students to bear with it for now and go change their clothes later.

After everyone had finished eating, Headmaster Dumbledore announced the year's announcements.

First of all, this year's ban list has been expanded to include many more items, such as Yo-Yo Ball, Fanged Frisbee, Combo Boomerang, totaling over four hundred items. Most of these are things the Weasley twins like to play with, so they have to keep creating new things to keep up with the school's ban list.

The second item is the familiar Hogsmeade Village. As usual, students in their third year and above can only go with a parent's signature. However, this year Harry can go openly, as his godfather Sirius Black signed for him!

The third thing is that Quidditch Match will not be held this year, which has disappointed many students, especially Gryffindor, who were hoping to turn things around this year! They lost to Ravenclaw last year and vowed to reclaim their glory this year, but reality dealt them a heavy blow – the tournament will not be held this year.

Just then, a thunderclap suddenly rang out in the Sky Void, and the hall door was opened again. A limping man with a cane walked in. One of his legs was made of wood, with a claw underneath, and one of his eyes was also fake, which he dangled around aimlessly.

Su Yu felt that the movie version of Voldemort was based on him. Seriously, no nose, face covered in scars, mouth slanted like a cut—it's so ugly! Even in the movies, it's not like that...

He walked slowly toward Headmaster Dumbledore, taking a sip of wine along the way. Headmaster Dumbledore introduced him as Professor Moody, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for the lower grades this year.

Professor Moody's prosthetic eye swept over the students, startling few into applauding him. However, Professor Moody didn't seem to care, as if he was used to this.

"I feel something's not right, Su Yu," Kurama said to Su Yu in his mind.

"I've always known something was wrong, so... shall we take him down tonight?" Su Yu rubbed his hands together, ready to make a big splash. He didn't want Voldemort's henchmen to keep him occupied for another year.

"Alright, let's continue. In October, Hogwarts is preparing to hold a very grand event! That is..." Headmaster Dumbledore was still speaking passionately.

Kurama leaped up instantly, his body beginning to grow larger.

"That's it, the Eight-Way Championship!"

"Huh?" Su Yu suddenly felt something was wrong. Wasn't it supposed to be the top three? How did it become the top eight? Su Yu's sudden stop made the already enlarged Kurama look a little bewildered, turning around and staring at him with wide eyes.

"Seriously, buddy? Are you kidding me? I was all set to go for it! What are you doing?" Kurama frantically sent a telepathic message to Su Yu in his mind.

"Um... wait a minute... the plan has changed... let's wait and see, and listen to Headmaster Dumbledore has to say..."

"Kurama, what are you doing?" Headmaster Dumbledore looked at Kurama with displeasure, interrupted by Kurama's sudden enlargement.

"Uh... sigh! I just thought the little one ate too slowly, so I grew bigger to eat more... Haha, right... Su Yu!" After saying that, Kurama angrily swallowed Su Yu whole, scaring the first-year student into crying loudly.

"Alright, alright, you two stop fooling around and listen to me!"

Kurama reluctantly spat out Su Yu... Daphne smiled as she wiped Su Yu's body, and even had the Egg Beater bring out a lot more cheesecake. Kurama angrily ate it on the side, turning his grief and indignation into his appetite!

"This is not what we heard!" a Slytherin student below shouted.

"Indeed, the Ministry of Magic's original idea was to hold the Triwizard Tournament, since it hadn't been held for over a hundred years," Headmaster Dumbledore explained. "However, near the end of last semester, a student criticized me, the president of the International Confederation of Wizards, for being completely ineffective. Therefore, after careful consideration, I have decided that this year's Triwizard Tournament will not be held; instead, we will have Eight-Way Championship!"

"Furthermore, each school will select 20 participants this time! They will be in groups, representing their respective colleges, and their age is limited to third-year students and above (excluding third-year students)! Also, to cope with the ever-present crises, this Eight-Way Championship may result in injuries or fatalities! I emphasize again, there may be injuries or fatalities! Therefore, students who want to sign up should think carefully, and consider it very carefully! This time, you will no longer be hothouse flowers! You will face this dangerous magical world ahead of time! The magical world has never been peaceful, and this will be your first time facing the cruelty of the magical world, but I hope that this will not be your last!"