Eager to try

Barty Crouch stood where Dumbledore had just been, facing all the students.

He was usually very good at this sort of thing, but today he seemed rather uneasy, his eyes darting rapidly from side to side.

After a moment's hesitation, he seemed to finally recover his old knack for public speaking. "After careful consideration, the Ministry of Magic has decided that, for safety reasons, all students aged seventeen..."

The moment he said "seventeen," the students below began to stir.

"You've got to be kidding..." Everyone seemed to have realized what was coming.

"...all students under seventeen are prohibited from entering this year's Triwizard Tournament..."

"That's not fair!"

Barty Crouch's announcement instantly set the entire Great Hall ablaze. The students even forgot Dumbledore was there and began hurling abuse outright.

Voices seemed to rise from every corner of the Hogwarts Great Hall. Not a single student kept quiet. Even those who had never considered entering the Triwizard Tournament joined in when they saw everyone else swearing. And, honestly, it felt pretty good.

"This is all bullshit!"

"Shit!"

Eli glanced around. Everyone seemed to be having a great time swearing. Just look at Draco Malfoy's flushed face—he could hardly have been more excited.

After giving it some careful thought, Eli prepared to really let loose.

A torrent of curses instantly poured out.

"@*#&^..."

Seeing things getting out of hand, Dumbledore stepped forward. "Silence!"

His magically amplified voice instantly drowned out every student, and they immediately fell silent.

"fk, shift!"**

One final shout rang out from the Slytherin table after everyone else had gone quiet.

Everyone instantly turned toward Slytherin. Some were already gloating, wondering which brave soul had done it.

Eli immediately lowered his head, burying it as far down as he could, as though nothing had happened.

Everyone looked at Draco