studiobondurri 204: The King and the Four Champions
204: The King and the Four Champions
204: The King and the Four Champions
"Ron, you've raised a very interesting point," John said as he approached the Gryffindor table.
Even though there were more than a dozen people at the table, they all grew nervous as John drew near.
Hermione seemed like she wanted to speak up, but John raised a hand to stop her.
"Champion? You must understand, not everyone enjoys taking rule-breaking as a form of amusement, as you seem to," John remarked, his voice calm and measured.
The Great Hall fell silent. Dumbledore, seated at the staff table, was watching the scene unfold but did not intervene.
John sighed softly and said, "Courage does not equate to recklessness, and adventure does not mean overstepping boundaries."
Ron's face turned bright red, clearly uncomfortable with the way John was speaking to him, as if he were a child being lectured.
"Oh, really? But you're destined to never become a champion, aren't you?" Ron shot back loudly, as though trying to prove he was right.
John simply stared at him quietly. Just as Ron began to worry that he might actually get punched, John chuckled.
With a playful yet mocking tone, John said, "So, you're saying you want to become a champion?"
"If it weren't for the age line, I absolutely could!" Ron yelled, fully committed now, even though his voice wavered.
Hearing this, John nodded thoughtfully. Then, in a louder voice, he announced, "Perhaps the people outside should make some room."
The crowd outside the Great Hall, curious about the commotion, began filing in to see what was happening.
John was smiling, but his eyes carried no warmth as he turned back to Ron and said softly, "I hope you'll stick to your word."
He raised his hand and made a grasping motion in the air.
The Summoning Charm activated.
" Accio Fire Goblet."
The Goblet of Fire, originally placed in the entrance hall, began to shake violently. The students nearby, sensing something was off, quickly stepped aside.
In the next moment, the Goblet of Fire shot out like a cannonball, flying through the air at breakneck speed.
It landed perfectly in John's outstretched hand, securely caught.
The Great Hall fell so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Even Dumbledore was momentarily stunned as he watched the scene unfold.
The wooden goblet, burning with blue flames, rested in John's hand. Those nearby instinctively stepped back.
John placed the Goblet of Fire directly in front of Ron. The blue flames crackled and flickered, casting an eerie light on Ron's pale face.
"Now, you can be the champion you want to be," John said.
His sharp, imposing gaze bore into Ron, who looked utterly overwhelmed. Malfoy took the lead in jeering, laughing loudly, "Go on, Weasley, throw your name in!"
"I'll remind you," John added coldly, "putting your name into the goblet means signing a contract with it. Even if it means picking your teeth in the jaws of a dragon, you'll have to show up."
John's icy words cut deep.
Ron tried to muster the courage to toss his name into the goblet, but his hands refused to obey. He hadn't even prepared a name slip, never imagining this situation would actually occur.
Standing there holding the Goblet of Fire, John resembled a king wielding a flaming scepter. His gaze swept across the Gryffindor table, a silent yet undeniable assertion of power.
Among those present were Seamus, who had just mocked Cedric as a "pretty boy," and Dean, who was convinced he could become a champion if the age restriction were lifted.
The two loudmouths shrank back like quails as John carried the Goblet of Fire around the long table.
"Go ahead, throw your names in. Let me see if you have the same courage to back up the words you mutter behind others' backs."
When the Goblet reached Harry, John smiled faintly and said, "Harry, aren't you going to give it a try?"
Harry clenched his fists tightly, his emerald-green eyes fixed intently on John.
"Mr. Wick," Dumbledore's voice finally broke the tension.
He looked at John with a complicated expression and said, "Put the Goblet of Fire back where it belongs."
John bent at the waist in a polite bow, his tone deferential as he replied, "Of course. I would never go against your wishes."
With that, he turned and headed toward the entrance hall.
The crowd parted to clear a path for him on both sides. John stopped just outside the age line, then took a single step forward, crossing into the circle.
"All right, the Goblet of Fire is about to make its decision," Dumbledore said. "I estimate we'll have the results in just about a minute. Now, listen closely—when the names of the champions are announced, I expect them to come to the front of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and proceed into the room next door."
He rambled on for a moment, and soon, the minute had passed.
With a grand gesture of his wand, Dumbledore extinguished all the candles in the hall except for the jack-o'-lanterns.
The Goblet of Fire began to emit a dazzling glow, its blue-and-white flames turning red. Sparks crackled and leaped out like fireworks.
A tongue of flame shot into the air, and a piece of singed parchment slowly floated down.
Dumbledore reached out and caught it, announcing clearly and powerfully: "Viktor Krum!"
This result was within everyone's expectations. Heinrich remained expressionless, though a trace of dimness flickered in his eyes.
Krum stood up, left his seat, and followed the process by entering the adjacent room.
The applause gradually subsided. A few seconds later, the Goblet of Fire spat out a second piece of parchment.
"The champion for Beauxbatons," Dumbledore announced, "Fleur Delacour!"
Fleur rose gracefully, her silvery hair shimmering as she lightly moved between the tables.
She, too, entered the adjacent room.
Once again, the Goblet of Fire turned red. Flames shot high into the air, and the third piece of parchment emerged.
"The champion for Hogwarts," Dumbledore declared loudly, "Cedric Diggory!"
Cheers erupted, especially from the Hufflepuff table.
Malfoy, noticing Ron's sour expression, raised his eyebrows smugly and shot him a mocking look.
The commotion eventually quieted down. Just as Dumbledore was about to conclude the selection process, the Goblet of Fire turned red yet again.
Sparks crackled and flew, and a long tongue of flame reached into the air, producing a fourth piece of parchment.
Instinctively, Dumbledore reached out to catch it. He stared at the name on it, his expression tense. After a long moment of silence, he cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Harry Potter."
This scene caught everyone off guard—even Dumbledore himself.
When Dumbledore took the parchment, he instinctively glanced at John.
After the announcement, there was no applause.
Harry saw his fellow Gryffindors sitting at the table with their mouths agape, staring at him.
"I didn't put my name in," he said in confusion, trying to explain to Ron and Hermione. "You know I didn't—"
"Harry Potter! Where is Harry Potter!"
But before he could clear things up, Dumbledore called him away.
Harry stood up awkwardly, stumbling slightly as he stepped on the hem of his robe. He followed the path forward, looking flustered.
John cast a glance at him, while Malfoy nearly burst out laughing.
"Look at the boy-who-lies, acting all innocent. John gave him a chance to enter, and he refused. Turns out he'd already snuck his name in," Malfoy sneered.
The Slytherin table erupted in laughter, treating the scene like a joke.
Their voices weren't hushed, and the Gryffindors were both furious and anxious.
Daphne tugged on John's sleeve and asked curiously, "Was it him?"
John shook his head and replied, "He doesn't have the ability."
He dismissed the possibility of Harry cheating, based purely on capability.
The only explanation was that someone else had entered Harry's name.
This would require a very strong Confundus Charm. John's thoughts drifted to the time when his Constellation Society's Chamber had been breached.
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