Ch. 16: Hogwarts

On a tempestuous night, Jon navigated a solitary boat, adrift on the vast expanse of water. Soon, a majestic castle emerged from the misty horizon. Hogwarts! a renowned school of wizardry, stood tall and imposing.

Jon could have chosen to ride Igris, but such a flamboyant mode of transportation would inevitably draw the attention of the Aurors. He could also employ space-moving spells like the Teleportation Spell, but Hogwarts had strict regulations against its use.

Anchoring his boat on the shore, Jon disembarked and surveyed the grandeur of Hogwarts. He a bottle from his pocket, taking a contemplative sip.

Moments later, a dramatic transformation overtook Jon. His facial features contorted, his body bulked up, and he morphed into the Mad-Eye Moody.

Indeed, this was part of his agreement with the real Mad-Eye Moody. Jon would temporarily assume Moody's identity to infiltrate Hogwarts, while the real Moody would be engaged in other tasks planned by Jon.

Why not send the real Moody to Hogwarts? Jon had contemplated this, but he knew that Moody might not be able to accomplish what he intended to do at Hogwarts. Moreover, if he missed this opportunity to infiltrate Hogwarts, how could he complete his exploration mission?!

Within Hogwarts, the entire school - teachers and students alike - had congregated in the auditorium. They had just concluded the sorting ceremony for the new students, but the celebratory banquet was on hold as Headmaster Dumbledore had an important announcement to make.

Once the murmurs had subsided, Dumbledore cast an Amplifying Charm to ensure his voice resonated throughout the hall.

"Now that everyone is settled, I have an announcement to make."

"This year, this castle will not only be your home but will also welcome some special guests. Hogwarts has been chosen..."

As Dumbledore held the stage, the auditorium doors swung open, and Mr. Filch, the school caretaker, scurried in.

Interrupted by Mr. Filch's arrival, Dumbledore paused to inquire, "What's the matter?"

After a hushed exchange, Dumbledore instructed, "Keep them waiting for a moment!"

Resuming his announcement, Dumbledore declared, "As I was saying, Hogwarts has been selected to host a legendary event—the Triwizard Tournament!"

Excited whispers filled the hall, with exclamations of "Fantastic!" echoing around, while some freshmen looked on, bewildered.

"For those unfamiliar with this event," Dumbledore continued, "The Triwizard Tournament is a series of magical competitions between wizarding schools. Each school selects only one student to participate. Let me clarify that once chosen, you will compete alone. If you're not prepared for the challenge, think twice before participating."

Shifting gears, Dumbledore announced, "But we can discuss this later. For now, please join me in welcoming the lovely ladies from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and their Headmistress, Madame Olympe Maxime!"

The auditorium doors opened once more, and a procession of female students entered, their grace and elegance leaving many Hogwarts boys spellbound, including one of the three protagonists, Ron.

Following their courteous introduction, a swarm of beautiful blue butterflies fluttered out from the Beauxbatons students. Accompanying this spectacle, an elegant middle-aged woman trailed behind the students.

Lastly, a young woman with striking features and a slender figure performed a graceful dance on the stage, earning a round of applause from the audience. She was Fleur Delacour, the star student of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.

Dumbledore motioned for silence before continuing, "And from the north, let's welcome the esteemed students from Durmstrang and their Headmaster, Igor Karkaroff!"

As he finished, a group of students marched in, their steps resounding through the hall. Following their performance, their headmaster and a tall boy entered.

"It's Krum!" A red-haired boy, Ron Weasley, whispered in awe, "Oh my god, it's really him! Viktor Krum!"

Beside and opposite him sat the other two protagonists, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.

After exchanging greetings with the Durmstrang headmaster, Dumbledore directed them to their seats.

"Professor Dumbledore, my horse has journeyed far and requires careful attention!" Madame Maxime, the Beauxbatons headmistress, requested.

"Rest assured, Madame Maxime," Dumbledore replied courteously, "Hagrid will take excellent care of your horse."

He glanced at the burly Hagrid, who responded with a nod and a smile.

"Mr. Hagrid, you must know," Madame Maxime addressed Hagrid, "They require firm handling, being quite robust, and remember, they only drink single-malt whiskey."

After their exchange, Dumbledore addressed the students, "Everyone, please pay attention, I have a few words to say!"

He paused, his tone growing serious.

"Eternal glory awaits the student who wins the Triwizard Cup, but to attain this glory, three tasks must be completed. These tasks are extremely challenging and perilous, so the Ministry of Magic has decided to introduce new rules. Now, the Director of the International Magic Cooperation Department will explain this new rule to everyone! Mr. Barty Crouch!"

Amidst the applause, a middle-aged man with a mustache ascended the stage. He was Barty Crouch, the father of Barty Crouch Jr.

As he greeted everyone and prepared to speak, a sudden disruption occurred.

A deafening thunderclap echoed, followed by the sound of shattering glass. As the students screamed in panic, a blue light flashed, shielding them from the falling lightning, which was magically restored to its original state.

All eyes turned to the figure who had cast the protective spell. Standing at the door was an old man with a cane, a prosthetic limb, and a peculiar eye.

"Bloody hell, it's Mad-Eye Moody!" Ron exclaimed.

Hermione, sitting across from him, looked at Moody curiously before turning to Ron, "Alastor Moody? The Auror?"

"He was a catcher. Half the cells in Azkaban are full thanks to him. He's supposed to be mad as a hatter though these days." Ron explained,

Meanwhile, Dumbledore walked to Alastor Moody, Jon, greeting him, "My dear old friend, thanks for coming."

Jon greeted him back saying, " That stupid roof." And then took a sip of his potion.

"What's that he's drinking do you suppose?" one of the pupils sitting near to Ron asked.

"I don't know but I don't think it's Pumpkin Juice." Said Harry with a chuckle.

The Moody they saw was actually Jon in disguise. Amidst the students' whispers, he mimicked Moody's distinctive gait and limped towards his seat.

Jon had perfected this imitation through Barty Jr.'s memories and his own interactions with Moody. He had practiced tirelessly for this moment, even up until the morning of his first-day teaching at Hogwarts.

Jon's imitation was so convincing that he wondered if Barty Jr., after being Moody for so long, had trouble reverting to his original gait.

As Jon walked, he noticed that Harry Potter was watching him curiously.

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