Harry Potter and the Hidden Treasure (Volume 3)

Chapter 558 Empty Threat

"This is my negligence. I should have considered better measures," said Dumbledore.

"You admit it?! It seems that an older boy assisted you in putting your name in the Goblet of Fire," said Karkaroff with a malicious voice, "This is a serious violation of the rules. Hogwarts is cheating!"

"I didn't do it!" murmured Ron, his face pale and bloodless. "I didn't cheat!"

"Mr. Weasley did not do it!" Professor McGonagall said angrily. She shot a very stern look at Professor Snape. "We should believe him. He did not persuade older students to help him do this. It can be verified."

"Ron has been with us all day, in Hagrid's hut!" Hermione quickly added.

"We can prove he didn't put his name in the Goblet of Fire," exclaimed Harry.

"Yes, and I don't believe the Goblet of Fire would make such a mistake as to choose two champions from the same school," Evan said. "This is some kind of conspiracy!"

"What do you mean?" Everyone looked at him as if not entirely understanding.

"As everyone knows, the Goblet of Fire is a very powerful magical object," Evan explained. "It would have required an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm or other dark magic to confuse that goblet and make it forget that only three schools are competing in the tournament... I suppose they submitted Ron's name under a fourth school, to ensure he was the only one in his category."

Upon hearing Evan's words, everyone began to consider the possibility of such a thing.

"Absurd!" exclaimed Karkaroff. "The idea is simply whimsical, that the boy would put his name in the Goblet of Fire and then the darned goblet would make a mistake and spit out his name."

"No way, there is nothing wrong with the Goblet of Fire, Karkaroff!" Ludo Bagman said nervously. "We've already checked it before, haven't we, Barty?"

"I was responsible for the inspection!" Crouch said in a dry voice. He stood outside the circle of firelight, with half his face hidden in shadow, his wrinkled skin as white and translucent as paper.

"Are you doubting me, Karkaroff?" he asked.

"Of course not, I am not doubting you!" Karkaroff recoiled and seemed very fearful of Crouch. He then added in a cloying tone, "But you must think it's highly inappropriate, don't you?"

Bagman did not respond. He wiped his round, youthful face with a handkerchief and looked at Crouch.

"It's not about what's reasonable or not. We must follow the rules, and the rules clearly state that those whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are obligated to compete in the tournament." Crouch did not look at anyone. He remained gazing into the burning fire, lost in thought.

For a few seconds, Evan even thought he was going to walk into the flames.

"Barty knows the regulations by heart," Bagman said with a smile, turning towards Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as if the matter was settled.

"No, I insist on resubmitting the names of the rest of my students," Karkaroff said grimly. He stopped looking at Crouch by the fire and turned to Dumbledore. "You must refill the Goblet of Fire, and we will keep adding names until every school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore!"

"I'm afraid it doesn't work that way, Karkaroff," Bagman frowned and said, wiping his fingers with his handkerchief. "You see, the Goblet has gone out and won't light up again until the beginning of the next tournament."

"Durmstrang will definitely not compete in the next tournament!" Karkaroff exploded. "After all our meetings and negotiations and commitments, I never expected something like this to happen! I feel like leaving right now!"

Evan nudged Moody from behind. It was time for him to step in. If things continued this way, they would fall apart. And among the crowd, besides Moody, no one could stop Karkaroff.

"Empty threat, Karkaroff!" Moody immediately growled, his voice louder than Karkaroff's, surprising everyone. "You can't make your champion leave now. He must compete; everyone must compete. Binding magical contract. Convenient, isn't it?"

He limped towards the center, placing Ron behind him and staring intently at Karkaroff.

Under his gaze, the expression on Karkaroff's face turned extremely ugly.

"Convenient?" he said angrily. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody."

He tried to sound contemptuous, as if what Moody was saying was barely worth paying attention to, but his hands betrayed him; they clenched into fists.

"Do you not think?" Moody said in a low voice. "It's quite simple, Karkarov! As Evan said, someone entered Weasley's name into the Goblet of Fire knowing he would have to compete if chosen."

"Obviously, someone who wanted to give Hogwarts two chances!" Madame Maxime said.

"I wholeheartedly agree with you, Madame Maxime," Karkarov said, bowing to her. "I will file complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards."

"Enough! If anyone has reason to complain, it's Weasley!" growled Moody. "But I don't hear him saying a word!"

Why would he complain? exclaimed Fleur Delacour, tapping the ground angrily with her foot. "He has the opportunity to compete, does he not?! We have all been waiting to be chosen for weeks and weeks! To win honor for our schools! A thousand galleons as prize. This is an opportunity that many would give their lives for, and our school has undergone rigorous selection!"

"Perhaps someone is hoping for Weasley to die because of this," Moody said, with the faintest hint of a growl.

A tense and extremely silent pause followed these words.

Ludo Bagman, looking very anxious, nervously bounced on his feet and said, "Moody, old friend... what a thing you've said!"

"We all know that Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't uncovered six plots to assassinate him before lunch," Karkaroff said loudly. "Apparently, now he's teaching his students to fear assassination as well. A peculiar quality in a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Dumbledore, but undoubtedly you had your reasons."