Chapter 115: Successful Sign-up

John ran all the way from Snape's workshop to the Great Hall.

Clang!

John kicked open the Great Hall door.

It's curfew time, there's no one in the hall... hmm?

Who's that?

In the center of the hall stood a high platform, and on it was the blue-flaming Goblet of Fire.

The blue flames of the Goblet illuminated the entire Great Hall.

And under the Goblet, a hooded figure was holding a wand in one hand, whispering obscure spells at the Goblet.

The other hand held a piece of parchment, about to be tossed into the Goblet.

Just then, John kicked the door open, and the figure turned around abruptly.

Only a pair of gray-blue eyes were visible under the hood; after briefly meeting John's gaze, the figure quickly lowered the hood, not even bothering to toss the parchment, and walked quickly out the side door of the hall.

What kind of sneaky thing is that?

John looked at the retreating back strangely.

Signing up in the middle of the night?

Why is signing up like being a thief?

Unlike me, I kicked the door open openly.

John narrowed his eyes, staring at the back disappearing into the shadows; could it be...

... someone like me who wants to sneak into the competition?

John didn't think in the direction of any conspiracies at all.

Come on, this is Hogwarts.

Dumbledore is sitting in charge himself; what big trouble could happen here?

John couldn't be bothered to think too much and walked straight toward the Goblet of Fire; the translucent Age Line circling the platform was clearly visible.

He took a deep breath and stepped over the Age Line.

The white light of the Age Line flickered, but it didn't stop John from entering.

"Woc! Success!"

John was ecstatic; this Age Line detection really is soul age!

Without hesitation, he took the prepared parchment from his bosom and tossed it directly into the Goblet of Fire.

The blue flame trembled slightly, then swallowed the parchment.

John observed quietly for a while; it seems the sign-up was successful?

Nice!

John raised his hands high in excitement.

Then he skipped out of the Great Hall.

After John left, the figure who had left through the side door returned quietly, the gray-blue eyes under the hood staring at the Goblet of Fire.

"Tch..."

The next morning, Great Hall.

"You said you successfully signed up?"

Titus sat beside John, listening to his account, and asked in disbelief.

Last night, John had told Ryan and Ethan in the dormitory about his successful sign-up.

There was nothing to hide, but he didn't mention the sensitive term 'soul age,' just downplaying it by saying the Age Line didn't stop him.

Then today he told Titus about it.

However, Titus didn't care about John breaking through the Age Line, but about the danger he might face after successfully signing up.

"No, why are you being so reckless!"

"The Triwizard Tournament is no joke; those challenges can really cost lives!"

Titus grabbed John's shoulders anxiously, his voice lowered but unable to hide his anxiety.

"Hey, I haven't even been selected yet, and you're already worrying about that."

John shrugged, a confident smile rising at the corner of his mouth.

"Besides, even if I really get selected, I'm not afraid."

Titus was speechless; although John's strength was indeed much stronger than their peers.

But the danger of the Triwizard Tournament couldn't be resolved by strength alone.

It's just that John had already signed up, so saying anything was useless.

He could only pray he wouldn't be selected.

John himself wasn't panicked at all; this was the confidence brought by strength.

If he really got selected, he wouldn't dare say he could easily win the championship, but he had more than enough to protect himself.

"You must be John Merrick."

At this moment, a strange yet familiar voice sounded.

John and the others turned back to look behind them; it was actually Old Barty, Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

Appearing at Hogwarts early in the morning, it seems he really is stationed here.

He looked at John, his light blue eyes revealing a hint of imperceptible scrutiny.

"Yes, I am."

John found Old Barty's appearance strange, but he still nodded politely in response.

Old Barty nodded slightly.

"I have heard of your deeds, the boy who stopped the Death Eaters' further atrocities at the Quidditch World Cup campsite."

"You must only be twelve or thirteen this year; to have such courage and strength at such a young age is impressive."

Hearing this praise, John, though strange, nodded without denying it.

"Thank you, you're too kind."

Old Barty's gaze lingered on John's face for a moment, then revealed a faint smile.

"I hope you can handle the upcoming challenges with such composure."

His low voice carried a hint of profound meaning, and then he turned and left.

John looked at Old Barty's retreating back, his brows furrowed slightly.

What does he mean by that?

Coming over to talk for no reason, and leaving a baffling sentence.

But John didn't think too much; after all, he didn't know Old Barty, maybe he just likes to say such pretentious things to bluff people.

It should just be a simple recognition of the boy who stopped the Death Eaters.

Compared to the first year, the second-year curriculum indeed increased in difficulty.

But overall, it was still on the relaxed side.

Of course, this is for normal students.

John had extra tasks from professors in every subject every day, and he was extremely busy.

But he enjoyed it very much.

At the same time, they could meet students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang all over Hogwarts.

Visiting Hogwarts as exchange students this year, they naturally became the focus of the campus.

Especially that Krum, no matter where he went, there was a group of students surrounding him for autographs.

Although Titus and the others weren't his fans, he was a Quidditch superstar after all, so if they met him, they would crowd over to watch the fun.

Oh, and that Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons, who was also very popular; she was the most beautiful girl standing next to Madame Maxime that day.

John only learned this later from Titus and the others.

And then, because of the Triwizard Tournament, all Quidditch matches and training at Hogwarts this year were canceled.

When they heard this bad news, Titus and the others couldn't accept it.

They had originally looked forward to Krum joining a house team for a few friendly matches.

As a result, not only were there no friendly matches to watch, but even the most basic matches were canceled. ===== CHAPTER 116 =====