"Professor Dracula, did you find anything over there?"
Dumbledore thought for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Dracula and asked.
"I still have doubts about Barty Crouch's identity." Dracula turned around, folded his arms, leaned back against the cold railing, and said casually.
"Can you give me a reason?" Dumbledore's eyes became somewhat profound.
"You say... considering the strictness of the Director of the International Magic Cooperation and Exchange Department, will he really give Potter a score as high as 9 points?" Dracula asked softly, looking at the top of the Astronomy Tower where the lights were dim.
"You can compare it with Cedric's performance - Potter was injured and actually used external objects, so his score should not be higher than Cedric's. But Mr. Crouch, who you call fair and strict, gave him a score of nine..."
"That's a bit far-fetched, Professor Dracula." Dumbledore shook his head slightly. "Maybe Mr. Crouch is just taking Harry's age into consideration? It's not easy for a 14-year-old to achieve this... Didn't Mr. Bagman give Harry full marks?"
"Bagman is just addicted to gambling again." Dracula sneered, "He lost a lot some time ago, and this time he put all his chips on Potter, hoping to make a comeback in this semi-final match."
The corner of Dumbledore's mouth twitched and he glanced at Dracula subconsciously.
It is clear that a large portion of the Galleons that Bagman lost were given to you, Professor Dracula, right
"Well, this one is indeed not very obvious." Dracula did not care what Dumbledore was thinking, and continued to talk on his own, "Then let's ignore this doubt for now and talk about the other-"
"First of all, why did Crouch agree so strongly to let Potter participate in the semi-finals? Was it simply because of the rule that 'everyone selected by the Goblet of Fire must participate in the competition'?"
Dracula turned his gaze away from the top of the tower and looked at Dumbledore meaningfully. "Although the punishment caused by the contract of the Goblet of Fire will indeed cause great harm to the contestants, is there really no other solution?"
"Potter is only a fourteen-year-old wizard after all. No one believed he could successfully complete the competition before the first event was over. Not to mention, this also makes Hogwarts, the organizer, suspected of favoritism and fraud."
"It's all very well that Bagman is keen to get Potter to compete, after all he'll do anything to win back his stake... but what about Crouch? He's notoriously demanding."
"You may have thought too much, Professor Dracula." Dumbledore obviously trusted Crouch and shook his head with a smile. "Battie may look harsh, but he still cares about others. Harry must fulfill the contract with the Goblet of Fire."
"Not necessarily?" Dracula chuckled. "If I guess correctly, Dumbledore, you should be fully capable of breaking the contract of the Goblet of Fire, right?"
"To put it bluntly, that cup is just a pretty good alchemical product. If you and Nico can't crack it together... then it's too fake."
"It can also provide Potter with a platform for training and improvement, allowing this 'savior' to grow faster and become independent. As for the dangers in the competition, it is not a problem at all. Is there any danger that you, a great wizard sitting on the judges' bench, can't solve?"
Dracula looked at Dumbledore with a half-smile, waiting for his reply.
Dumbledore was silent for a moment, then he sighed softly and exhaled a cloud of faint white mist in the cold snow.
"You're right, Professor Dracula." He said softly, "Although I still don't know who put Harry's name into the Goblet of Fire, I don't blame him at all. On the contrary, I am somewhat grateful to him."
"Voldemort has not yet completely returned, and the wizarding world, under the maintenance of Fudge, is still as calm as a pool of stagnant water on the surface. It is really difficult for me to find a way to make Harry grow up quickly..."
"And the Final Four is a perfect platform. It is under my control and has enough safety, while also giving Harry enough urgency. I can't think of any better training opportunity than for Harry to become a warrior."
"I knew it," Dracula curled his lips, "but you are the only one who has such a mentality. Crouch doesn't have as much free time as you."
"Do you think those people in the Ministry of Magic would hope that the 'savior' would grow up faster like you do? At most, they regard Potter as a mascot."
"But you overlooked one problem, Professor Dracula," Dumbledore shook his head, "Battie doesn't know that Nico and I can break the contract of the Goblet of Fire, so in order to prevent Harry from being punished by the contract, he must also agree to let Harry participate."
"It's not like there's only one way to break the contract," Dracula shrugged. "Why don't we prepare a formal match without spectators and not count the score? Can't Potter just admit defeat as soon as he enters the court?"
"As long as you are willing to think of a way, you can always find a loophole to get around it. It just depends on whether Crouch wants to do it or not."
"Perhaps Barty just had this idea on his mind, to set an example for Harry?" Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. "After all, Harry is a celebrity in the British wizarding world, and even in the entire wizarding world. Taking this opportunity to expand the influence of the British Ministry of Magic worldwide is also a feasible solution."
"And it's possible that Barty didn't think of other ways to circumvent the Goblet of Fire Covenant in a short period of time... I'll go to the Ministry of Magic and find out how he reported to Fudge."
"Well, it's better to go and ask." Dracula nodded.
"Of course, I'm just guessing, because I didn't find any traces of the Imperius Curse on Crouch, and I can't see any problems with his memory... I wonder if I can find out something if I use the truth serum..."
"Don't do that!" Dumbledore was shocked by Dracula's bold idea and quickly stopped him, "Professor Dracula, there is really no need for you to fall out with the Ministry of Magic over such an uncertain matter."
"I certainly won't let them know it was me who did it," Dracula said matter-of-factly.
"Listen to me, let's just forget about it this time..." It was a cold day, but Dumbledore felt sweat almost coming out of his forehead. "Leave this to me. I will go and confirm whether Barty has any problems or not."
"Well, what a pity..." Dracula smacked his lips regretfully.
Then, he jumped lightly, stepped on the railing covered with snow, turned around and smiled at Dumbledore:
"Good night then, Mr. Headmaster. I hope to hear from you before the Yule Ball!"
After saying that, Dracula leaned back and fell straight into the Black Lake under the bridge.
The next moment, a pair of broad wings spread out from his back, abruptly changing the direction of his fall, and carrying Dracula towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office on the third floor of the castle.
Looking at Dracula who left suddenly, Dumbledore shook his head with a smile.
"Sweet dreams, Professor Dracula."
…
"Potter! Weiss, come on! Can you guys please pay attention for a moment?"
During the Transfiguration class on a Thursday in mid-December, Professor McGonagall's annoyed voice cracked like a whip, startling Harry and Ron to look up from their seats in a hurry.
The class was almost over, and they had just completed a task assigned by Professor McGonagall to turn some guinea fowl into guinea pigs.
The bell could ring at any time, and the next game would not start in the short term. Harry and Ron had no sense of urgency at all. They were fencing with each other in the back row of the classroom, holding two fake wands invented by Fred and George.
"Come on Potter and Weiss, you two are already senior students, can't your behavior be consistent with your age?" Professor McGonagall said as she glanced at them both angrily.
"Especially Potter, you are a warrior of Hogwarts and represent the image of Hogwarts. If students from other schools see you fighting and making trouble in class, what do you think they will think?"
Harry sat on the stool with his back tensed, trembling with fear and not daring to speak.
Ron was secretly blaming Fred and George for inventing such a funny thing, which caused them to be scolded in class.
When I think about it this way, Fred and George are the real senior students, and their behavior is not appropriate for their age!
Professor McGonagall certainly had no idea what Ron was mumbling in his heart. After deducting two points from Gryffindor, she turned her attention to the other students in the classroom.
"Everyone stop for a moment, I have something to tell you," she said.
The classroom immediately became quiet, and the young wizards all looked up at Professor McGonagall.
"Well, the Yule Ball is coming up - it's an important tradition of the Triwizard Tournament, and it's also a great opportunity for us to exchange ideas with our guests from foreign countries."
"This dance is open only to students in the fourth grade and above, but if you wish, you may invite a younger student..."
In the classroom, several little witches let out ambiguous giggles, especially Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown from Gryffindor. The muscles on their faces were tense, and they couldn't help turning to look at Harry, the warrior.
Professor McGonagall ignored them. Harry, a straight man, thought this was extremely unfair. Just now she was scolding him and Ron, but now she didn't blame Parvati and Lavender.
"Remember to wear your formal gowns," Professor McGonagall continued. "The ball will be in the Great Hall at eight o'clock on Christmas evening and will end at midnight. Listen -"
Professor McGonagall looked at the class leisurely.
"The Yule Ball certainly gives us a chance to... well, dress up and relax," she said in a nonchalant tone, "but that doesn't mean we'll relax our expectations of how we behave as Hogwarts students."
"I would be deeply distressed if a Gryffindor student brought shame upon the school in any way!"
The bell for the end of get out of class rang melodiously. As usual, everyone stuffed their books into their backpacks and threw them over their shoulders. The classroom was noisy and bustling.
Professor McGonagall raised her voice above the noise and shouted, "Potter—stay here. I want to say something to you."
Harry thought Professor McGonagall was going to reprimand him and Ron for fencing in class, so he walked towards the podium listlessly.
Professor McGonagall waited until all the students in the class had left before saying, "Potter, every warrior must have his own partner—"
"What partner?" Harry asked somewhat puzzled.
Professor McGonagall looked at him suspiciously, as if she thought he was joking.
"The partner you took to the Yule Ball, Potter!" she said sternly. "Your partner!"
Harry's heart skipped a beat and his cheeks felt hot.
"Partner?" he said, blushing. "I don't dance, Professor McGonagall."
"Oh, you must dance," Professor McGonagall looked at him seriously. "I was just about to tell you this - according to tradition, the ball is opened by the champions of the Triwizard Tournament and their partners."
"Even if it becomes a semi-final this year, this won't change!"
"But..." Harry felt ashamed at the thought of dancing in public. "I really can't dance. Can I not dance?"
He was afraid that Professor McGonagall would disagree, so he quickly added, "Cedric is so elegant, he will definitely dance. Why not let him lead the dance on behalf of Hogwarts?"
"This is a traditional practice, Potter!" However, Harry's wish was completely useless. Professor McGonagall still said firmly, "You are also a warrior of Hogwarts. As one of the representatives of the school, you must do what everyone expects."
"So, you must find yourself a dance partner, Potter."
"But... I can't..."
"You heard what I said, Potter!" said Professor McGonagall in an unmistakable tone.
Harry had no way of refutation and could only nod silently, thinking about the candidates for dance partners.
The first thing that came to his mind was Qiu Zhang's smooth black hair and pretty face. After all, he had been secretly in love with her for a long time in the past few school years.
Then the next moment, Harry slapped himself - Qiu Zhang was dating his good friend Cedric, and he couldn't let his imagination run wild anymore.
"Are you all right, Potter?"
Professor McGonagall's voice brought Harry back to reality.
Harry looked up and saw Professor McGonagall looking at him with a worried look on her face. It was obvious from her expression that she was worried that he had some mental illness, which was why he suddenly slapped himself...
"Ahem, I'm fine, Professor." Harry coughed twice and said awkwardly, "My hand just shook a little."
"You don't need to be so nervous, Potter." Professor McGonagall said, "Dancing can be learned quickly. We will train a few warriors later... Do you need to go to the infirmary for a check-up?"
"I'm really fine, Professor McGonagall." Harry kept shaking his head, "I should go, Ron is still waiting for me outside the classroom!"
After saying this, Harry ran out of the Transfiguration classroom in Professor McGonagall's still skeptical look.
…
…