Compared to Alastor Moody's dramatic entrance, what Dumbledore announced next shocked the students even more.
It was also the reason this year's Quidditch season had been suddenly canceled...
"As I was saying!"
Dumbledore's powerful voice finally pulled the young wizards' attention away from Alastor Moody and back to him.
"In the coming months, we have the great honor of hosting a truly magnificent event—one that has not taken place for over a century."
"An event?"
"A century?"
The hall filled with whispers as students exchanged puzzled looks, wondering what kind of event could possibly replace Quidditch—an event that hadn't been held in a hundred years.
"It is my great pleasure to announce that the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year!!"
For a brief moment, silence. Then the Great Hall erupted into an uproar of chatter and excitement.
The tension caused by Professor Moody's appearance vanished instantly, replaced by the electrified buzz of curiosity.
Everywhere, students leaned toward their friends, talking over one another, asking what the Triwizard Tournament was.
Most of them didn't know. After all, it was something out of history—an event from a century ago.
But a few did remember the stories...
"You've got to be joking!"
"I'm not joking, Mr. Weasley. Though, since you mention jokes, I do happen to know a rather funny one—it involves a troll, a vampire, and a leprechaun walking into the same pub..."
"Ahem!"
"Oh, well. It seems our dear Professor McGonagall isn't in the mood for such fine humor... Now, where was I?"
Students from every house except Slytherin broke into quiet laughter, finding this side of Dumbledore unexpectedly warm and approachable.
Snape, standing nearby, gave a sharp, unimpressed snort.
"Ah, yes—the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore continued. "Some of you may not know what this competition entails, so I hope those who do will forgive me while I give a brief explanation."
As Dumbledore spoke, Hermione finally understood why Draco had said what he did on the Hogwarts Express.
Still, if Draco had known about it beforehand because of his family background, then what about Harry and Ron? They had acted as though they'd known from the start...
Where exactly had they heard about it?
...
The Triwizard Tournament.
It was founded more than seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition among Europe's three greatest wizarding schools—Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang.
Each school would select one champion, and the three would compete in a series of magical challenges. The tournament was meant to be held every five years, with hosting duties rotating between the schools.
But, as Dumbledore explained, while it was created to promote friendship and cooperation, the number of deaths that occurred during the competition had grown far too high. As a result, the Triwizard Tournament had not been held for over a century...
Pansy, who already knew a bit about the tournament, wasn't listening to Dumbledore's lecture. Instead, she leaned closer to Draco.
"I've heard of the Triwizard Tournament... but why now? Why hold it all of a sudden?"
"I heard it was a joint decision between the Department of International Magical Cooperation and the Department of Magical Games and Sports," Draco replied calmly. "Apparently, they believe the time is right to revive such a long-standing tradition."
"But, Draco... isn't that a little too convenient? For it to happen now of all times?"
Her worry wasn't unfounded. Reintroducing such a dangerous event in the middle of turbulent times couldn't help but seem suspicious.
Goyle and Crabbe, however, thought their lady boss was overreacting.
"Relax, boss. Draco's not your average wizard."
"Yeah! If Draco enters, he'll definitely win first place."
"Shut it, both of you! This isn't as simple as you think!"
If it weren't for the chaos happening outside Hogwarts, Pansy might have agreed with them. But her instincts—the intuition only a girl could have—left her uneasy, a deep sense that something was bound to go wrong...
At that moment, Dumbledore reached the end of his explanation.
"In October, the heads of the other two schools will arrive, accompanied by their carefully chosen students. The selection ceremony for the champions will take place on Halloween. And the wizard who brings honor to their school will also receive a personal prize of one thousand Galleons."
"One thousand Galleons?!"
"How much is that? Someone calculate how many brooms that could buy!"
While most students were excited by talk of glory and gold, Hermione—who found herself sharing Pansy's concerns—focused on something else entirely.
"So it was stopped because of all the deaths? Was the Triwizard Tournament really that dangerous before?"
Instinctively, her gaze shifted toward Draco. Her thoughts mirrored Pansy's exactly.
But Dumbledore's next words eased her worry, if only slightly...
"I know you're all eager to win glory for your houses in the Triwizard Tournament, but—"
That single "but" was enough to silence the wave of excited chatter below.
No one but Draco noticed the slight whirring sound of Professor Moody's spinning magical eye.
"However," Dumbledore continued, "the participating schools and the Ministry of Magic have agreed to set an age limit for this year's competitors. Only students aged seventeen and older will be allowed to enter."
"Oh no!"
"Yes! I qualify!"
"Come on, I'm just one year short! That's not fair!"
Dumbledore paid no mind to the outcry. Smiling faintly, he adjusted his spectacles.
"This measure is necessary. The tasks remain both challenging and dangerous. No matter how many precautions we take, younger students simply aren't capable of handling them. So, let me be perfectly clear—I will personally ensure that no underage student deceives us!"
As he said this, Dumbledore's gaze briefly swept across the furious Weasley twins—and lingered for a moment longer on the calm, unreadable Draco.
Then, with a knowing glint in his eyes, he added, "So if you're under seventeen, I suggest you save yourself the trouble and refrain from applying."
With that, Dumbledore gestured for the house prefects to lead their students back to their dormitories.
As he left the hall, the other professors followed behind him, one by one.
Only the students remained, buzzing with excitement and speculation over the upcoming Triwizard Tournament...