Chapter 305: The Triwizard Tournament with Only Three Champions
The Halloween feast was also when the Goblet of Fire would reveal the three champions.
Sean sat at his table eating, planning to watch the champion selection and then go to the third floor to continue studying with Antonius and Nicolas.
This time, because Fleur needed to prepare for the possibility of being selected, she sat with the other Beauxbatons students instead of dining with Sean.
While eating, Sean noticed this Halloween feast seemed much quieter than usual.
Very few people were seriously eating. Most were looking expectantly at Dumbledore at the staff table, their faces showing anxiety.
Finally, the golden plates holding food became spotless once again.
Sean held his cup of apple juice, taking small sips. He looked up at Dumbledore slowly rising, set down his cup, and quietly awaited the champion selection.
As Dumbledore walked to the Goblet of Fire, the Great Hall immediately fell silent.
Karkaroff and Maxime both became visibly nervous.
Ludo Bagman was all smiles, winking at the students below.
Barty Crouch had a serious expression that revealed no emotion.
"In about a minute, the Goblet of Fire will make its decision!
When the champions are announced, please walk to the head of the hall, then along the staff table to the adjacent room, where the champions will receive preliminary instructions."
As his words ended, Dumbledore clapped lightly, and the Great Hall's lighting immediately dimmed. Whether the Halloween pumpkin lanterns or other lighting fixtures, all became dim and flickering.
Just then, the Goblet of Fire's flames suddenly brightened, with blue-white flames occasionally shooting outward in arcs before disappearing.
When the time came, the flames in the Goblet suddenly turned red, sparks crackling outward, then a tongue of fire shot from the Goblet, forming a charred piece of parchment that fell into Dumbledore's hands.
Illustration of the Hogwarts Great Hall during the Triwizard Tournament selection event
At this moment, the Goblet's flames returned to blue-white, providing just enough light for Dumbledore to read the writing on the parchment in the dim Great Hall.
"The Durmstrang champion..." Dumbledore's voice was deep and powerful. He looked with a smile at Krum sitting at the Slytherin table: "Viktor Krum!"
As the first champion's name was announced, applause and cheers swept through the entire hall. No one thought Krum unworthy of being Durmstrang's champion. Everyone believed he should be their champion!
"Excellent, Krum! Durmstrang's champion should be you!"
Karkaroff was extremely excited, his voice even drowning out the applause and cheers at times.
Dumbledore raised his hand slightly, and the Great Hall's noise immediately subsided. When the Goblet's flames turned red again, the hall fell completely silent as everyone looked expectantly at the Goblet once more.
Another tongue of fire shot out.
A second charred parchment fell into Dumbledore's hands.
"The Beauxbatons champion, Fleur Delacour!"
Applause rang out again, everyone giving Fleur the cheers she deserved.
Standing up, Fleur lightly tossed her silver hair, turned to glance at Sean, and after receiving his thumbs up, walked forward with a smile into that room.
Next, the applause and cheers quickly faded, not even waiting for Dumbledore's signal, because the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons champions had been selected. Naturally, the Hogwarts champion would be next, and all the Hogwarts students present eagerly anticipated who would become their champion.
Dumbledore and the other professors were also very expectant. Even the usually stern and expressionless Barty Crouch turned to look at the Goblet of Fire and Dumbledore, since the Hogwarts champion would, strictly speaking, represent Britain. They all eagerly awaited who would become Hogwarts' champion!
The Goblet's flames turned red once more.
A tongue of fire surged from the Goblet, spitting out a charred parchment.
Dumbledore reached out to catch the parchment. Ready to announce the name, he suddenly paused upon seeing it, his brow furrowing slightly, but still announced: "The Hogwarts champion, Sean Bulstrode!"
Who?
Bulstrode?
Sean?
Everyone began whispering.
They were well aware of Sean's age, since he was so famous at Hogwarts.
After the whispers came growing cheers and applause.
Though they didn't know how Sean could bypass the age restriction, in the Hogwarts students' view, if Sean became their champion, he was qualified, and they were willing to support him!
"Well done!"
"Excellent!"
"Win us the championship, Sean!"
"Go for it!"
Accompanied by the Hogwarts students' encouragement, Sean knew he had to go up.
Standing up, Sean came to Dumbledore's side: "Professor, I didn't put my name in the Goblet of Fire."
Nodding lightly, Dumbledore said: "I know, but this matter is irreversible. From now on, you are Hogwarts' champion.
Originally I was worried Hogwarts might not win the final championship, but now...
Sean, help us bring back the Triwizard Cup."
Looking at Dumbledore, who winked and smiled at him, Sean nodded: "Yes, Professor!"
Sean walked around the staff table, nodded at the frowning and grim-faced Snape to reassure him, then went straight to the room beside the Great Hall. As he entered, Sean glanced back at the Goblet of Fire, seeing its flames gradually diminish until they extinguished, with no other anomalies appearing. He knew there would be no fourth champion.
The Triwizard Tournament actually had no fourth champion. How unusual.
Pushing open the door, Sean saw Krum and Fleur already seated inside and smiled: "Hello, I'm Hogwarts' champion."
Krum frowned slightly but said nothing more.
Fleur looked puzzled and asked: "Sean, did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire later?"
"No, I never put my name in."
This time, Fleur's expression became very serious. She immediately asked: "Then what's going on?"
"Probably some rats in the gutter wanting to cause trouble for me."