Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 329 Rules and Vulnerabilities

The entire hall seemed to fall silent suddenly. Everyone stared at Dumbledore, mouths agape.

"You must be joking!" Fred suddenly shouted, breaking the silence in the auditorium.

“I’m not joking, Mr. Weasley,” Dumbledore said with a smile. “But since you’ve brought up joking, I’ve heard a funny joke about a troll, a she-devil, and a goblin who went into the same tavern…”

He had only just begun telling the story, and most people hadn't even guessed what it was about, when Dumbledore suddenly burst into laughter.

This prompted Professor McGonagall to clear her throat loudly, as if reminding him of something.

"Ah, well, it's probably not the right time to talk about this now."

He put away his smile and continued to explain to everyone what the three-way competition was all about.

Throughout the entire process, Harry's mouth never closed.

A competition between three magic schools, three warriors, three magical events...

“Shillon!” Hermione seemed to have thought of something and asked, “What you and Bill and Charlie were talking about, could it be the Triwizard Tournament?”

“Yes, that’s it.” Xilun nodded.

“You knew all along?” Ron asked. “Bill must have told you… He didn’t even tell me, and I’m his own brother.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Bill didn’t tell me any of this on his own initiative,” Celen explained. “My grandfather told me. He was invited to examine the wands of the warriors, so I knew about it a long time ago.”

Ron got even angrier when he heard this.

“My dad and Percy knew a long time ago too,” he muttered, “but they insisted on keeping it a secret and wouldn’t tell me anything!”

Xilun shrugged and didn't reply.

In front of the Great Hall, Dumbledore spent half an hour explaining the details of the Triwizard Tournament.

Everyone got excited.

"I want to participate!" Fred and George were the first to speak up; the prize money of one thousand gallons was more attractive to them than the honor.

however……

“I know you all long to win the Triwizard Tournament trophy for Hogwarts,” Dumbledore said. “However, the school and the Ministry of Magic agree that only students aged seventeen and over are allowed to participate.”

"Why!"

"This is not fair!"

People started complaining, even louder than when they first heard about the cancellation of Quidditch.

But it was no use. This was the result of a joint discussion between the three magic schools and the Ministry of Magic, and it had already been decided. It couldn't be canceled just because the students complained a few times.

“Therefore, if you are under seventeen, don’t waste your time applying,” Dumbledore said. “Well, I’ve said enough. Now you should all go to bed, quickly!”

Dumbledore sat down again and spoke to Moody beside him. The students, led by their prefects, stood up and left the Great Hall.

“They can’t do that,” Fred said, still furious. “We’re almost seventeen, why can’t we try?”

“Of course you can try,” Sirius said. “Do you remember what Professor Dumbledore said at the end?”

"Huh?" George blinked, somewhat confused. "Did he say something?"

He said that students under the age of seventeen should not waste their time applying, rather than being prohibited from applying.

“What’s the difference?” Ron asked. “The difference is, we still have a chance!” George said, his eyes shining.

“That’s right.” Xilun nodded.

But Ron still didn't understand.

“Just like the OWL exam,” Siren explained. “Cheating is strictly prohibited in the exam, and if you are caught cheating, your score will be immediately canceled.”

"Dumbledore's words are equivalent to telling you 'Don't cheat, or you'll get caught,' but without the subsequent cancellation of your grades. Although it's just one sentence, there's a fundamental difference between the two."

“Wait, Celeste.” Hermione frowned. “Could this just be your idea? What if they really do ban it?”

"Then let's just quit," Xilun said casually. "Anyway, we won't lose anything."

Hermione paused for a moment, then realized upon closer inspection that it was indeed true.

Registration is different from taking an exam. It's best if you get selected, but even if you don't get selected or are disqualified, it's no different from not registering at all.

“In that case, I’m going to sign up too!” Ron clenched his fist and said confidently.

“Me too,” Harry said.

Although he still didn't quite understand what the Triwizard Tournament was, judging from the excitement of everyone else, it must be a grand event similar to the Quidditch World Cup, and he was really eager to see it.

Anyway, just like Xilun said, it's just a registration, there's no harm in it, so why not give it a try?
Of all the people, only Hermione frowned with worry.

“Don’t forget, Dumbledore also said that the tournament was discontinued because of its high mortality rate,” she cautioned. “That means the Triwizard Tournament is very dangerous, which is why there’s an age requirement.”

Unfortunately, nobody cared.

Ron had already started thinking about how he should spend the 1,000 Galleons he received as a bonus.

He definitely wants to buy a Firebolt, the best broom in the world. He dreams of owning one, and then use it to join the Gryffindor team, win the Quidditch championship, and become the focus of everyone's attention!
He had everything planned out, and Hermione actually said it was dangerous?
“I dare say they’re just trying to scare us,” Ron waved his hand dismissively. “With Dumbledore around, what danger could there be?”

Hermione wanted to argue, but suddenly didn't know what to say, because she also felt that Dumbledore couldn't possibly just stand by and watch his students be killed.

If that time really comes, he will definitely lend a hand.

The group passed through a door hidden behind a tapestry and continued upstairs.

Suddenly, Xiren thought of something and turned to look at Harry on the other side.

"By the way, Harry, could I borrow Hedwig for a bit later? It's raining so hard, I really don't want to go back to the owlhouse."

"Ah... of course, no problem." Harry, who had been lost in thought, snapped out of it and said, "Do you want to mail a letter?"

“That’s right.” Xiren nodded. “Someone owes me a lot of money and hasn’t paid it back. I think it’s time to urge him to pay.”

Speaking of which, he also placed a bet of 100 Galleons with Ludo Bagman during the Quidditch World Cup.

The match is now over, and according to the odds given by Ludo Bagman, those 100 Galleons have now become 750, more than seven times the original amount.

But as soon as the match ended, Ludo Bagman disappeared. And because of the Death Eaters, Celen didn't go looking for him.

After dragging this out for so long, it's time to urge Ludo Bagman so he doesn't forget about it.

……

(End of this chapter)