In Beauxbatons' extravagant banquet hall, when everyone had eaten and drunk to their heart's content, Madame Maxime, who was seated on the main seat, stood up again.

As if it were a conditioned reflex, the originally bustling banquet hall suddenly became quiet.

Scott: They also kept their mouths shut with the mentality of being a guest.

Soon, almost as soon as Madame Maxim stood up, all the cutlery and scraps on all the tables in the banquet hall were gone, and in their place were bouquets of brightly colored irises.

The invigorating floral scent instantly fills all senses, replacing the residual smell of food.

"I think it's not me who is getting the most attention at the moment, but the upcoming Triwizard Tournament."

Madame Maxim said with a smile.

If it had been at Hogwarts and it was Dumbledore who spoke, the students would have already cheered.

But at this moment, the teachers and students of Beauxbatons were still silent, just looking at Madame Maxim who was speaking.

The 25 Hogwarts students, including Scott, who had come to visit, were all unable to speak.

"First of all, I would like to thank and introduce the two gentlemen to everyone."

Madame Maxim stretched out her hand to guide.

"French Ministry of Magic, Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Mr. Leffible!"

A middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes sitting next to Dumbledore stood up and gestured.

His brown hair was neatly combed back, neatly groomed with styling potions, and his upper lip had two handfuls of curly beard, and he looked very elite.

"French Ministry of Magic, Department of Physical Education, Director, Mr. Jolly!"

Mr. Jolly, sitting beside Mr. Leffable, also got up and waved his hand.

He looks younger, and his dress is much more casual, with short hair close to his scalp, a strong figure, and a bright smile, and a very energetic appearance.

"In the past, Beauxbatons' preparations for the Triwizard Tournament could not have been done without the leadership and help of Mr. Lefebble and Mr. Jolly."

Madame Maxim took the lead, and the banquet hall burst into polite but not enthusiastic applause.

After the applause stopped, the two gentlemen returned to their seats.

Madame Maxime continued: "The two of them will also form a panel of judges with me, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Hartman in the upcoming game to score the Warriors' performance. ”

When she mentioned "Warriors," the students listened more attentively.

"What I want to tell you is that the specific events of this year's Warriors have been carefully reviewed. Our preparations have all been successfully completed. ”

"We have made a lot of necessary arrangements for each project."

"The Triwizard Tournament has three events, each at different times throughout the school year, and they will put the Warriors to the test in every way."

"These tests include magical talent, courage, reasoning, and the ability to overcome danger."

With that, Madame Maxim drew her wand.

"Everyone knows that we will select three warriors who will compete for honor on behalf of their respective schools."

"The referees will score the Warriors' performance in each round, and the Warrior with the highest total score will win the championship."

The wand in her hand tapped.

"Now, let's call for the [Goblet of Fire] who is responsible for selecting the Warriors for us!"

As everyone looked at each other, there was a sudden noise on the ground in front of Madame Maxim.

The marble floor cracked suddenly, revealing a square hollow, and then a pure white square stone platform slowly rose.

The length and width of this stone platform are about two meters, and the height is about half a meter, and there are several stone steps on the left, right, and front three sides for people to walk up.

In the center above the stone platform is an ornate wooden box encrusted with precious stones, and above the box is a large, rough-looking wooden goblet.

The cup itself was unremarkable, but it was filled with dancing blue-white flames.

"Note that every student who wants to run for the Warriors must write his name and the name of his school on a piece of parchment and throw it into this goblet."

Madame Maxim said in a deep voice.

"You have twenty-four hours to sign up, and tomorrow night, [Goblet of Fire] will choose the names of three students that it thinks best represent the three schools!"

"From now on, [Goblet of Fire] will always be placed here."

At this moment, everyone's eyes were focused on the rough and ugly cup.

"Of course, please don't forget our rules, warriors need to be at least seventeen years old."

Madame Maxim said again.

"We did some preparation and put a barrier between the underage students and [the Goblet of Fire] that was difficult to break through."

At this point, she had a proud look on her face.

"The stone platform on which the [Goblet of Fire] is placed, an alchemical artifact made by a group of alchemists in Beauxbatons, and it has only one function, to prevent young wizards under the age of seventeen from ascending the steps."

Scott's gaze was on the white stone platform.

Alchemical products?

He began to think of ways to break through the limitations.

"Thinking of a way to break through?" Lucio said in a faint voice, "Let me tell you, I was also involved in the production of that stone platform, and of course, I will not help you cheat." ”

Scott turned his head and looked at him in surprise.

Lucio smiled slightly, "I know what you're thinking, yes, I won't sign up, not only for fairness, but also because I, who are only good at alchemy, can't guarantee my combat power." ”

Scott nodded in understanding.

At this time, Madame Maxim was still talking.

"Finally, I would like to solemnly remind every student who is going to run for election."

"Please note that once you have been selected by [the Goblet of Fire], you have to play to the end."

"Throwing a name into a cup actually creates a magical contract that must be kept, and once you become a warrior, you can't change your mind."

"So, think carefully before deciding whether or not to put your name in the [Goblet of Fire]."

"Alright, that's all the talk about the Triwizard Tournament."

"Good night to all."

After Madame Maxim's speech, the others could at last begin to speak freely.

"Oh, Lucio." Fred reached out and put his arm around Lucio's shoulder, "I just heard, you were involved in ......"

"Don't even think about it, I'm not going to say anything." Lucio shook his head repeatedly.

"Even if it's just a little hint?"

Fred used two fingers to make a "little bit" of distance.

Lucio still shook his head.

Fred rolled his eyes, "In exchange, I can secretly show you around our Flying Tower." ”

"Really?" Lucio was happy at first, then gritted his teeth and shook his head, "No, if I say anything, the professors will fire me." ”

Fred could only pout his lips in amusement and let go of his hand.

At that moment, Dumbledore walked towards them.

"I think you should go back to the tower and sleep, boys."

"I'd like to figure out how to put my name in the cup, Professor." Fred said, "So did Scott. ”

Scott smiled helplessly.

Dumbledore smiled and said, "Oh, you two are not old enough, but it seems that you are not giving up. ”

"Madame Maxim has told us that if you are not old enough, you can sign up if you break through the barriers they have set," Scott said. ”

And all the people looked at him.

"'Putting an insurmountable barrier between the underage students and [the Goblet of Fire],'and 'preventing young wizards under the age of seventeen from ascending the steps,' are Madame Maxim's exact words."

Scott explained.

"Notice her choice of words, 'difficult to break through' rather than 'impossible to break through', 'blocking' rather than 'prohibiting'. Also, if it weren't for our convenience, the registration time would not have to be set for 24 hours. ”

At that moment Madame Maxim came up and cast a large shadow over the heads of the people.

She glanced at Scott in some surprise.

"Looks like your students have deciphered the unspoken rules for selecting warriors, Dumbledore."

Dumbledore looked at Scott happily.

Mrs. Maxim said to Scott: "Smart boy, we think that if a student can break through that barrier on his own within 24 hours, he will be qualified to be a warrior even if he is not old enough. ”

After saying that, she smiled slightly.

"Lucio, follow me, everyone, good night."

Lucio quickly stood up and walked over to her.

His expression looked a little panicked, completely oblivious to the hardness he had just seen in front of Fleur.

As Madame Maxime turned away with Lucio, the bright light of the crystal lamps illuminated Scott and them again.

Next, Dumbledore did not stop Scott and returned to the tower on his own.

Because Scott wanted to try his hand at researching the platform, none of the students at Hogwarts left, including several students from Slytherin House.

Although within Hogwarts, their relationship is average, but here, everyone is still subconsciously united.

Everyone walked to the stone platform and looked up at the goblet that was spitting blue and white flames.

By this time, the Durmstrang delegation had already returned to their ship, and the Beauxbatons students were looking curiously at their group of wizards from Hogwarts.

Scott's words had already been heard by many people, and they seemed to want to know if he would be able to successfully overcome the obstacles.

"Are you starting now?" A boy who had just talked to them asked, "I thought everyone would be doing it again tomorrow morning." ”

"We want to give it a try." Scott said politely.

"Let me go up and try it first." Cedric stepped up and said, "Let's see what it would be like to sign up under normal circumstances." ”

"Okay, then please." Scott said gratefully.

He took two steps forward, his hand against the stone platform, his magic perception extended.

Cedric retrieved the name and climbed the stairs.

"I don't feel anything." He said.

Then, he continued to climb the steps to the platform and threw the parchment in his hand into the Goblet of Fire.

Boom.

The blue-white flame in the cup instantly turned red, bursting out with sparks.

"Looks like I've succeeded." Cedric said happily.

At this time, the red flame turned blue and white again.

Cedric walked briskly off the platform and came to Scott's side and asked him, "How's it going, have you figured it out?" ”

"It's not that easy." Scott shook his head, "This thing is complicated...... It is worthy of the collaboration of several alchemists...... In short, it's not that easy to get around its limitations......"

"And what are you going to do?" Fred asked.

"I need time." Scott said, "Please, old enough students, to go up and vote for your names again." ”

He needed several attempts to figure out how the stone platform worked.

Everyone else agreed to his request.

"Let me do it first, I just turned 17 last week."

Angelina walked up first.

Next, everyone in the Hogwarts delegation who was over the age of 17 went up and dropped a note with their names written on it.

"I guess I understand." Scott said.

"Oh! Is there a way? Fred was a little excited.

Scott didn't speak, just turned his head to look at him.

"What?" Fred asked.

"Go ahead and try, Fred." Scott laughed and said, "I wonder how it can stop you." ”

"I suspect you're deliberately trying to see me make a fool of myself."

Fred looked around at the Beauxbatons students.

"This isn't Hogwarts."

"How so?" Scott smiled brightly, "This is a necessary process for research breakthroughs. ”

"Okay, just try it."

Fred straightened up, quickly wrote the note, and pretended to straighten the placket.

"Ahem, I'm going."

Before he took a step, he said to Angelina.

"Go ahead."

Angelina looked at him with a grin.

"I really went."

Fred lifted one foot and stepped up a stone staircase.

"Huh?" His eyes widened in surprise, "Didn't I stop you?" ”

As he spoke, he tried to lift his other foot.

"Nope."

He remained motionless.

"When I tried to lift my second foot, it was like a pair of hands were desperately pressing my shoulders!"

But when he tried to retract the face that had stepped on the stone steps, he did so with ease.

"I'll try again."

He crumpled the note in his hand and threw it towards the Goblet of Fire.

But when the paper ball flew over the stone steps, it fell in a straight line as if it were being held by a thread.

"It doesn't seem like there's such an easy loophole." Roger commented on the sidelines.

At this moment, Scott reached out and took out the [Magic Mirror] from the shape-shifting lizard skin pouch in the corner of his eye and handed it to Fred, "Oh, it should be from George their communication. ”

Fred hurriedly took the [Magic Mirror] and nodded, and George's face immediately appeared in the mirror, as well as the faces of countless others behind him.

"Hey, are you guys okay? What about Beauxbatons? George asked eagerly.

"Oh, we're fine, Beauxbatons like a king's palace......"

Fred's [Magic Mirror] spun around and showed the people on the other side where they were.

"What are you doing?"

"How did you get together?"

"What is Scott doing?"

There was a murmurful voice of inquiry from [the magic mirror].

"Oh, that's [Goblet of Fire], we've put our name in it."

"Scott is researching ......"

The people here also gathered around Fred, answering questions in the same way.

Across thousands of mountains and rivers, the people of Hogwarts chatted enthusiastically.

Scott also withdrew his hand at this point.

"Let's go, we can go back." "The next research can be done in the tower," he said. ”

"Let's go, then." Fred was still holding the [Magic Mirror], "When we go back, we can show them the scenery over here." ”

A group of people gathered around [Magic Mirror] and walked towards the outside of the banquet hall.

Although they had only been away for most of the day, everyone felt that it was very intimate to be able to talk to their classmates at Hogwarts at this moment.

Back in the tower, Scott took out a large mirror that had been prepared long ago and hung it in the common room.

This mirror-sized mirror can simultaneously project sound and pictures in the [Magic Mirror].

"We also hung a large mirror that Scott had prepared in the auditorium." George in the mirror said, "It's a pity that everyone waited for a night, but not for your live broadcast." ”

Then, Eddie's chubby face leaned over to George.

"You guys must have forgotten!" He complained loudly, "Don't forget about it!" ”

"Well, we'll remember next." Scott assures.

After this communication, Scott returned to his dormitory and began to attempt to restore the magic circuit inside the stone platform.

Roger leaned over to look at it for a while, and was defeated by the dense demonic texts, and Fred was able to help Scott sort out the structure between the demonic texts.

"Oh, are there so many ancient magic scripts that are not commonly used?" Fred scratched at his hair in embarrassment, "We haven't seen a lot of them, and we don't have so many inventions that we usually have." ”

"You don't have to read them all, there must be a lot of them just to confuse," Scott said. ”

"Even if it is all interpreted, there is not necessarily a way to counteract." Fred said, "Maybe tomorrow I should try it with an age-booster, just one drop." ”

"Of course, you can try." Scott said with a smile.

Although there is no probability that it will not be successful, it can also have one more sample.

"Maybe we should change our minds."

Scott put down the pen in his hand and fell into deep thought.

Early the next morning, Scott and Fred left Roger, who was still dressed up, and ran to the ballroom where the Goblet of Fire was located.

At this time, the stone platform was already surrounded by people, and everyone was watching the beautiful silver-haired figure ascend the steps step by step.

"Oh, it's a pity, Roger, who was busy dressing up, missed this scene perfectly." Fred gloated.

"Good morning, Scott, Fred."

Lucio waved to them.

"Durmstrang's students have already signed up." He said, "What about you, how's your research, Scott?" ”

He did not look out of the ordinary, and it seems that Madame Maxim did not punish him for his "disobedience".

"Not sure yet." Scott said, "I'll try again later." ”

"Then I'll wait and see how you perform." Lucio said with a grin.

While the two were talking, Hibiscus on the stone platform had successfully signed up.

The Beauxbatons students cheered in unison.

It seems that in the absence of Madame Maxim, they are still very lively.

Next, several Beauxbatons students took the stage one after another and successfully registered.

Of course, there are also students who are not old enough to make unsuccessful attempts.

Soon, there were more students like Scott who were studying around the stone platform.

Looking at this scene, Scott sighed, "The alchemy atmosphere here is very strong." ”

"That's what Beauxbatons is all about." Lucio said with a smile.

"You're supposed to be the best of all the students?" Scott looked at him, "After all, you're already an 'examiner.'" ”

Moreover, the students who can be invited by the Scholars Alliance will not be general.

"You're right." Lucio was not modest, "Now it's up to you to figure out if you can solve this difficult question." ”

"Then let's try it."

Scott walked forward with his feet up.

Fred and Lucio were both following him.

His actions attracted a lot of attention.

"Lucio, is he the one you said he was?" Fleur asked coldly on the side.

"That's right, it's my best friend from the summer, Scott Trollope." Lucio said.

"Hello, Miss Delacour."

Scott nodded politely.

"Hello, Mr. Trollope."

Probably because Scott was too calm and not at all fascinated by her beauty, Fleur gave him a look of surprise.

At the same time, she retracted the steps she was about to turn away and stood still.

Scott also looked up at the stone platform in front of him.

He stood in front of the stone steps and did not move for a long time.

Everyone around him began to talk about it, but Scott kept a deaf ear.

In a channel that no one but him could perceive, he was reining in the fluctuations of magic around him little by little.

This is also a natural talent that comes from having a sense of magic, and as he continues to improve his perception ability, his magic power has become more and more obedient.

Due to the rarity of wizards with magical perception, this ability to hide fluctuations in their own magical power has never been useful.

But Scott had been speculating that this might help him break through some early warnings, detect magic, or magical items like stone platforms.

Because there has been no movement, as time goes by, more and more people question Scott.

Scott even heard Fleur's disdainful snort.

But it wasn't until all the magic in his body was completely silent that Scott finally lifted a foot.

"Moved, he finally moved!"

At this moment, someone was more excited than himself.

Scott's left foot made steady progress up the stone steps, then lifted his other foot.

Soon, his right foot was also on the stone steps.

Then, he lifted his left foot and stepped up the second stone staircase.

"He succeeded!"

"Oh my God, how did he do it!"

For a while, exclamations came one after another.

"Scott is challenging the Philosopher's Stone Platform that sets an age barrier, and it seems that he has succeeded......"

Fred is holding the [Magic Mirror] to do the live commentary.

But Scott is nowhere near as easy as everyone seems.

Convergence Mana Fluctuations did work, allowing him to break through the first stone step, but it seemed like it was about for it.

When he tried to ascend the second step of the stone steps, he immediately felt what Fred called an obstacle, like two hands pressing on his shoulders to prevent him from going up further.

Scott tried a few times, sweat oozing from his forehead, but his body still didn't move.

No way.

He shook his head and stepped back from the stone steps.

The crowd was in an uproar.

"What's wrong?"

"Why did you give up?"

"Oh, he failed! What exactly is the reason? Fred's voice was annoyed.

Scott turned to look at the smiling Lucio.

"It seems that this stone platform will not only test my magic."

"That's right." Lucio laughed and said, "It's not that simple, although I'm surprised that you can completely restrain your magic, but the second stone step will detect your body, in short, it will detect your age in all directions." ”

"I see."

Scott nodded, lost in thought again.

"Now let me give it a try."

Fred shoved [Magic Mirror] into Scott's hand, pulled out the potion he had prepared, and drank it down.

He swaggered up to the stone steps and walked up with his feet up.

"Oh, he succeeded? Age-enhancing agents? Sure enough, the method I came up with was useful! ”

George's excited voice could be heard from [the magic mirror].

By this time, Fred had made it to the second step.

But when he stepped up the third step, he became stiff again.

Immediately, as if someone had pushed him hard from the front, he staggered back and sat on the ground.

George's cheers came to an abrupt end.

"Hahahaha...... Lucio laughed, "Age Booster, we've been thinking of preventing you from using this potion!" ”

Fred stood up, patted his butt, and spread his hands at Scott again.

"Fred, the way you stumble your swollen ass has been seen by everyone!"

George on the other end of the [Magic Mirror] had already sorted out his mood and began to laugh loudly.

Fred snatched [the magic mirror] and got into a fight with George.

"Oh, it's all your bad idea!"

"It's you who are so stupid!"

Scott didn't care about the quarrel between the two, and once again put his hand on the stone platform, closing his eyes and perceiving it for a while.

At this moment, many people began to mumble loudly whether he was pretending or not.

It wasn't until the rest of Hogwarts arrived that they stopped taunting.

"Looks like you're not going well, Scott." Cedric walked over to Scott.

Scott laughed, "That's interesting, isn't it?" ”

"I knew you weren't giving up so easily."

Scott said, "I need your help next, Cedric." ”

"No problem." Cedric agreed.

"Are you okay?" Scott raised an eyebrow, "I'm competing with you for the title of Hogwarts Champion. ”

Cedric just smiled and shook his head.

"Then please." Scott pulled out his wand.

Cedric nodded again, "What should I do?" ”

"Stand still."

Scott pressed his wand to his heart.

Cedric looked at him suspiciously, but he didn't really move.

Scott closed his eyes.

After a long time, he opened his eyes, turned his wand to himself, and began to recite the incantation of the Transfiguration Charm.

"Where are you?" Cedric looked at him in shock.

A burst of white light enveloped Scott's body, and then disappeared in an instant.

The chatter resumed.

"What is he doing here?"

"Adjusting age with human transfiguration? How is it possible? ”

"Isn't that completely unchanged?"

"It's that I'm thinking it's too complicated." Scott smiled and said, "No matter what kind of problem I face, I should use my strengths to solve it." ”

He pressed his wand to Cedric's heart again, simulating his mana fluctuations with Cedric's, until the mana fluctuations of the two became the same in his perception.

After doing all this, he withdrew his wand, turned around, and took a few steps up the stone steps to the top of the stone platform.

He then pulled out the parchment with his name and the name of his school written on it from his pocket and threw it into the Goblet of Fire at close range.

Boom!

The spark burst out, and as the blue-white flames turned red, Scott raised his hands.

"He did it!"

"He really did it!"

At this moment, cheers and applause rang out together.

No matter what school they came from, they were all cheering on Scott's performance.

Scott turned and bowed, and walked steadily down the stone platform.

"Congratulations, Scott."

Cedric said very generously.

"Thank you for your help."

Scott also thanked him sincerely.

Cedric patted him on the shoulder, "Although you successfully registered, I don't think I'm going to lose." ”

Scott turned his head to look at the leaping blue-white flame, "Then let [Goblet of Fire] decide." ”

At this time, Lucio squeezed over with some excitement, "Can you tell me Scott?" How did you do that? ”

His question silenced everyone around, and everyone stared at Scott curiously.

Even the haughty Fleur was no exception, looking at him with her neck craned.

"The answer is Transfiguration."

Scott once again aimed his wand at himself and chanted a spell to undo the deformation of the human body that had been applied to him.

Lucio's face wrinkled when he heard this, "How is it possible!" Your appearance hasn't changed at all! ”

Scott smiled and said, "The stone platform will test our age, but it will refer to magic and bone age, right?" I just changed my own by reference to Cedric's bones, and of course, not the bone phase. ”

"How can you do that?" Lucio was shocked, "Although I always knew that I was good at Transfiguration, I never knew that your Transfiguration could do it to this extent. ”

Scott shrugged his shoulders, "Because it was just trying, I knew I could do it." ”

"Incredible, so exciting!"

Lucio looked at Scott with admiration in his eyes.

Fred and Roger came up at this point.

"Quick, Scott, hurry up and change my bones too!"

"And I'd like to try it too."

Not only the two of them, but also many young wizards in the crowd of onlookers who were not old enough to stare at Scott with eager eyes.

Scott shook his head, "As I said earlier, it's not enough to change your bone age, you also need to change your magic. ”

Of course, Scott could manually adjust the frequency of mana fluctuations for them, but that would require him to accompany them on stage.

"It's a pity that two people are not allowed to go up together on the stone platform." Scott spreads his hands.

"That's right." Lucio nodded, "It's forbidden for the two of them to be together." ”

"Oh, it looks like I'm missing out on the prize money of a thousand Galleons."

"Then forget it."

Fred and Roger were originally just for fun, so they quickly accepted this reality.

Fred handed the [Magic Mirror] to Scott and told him to receive the congratulations and blessings from his friend.