Hogwarts: Starting with full Unforgivable Curses

Chapter 326 Ludobagman and Barty Crouch

Dylan paused slightly, and almost the instant Principal Durmstrang stepped onto the pier, a chilling sense of oppression emanated from the air.

Dylan was very familiar with the feeling of damp snake scales brushing against his skin.

That was the distinctive aura of the Black Mark. Dylan raised an eyebrow.

He looked up and met the principal's gaze.

The other person had a head of shiny, black curly hair that was so thick it reflected light. The hair was plastered to the scalp and looked as sticky as his voice.

—He looks even greasier than Snape.

He had a neatly trimmed goatee on his chin, which was also shiny and would tremble slightly when he spoke.

"Dear Dumbledore, it's been a long time. How have you been lately?"

The tone was deliberately soft, yet it carried an unspeakable air of hypocrisy.

“Perfect, Mr. Karkaroff.”

Dumbledore still wore a gentle smile on his face, and raised his hand to gently stroke his silvery beard.

"The fire at Hogwarts is always burning brightly, just right for entertaining friends from afar."

The two stood by the pier and exchanged pleasantries, their words full of polite formalities, but their eyes met unintentionally, revealing a mutual, unspoken understanding.

While the two headmasters were talking, the students of Hogwarts had already turned their attention to Durmstrang's group, and a suppressed gasp suddenly rose from the crowd.

"It's Viktor Krum!" someone exclaimed, pointing to the tall, thin figure in the group. "I thought he had graduated long ago, but I didn't expect him to still be in school!"

Ron looked in the direction the finger was pointing and saw a man wearing Durmstrang’s signature thick fur cloak, his hair disheveled and hanging over his forehead. He was none other than the world-famous Quidditch Seeker.

He couldn't help but widen his eyes and open his mouth slightly: "My God, he's even taller than he looks in the poster. When I watched the Quidditch World Cup before, I thought he was at least twenty years old."

"Great! This is going to be really interesting!" George clapped his hands three times excitedly, raising his voice and attracting the attention of the people around him.

Everyone has arrived.

Hogwarts students poured into the Great Hall up the marble staircase, their footsteps mingling with hushed chatter, instantly transforming the once quiet space into a lively scene.

The college banners hanging on the wall gleamed under the lights, complementing the newly changed silk decorations and appearing even more solemn than during the day.

Dumbledore did not follow the students to the long table, but instead gestured to Durmstrang's Headmaster Karkaroff to follow.

The two walked through the crowd one after the other. Karkaroff's goatee swayed slightly with each step, and his eyes unconsciously swept over the students around him. Finally, he followed Dumbledore into the room at the far end of the Great Hall with a velvet curtain hanging at the door. The curtain swayed gently twice as it fell, clearly indicating that they were going to discuss something in private.

By this time, the seating in the auditorium had already been arranged, and students from various schools were being led to their seats according to their directions.

The students of Beauxbatons walked toward the Slytherin table.

The two sides simply nodded politely, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.

Durmstrang students were the last to take their seats. They reached up and untied the fur cloaks around their necks, the heavy cloaks slipping down their shoulders to reveal their blood-red school uniforms underneath.

The hem of the garment was embroidered with a dark silver anchor pattern, placed alongside the school uniforms at the Gryffindor long table.

At first glance, there was a certain echo between them. Ron couldn't help but nudge Harry, gesturing for him to look at the details of Krum's school uniform.

The school uniforms from the three schools were laid out on the long table, each with its own distinct color and pattern. Many Hogwarts students looked down at their own uniforms.

Someone muttered under their breath, "Our school uniforms are really too plain; they don't even have any decorative patterns."

His companion shrugged, running his fingers along his collar: "It's durable; even if there are stains from Potions class, they won't be noticeable."

It didn't take long.

The curtain to the council room was lifted, and Dumbledore emerged with two headmasters.

Mrs. Maxim walked on the outermost side, her deep blue velvet gown trailing on the ground, swaying slightly with each step.

As she walked to the teachers' table, the students of Beauxbatons stood up in unison with a swift and precise movement, their chair legs scraping against the floor with a soft thud.

Students from other schools were stunned.

The Hufflepuff students gaped, the Ravenclaw students adjusted their glasses, and even the Slytherin students raised an eyebrow.

It wasn't until Mrs. Maxim raised her hand to signal, a gentle smile playing on her lips, that the students of Beauxbatons took their seats one by one, the benches creaking softly once more.

Dumbledore walked straight to the owl-shaped platform at the front.

He raised his hand to adjust his half-moon shaped glasses, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire hall until it was completely quiet before he smiled and said, "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and our distinguished special guests."

"The three-way battle for supremacy is a grand event that has been held for many years."

His voice was gentle yet powerful, carrying clearly to every corner of the Great Hall: "With heartfelt enthusiasm, I welcome all of you who have traveled from afar to this land of Hogwarts."

"I sincerely hope that in the days to come, you will make friends, broaden your horizons, and spend every day and night here."

Dumbledore paused, his gaze falling on the empty plate in the center of the long table, and his tone became lighter, “And now, the most important thing is to enjoy the food—please don’t be shy, make yourselves at home.”

As soon as the words were spoken, steam rose instantly from the empty plates on all the long tables in the auditorium.

Roast chicken, stewed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and other foods were quickly laid out on the long table, and their aroma immediately filled the air, making the students' eyes light up instantly.

The house-elves had already prepared everything. Even the honey cake that Dylan saw in the lounge was a trial product with a pre-tested flavor.

At this moment, steaming dishes appeared on the plates one after another, each corresponding to the regional characteristics of a different magic school, with rich aromas mingling together.

Drifting out of the open window, the birds in the distant Forbidden Forest even cried out.

Dylan has always enjoyed trying new foods, and before long, his small plate was piled high with various dishes.

Hermione across from her forked a piece of steak coated in thick sauce, blew on it gently before putting it in her mouth, and her eyes immediately lit up.

"This is delicious, you should all try it."

Dylan lowered his head and took a bite; the tender, stewed pork chops melted on his tongue.

He nodded: "It's really good."

Not all dishes can win favor.

As soon as a plate of baked snails was placed on the long table, the rich aroma of butter mixed with garlic wafted over, and many students instinctively craned their necks, their eyes full of anticipation.

But when someone used a fork to pick up a snail that still had some slime on it, the expectation on their face instantly froze.

The slippery texture immediately reminded them of the blasting snail from their magical creatures class.

Just then, Hagrid pushed a food cart in through the side door. His left hand was wrapped in thick bandages and smelled faintly of medicine.

Last week, he got several cuts on his arm while trying to tame an out-of-control snail.

The Hogwarts students looked at Hagrid's bandages, then at the snail wriggling on the fork, and the image of Hagrid fighting the Blast-tailed Snail automatically popped into their minds.

The appetite that had just been whetted by the aroma vanished instantly, and some people even quietly moved their plates to the side.

“This baked snail dish tastes really good, why aren’t you eating it?” A clear female voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence around her. “And the mixed fish soup on the side, with fresh mussels, tastes especially delicious.”

George and the others looked over and gasped.

"It's her... the one with the sapphire eyes..."

The girl took off her hood, revealing soft, golden curly hair, and her eyes were indeed as bright as sapphires.

The expressions of the boys around him became particularly noticeable. The boy who was wolfing down his chicken leg suddenly slowed down, picked up a napkin and gently wiped his mouth, even softening his chewing, and unconsciously straightened his posture.

The boy diagonally across from me stared at the baked snails on his plate, as if he had made up his mind. He forked one up and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly as if afraid of looking clumsy.

Another boy even put down his knife and fork, rested his chin on his hand, and stared intently at the source of the sound.

Dylan looked in the direction of the clear female voice and saw a girl with long silver hair standing next to Luna.

Her hair was about the same length as Luna's, except that Luna's light blonde hair was like flowing waves with natural curls, making it look even more lively and beautiful under the lights.

As soon as she sat down, Fred blinked sharply, as if waking from a dream. He rubbed the red marks on his arm where he had been pinched, and muttered to himself, "She really is a beautiful girl... her eyes are as bright as sapphires, so captivating."

“Something’s not right…” He suddenly frowned, as if he had thought of something. He turned slightly to the side and secretly glanced in the direction of Fleur out of the corner of his eye, not daring to look directly at her. “This isn’t right… Could she have Veela blood? This attraction is practically mental magic!”

“She’s so beautiful…” George was still staring in Fleur’s direction, a silly grin spreading across his face, his mouth almost reaching his ears. “You’re right, just as captivating as the legendary Veela.”

"This guy is hopeless."

Fred rolled his eyes and spat.

At this time.

The heavy oak doors of the auditorium suddenly creaked open, and two figures walked in one after the other.

The wizard walking in front was tall and straight, wearing a dark wizard's suit that was pressed without a single wrinkle. The collar of his shirt was starched stiff, his tie was tied meticulously, and even the watch chain peeking out from his cuffs was polished to a shine.

The wizard behind him was much more casual, wearing a floral shirt with a flame pattern and a light brown casual jacket over it. He always had a hearty smile on his face and walked with a lighter pace than the person in front of him.

The two walked straight toward the teachers' table, and as they passed the Gryffindor table, Ludobagman waved to Ron.

They met once during last year's Quidditch World Cup.

“It’s Ludobagman and Barty Crouch!” Fred squinted at them for a moment, then whispered to the person next to him, “With these two here, the people in charge of the event should all be here.”

George, who had been secretly glancing at Fleur at the Beauxbatons table, turned his gaze away upon hearing this, followed Fred's line of sight to the teachers' table, and nodded.

Before long, the desserts on the students' plates suddenly disappeared as if they had been vanished by a magic spell.

The surrounding students immediately reacted, sitting up straight and exchanging excited yet nervous glances, even unconsciously lowering their breathing.

Dumbledore was clearly prepared. Before the last macaron crumb slipped off his beard, he quickly reached out his fingertip, picked it up, and popped it into his mouth when no one was looking, leaving a little bit of pink icing on his lips.

This scene was caught by Snape, who was looking at him from the side. Snape's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing an undisguised indifference and disdain. When his eyes swept over Dumbledore, they were as cold as ice.

Karkaroff, sitting next to Snape, immediately noticed the change in his expression. He quickly turned to the side, leaned closer, and whispered something, subtly pointing in Dumbledore's direction.

Dumbledore paid no attention to their little antics, slowly stood up, straightened the hem of his robe, and walked toward the owl-shaped lectern in front of him.

The moment he moved, the auditorium fell completely silent. The faint whispers that had been filling the air vanished, leaving only the slightly hurried breathing of the crowd.

A mix of anticipation and trepidation, like the aroma of food that had filled the air earlier, quickly enveloped the entire auditorium.

Some people clenched their fists quietly, while others leaned forward slightly, their eyes fixed on the podium.

"I think everyone has been looking forward to this moment."

Dumbledore stood behind the podium, his gentle smile still on his face, his voice amplified by magic, clearly reaching every corner.

"To be honest, I'm just like everyone else, full of anticipation."

He paused, raised his hand to indicate the direction of the teachers' table behind him, and said in an increasingly solemn tone: "But before we get to the main topic, please allow me to introduce two very important guests."

"Without their tireless preparations over the past few days, the smooth running of the three-way competition would have been much more difficult."

With his gesture, everyone's attention turned to the two wizards who had just taken their seats.

"This is Mr. Barty Crouch, the current Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation."

Dumbledore's voice was filled with respect: "He devoted a tremendous amount of effort to the international coordination of the event."

Barty Crouch immediately stood up, still ramrod straight, and nodded slightly to the students.

His waving gesture was as crisp and clean as his attire, without a single unnecessary movement. He even just slightly raised his fingertips before calmly sitting down again.

"This is Mr. Ludobagman, the Director of the Department of Magical Sports."

Dumbledore then pointed to the other side, his tone becoming more cheerful, "He was the one who finalized all the competition rules, ensuring fairness and excitement."

Ludobagman's reaction was completely different from that of Barty.

He stood up abruptly, his smile as bright as the sun, waving his hand with tremendous force, his arm almost forming a semi-circle.

She even winked playfully in the direction of Gryffindor, causing many students to secretly laugh.

As soon as Dumbledore finished speaking, he raised his hand and clapped lightly.

A lukewarm round of applause followed in the auditorium.

Most of the students only touched hands symbolically, their fingertips so light they were almost inaudible, and their eyes frequently glanced at the front of the podium. Clearly, no one was focused on clapping; all their attention was on the "next arrangements."

Some people quietly adjusted their posture, some tightened their grip on their robes, and even their breathing became shallower than before.

"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch will form the judging panel with me, Mrs. Maxime, and Headmaster Karkaroff." Dumbledore's hand slowly fell, his gaze sweeping over the headmasters at the teachers' table. He gestured to them, his tone solemn, "In the subsequent matches, every aspect of the warriors' performance will be judged and scored by us together."

The moment the words "warriors" were uttered, the auditorium fell silent enough that the crackling of the candlelight could be heard.

The students, who had been clapping perfunctorily, suddenly became focused.

Ron of Gryffindor leaned forward abruptly, his chin almost touching the edge of the table.

Anthony of Ravenclaw quickly pushed up his glasses, his eyes widening in surprise.

The Hufflepuff students also sat up straight, their previously relaxed shoulders tensing.

Even among the usually composed Slytherin line, many quietly straightened their backs.

Dumbledore didn't hesitate any longer. He drew his wand from his robe sleeve with his right hand and lightly touched the ground with the tip of the wand.

Pale golden light spilled from the tip of the staff and spread along the ground. Then, a stone platform about half a person's height slowly rose from the ground in the center of the hall.

The stone surface was polished smooth and flat, with faint magical glows remaining at the edges, clearly indicating that it was made of specially made stone.

He maintained a gentle smile throughout, turned to the side and waved his arm toward the auditorium doors, his voice clear: "Mr. Filch, could you please bring the box up?"

All eyes turned sharply to the door, where Filch walked in with a hunched back and heavy steps.

He was holding a wooden box tightly in his arms, his arms stiff from the force, and his face still had its usual gloomy expression, but unusually he didn't frown and scold the students who were peeking around.

The wooden box looked extremely old, with fine vine patterns carved on the dark brown wood, and jewels of various sizes embedded in the crevices.

Rubies and sapphires are scattered throughout, with a few pearls interspersed among them. The metal clasp at the top of the box is engraved with blurry ancient runes, making it clear that this is no ordinary object.

The students at the back of the classroom immediately became anxious.

Some people were standing on tiptoe, their heels leaving the ground.

Some people simply stood up and held onto the back of the chair in front of them to steady themselves.

Two younger students at the end of the Ravenclaw table even quietly stepped onto the edge of the chairs, only to have their shoulders pressed down by the older students next to them.

(End of this chapter)