Harry Potter and the Hidden Treasure (Volume 3)

Chapter 557 Trust And Hermione's Debate

"Hermione asserted, "Ron did not put his name in the Goblet of Fire!"

"Perhaps not. He might have slipped his name into the Goblet of Fire last night, couldn't he? So that no one would find out!"

"Well then, how did he do it?!" Hermione demanded sharply, glaring at Harry in anger. "He couldn't have breached Dumbledore's magical barrier."

"He may have pondered Evan's method for a while, but it's hard to tell," Harry hesitated, avoiding Hermione's gaze.

Even though reason urged her to trust Ron, she still felt somewhat uneasy about the matter.

The notion of Ron becoming a champion triggered an inexplicable sense of betrayal within her.

"I don't believe Ron is that cunning. Evan is right. It's a conspiracy. We must help him make it clear!" Hermione swiftly expressed.

Determined, she prepared to rally Evan and Harry and rush to the professors' table.

Professor Moody, who Caresius pretended to be, was still there, their sole chance to aid Ron.

Despite Hermione's usual quarrels with Ron, she was the first to come to his aid in a critical moment.

In proving her friend's innocence, Hermione was resolute and unwavering.

"Professor, Ron has been with us all day. He couldn't have put his name in the Goblet of Fire," Hermione anxiously stated.

Moody took a swig from his flask. His normal eye was fixed on Hermione, but his magical eye was fixed on Evan.

His expression indicated that he seemed indifferent to whether Ron became a champion.

"Miss Granger, please understand that your name came out of the Goblet of Fire, meaning Mr. Weasley made a binding magical contract with it. It's a very strong magical contract; no one could break it. He is bound to compete in the tournament!" Moody coldly retorted.

"But professor, Ron didn't put his name in it!"

"That doesn't matter; you just need to know..."

"Professor, this is clearly a conspiracy, someone is trying to frame Ron!" Evan interrupted Moody, winking at him. "I think we should step in and stop it, or at least persuade everyone to accept this reality."

Seeing Evan's gaze, Moody reluctantly nodded, his movement stiff.

"Alright, alright, you three come with me and help Mr. Weasley prove his innocence," he said abruptly.

Evan, Harry, and Hermione followed Moody to the room's door.

They entered the room where Dumbledore was questioning Ron, and a debate was unfolding.

Ron had completely lost his composure and couldn't even articulate a complete sentence.

Snape, standing on the outermost side, turned his head and scowled at the four.

Upon seeing Moody, he said nothing, only displaying more disdain.

Initially, Moody wanted to voice his opinion directly, but Evan gently tugged at him and gestured for him to listen first.

"Clearly, there has been a mistake," next to the fire, Fleur raised her chin and looked disdainfully at Ron. She stated haughtily, "He cannot compete; he is too young. I know there is a strong youth in Hogwarts, but obviously, it is not him."

"Well... it's astonishing," Ludo Bagman remarked, rubbing his chin gently and smiling at Ron, as if he had a plan in mind. "But, as you all know, the age restriction was imposed this year as an additional safety measure. And since his name has come out of the Goblet... I mean, I don't think he can back out at this stage... It's in the rules, he is bound... Ron will simply have to do his best..."

"This is preposterous, preposterous!" Madame Maxime interrupted Bagman's words. The top of her magnificent head brushed against the candle-lit chandelier, and her gigantic black satin bust inflated. She said angrily, "Dumbledore, what is the meaning of this?! I thought we made it clear in the rules to prevent these kinds of things from happening. We specifically emphasized that underage young wizards were not allowed to compete in the tournament, yet Hogwarts still has one."

"I would like to know too, Dumbledore," Professor Karkaroff stated. He had a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like slivers of ice. "Two champions from Hogwarts? I don't recall anyone informing me that the hosting school had two champions... or have I not read the rules thoroughly enough?!"

"Dio una breve y desagradable risa.

C'est impossible! dijo Madame Maxime, cuya enorme mano con sus magnficos palos descansaba sobre el hombro de Fleur. La ltima vez fue Evan Mason, esta vez es l. Hogwarts ha provocado repetidamente a Beauxbatons. Tienen que dar una explicacin.

Durmstrang tambin necesita una explicacin. Tenamos la impresin de que su Lnea de Edad evitara que concursaran los ms jvenes, Dumbledore dijo Karkaroff, con su sonrisa metlica en su lugar, aunque sus ojos estaban ms fros que nunca. De lo contrario, por supuesto, habramos trado una seleccin ms amplia de candidatos de nuestras propias escuelas.

Por favor, no se preocupen, explicaremos! dijo Dumbledore suavemente, volteando a mirar a Ron, quien estaba asustado. Sr. Weasley, pusiste tu nombre en el Cliz de Fuego?

No! respondi rpidamente Ron.

Entonces, pediste a un estudiante mayor que pusiera tu nombre en el Cliz de Fuego por ti? continu Dumbledore.

No, no! Ron dud antes de balbucear.

Est mintiendo! grit Madame Maxime.

No estoy mintiendo. Aprend este mtodo de Evan, pero no... no tuve oportunidad! jade Ron y dijo. Fuimos a ver a Hagrid. No puse mi nombre en el Cliz de Fuego.

Evan? Todos estaban atnitos. Evan Mason?"

Entonces, todos dirigieron sus miradas hacia Evan, quien acababa de entrar.

Evan los mir impasible, y finalmente sus ojos se posaron en Barty Crouch parado junto al fuego.

Permaneca all, con los brazos cruzados, su sombra proyectada por el fuego.

Dumbledore, recuerdo que dijiste que tu magia era infalible, se burl Karkaroff. Pero ahora ha sido vulnerada por un nio; realmente interesante.

El asunto ya est claro. No es culpa de nadie ms que de Weasley y Mason, Karkaroff! dijo Snape suavemente. Sus ojos negros brillaban con malicia. Weasley, con la mente vaca, no habra podido pensar en esto, pero nuestro Sr. Sabelotodo es diferente. Siempre ha sido astuto, un poco demasiado. Desde que lleg aqu, ha estado rompiendo las reglas de la escuela. Creo que nuestro Salvador debe haber estado involucrado en esto, pero no fue seleccionado.

"No, no pusimos nuestros nombres en el Cliz de Fuego!" dijo Harry en voz alta, mirando a Snape con enojo.

"Es difcil de decir. Conoces el camino, verdad? Djame ver."

"Severus," dijo Dumbledore firmemente.

Snape se call, aunque sus ojos todava brillaban malvolamente a travs de su cortina de cabello negro y grasiento.