After Charlotte successfully submitted her name, Erwin didn't immediately depart the observation chamber. He had other specific matters requiring his personal attention.
His gaze found Barton Durkheim standing among the assembled Slytherins—the very first underling and loyal follower Erwin had personally recruited during his initial year at Hogwarts.
After the catastrophic downfall of the Axley family, Erwin had provided Barton with various alternative paths and opportunities. Now, the young man was doing significantly better than his previously desperate circumstances.
Erwin looked directly at him with meaningful intent. "Go ahead, Barton. Give it a serious attempt."
Barton nodded with quiet determination.
Though he was actually a full year older than Erwin chronologically, he remained relatively young and inexperienced. But he desperately wanted to test and demonstrate his genuine progress.
After years of faithfully following Erwin's direction and training, his magical education and combat preparation had never ceased or slowed.
During every holiday break, Erwin had systematically sent Barton on increasingly dangerous operational missions alongside small tactical groups from the Cavendish family organization.
While he maintained appearances as a normal Hogwarts student to outside observers, Barton had already fought numerous experienced adult wizards in genuine combat, including trained Ministry Aurors. He'd faced potential death several times and survived through skill and determination.
Barton offered a slight, respectful bow toward Erwin before stepping down from the observation stands.
His former boyish naivety and uncertainty had vanished entirely, replaced by a faint but unmistakable aura of controlled violence and killing intent that sent instinctive shivers down the spines of sheltered, inexperienced students.
As Barton deliberately approached the glowing blue circle of magical protection, ambient magical energy slowly began visibly dissipating from his body in preparation.
Every eye in the chamber watched with rapt attention and anticipation—could anyone actually succeed in breaking through Dumbledore's supposedly impenetrable protective barrier?
Outside the classroom, several professors observed the proceedings discreetly through the windows.
Madame Maxime glanced sideways at Snape with obvious curiosity. "Professor Snape, if I'm not mistaken in my observation, that particular boy hasn't yet reached his seventeenth birthday, has he?"
"Slytherin House is never appropriately judged by ordinary conventional standards," Snape replied smoothly, his voice carrying unmistakable pride. "Especially when Mr. Erwin Cavendish is directly involved in a student's development. Barton Durkheim is one of Slytherin's so-called Hidden Prefects—and a absolutely staunch, loyal follower of Erwin personally."
Hearing this significant context, the observing professors' expressions toward Barton grew considerably more serious and attentive.
Anything and anyone involving Erwin inevitably defied normal convention and expectation. Erwin was fundamentally never one to be constrained or limited by arbitrary rules.
Barton stepped deliberately into the protective blue circle with measured confidence.
With each careful step forward, visible barriers of defensive magic formed systematically around his advancing body.
Erwin observed approvingly, nodding with satisfaction—Barton's tactical solution was genuinely excellent and well-considered.
Faced with an unknown protective spell of uncertain properties, he was intelligently using his own available magic as a versatile, adaptable tool, suitable for either defensive protection or offensive breakthrough as circumstances required.
Barton finally reached the Goblet of Fire's immediate vicinity.
A prepared parchment scroll materialized smoothly in his ready hand.
Just as his final protective magical barrier shattered from accumulated strain, he decisively tossed the parchment directly into the Goblet's flames.
The ancient Cup immediately responded by unleashing a concentrated beam of eerie blue flame, rapidly incinerating the submitted paper.
The very next instant, Barton was violently blasted backward out of the protective circle by the barrier's retaliatory force.
Yet a genuine smile of satisfaction and triumph graced his face despite the physical impact.
Erwin snapped his fingers with casual precision.
Barton's flying body immediately levitated under telekinetic control and descended gently to land safely on the ground rather than crashing painfully.
The surrounding students erupted into enthusiastic cheers—Barton had successfully become the very first student to break through Dumbledore's age restriction barrier!
Barton approached Erwin's position directly and offered a formal bow. "My lord."
"Good work. Very well executed indeed," Erwin praised genuinely. "You've clearly made considerable progress and improvement since the summer holidays."
Barton kept his head respectfully lowered. "I will continue working diligently to improve further, my lord."
"Go stand to the side for now and observe."
Barton nodded obediently and took his designated place standing just behind Erwin's seat.
Erwin himself then stood and walked deliberately down from the observation stands.
Every eye in the chamber immediately turned to follow his distinctive figure—everyone was intensely curious about his next intended action.
Erwin ignored their attention completely.
Instead, he approached the Goblet of Fire directly and stepped into the protective circle without any hesitation or preparation whatsoever.
Absolutely nothing happened in response to his presence. Dumbledore's elaborate protective arrangement seemed to have completely failed to activate or respond.
Erwin proceeded unhindered directly to the Cup's position.
The protective blue halo began flickering erratically, clearly attempting to activate against him.
Erwin frowned slightly at the disturbance, then simply stomped his foot lightly against the floor once.
Instantly, the agitated halo calmed completely and fell dormant.
The casual display left every observing young wizard absolutely dumbfounded and speechless.
Wait—is circumventing advanced protective magic really that trivially simple? Has Erwin's power already grown this terrifyingly overwhelming?
Outside the chamber windows, Dumbledore frowned with obvious concern as he observed.
He noticed with some alarm that Erwin's effective magical strength seemed to have increased measurably yet again since their last assessment.
What exactly did that young man do during the recent summer holiday? Why is his power progressing and skyrocketing at such an unprecedented rate?
Dumbledore felt an uncharacteristic pang of genuine nostalgia for the natural magical talent he had voluntarily traded away to Erwin.
If only his own gifted magical development could progress as unreasonably and rapidly as Erwin's seemed to...
If Erwin had somehow known Dumbledore's private thoughts at that moment, he would have simply responded: the Headmaster was dramatically overthinking the situation.
Erwin's current unprecedented state represented pure, shameless cheating through supernatural advantages rather than any natural progression.
His strength had increased substantially during the holiday specifically because he absolutely hadn't remained idle. While his fundamental magic level hadn't skyrocketed dramatically from simply fighting progressively stronger opponents, there had still been measurable, significant progress through his various activities.
Erwin approached the ancient Goblet and gently placed his hand directly upon its surface.
His distinctive purple magical energy surged smoothly from his arm, circling completely around the Cup in exploratory examination before he finally withdrew physical contact.
Now he thoroughly understood the artifact's construction and function: the Goblet was merely a moderately sophisticated magical artifact rather than anything truly profound.
The selection methodology wasn't particularly advanced—it could randomly select submitted names according to certain basic parameters, but the attached confusion enchantment wasn't especially deep or complex.
Anyone with even modest practical grasp of sophisticated Confusion Charms could potentially manipulate its selection process.
This fundamental weakness explained perfectly why the Triwizard Tournament in the original timeline had been so easily predetermined and manipulated, consistently selecting the most capable candidate from each participating school rather than truly random students.
It also explained exactly how Barty Crouch Jr. had managed to secretly submit Harry Potter's name to the Goblet and still ensure his selection despite the boy not actually entering himself.
Erwin's finger touched the Cup's surface with deliberate intent.
Distinctive ripples of concentrated purple light emanated powerfully from his precise point of contact.