bioinnovel Chapter 291 A Huge Argument
Chapter 291 A Huge Argument
Chapter 291 A Huge Argument
The auditorium was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Almost everyone was looking for Harry, their eyes fixed on him.
Harry sat there bewildered, stunned, his mind blank. How could there be four warriors?
When Dumbledore announced that Cedric Diggory was the champion of Hogwarts, Harry admitted that he was disappointed, very disappointed.
But this disappointment came quickly and went even faster; he soon came to terms with it and joined the crowd applauding and cheering for the Hogwarts warriors.
And they work harder than anyone else.
In Harry's view, Cedric became a champion through his own abilities, unlike him who needed Belvina's help to cheat.
In the face of genuine talent versus cheating, Harry felt he hadn't lost unjustly and accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. His congratulations to Cedric were sincere, without a trace of resentment.
However, just as Harry was preparing to watch the Triwizard Tournament in peace, and as he was ready to spend the school year quietly and peacefully, the Goblet of Fire spewed out a fourth note, and Dumbledore announced the fourth champion.
Harry was stunned and sat there, momentarily thinking he was hallucinating.
"Harry, go quickly!" Ron said proudly, "You're a hero now!"
"Go, Harry, you can do it," Hermione said with an air of authority. "I believe you will become the best warrior."
With the encouragement and support of his two close friends, Harry stood up in a daze, but instead of walking towards the temporary lounge, he continued to stand there in a daze.
There was no applause or cheers in the Great Hall. Everyone looked at Harry, staring in disbelief at his youthful face.
A sudden burst of soft whispers spread through the auditorium like a virus, or like hundreds or thousands of bees flapping their wings.
In the faculty section, Professor McGonagall rose and approached Dumbledore, whispering something anxiously in the headmaster's ear. Dumbledore simply nodded repeatedly, saying nothing.
Alastor Moody's smile grew even more sinister, his bright blue demonic eyes sweeping over each and every one of the faculty members.
Severus Snape's sallow face was ashen and his deep eyes were like still, ancient wells, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking.
Mrs. Maxim and Karkarov's shock slowly subsided, turning into anger, as if they had just been verbally abused with the most offensive and vulgar language.
Barty Crouch, who had been completely oblivious, finally reacted. His brow furrowed slightly, as if he'd encountered a tricky problem. "Go, Harry, hurry up!" Ron urged in a low voice. "Hurry!"
Hermione didn't say anything. She reached out and gently nudged Harry, stopping him from standing there like a statue.
Finally, Harry Rock's brain started working again. He walked step by step to the front of the auditorium and then along the faculty seating area to the temporary lounge.
As Harry approached the temporary lounge, the murmurs in the Great Hall grew louder, and hundreds of eyes were fixed on him, as if they were seeing Harry Potter for the first time.
Harry originally thought he could remain calm when faced with probing or resentful gazes.
But when hundreds and thousands of eyes fell upon him, he realized that he had been too naive. Each gaze felt like a steel knife scraping through his flesh and bones.
Besides that, Harry also felt he had let Cedric down, and let down the true champions of Hogwarts. The way he cheated...
They stole the glory that originally belonged only to Cedric Diggory.
Finally, the long road came to an end, and Harry opened the wooden door in front of him and walked into the temporary lounge.
However, the commotion in the Great Hall did not disappear after Harry left; instead, it intensified, waiting for someone to light the fuse and ignite the powder keg.
Belvina stood up briskly and was the first to leave the faculty seating area, heading towards the temporary lounge. As she passed Barty Crouch, Mr. Crouch also got up and followed her.
Seeing the two directors of the International Department of Magical Cooperation stand up one after the other, Maxim Celestial and Kakarot Celestial immediately followed suit.
"This is not fair, Miss Black!" Madam Maxime's voice was low but booming like thunder. "I cannot accept that Hogwarts has two champions!"
"The organizers have two champions; this has never happened before in a three-way tournament!" Karkaroff said. "We need a reasonable explanation; we need fairness!"
Barty Crouch walked straight into the temporary lounge without stopping, as if he hadn't heard the two principals talking.
"Please believe me, both of you. I want to know more than you do why the Goblet of Fire chose Harry Potter," Belvina said seriously, seemingly without a trace of guilt.
In fact, Belvina didn't need to feel guilty, because she didn't put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire. She didn't do it, so why should she feel guilty?
She continued, "Besides, who would choose a fourteen-year-old? If it were you two, would you choose a fourth-grade student?"
Mrs. Maxim and Karkarov were speechless for a moment. Anyone with a sound mind would not choose a fourth-grade student, even if that student was a boy who had miraculously survived.
At that moment, Belvina also pushed open the door and entered the temporary rest room.
Madame Maxim and Karkarov exchanged a glance, forming a temporary alliance with their eyes.
In the makeshift lounge, Buddy Crouch was speaking to three genuine warriors, explaining to them that the Goblet of Fire had chosen a fourth warrior. "Mrs. Maxim!" Fleur hurried toward her headmistress. "They said this little boy wants to participate too! He can't, he's too young."
Upon hearing this, Belvina looked at the silent Harry.
It wasn't that she was stirring up trouble, but if she were Harry, she definitely wouldn't tolerate Fleur's disdain.
Harry did not disappoint; he looked up at Fleur, a flash of anger in his emerald green eyes.
Unlike Fleur Delacour's arrogance and disdain, the other two warriors behaved very gentlemanly, or at least appeared to be.
Viktor Krum frowned, his face perpetually somber: Cedric was equally puzzled, but he said nothing, leaning slightly toward Harry.
"Miss Black, you heard it yourself, he's too young," Mrs. Maxim said angrily. "He can't compete."
As she spoke, she angrily slapped away the chandelier that was hanging in front of her.
"First of all, the age limit is a new measure added this year, not a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament," Belvina said calmly. "Moreover, since the Goblet of Fire has chosen Mr. Potter, he must participate; the contract is in effect."
Karkaroff stroked his beard and said coldly, "Speaking of tradition, I've never heard of the Triwizard Tournament having two champions. Or is it that Hogwarts likes to make exceptions—or, Miss Black likes to make exceptions?"
As soon as the words were spoken, the atmosphere in the temporary rest room became even more tense and explosive.
On one side were Madame Maxim and Karkaroff, plus Fleur Delacour; on the other side was only Belvina herself, and Baty.
Crouch was like he didn't have a mouth.
"Professor Karkaroff," Belvina said with a smile as she stood in front of him, "I suggest you go back to your cabin and review the rules of the Triwizard Tournament again. Also, remember to find someone to accompany you."
Igor Karkarov's expression changed instantly. He understood the implication in the words and realized he had better shut up quickly.
The alliance between Madame Maxim and Karkarov broke down after just one meeting.
"Madam," Belvina turned to Mrs. Maxime, "you heard it too, Harry is too young, since he is too young..."
What are you and Miss Delacour worried about?
Madame Maxim's anger flared instantly; her body, wrapped in black satin, trembled slightly with rage, and her large breasts heaved violently.
Fleur Delacour, standing to the side, blushed, her rosy cheeks accentuated by her silver hair. It was as if she were afraid of children.
"The person who should be most worried is Mr. Potter, isn't he?" Belvina continued. "The person who should feel most aggrieved is Mr. Diggory, isn't he?"
Harry, who had been silent, lowered his head again, feeling guilty.
Cedric Diggory, behaving like a gentleman, remained silent. He didn't feel that Harry had stolen his honor; he was simply confused.
"You're just making excuses!" said Madam Maxim, placing her large hand on Fleur's shoulder. "Hogwarts has two heroes; that's incredibly unfair to Beauxbatons and Durmstrang!"
As he spoke, Maxim looked at Karkarov, seeking support from allies.
However, Karkaroff seemed to be possessed by Barty Crouch, and he also became mute.
The door to the temporary lounge was pushed open again, and a large group of people rushed in: Dumbledore, followed closely by Professor McGonagall and Snape, and Professor Moody, who was walking with a limp.
"What does this mean, Dumbledore?" Madam Maxime asked angrily. "Hogwarts has two champions!" She held up two thick, long fingers.
In just a few words, Mrs. Maxim was reminded once again of just how difficult Belvina had been during the summer.
Therefore, Mrs. Maxim gave up arguing with Belvina and instead turned to the easy target, Dumbledore, since the headmaster of Hogwarts was always more approachable!
However, before Dumbledore could speak, Snape jumped out first.
"It's all Harry Potter's fault," Snape said softly. "Mr. Potter has always been unruly, arrogant, and self-important. It's not Dumbledore's fault."
As expected of Severus Snape, he stunned the furious Mrs. Maxim with just one sentence, and she even thought she had misheard.
Shouldn't the Hogwarts professors be on Harry Potter's side, just like the unreasonable Belvina?
Not only was Mrs. Maxim confused, but even Karkarov was stunned and terrified.
Severus Snape's hostility towards Harry Potter—could he still be loyal to the Dark Lord? Karkaroff wondered. At this thought, Karkaroff dared not speak further, fearing both Belvina's framing and Snape's potential revenge. He was truly caught in a dilemma.
The two headmasters who had traveled from afar had no idea what Snape was up to, but the Hogwarts professors were already used to it.
If the fourth champion wasn't Harry, but Warrington from Slytherin, Snape alone could have taken down Madam Maxime and Karkaroff.
"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore said firmly.
Snape, who had been radiating malice, shut his mouth and turned to look at Belvina, his venomous gaze sending chills down Belvina's spine.
Belvina felt wronged. Although she did intend for Harry to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, she had not thrown Harry's name into the Goblet of Fire.
At this moment, Tian Tongxing Black is even more wronged than Tianlangxing Black.
Belvina sighed silently, lamenting her impending days.
Starting tonight, I'm afraid I'll have to sleep with one eye open, otherwise I won't even know how I died.