Chapter 71 - The Four Champions (2/2)

While everyone was wondering what he meant, He looked at the Goblet once again and thought, ”I wonder if my Confundus charm was enough to fool such a sentient magic item”.

After the Halloween feast is over, the stool along with the Goblet has been moved to the Great Hall. Everyone stopped their chattering and looked at Dumbledore who stood in front of it. While Karkaroff and Maxime were just as tensed as the students, Dumbledore said, ”well, the goblet is ready to make its decision. I estimate it requires a couple of more minutes. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them to please to come up to the top of the Hall and go through into the next chamber”.

He pointed the door behind the staff table, ”where they will receive further instructions”. He took out his wand and upon waving it, all the candles lit out except those in the pumpkin which are floating in the air. The Goblet of Fire now shone very brightly in the semi-darkness environment. Then suddenly, the bluish-white flames turned red as a small flame shot in the air and landed in Dumbledore's palm and revealed into a piece of parchment. As the flames turned back to bluish-white, Dumbledore spoke loudly, ”The champion of Durmstrang is Victor Krum”. As a storm of applause and cheering swept the Hall, Krum stood up from the Slytherin and walked through the door in the next chamber.

The cheering died down as the flames once again turned red and a piece of parchment landed on Dumbledore's hand. He spoke, ”The champion of Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour”. As everyone cheered for her while staring at her, a few girls from Beauxbatons teared up as they weren't selected. Celia controlled her tears and looked at Neal who tried to cheer her up, ”it's ok, I'm fine”.

Then, as the flames turned red once again, everyone from Hogwarts looked at it with anticipation. As Dumbledore looked at the piece of parchment, he was taken aback in surprise. After a long silence, while everyone's anticipating who it is, Dumbledore announced, ”The Hogwarts Champion is Neal Slytherin”.

Hearing the name stupified everyone in the Hall not only teachers but also the four judges especially Karkaroff and Barty Crouch. As Celia patted his shoulder, ”it's you”, Neal stood up with a smile and walked towards Dumbledore.

One day before in midnight,

While there was no one present in the entrance hall, Neal suddenly appeared out of the darkness after changing to human form. He mumbled, ”well, this animagus form is certainly useful. Now, what should I do about this age line? Hmm, I think only this line is enchanted so that it must defend or counter the Ageing Potion.

Since this Goblet is a sentient magic item like the Sorting hat, Dumbledore must not have done anything to it. So, this simple spell would also do I guess. Well, just in case...”

Then he took out a piece of parchment with his name written on it. Then, he pointed his wand at it and used a hover charm to make it move past the age line and drop it in the Goblet. Right after it, he immediately whispered, ”Confundo”. After that, as he changed back into his animagus form, he disappeared into the darkness and returned to his room without alarming anyone.

Back to the Present, Neal stepped forward with a smile on his face while everyone was looking at him in a shock. As he walked forward towards Dumbledore, he broke the silence saying, ”I only used a simple first-year spell to bypass the age-line, Professor”.

Neal stepped forward and passed him while everyone erupted in applause and murmurs across all the tables. As he went into the next chamber, Fleur and Krum were surprised to see him. Krum pointed his finger at him, ”Slytherin? You are the Hogwarts Champion?”. Neal replied, ”what a fate, isn't it? We became opponents once again”.

As Fleur looked at him in a shock, ”you are Neal Slytherin?”, Meanwhile, at the Great Hall, Dumbledore clapped, ”excellent. Now that we have our three champions, I'm sure I can count upon all of you, the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang to support your champions and...”

Dumbledore stopped suddenly as the flames turned red once again. He turned around while all the staff stood up as he caught the parchment. Dumbledore gasped, ”Harry Potter”.