If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, with so many young wizards watching, he wouldn't have minded enjoying the spectacle.
But now was ultimately not the right time; if a scandal were to break out, he might be implicated.
"Then let's take a look first!"
Given a way out, Dumbledore also abandoned his indifferent attitude; after all, it was his own school's student who had caused the trouble.
Being the headmaster, he really had it tough.
Karkaroff and Madam Maxime also restrained themselves a bit and stopped talking, but their expressions remained cold.
They also knew the rules of the Triwizard Tournament well; otherwise, they would have left long ago, how could they still be here?
Under everyone's gaze, Dumbledore unfolded the few parchments in his hand, and his expression froze on the spot.
None of these are students from his school!
Dumbledore dared to guarantee that he remembered the name of every Hogwarts student, even if he was over a hundred years old and his mind wasn't as sharp as before.
Looking at the schools below, he immediately understood and said loudly:
"The Durmstrang champions, Field Durue, Richardson Clarence!"
"The Beauxbatons champions, Hilda Donahue, Hether Godwin!"
The four people whose names were called by Dumbledore quickly stood up, their faces first showing confusion, then ecstasy.
Who wouldn't want to be chosen as a champion after being able to come to Hogwarts with their respective headmasters?
Then, amidst everyone's surprised gazes, they quickly headed to the room behind the staff table.
Whatever, no matter the reason, being chosen as a champion was a good thing.
"Dumbledore, what's going on?"
Madam Maxime was also a little confused, there were two champions from her school?
So that meant it was three against three?
Although she still couldn't quite accept it, it was much better than before.
Similarly, Karkaroff also looked at Dumbledore, hoping he could give an explanation.
"I don't know either. As you know, I didn't do any of this. As for the specific reason, how about we go in and ask the culprit?"
Dumbledore immediately threw Ethan out.
Although he could guess Ethan's intentions, he couldn't help explain, otherwise, he would inevitably be targeted again.
This old man over a hundred years old really couldn't bear the burden anymore.
In just these few years, he had lost a lot of hair; these things were not something this old man should be worrying about.
"According to the rules, it's time for us to go in."
Ludo interjected again.
At this moment, the small room was already crowded with people, all explaining why they had suddenly come in, but Krum's expression was quite agitated.
Originally, he was the unique Durmstrang champion, but now he was suddenly worthless?
Bang!
The door was pushed open again, just as the few people thought that the champions selected again by the Goblet of Fire were coming in.
Only then did they discover that it was Dumbledore, followed closely by Barty Crouch, Karkaroff, Madam Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape.
Before Professor McGonagall closed the door, the few people could still hear the buzzing discussions of hundreds of students in the adjacent hall.
But just like when the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons champions came in just now, their eyes were also attracted by Ron, who was hanging upside down to the side.
His legs were stuck to the ceiling, and he kept spitting out slugs, and the slugs he spit out kept crawling up his body.
Because he was spitting out slugs too quickly, he couldn't even speak, and a small half of his body was covered with slugs.
That appearance was as disgusting as it could be, to the point that he alone occupied half of the small room.
Even the professors who came in didn't approach immediately.
But as a headmaster, Dumbledore naturally couldn't just watch.
With a few light taps of his wand, Ron was instantly released, but he was a little helpless with the slugs.
It was not difficult to dispel this simple little jinx, but he couldn't eliminate what was already in his stomach. If he rashly took action, he might directly vomit all over the floor.
In that case, no one would be able to stay in the room.
"Ugh!"
Ron, who got up from the ground, started retching again, but under the effect of Ethan's spell, the slugs still didn't land, crawling down Ron's chin and onto his body again.
This was also for the sake of Hogwarts' environmental hygiene.
Seeing this, Ron directly reached out to pull the slugs off his face, but when his hand just touched them, he found that this thing seemed to be stuck to his hand, and he couldn't shake it off.
Simple compound curse, Ethan added a little Transfiguration technique to it, which could change its properties at any time.
Unless Dumbledore took action, even Professor McGonagall couldn't undo this. Ethan was confident in this.
Of course, after time passed and Ethan no longer controlled it, it could also be undone.
But before Dumbledore could take action, Ron glared at Ethan fiercely again, then pushed open the door in a panic and ran out.
Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, Ludo and others standing at the door stepped aside, no one wanted to get on this person full of slugs.
At the same time, Snape, who saw this scene, also recalled himself. Back then, James and the others gave him the nickname "Snivellus."
Now, should this nickname be Ron's turn? Isn't this kid more like Snivellus than himself?
"…Ron, what's wrong with him?"
After Ron ran out, Dumbledore asked the few people in the cottage, but his eyes were always on Ethan.
Not to mention any contradictions, he believed that only Ethan could do this level of skill.
"His mouth is too cheap, so I wanted him to shut up."
Ethan didn't care, anyway, this matter couldn't be hidden.
Whatever will be will be, it didn't matter if he lost points. As long as it wasn't too outrageous, he could naturally add them back when he won the Triwizard Tournament champion.
"Ravenclaw loses five points!"
Snape immediately defined Ethan's actions, and stopped Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore from speaking.
Their lips twitched slightly.
Snape truly detested Ron to the extreme. In the past, he had led Harry astray, engaging in unprofessional behavior. During the wizard dueling competition within the school, he used dark magic to leave Harry severely injured and on the verge of death. He also released Peter, the culprit who caused Lily's death, and had his own Boggart transformation into women's clothing recorded.
Any one of these things alone deserved death, let alone Ron having them all.
If it weren't a bit inappropriate, Snape would have liked to give Ethan an extra hundred points.
Dumbledore took two deep breaths, calming himself down a bit.
Ron's matter was considered closed. After all, Ethan had already been punished, and he couldn't hold onto the five points that Snape had deducted.
"Regarding the champions selected by the Goblet of Fire, could you explain it to us?"
Madam Maxime and Karkaroff were also staring at Ethan, wanting to see what he would say.
In response, Ethan put on an attitude of a dead pig not afraid of boiling water, saying:
"As you know, I originally didn't want to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. I just wanted to join in the fun on the sidelines. But Ron kept nagging beside me. If I didn't participate, wouldn't that prove him right?"
"That's why I participated in this competition and brought Ron along for revenge, even though it's not in accordance with the rules."
"As for Harry, that's none of my business. I didn't put his name in. Headmaster Dumbledore, you can check it yourself. It's not difficult for you."
"Then, for fairness, I modified the Goblet of Fire. Hogwarts has a certain number of champions, and Durmstrang and Beauxbatons should have the same."
"I thought it would be two each, but Harry mistakenly entered, so now it's three each."
"Everything I've done has been for fairness. If you want to find a culprit, it's that guy who just ran out."
"Without him, none of this would have happened."
Chapter 255: The Changed Triwizard Tournament
Dumbledore, Karkaroff, and Madam Maxime were all silent.
What Ethan had just said, although not in accordance with the rules of the Triwizard Tournament, was indeed fair.
All three schools had three champions selected.
As for the culprit, according to what Ethan just said, it was indeed that red-haired kid who had just run out.
Bullshit!
Only a fool would believe it. But Karkaroff and Madam Maxime couldn't say anything at this moment. The result was already like this.
Why offend a future top powerhouse in the wizarding world? It was perfectly fine to pretend to be confused and shift the blame onto that red-haired kid.
Anyway, that red-haired kid looked like he had no future. Even if Weasley was a pure-blood aristocratic surname in Britain, did that matter?
"Dumbledore, what do you plan to do with that red-haired kid? Everything that has happened now is because of him."
"If he were from Durmstrang, he would have been expelled and sent home by now."
"Indeed, Dumbledore, you must give us an explanation."
Hearing the two headmasters making demands one after another, Dumbledore was well aware of what they were thinking.
In the end, Hogwarts had made a mistake. Regardless of the size, an explanation was necessary, and Ron did have an undeniable responsibility.
In addition, the other two headmasters had already defined the matter, so even he couldn't do anything about it.
"Rest assured, I will deal with him properly."
When Harry heard this, he didn't feel there was a problem. It seemed like it was indeed Ron's fault.
Professor McGonagall was the only one who wanted to say something, but at this moment, due to her position, it was really not appropriate to say anything, as it might make the situation even more awkward.
"Alright, now that everything is clear, it's time to give our champions some guidance, isn't it?"
"Barty, why don't you do the talking?"
Ludo immediately rubbed his hands together, smiling as he looked at everyone in the room.
"Yes, good!"
Barty Crouch Jr. stepped forward, coming to the young wizards.
"The first task is to test your courage, so we are not going to tell you what it is. Daring to face the unknown is an important quality of a wizard… very important…"
"The first task will take place on November 24th, in front of the other students and the judging panel."
"When completing the competition tasks, the champions must not request or accept any help from their teachers. The only weapon the champions have in their hands when facing the first challenge is their own wand."
"They will only learn about the second task after the first task is over. Due to the high demands of the competition and the long duration, the champions will not participate in the end-of-year exams."
After speaking, Barty Crouch Jr. turned to Dumbledore.
"I think that's about it, Albus?"
"Yes."
Watching the two determine the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament in just a few words, Karkaroff and Madam Maxime did not agree.
After being selected by the Goblet of Fire, there was indeed a magical contract, and one had to participate in the Triwizard Tournament.
But it was never said that the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament could not be changed!
Moreover, the main intention of these tasks was to fit the theme, and there were no specific competition rules determined.
As long as the competition had not started, everything could still be changed.
"Viktor, Phild, Charlieson, you go out first."
Karkaroff immediately said to his students.
If he wanted to make changes to the competition, now was the best opportunity.
There were a total of five judges. After today, it would be the day of the official competition before they could gather again. Ludo and Barty Crouch Jr., as directors of the Ministry of Magic, could not stay at Hogwarts all the time.
By the way, Karkaroff also gave Madam Maxime a look, signaling her to follow.
