"Severus, thank you so much for that suggestion." Dumbledore's voice was firm and clear. Snape fell silent, but the glare he cast at Harry through his greasy black hair remained dark and hostile.
"Jerry, Harry, tell me honestly: did either of you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Professor Dumbledore asked them, his voice gentle and calm.
"Absolutely not," Harry answered at once. He could feel every eye in the room turn toward him. From the shadows, Snape gave an impatient, contemptuous snort, plainly doubting his answer.
"Neither did I!" Jerry shook his head without a moment's hesitation.
"Did either of you ask an older student to put your name in for you?" Dumbledore continued, as though he had not heard Snape.
"No, Professor Dumbledore!" Harry sounded anxious, desperate to prove his innocence.
"Even less likely for me!" Unlike Harry, who was anxiously defending himself, Jerry sounded utterly sure of himself. "If I wanted to do that, I wouldn't sneak around!"
Listening from the side, Karkaroff rubbed the arm that had been left numb by the earlier shock. A disdainful sneer curled his lips.
"Mr. Crouch, Mr. Bagman," Karkaroff said, his voice turning oily once more, "as the... er... impartial judges of this Triwizard Tournament, surely you agree that this situation is deeply improper?"
Ludo Bagman dabbed his round face with a fine handkerchief, then looked toward Barty Crouch Sr., who stood at the edge of the firelight.
Barty Crouch Sr. stood half-hidden in shadow. The unlit side of his face looked especially sinister, as though age had suddenly overtaken him and left his features gaunt and skull-like.
When Barty Crouch Sr. spoke, however, his voice retained its familiar severity.
"We must follow the established rules to the letter," Barty Crouch Sr. said, his voice echoing through the