Harry Potter 04 - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

back in ze Hall?’
    She thought he had come to deliver a message. Harry didn’t know how to explain what had just happened. He just stood there, looking at the three champions. It struck him how very tall all of them were.
    There was a sound of scurrying feet behind him, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. He took Harry by the arm, and led him forwards.
    ‘Extraordinary!’ he muttered, squeezing Harry’s arm. ‘Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen … lady,’ he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. ‘May I introduce – incredible though it may seem – the fourth Triwizard champion?’
    Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed Harry. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman to Harry and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said, ‘Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman.’
    ‘Joke?’ Bagman repeated, bewildered. ‘No, no, not at all! Harry’s name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!’
    Krum’s thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered.
    Fleur frowned. ‘But evidently zair ’as been a mistake,’ she said contemptuously to Bagman.‘’E cannot compete. ’E is too young.’
    ‘Well … it is amazing,’ said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry. ‘But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name’s come out of the Goblet … I mean, I don’t think there can be any ducking out at this stage … it’s down in the rules, you’re obliged … Harry will just have to do the best he –’
    The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. Harry heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door.
    ‘Madame Maxime!’ said Fleur at once, striding over to her Headmistress. ‘Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!’
    Somewhere under Harry’s numb disbelief, he felt a ripple of anger. Little boy?
    Madame Maxime had drawn herself up to her full, and considerable, height. The top of her handsome head brushed the candle-filled chandelier, and her gigantic black satin bosom swelled.
    ‘What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?’ she said imperiously.
    ‘I’d rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore,’ said Professor Karkaroff. He was wearing a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like chips of ice. ‘ Two Hogwarts champions? I don’t remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions – or have I not read the rules carefully enough?’
    He gave a short and nasty laugh.
    ‘C’est impossible,’ said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur’s shoulder.‘’Ogwarts cannot ’ave two champions. It is most injust.’
    ‘We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore,’ said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. ‘Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools.’
    ‘It’s no one’s fault but Potter’s, Karkaroff,’ said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. ‘Don’t go blaming Dumbledore for Potter’s determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here –’
    ‘Thank you, Severus,’ said Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently through his curtain of greasy black hair.
    Professor Dumbledore was now looking down at Harry, who looked right back at him, trying to discern the expression of the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles.
    ‘Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?’ Dumbledore asked calmly.
    ‘No,’ said Harry. He was very aware of everybody watching him closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows.
    ‘Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?’ said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape.
    ‘No,’ said Harry vehemently.
    ‘Ah, but of course ’e is lying!’ cried Madame Maxime. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling.
    ‘He could not have crossed the Age Line,’ said Professor McGonagall sharply.