0521 Debate

0521 Debate

The side chamber crackled with tension as Dumbledore and Bryan strode in, followed closely by a parade of agitated wizards and witches. Madame Maxime's imposing figure ducked through the doorway. Karkaroff, his face a mask of barely contained fury, stalked in behind her, his cold eyes darting suspiciously around the room.

The two high-ranking Ministry of Magic officials, Barty Crouch and Ludo Bagman, entered next, with their contrasting demeanors - Crouch's looked stern and rigid while Bagman was barely suppressing excitement.

Snape glided in silently and Moody was the last to enter, his magical eye humming ceaselessly as it swept across the now-empty Great Hall before he closed the heavy oak door with a resounding thud.

The portraits on the walls, which had been humming with whispered conversations and excited movements just moments ago, fell into an expectant silence as the group entered. Their occupants leaned forward in their frames, eyes wide and ears straining, eager to witness how this bizarre situation would unfold. Each of the portrait occupants silently hoped to be the first to spread the news to their other portrait friends throughout the castle.

Bryan's eyes immediately sought out Hermione, finding her still enveloped in Professor McGonagall's embrace. Despite the roaring fire that dominated one wall of the chamber, its flames casting a warm, flickering light across the room, Hermione's thin shoulders continued to tremble slightly.

Fleur, Krum, and Cedric, the three champions, stood in a loose cluster near the fireplace. Their expressions showed that they had already been informed of the situation by Professor McGonagall.

Bryan could detect the anger simmering beneath Fleur's carefully controlled expression.

The room was thick with tension, each person lost in their own thoughts and reactions to the unprecedented fourth champion. Yet, amidst this sea of concern and confusion, one face stood out starkly.

Ludo Bagman, his face burning with intrigue, surveyed Hermione with an expression that bordered on excitement. His eyes gleamed with a calculating light that set him apart from the others. Bryan's gaze flickered to Bagman, instantly recognizing the man's ulterior motives.

The tense silence was shattered by Fleur's voice, high and clear, tinged with barely suppressed anger.

"Madame Maxime!" She called out; her French accent becoming more distinct in her agitation. She had expected an explanation from Bryan upon his entry, but he had just given her a cursory glance, which clearly stoked the flames of her indignation.

With a dramatic toss of her silvery hair, Fleur strode towards her headmistress, her movements graceful even in her anger.

"This professor told us that this little girl has somehow been chosen as a champion!"

Professor McGonagall's lips thinned to a barely visible line, her silence speaking volumes about her disapproval of Fleur's tone and choice of words. Her arms tightened subtly around Hermione's shoulders.

Madame Maxime, responding to her student's call, stretched herself up to her full, impressive height. Her massive form seemed to fill the room, her headdress brushing against the candle-filled chandelier that hung from the ceiling. When she spoke, her voice was laden with indignation and confusion. "What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbledore?"

Madame Maxime's piercing gaze flickered between Dumbledore and Watson before settling on the former, clearly identifying him as the ultimate authority in this situation. Karkaroff, however, made the opposite choice. With a cold smile that didn't reach his eyes, he turned to Bryan. Yet, even as he addressed Bryan, Karkaroff carefully avoided direct eye contact, still unnerved by their earlier encounter outside at Great Hall.

"I, too, would like an explanation, Watson," Karkaroff said, his voice dripping with false politeness as he moved towards a confused-looking Krum. "Since when has Hogwarts been allowed two champions? I must have missed that particular announcement – unless, of course, this is yet another unilateral decision of yours, Watson, just as you decided to Live broadcast the Triwizard Tournament to the public?"

"It's impossible—" Bagman said with an inappropriately cheerful smile that seemed bizarrely out of place in the tense atmosphere. "There has never been such a tradition, but I must say, in all fairness, that Bryan's decision to broadcast the tournament live was a stroke of genius, wouldn't you agree, Barty?"

"If you knew Miss Granger well enough!" Professor McGonagall's chest swelled with righteous indignation. In that moment, she no longer cared about maintaining the image of Hogwarts or Gryffindor. Her sole focus was on defending her student. Her fierce glare was fixed on Professor Karkaroff as she continued, her voice trembling with controlled fury,

"You would know that Miss Granger is the most exceptional young witch Gryffindor has seen in many years. She is intelligent, hardworking, and modest. Her grades are the best in her year. Every professor at Hogwarts who has taught her can vouch for her character, Professor Watson, and I personally have absolute confidence that Miss Granger is not lying!"

Madame Maxime, who had been listening to this exchange with growing impatience, interjected. "That is entirely irrelevant—" she said, her brow furrowed in frustration. Despite her words, however, she couldn't help but glance at Hermione with a hint of surprise, clearly impressed by Professor McGonagall's emotional defense.

"Indeed" Karkaroff, seizing on Madame Maxime's words, nodded curtly in her direction before turning back to Professor McGonagall. The cold smile he had been maintaining throughout the conversation had vanished, replaced by open hostility.

"Academic achievements prove nothing," He sneered. "Perhaps she obtained her impressive grades through the same means she used to become a champion – through deception and trickery!"

"Do you truly believe we are all such incompetent fools, Karkaroff?" To Bryan's surprise, it was Snape who broke the tense silence. Leaning against the wall, his voice dripped with lazy disdain, as he came to Hermione's defense.

Sensing that the situation was spiraling out of control, Bryan stepped forward once more.

"I think we need to reach a consensus before we can discuss what happens next—" He began, his gaze sweeping across the room. "The Goblet of Fire is an artifact of immense magical power, possessing sophisticated abilities of discernment and judgment. If Miss Granger had simply convinced an older student to submit her name, the Goblet would not have made such a fundamental error as to select four champions instead of three. Unless someone tampered with it.

And I must point out, with all due respect, that at present within Hogwarts, only those of us gathered in this room would possess the magical knowledge and ability to interfere with the Goblet of Fire's magic."

Bryan's gaze swept the room as he delivered the coup de grâce: "Madame Maxime, Professor Karkaroff, surely you must agree that Hermione Granger, a fourth-year student, regardless of her academic achievements, doesn't have the ability convince any of us to assist her in such a deception?"

A heavy silence fell over the room as Madame Maxime, Karkaroff, and the three legitimate champions observed the Hogwarts staff members. Bryan's argument was convincing, presenting a logical case that seemed to prove the innocence of the young witch who had been unexpectedly drawn into this situation.

Hermione's face finally regained some color, the faintest hint of pink returning to her cheeks. Her emotions had been on a rollercoaster ride since Karkaroff's earlier assessment of her, but now she realized that she had finally been cleared of the shameful suspicion that had been hanging over her.

The room's occupants seemed to be processing Bryan's words, each coming to their own conclusions.

It was clear that accusing Severus Snape of helping this "irritating little witch" cheat would be not only inappropriate but potentially dangerous. Moody, with his reputation and magical eye, was clearly not someone to be trifled with. And suggesting that Watson, Dumbledore, or the equally renowned Minerva McGonagall would help a student cheat in such a manner would make one seem not just accusatory, but utterly insane.

Karkaroff's yellowish eyes darted around his sockets almost as quickly as Moody's magical eye, his mind clearly racing as he sought a way out of the logical trap Bryan had set.

After a moment of reluctant consideration, he turned to the two high-ranking officials from the British Ministry of Magic. His voice, which had been harsh and cold throughout the confrontation, suddenly shifted to an oily, fawning tone.

"Mr. Crouch, Mr. Bagman," he began, his eyes narrowing as he addressed the two men. "You two are our... impartial judges. Surely you agree that this situation is extremely inappropriate, don't you?"

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