Dumbledore's announcent plunged the Great Hall into a strange kind of silence.
When Darren's na had appeared, the hall had erupted in shock, worry, and disbelief.
But when Harry's na ca out—
The reaction was completely different.
Almost at once, several senior students shouted in anger.
"This is cheating! Pure cheating!"
"That's right! I can accept Darren being chosen!"
"He's the strongest at Hogwarts, and he only missed the age limit by one year—and it was Diggory who helped him enter!"
"But Harry Potter? What does he have?!"
"That's right—disqualify him!"
"Silence!"
Dumbledore raised his wand.
The hall instantly quieted.
Darren took a sharp breath.
"How is that even possible?" he cried, voice shaking. "Headmaster Dumbledore, my brother definitely didn't put his na in!"
"The Triwizard Tournant is deadly—my brother would never do that!"
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding…]
His voice broke the heavy silence Dumbledore had created.
Dumbledore turned to Harry, his gaze serious.
"Harry. Did you put your na into the Goblet of Fire?"
"I—I didn't!" Harry said at once.
Just a second earlier, he had been glaring at Cedric.
Darren had saved him, and Cedric had still thrown Darren's na into the Goblet.
It was already outrageous.
Who would have thought that his own na would co out next?
"I swear it wasn't ," Harry said imdiately.
Dumbledore lifted his gaze and scanned the Hogwarts seats.
"Who else inserted a na that did not belong to them into the Goblet of Fire that night?"
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Only Snape broke the silence with a cold laugh.
"Even if these students tried to enter Harry Potter's na, it doesn't an he would be chosen."
"The Goblet of Fire picks the strongest."
"As for Harry Potter… he must have used so strange thod. He always does."
"After all—special treatnt, the so-called savior…"
"Professor Snape!"
Darren raised his voice.
"My brother absolutely would not do this! I guarantee it!"
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding…]
Snape was just about to continue when his gaze suddenly shifted to Cedric.
His voice dropped to an icy level.
"I think soone here should be expelled."
"Professor!"
Darren imdiately stepped forward.
"Senior Cedric didn't an it. He just… he just thought he was helping."
"I don't bla him."
Then Darren straightened, forcing himself to say sothing that clearly pained him.
"I… I am the strongest at Hogwarts. I can compete in the Triwizard Tournant."
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding…]
It was an unbelievably arrogant statent.
But not a single person disliked him for it.
Instead, the looks people gave him were full of sympathy.
Even Snape huffed through his nose and stopped pushing for Cedric's expulsion.
But he did not completely let him off.
"Confinent. Mr. Diggory. One full term. Agreed?"
Cedric nodded imdiately.
Guilt was written plainly all over his face.
In truth, even Cedric himself didn't understand why he had done it.
Darren could tell.
Cedric had most likely been affected by sothing—so potion or curse that pushed him toward impulsive decisions.
But that didn't erase the consequences.
Still…
It was better than dying in the graveyard.
Darren clicked his tongue inwardly and stopped caring about Cedric for now.
He turned back to Harry.
"Headmaster, my brother really didn't an any of this," he said urgently.
"I swear with my life—he's innocent."
"So please… can you allow my brother not to participate?"
Barty Crouch answered coldly.
"No."
"As I told Headmaster Dumbledore earlier—if he breaks the contract… he will die."
Darren's complexion drained instantly.
Even his body swayed.
He looked pale and shaken.
Dumbledore exhaled quietly, eyes dark.
"Darren. Harry. You two go inside first."
With no way to argue further, Darren could only swallow all his frustration and follow Harry into the side chamber.
"Darren, you're in too?" Fleur asked brightly when she saw him.
Her eyes sparkled with excitent.
Krum frowned at him in confusion as well.
Darren opened his mouth to explain—
But before he could say anything, Dumbledore, Mada Maxi, Karkaroff, and the others entered from behind.
Mada Maxi's face was stormy.
"Dumbledore, I believe sothing is very wrong with Hogwarts!"
"You actually have two champions!"
Karkaroff sneered.
"If that's how you want to play it, then perhaps I should select another champion as well?"
They pressed Dumbledore from both sides.
But this ti, Dumbledore did not remain calm.
Instead, his tone carried unmistakable anger.
"Karkaroff."
"Can you tell why this situation exists?"
"Don't tell you don't understand what's happening here."
"I—I don't," Karkaroff stamred.
His hands trembled.
Even Mada Maxi paused, watching closely as he unconsciously took half a step back.
Clearly, he did not want to be dragged into whatever this was.
Then a rough voice cut in.
"Karkaroff, my old friend…"
"Are you really questioning everyone else?"
"Do you think Potter's na was put in so he could win?"
"They want him dead. Plain and simple."
"I didn't—this is an accusation!" Karkaroff snapped.
"Moody, you're slandering ! I'll file a complaint!"
"Complain all you like," Moody growled.
"Then everyone can hear about—"
"Alastor!"
Dumbledore interrupted sharply.
He fell silent.
For a long mont, the room felt heavy.
Then he turned to Darren and Harry, his voice calr—but resolute.
"Children… fate has chosen you."
"You have entered into a magical contract."
"You must compete."
"Promise … you will protect yourselves."
He looked directly at Darren.
Darren nodded at once, his expression firm.
"I'll protect my brother."
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding, Father value 100]
[Ding…]
"Worry about yourself first."
"You're the one the Death Eaters are after."
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