Decision

"Five-Champion Tournament? Five champions..." Ludo Bagman murmured, his eyes gradually lighting up. "Wouldn't treating Mr Potter and Mr. Hall as independent contestants solve the fairness issue perfectly?"

After speaking, Ludo glanced at Crouch.

The room fell silent. Everyone seemed to be seriously considering it. The five students looked around for a while, but seeing that those with any say had lowered their heads, they followed suit.

The portrait on the wall let out a long yawn. A long-nosed witch in one painting stepped out of her frame to whisper to a wizard in another.

Dumbledore looked from Barty Crouch to Madame Maxime, then reassuringly patted Harry and Eli.

"That is acceptable," Madame Maxime's deep voice broke the silence, and everyone looked up.

Madame Maxime placed her huge hand on Pheobe's small but resolute shoulder. "As long as no school is granted any special authority, I have no objection."

"Of course not, Professor Maxime," Ludo said to Madame Maxime with a grin. After arguing for so long, they had finally found the most feasible solution, and he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Since the Goblet of Fire chose these two students, we have no way to defy such a great magical object. But we can at least make other arrangements. The Five-Champion Tournament... let us hope nothing else goes wrong."

Crouch's stiff voice made his words sound particularly oppressive, but it did set the tone.

Dumbledore still wore that calm expression, as though he had expected this outcome all along.

Karkaroff lowered his head and snorted, as if disappointed that he had failed to stir up a greater disturbance.

"Who can guarantee that Hogwarts will not offer those two students assistance? I mean, cause trouble for our two schools."

"You certainly think a lot, Karkaroff. I rather suspect that