After various events, the delicious meal came to an end, and the plates were empty. At the same time, two men entered. Dumbledore introduced them. One was Bartemius Crouch Senior from the International Magical Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Magic. The other was Ludo Bagman from the Department of Magical Games and Sports. These two seemed to have worked hard to revive the Triwizard Tournament. They will not only manage but also judge the event.
"Now then, Mr. Filch. Bring the box here."
The caretaker, Filch, brought a wooden box studded with jewels in front of Dumbledore. When Dumbledore tapped the wooden box with his wand, the lid opened. Inside was a large, rough wooden goblet, from the rim of which a pale blue flame danced.
"As you all know, the competitors in the tournament will be three champions selected from each school. The champions will have to complete various tasks. Not only magical skills are required. Courage, knowledge, insight, ability to deal with danger, and various other abilities will be needed. The Goblet of Fire will fairly select those who are most suitable and possess these abilities."
Everyone in the Great Hall focused on the Goblet of Fire. Leo was also analyzing it with his 'eye'.
"Anyone who wants to put their name forward as a champion must write their name and school on a piece of parchment and put it in this goblet within 24 hours. Tomorrow night on Halloween, it will return the names of the three most suitable people from each school. The goblet is scheduled to be placed in the entrance hall."
The underage students who had judged that they had a chance if they only put parchment in the goblet were excited. However, they made bitter faces when they heard Dumbledore's next words.
"In addition, each school's headmaster has set up obstacles to prevent underage people, those under 17 years old, from putting their names in the goblet. We have also received cooperation from two people from the Ministry of Magic and teachers. If you are an adult, you can pass without any problem, but if you are underage and try to break through, you will be repelled. We also have measures such as controlling someone over 17 years old to put it in, so tricks won't work. If there is a student who can break through this by any chance, it is recognized that they have ability and they are considered to have the right to put their name in the goblet. In that sense, it might be said that this is the first task. Well, even if you put your name in, it doesn't mean you will definitely become a champion."
They increased underage measures significantly compared to the original plan. Of course, it was a measure against Leonard Taylor.
(I hope this will somehow work...)
While thinking so, he looked at Leo. Seeing his motivated figure, Dumbledore realized his mistake.
The headmasters' obstruction magic had stimulated Leo's motivation. He had been somewhat interested in the tasks from the beginning, but he had come to think about how to break through each school headmaster's obstruction.
(It's clear that Headmaster Dumbledore was thinking about me. In other words, a more powerful effect would be exerted on me. Hehe... It's exciting.)
The banquet disbanded and Hogwarts students returned to their dormitories while Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students returned to their respective carriages and sailing ships.
Leo also returned to his laboratory and fell asleep while thinking about what kind of obstruction there would be and how he could be chosen by the Goblet of Fire.
The next day was Halloween day so as usual Hogwarts was filled with pumpkin smell.
The Goblet of Fire was set up in the entrance hall and students over 17 years old were throwing parchments one after another into it. But only those over 17 years old and teachers were watching that situation.
There was not a single underage person seen in the hall or even around it."
The cause of this, of course, is interference with minors. Currently, Hogwarts is covered by a barrier created by Madame Maxime and Flitwick. The effects of this barrier are that minors can't remember the Triwizard Tournament, can't recognize information about it, lose the will to run for candidacy even if they do remember, and can't recognize the entrance hall, among other things... It's a mental interference that covers a dozen or so items. As a result, students who have not reached the age are living their usual daily lives.
This mental interference is broken through with strong will and defense, and the students who reach the entrance hall are met with interference from Karkaroff, Snape, and Sprout. The moment a minor enters the entrance hall, the hall changes to another place. There awaits a labyrinth filled with various traps set up by the three of them. Of course, there's nothing that would hurt the students considering their safety, but it's made up entirely of things that are annoying and time-consuming.
For example, magical plants that cause hay fever so severe that you can't stop sneezing or running your nose and can't think properly, a room that you can only exit from a door on a slope where friction has been reduced to almost zero, a room where a magical potion that makes you fall asleep instantly and absolutely not wake up for 24 hours is scattered.
If you get past that and reach the entrance hall, the last thing waiting for you is Dumbledore's age line. This is a simple thing that minors cannot cross, but to break through this you have to surpass the power of Albus Dumbledore, who is said to be the greatest wizard of this century. To make sure, there are about a hundred elaborate fakes that look just like the Goblet of Fire beyond the age line set up by McGonagall. Of course, only minors can see it.
Now, this excessive measure against minors. When preparing this, Dumbledore and the Hogwarts faculty persuaded Madame Maxime and Karkaroff as well as the Ministry of Magic with just one word.
"There's a risk that Leonard Taylor will run for candidacy."
Leonard Taylor's name is known in other countries for his excellent research results, and both headmasters became cooperative to reduce Hogwarts' chances of winning. The Ministry of Magic also agreed because they wanted to hype up the match.
There's less than an hour left until the deadline, after which the Halloween party will start. In other words, in about an hour's time, the representative players will be decided. So far there's no sign of any minors approaching near the entrance hall.
Dumbledore prayed that time would pass without any incidents. And no minor put parchment in until after the deadline had passed.
At the start of the party at the same time as the barrier was lifted, even minors remembered the Triwizard Tournament. Everyone was talking about what they had forgotten until now and regretting it. Everyone was enjoying the Halloween party but more attention was focused on who would be chosen as representatives.
The food on the plates was completely gone and Dumbledore stood up and started talking.
"Well then, it seems like the Goblet of Fire has finished selecting representative players. Those whose names are called should enter the next room. There you'll be explained about the first task."
With one swing of Dumbledore's wand all the candle flames in the Great Hall went out and only the flame of Goblet was shining. All students and teachers were focused on Goblet.
The Goblet flared up red and spat out burnt parchment.
Dumbledore grabbed it and read it out loud.
"The representative player from Durmstrang is... Viktor Krum!"
"The Great Hall was filled with cheers and applause. Krum walked into the next room with a dignified stride.
Again, the flame turned red, and a new piece of parchment appeared.
"The representative from Beauxbatons is... Fleur Delacour!"
Fleur stood up and walked out with an exaggeratedly graceful walk.
The flame turned red for the third time. A third piece of parchment came out.
"The representative from Hogwarts is... Cedric Diggory!"
The students of Hogwarts, especially those from Hufflepuff, clapped so hard it seemed their arms would break. The cheering was already like a scream, and there was a commotion as if they had already won.
Once the representatives had disappeared into the next room, Dumbledore began to speak again.
"With this, the three representatives have been decided. Those who were not chosen..."
At that moment, the flame of the Goblet of Fire turned red again, and a fourth piece of parchment was spat out.
The students, teachers, officials from the Ministry of Magic, Madame Maxime, Karkaroff, and even Dumbledore looked surprised.
The only ones who remained calm were a single boy and his pet.
Dumbledore picked it up with trembling hands and read it out.
"Leonard Taylor..."