Testing the Waters

The Headmaster's Office is an office in Hogwarts Castle, where the then-Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Wizardry worked and lived.

This office is located on the Seventh Floor of the castle, with a gargoyle at the entrance.

It is responsible for guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's Office. Only when the correct command is given will the dripping stone beast jump aside.

This way, the wall behind it will split in two, allowing people to enter through a slowly ascending spiral staircase hidden behind it.

This also means that, without a password, even Hogwarts professors cannot enter the Headmaster's Office.

Today, as the clock struck midnight, two figures stopped in front of a gigantic, hideously ugly stone monster.

"Wow, Severus, long time no see." The handsome young man, who looked more like a student, stepped aside and blocked the middle-aged man with a sallow face who looked bitter and resentful.

"Hello." The middle-aged man with a sallow face looked reserved, his eyes vacant, as if the person in front of him was air.

"Drooble's Best Blowing Gum!" The handsome young man raised his eyebrows, standing close to the sallow-faced middle-aged man who had gone straight up the stairs because of the appearance of the stairs.

"What? Are you afraid to talk to me?"

"Or is it because of guilt?"

"Betrayed your master?" The handsome young man feigned obvious anger as he went upstairs.

The sallow-faced middle-aged man remained silent.

"We've arrived." The middle-aged man known as Severus spoke before a Winky oak door with a brass knocker in the shape of Griffin.

The muscles in his lips were twisted so tightly that it looked as if a hundred years had passed before a tiny gap was barely visible.

The handsome young man wanted to speak, but a steady, gentle voice came from behind the door, "Come in, Severus and Tom."

"Dumbledore! I don't know why you asked me to come here with this man at this time?" Snape's face regained its anger as soon as he entered the room. He complained to Dumbledore, looking like a child who had been bullied by his father and was now tattling to his mother.

"Yes, Severus is clearly still bothered by being with his former master." The handsome young man, Riddle, strolled in slowly.

"I'd like to ask you about Karkaroff as you see him," Dumbledore, crossing his arms and looking very serious.

"Him? An opportunist, a shrew who takes advantage of any opportunity."

"Like Lucius, but he's a bit less lucky. What? Has that guy known as Voldemort set his sights on him again?"

"Hmm, did Arthur Weasley's actions alert him?" Riddle asked casually at first, but then became serious. He was very curious about the whereabouts of that bastard Voldemort.

"In my eyes, Karkaroff is a coward. He considers me, who also dislikes attendance, to be a kindred spirit, and even when accusing Death Eaters, he only mentioned me as a last resort," Snape said, frowning.

Then they both looked at Dumbledore.

"Very good, Tom, your guess is correct. That's what I thought too."

"Igor Karkaroff suddenly wrote to me, saying that he wanted to hold the Triwizard Tournament again next year, namely: Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons."

"In my opinion, Voldemort took over Karkaroff's body just like he did with Fenrir Greyback."

"Maintaining a temporary body for more than a year is easily manageable. After all, Potions are cheap these days, and Karkaroff, being the headmaster, has a generous salary and can purchase some expensive Potions. As long as he uses them carefully, he won't collapse as quickly as Quirrell," Dumbledore, adjusting his half-moon spectacles.

"By the way, Severus, write a letter to Karkaroff and test the waters, if your relationship is really that good."

"And you, Riddle, stay alert to whether Voldemort has resurrected."

However, the most important thing is Harry; if there's a real problem, he should be able to react. Dumbledore looked at the two of them seriously.

Time: 9 p. m., at the Quidditch Pitch.

"Good luck, everyone! I think we all realize the importance of training—in the previous match— Gryffindor against Slytherin, Cho Chang, you need to practice dodging the Bludger's attacks. You might be fast, but you're too straightforward. Henry, you're an old hand, but as Beater, you still lack a bit of aggression. As for Roger and Phoenix, you two keep it up, Bradley. Richard, you two need to keep working on it. I suggest you two practice on your own. Bradley, as the Beater, focus on attacking; Richard, as the goalkeeper, practice your defense! Finally, training over!" Harry shouted as he trained.

As everyone headed back towards the castle, Hagrid stopped Harry and Ron, who was standing nearby.

"What's wrong, Hagrid?" Ron asked first when he saw that Harry's voice was hoarse.

"I'm going to prepare some interesting Care of Magical Creatures for a competition, and I'd like to ask for your opinions," Hagrid said in a low voice, as if someone were eavesdropping nearby.

"What competition? When?"

"And Hagrid, when did you start asking us Care of Magical Creatures questions?" Ron's eyes widened.

Harry took out a bottle of Pumpkin Juice chilled with a spell, which he had placed in his bag beforehand and had cast the Undetectable Extension Charm on, and took a big gulp to calm his nerves.

"What I won't ask you—well, it's Dumbledore, who said I couldn't quite gauge the danger of Care of Magical Creatures —as seen with Aragog and the others." Hagrid shrugged helplessly.

"What competition?" Harry asked in a hoarse voice.

"Hmm—well, I should be able to tell you this, since Dumbledore told me to ask for your opinions."

"Moreover, the captains of their Quidditch teams should also know, such as Wood and Flint," Hagrid said mysteriously.

"Hey! Why should I? If it weren't for Hagrid, then probably only Harry and the captain of Hufflepuff wouldn't know!" Ron waved his fist in dissatisfaction.

"If I were Dumbledore, I would have done the same."

"There won't be Quidditch Match next school year, which means one thing—for Wood and Flint, this year will be their last Quidditch Match." Hagrid became serious.

He knew how important Wood was to Gryffindor Quidditch Team.

"What?" Harry gasped in surprise.

Ron's eyes widened as well.

"Because there will be something more important next semester—much more important than Quidditch."

"That's next school year, when our school will have the great honor of hosting an event that hasn't been held for over a century— the Triwizard Tournament." Hagrid was very excited, and even though his beard covered most of his face, it couldn't hide the blush on his cheeks.