It's just a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

Chapter 263 Goblet of Fire

What happened to the students below, Sherlock didn't know.

Because halfway through the dinner, two adult wizards who did not belong to any magic school came to the professor's long table on the high platform of the auditorium.

Director of the Department of Magical Sports of the Ministry of Magic - Ludo Balmain, Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation - Barty Crouch.

Both of these people are senior officials at the director level of the British Ministry of Magic, second only to Fudge as a minister in the entire magical government's position system.

And the Triwizard Tournament that will officially start today is related to the functions they are responsible for.

The two of them had come to Hogwarts tonight, along with the other two wizarding schools, and were still sitting to Dumbledore's left and right, which didn't surprise the professors who saw them.

Even some politically sensitive students take it for granted.

Sherlock's position on the high platform was not very far from Dumbledore in the middle, before Filch filled the empty chair.There was only one Professor McGonagall between them.

Now there are Durmstrang's principal Karkaroff and sports director Balmain on his side, and he can still hear what the people in the center are talking about during the dinner.

"Oh, sorry, Batty and I got caught up in some matters in the department, so we came a little late." This was Balmain's voice.

"Now is not the time to talk about this, Ludo." Dumbledore's voice was very enthusiastic. "Let me introduce, although you may already know each other. These two are from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. The headmaster, Mrs. Maxim and Professor Karkaroff."

A stiff and cold voice sounded, and Sherlock could recognize it immediately. It belonged to Barty Crouch, whose son had just died.

"I don't need you to introduce it. The Triwizard Tournament can be held as scheduled because of the two of them who were contacted by Ludo and I. What we want to know more is whether that thing can resume normal work tonight."

For his choking tone and words, Dumbledore still smiled.

"Of course, Barty, although it hasn't worked for hundreds of years, I believe it can still work stably."

Balmain smiled dryly and smoothed things over.

"Let us raise our glasses together to wish the success of the Triwizard Tournament!"

"Aha, it's certainly worth a drink." Dumbledore raised the gold cup in his hand with a smile on his face.

Beside him, Madam Maxim and Karkaroff, who had not spoken much, also raised their cups.

In the end, Crouch also raised the glass together, and the four of them touched lightly, and then drank the cider that was not high in alcohol.

While they were toasting, Sherlock, who lowered his head and eavesdropped while cutting steak with a knife and fork, couldn't help curling his lips, wondering in his heart how many of the four people whose glasses collided were harboring ulterior motives of.

"After the dinner party is over, you and I will come to my office with me."

After putting a tender and juicy steak into his mouth, Sherlock turned his head and said to Silk on his left.

Silk just turned his head and glanced at him silently, without saying anything.

Sherlock looked serious.

"I have something important about Fiddlesticks, and I must discuss it with you alone."

Silk, who had never dropped the chain at critical moments, nodded slightly.

Compared with the professor's long table on the high platform, the atmosphere of the students below is obviously much more cheerful.

The students of Beauxbaton and Durmstrang who came to Hogwarts showed full curiosity about the oldest magic school in Europe.

On the Ravenclaw long table and the Slytherin long table, they chatted well with students from the two houses.

Hogwarts students also showed a strong interest in the study and life of other schools.

And no matter which school the little wizard is looking forward to the upcoming Triwizard Tournament.

At the long table in Gryffindor, Hermione, who discovered something amazing, was about to continue the cliche of the proud silly girl next to her.

Dumbledore on the high platform suddenly stood up, patted his palms twice, and attracted the attention of everyone in the auditorium to himself.

Afterwards, he announced that the Triwizard Tournament was about to officially begin, and introduced the identities of Balmain and Crouch.

The principals of the three schools and the two senior officials of the Ministry of Magic are the five referees of the competition that will be held for most of the semester.

"As you already know, there will be three warriors participating in the competition." Dumbledore said calmly, his voice echoing in the auditorium.

"These three warriors represent a participating school respectively. We will grade them according to the quality of each event they complete. After the three events are over, the warrior with the highest score will win the Tri-Power Cup. The warrior who is responsible for selecting the warrior is An impartial selector."

When he said this, Filch, the castle steward, brought up a large wooden box studded with jewels in good time.

Dumbledore drew out his wand, tapped the lid of the wooden box a few times, and the box creaked open by itself.

A rough wooden goblet was taken out of the wooden box by Dumbledore. The cup itself was not very conspicuous, but the blue-white flame burning in the cup attracted everyone's attention.

"The Goblet of Fire."

Dumbledore said loudly.

"Every student who wants to be a warrior must write his name and the name of his school on a piece of parchment and throw it into this goblet. Tomorrow night, at the Halloween dinner, the Goblet of Fire will choose It considers the Warriors who best represent the three schools."

"Of course, there is also the age limit I mentioned before. In order to prevent some students from being tempted, I will draw an age line in front of storing this goblet. Any student under the age of 17 cannot pass through this line." age line."

"Finally, I want to emphasize one more point."

He looked around at everyone in the castle with a serious expression.

"All students selected by the Goblet of Fire must participate in this Triwizard Tournament. Throwing their names into the cup actually forms a magical contract that must be obeyed and cannot be violated. Once they become warriors, they will not You are allowed to change your mind. So I would like to remind everyone that you must think twice and think about the consequences before deciding whether to put your name in the cup."

His voice made the entire auditorium a little noisy, and when the competition really came, the students were extremely excited.

(End of this chapter)