31st October 1994
Entrance Hall
Saturday mornings at Hogwarts usually meant most students showed up late for breakfast. That wasn't the case today.
As Hermione, Luna, and I came down the stairs into the Entrance Hall, we saw about twenty-five people already gathered there. Harry and Neville were among them. Some of the students were still eating pieces of toast they had apparently grabbed from the Great Hall, while everyone stood around studying the Goblet of Fire with open curiosity.
The Goblet stood in the center of the Entrance Hall on a rough stone pedestal. Pale blue flames flickered steadily inside the ancient wooden cup. Around it, three faintly glowing rings had been drawn onto the stone floor—three concentric circles, each roughly seven feet apart.
"Anyone put their name in yet?" I asked Harry.
"All the Durmstrang lot," he replied, glancing at the Goblet. "But I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts yet."
"Bet some of them did it last night after we'd all gone to bed," said Neville. "I would've if it had been me. Wouldn't have wanted everyone watching. What if the goblet just chucked your name right back out again?"
A burst of laughter came from behind us. We turned to see Fred and George Weasley hurrying down the staircase, both looking extremely pleased with themselves.
"Hey guys," said Harry. "What's up?"
Fred and George exchanged identical proud smiles.
"I'll tell you what's up," said Fred. "We"—he pointed between himself and George—"have figured out the first test from Dumbledore."
"And how to get past it," George added.
"Really?" Harry asked, immediately interested.
"Yep," said Fred happily.
"It's an age line, you see," George said in a triumphant whisper.
"So we figured a few drops of aging potion ought to do the trick," Fred continued.
"That's not going to work," Hermione said at once.
George turned toward her. "And why is that?"
Hermione folded her arms. "Because that ward was drawn by Dumbledore—one of the greatest wizards alive. And I doubt something as juvenile as an aging potion will help you get past it."
"Ah, but that's the point, Granger," Fred said with a smile. "Dumbledore is a powerful and complicated man. Which is exactly why something juvenile has a greater chance of escaping his notice than something complicated."
"I don't mean to be discouraging, fellas," I said, "but I have to agree with Hermione here."
Hermione preened slightly.
"Well of course you're going to agree with her, mate," George said. "She's your girlfriend."
I chuckled. "No. It's because Dumbledore spends most of the year in a castle filled with teenagers. I doubt in his more than fifty years of teaching experience he hasn't seen every trick in the book and more," I said. "So the chances of an aging potion actually working? Not great."
"Really?" Fred smirked. "Wanna bet?"
I shrugged. "Sure. If you succeed, I'll pay you each a hundred galleons right now."
Both twins smiled instantly.
"But if you fail," I added, "you'll have to do something for me later."
Fred and George exchanged a quick glance.
"Do what, exactly?" George asked cautiously.
"Don't worry. It's nothing illegal," I said. "And you can always say no. But honestly, I don't think you'll have a problem with it."
They exchanged another look. Then Fred nodded.
"Alright," he said. "You're on."
He turned to his brother. "Ready, George?"
George nodded. "Ready, Fred."
They each took out a folded piece of parchment from their pockets with their names and Hogwarts written on them. Then they approached the outermost glowing circle around the Goblet. They paused at the edge for a moment.
Every person in the Entrance Hall was watching now.
Fred and George took a deep breath together and stepped over the line.
For a split second, it looked as though their plan had worked. The twins certainly thought so. They whooped in triumph and slapped each other a high five.
Then there was a loud sizzling sound.
Both twins were suddenly hurled backward out of the golden circle as though struck by an invisible force. They flew several feet through the air before crashing down hard on the cold stone floor about ten feet away.
A loud popping noise followed.
Both of them instantly sprouted identical long white beards.
The Entrance Hall rang with laughter.
Even Fred and George started laughing once they managed to stand up and got a proper look at each other.
"Not bad," I said with a smile. "Definitely makes you both look more mature."
"Alright, alright. You've made your point," Fred said good-naturedly.
Then a familiar gleam appeared in his eyes.
"In fact," he said, "why don't you go ahead and show us how it's done?"
George immediately caught on. "Yeah. Surely a few measly wards set to test NEWT-level students should be a piece of cake for a genius inventor such as yourself."
I looked at them flatly.
"Really? You think you two jokesters can goad me into doing something I don't want to?"
They shrugged.
"Maybe not," George said with a smirk, gesturing toward the Goblet. "But don't tell us you haven't thought about entering your name."
"Not a whole lot to do this year," Fred added. "Except the tournament, of course."
"Bet someone like you would be bored out of your mind otherwise," George said.
I looked at them for a moment, then smiled.
"Fine," I said. "Watch carefully, boys. You might just learn something."
As I turned toward the Goblet, Hermione suddenly grabbed my arm. I paused and looked at her.
"Are you sure?" she asked quietly.
I smiled at her. "Trust me."
She held my gaze for a moment, clearly weighing the situation. Then she nodded and released my arm.
I stepped forward and stopped at the edge of the first glowing circle.
Every person in the Entrance Hall was watching now.
I took out my wand and cast a spell I had learned from a book on curse-breaking that the Room of Requirement had temporarily borrowed for me from the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts library. A copy of that same book was now part of my personal collection.
The outermost ward reacted immediately.
For a brief moment the glowing line shone brighter, then a shower of sparks rose from the circle and arranged themselves into a floating runic matrix suspended in midair.
"Wait… that's the Ward Decryption charm!" George said in surprise.
I glanced back at him. "Oh? You know this spell?"
"No," he admitted, sounding slightly annoyed with himself. "We've just seen Bill use it a couple of times. He told us only professional curse-breakers are taught that one."
He looked at me again, incredulous.
"Where the hell did you learn that?"
I gave him a deadpan look.
"George, I'm the guy who invented never-before-seen rune clusters for a palm-sized device that allows connectivity around the entire globe," I said patiently. "Do you really think it's surprising that I know a charm hundreds of curse-breakers around the world have access to?"
George scratched the back of his head.
"Well… when you put it that way, no," he admitted sheepishly.
Smiling slightly, I turned back to the floating matrix.
Let's see…that bit right there should be the trigger. If someone under seventeen tries to enter the ward, it activates one of several responses. The most basic one simply blocks entry. The one that hit the twins targets people whose bodies register as over seventeen but whose minds do not.
Interesting. The matrix can detect not only biological age but also mental maturity. And that section confirms the ward is intent-based. As long as the person knows they aren't old enough to cross the line, the ward can detect that and react accordingly.
I wonder how it would react to me.
Technically speaking, my biological age in this life was a little over fifteen. But the Draconification ritual—which had used Smaug's centuries-old body as its core component—had altered my own physiology dramatically. Over the last four months since the ritual, my body had continued to mature.
I now stood about six foot two, and my physique looked closer to someone in their late teens than a fourth-year Hogwarts student.
The intent-based aspect of the ward—and the part that examined mental age—would defeat every other underage student in the castle right now.
But there was one detail about me that Dumbledore had never accounted for.
Because I had never told anyone.
I was a reincarnator.
Before being born here, I had already lived through another life—twenty-something years of it. I carried all the memories and experiences of that life with me. In my mind, I had never stopped being an adult.
Which meant the ward might see me very differently than it saw everyone else.
So what would happen if I—an anomaly by every possible definition—stepped inside the circle?
There was only one way to find out.
I looked at the glowing line in front of me.
Then I stepped forward.
The magic of the ward washed over me instantly. I felt it brush against my body, my mind, my magic—quietly probing for inconsistencies.
I stood still for a couple of seconds.
Nothing happened.
I couldn't help but smile.
Behind me, murmurs rippled across the Entrance Hall as students watched me casually stroll across what Dumbledore had intended to be an impenetrable age barrier.
"What the—?" Fred muttered.
"Bloody hell…" George added.
I took two more steps before stopping in front of the second glowing circle—Madame Maxime's ward.
I raised my wand again and cast the Ward Decryption Charm.
The rune matrix appeared once more, floating in the air.
This one was much simpler than Dumbledore's. The structure was straightforward, with far fewer contingencies built into the design. As far as I could tell, it was a layered illusion spell meant to overwhelm the senses.
I studied it for a moment.
Then, with a small shrug, I stepped over the boundary.
The Entrance Hall vanished.
In its place stood a massive colosseum. Stone walls rose high on all sides, and indistinct figures filled the stands, cheering loudly. Their voices echoed across the arena. I stood alone at the center.
From my far right came a menacing sound.
A massive chicken–reptile hybrid stepped forward. I immediately recognized it as a Cockatrice. It raised its wings threateningly, its long neck coiling slightly as it fixed its gaze on me.
I knew the creature wasn't real. A Cockatrice possessed an ability similar to the legendary basilisk—its gaze could petrify a person instantly. If this one were real, the ward would have been far more dangerous than intended.
Even so, the sight of the venomous ornithosaur sent a small shiver down my spine.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the only thing Madame Maxime had prepared.
From the opposite side of the colosseum came a deep, terrifying roar.
I turned to see a huge leopard-like creature approaching with unsettling silence despite its enormous size. The Nundu lowered its head slightly as it stalked forward. When it opened its maw, poisonous vapor poured out and surrounded it in a thick green haze.
Both creatures lunged at me from opposite sides.
Even knowing consciously that the entire scene was an illusion, instinct still reacted. Sparks appeared in my hands as my magic began to gather.
Before I could act, however, the creatures vanished.
The colosseum dissolved with them.
The world shifted again.
Now I stood inside an endless forest. Towering trees rose high above me, their vast canopies blocking the sunlight and leaving the ground in permanent twilight. Everywhere I looked there were only trees. No paths. No landmarks.
Strange sounds drifted through the foliage—distant rustling, low calls, and occasional cracks of branches. The sort of noises that promised constant tension and sleepless nights.
A few seconds later the forest vanished as well.
Freezing cold water closed around me.
My breath escaped in bubbles as I sank downward. Looking up, I realized I was underwater in what appeared to be a deep lake with no visible surface nearby.
I tried to swim, but my limbs felt sluggish.
Dark shapes moved through the water toward me. As they drew closer, their distorted forms began shrieking with glee.
I closed my eyes.
Honestly, that was rather clever of Madame Maxime. The ward relied on psychological intimidation. The idea was simple: overwhelm the entrant with scenarios that suggested the dangers of the Tournament.
Few students would willingly enter a competition where they might face creatures like a Cockatrice or a Nundu—or find themselves lost in a forest or drowning in a lake.
She hadn't gone overboard either. Every scenario she used had appeared in earlier Triwizard challenges, the ones that had historically resulted in significant casualties.
Unfortunately for her, I already knew what the tasks in this Tournament were going to be.
And even if they somehow turned out differently, my new draconic physique and strengthened magic gave me more than enough confidence.
Even if I had to face a herd of Cockatrices or several Nundu.
Taking a slow breath, I opened my eyes and walked forward.
The illusions dissolved as I approached the edge of the ward. The Entrance Hall reappeared around me.
There were noticeably more students present now. The crowd had grown while I had been inside the illusion. They stood watching in excited silence as I approached the final glowing circle surrounding the Goblet.
I turned slightly and cast the Ward Decryption Charm again.
The rune matrix appeared above the final ward.
Compared to the first two, this one was extremely simple.
From what I could tell, the ward would immediately begin attacking any underage entrant. The spell matrix connected several stone slabs in the floor, each capable of firing different jinxes.
The key to disabling it was straightforward. A specific point in the matrix acted as the control node. Hitting it with a sufficiently powerful Freezing Charm—roughly at the level a seventh-year NEWT student could manage—would temporarily shut the array down.
All things considered, it was a clean design.
A test of skill.
I stepped across the final glowing line.
Immediately I felt magic building beneath the stone floor.
"Protego Maxima," I said calmly.
A shimmering dome of magical energy expanded around me just as the ward activated.
Several stone slabs flashed with light and began firing jets of magic upward—stunning spells, disarming charms, and petrification hexes launched in quick succession.
The students watching gasped.
The shield absorbed some impacts and deflected others. The slabs weren't firing consistently either. The matrix kept randomizing which slab would activate next, trying to overwhelm the entrant from multiple angles.
My glasses flashed as Magesight activated.
The control node revealed itself clearly.
I raised my wand and aimed at a stone slab that appeared completely inactive.
"Immobulus."
The freezing charm struck the slab.
For a brief moment the entire matrix flickered.
Then it shut down.
The stones went silent.
The Entrance Hall became completely quiet.
I dispelled my shield and walked the remaining steps toward the pedestal. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a folded piece of parchment.
Benjamin Carter — Hogwarts.
I dropped it into the Goblet's blue-white flames.
As the parchment entered the fire, it turned briefly red and emitted a small burst of sparks.
I turned and began walking away from the Goblet.
Halfway back, I paused slightly as I felt a mild Compulsion Charm settle over my mind. The effect was gentle and clearly temporary.
Once I realized what it was, I relaxed and continued walking until I stepped beyond the glowing ward lines.
"Well?" I said to the silent twins.
Fred and George, still sporting their long white beards, looked at each other.
Then, in perfect unison, they bowed deeply toward me.
"We bow before your great wisdom and greater awesomeness, O Great Master," they declared solemnly. "Please, we beseech you—teach us!"
I wasn't the only one who laughed.
The silence in the Entrance Hall broke as students burst out laughing at the twins' performance.
"While I appreciate the gesture, boys," I said with a smile, "I'm afraid I can't tell you exactly how to get past the wards."
"What?" both of them protested. "Why not?"
"Because technically that would be cheating," said a deep, amused voice.
Everyone turned.
Professor Dumbledore had just stepped out of the Great Hall.
He looked at me for a moment, studying me quietly, before speaking.
"Congratulations on being able to submit your name, Mr. Carter. I wish you the best of luck should you be chosen to represent our school in the Tournament."
Then he turned to the Weasley twins.
"Once an underage student places their name in the Goblet, the wards apply a temporary Compulsion Charm that prevents them from explaining how they did it," he explained calmly. "If you wish to submit your names, gentlemen, you must do so on your own."
He glanced at their beards with a faint smile.
"Now, I suggest you both visit Madam Pomfrey. She is already attending to Miss Fawcett of Ravenclaw and Mr Summers of Hufflepuff, both of whom attempted to age themselves as well." He paused. "Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything like as impressive as yours."
Fred and George exchanged a resigned look and headed off toward the Hospital Wing.
I rejoined Hermione, Harry, Luna, and Neville, and we made our way into the Great Hall for breakfast.
As we walked, I could feel the eyes of many students on me while excited whispers spread through the hall, everyone already discussing my chances of becoming the Hogwarts champion.
---
31st October — Evening
Great Hall
Speculation was rife at the Ravenclaw table that evening. While the Halloween feast was being eaten with enthusiasm, the conversation revolved almost entirely around the Goblet of Fire and who it might choose as Hogwarts Champion. Names were thrown around freely, and the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate were discussed in great detail.
At the moment, the leading favorites seemed to be either me from Ravenclaw, Angelina Johnson from Gryffindor, or Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff. Cassius Warrington from Slytherin had been mentioned once or twice, but most people quickly dismissed him as being far too thick to have any real chance.
Eventually the feast came to an end. The golden plates cleared themselves and returned to their original spotless state. A noticeable rise in chatter swept across the Hall, only to die down almost immediately when Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet.
On either side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone in the Hall. Ludo Bagman was practically glowing with excitement, beaming and winking at various students. Mr. Crouch, however, appeared completely uninterested. He sat stiffly, his expression distant, almost bored.
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber" — he indicated the door behind the staff table — "where they will be receiving their first instructions."
Then, in a show of quiet theatrics, Dumbledore took out his wand and gave it a long, slow wave across the Hall. Every candle went out at once, except for those glowing inside the carved pumpkins that decorated the ceiling for Halloween. In the sudden dimness, the Goblet of Fire's blue-white flames burned brighter than ever.
The entire Hall sat transfixed, waiting.
For several seconds nothing happened.
Then the flames inside the Goblet suddenly shifted from blue-white to red-gold. Sparks burst upward. A long tongue of fire shot into the air, carrying with it a charred piece of parchment. Dumbledore moved quickly and caught it before it had even begun to fall.
"The champion for Durmstrang," he read in a strong, clear voice, "is Viktor Krum."
The Hall erupted in cheers and applause. Viktor Krum, the famous Quidditch Seeker, rose from the Slytherin table. He looked serious, almost grim, as he walked up to the staff table. Without hesitation he turned right, passed behind the professors, and disappeared through the door leading to the side chamber.
The applause slowly faded. Conversations quieted as everyone's attention returned to the Goblet.
Only a few seconds later, the flames flared red again. Another piece of parchment shot out of the fire.
"The champion for Beauxbatons," said Dumbledore, "is Fleur Delacour."
This time the applause was still loud, but slightly less enthusiastic. Fleur didn't seem bothered by that in the slightest. She rose gracefully from the Ravenclaw table with a pleased smile.
"Congratulations, Miss Delacour," I said as she passed me.
She nodded with a polite smile before continuing toward the front of the Hall. A moment later she disappeared through the same side door Viktor had entered.
Then the Great Hall fell completely silent.
Everyone knew what came next.
The final champion.
The Goblet of Fire turned red once more. Sparks spilled from the cup as another tongue of flame shot into the air. A third piece of parchment emerged from the fire, and Dumbledore caught it easily.
This time he paused for a moment before reading the name, letting the tension build.
"The Hogwarts champion," he called out, "is Benjamin Carter!"
For a moment there was stunned silence.
Then the Ravenclaw table exploded with cheers. Terry, Anthony, and Michael were the first to start shouting. Within seconds Ravenclaws up and down the table were cheering and pounding the table.
The Gryffindor table was just as loud. Harry, Neville, Rachel, and Ginny were leading the applause. The Weasley twins, now finally free of their beards, were whistling and yelling loudly.
Even most of the Slytherins were clapping politely. Tracey Davis and Astoria Greengrass were cheering openly, while Daphne simply watched me with a small, knowing smile.
The only table that looked disappointed was Hufflepuff. Several of them were staring down at their plates or whispering quietly. It was obvious they had been hoping Cedric Diggory would bring the glory to their house.
I stood up and walked down the aisle between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. As I passed Cedric, our eyes met briefly. He looked disappointed, but there was no resentment in his expression.
It was a quiet reminder of just how much goodwill I had built at Hogwarts over the years. Despite the fact that I was technically underage, no one seemed willing to accuse me of cheating my way into the Tournament.
When I reached the front of the Hall, Dumbledore nodded at me with a faint smile and gestured toward the side door.
I stepped through it.
The room beyond was smaller and warmer than the Great Hall. Portraits of witches and wizards lined the walls, and their painted faces turned curiously to watch me enter. Near the fireplace stood Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour, who both looked up when the door opened.
"Mr. Carter?" Fleur said in surprise. "What are you—"
She stopped suddenly, realization dawning.
"You are the Hogwarts Champion?" she asked, her eyes widening.
I inclined my head slightly. "So it would seem."
For a moment she seemed unsure what to say.
"Well," she managed after a second, "congratulations."
"Thank you," I said with a smile.
Viktor Krum walked toward me. He studied me for a moment before extending his hand.
"I am Viktor," he said in a heavy Slavic accent.
"Hello, Viktor. I'm Benjamin," I replied, shaking his hand.
"I have heard a lot about you," he said. "It is nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise," I said.
At that moment the door behind us opened again. A group of people entered the room—Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Ludo Bagman, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime.
"Wonderful!" Bagman said cheerfully, rubbing his hands together as he looked around at the three of us. "We now have our three champions. Shall we crack on, then? Barty, want to do the honors?"
Crouch stepped forward.
"The first task is designed to test your daring," he said, looking at me, Fleur, and Viktor. "So we are not going to tell you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard… very important."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"The first task will take place on the twenty-fourth of November, in front of the other students and the panel of judges."
"The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."
---
Once it was clear that Crouch had nothing more to say, the small gathering began to disperse quietly.
We passed through the now empty Great Hall together. When we reached the Entrance Hall, Viktor and Fleur separated from me, following Karkaroff and Madame Maxime out through the front doors toward their respective accommodations.
I turned toward the marble staircase and began making my way up through the castle.
The corridors were mostly empty at this hour. Portraits lining the walls watched me pass, whispering among themselves. A few even stepped casually into neighboring frames to get a better look.
Soon I arrived at the familiar door to Ravenclaw Tower.
The eagle-shaped bronze knocker regarded me for a moment before speaking.
"What belongs to you, but is used more often by others?"
I thought about it for a few seconds before answering.
"My name."
"Well reasoned," the eagle replied.
The door swung open.
The noise that hit me from inside nearly knocked me backward.
Before I could react, several pairs of hands grabbed me and pulled me into the common room. I found myself standing in the center of a loud, cheering crowd.
The entire Ravenclaw House seemed to be there.
It wasn't just Ravenclaws, either. Several Gryffindors had somehow made their way inside—Harry, Neville, Rachel, Ginny, Fred, and George, along with their friend Lee Jordan. They were all cheering, clapping, and whistling.
"Brilliant, mate!" Fred shouted, clearly impressed. "Absolutely brilliant!"
"Now you've got to tell us how you got past those wards!" George added loudly.
"Sure," I laughed.
Rachel was the first to reach me. She wrapped me in a tight hug, which I returned with a grin.
Luna followed. She didn't say anything, just gave me her usual calm smile that somehow said everything.
Then Harry and Neville stepped forward.
"Knew you had this in the bag," Neville said, clapping me on the back.
"Never doubted you for a second, mate," Harry added.
"Thanks, guys," I said with a smile.
Finally I noticed Hermione.
She was standing slightly apart from the others, watching me with a worried expression.
I walked over to her and gently took her hand. Quietly, I cast a silencing charm around us to block out the noise from the celebration.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"As long as you are with me," I said grandly.
She gave me a thoroughly unimpressed look.
I smiled.
"I'm fine," I said honestly. "Really."
She studied my face for a moment before asking, "What did they say?"
"That the first task will take place on the twenty-fourth of November."
Hermione's eyes widened.
"Twenty-fourth of November? That's less than a month away!" she said, her voice rising with alarm. "We need to—"
I gently held her shoulders.
She stopped talking and focused on me.
"Relax," I said calmly. "You know better than anyone what I'm capable of. Trust me." I smiled slightly. "I've got this."
She looked at me for another moment, then slowly nodded.
We dropped the silencing charm and joined the others.
The impromptu celebration continued for quite a while. Everyone wanted to hear how I had gotten past the wards, what Dumbledore and the others had said in the antechamber, and what I thought the tasks might be.
About an hour later the party finally began to wind down.
I made my way up the staircase to the boys' dormitory and entered my room. Teddy came running toward me the moment I stepped inside, and we spent a few minutes playing around before I went to wash up.
Before going to bed, however, I took a medium-sized chest out of my storage ring and placed it on the floor.
When I opened the lid, I looked inside with satisfaction.
Hundreds of golf-ball-sized spheres sat neatly arranged in six separate compartments.
I picked one up.
The spherical metal object had a red top half and a white bottom half, separated by a thin black band running around the middle. A small button sat at the center of the front.
I pressed it.
The small sphere expanded smoothly until it reached roughly the size of a baseball. I tossed it lightly into the air and caught it again. Then I pressed the button once more and the sphere shrank back to its original size.
I had already changed the Wizarding world once with the introduction of the Wiphone.
Tomorrow, when I unveiled these, the world of wizarding toys was going to change just as dramatically.
I closed the chest with a satisfied smile.
"Let the games begin."