First came surprise, then understanding.
Dumbledore's smile hadn't changed, but the professors who'd worked with him for years could sense instantly that something was off.
And even if they hadn't, the strange pause on the stage was obvious to anyone who wasn't blind.
Which was exactly why the professors in the gallery were left staring in shock.
It wasn't easy to make Dumbledore hesitate like this—unless the parchment truly held something astonishing.
Naturally, every professor turned their puzzled gaze toward the slip of parchment in Dumbledore's hand.
If he hadn't seen something unexpected, he would never be reacting this way...
Amid the sudden tension, Snape—seated at the outermost end of the staff table—was glowering at Harry Potter, his expression dark as he silently mulled over something.
A few seats away, Alastor Moody was the first to swivel his twitching blue magical eye toward Pansy's direction. But Pansy, too caught up in her excitement and nerves, didn't notice his scrutiny at all.
The heads of the other two magical schools exchanged equally baffled looks...
"Albus?" Minerva McGonagall whispered, both worried and curious after watching Dumbledore make no further move.
"I'm fine, Minerva. Merely… surprised by my student."
"Surprised?" Minerva hadn't expected to hear such a word from Dumbledore of all people.
"I imagine many will be unhappy with this result, but…"
Dumbledore's unfinished sentence made the young wizards below feel a heavy sense of dread.
The looks being cast toward Cedric Diggory grew increasingly strange.
And Cedric, sensing every one of those stares, felt his own face darken...
…
Dumbledore lifted his gaze from the parchment. Just before announcing the Hogwarts Champion, he paused for a moment.
Harry Potter wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he saw Dumbledore glance toward Draco. He had no time to think it over—the next words seized everyone's attention...
"Hogwarts' Champion—"
A bad feeling twisted in Cedric Diggory's chest, but he still straightened up, full of expectation that Dumbledore would call his name.
No matter what, in terms of age and ability, he was the most suitable candidate for Champion.
Responding to the burning, hopeful stares from Hufflepuff, Dumbledore adjusted his glasses, cleared his throat, and read aloud:
"Draco Malfoy!!"
"Great—wait, what?"
"Who did the Headmaster just say?"
"Draco Malfoy. Do we even have a Gryffindor with that name?"
"....."
Every student stiffly turned their heads toward the Slytherin table, where equally stunned faces stared back at them.
But past those shocked Slytherins, the real sight was Pansy—glowing with pride—and Draco himself, rising slowly from his seat with a faint, unreadable smile.
There was only one Draco Malfoy at Hogwarts, and there would only ever be one.
In that instant, the entire hall erupted—
"Impossible!!"
"This has to be a mistake! How could it be him?!"
"He must've cheated!"
"There's definitely something wrong here!!"
After a single stunned heartbeat, disbelief and protests flooded the Great Hall. Some bold students even shot Dumbledore looks of open distrust.
Wasn't there supposed to be an age restriction?
How had Draco registered successfully—and even been chosen by the Goblet of Fire?
The furious glares aimed at Draco made it look as though something rightfully theirs had been stolen...
The uproar was enough to make Minerva McGonagall jump to her feet. She strode quickly past a seething Snape and stepped beside Dumbledore.
"Quiet! Quiet!"
But her shouts did little to calm the enraged students, especially the Gryffindors led by the Weasley twins.
They all stood, shouting toward the Slytherins.
"We refuse to accept a Death Eater as our school's Champion!"
"Ha! The Goblet of Fire clearly disagrees."
"You lot must've cheated! This isn't fair!"
"The facts say our Draco is the most qualified—certainly more than your so-called hope, and definitely more than the Chosen One who can't even cast properly."
Even though they were just as shocked, the Slytherins quickly recovered and—led by Goyle and Crabbe—threw themselves into the shouting match with the furious Gryffindors.
Ambition and glory.
Both carved into every Slytherin's bones. They had no reason to hand them over.
And thanks to Goyle's sharp insults, students from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were soon dragged into the conflict as well.
After all, their "hope" hadn't been chosen either...
...
Even though Cedric Diggory was one of the most capable and steady wizards of his age, the emotional whiplash left him momentarily dazed. He stared at Draco—smiling, composed, completely unfazed by the chaos he'd caused—his eyes unfocused and hollow.
Cho Chang tugged at him anxiously. "Cedric? Cedric, are you okay?"
"Ah… oh… just… shocked. It should've been—"
"Damn it! That bloke must've tricked Dumbledore somehow. Dark magic, or some illegal artifact! The Headmaster would never allow this!"
Ron Weasley's words made Cedric's eyes brighten.
Yes… the Headmaster hadn't said anything to address it yet...
BOOM!
The thunderous blast snapped everyone's attention to the front.
Dumbledore lowered his wand and swept his calm gaze across the hall. That single look silenced every lingering protest.
"We must respect the Goblet of Fire's decision. Now, proceed through that door, our clever Mr. Malfoy."
"As you wish, Headmaster."
Draco's response—lightly amused, paired with a flawlessly elegant aristocratic bow—made Pansy let out a soft, delighted laugh as she watched him walk away.
And that single laugh reignited every wizard's fury in an instant.
Because they all knew exactly what it meant.
They'd been utterly humiliated...
...