Sherlock Holmes at Hogwarts.

Chapter 514 Everything is a Choice of the Goblet of Fire
Just when the situation in the room became somewhat awkward.

The door behind the nine warriors creaked open, and a large crowd surged in:
Dumbledore's tall figure appeared first, his sharp yet calm gaze sweeping over the nine people in the room from behind his crescent-shaped spectacles, taking in each person's reaction.

Following closely behind was Professor Karkaroff, whose face still bore the displeasure of his two unexpected warriors. His gaze lingered briefly on Krum before sweeping over Toby and Poliaco with a scrutinizing look.

Mrs. Maxim entered like a dignified yet wary queen; her imposing figure immediately made the room feel much smaller.

Her sharp gaze fell on Sherlock immediately, filled with undisguised skepticism, before turning to her three students, lingering particularly on Fleur for a moment, as if to confirm that her darling had not been further harassed.

Ludo Bagman, the Director of Physical Education at the Ministry of Magic, followed with a light step, his signature infectious smile still on his face. He rubbed his hands together and broke the brief silence with an excited tone:

"Aha! Look at our warriors! What a magnificent display! What an exciting combination! Oh, the atmosphere is lively!"
However, you'll soon find out what real excitement awaits you! I dare say it'll be far more thrilling than any mutual research!

The last one to enter was Mad-Eye Alastor Moody.

His heavy wooden legs pounded the ground, while his demonic eyes darted erratically over everyone.

They lingered on Sherlock and Loy Levan's faces for a few extra moments, their normal eyes seeming to reveal a hint of scrutiny.

After he went inside, the door was closed.

Moody's rough voice rang out, carrying a cold, businesslike tone:
"Alright, guys and girls, put your idle thoughts away, it's time."

When Loy Lefan was glared at by Moody's fake eye, it was as if he could see right through Loy Lefan. He couldn't help but take a half step back, making way for the two Beauxbatons girls who were behind him.

At this moment, Dumbledore walked to the center of the room, his blue eyes shining brightly:

"Congratulations, warriors!"

I know that for weeks you have all been hoping to be selected and bring honor to your school!
The nine of you present here today are precisely the warriors chosen by the most impartial referee, the Goblet of Fire.

Regardless of gender or age—

As he said this, his gaze lingered on Sherlock and Harry for a moment.

Because the only people under the age of seventeen are Sherlock and Harry.

This situation can be described as both unexpected and reasonable.

For a wizard still studying at a magic school, in most cases, the older they get, the stronger they become.

Therefore, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were both selected from senior students.

Wizards like Sherlock and Harry, who are capable of defying their superiors, are exceptions.

Loy Lefan couldn't help but curl his lip.

Karkaroff suddenly spoke up: "Dumbledore, are you sure you want to let these two little boys participate?"

As far as I know, they haven't even taken the OWL exam yet.

“Professor Karkaroff, as I just said, everything is a choice made by the Goblet of Fire.”

Dumbledore said calmly.

"We must abide by the charter, which clearly stipulates that anyone whose name is ejected from the Goblet of Fire must participate in the championship competition."

Bagman rubbed his smooth chin, smiling as he looked at Karkaroff: "Of course, you can also choose to file a complaint with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards..."

However, the Goblet of Fire has just been extinguished and will not be rekindled until the next tournament.

"Of course I will do that, I..."

"Stop bluffing!"

Moody suddenly spoke up, saying coldly, "Just as Dumbledore said, this is bound by a magical contract, and... it's to your advantage, isn't it?"

"favorable?"

Karkaroff said, "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean, Moody."

He tried his best to make his tone sound contemptuous, as if he didn't care about Moody's words at all.

Unfortunately, his hands betrayed his inner thoughts; they involuntarily clenched into fists.

Influenced by Sherlock, even Harry noticed this detail.

"Since you believe that a seventeen-year-old adult wizard is stronger than a minor wizard, isn't it good news for you that Hogwarts has two minor wizards participating in the competition?"

Karkarov suddenly paused, then fell silent.

Mrs. Maxim's eyes lit up as well.

Karkaroff: "Dumbledore, you're right, it was all a choice made by the Goblet of Fire."

Maxim: "The Goblet of Fire is the fairest referee; the warriors it chooses must have extraordinary abilities."

Seeing their expressions, Dumbledore shook his head inwardly.

On the one hand, they believe that it is unfair that the Goblet of Fire chose Sherlock and Harry, both underage wizards.

The reason is that Hogwarts has so many adult wizards who have signed up, and they should theoretically be more suitable to participate than Sherlock and Harry.

On the other hand, after Moody pointed out that this was in their favor, they began to say that the Goblet of Fire was fair and just.

He suppressed his feelings of helplessness and continued:

"Warriors from three schools, you are about to embark on an extraordinary journey."

Now, please allow Director Bagman to instruct our warriors.”

"Alright, shall we continue?"

Bagman rubbed his hands together and looked at the people in the room with a smile:
"Should we be giving guidance to our warriors?"

"Alastor, why don't you tell the story?"

Moody shook his head.

Seeing this, Bagman puffed out his chest and smiled even more broadly:

"Then I shall accept it without hesitation!"
Brave girls and boys!
Get your wands ready and your courage!
Yes, you heard right. Our first task is to test your courage!

He paused, then continued:

"So we're not going to tell you what it is."

Because daring to face the unknown is an important quality of a wizard... extremely important...

The first project will take place on November 24th, and you will complete it in front of other students and the judging panel.

Of course, the warriors must not ask for or accept any help from their teachers when completing the competition events.

When the warrior faced the first challenge, his only weapon was his magic wand.

They will only learn about the second project after the first project is completed.

Because the competition is very demanding and lasts a long time, all participating warriors will not take the academic year exams.

Test your courage!

Mission unknown!

These words struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

The most intense reaction came from Felicity LaVine, who nearly jumped up and gasped for breath.

The ease on Toby Torsen and Lucas Poliaco's faces vanished instantly, replaced by astonishment and a hint of fear. Cedric took a deep breath, his expression grave.

Harry's green eyes widened instantly, reflecting the flickering firelight, and his fists clenched quietly.

For the first time, a hint of reserve faded from Furong's stunningly beautiful face, replaced by obvious shock.

Even Krum, who had been listless, suddenly straightened up, his brows furrowed.

Sherlock seemed to be the only one who didn't react much.

The moment Bagman uttered the word "courage," his eyelashes trembled very slightly, like ripples on water stirred by a gentle breeze.

Then, a strange and complex light seemed to flash across the depths of his gray eyes.

But this strangeness disappeared so quickly that no one noticed it.

The only sounds left in the room were the crackling of the fire and the slightly heavy breathing of the nine warriors.

The real three-way battle for supremacy is about to begin, and its dangerous yet magnificent curtain is about to rise.

Perhaps sensing the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Mr. Bagman turned to Dumbledore and said with a smile:

"I think this is fine, Albus?"

“Yes,” Dumbledore nodded, then asked, “Aren’t you planning to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Ludo?”

“I would like to stay, Albus, but I must go back to the ministry.”

Mr. Bagman said, "This is a very busy and very difficult time..."

Batty left the young Weasley to temporarily take charge...

He was very enthusiastic... but to be honest, a little too enthusiastic..."

“Well then, at least come and have a drink before you leave,” Dumbledore said.

After a moment's thought, Bagman agreed with great enthusiasm, "Alright, all of this is finally happening at Hogwarts. It's much more exciting and interesting here than in the office!"

After saying that, he turned to Moody, "Alastor, since you don't have anything going on over there, why don't you just stay here—the Ministry of Magic needs someone to keep an eye on things, doesn't it?"

"can."

Moody said briefly.

Dumbledore then turned to the other two headmasters:
"Professor Karkaroff—Ms. Maxim—would you like a drink before bed?"

Karkarov and Maxim exchanged a glance, then nodded in agreement.

Dumbledore's gaze swept over the nine students participating in the Triwizard Tournament: "As for the nine champions, I suggest you go back to sleep."

Ms. Maxim put her arm around Fleur's shoulder and said a few words to her in French.

Karkaroff also gave Krum a few words of advice.

The two captains, Furong and Krum, then left with their respective school members.

"Sherlock, Harry, Cedric, the three of you too."

Dumbledore looked at his student with a smile:
"I believe your classmates from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you."

They finally had an excuse to make a scene; it would be utterly wrong to take that opportunity away from them.

When the three of them left the room, they found that the auditorium was now completely empty.

"I never imagined that one day we would be able to fight side by side, Harry, it's my honor!"

Cedric smiled at Harry, then turned to Sherlock. "The Lion King's name is legendary, but I think you are a more suitable candidate for captain."

Sherlock smiled slightly and uttered the same phrase that had been repeated several times by others that evening:
"It was all a choice made by the Goblet of Fire."

"So...it's a pleasure working with you?"

"Pleasant to work with."

Cedric shook hands with Sherlock and Harry respectively, and left with light steps.

Instead of climbing the marble staircase, he walked toward a door on the right side of the staircase.

"He went back to Hufflepuff's common room, shall we go back too?"

Harry turned his gaze away from Cedric and asked Sherlock.

"Would you like to see how Hufflepuff welcomes him?"

Sherlock asked with a smile.

"Ah? This isn't good..."

Harry paused for a moment, then said, "Besides, we don't know the password to the Hufflepuff common room either."

"Who told you that you need a password to enter the common room of other colleges?"

"Is it another riddle like Ravenclaw's?"

“No, no, no,” Sherlock shook his head. “Actually, the Hufflepuff common room is the easiest to break into.”

Like the Slytherin common room, the Hufflepuff common room is located in the basement of Hogwarts Castle.

However, Hufflepuff's common room is right next to the kitchen, just below the Great Hall.

Slytherin's common room is located in a deeper dungeon, mainly at the bottom of the Black Lake. Through the windows here, one can often see giant squid, and sometimes even more interesting creatures.

Falling asleep to the sound of the lake lapping against the water at night can sometimes be considered a relaxing pleasure.

However, unlike other houses, no password or riddle is needed to enter Hufflepuff's common room, but its entrance is the only one with a resistance device.

Those who wish to enter must strike the bottom of the second barrel in the second row of the pile of large barrels in the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff." The lid will then rotate open, revealing a passage that one can climb into.

After entering this passage, you will find yourself in Hufflepuff's common room.

There are two round doors there, leading to the male and female dormitories respectively.

Harry was stunned when he heard Sherlock finish explaining everything.

"Sherlock... how do you know so much detail?"

In Harry's view, with Sherlock's abilities, getting the password to the Slytherin common room, or even the way to enter the Hufflepuff common room, would not be difficult at all.

However, judging from the details Sherlock just described, it seems as if he had personally visited these two places, and more than once.

"You already knew, didn't you?"

Sherlock smiled slightly. "My dear Harry, congratulations on your correct deduction. I have indeed been there—more than once."

Harry: ((*)ゞ→→

As expected of you!
"But you just said that Hufflepuff's common room has resistance devices?"

“That’s right. Anyone who wants to enter the Hufflepuff common room will be punished if they strike the wrong note or the wrong bucket.”

"What punishment?" Harry asked curiously.

Sherlock smiled slightly: "Well, I'll tell you tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)