"I knew it would be you!"
Avada felt several heavy slaps land on his back in quick succession, nearly knocking the breath out of him. Then came a burst of noisy voices from behind him.
"Quit spacing out and get up there!"
"It's not like you're that surprised anyway—come on, bring the championship back!"
"Don't put too much pressure on him... actually, forget it, he'll probably win anyway."
"I'll do my best, I'll do my best..."
Avada smiled at his friends, then stood up and walked toward the Goblet of Fire amid a round of polite applause and waves of cheering from behind him.
What he had done was public, yes, but its influence had mostly remained within Britain. And even most British people only felt that he had simply happened to help out here and there. As for faraway places like Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, there was even less need to say it—hardly anyone there knew who he was.
Of course, mixed in with that polite applause were naturally a few puzzled murmurs along the lines of "Why doesn't he have a full name?" But Avada had long since grown used to that...
He did his best to make his posture look a little more proper, then, under the gaze of the entire hall, walked to the front of the teachers' dais and shared a quick, symbolic embrace with his own headmaster, Dumbledore.
By now, everything had long since been part of the calculations between the two of them, so there was really nothing left to be surprised or excited about.
Then he stepped up beside the Goblet of Fire and stood in a line with the other two champions, only to receive two more puzzled looks.
And those looks were coming from above.
As an athlete, Krum was a full head taller than he was, while Fleur Delacour—two years older than him and naturally tall and slender to begin with—was also slightly taller...
'...Damn it.'
He silently rolled his eyes. At the same time, he adjusted his spiritual power a little, dispersing the slight influence of Fleur's Veela magic on him, and then stood there quietly like a statue.
Once the third champion's name had been expelled, the flames inside the Goblet turned blue again. Then the tongues of fire gradually lowered, and the brightness slowly dimmed. As the last trace of blue light faded from the cup, the Goblet of Fire went completely dark.
'Good. No funny business.'
Avada nodded inwardly.
'Or rather, no funny business yet...'
"Excellent! This is sure to be an unprecedentedly fierce contest!"
Once all three champions were in place, Karkaroff shouted happily,
"This year's three champions consist of one exceptionally skilled star athlete, one with incomparable talent, and the last one—though the youngest of the three—carries the most formidable record of achievements. It is hard to imagine what kind of clashes will arise between them... And while our three champions present such wonderful performances, the rest of you must support your own champions with all your might. By cheering them on, you too will be making a great contribution to this event... Mr. Bagman."
"Now? Very well!"
Ludo Bagman cheerfully stood up, walked out from behind the teachers' table, and pulled a camera from inside his robes.
"A quick explanation: because of Durmstrang's need for secrecy, outside reporters have not been permitted to enter the school to cover the Tournament. So I'll be doubling as a reporter—taking photographs, conducting interviews, and writing articles, then sending them out for publication... Come on, everyone, stand a bit closer together. In front of the Goblet, yes, that's it..."
In the end, at Bagman's insistence, the three champions stood in a row before the extinguished Goblet of Fire, and the three headmasters behind them were also included in the same photograph. Presumably, that picture would appear on the front page of every major paper the very next day.
"Thank you, Mr. Bagman!"
Once Ludo Bagman had happily finished taking the photograph and returned to his seat, Karkaroff put the Goblet of Fire away again, then pulled a sheet of parchment from his robes.
"And now, I will announce the schedule of the Triwizard Tournament in full..."
As he spoke, he snapped his fingers in what was clearly meant to be a stylish gesture, causing a flash of blue light to ripple across the parchment as he attempted to project its contents wordlessly and wandlessly—
Unfortunately, the light only flickered once before wobbling and retreating back into nothing.
"Ahem."
Karkaroff coughed dryly. After a second snap also failed, he finally had to wave his hand forcefully before the projection spell came out successfully without a wand. Then, acting as though nothing at all had happened, he began reading the contents aloud:
"As you can now see, the first task will take place on November 24, to be completed before the other students and the panel of judges... Yes, this does not specify what the task itself will be. That has always been our policy."
He smiled and explained to the crowd of puzzled faces,
"The tasks of the Triwizard Tournament are designed to test the champions' wisdom, courage, and ability in a comprehensive way. And undoubtedly, the ability to face the unknown is one of the best standards by which to measure those qualities. At the same time, this also preserves a certain sense of anticipation for everyone here."
"Furthermore, while undertaking the tasks, champions may neither request nor accept any assistance from their teachers. The only people they may rely upon are themselves... Only after the first task is completed will they learn anything about the second. And since the Tournament's demands are high and its duration long, the champions will be exempt from the first-term final examinations."
"And after the second task has been formally completed, we will hold the Yule Ball according to Triwizard tradition. At that time, our three champions will also be asked to lead the opening dance. As for the third and final task, it will not take place until after the second term begins, and it will be the most special of all..."
Karkaroff smiled mysteriously.
"I can only say that that final task will directly determine the winner of the Triwizard Tournament, and the higher the scores the champions earn in the first two tasks, the greater their advantage will be when facing the third... That is all for today. Let us look forward to their splendid performances!"
"Oh, right—one more thing."
He withdrew the projection in the air, then patted his forehead as though only just remembering.
"The three champions are to come to my office tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, where the judges will inspect your wands. And in the afternoon, Mr. Ludo Bagman will call you in one by one for personal interviews, so you should prepare for that as well... All right, you may return now."
Only after signaling that the three champions no longer needed to stand so stiffly together and could return to their own groups did he finally conclude:
"Then let this day end on such a wonderful note. Good night, everyone!"
With that, he and the other four judges all stood up and took their leave first. Avada also quickly slipped back into his own group before the people in front of him could rise in a chaotic rush. And then, just as expected, he immediately felt his body grow light...
And it was not until the middle of the night that his feet finally touched the ground again.
(End of Chapter)