At the Gryffindor table, Harry's mind went blank. Dazed and confused, he felt as though he were dreaming. He must have misheard.
He struggled to turn his stiff neck and look around at the people loudly questioning him. Only close friends like Hermione and Hagrid showed any anxiety or concern.
Everyone else, including the Gryffindors nearby, wore looks of suspicion.
The same unexpected turn of events immediately laid bare the difference in character between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
Harry finally understood how Draco had felt earlier, and he too looked toward Slytherin.
But the Chief was not looking at him. Instead, he had gone over to the Goblet of Fire to investigate something.
A little disappointed, Harry turned to the others and tried to explain, his throat dry.
"I... I didn't. I..."
His feeble explanation convinced no one.
Beside Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Helena, and the others kept protesting.
Dumbledore ignored them, simply studying the slip of paper in his hand with a thoughtful frown.
Then he called out loudly once more.
"Harry! Please go into the next room at once!"
Harry stood up, his steps unsteady.
The walk seemed impossibly long. Wherever he went, hundreds upon hundreds of eyes fixed on him, their stares painfully piercing.
Watching Harry's predicament with his Alchemy Eye, Moody stood up and limped over to take his hand.
He glared fiercely back at the others, then led Harry into the next room.
Beside the Goblet of Fire, Shawn ran his hand over its surface, sending waves of magical energy seeping inside as he examined the exceptionally advanced artifact bit by bit.
Dumbledore glanced at Shawn, then addressed the other headmasters.
"Let's discuss this in the next room. Surely you don't want your students to see the ugly spectacle of you arguing until you're red in the face."