Everyone in the Great Hall turned to look at the stranger. Suddenly, a forked bolt of lightning flashed across the ceiling and illuminated him.
He took off his hood, shook out a head of long gray-white hair, and began walking toward the staff table.
Thump. Thump. With every step he took, a hollow sound echoed through the Great Hall.
He walked straight to the end of the High Table, turned right, and limped toward Dumbledore.
The light from the lightning lit up the Great Hall, revealing the man's face.
Every inch of skin on that face seemed to be covered in scars. His mouth looked like a crooked gash, and the most terrifying thing was his eyes.
One of his eyes was small, dark, and glittering. The other was large, round as a coin, and a vivid bright blue.
That blue eye moved constantly without blinking, rolling up, down, left, and right, completely unrelated to the movement of his normal eye.
The stranger walked up to Dumbledore.
He stretched out one hand, which was just as scarred as his face.
Dumbledore shook his hand and said a few quiet words to him before finally gesturing for the man to sit in the empty seat on his right.
"Allow me to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore said cheerfully, breaking the silence. "Professor Moody."
After Dumbledore finished the introduction, Harry heard fragmented whispers spreading among the young wizards around him.
"Do you know who he is?" one young wizard said, lifting his little head. "Half the dark wizards in Azkaban were caught by him, but now he's always acting crazy."
Hearing that young wizard's words, Harry turned to look at Mad-Eye Moody.
Observational runes flashed through his eyes, and the true face hidden beneath the Polyjuice Potion appeared before him.
In Harry's eyes, the scarred face of Mad-Eye Moody instantly transformed into someone else, becoming a gaunt, pale middle-aged man with dry, messy hair like tangled licorice.
Harry felt that this middle-aged man's appearance was somewhat familiar. After thinking carefully, he suddenly remembered someone.
Barty Crouch, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
He and the middle-aged man before Harry were at least sixty percent similar.
Harry quickly realized who this person was. He should be Barty Crouch's son, Barty Crouch Jr.
Of course, he had another identity as well. He was Voldemort's loyal servant, a Death Eater.
Why had Barty Crouch Jr. disguised himself as Mad-Eye Moody? And where was the real Mad-Eye Moody?
Harry found this very interesting. Barty Crouch Jr. had gone to great lengths to infiltrate Hogwarts, so he must have a purpose.
That purpose might have something to do with Voldemort. It might even be foreshadowing for Voldemort's resurrection.
However, Harry was not worried, nor did he intend to expose Barty Crouch Jr. immediately.
He planned to use Barty Crouch Jr. as bait to lure out more Death Eaters.
At present, Voldemort and the Death Eaters were only minor troubles. The greater problem was how to reform the wizarding world in a better way.
While many young wizards were discussing Mad-Eye Moody's past, Dumbledore coughed a few times and began speaking again.
"As I was just saying," he said, smiling at the many students before him, "over the next few months, we will have the great honor of hosting a very exciting event. The Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts this year."
"You're joking!" Fred Weasley suddenly said loudly.
The tense atmosphere that had covered the Great Hall ever since Moody entered was instantly broken.
Almost everyone burst out laughing, and Dumbledore laughed as well.
"I am not joking, Mr. Weasley. Some of you may not yet know what this tournament is, so allow me to explain.
"The Triwizard Tournament was established roughly seven hundred years ago. It is a friendly competition among the three largest magical schools in Europe.
"These three schools are Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang.
"Each school selects one champion, and the three champions compete in three magical tasks.
"The Triwizard Tournament was held every five years, with the three schools taking turns hosting it. Everyone agreed that it was an excellent way for young wizards from different countries to build friendships.
"However, later on, the number of deaths became far too high, so the Triwizard Tournament was discontinued."
"Deaths?" Hermione whispered, looking around in shock. One of her hands tightly gripped Harry's palm, as though his hand could give her courage.
Dumbledore continued, "Over the centuries, there have been several attempts to restore the tournament, but none of them succeeded.
"However, the time has now come to try once more. This summer, we have done a great deal of work to ensure that every champion will not face mortal danger.
"In October, the competitors from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive, and the ceremony to select the champions will take place on Halloween.
"An impartial judge will decide which students are most qualified to compete for the Triwizard Cup, to win honor for their schools, and to receive a personal prize of one thousand Galleons.
"I know all of you are eager to win the Triwizard Tournament trophy for Hogwarts.
"However, the participating schools and the Ministry of Magic have jointly agreed that this year's competitors must be subject to an age limit.
"Only students who have reached the age of seventeen, that is, students seventeen or older, will be permitted to enter their names for consideration.
"We believe this measure is necessary because the tournament tasks remain extremely difficult and dangerous.
"No matter how many precautions we take, students below sixth and seventh year simply cannot handle them.
"I myself will ensure that no underage student can deceive our impartial judge and become the Hogwarts champion.
"Therefore, if you are under seventeen, I ask you not to waste your time applying.
"The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will arrive in October and spend most of this school year with us.
"Well, it is already late, and it is very important that you enter your classes tomorrow morning energetic and clear-headed. Off to bed with you. Quickly now."
Dumbledore sat down and turned to speak with Mad-Eye Moody.
The moment Dumbledore finished speaking, the young wizards all rose to their feet.
They headed toward their respective common rooms according to their houses.
Naturally, Harry and the others also left the Great Hall and made their way toward the Gryffindor common room.
Along the way, Fred and George were still arguing nonstop about what method Dumbledore would use to stop students under seventeen from entering the tournament.
"Who do you think this impartial judge who decides the champions will be?" George asked.
"No idea," Fred said. "But he's the one we need to fool. I think a drop or two of Ageing Potion should do it, George."
The twins never cared about danger. They wanted to take part in this tournament and leave a heavy mark on Hogwarts history with their names.
"But Dumbledore knows you aren't old enough," Ron said, pouring cold water over them.
"Yes, but he isn't the one deciding who becomes champion, is he?" Fred said cleverly. "From what I heard, this judge only needs to know who wants to enter, then pick the best young wizard from each school. I doubt he cares about age."
"You're still planning to enter? You know a lot of people died in the past, right?" Hermione asked worriedly.
Hermione had clearly underestimated the twins' courage. Fred said carelessly, "Don't be scared, Hermione. That was a long time ago, wasn't it?
"Now that Dumbledore and the others are here, it should be much safer.
"Besides, this is an adventure. If there's no challenge, then it would be too boring."
Ron, the twins' younger brother, was persuaded by their words.
His face showed a hint of interest, and he asked Harry beside him, "What do you think, Harry? Do you want to enter? It would be brilliant if we could, but I think we're not old enough and probably won't get past Dumbledore's inspection."
Before Harry could answer, George said excitedly, "Harry is stronger than most adult wizards. If he can enter, it would absolutely be a dimensional downgrade."
Harry shook his head and denied it.
"I'm not interested in entering. After all, my name has already left a heavy mark on Hogwarts history. I don't need this tournament to prove myself.
"However…"
Harry suddenly thought of Mad-Eye Moody, who had been replaced by Barty Crouch Jr., then remembered the way he had been staring at him during the feast with ill intent. Harry always felt that he had come for him.
So Harry paused for a moment before continuing, "However, someone might want me to take part. What if I can enter even without putting my own name in?"
Obviously, George did not understand Harry's real meaning. He was simply excited by the prospect of chaos.
"If Harry really can enter, that would be too interesting. I wonder how desperate the young wizards from the other two schools would be when they saw a fourth-year Dark Lord who can easily defeat adult wizards."
This time, even Ron and Hermione began to look forward to it.
The next morning, the storm had stopped, but the ceiling of the Great Hall was still covered in gloomy clouds.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione studied their schedules for the term while eating breakfast.
"Today's not bad. We're outdoors all morning," Ron said, sliding his finger down the Monday column on the schedule. "Herbology with the Hufflepuffs, Care of Magical Creatures, damn it, with Slytherin again."
Ron still hated Slytherin, just as Harry hated Mephisto.
The Care of Magical Creatures professor was still Hagrid. He always brought dangerous things into class. For example, the lesson that day was how to raise Blast-Ended Skrewts.
No young wizard liked creatures that could suck blood and explode, which also meant Hagrid was not exactly a popular professor.
Herbology was still the same as before. Professor Sprout's teaching never disappointed the young wizards.
Soon, it was time for the last class of the day, Defense Against the Dark Arts. This time, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor made the young wizards very afraid. They kept worrying that Mad-Eye Moody would cause some kind of trouble, just like Lockhart in second year.
Sure enough, this lesson was destined to be different. Right at the beginning, Mad-Eye Moody gave the young wizards a surprise.
Professor Moody took the roll book and began taking attendance. After finishing, he gave a hideous smile and said, "I received a letter from Professor Lupin introducing the situation in this class.
"It appears that you have already learned quite a bit of basic knowledge about dealing with dark creatures.
"You have learned how to deal with Boggarts, Red Caps, Hinkypunks, Grindylows, Kappas, and werewolves, correct?"
The students murmured their agreement.
"But when it comes to dealing with curses, you have learned far too little. Far too little," Moody said. "Therefore, I intend to let you experience how wizards act against one another. I have one year to teach you how to deal with the Dark, "
"What? What did you say?" Ron blurted out.
The Dark Lord. You definitely meant to say the Dark Lord, right?
Moody's magical eye rolled over and fixed on Ron.
Ron looked absolutely terrified. Noticing Ron's appearance, Moody seemed to smile kindly, though when he smiled, his scarred face became even more twisted and bizarre.
If a young wizard who did not know the situation saw Moody like this, they might think he was smiling to comfort Ron.
But Harry noticed that he was smiling from the heart because he had seen Ron and the other young wizards' fear of Voldemort.
As expected of a Death Eater. Even though Voldemort was dead, he remained utterly loyal to him and still saw himself as a servant.
Moody did not notice the change in Harry's thoughts. In fact, he did not even dare look toward Harry.
Before this, he had already heard many rumors about this sinister young wizard, that he had defeated Voldemort several times, that his strength surpassed adult Aurors, and more.
At first, he had not believed them. But not long ago, after dozens of Death Eaters in the procession had been struck down by thunder, he had no choice but to believe.
You're telling me this is a young wizard?
Because of that, Moody felt fear toward Harry. But for the sake of his master's plan, he had no choice but to come here.
All he could do was avoid making eye contact with Harry as much as possible, avoid interacting with Harry, and prevent this sharp young wizard from discovering anything strange about him.
"You're Arthur Weasley's son, aren't you?" Moody said, laughing hoarsely before clapping his rough hands. "I know your father rather well. Yes, he helped me return to normal life not long ago."
Before Ron could answer, Moody walked over to the blackboard and began rapidly writing messy, difficult-to-read letters on it.
"All right, back to the point. Curses. They come in many forms, and their magical power varies.
"Now, according to Ministry of Magic regulations, I should teach you various counter-curses and nothing more.
"Strictly speaking, before you reach sixth year, I should not show you what illegal dark curses look like, because you are still too young and unable to handle such things.
"But Professor Dumbledore greatly praised your courage. He believes you can handle it, and in my view, the sooner you understand what you will have to face, the better.
"If you have never seen something before, how can you protect yourself against it?"
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