Harry Potter and the Hidden Treasure (Volume 3)

Chapter 543 Welcome Ceremony

Obviously, Fred and George had no intentions of disclosing it to anyone.

"Fred, George, do you have any thoughts on the Triwizard Tournament yet?" Harry asked. "Have you considered trying to participate further?"

"Of course, we've thought about it. I asked Professor McGonagall how the champions are chosen, but she wouldn't tell me," George said bitterly. "She just told me to be quiet and continue transfiguring my raccoon."

"I wonder what the tasks will be," Ron mused. "You know, I bet we could handle them. We've done dangerous things before..."

Ron followed Harry in their first year to defeat Voldemort, and in the second year, he battled the giant snake in the Chamber of Secrets.

In the first half of last year, he also took part in rescuing Sirius, and in the final moments, he defeated Peter Pettigrew.

In the latter half of the semester, he joined everyone in exploring the centaur colony in the Forbidden Forest, searching for the Philosopher's Stone left by Gryffindor.

Any of those things were more perilous than the Triwizard Tournament, and Ron and his friends indeed had experience in that regard.

"Yes, that's great, but you didn't do those in front of a panel of judges, did you?" Fred said. "McGonagall says champions receive points based on how well they perform the tasks."

"Who are the judges?" Harry asked.

"I don't know."

"The Ministry of Magic officials will serve as judges," Evan said casually, while pouring himself some oats.

Upon hearing Evan's words, everyone turned surprised toward him.

"This is obvious, isn't it?" Evan explained. "The Ministry of Magic has rarely organized an event of this magnitude. It's impossible for them not to be involved. I believe one of the judges will be Mr. Crouch, or the Minister of Magic himself, Fudge."

"Percy must know, but he won't tell us."

"Yes, I really want to know, who else will be a judge?"

"The heads of the participating schools will definitely be on the panel," Hermione added.

This time, everyone stared at her in amazement.

"Haven't you ever read a book?!" Hermione exclaimed. "The three were injured during the 1792 Tournament when a basilisk, which the champions had to catch, went out of control."

Hermione pulled out a thick copy of Hogwarts, A History from her bag and flipped it to the middle page.

"It's all written here; I remember this passage."

"Do you always carry this book to class?" Harry asked surprised.

Hermione's Hogwarts, A History didn't seem lightweight.

"Because I had to verify certain information recently, I've reread it. There is a lot of important historical data in it," Hermione said, "Although, of course, this book is not entirely reliable. A Revised History of Hogwarts would be a more accurate title. Or A Highly Biased and Selective History of Hogwarts, Omitting the Most Unpleasant Aspects of the School."

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked confused.

The others were equally puzzled, but they all soon knew what she was going to say next. It was about house-elves again.

"House-elves!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes flashing. "Not once, in over a thousand pages, does Hogwarts, A History mention that we are all complicit in the oppression of a hundred slaves!"

They fell into a silent contemplation and stared at their plates.

Fred and George suddenly seemed extremely interested in their bacon. They were the only ones who refused to buy a S.P.E.W. badge. At the end of breakfast, Hermione was still tirelessly informing Evan about the current progress of the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.

In conclusion, there was a pleasant sense of anticipation in the air that day.

No one was very focused in class, showing much more interest in the arrival of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang people that evening. Even Potions and Divination were more bearable than usual, and they were half an hour shorter.

When the bell rang early, Evan, Colin, and Ginny hurried to Gryffindor Tower. They found Harry, Ron, Hermione, and other young wizards already back. They put on their cloaks and hurried down to the entrance hall.

The Heads of Houses were instructing their students to line up.

"Weasley, straighten your hat; Creevey, tuck in your shirt!" Professor McGonagall snapped. "And you, Miss Patil, remove that ridiculous thing from your hair."

Parvati frowned and removed a large ornamental butterfly from the end of her braid.

"Please, follow me," said Professor McGonagall, "First years at the front... no pushing..."

They descended the stairs and lined up in front of the castle.

It was a cold and clear evening. Dusk was falling, and a faint translucent moon was already shining over the Forbidden Forest.

The moonlight was exceptionally bright, creating a beautiful and fantastical scene next to the castle.

All the teachers and students of the school were outside the door, and the ghosts floated slowly above everyone.

Evan, Colin, and Ginny followed the other third-year students in the third row, behind them were Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

He saw Colin's younger brother, Dennis, trembling with anticipation among the other first years.

"It's almost six o'clock!" said Ron, looking towards the path that led to the main gates. "How are they coming? By train?"

"I doubt it," said Hermione. "The Hogwarts Express comes from London. They can't meet there."

"So how then? Brooms?" Harry suggested, looking up at the starry sky.

Upon hearing what was said, Colin also looked up.

"They wouldn't, from that far away."

"A Portkey?" Ron suggested. "Or could they be Apparating, maybe they're allowed to do it if they're under seventeen where they're from?"

"Ron, you can't Apparate within the Hogwarts grounds, how many times do I have to tell you?" Hermione said impatiently.

The young wizards eagerly scanned the darkening grounds, but nothing stirred. Everything was quiet and still as usual.

The uncontrollable buzz gradually started resonating in the crowd, and everyone began to feel cold and hungry.

Just as everyone was about to lose patience, Dumbledore called from the back row where he stood with the other teachers.

"Ah-ha! Unless I am greatly mistaken, the Beauxbatons delegation is approaching!"

"Where?" many anxious students asked, all looking in different directions.

"There!" a sixth-year shouted, pointing over the forest.

There was something large, much larger than a broom.

Under the silvery light of the moon, they could see it hurtling through the deep blue sky, flying towards the castle, gradually growing larger.