[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring":3,"chapter-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-244":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Starting at Hogwarts, Logging into Elden Ring",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1496368,1944,"Chapter 244: Voldemort’s Plan, and the Match Begins","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-244",244,"\u003Cp>\"Alright, everyone—let's turn our attention back to the match.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a Sonorus Charm amplifying his voice, Dumbledore announced, \"I have arranged for staff to patrol the perimeter of the maze.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If any champion wishes to withdraw, they need only fire red sparks into the air with their wand. A staff member will then escort them out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the rules, Dumbledore turned toward the four champions from the three schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Champions,\" he said, \"please come closer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four stepped up in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering his voice so only they could hear, Dumbledore warned, \"There will be no dragon, and no deep-water monsters in the maze—however, you will face challenges far greater.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Once you enter the maze, the layout will begin to change. Your task is simple: find the Cup.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And above all—be careful. On your journey, it is very possible to lose yourselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said that last line, Dumbledore's gaze shifted to Harry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of the four, Harry was the one he worried about most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Arthur present, Hermione wasn't someone Dumbledore needed to worry over at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Krum and Fleur—they were not Voldemort's targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Harry was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to this day, Dumbledore knew only one thing with certainty: Voldemort intended to strike at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond that… he didn't know the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh—there was one more thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore also knew that Harry's name had most likely been thrown into the Goblet of Fire by the fake Moody.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That conclusion was something he'd pieced together after Arthur's earlier warning—after he discovered \"Moody\" was an impostor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing that didn't help much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Dumbledore had known ahead of time, he could've prevented Harry from becoming a champion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now the Tournament was already at its final task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was far too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur had once told Dumbledore that Voldemort was most likely to strike when everyone was at their most relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore found that frighteningly reasonable, and so he suspected the attack would happen within the next few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, because summer holiday was almost here. Once Harry returned to his aunt's house, Voldemort's window would narrow drastically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second, because after the Tournament ended, everyone would loosen their guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Voldemort wanted to make a move, that would be the perfect moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Dumbledore's guess was… uncomfortably accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort's plan was to move after the match ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only—Voldemort's definition of \"the match ending\" wasn't the same as Dumbledore's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Voldemort, the \"end\" began the instant Harry touched the Triwizard Cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More precisely—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Portkey disguised as the Triwizard Cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Hermione was an unpredictable factor—someone very likely to win—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Moody\" had not placed the Cup and the Portkey in the same location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he had placed two \"Cups\" in the maze, in two different positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That way, no matter who reached the real Cup first, he could still guide Harry to the Portkey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the magical Recording Stones Arthur sponsored didn't fully cover the maze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were still blind spots—dead angles where the audience could not see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, if everyone saw two Triwizard Cups inside the maze…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would've been a disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the Recording Stones were a genuine obstacle for \"Moody.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With them watching, he couldn't personally step in and steer Harry directly toward the Portkey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could only use the maze's traps and creatures to indirectly herd Harry toward the location where he'd placed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which dramatically increased uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even \"Moody\" couldn't be fully sure it would work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Champions—prepare yourselves!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the champions took their positions at their respective entrances, Dumbledore raised his wand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will count to three—one—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"BOOM!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Dumbledore could finish, the cannon shot that signaled the start of the match exploded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore's expression went faintly haunted as he looked toward Filch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cannon had always been Filch's responsibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in three tasks, it had never started normally even once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Filch threw up his hands, looking innocent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he claimed, it truly wasn't him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't even touched the cannon. It had fired on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore couldn't exactly argue with that. He waved a hand and signaled the champions to begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four entered the hedge maze in ranking order—but even if they'd gone in together, it wouldn't have mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each champion had a separate entrance, and the maze began shifting the moment they stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione entered first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hedge behind her sealed, the entrance vanishing as the shrubs knitted together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry entered next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced back—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment, \"Moody\" made a subtle gesture, pointing left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry met his eyes and gave a small nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the instant the hedge closed behind him, Harry turned decisively to the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since Dumbledore discovered \"Moody\" was an impostor, he had warned Harry to be cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though \"Moody\" had taken care of him all year, Harry trusted Dumbledore more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to mention—Arthur had said the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Harry had already been guarding himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, faced with \"Moody's\" guidance…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chose the opposite path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If \"Moody\" had seen that clearly, he might've choked on his own fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, \"Moody\" had a backup plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the match began, he had placed Krum under the Imperius Curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Krum as his hand, he could still drive Harry toward the Portkey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The view shifted to Hermione.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maze constantly changed, but finding the correct path wasn't difficult for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She raised her wand and murmured, \"Point me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ribbon-like stream of blue light unfurled from the wand's tip and drifted forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where it pointed… was the correct route through the maze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione walked lightly, almost carefree—completely unlike the other three champions, whose faces were tense and guarded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if she weren't in a deadly shifting labyrinth at all…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strolling through her own back garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a crossroads, a Dementor suddenly lunged out from her left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione reacted instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Patronus Charm cracked like sunlight across its face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dementor jerked back in pain and fled the way it came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That effortless, almost casual move was captured by the magical Recording Stones and displayed for the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Hermione couldn't hear them, thunderous applause erupted in the stands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur barely reacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Dementor was nothing to Hermione. It wasn't worth getting emotional over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What surprised him was the Dementor's presence at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After last term's incident—when Dementors had attacked students—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur hadn't expected Fudge to dare bring them anywhere near Hogwarts again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it seemed Fudge was desperate to prove the Ministry under his leadership was not incompetent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like now—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ministry staff were stationed all around the maze, patrolling to \"ensure the champions' safety.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their protection, however, was utterly meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fleur had already been eliminated—knocked out by Krum, who was being controlled by \"Moody.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, \"Moody's\" true goal was still to funnel Harry toward the Portkey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't want unnecessary complications, so he didn't kill Fleur outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Beauxbatons would've blacklisted the entire British Ministry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madame Maxime beating Fudge half to death would've been the mild outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After stunning Fleur, Krum dragged her to the hedge wall and threw her into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The hedges, like living things, extended vines from their roots—wrapping around Fleur and swallowing her whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, a Recording Stone captured the scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, Fleur might not have been found until the match ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Harry—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He encountered one of Hagrid's \"creations.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Blast-Ended Skrewt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only about fifteen centimeters long, but its danger level sat somewhere between a manticore and a fire crab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like a shell-less giant lobster—headless, twisted, somewhere between scorpion and crab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of legs jabbed out at crooked angles, and the stench of rotten fish clung to it like a curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could suck blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could spew fire from their tails.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And worse—using that fire, they could rocket forward in a sudden burst, turning their spines into a moving weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Harry saw it, it charged—wild and violent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its tail-fire flared, propelling it forward at a speed even faster than a Snitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Harry had expected this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the impact—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then snapped his wand behind him and fired a Blasting Curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid had told him before: the skrewt's only weakness was its unarmored underside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it shot past Harry, its belly was exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry seized that moment and struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the Blast-Ended Skrewt went still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advance Chapters Available on Patreon\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FWhiteDevil7554\u003C\u002Fp>",1391,"2026-06-06T04:19:46.381Z",1,"novelbin.me","ae54a5ec3f4f89a54e9bc72ffb673edbd37f00c6ede17c712fc9ff77f879ed37","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-245","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-243",281,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-cover.jpg"]