Harry Potter and the Hidden Treasure (Volume 3)

Chapter 560 Champion Of Hogwarts

With the departure of the crowd, the room suddenly became much quieter.

"Ron, Cedric, Evan, Harry, Hermione, I suggest you head to bed," Dumbledore said, smiling at the five of them, "I'm sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great commotion and create a lot of noise."

Evan looked back at Dumbledore and wondered if he had discovered something.

He thought he wouldn't get an answer, but suddenly he saw Dumbledore smiling towards him.

Dumbledore quickly nodded at Evan, and the smile seemed particularly significant.

What happened tonight was so strange, and the battle had already begun. He didn't know who would end up laughing...

As they ushered Ron, who could barely walk, out of the room, they found the Great Hall was already deserted. The candles had burned down, giving the toothy grins of the pumpkins an eerie, flickering quality.

"Weasley, I didn't expect you to be a champion too!" Cedric said with a reluctant smile, reaching out his hand to Ron. "But anyways, now we represent Hogwarts, even though you are my opponent..."

"Only one person can represent Hogwarts. I will defeat you. I will prove that I am the true champion!" Ron shouted.

He didn't shake Cedric's hand and left him there, embarrassed.

Ron now looked paranoid, and after the tremendous pressure had passed, joy had taken over.

His mind was in a state of chaos, with one thought: his champion status had been recognized by the Ministry of Magic and the school, and his dream had come true. He was the champion of Hogwarts, the true champion!

Due to his excitement, Ron's face was flushed, and his whole body was trembling slightly.

"Well... goodbye then!" Cedric said coldly, retracting his right hand.

They quickly parted ways, and Evan, Harry, Ron, and Hermione climbed the stairs to the Gryffindor Tower.

"I became a champion, I am a champion, I am the champion of Hogwarts!" Ron muttered to himself.

Along the way, he kept repeating those words, as if hypnotizing himself.

Evan, Harry, and Hermione exchanged glances and looked anxiously at Ron.

"Ron, you shouldn't have spoken to Cedric like that," Harry said hesitantly. "He's really a good guy."

"Then what should I have said? We're competitors now, and that pretty boy doesn't even recognize me," Ron said. "He and I are champions, but only one can represent Hogwarts, right?"

"Yes, but..." Harry paused and continued. "Well, can you tell us how you put your name in the Goblet of Fire? Is it as Evan mentioned?"

"I didn't. I didn't put my name in the Goblet of Fire. I wanted to, but I didn't get the chance. We've been with Hagrid all day," Ron said, freezing for a moment and then angrily, "Guys, don't you believe me?"

"Don't be silly, of course we believe you, or we wouldn't have asked Professor Moody to come help you!" Evan replied automatically. He was still pondering why Barty Crouch Jr. chose Ron. What was this guy's plot?

After Ron became a champion, the whole story and future developments veered too much for him to anticipate anything.

Many things needed to be examined and reasoned.

"I want to believe you too, Ron!" Harry said, "although it's really hard to believe."

"Well, you three! Now the question is not whether Ron became a champion, but who put his name in the Goblet of Fire," Hermione frowned.

"Whoever it is, obviously they are helping me, right?" Ron laughed.

"Didn't you hear what Evan and Professor Moody said?!" Hermione's eyebrows raised again. "That person wants you dead!" she said aloud.

"To kill me?! Ron was momentarily paralyzed, somewhat indignant.

"The professors said the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament are very dangerous. It's not something we can handle. You're very likely to die there, Ron!" Hermione said worriedly. "You're not as strong as Evan. There are many..."

"What's gotten into you?!" Ron interrupted Hermione. "I became a champion. You should congratulate me, not say these confusing things."

His eyes settled on Evan, Harry, and Hermione, as the atmosphere turned somewhat grim.

"Congratulations!" said Hermione in an odd manner, looking at Ron with surprise. "You're crazy; this is not something good, those..."

"I know you've always thought I'm not as good as Evan, Harry, or even you," Ron exclaimed, interrupting Hermione once again, and a smile solidified on his face. "But now I'm the champion, not you. Isn't that enough to prove it all, don't you think?"

There was an uncomfortable silence, and Hermione seemed stunned by Ron's words.

Evan knew Ron had been depressed for too long and suddenly found himself overwhelmed by the joy of being called the champion.

They had to postpone the discussion for tomorrow, or let Ron face the first task, and Evan was sure that he would sober up then...

Evan gently took Hermione's hand and gestured for her not to continue.

Harry still wanted to say something, but they were already in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady.

The Fat Lady was not alone in her frame. Evan saw the old witch, who had just appeared in the room below, sitting arrogantly next to the Fat Lady. She must have run through every painting adorning seven staircases to get here before them.

Both she and the Fat Lady looked at Ron with great interest and a smile on their faces.

"Well, well, well!" exclaimed the Fat Lady, "Violet has just told me everything. Who has been chosen as the school champion?"

"Nonsense," Hermione said flatly, clearly also upset.

If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have stepped in to defend Ron.

"That's absolutely not true, I saw it with my own eyes..." the outraged pale witch stated.

"No, no, Violet, that's the password," the Fat Lady said calmly, and she swung forward on her hinges to let them into the Common Room.

The cacophony of noises that greeted their ears upon the portrait opening was deafening.

Everyone seemed to have planned to stay there. About a dozen pairs of hands dragged Ron into the Common Room, where he was met by the entire Gryffindor House, all of whom were shouting, cheering, and whistling.