Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 156 Fairness

Perhaps due to their height difference, when Ike entered the room, Krum and Fleur didn't notice anything different; they simply nodded as a greeting.

But things changed when Harry came in.

"What's wrong? Do you want us to go back to the auditorium?" Furong asked, puzzled.

Harry didn't know what to say, so he looked at Ike with pleading eyes, but Ike just shrugged and didn't answer.

To be honest, he was completely confused. The only thing he was sure of was that he hadn't thrown away the parchment.

So who signed him up?

Just then, the door opened again, and Ludo walked into the room, grabbing Harry's arm. He tried to grab Ike, but Ike dodged him.

"This is too bizarre, absolutely too bizarre!"

"Please allow me to introduce you to the fourth warrior of the Triwizard Tournament—Harry Potter!"

"Are you kidding, Mr. Bagman?" Fleur asked with a smile.

"No, no, no, the Goblet of Fire did indeed utter his name, so according to the contract, he must participate," Ludo said.

"But... he's too small," Fleur said, glancing at Harry's height.

Before Harry could speak, Dumbledore, Mrs. Maxim, Karkaroff, old Crouch, and the professors walked in.

"Two warriors? I need an explanation, Dumbledore," Madam Maxim said haughtily, looking at Ike and Harry.

“That’s right,” Karkaroff agreed. “I don’t recall any rule in the charter that allowed the organizer to have two warriors.”

Dumbledore did not answer, his eyes fixed on Ike and Harry.

"Did you put your names into the Goblet of Fire?"

"Wait, you guys?" Karkaroff interrupted abruptly, pointing at Ike and asking, "He has a problem too?"

"In fact, both Strad and Potter are fourth-year students," Snape said coldly.

"Are you kidding me, Dumbledore?" Madam Maxime's eyes widened. "Perhaps choosing Hogwarts as the venue for the Triwizard Tournament was a mistake. At least this wouldn't have happened if it had been in Beauxbatons."

Dumbledore raised his hand, not answering Madam Maxim's question, but keeping his eyes fixed on Ike and Harry.

"You haven't answered my question yet."

"I don't."

"no."

"So, did you ask any older students to help you submit your names?"

"no."

"no."

"You're lying!" Mrs. Maxim exclaimed excitedly.

"They can't... Potter can't possibly cross that age line..."

"And what about him? And this... Mr. Streid?" Mrs. Maxim seized on the loophole in Professor McGonagall's words and questioned him.

"This..." Professor McGonagall was momentarily speechless, while Dumbledore continued, "I must admit that if it were Mr. Strand, he could indeed cross the age limit I set."

"But, as he just said, he didn't do that."

Before Mrs. Maxim could say anything more, Karkaroff looked at Crouch and Ludo and said, "Mr. Crouch, Mr. Bagman, you two are the only two on the jury who can look at this matter objectively. You must also think this is very inappropriate, right?"

Crouch and Ludo exchanged a glance, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "The rules clearly state that anyone whose name appears in the Goblet of Fire must participate in the tournament."

Clearly, this answer did not satisfy Mrs. Maxim and Karkaroff, who questioned Dumbledore again.

"Please come in!"

Just as everyone was arguing fiercely, a knock came at the door. When everyone saw who it was, they were all completely confused.

"Is there something you need, Mr. Diggory?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking at the somewhat bewildered Cedric.

"Professors, I'm here to make a point regarding Ike Strand's selection as a Hogwarts Champion by the Goblet of Fire..." Cedric glanced at Ike, who was looking over, then turned to Dumbledore and said, "I was the one who put Strand's name in."

"Do you know what you're saying, Diggory?" Professor McGonagall asked immediately and seriously.

"May I ask you why you did this, Mr. Diggory?" Dumbledore adjusted his glasses. "As far as I know, you seem to have no reason to make this decision for Mr. Strand."

"I apologize, Professor Dumbledore." Cedric nodded slightly, explaining with neither humility nor arrogance, but with unwavering confidence, "I am confident that without Stradl, only I could have become a Hogwarts champion."

"But that's not fair. A wizard as good as Strayed shouldn't be kept out of the tournament by an age limit."

"So, for the sake of 'fairness,' you chose to cast Strayle's name into the Goblet of Fire as well, just to find out who the true Hogwarts champion is?"

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you for your explanation, Mr. Diggory. You may leave now." Dumbledore nodded. "I think the students still in the Great Hall also need to hear this news."

Seeing that Cedric was about to leave, Karkarov stopped him.

"Wait a minute, Dumbledore, he hasn't mentioned Potter yet!"

"Potter?" Cedric glanced at Harry, who seemed to be expecting something, and shook his head. "I didn't put his name in."

After saying that, he went out.

"I think Durmstrang might have to withdraw from this Triwizard Tournament," Karkaroff said. "We won't participate in an unfair tournament."

"Professor Karkaroff, the warriors chosen by the Goblet of Fire must participate in the tournament," old Crouch said slowly. "They are bound by the power of a contract."

"I know, Mr. Crouch!" Karkaroff glared at old Crouch, then looked at Dumbledore and said, "In any case, we need an explanation, not something like what happened before..."

"Fairness? Want to see who the true Hogwarts champion is?"

"My God, this is absolutely ridiculous!"

"Mr. Diggory is telling the truth," Dumbledore said. "If there were no age limit, Mr. Strand would indeed be the only candidate for Hogwarts Champion."

"A fourth-grade student? Humph!" Karkarov sneered, a hint of mockery on his face.

"The best? Did he do something that others couldn't?"

"He beat me so badly I ended up in the hospital, is that explanation enough, Karkarov!"

The door was pushed open violently, and Moody, leaning on his cane, strode up to Karkarov, startling Karkarov so much that he took two steps back.

Moody pressed on aggressively, but the Demon Eye, unusually, remained motionless, its gaze fixed intently on Karkaroff.

"Everyone at Hogwarts knows about this, and I think that's enough," Moody said viciously. "This is what you and your master used to be..."

"Enough, Alastor!" Dumbledore interrupted Moody, looking at Karkaroff. "We don't even know how this situation came about."

"But since Ike and Harry have both been chosen, they must..."

"But, Dumbledore..."

"Mrs. Maxim, do you have any other solutions?"

Seeing that no one objected anymore, Dumbledore turned to old Crouch and said, "Mr. Crouch, I think the warriors may begin their first instruction..."

(End of this chapter)