Karkaroff laughed loudly.
"I knew it would be him!"
But his joy had nothing to do with Krum himself.
Krum, on the other hand, looked slightly displeased.
Still, he walked toward the room behind Dumbledore without a word.
A few seconds after Krum went in, Fleur's na burst out of the Goblet. She rose gracefully, smiling as she blew Darren a flying kiss.
That single kiss imdiately made quite a few Hogwarts girls unhappy.
Even so of the Beauxbatons girls looked unhappy too.
They were annoyed not because Fleur had been chosen—but because she dared to flirt so openly with a boy from Hogwarts.
As if all Hogwarts boys belonged to Beauxbatons by right.
Fleur, of course, paid no attention to any of it.
She walked lightly toward the room behind Dumbledore, looking pleased.
Mada Maxi finally let out a breath of relief.
She smiled softly.
"Now… the Hogwarts champions. Here it cos."
Darren straightened imdiately.
He saw Dumbledore take the slip of parchnt from the Goblet.
The mont Dumbledore read it, his expression changed.
Shock.
Concern.
Unease.
He looked at Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch.
"I believe there is a problem with Hogwarts's selection. The student chosen does not et the age requirent. I believe the list must be redrawn."
"No!"
Before Bagman or Crouch could speak, Karkaroff sneered.
"No. Whoever the Goblet chooses is the champion. Dumbledore, are you suggesting we break the rules?"
"But this student absolutely did not put his na into the Goblet," Dumbledore said firmly. "I can personally guarantee it."
Barty Crouch spoke coldly.
"The Goblet of Fire has never produced a na that did not compete. Headmaster Dumbledore, I assu you do not intend for this student to die by refusing a magical contract?"
Dumbledore's expression darkened at once.
Anger flashed through his eyes.
But in the end… he compromised.
Slowly, he looked toward Darren.
There was concern in his gaze.
"The Hogwarts champion… Darren Potter."
His voice was low when he announced it.
Completely different from the energetic, ceremonial tone he'd used earlier.
But those few quiet words exploded through the Great Hall like thunder.
"You're joking!"
"That's impossible!"
"Darren didn't enter!"
"I've been with him the whole ti!"
The Hogwarts section erupted.
Total chaos.
Dumbledore raised his hand.
Silence fell instantly.
Then he looked directly at Darren.
"Darren… step forward."
Darren froze, then forced himself to show a stunned, disbelieving expression.
"Headmaster… I—I didn't… I swear I didn't put my na in! This tournant is only for students over seventeen—I'm only fourteen, I…!"
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining the identity of the person who submitted the host's na.]
[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining Voldemort's motive for wanting to see the host.]
Na: Cedric Diggory.
Reason: Voldemort wishes to let his 'child' witness the downfall of a so-called great man at the final mont.
Darren's eyelid twitched.
Voldemort's motive didn't surprise him much.
But Cedric?
Cedric Diggory?
That was sothing he absolutely did not expect.
He had literally saved both Cedric and Amos Diggory during the sumr.
Although…
He had also incidentally gotten Amos kicked out of the Ministry of Magic.
But Cedric didn't know that.
Right?
Darren looked over.
Cedric actually looked… happy.
Happy.
Darren had no idea what kind of logic led to that expression.
Was he thinking this was so elaborate way of thanking him?
Was this revenge disguised as kindness?
Darren instantly understood the full chain of events.
Those people only needed to tell Cedric one thing—
That Darren wanted to participate in the Triwizard Tournant but was underage—
And Cedric would absolutely help him without hesitation.
Darren really wanted to sing:
Listen to say thank you…
But obviously this was not the ti.
Snape interrupted his thoughts.
His face was dark, his voice sharp but controlled.
"Of course it can't be you. If little Potter had that level of intelligence, he would have conquered the Ministry of Magic by now."
Then he turned to Dumbledore.
"This is clearly a prank. Soone deliberately put little Potter's na into the Goblet."
"Whoever did it—step forward. Now."
Cedric hesitated visibly.
He did not originally intend to step out.
But Darren was already irritated.
Participating in the Tournant was one thing.
Soone making that decision for him behind his back was another.
So Darren spent one hundred Holy Father points.
Cedric's arm rose.
"It was you." Dumbledore's voice was calm, but heavy.
Cedric looked confused at first.
Then realization hit him.
And after a second, his expression beca awkward… but firm.
"…Yes. It was ."
He clearly believed he had done the right thing.
Darren curved his lips slightly.
Then, in a careful, gently wounded tone, he asked—
"Senior… did I offend you sohow? Or are you disappointed in ? Is that why you forced into the Triwizard Tournant like this?"
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding…]
The Holy Father points surged.
No one would ever think being entered without consent was a good thing.
Yet Darren was here, openly asking Cedric why he did it—like he was genuinely afraid he'd done sothing wrong.
If it were any other student, they'd already be furious.
Snape sneered.
"I believe everyone knows exactly why Mr. Diggory did this."
"After all—during the sumr, you personally sent Mr. Diggory's father straight out of the Ministry of Magic."
He spoke to Darren.
But his eyes were locked on Cedric.
Cold.
Sharp.
rciless.
Like he wanted Cedric dead.
Then Snape turned to Dumbledore, his voice fully hard now.
"I don't believe Hogwarts needs students who make life-and-death decisions for others without permission."
But before he could continue—
The Goblet of Fire suddenly burst into fla again.
Another piece of parchnt shot into the air.
Gasps rang through the hall.
Dumbledore caught it in mid-air.
His eyes widened.
"…Harry Potter."
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