Chapter 306: Guidance
The three magical school headmasters, two Ministry officials, and Hogwarts professors all came into this room, making the previously spacious room now feel quite crowded.
Unlike the original history, the Goblet of Fire had only selected three champions this time, and Hogwarts' champion was just a fourth-year underage child. This clearly gave them the advantage, so they naturally turned a blind eye to the anomaly of Sean's selection.
Chapter 306: Guidance
The three magical school headmasters, two Ministry officials, and Hogwarts professors all came into this room, making the previously spacious room now feel quite crowded.
Unlike the original history, the Goblet of Fire had only selected three champions this time, and Hogwarts' champion was just a fourth-year underage child. This clearly gave them the advantage, so they naturally turned a blind eye to the anomaly of Sean's selection.
Otherwise, if they pursued the matter further and Hogwarts conveniently replaced him with a powerful sixth or seventh year, wouldn't that reduce their own school champions' chances of winning?
Therefore, when these people entered the room, Maxime and Karkaroff said nothing about how Sean became champion. Seeing their attitude, Dumbledore, who knew Sean's true capabilities, also smiled and didn't bring it up. After all, it wasn't Hogwarts that would suffer.
However, the professors were quite worried about Sean's situation, especially Snape.
Seeing Maxime and Karkaroff refuse to mention Sean, and even Dumbledore smilingly accepting this, Snape felt nameless fury rising in his heart. He approached Dumbledore, initially still able to suppress his anger and speak quietly.
"Dumbledore, Sean cannot be Hogwarts' champion. He's too young!"
"Severus, you know that once selected by the Goblet of Fire, it's equivalent to signing a contract. This absolutely cannot be changed."
"You must have a way, Dumbledore!"
"Sorry, Severus, I have no way to break the Goblet's contract."
Dumbledore's continued refusal made Snape's internal anger suddenly expand. For the first time, he stared into Dumbledore's eyes, stepped forward, and demanded loudly: "You have a way, Dumbledore! I'll say it again. Remove Sean's champion status!"
Looking at Snape now, Dumbledore was somewhat surprised. It had been many years since he'd seen Snape like this. Ever since Lily's death, Snape had completely sealed himself off. Seeing Snape now, Dumbledore felt not anger but rather happiness and relief, as if finally seeing his student emerge from his closed-off heart.
At this moment, Sean walked to Snape's side, reached out to grasp his hand holding his wand, and said quietly: "Professor, do you have no confidence in me? Do you think I'll lose to them?"
Snape turned to look at Sean. Seeing the smile on Sean's face, the fury in his heart rapidly calmed.
"What do you mean, Sean?"
"Professor, I think I can get those thousand Galleons and win the Triwizard Cup. I imagine winning the Triwizard Cup for Hogwarts should earn Slytherin a hundred points, right?"
As he spoke the last part, Sean looked at Dumbledore.
Seeing Sean's gaze, Dumbledore shook his head with a smile: "Sean, your Best Paper Golden Cauldron Award and Order of Merlin, Second Class, have already earned Slytherin a hundred points."
"So the Triwizard Cup doesn't qualify for points?"
"Of course it does, without question."
"Then I'll bring back the Triwizard Cup."
"I look forward to it." After responding, Dumbledore looked at Snape again and said quietly: "Severus, have you calmed down?"
Looking at Dumbledore, Snape slowly nodded: "Sorry, Dumbledore."
"No need to apologise. I'm actually very happy to see this side of you, Severus."
"It won't happen again."
Snape, having returned to his cold professor demeanour, stood aside quietly observing.
At this moment, Moody stepped forward and said to Dumbledore and the others: "I just checked. Someone cast a small Confundus Charm on the Goblet of Fire. Though small, it was very refined. It made the Goblet ignore the discrepancy between the name and the person submitting it, making it assume the person who submitted the name was Sean."
"Just that? Then why was he selected as Hogwarts' champion? A fourth-year child was considered by the Goblet of Fire to be the most suitable person to be Hogwarts' champion?"
Moody turned to look at Karkaroff, his scars forming a contemptuous expression as his facial muscles twitched. He looked at Karkaroff disdainfully: "A person's strength doesn't necessarily match their age. Obviously Sean possesses strength far beyond his years. The person who tampered with things clearly knew his abilities. He knew that as long as he could deceive the Goblet during registration and get Sean's name in, then Sean would inevitably become Hogwarts' champion. And facts prove that this person who worked behind the scenes was right. Sean is indeed Hogwarts' champion!"
The Goblet of Fire selection moment at Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament
Hearing this, Karkaroff's expression changed slightly as he said again: "Then doesn't this benefit Hogwarts? Selecting someone who's underage but whose abilities are definitely at the pinnacle of Hogwarts students."
"I know what you're thinking, Karkaroff." Moody stepped forward, approaching Karkaroff and forcing him to step back. Seeing Karkaroff's reaction, Moody's magical eye spun even faster. He looked at him and said grimly: "Karkaroff, I advise you to keep a low profile. You shouldn't forget what happened back then..."
"Alastor!"
Before Moody could finish, he was interrupted by Dumbledore.
Snorting coldly, Moody glanced at Karkaroff, then limped to the room's doorway, quietly watching the situation inside.
At this point, Dumbledore looked at the others: "If no one present has other questions, then let's begin preliminary training for the champions."
"Barty, would you speak?"
Hearing Ludo Bagman's words, the usually taciturn Barty Crouch stepped forward and said directly to Sean and the others: "The first task is to test your courage. We won't immediately tell you what you'll face. Confronting the unknown is also an important test for wizards.
The first task begins on November 24th, conducted under everyone's observation and the judges' evaluation. During the competition, you can only rely on yourselves. You cannot receive any guidance or even help. Your only weapons are your own wands and potions. Magical items are not allowed, and potions must be brewed by yourselves under supervisor observation, tested and marked before they can be carried.
I wish you all the best during the competition!"