The accusation shattered the stunned silence like a breaking window.
"He's a cheat!"
Another voice joined it immediately.
"He can't compete!"
"He's not even seventeen!"
"The age line!"
"The Ministry said seventeen!"
The Great Hall erupted.
One after another the hall was beset by outrage,
Students from every school began shouting over one another, pointing toward the Draconis section where Cassius simply ignored everything celebrating the moment of selection with his girls sans Fleur.
Even Madame Maxime and Karkaroff were arguing quite loudly towards Dumbledore.
Near the staff table, Barty Crouch Sr. had already taken one step forward, prepared to make a speech indicating the ancient spells at work here.
However with a simple burst of magical energy which caused even the flames on the goblet itself to flicker and tilt in the breeze, Cassius strode forwards arms outstretch almost in a 'come at me pose'.
Reaching where Dumbledore stood before turning slowly on his heels completing a full revolution before opening his mouth.
Every eye in the Great Hall followed him.
The gesture alone drew enough attention that the shouting began dying away.
Not because anyone ordered silence.
Because everyone wanted to hear what he intended to say.
Within seconds—
The Great Hall fell quiet again.
Cassius surveyed the room calmly.
His expression remained almost amused.
"I understand the concern."
His voice carried effortlessly across the chamber.
"I truly do."
He inclined his head slightly toward the students.
"The Ministry announced that only witches and wizards aged seventeen or older may compete."
Several students nodded vigorously.
"Exactly!"
"That's what we're saying!"
Cassius raised one finger.
"And yet..."
He smiled faintly.
"...none of you actually asked the important question."
Confusion spread through the hall.
"The question," Cassius continued evenly, "is not how old I am."
He lowered his hand.
"The question is whether I qualify, regardless of my actual age?"
Several brows furrowed.
Even Barty Crouch himself paused.
Cassius began pacing slowly across the front of the hall.
"Academically..."
His voice remained calm.
"...I already stand beside the other champions."
He glanced briefly toward the Trophy Room doorway where Viktor and Fleur waited for him.
"I have already completed multiple Ordinary Wizarding Levels as many of you no doubt are aware, in fact some of those were completed years ago even so my own level is higher than that now."
Murmurs spread instantly.
The hogwarts students were stunned into silence, while the foreign school were now looking left and right trying to find if what was said was true.
Cassius however didnt stop, instead he continued on.
"I'm a recognized world-class dueling champion, of not only the under 16, but also the under 21 tournament..."
His gaze swept calmly across the hall.
humbling many as his gaze pierced them as if to ask, who are you to claim to be better than me?
He shrugged lightly.
"But," Cassius continued before anyone could interrupt,
"let us assume academic qualification alone is insufficient."
He turned slightly.
Now facing the staff table.
"Then there is another matter."
Barty Crouch Sr.'s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
Cassius met them directly.
"The Ministry itself has already recognized me as an emancipated wizard."
That landed like a physical blow.
Silence.
Complete silence.
The students were confused but looking to the staff and adults within the room it became clear that from this statement alone Cassius was proven correct.
Cassius continued clearing up the unknown for all present.
"Years ago, i was declared an independant wizard by the Ministry of Magic itself, as such in the eyes of the Ministry, i Cassius Snape am already an Adult and therefore not subject to any underage laws binding the rest of you."
Every word struck harder than the last.
"So tell me..."
He smiled politely.
"Am i not worthy to be your Champion?"
Crouch Sr. who was simply going to cite the magical contract quickly sat down realizing that his own piece of news was actually not required, and the others seeing him resign to the revelation equally remained quiet.
Cassius presentation over ignored his headmaster and simply walked off towards the trophy room to join his magical slave and competitors alike.
As he left the room he couldnt help but grace his face with a smirk, wishing he could setup a camera to catch everyones reactions in a minute, thanks to more tampering of the incredibly powerful magical artifact that had more holes in its protections than a sieze.
~
The stairs leading down into the trophy room echoed his footsteps and as soon as he entered, Fleur flung her arms around him almost in an ambush, while kissing his cheeks in congratulations.
Off to the side by a fireplace Krum stood watching almost awkwardly as he realized the tournament was a 2-1 at this point.
"Zis is amazing, is it not, we get to compete togezzer, while we also get to live togezzer, my dear sweet Cazzius."
"Ok ok, Fleur enough already, stop mussing up my robes, there will be photo's and an interview later with the prophet so lay off already."
Begrudgingly the girl did back off, but as soon as she did, Cassius reached out and gave her cheek a tight pinch, causing a red mark to flare up.
"Congrats yourself on being picked as the strongest for your school."
This was indeed honest praise from him, mostly because Cassius feared due to her declaration of servitude to him, a member of Hogwarts that her own allegience would be found to be likewise under him as her master, but thankfully she remained at least in the eyes of the cup, a maiden of beaxbatons.
What came next was a simple few minutes of waiting, Fleur just kept happily standing next to him gripping his arm trying to subtely or not so subtlely cause that arm to vanish between her billowing twin peaks.
Krum had chosen to ignore their side of the room entirely finding the dancing flames to be much, much more interesting to watch.
At least until the reverie was finally broken as the door to the room was opened once more, only this time another young boy stepped in, messy brown hair, glasses, and a scar above one eye in the shape of a lightning bolt, the expression on his face filled with anxiety and disbelief as he continued to clutch a piece of burnt lined paper in his hands.
"I protest, I Protest."
From behind the young Harry Potter came the booming voice of the Madame Headmistress as she thundered her way down the steps.