Chapter 95 "Professor Alastor Mad-Eye Moody"

The school day arrived swiftly.

Skyler shared the carriage with Daphne and Astoria, the absence of one person leaving an uneasy gap. As they entered, Skyler greeted Draco, Goyle, Crabbe, and Pansy in the aisle.

Inside the carriage, Skyler appeared preoccupied, a furrow on his brow betraying his deep thoughts. "What's wrong, Skyler?" Astoria inquired.

"It's nothing," Skyler dismissed with a shake of his head, attempting to dispel lingering thoughts. Yet, he sensed an abnormality in Draco.

Similar to when he first awakened the Eye of Magic, he detected peculiar gray-black shadows on Draco's magic power.

What did this revelation signify?

An uncomfortable feeling settled in Skyler's heart, suspecting that his family concealed something from him.

While acknowledging that family members may have secrets, an ominous premonition loomed. The gray-black shadow intensified his concern.

Skyler's spiritual and soul magic cultivation provided keen intuition, leaving him convinced that his feelings were not misguided.

Daphne, unaware of the turmoil within him, shared news about Gallup Lestrange applying for leave, relishing in the family's misfortune.

Sighing, Skyler remarked, "If you count Meredith, the sacred 28 pure-blood families have lost two more. The pure-blood lineage can't endure much more upheaval."

Unspoken was the realization that turbulence awaited the pure-blood families.

Before Gallup's transformation, Bathory and Annis had wiped his memories clean. Miles Black from the Black family and their chief envoy, Irina Selwyn, the Selwyn family's female prefect stood on the same front.

A chill flickered in his eyes, and then their turn arrived.

In the auditorium, first-year freshmen queued up, awaiting the sorting hat's decision.

Slytherin's long table witnessed the absence of Gemma Farley and Marcus Flint, who had graduated.

The new Quidditch captain was Draco, with Terence Higgs and a female dragon set chief as the newly elected chiefs.

During the sorting ceremony, Slytherin welcomed Malcolm Bardock, Graham Pritchard, Emma Dobbs, and others.

Skyler observed, finding no particularly outstanding characters. Notably, Slytherin lacked members from influential families.

However, Skyler's attention was drawn to a short boy from Ravenclaw named Gabriel Cresway.

Though his name didn't suggest a prestigious magical lineage, it resonated with Skyler's memory. He recalled reading in the Daily Prophet on the train about Dirk Creswell's promotion to the director of the Fairy Liaison Office at the Ministry of Magic.

Dirk Cresswell, a character from the original book, was talented, spoke fairy language, and was highly regarded by Slughorn. He often shared inside stories from Gringotts with Slughorn.

Having a strong relationship with Slughorn due to summer vacation communications, Skyler learned from Slughorn that Dirk Cresswell had two sons, with Gabriel being the elder enrolled this year.

A vacant seat adorned the teacher's desk, prompting Daphne's inquiry about the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Eager ears around awaited Skyler's answer, as one of the faculty recruitment committee members held the privilege of knowing first.

"It's Mad-Eye Moody," Skyler replied casually.

"What?" Many of the young wizards present couldn't help but exclaim.

Mad-Eye Moody, a retired Auror known for filling half of Azkaban's cells, carried significant weight.

His reputation extended into many Slytherin families with ties to Death Eaters, making Mad-Eye Moody an extremely intimidating figure for them.

Draco's eyes flashed with a sharp light, though his face wore an air of dissatisfaction.

He voiced his complaint, saying, "Skyler, you're on the faculty appointment committee with the power to veto faculty appointments. How could you let Mad-Eye Moody that madman, pass the selection?"

Skyler, perceptive and armed with the ability to see Iluminating Insight, noticed the change in Draco's eyes.

There was a bitter undertone in Draco's supposed complaint—a veiled attack on Skyler's prestige within Slytherin.

If Skyler had voted for Mad-Eye Moody's approval, it would undoubtedly unsettle many pure-blooded students, revealing potential weaknesses in Skyler's perceived influence.

Doubts swirled in Skyler's mind. Was this truly Draco? The years of brotherhood and camaraderie seemed genuine, but when did Draco, a mere child, become so calculating?

Suppressing the tumultuous thoughts, Skyler put on a natural smile and reassured Draco, "Don't worry; there's a reason for Mad-Eye Moody's appointment. Dumbledore persuaded him with an offer no one could refuse. Many of you may be aware of this year's Triwizard Tournament. Regardless of Mad-Eye Moody's character, his strength is beyond doubt. His role as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor will enhance the chances of victory for our school's players."

Skyler continued with confidence in his smile, "Let's not forget that Slytherin has consistently excelled in recent semesters. If all goes well—" He let the assurance linger in the air. "This time, it's another opportunity for Slytherin to strive for glory!"

"Yes! Skyler, your words make sense."

"We've been so foolish not to think of this..."

Several young Slytherin wizards suddenly grasped the perspective Skyler presented, finding agreement in his words.

New prefect Terence chimed in, "By the way, Skyler, if you sign up, I believe you have an excellent chance of being selected as Hogwarts' representative player." Terence's words garnered support from most nearby students.

The conversation concluded after Dumbledore rose for a speech, and Skyler successfully navigated the concealed prestige crisis in this exchange.

Following the Sorting Hat ceremony, Dumbledore addressed the students. In addition to the customary school rules, he delivered regretful news: "I must also inform you all that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

"What?" Draco gasped in surprise. He turned to his Quidditch teammates, Monta and Wellington, and they all stood in open-mouthed astonishment, staring at Dumbledore, seemingly rendered speechless.

Skyler's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Draco's unpredictable behavior added to the intrigue surrounding him.

Dumbledore continued, "This is because a significant event will commence in October, lasting the entire school year, demanding much of the teachers' time and energy. But I believe you all will find it quite enjoyable. I'm thrilled to announce that this year at Hogwarts—"

Draco interrupted, disappointedly realizing, "This is probably the Triwizard Tournament Dad mentioned before... but I never expected this event to span the entire school year. It's too exaggerated!" His disappointment stemmed from the fact that his status as Quidditch Captain wouldn't change until the next semester.

Suddenly, a deafening thunderclap resonated, and the auditorium door slammed open.

A man leaned on a long cane, clad in a black travel cloak. All eyes turned towards the stranger, and a forked lightning flash across the ceiling left everyone breathless.

The lightning vividly illuminated the man's face—an unsettling sight, as if carved from rotten wood with an imprecise touch.

His skin bore scars, and his mouth resembled a skewed opening, lacking a raised nose. Yet, the most disconcerting aspect was his eyes.

One eye is small, black, and shiny; the other, is big, round, coin-like, shining a bright blue. The blue eye darted around, not blinking, behaving independently of the normal eye.

Eventually, the blue eye flipped over, disappearing into the man's head, revealing only a large white eyeball.

Little wizards covered their mouths in fear, gazing at the intruder who perfectly embodied the image of the most terrifying villain in their minds—a dangerous dark wizard.

Dumbledore broke the tense silence, introducing the newcomer with evident delight, "Allow me to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts class teacher, Professor Moody."

Normally, when a new teacher meets everyone, applause and a warm welcome follow.

However, at this moment, apart from Dumbledore and Hagrid, no teacher or student applauds.

Dumbledore and Hagrid exchanged a few claps, but as the applause echoed in the silent auditorium, it seemed eerily lonely, prompting them to lower their hands.

The others appeared mesmerized by Moody's peculiar appearance, just staring intently.

Moody, seemingly indifferent to the cold reception, paid no attention to the large can of pumpkin juice before him.

Instead, he reached into his travel cloak, retrieved a curved wine bottle, and took a substantial sip.

"Daphne, what's wrong with you?" Daphne asked with concern. She found Skyler's lack of reaction puzzling.

While Moody's face might be unsettling for the young wizards, Skyler, with his experiences confronting dementors and the resurrected feather snake statue, shouldn't be so affected.

Who is Skyler? Someone who dared to face hundreds of dementors head-on, a person who calmly handled the challenges posed by a revived magical creature. What threat could Moody possibly present in comparison?

Unbeknownst to Daphne, in Skyler's eyes, Moody's body emitted a violent black aura. Skyler recognized this aura almost instantly—it was the Shadow Dragon!

Dumbledore cleared his throat, breaking the tension in the auditorium. "As I mentioned earlier," he said, smiling at the gathered students, "We'll have the honor of hosting a highly exciting event in the upcoming months. This event hasn't taken place for over a century. I'm pleased to announce that the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts this year."

Since Moody's entrance, the auditorium had been shrouded in tension, which was suddenly shattered, and laughter erupted from nearly everyone.

Wizarding-born students were familiar, to varying degrees, with the Triwizard Tournament.

While they might not know all the details, they were aware it was one of the three major honors in the international wizarding world for students.

The other two were the "Witcher Inter-School Potions Championship" and the "Cairo International Alchemy Conference." Compared to the first two, the Triwizard Tournament, highlighting actual combat ability and courage, was undoubtedly more popular among young wizards.

Muggle-born students were also eager to learn about the Triwizard Tournament, and upon understanding its nature, they engaged in animated discussions filled with excitement.

Dumbledore recognized that some students were unfamiliar with the tournament and took a moment to explain: "The Triwizard Tournament is a friendly competition between Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang, the three magical schools in Europe. Each school selects a champion, and these three champions compete in three magical tasks. It serves as a wonderful platform to showcase the talents of young wizards from different countries and foster friendships. While it became a tradition in the past, unfortunate incidents led to the interruption of the Triwizard Tournament."

"Despite several attempts over the centuries to resume the championship," Dumbledore continued, "none were successful. However, the Department of International Cooperation and Sports at the Ministry of Magic believes it's time to try again. We've taken extensive precautions this summer to ensure the safety of every participant."

"In October, the heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will lead their champions to Hogwarts, and the selection ceremony will take place on Halloween. An impartial judge will choose three champions to compete for the top honors, bringing glory to their respective schools. Additionally, individuals can earn a thousand Galleons in prize money."

Expressing understanding of the desire to win the Triwizard Trophy for Hogwarts, Dumbledore acknowledged a necessary measure: an age limit for this year's competitors.

"Only those aged 17 or older will be permitted to register," he emphasized, raising his voice as some voiced their protests. "This measure is crucial because the competition remains challenging and perilous. Students below the sixth and seventh years are not equipped to handle it."

(Note: In the wizarding world, 17 is considered the age of adulthood, reflecting not just magical capabilities but also mental maturity.)

"The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang delegations will arrive in October, spending most of the school year with us. I encourage you to extend warm and friendly hospitality during their stay. Once the Hogwarts champions are selected, let's rally wholehearted support for them. Alright, it's getting late. It's essential to start tomorrow morning with energy and clarity. Off to bed! Get some rest!"