Coup de Foudre [Fred Weasley] [4]

⚡️ Chapter 29 ⚡️

Mr. Crouch looked slightly eerie, the half-darkness making him look much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance. When he spoke, however, it was in his usual curt voice –

"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament,"

Vega was distraught – she had hoped that Mr. Crouch would say that it was crazy that two fourteen-year-olds were taking part in this, that it was certainly only a mistake, and that they should just expel them from this tournament... that all of this was just foolishness and they should go on their ways.

"Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front," Bagman spoke up, beaming foolishly and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though the matter was now closed.

"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students," Karkaroff said. He had dropped his unctuous tone and his smile now. His face wore a very ugly look indeed. "You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two more champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore,"

"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that," Bagman replied. "The Goblet of Fire's just gone out – it won't reignite until the start of the next tournament –"

"– in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!" exploded Karkaroff. "After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"

"Empty threat, Karkaroff. You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?"

It was a familiar growling voice that arose from somewhere near the door. Moody had just entered the room. He limped toward the fire, and with every right step he took, there was a loud clunk.

"Convenient?" Karkaroff repeated. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody,"

Despite being quite panicked, Vega could see that Karkaroff was trying his best to sound disdainful, as though what Moody was saying was barely worth his notice, but his hands gave him away; they had balled themselves into fists. She was suspicious if there was something more going on here.

"Don't you?" Moody replied quietly. "It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter and Lestrange's names in that goblet knowing they'd have to compete if it came out,"

"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts three bites at ze apple!" Madame Maxime said.

"I quite agree, Madame Maxime," Karkaroff said quickly, bowing to her. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards –"

"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Potter and Lestrange," Moody growled. "But... funny thing... I don't hear either of them saying a word..."

"Why should ze complain?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. "Ze 'ave ze chance to compete, 'asn't ze? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honour for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money – zis is a chance many would die for!"

"Maybe someone's hoping Potter and Lestrange are going to die for it," Moody responded to the French witch, with the merest trace of a growl.

An extremely tense silence followed these words.

Ludo Bagman, who was looking very anxious indeed, bounced nervously up and down on his feet and said: "Moody, old man... what a thing to say!"

"We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime," Karkaroff said loudly. "Apparently he is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt you had your reasons,"