#361 - Chapter 361 The time of waiting is always tormenting

The flickering blue flames instantly captivated the attention of all the young wizards.

"The champions of each Triwizard Tournament are chosen by the Goblet of Fire, and its selections have always been respected. Therefore, I ask you all to trust in its reliability."

Dumbledore continued, "Students wishing to participate in the champion selection should write their names on a piece of parchment after the feast and deposit it into the Goblet of Fire."

"You have twenty-four hours to consider whether you truly wish to participate in the champion selection. After tomorrow's Halloween feast, the Goblet of Fire will automatically select the champions who will represent each school from the names submitted."

"During these twenty-four hours, the Goblet of Fire will remain in this hall, accessible to everyone."

Upon hearing this, the young wizards grew excited, eager to retrieve parchment and write their names immediately. Unfortunately, everyone had already returned their school supplies to the dormitories, and no one had parchment on hand.

Dumbledore waited quietly for a moment until the murmuring subsided before continuing.

"There are two things I need to bring to your attention. First, students participating in the selection must have reached the magical level of an adult wizard."

"Don't worry, Professor!" came the echoing voices of the young wizards below.

"Everyone agrees that selecting by strength is the way to go. Surely those whose magical levels are insufficient won't be so foolish."

"We'll keep an eye out. If anyone overestimates themselves, we'll be sure to laugh at them."

Hearing the buzzing discussions, Dumbledore smiled slightly. "No need for such trouble. I will personally draw a circle of magical energy. Only students who meet the standard will be able to cross this line and approach the Goblet of Fire."

"Second, I would like to offer everyone a word of caution." Dumbledore's expression turned serious, and his voice rose considerably.

"The tasks in the Triwizard Tournament are extremely dangerous. Even if these tasks have been inspected by the Ministry of Magic, even if we have taken numerous safety precautions, we cannot guarantee that the champions will not face mortal danger."

The young wizards gradually grew serious, all able to discern the sincerity in Dumbledore's tone.

"I must remind everyone that the Triwizard Tournament is not a game. Think carefully before participating impulsively."

"Once your name is selected by the Goblet of Fire, there is no room for regret. You must persevere to the end of the competition because you will have entered into an unbreakable magical contract with the Goblet of Fire."

"As for the consequences of breaking the contract," Dumbledore scanned the eager eyes, "believe me, no one would willingly bear the cost of losing their magic."

"The feast is now over. Good night, everyone."

With that, Dumbledore extended his wand and drew a circle of magical energy around the table where the Goblet of Fire stood.

The other headmasters also personally inspected the line, and they only left after confirming that the magical line's effect was exactly as Dumbledore had described.

The next day was Saturday. Generally, students would sleep in a bit, but no one chose to linger in bed. Some potential champions even woke up earlier than usual.

They were simply too excited and hadn't slept well all night.

Many students who didn't meet the requirements also arrived at the hall early. They watched the potential champions submit their names while discussing who would truly stand out.

When Harry and his friends arrived at the hall, it was already a lively scene.

"Fred," Harry stopped him to ask, "what's the situation? How many people have put their names in?"

"George and I, Cedric, Roger Davies, Angelina, and many others who performed well in the canyon."

"Mostly the seventh-year students," George added, "Of course, many canyon regulars haven't shown up yet. They probably think there's no rush since there's still time."

"What about the students from the other schools?" Hermione asked.

"They all came pretty early and have already submitted their names."

"After hearing about the copy, they were all eager to experience it, so they've gone to find Professor McGonagall to get temporary student IDs."

Harry and his friends nodded, said goodbye to the twins, and headed toward the Goblet of Fire.

"Is there any point in me putting my name in?" Ron hesitated as the moment approached. "I only reached the magical level of an adult wizard a few days ago, and my performance in the canyon hasn't been very impressive."

"I think," he stammered, "my chances of being chosen as a champion are really small."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Hermione encouraged him reassuringly. "You've been working so hard these past two months, spending all day in the dueling arena. Isn't this what you've been working towards?"

"Reaching the magical level of an adult wizard in less than two months is already amazing."

"Put your name in. Even if you don't get chosen, it's not a big deal."

"Yeah, Ron," Harry patted him on the shoulder, "It doesn't hurt to try. When you're looking for a job, you can even put participating in the champion selection on your resume."

"After all, many people can't even meet that requirement."

Saying that, he grabbed Ron's arm and walked directly into the magical line.

See? That's proof of qualification!

Seeing this, Ron no longer hesitated and, together with Harry, put his name into the Goblet of Fire.

The waiting time was always agonizing. As soon as the sky darkened, the young wizards eagerly came to the hall.

To welcome Halloween, the entire hall was decorated with spooky decorations.

Swarms of black bats, each carrying a swaying pumpkin lantern, flew in low circles.

The bright lights in the hall were dimmed, creating an even more eerie atmosphere.

The ghosts, who rarely showed themselves, appeared one after another, constantly greeting the passing young wizards.

The long tables of the four houses were filled with candy. In addition, there were also many Halloween-themed desserts, such as spiderweb cakes and bloody pudding.

To show Hogwarts' enthusiasm to the visitors, the Hogwarts students presented an hour of spectacular entertainment after dinner.

Having been embarrassed at the farewell banquet at Ilvermorny, Sebastian had some clubs prepare performances early.

Dancing, stand-up comedy, chorus, and Luna's solo performance won bursts of applause from the young wizards.

In the hall, some staff members from Swan Media held magical cameras, broadcasting the opening ceremony live to wizards all over the world from different angles.

When the last performance ended, Dumbledore came to the table of the Goblet of Fire.

The hall immediately fell silent, and the students craned their necks, each face showing anxiety and anticipation.

"Thank you for the students' wonderful performances. I see everyone can't wait for the announcement of the champion list."

Dumbledore looked around at everyone and said with a smile.

"Before announcing the official results, I need to say one thing in advance. When the champions are selected, I need you to walk down along the professors' table and enter the room next door."

He pointed to the door behind the professors' table.

"There, you will receive the first instructions on becoming a champion."

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