Harry Potter: The Bard of Hogwarts

Hogwarts Great Hall.

As Ino withdrew his gaze, Moody similarly shifted his eyes away.

The elderly wizard, leaning on his cane, hobbled toward the staff table.

To be fair, despite using a cane, Moody's pace was no slower than that of a normal person; in fact, there was a faint swiftness to his movements.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Dumbledore extended his hand and lightly embraced Moody.

After a brief exchange, the headmaster once again turned his attention to the students below.

"Due to certain reasons, I had to interrupt the previous topic. Now, I have the honor of introducing a gentleman to you."

Dumbledore paused briefly, but seeing that Moody had no intention of standing up to greet the audience, he continued on his own:

"Because our Care of Magical Creatures professor, Rubeus Hagrid, has been burdened with heavy tasks, the twelve Hogwarts governors unanimously agreed to appoint a new groundskeeper..."

"That's right! Starting this year, Mr. Alastor Moody will take up the position of Hogwarts' groundskeeper."

After Dumbledore finished the introduction, only sparse applause echoed from the crowd below.

After all, neither the Muggle-born students nor those familiar with Moody's reputation were particularly fond of the new groundskeeper.

For the former, it might have been due to judging by appearance, and Moody's behavior had been far from polite since entering. For the latter, it was entirely because of Moody's notorious reputation: paranoid, crazy, neurotic—more like a dark wizard than an actual dark wizard.

As if to confirm this, Moody sat at the staff table, pulled out his wand, and held it firmly in his hand. He then took out several different types of magical detectors and arranged them around him like pieces on a chessboard.

This scene not only stunned everyone present, but even Dumbledore smiled wryly and shook his head.

"Alright... let's return to the previous topic. This year, the Quidditch House Cup will not be held. Instead, it will be replaced by a famous event that has been paused for over a century."

"Yes! I am very honored to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament, which has been dormant for more than a hundred years, will be held this year! The Goblet of Fire will be lit, representing the eternal glory of the three magical schools of Europe!"

Dumbledore's tone was not intentionally dramatic, but even with this simple narration, the students couldn't help but feel excited.

Of course, those familiar with the Triwizard Tournament were particularly thrilled.

As for those who didn't know... well, given the atmosphere, they simply joined in the excitement.

...

"Awesome! Eternal glory!"

At the Gryffindor table, Ron nodded approvingly.

"Ron, what's the Triwizard Tournament?" Harry asked, poking Ron's arm in confusion.

"Hmm? Hmm! The Triwizard Tournament is indeed great!" Ron continued to express his enthusiasm.

"Ron..." Harry was about to repeat his question when another voice interrupted him.

"Don't ask him! Can't you see the guilty look hiding behind his serious face?"

Opposite the table, Hermione mercilessly exposed Ron's last shred of dignity.

"You..." Ron was a bit upset but reconsidered, realizing that if he argued, he might be asked about the Triwizard Tournament again.

After a moment of thought, Ron pretended not to hear and turned away.

Seeing Ron's guilty expression, Hermione snorted lightly and began explaining the Triwizard Tournament and the Goblet of Fire.

"Since the 13th century..."

Hermione spoke rapidly, and Harry, along with the other Gryffindors nearby, quickly grasped the essence of the Triwizard Tournament.

In simple terms, it's a competition where each of the three European schools selects a champion to represent them in a series of challenging tasks. The winner not only receives a substantial monetary reward, but their name is also permanently inscribed in the Goblet of Fire.

Money, fame, the title of champion, and thrilling adventures—all of these elements combined create an irresistible allure for the young wizards present.

At that moment, not just Harry, but Ron and many other students were filled with a deep sense of longing.

While Hermione earnestly explained the Triwizard Tournament, the atmosphere at the Slytherin table was notably harmonious.

Excluding the new first-years, all the second through seventh-year Slytherins had their eyes fixed in one direction.

"Ino! This is practically made for you!" Draco said, brimming with pride.

From his expression and demeanor, it was clear that he considered this honor as good as won.

Ino responded with a noncommittal smile. Compared to the Triwizard Tournament, which felt like child's play, he was more curious about Dumbledore's upcoming arrangements.

Thus, he found an excuse to dismiss Draco's suggestion: "Perhaps, but I might have to leave school for a while in October."

"Leave school?" Draco's voice suddenly rose, drawing the attention of many Slytherins around him.

"Yes, leave school." Ino nodded slightly to confirm.

"The Merlin Order sent me a reply, and there are some matters I must attend to."

Ino didn't elaborate further, but Draco had already guessed the reason.

In fact, many others, including Pansy and Daphne, had also figured it out.

The Merlin Order Medal, symbolizing the highest honor in the magical world, in some respects, surpassed even the Goblet of Fire.

"That's quite unfortunate! But still, congratulations!" Draco's tone was a bit conflicted. It sounded somewhat listless, yet there was a hint of happiness.

"You could participate, though! If you want, you might even make the Malfoy name famous," Ino teased lightly.

"Not for me!" Draco shrugged indifferently and explained, "I'm not one to risk my life for glory."

Thanks to his involuntary studies of magical history, Draco knew the reason why the Triwizard Tournament had been discontinued.

"Suit yourself!" Ino was equally indifferent to Draco's choice.

Without any external interference, this honor would ultimately belong to Hogwarts.

This wasn't arrogance but a conclusion Ino reached from his experience and observations in the Transfiguration Club, as well as his evaluation of Cedric's abilities.

Although only in his sixth year, Cedric had already surpassed the average adult wizard in terms of skill.

Whether it was his mastery of Transfiguration or his sharp mind... in terms of overall strength, Cedric becoming the Hogwarts champion seemed almost inevitable.

While Ino was lost in thought, Draco grew increasingly bored and began glancing around.

As more people learned about the Triwizard Tournament, the atmosphere in the Great Hall became even more fervent.

After all, this wasn't like the usual five-year cycle; it was the first Goblet of Fire championship in over a hundred years.

This honor was something few could refuse.