Chapter 303: The Age Line
The atmosphere on the Gryffindor side was cheerful and lively, as if the Weasley twins had already succeeded.
They stood on stools, each taking out Ageing Potion, and like drinking a toast, they crossed arms with each other and drank their respective potions. Then, amid the cheers and encouragement from the Gryffindors, they each pulled out their prepared parchments and, like divers, jumped directly into the line Dumbledore had drawn.
The moment the Weasley twins jumped in, there was no reaction at first.
In that instant, even Blaise almost thought they had succeeded, but Sean knew they could not possibly succeed.
Just then, a series of hissing sounds rang out. The golden line outside the Goblet of Fire suddenly burst forth two streams of light, knocking the Weasley twins out one after another. They were thrown hard onto the cold stone floor ten feet away, and both had grown snow-white beards, while their hair had also turned white, making them look like two old men.
Seeing this scene, Sean smiled and let out a light sigh.
If following the original history, this scene would be the first time the Weasley twins saw each other aged, and also the last time they would see each other aged.
Of course, now they could mock each other's old age to their heart's content when they actually grew old.
"I warned you," Dumbledore entered the entrance hall, his voice clearly containing laughter. "I suggest you go see Madam Pomfrey quickly. Miss Fawcett from Ravenclaw and Mr Summers from Hufflepuff are already there. They had the same idea as you, also wanting to age themselves a bit.
Of course, I must say fairly that their beards are nowhere near as good as yours. Relatively speaking, you two have the most beautiful beards, and they're exactly identical."
As his words fell, Dumbledore even winked at the people around, which immediately caused the Hogwarts students present to burst into laughter. The Weasley twins had no choice but to head to the hospital wing immediately, though neither felt embarrassed. Instead, they held their heads high as if very proud, leaving the entrance hall surrounded by a group of Gryffindors.
Seeing the Weasley twins leave, Dumbledore looked around and finally settled his gaze on Sean. He nodded lightly, then turned and walked into the Great Hall.
At this moment, Blaise, who had somehow left the Slytherin group earlier, returned and said to Sean: "I just went out to gather information. Warrington from our Slytherin put his name in."
"Warrington?"
Hearing Sean's question, Blaise sighed helplessly, knowing Sean couldn't place the person again.
"The big guy who looks like a sloth."
"Oh, the sloth. Now I know who you mean."
Looking at the enlightened Sean, Blaise asked: "Sean, don't you really want to try? I think you might be able to get past Dumbledore's Age Line.
They say that Angelina from the Gryffindor Quidditch team and Diggory, the Hufflepuff Quidditch captain, have both put their names in. Compared to them, Warrington obviously can't compete, right?"
Sean frowned slightly as he looked at Blaise: "Blaise, why are you suddenly so concerned about this?"
Pouting, Blaise said with obvious displeasure: "When I went over to gather information just now, I heard those Gryffindors saying that a Slytherin absolutely must not be chosen as Hogwarts' champion. They said rather than let a Slytherin be the champion, Hogwarts should just forfeit. I just can't stand it!"
"Isn't this kind of thing normal? If it were Slytherin instead, wouldn't we have similar thoughts? Rather than let a Gryffindor become champion, better to have none at all. Wouldn't Slytherin think the same way?
Of course, logic is logic, but we still need to fight back. Who told us we're Slytherins?"
During his time sitting in the entrance hall, while Sean appeared to be idly watching the excitement, he had actually been observing the line Dumbledore had established, especially when the Weasley twins entered and were repelled. Sean observed extra carefully, so he had roughly figured out how this line worked.
Detection targeting the soul!
That's right. The body's age could be changed, but the soul's age could not. This was very sophisticated magic and thinking; only someone like Dumbledore could create such magic to draw a line.
This was also why Ageing Potion, which acted on the physical body, naturally couldn't have any effect.
For most people, this kind of soul-targeting detection was completely unavoidable, but unfortunately for the detection, it was ineffective against Sean.
If this line had been completely targeted at physical detection, it would have been troublesome for Sean. But since it targeted the soul for detection, it lost its effect on Sean. Because Sean's soul age already far exceeded his physical age.
Walking up to the Age Line, Sean extended his hand into it, carefully sensing the line's changes.
Sean's actions also attracted most people's attention. They watched him. Some with disdain, some with excitement, some not caring and thinking Sean couldn't possibly succeed, and others thinking Sean was too arrogant, daring to challenge even magic set by Dumbledore. The arrogant Slytherin deserved to be taught a lesson.
To this, Sean responded with a slight smile, then stepped forward completely into the Age Line.
He walked slowly around the Goblet of Fire within the Age Line. At first, people from other houses still maintained some expectation of watching a spectacle, waiting for Sean to be bounced out by the Age Line. But as time passed and the Age Line showed no reaction whatsoever, and Sean had been walking inside for nearly a minute, the crowd outside finally realised that Sean had truly evaded the Age Line's detection!
BOOM!
The Slytherin side immediately erupted in deafening cheers.
Meanwhile, people from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff also applauded and cheered.
At this moment, the Beauxbatons group entered the entrance hall, led by Madame Maxime. They looked at Sean within the Age Line, all showing shocked expressions. They naturally knew who Sean was. In fact, last night after Fleur had actively sat beside Sean, the Beauxbatons people had already investigated Sean's background thoroughly.
Naturally, they also knew Sean's age.
"Fleur, what is this about? Did Dumbledore give him special treatment?"
"Headmistress, I'm more inclined to think that Sean used his own abilities to evade the Age Line's detection.
He has that capability!"