Chapter 475: The Goblet of Fire

Bai Lang was frolicking with Dio deep in the Forbidden Forest; sometimes he would transform into a fierce tiger to clash with Dio—unfortunately his size was smaller than Dio's, which was a drawback, though his strength was probably still greater. This time, when he entered the deep forest, Dio said someone had brought a dragon into the forest, and Bai Lang replied, "I know all that, but I don't want to check it out now; it's better to keep some mystery."

When he had finished playing and was about to go back, the Halloween banquet was about to start—and interestingly, he ran into the Durmstrang gang on the road. They were probably also going to eat and watch who would be selected as a champion, but now it seemed they needed to "conflict" with Bai Lang first. Bai Lang looked at them all provocatively, and of course Durmstrang's headmaster Kakarlov was also within Bai Lang's sight.

"Rude fellow—Gryffindor… that's just normal!" Bai Lang could hear Kakarlov muttering under his breath; if Bai Lang didn't act, Kakarlov certainly wouldn't feel comfortable disciplining anyone on Hogwarts grounds. "I happen to know a Bulgarian, Mr. Vasil Trovyanov Boyanov; I think he'd get along well with your Durmstrang classmates. Hahaha." After Bai Lang finished speaking, he let out a nonsensical cackle and then ran off.

As soon as he entered, Professor McGonagall stopped him: "Mr. Lang! Ministry officials will come to Hogwarts on Wednesday to process your Animagus registration; I expect you to be present." Bai Lang answered immediately, "All right, professor, I'll wait obediently for them to register me; I'm starving—can I go in now?" Professor McGonagall glared at Bai Lang, waved a hand and signaled him to hurry inside.

There are plenty of mischievous Gryffindor troublemakers, but a "unfriendly" and habitually provocative one like that reminded Professor McGonagall of people from long ago… Yet even they didn't deduct points as harshly as Bai Lang—after just one day of the two wizarding schools' students arriving, Bai Lang had already lost sixty points because of this. The worst part is that the scoundrel showed no sign of remorse.

When Bai Lang entered the candle‑lit hall, it was almost full. The Goblet of Fire had been moved. It now stood on the staff table in front of Dumbledore's empty chair.

The Halloween banquet seemed to last much longer than usual. People in the hall kept craning their necks, each face showing anxiety. Everyone was restless, occasionally standing to see whether Dumbledore had finished, eager to learn who had been chosen as a champion.

Finally, the golden platter returned to its spotless state, and the hall's murmur rose sharply. Then Dumbledore stood, and the hall fell silent again. On either side of Dumbledore, Kakarlov and Madam Maxime looked as nervous and expectant as everyone else. "All right, the Goblet is about to decide," Dumbledore said, "I think it will take another minute. Listen, after the champions' names are announced, I want them to walk to the top of the hall, then proceed along the staff table into the room next door—" he pointed to the door behind the staff table, "—where they will receive initial guidance."

He drew his wand and swept it broadly. Instantly, all the candles except those inside the pumpkin lantern went out, plunging the hall into a half‑lit gloom. The Goblet now emitted a dazzling glow, brighter than anything in the hall, its blue‑white flames spitting sparks and almost blinding. Everyone stared, waiting… a few people kept checking their watches…

The flame in the Goblet suddenly turned red, and crackling sparks flew out. Then a tongue of fire leapt into the air, and a charred parchment shot out—everyone in the hall held their breath. Dumbledore caught the parchment, holding it far away so he could read the letters by the firelight. The flame then returned to blue‑white. "Durmstrang's champion," he said in a clear, strong voice, "is Victor Krum."

"Excellent, Victor!" Kakarlov boomed like a bell, and even over the loud applause the hall could hear his voice, "I knew you were destined to be a champion!"

A few seconds later, the flame turned red again. The second parchment, propelled by the fire, leapt out of the Goblet. "Beauxbatons' champion," Dumbledore said, "is Fleur Delacour!" The pretty girl rose, swaying her silver hair like a proud peacock as she walked into the room.

The Goblet turned red again, sparks flew, and a tongue of fire rose high; Dumbledore drew a third parchment from the flame's tip. "Hogwarts' champion," he shouted, "is Cedric Diggory!" Hufflepuff students went wild, cheering, while Bai Lang gave a light applause—"He's a useless weakling, but that's enough against the other two weaklings," he whispered.

Neville heard it and merely scratched his face before deciding to clap. Cedric soon entered the room as well, "Great!" When the noise finally subsided, Dumbledore cheerfully announced, "All right, our three champions have now been chosen. I know I can fully trust all of you, including the other students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang; you will wholeheartedly support your champions. By cheering for them, you'll also make a great contribution to this event—"

Bai Lang also laughed, "Aha, here it comes!" He watched the tall Goblet with interest. The flame inside turned red again, sparks crackling. A long tongue of fire suddenly leapt into the air, bearing another parchment. Dumbledore, as if instinctively, extended a slender hand and seized the parchment. He held it far aloft, staring at the name written on it. After a prolonged silence, Dumbledore stared at the slip while everyone in the hall stared at Dumbledore. Then Dumbledore cleared his throat and loudly proclaimed—"Harry Potter."

Bai Lang burst into a cackle, "Hahaha, the fourth champion! Potter! Harry Potter! Well done!" For a moment the hall fell eerily quiet, like a small swarm of buzzing bees, while Bai Lang's manic laughter echoed through the hall. The professors hurriedly gathered, and Harry seemed stunned, "You know I never entered," he said to Ron Weasley.

The Goblet's flame was nearly out, and Bai Lang's name, of course, did not appear—after all, he isn't a target for Death Eaters or Voldemort, especially since Voldemort's resurrection requires Harry, not Bai Lang. Soon the discussion ended, and Harry Potter was publicly ordered to enter the room. "Public execution, huh? Poor Harry," Bai Lang remarked offhand, "I'd actually like to be executed like that." Ron Weasley said.

"Let's go, let them keep negotiating. I'd like to take a shower, then read a book and sleep—after all there's still a competition to watch." Bai Lang left first, while the other students kept talking, especially Draco Malfoy venting his huge resentment, "Harry. Stinky. Potter—how could he become a champion?!"

Bai Lang saw people greeting Harry in the common room, though a few seemed uneasy while cheering—Ron Weasley was one of them, and it's no surprise that, besides Harry himself, everyone thought Harry had found a way to bypass Dumbledore's golden thread to achieve all this.