Jake chuckled in response to Hermione's concerns. "Oh, don't worry. I've learned a few spells already," he assured her with a calm demeanor.
He had spent the entire day at the library, dedicating himself to the study of magic. Though he was still a beginner, he had managed to grasp a total of three spells.
However, he hadn't had the chance to try them all just yet. He did manage to cast a shield spell successfully on his first attempt, which surprised him.
As for the other two spells he had learned, they involved explosions and fire, so he wisely decided not to practice them indoors. Safety first, after all.
As they continued their conversation, students from the other tables were left confused by the sudden rush of younger Gryffindors down the hall. 'Where were they all going?
Did Fred and George spike their food, leading to magical diarrhea?' That was sadly a valid question going through the minds of many students.
"Hey, where's everyone running off to?" A pretty girl with red hair and a surprisingly large chest for her age shouted from the Hufflepuff table.
Ginny Weasley spoke up, loud enough for the entire hall to hear. "Apparently, this new student over here," she paused and pointed at Jake, who felt a little uncomfortable with all three schools' eyes on him,
"he's only 16 years old and was able to enter his name into the tournament. That means something went wrong with Dumbledore's age line,
and now all the boys under 16 who wanted to be in the tournament are rushing to enter their names before the deadline in a couple of minutes." She provided an explanation for the entire hall to hear.
"Holy crap!" Exclaimed a Hufflepuff boy.
"We've got to get in on this!" Added a younger Ravenclaw.
"Hurry up, let's go! We've only got five minutes left! Run for it as fast as you can!" The students from all houses began to surge out of the Great Hall, racing toward the Goblet of Fire to try and submit their names before the deadline.
The teachers seated at the head table looked on in shock as the younger students made a mad dash. Some turned to Dumbledore, questioning the integrity of his age line magic.
Dumbledore himself wore a bewildered expression, his gaze fixed on Jake. If the boy truly was 16, how did he manage to enter his name!? Could it be that his extraordinary magical power somehow bypassed the age line?
The possibility that Jake's innate magic resistance shattered the spell left Dumbledore with a sense of unease.
Furthermore, the rapid departure of the students made it clear that catching up to them and reinstating the age line before they entered their names would be nearly impossible.
Dumbledore silently hoped that none of the younger students from Hogwarts would be selected as champions. With several highly skilled seventh-year students participating, it seemed unlikely.
Nevertheless, doubts began to creep into Dumbledore's mind, questioning the fairness and safety of the tournament.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Jake could sense the tension in the air. The bustling students had left behind a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty.
The remaining students resumed their conversations, their voices filled with speculation and curiosity about the unexpected turn of events.
"So, Jake," Harry Potter began, breaking the silence, "what made you decide to enter the tournament if you've only just discovered magic?"
Jake leaned back in his seat, considering his response. "Well, Harry, I've always felt like I've been meant for something greater… something exciting!" He explained sincerely.
"Plus, you know as an orphan i've never had a chance to be near any money like that so I couldn't miss such an opportunity!" Harry gave him an understanding nod that Jake would recognize from one orphan to another.
Hermione's brow furrowed with concern. "But Jake, it's a highly dangerous competition. Are you prepared for the challenges that lie ahead? Have you received any formal training at all?
" She was genuinely worried about Jake's well-being, even if her thoughts had become slightly distracted by his newfound handsome appearance.
Jake shrugged and smiled at Hermione's genuine concern. "I mean it's probably fine right?" He said, "This is a school tournament after all. It's not like they're going to let me die." He elaborated to the deadpan stares all around him.
"Jake people have literally died in this tournament before!"
"Wait really!?" Jake said somewhat surprised. "I thought you were just being metaphorical or something!"
Hermione just let out a sigh and prayed the new student didn't get chosen…
Ron returned to the table, his face beaming with excitement. "Thank you so much, Jake! I made it in time to enter!" He exclaimed, loud enough for the whole hall to hear!
—
And heard his declaration they did! All the students whispered with excitement amongst themselves, contemplating the possibility of a younger student being selected as their champion.
Meanwhile, at the teachers' table, all the professors turned to stare at Dumbledore in disbelief.
Professor McGonagall, in particular, gave him a stern glare. "Albus, how could you have bungled up your spell so badly?" she asked in exasperation.
"What if a younger student gets selected? What if that new student Jake over there gets chosen? You told us he doesn't even know any magic yet." Her questions were valid for the situation, and she wanted an answer.
Albus simply looked away, somewhat defeated, and let out a sigh. Sometimes he could feel his age catching up to him, and this was one of those moments. "It seems something did indeed interfere with my age line and destroy it. I apologize.
Had I known earlier, I would have gone and corrected it. But it's too late now; the time for drawing names is over, and soon it'll be time to announce our champions,"
he said, somewhat defeated, hoping that a younger student would not be chosen. However, a sense of foreboding told him otherwise in his mind.
"What's done is done," the broody Professor Severus Snape said. "And if one of those dunderheads gets chosen and dies, well, at least we won't have to worry about their stupid genes ending up back in the breeding pool."
"Severus, how could you say such a thing!?" Professor McConnell exclaimed in shock.