When it came time to register, a long line had formed in front of the Goblet of Fire. Even a few first-year Hogwarts students had slipped into the crowd, though no one bothered to chase them away.
So far, not a single person had been able to cross the age line Dumbledore had set.
The Great Hall was filled with tension as students whispered to each other about who might become a champion and how one could possibly get past that seemingly insurmountable boundary.
Soon it was the twins, Fred and George's turn. They pulled from their pockets a vial of carefully brewed Aging Potion, then drank it in the fashion of a toast.
The surrounding students held their breath, watching intently.
A smug grin spread across the twins' faces as they boldly strode toward the line Dumbledore had drawn.
To everyone's astonishment, they crossed it!
"Whoa!"
"Go, Fred! Go, George!"
"Brilliant, just like that—become champions!!"
The cheers of their peers made the twins puff up with pride, like victorious generals. They strutted over to the Goblet of Fire, ready to cast their names in.
"BANG!!"
A tremendous blast rang out as an invisible force hurled them backward, tossing them across the age line. They crashed heavily onto the floor. A wave of sighs and a few muffled laughs rippled through the crowd.
Fred and George scrambled up, brushing dust off their robes, as the hall erupted in laughter.
The backlash from the age line had left their hair and eyebrows snow-white, with long beards sprouting from their chins. They blinked at each other, then both broke out laughing, pointing and wheezing until they collapsed on the ground.
"I daresay Madam Pomfrey could restore you two to normal," Dumbledore remarked from the staircase, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"No need, Headmaster," Fred said between gasps, tugging at his new beard. "This is far too cool."
George nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, we love it."
The twins stroked their long beards in imitation of Dumbledore, beaming with pride.
"Your beards are quite magnificent," Dumbledore admitted, even sounding a little envious.
Within half a day, Hogwarts was overrun with white-haired, bearded "old men." Dozens of younger students had purchased Aging Potion from the twins, attempting to breach the line—every single one failed.
Not that it mattered much; the backlash was harmless, only lasting a few days. None of them even bothered visiting the infirmary. Instead, they held contests to see whose beard was the longest or most splendid.
Far from discouraged, Fred and George used the incident to turn a tidy profit.
A few days later came the time to announce the Triwizard Tournament champions. The Great Hall was packed to the brim, every student filled with anticipation, hoping to be chosen.
Dumbledore, as the eldest headmaster, presided over the ceremony. Beside him stood Barty Crouch, the Ministry of Magic's representative. His stern expression swept across the hall as he surveyed the students below.
Dumbledore raised his hands, signaling everyone to quiet down.
"Now, let us witness the Goblet of Fire's choice."
Suddenly, the Goblet blazed brightly, flames shooting upward and wrapping around a slip of parchment.
Dumbledore caught it and read aloud in a ringing voice:
"Representing Durmstrang Institute—the champion is Viktor Krum!!"
Applause and cheers thundered through the hall. Krum being chosen was expected; no one in his school could rival him. Calmly, with the confidence of someone who had foreseen this outcome, he stood up and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
As the applause subsided, Dumbledore drew the next parchment.
"Representing Beauxbatons Academy—the champion is Fleur Delacour!!"
Among the Beauxbatons students, the most beautiful girl rose gracefully to her feet. That simple motion alone captivated countless boys in the hall.
Unlike Krum, however, Fleur was not universally admired at her school. Some students rolled their eyes at her selection, showing their disdain.
The Goblet flared again.
"Representing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—the champion is Cedric Diggory!!"
The hall erupted with its loudest cheer yet.
Krum's fame and Fleur's beauty could not compare with Cedric being "one of their own." Students crowded around him, congratulating him warmly.
The three champions instantly became the focus of attention, surrounded by excited peers offering praise and well-wishes.
Then—
BANG!
The Goblet of Fire spat out another slip of parchment.
Everyone froze. Even Dumbledore stood in stunned silence, parchment in hand, unmoving. As every eye fixed on him, he slowly opened it and read the name aloud:
"Harry Potter."
The hall fell deathly silent, before bursting into a storm of uproar. Harry Potter—a boy of only fourteen—had been chosen as a fourth champion.
All eyes turned to Harry.
He stood rooted to the spot, dazed, until Hermione gave him a push. Only then did he realize he had truly been chosen.
The Triwizard Tournament had always had three champions. A fourth was unprecedented.
The hall descended into chaos. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students shouted accusations of Hogwarts cheating, while Madam Maxime and Karkaroff's faces darkened with severity.
Dumbledore stepped forward, restoring order, and instructed Professor McGonagall to escort Harry away.
"Please, everyone, calm yourselves. We will uncover the truth as quickly as possible and ensure the fairness of this competition."
Once the students were soothed, Dumbledore quickly convened a council: the three headmasters, Barty Crouch, and the Hogwarts professors gathered to discuss this unforeseen event.
Madam Maxime was the most furious, openly questioning the legitimacy of the tournament.
"This is clearly unfair! The Goblet should never have chosen a fourth champion."
To Wes Elwin's surprise, Karkaroff did not oppose Harry's inclusion as he had in the original story. Instead, he pushed strongly for Harry to compete.
"The Goblet's choice has its reasons," Karkaroff said. "We cannot easily deny it. Since four champions have been selected, we must respect the decision."
Wes couldn't help but glance at him more than once, suspicion stirring. Karkaroff's attitude was completely different from what Wes remembered in the original tale—what was his true agenda?
Barty Crouch declared that the Goblet could not be mistaken.
"The Goblet of Fire is an ancient magical artifact. It would not make such a choice without cause. By tradition, those chosen must compete."
After lengthy debate, the three headmasters reached agreement: they would accept the Goblet's verdict.
The Triwizard Tournament, revived after so many years, now faced an unprecedented twist—four champions.
°°°
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