Chapter 553: A simple method

The decorations in the Great Hall had changed this morning. Since it was Halloween, a cloud of live bats fluttered around the haunted ceiling, while hundreds of carved pumpkins peeked out from every corner.

"I told you they definitely won't succeed." Hermione said tersely.

They all approached the long table where Dean and Seamus were already seated. They were discussing the Hogwarts students seventeen and older who might enter the tournament.

"Rumor has it that Warrington got up in the wee hours of the morning and put his name in," Dean told them all, "That big guy from Slytherin who looks like a sloth."

Harry, who had played quidditch against Warrington, shook his head in disgust.

No one had a good impression of Warrington. The big guy had a bad reputation at school.

"We can't have a Slytherin champion!"

"Yeah, that's obviously the worst outcome."

"Ravenclaw, like us, doesn't have any good candidates. And all the Hufflepuffs are talking about Diggory," Seamus said dismissively. "But I wouldn't have thought he'd want to risk his good looks."

"That's another bad choice. After Percy and his mates graduated, Gryffindor didn't have any standout figures in this year." Ron sighed.

Dean and Seamus finished their breakfast and went back to the entrance to watch, leaving only the five friends at the long table.

At the thought that the Hogwarts champion would be Diggory or Warrington, they were very unhappy.

"Unfortunately, Ivan isn't allowed to participate, otherwise everyone wouldn't stand a chance!" Colin sighed.

"As far as I can see, Fred and George are better than Wallington and Diggory. As long as we can get past Dumbledore's age limit, we have plenty of options!" Ron said indignantly, "There has to be a way; we just haven't found it yet, have we, Ivan?"

At his words, the others turned their heads and looked at Ivan.

Indeed, if there was any young wizard who had a way to break Dumbledore's magic, it would be Ivan.

"Don't look at Ivan like that, how many times have I said that Dumbledore doesn't expect people who don't meet the age requirements to apply? The Triwizard Tournament is not a trifle.

It's very dangerous, and we don't have enough knowledge!" said Hermione sharply.

Ron immediately argued with her. He didn't agree with Hermione's words. And most of all, he didn't believe that Warrington or Diggory should be the Hogwarts champions.

"Stop arguing, you two. It's very simple to put your name in the Goblet of Fire." Said Ivan, "I can tell you four, but you must keep it a secret and not let it out."

Ron and Hermione immediately shut their mouths, and Harry and Colin also held their breath and looked at Ivan.

"Of course!"

"That goes without saying!"

"We'll keep it a secret!"

"Speak!"

Hermione didn't urge him like the other three. She seemed hesitant, and also wanted to know how to decipher that magic.

"Dumbledore's magic can't be deciphered. We're not strong enough," Ivan said. "But remember what he said last night? The age line he drew can't be crossed by anyone under seventeen, but he didn't say we can't let other students who meet the conditions put our name in. This is within the scope of the rules. So you can ask students over seventeen to put your names in instead of you."

"What?!" Harry blinked in disbelief. "It's that simple?!"

"Yes, it's that simple." Ivan nodded.

He thought about it and there was nothing to say about this method.

With the strength of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Colin, even if their names were thrown into the Goblet of Fire, he thought they wouldn't be selected. When it came to magical power and knowledge, the four of them were still relatively weak.

Of course, Harry would be a champion, and his name should have been put into the Goblet of Fire by Barty Crouch Jr.

After learning Ivan's method, Ron couldn't wait to try it. Harry and Colin were hesitant, while Hermione was adamantly opposed.

She was convincing everyone to give up on the idea and not put their names in the Goblet of Fire.

Ron argued with her again and brought up the subject of how bad it would be to have a Slytherin as Hogwarts champion.

In fact, it was hard to guarantee otherwise. There really were no outstanding figures among the Gryffindor students who met the age requirements.

Even if they put their names in the Goblet of Fire, they might not be selected.

In Ron's opinion, if that was the case, it was best to let him and Harry try. After all, over the past few years they had done many great things and had proven their strength. Perhaps the Goblet would recognize that.

The discussion continued and, at that moment, there was a sudden loud cheer in the hall.

They turned and saw Angelina Johnson entering the room, smiling sheepishly.

Angelina, a tall black girl who played as a chaser on the Gryffindor quidditch team, walked up to them, sat down and said, "Well, I've done it! I just put my name in."

"You're kidding!" said Ron, looking shocked.

"You're seventeen, then?".

"Of course you are, you can't see your beard, can you?" said Ron.

"I had a birthday last week," said Angelina.

"Well, I'm glad someone from Gryffindor got in." Hermione said with satisfaction, looking at Ron triumphantly; it seemed to solve all the problems. "I sincerely hope you get to be champion, Angelina!".

"Thank you!" said Angelina, smiling at Hermione.

Ron didn't seem to see Hermione's look. Suddenly he said, "Angelina, can you please...?".

Harry rushed to stop him, and Hermione kicked him under the table.

"Please what?!" Angelina said suspiciously.

"Nothing!" Hermione said hurriedly, signaling everyone to leave.

They left the Hall and came to a place where there was no one with them.

"You're crazy, Ron!" said Hermione, looking at him angrily. "Ivan just said not to tell anyone. In less than a minute, you're going to Angelina!"

"There's only one way to be a champion. It's to ask someone else to do it for us, isn't it?" Ron said nonchalantly, "Angelina and Fred have a good relationship, and she'll help us."