Ron's Unease

"Quiet, please." When Dumbledore emerged from the room with the professors and officials, everyone turned to him, their eyes demanding an explanation.

Everyone waited expectantly, but the Hufflepuff students watched him most intensely.

They were worried. If Harry and Eli really competed, the honor would no longer belong to them alone.

It was understandable. People often thought Hufflepuff went unnoticed, and the house had rarely produced figures or achievements that truly stood out—Newt Scamander aside, of course.

Now Hufflepuff finally had a Champion in the Triwizard Tournament. Win or lose, that was an honor all their own.

For Cedric to stand out among the Four Houses was proof enough of how exceptional he was.

But if Harry Potter of Gryffindor and Eli Hall of Slytherin joined the competition too, Hufflepuff's moment would no longer seem so unique.

The Ravenclaw students, though, cared less. None of the three came from Ravenclaw.

Some felt a little disgruntled, but not enough to be angry. To most of them, knowledge mattered most.

The satisfaction they drew from learning far surpassed anything a duel could offer.

Ludo and Crouch walked slowly behind Dumbledore. Neither wanted to be the center of attention again.

Dumbledore faced the burning stares without a change in expression. "Students, staff, after our discussion, we've reached a decision about Mr. Potter and Mr. Hall's participation. It may not satisfy everyone—"

Before Dumbledore could finish, someone seemed to prove his point. "That's not fair!"

The shout came from Durmstrang, though the Beauxbatons students looked displeased too.

Dumbledore raised a hand to settle them. "Patience, patience. Let an old man finish, won't you? We've decided that Harry Potter and Eli Hall will compete as individuals. In other words, they will represent no school or group."

The Great Hall fell quiet for a moment as