harry potter book of crimes

When only Dumbledore and Hagrid applauded the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Hermione followed suit.

Ron and Harry, who were sitting next to her, turned their heads in surprise.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked strangely, "Why are you looking at me?"

"Don't you think...well...he looks scary?" Ron said hesitantly.

"Oh - yes," Hermione nodded, "To be honest, it's a bit...but haven't you guys developed a better memory?"

"What?" Harry and Ron asked in confusion.

"Maka has told us over and over again with her own actions that we can't just take things at face value!" Hermione said seriously, with a bit of gritted teeth in her tone.

"Hmm... you're saying, maybe this scary-looking new professor is a good person?" Harry looked at Moody who was eating sausages, but he really couldn't build up any good impressions in his heart.

"What I mean is, don't make judgments easily before you have solid evidence!" Hermione said word by word, expressing full doubts about Harry's ability to understand.

But Moody himself, who was at the center of the line of sight, seemed indifferent to everyone's cold reaction.

Ignoring the large pitcher of pumpkin juice in front of him, he reached into his traveling cloak, took out a curved wine bottle and took a long sip. When he raised his arm to drink, his cloak trailed on the ground.

After being pulled up a few inches, you could still see a few inches of wood-carved prosthetic legs exposed under the table, with a claw-shaped foot underneath.

Dumbledore cleared his throat.

“As I just said,” he said with a smile as he looked at the many students in front of him, “in the next few months, we will be honored to host a very exciting event that has been held for more than a century.

It will not be held. I am very happy to tell you that this year, the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts."

"You're kidding!" Fred Weasley shouted.

The tense atmosphere that had enveloped the auditorium since Moody entered was suddenly broken. Almost everyone laughed out loud, and Persuasion Bledo also laughed softly in appreciation.

"I'm not joking, Mr. Weasley," he said, "but since you mentioned joking, I did hear a very funny joke about a troll, a hag, and a leprechaun. They all

Entered the same pub..."

Professor McGonagall gave a loud dry cough.

"Oh - it seems inappropriate to say this now... not appropriate..." Dumbledore said with a smile, "Where did I just say it? Ah, by the way, the Triwizard Tournament... some of you are still

I don’t know what this competition is all about, so I hope people who know the situation can forgive me for explaining a little here, and I allow their minds to wander for a while..."

The Triwizard Tournament was founded about seven hundred years ago as a friendly competition between the three largest magic schools in Europe.

These three schools are Hogwarts in the UK, Beauxbatons in France, and Durmstrang in a mysterious location.

According to past rules, one warrior should be selected from each school, and then the three warriors would compete in three magic projects.

Originally, the Triwizard Tournament was held every five years, and the three schools took turns hosting it. Everyone agreed that this was one of the best ways for young wizards from different countries to build friendships.

"...But later, too many people died, and the Triwizard Tournament was suspended."

"Death count?" Hermione whispered, looking around in shock.

But most of the students in the auditorium were not as nervous as she was. Many people were whispering excitedly. Even Harry and Ron looked very interested.

"Over the centuries, people have tried several times to revive the Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "but none of them have been successful. However, this year, Mr. Bagman, Director of the Department of Physical Education and Sports at the Ministry of Magic, and I believe that we should try again

The time is ripe to try. We have done a lot of communication with the International Magical Cooperation Department and actively promoted this grand event."

"In October, the principals of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will lead their carefully selected contenders, and the ceremony to select the warriors will be held on Halloween. An impartial referee will decide which students are most qualified to compete.

Triwizard Cup, win honor for your school, and even get a thousand Galleons bonus personally."

Having said this, Dumbledore paused and then said in a more serious tone: "In order to make this event more exciting, the Triwizard Cup itself has been replaced with a special magic item. If

Whoever wins the final victory will own this magic item personally!"

"As for what it is, please allow me to explain it a little bit first... When the competition starts, everyone will know what it is."

At the thought of the possibility of obtaining such honor and wealth, everyone's faces lit up with excitement. This was an opportunity to become a true warrior of Hogwarts.

In front of each house table, the little wizards were either watching Dumbledore feverishly or whispering excitedly to their neighbors.

But at this moment, Dumbledore spoke again. This time, his words made everyone couldn't help but protest angrily.

Dumbledore introduced an age limit.

Only students who are over seventeen years old - that is to say, students over seventeen years old are allowed to register.

"The delegation from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive in October and spend most of the academic year with us. I know you will all behave well while our foreign dignitaries are here.

Be warm and friendly, and once the champion of Hogwarts is finally selected, you will support 'him' or 'her' wholeheartedly."

"Okay, it's getting late now. It's very important for you to be energetic and walk into class with a clear mind tomorrow morning. Go to bed! Hurry!"

Dumbledore sat down and turned to talk to Mad-Eye Moody. The students stood up one after another and rushed to the two opposite doors with reluctance on their faces, heading towards the common room of their respective colleges.

…

Several days have passed since Maca came to Durmstrang, but except for class time, he has been wandering around the campus.

In fact, what he wanted to do when he came to Durmstrang this time was very simple, that was two words - high profile! And certain rules here allowed him to find the most suitable way.

"I heard that you are the most powerful duelist in Durmstrang?" Maka shook all the parts of his body so that he could show the most taunting posture, "Kid, do you dare to duel with me?

?Let’s make signs?”

His country bumpkin accent was lazy and arrogant, coupled with his "I'm just provoking you, I'll fight you if you don't accept it" look, which really made the other party angry all of a sudden.

But when the senior student turned around with anger, he suddenly stopped.

"Are you thinking - uh, no... I'm not great, not at all."

Maka opened her eyes, tilted her neck, looked him up and down, and finally staggered away with an attitude that was so exasperating that it cost her life.

If they don't fall for the trick, what can he do? He can't drag them to the duel stage like a dementor, right?

Several times in a row, Maka had unknowingly suffered from his own weakness. Since there was no way to get credits by finding someone to "make an appointment" with, he could only use more brains and take a few more detours.

Early the next morning, Maca posted this notice on the bulletin board in the school hall:

——————

Dear senior students who are not good at dueling, and junior students who have not yet mastered dueling spells:

In order to prevent everyone from having difficulty in obtaining credits due to their weak dueling abilities, I will provide you with additional training and guidance on dueling techniques for free, and when needed, I will protect you from being harassed by malicious invitations to duels.

For this reason, I hereby create a duel club and give it a loud and warm name. Our duel club is called "Unite! We are not pacifists."

Come and join us! I'm here waiting for you!

Note: If you want to join, please go to the open space in front of the school gate during break time to register as a member.

Your friend, Maca McClain

——————

Soon, the students who had just woken up, finished washing, and were about to go to the auditorium for breakfast gathered around the bulletin board, and everyone couldn't help but communicate in low voices.

A strange notice, a strange organization, and an even stranger name will always make people want to stay away. But just above this notice, Maka specially bolded the words "Free for everyone"

The words "Additional training guidance on dueling skills" made everyone couldn't help but feel excited.

Thanks to word-of-mouth spread among Durmstrang students, even people who didn't know it already knew about Maca's impressive deeds in the World Cup finals.

Almost everyone is thinking: If they let him guide them, will they become that powerful?

Not long after, except for some students who didn't dare approach Maka at all, the other little wizards all rushed to the door of the castle.

In the open space on one side of the gate, Maka was sitting there. In front of him, there was a simple small table with a large stack of parchment piled on it.

"Are everyone here to join the Duel Club?" Maka saw that a large part of these people were freshmen.

When Maka asked, the little wizards immediately nodded their heads.

"Then come and register! Everyone, line up and come to collect the registration form. After filling it out, return it to me one by one..."

"By the way, after everyone has registered, this club will hold its first official event immediately! Please be prepared - unite! We are not pacifists!"