[110] The Hall of Masks

The fact that a Hogwarts champion was only fifteen years old was utterly absurd. Professor McGonagall abruptly rose from her seat and rushed to Dumbledore's side, speaking rapidly. Dumbledore frowned.

Cedric Diggory stood up in astonishment, like someone suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

"Good luck, Diggory!"

"Glory to Hogwarts!"

The shouts rose and fell like waves. Most of the students decided to accept the Goblet of Fire's selection, showering Cedric with their blessings.

Cedric himself was dumbfounded. He hadn't expected to actually be chosen. When George told him the plan, he had simply joined in the fun — writing his own name and handing it to George, asking him to include it if the trick worked. After all, fooling the age limit and the Goblet was incredibly cool. Cedric was only a fifteen-year-old boy; how could he not like something so cool? But he never believed the Goblet would actually choose him.

Dumbledore stood up and gestured for Cedric to proceed. "Mr. Diggory, please."

Cedric took a deep breath and slowly walked towards the next door. Soon, his figure disappeared behind it.

"Alright, now that the three champions have been chosen —"

Dumbledore's words were cut short by something unbelievable. The flame on the Goblet of Fire had turned red again. A tongue of fire shot out, and a new parchment appeared before everyone's eyes. Dumbledore caught it instinctively.

He hesitated for a long moment before slowly unfolding the parchment. The Great Hall was deathly silent. Everyone stared at him, frozen in place.

Dumbledore read the name aloud.

"Harry Potter."

Harry sat there, thinking he must have misheard. Everyone in the Great Hall turned to look at him. His expression was blank and dazed, his mind a complete void.

"I didn't put my name in," he said to his classmates. "You're with me every day, you know!"

Dumbledore cleared his throat again. Two parchments had just been spat out. He unfolded the other one.

"Hall Weasley."

A murmur rippled through the Great Hall. Upon hearing the name, Harry instinctively glanced towards the Slytherin table. The next moment, he met Hall's gaze. Hall gave him a reassuring wink, his eyes calm and composed, as if he had expected this.

He stood up with a measured movement, gesturing for Harry to follow.

Who could have imagined that the Goblet of Fire, after selecting a fifteen-year-old, would then recommend two twelve-year-old boys to Hogwarts? It was utterly absurd. Hundreds of eyes were watching them — eyes filled with surprise, doubt, and curiosity.

Sirius stood up, gesturing frantically and speaking anxiously to Dumbledore, who shook his head slightly, his expression somewhat apologetic. Sirius looked at Harry, then glared fiercely at Hall, before angrily returning to his seat and whispering to Lupin.

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Hall, glared at for no reason, wanted to roll his eyes. What was this? He'd been framed again! He hadn't put his name in, and neither had Harry. He wanted to settle accounts with whoever had done this.

Dumbledore beckoned to them. "Harry, Hall, you two come in too."

"Hall, what's going on?" Harry was still bewildered. "I definitely didn't put my name in. You believe me!"

Hall nodded. "Of course I believe you. I didn't either. But we were chosen." He patted Harry's arm reassuringly. "It's okay. You still have me, Harry."

Harry looked at Hall, his anxious expression slowly relaxing. "Yes. I still have you, Hall."

The room wasn't large — inside were a few chairs and Fleur Delacour, Viktor Krum, and Cedric, who had gone in earlier. As they entered, the three of them turned to look.

"What's going on? Are we going out?" Fleur Delacour asked, somewhat surprised to see the two boys enter. Her voice was clear and melodious, tinged with doubt.

Hall knew from her tone that she had mistaken them for messengers. He didn't argue. He simply pulled Harry inside and closed the door behind them.

Once the door closed, Hall gave them a polite smile. "Hello, everyone. I'm Hall Weasley, the fourth champion of the Tournament, from Slytherin House at Hogwarts."

Krum watched him enter, his smile widening. "Hall, come here. I knew you could do it."

"What's going on?" Fleur looked at them blankly.

Cedric was completely oblivious to the situation, his eyes vacant.

"And him?" Fleur pointed to Harry.

Hall shrugged. "Oh, he's the fifth one. Harry Potter."

"Merlin's beard! What's going on?" Fleur was stunned. Just hearing that a Hogwarts champion was a fifteen-year-old was surprising enough. What was happening now?

Cedric, having clearly heard what Hall said, stared at him and Harry in astonishment. An eerie silence fell over the room.

Just then, Ludo Bagman, the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports at the Ministry of Magic and the supervisor for the competition, walked in. He went straight to Harry, grabbed his shoulders, and gave him a firm pat.

"This is amazing!" he exclaimed. "Let me introduce you to this —"

"Are you kidding? I mean, Hogwarts has three champions, and two of them..." Fleur interrupted, her brow furrowed.

"No, no, Harry and Hall's names came from the Goblet of Fire. A twin egg — a double whammy!" Ludo Bagman explained, gesturing exaggeratedly with his hands.

Hall and Harry said goodbye and left.

The ancient door creaked shut behind them. Sunlight streamed down, but it could not dispel the heaviness in their hearts. Harry walked on, glancing back every now and then at the castle hidden in its mysterious place.

Many questions swirled in his mind. Who was the old man? Why did Hall suddenly have an extra teacher? Was Hall's power related to him? But he knew Hall would not reveal more. So Harry chose to swallow his questions, telling himself to be a trustworthy friend.

"Hall, do you really think the Headmaster will agree to you using Veritaserum on Barty?" Harry asked as they walked, doubt plain on his face.

Hall nodded firmly. He thought to himself that if Dumbledore refused, he would find another way. The information from that symbol was too important.

Seeing Hall's certainty, Harry — though still worried — knew that once Hall made a decision, it was hard to change it. He lowered his head, bit his lip, wondering if he could help.

They quickened their pace. The path beneath them seemed long and uncertain.

But after a few steps, Hall stopped abruptly.

Harry nearly bumped into him. "What's wrong?"

Hall, speechless, pulled a small pendant from his pocket. A Portkey.

"I completely forgot."

He sighed at himself. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he had forgotten about the Portkey. If they really walked to Hogwarts, even with the Time-Turner, their stamina would not be restored.

"Let's go." Hall grabbed Harry and activated the Portkey.

"Where are we going —"

Harry's feet left the ground. A moment later, he stood at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts not far ahead. Good — his question had been answered.

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