Hogwarts: Don't call me the Staff Maker

Chapter 348: Dominating the Advantage?

Chapter 349: Dominating the Advantage?

"marvelous!"

If anyone was more excited than Siron himself, it could only be Ludo Bagman.

His face turned from pale to bright red in almost a second, and he jumped up and started waving his fists wildly.

It was only at this moment that the others in the auditorium finally came to their senses.

"It's you, Celen—it really is you!" Fred jumped up as well, looking at Celen with an incredulous expression.

"Tell me quickly, how exactly did you manage to get your name into the Goblet of Fire!"

"Never mind all that, the warriors are Gryffindor!" George started clapping loudly.

Then Lee Jordan, Harry, Ginny—the Gryffindors erupted in an unprecedented, thunderous applause.

From the teachers' table, Professor McGonagall stood up, quickly passed between Ludo Bagman and Karkaroff, and whispered urgently in Dumbledore's ear.

"This is the Goblet of Fire's choice, Minerva," Dumbledore said solemnly. "Although I don't know how Mr. Ollivander crossed that age line, even I cannot forcibly break the magical contract established by the Goblet of Fire."

"Alright, I understand." Professor McGonagall sighed.

"Sirlen Ollivander." Dumbledore straightened up and called out again, "Sirlen, come forward."

The buzzing in the auditorium hadn't stopped since it started; people still couldn't understand how Xilun, a fourth-grade student, could...

Why was it possible to put one's name into the Goblet of Fire?

But people were more surprised than puzzled—because they all knew that Siron had stated publicly more than once that he would try to run for the Warriors.

However, most students at the time did not believe he could do it—which is understandable, given that one was Dumbledore, the universally acknowledged strongest white wizard, and the other was a fourth-year magic school student. There was no need to think about who to choose.

Who would have thought that Siren would actually succeed, crossing the age line drawn by Dumbledore himself?

Dumbledore's words just now also acknowledged that his Warrior status was genuine and valid, and that he would not be disqualified due to being underage.

A moment later, deafening applause also erupted from other colleges.

"Go quickly!" Harry gently nudged Siron.

After calming himself down, Siron stood up and walked along the passage between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff to Dumbledore's side.

"Incredible, there was a moment when I even considered retiring," Dumbledore said jokingly. "Well then, can you tell me how you did it?"

The auditorium immediately fell silent, and everyone pricked up their ears to listen carefully.

"I asked some older students for help," Celen said calmly. "I guessed the age line could only determine age, not whether the name thrown was my own. Obviously, I was right."

"Is that so?" Dumbledore said in surprise.

The sound of Yu Yu's discussion could be heard again from below.

"Damn it, why didn't I think of such an easy way!" Fred slapped his thigh in frustration.

"It's because it's too easy," George sighed.

Previously, Dumbledore had been emphasizing the importance of the age line, leading them to assume from the outset that they had to put their names in the pool themselves.

I never even considered the possibility of having someone "submit the application on my behalf".

Ron, standing to the side, was also annoyed, and muttered complaints about how Siron hadn't told them about this method.

"He knew this method would work, but he didn't tell us," he couldn't help but say to Harry beside him. "Yeah, that's a thousand Galleons, isn't it?"

"Uh—don't say that, Ron." Harry shook his head. "We refused ourselves, remember? He asked us this morning."

"But he didn't say at the time that he had already found a solution."

"Perhaps Hellen just doesn't want us to die," Hermione said. "Do you have a way of defeating a chicken-bodied, serpent-tailed beast?"

Ron moved his lips and mumbled something under his breath, then fell silent.

Meanwhile, Xiren, who was at the front, had already entered the next room through the side door.

Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour were already waiting here.

Upon seeing Xilun walk in, both of them showed varying degrees of surprise; they could both tell that Xilun was not seventeen years old.

Before they could even ask a question, they heard hurried footsteps outside.

All the referees, including Dumbledore, walked in.

However, apart from Dumbledore and Barty Crouch, the other three professors all wore undisguised joy on their faces.

Karkaroff, in particular, made no attempt to hide his schadenfreude; Siren felt he almost wanted to have a drink to celebrate.

Although Maxim didn't show it so obviously, it was clear she was in a good mood. This was understandable; compared to the fourteen-year-old Siren, the seventeen-year-old Fleur and Krum had the upper hand from the start, so of course they would be happy.

“This isn’t what we agreed on, Dumbledore,” Barty Crouch said first. “He’s just a fourteen-year-old student; the age difference is too great.”

"That's not how it works. The name was chosen by the Goblet of Fire; we didn't interfere," Karkaroff retorted before Dumbledore could speak. "Besides, I've never heard of the Goblet of Fire choosing a champion and then backing out."

He spoke urgently, as if afraid that others would choose the champions of Hogwarts again.

A fourteen-year-old student probably hasn't even learned many spells yet, so it's practically like eliminating a competitor outright.

He certainly wouldn't let such a good opportunity pass him by.

He had to keep that spot for Siron Ollivander no matter what.

As for whether a fourteen-year-old student can handle those dangerous competitions, what does that have to do with him?

Not only that, he also frequently gave Maxim meaningful glances.

Without much hesitation, Principal Beauxbatons immediately chose to stand by his side.

"I also believe that the Goal of Fire's choice should be respected," she said. "Of course, if Mr. Ollivander were to face mortal danger during the match, we would certainly offer our assistance."

"Ah, that's right." Karkaroff nodded hastily. "We won't just watch him get killed."

Listening to their words, Krum and Fleur gradually understood the situation.

It seems that this fourteen-year-old wizard managed to cross that age line, put his name into the Goblet of Fire, and was then chosen.

Hmm, that's really good news.

Krum's thick eyebrows relaxed, and if the occasion hadn't been inappropriate, he might have burst out laughing.

"Dumbledore," Barty Crouch frowned slightly. "What's your opinion?"

Everyone looked over.

Dumbledore's gaze lingered on Siren for a moment, and Siren met his gaze calmly.

"Of course, I agree with both headmasters," Dumbledore said softly. "Besides, it's the Goblet of Fire's decision, and we have no choice but to accept it."

"That's great!" Karkaroff exclaimed excitedly, then quickly corrected himself, "I mean, it's such a shame, you really shouldn't have been so impulsive."

He said this to Xilen. The smug look on his face as he spoke really made Xilen itch to punch him in the face.

"Bang!"

Someone actually did it.

Moody suddenly swung his hand and punched Karkaroff in the face.

"Oh, sorry, Karkaroff—" Moody said nonchalantly, "It was so dark in the room just now, I thought a bedbug flew onto your face. Are you alright?"

"you!"

Karkaroff's face was flushed, whether from being hit or from anger, it was hard to tell—Silen thought it was more likely the latter.

Was the room too dark to see clearly?

You're trying to fool the Dementors!

Is that demonic eye just for show?

However, seeing Alastor Moody's gloomy face, Karkarov ultimately said nothing, but simply swung his arm forcefully and left the room with Krum.