"I also heard from my grandmother that Professor Dumbledore invited many wizards, but few agreed." Neville sighed, "It seems that there were a few who wanted to agree at first, but after the report about that woman Skeeter was published, they all refused."

"Why would you refuse?" Ron withdrew his hand that was about to greet the Sorting Hat, puzzled.

Neville made a bitter face: "They say that the one who had a conflict with Harry was Professor Lupin."

"They might be able to ignore the rumors of the curse." Angelina leaned her head closer, "But I don't think any professor would like to be beaten by Harry."

"I didn't mean to do that." Harry deadpanned, "They just offered themselves to me."

Angelina's eyes widened: "Did you really beat them all?"

She was just teasing, that's all.

"It seems I've beaten all of them, whether full-time or substitute teachers." Hermione counted on her fingers, counting the heads one by one.

Angelina turned her head blankly and glanced at the teachers' seats: "So which professor will suffer this year?"

His gaze lingered on the empty chair belonging to Professor McGonagall for a moment, then quickly turned to Professor Sprout and Professor Flitwick, and finally stopped at Professor Dumbledore: "It seems that only Professor Dumbledore is safer."

At this point, she paused slightly and turned her head back: "Harry, you can't beat Professor Dumbledore now, right?"

"Even if he has a mixture of bezoars, molasses, and Fudge in his brain, he's still the greatest white wizard and I can't beat him yet," Harry answered her.

Angelina raised her hand to cover her forehead: "Wait, let me slow down."

My head hurts so much, it feels like it's going to grow a brain.

What on earth is in Professor Dumbledore's mind? Why is it so messy...

Just when the little lions were wondering what was in Dumbledore's mind and how Fudge was even there.

The first-year students, who looked like drowned rats, were brought in by Professor McGonagall.

The portrait of Gryffindor floated behind Dumbledore, looking at the young wizards with satisfaction.

The Sorting Hat sings a new song.

It was an old medieval tune that had never been used before, and the lyrics were longer than in previous years. It praised Gryffindor, reminisced about the past, and was a bit sad. The young wizards in the first and second years were confused, but the older ones were deeply moved when they heard it, and several Hufflepuff witches couldn't help crying.

Professor McGonagall sorted the young wizards into different schools.

With a flick of his wand, the hat was thrown to Harry without him having to stand up.

"Hey, Harry!" the Sorting Hat greeted him warmly.

Harry looked at the Sorting Hat in front of him: "I thought you wouldn't be given to me this year."

"Why?" the Sorting Hat asked puzzledly.

"Isn't the trial over?" Hermione asked it back, "Or is it not over yet?"

The hat was startled, and the tip of the hat twisted into a ball: "Yes, the trial is over..."

"It's okay, just consider it as you volunteering to be Crookshanks' scratching post." Harry handed it to the ginger kitten who was scratching the table with expectant eyes.

"For the sake of our friendship, we can't do this." The Sorting Hat tried to push Crookshanks with the tip of its hat, but it was useless. It was just a hat. "How about every Saturday like last year?"

"Well, I just happen to have a lot of things I want to ask you this year." Harry nodded, "Just now I was still worrying about how to get you out."

In the teacher's seat, Dumbledore waved his wand and the opening dinner officially began.

The Sorting Hat and Crookshanks were playing happily, and Hedwig and Bowser also flew over, stopped at the door, poked their heads in, and joined in the game.

Wait until the dinner is over.

Ron was quick with his hands and eyes, holding a lamb chop in one hand and a large piece of pudding in his mouth.

Dumbledore stood up and said cheerfully, "Now that everyone has eaten and drunk enough, you must stop and listen to a few words from an old man like me. As in previous years, I still have to announce a few rules."

"Administrator Filch wants me to tell you that there are a few more items that are prohibited in the castle, including school fireworks, wolf-tooth Frisbees, fat-tongue toffees... oh, and I can't remember what else, but you can go to Filch's office and take a look. The list is posted on the door. It contains a total of 467 prohibited items."

There were sighs of regret from George and Fred.

Filch is cutting off their business!

Although most Gryffindors don't care about school rules, let alone Filch's rules.

But there are only a quarter of Gryffindors, and most of their customers are still from Hufflepuffs.

Dumbledore ignored them and continued, "It's the same old question. Students still need to stay away from the Forbidden Forest. Mr. Potter had special circumstances last year."

He paused and said, "Also, I regret to inform Quidditch fans that although the Quidditch World Cup was held this year, this year's House Cup Quidditch Tournament will be suspended for one year."

There were bursts of exclamations at the four long tables, and George and Fred even stood up and protested.

You can choose not to do business, but you can't choose not to hold the Quidditch Cup.

At best, they can only play for two more years, and they can still take this opportunity to win three consecutive championships.

Dumbledore waved his hand: "Mr. Weasley, you could be more patient and listen to me finish my words."

George and Fred shut up but didn't sit down.

Dumbledore continued, "Although the Quidditch Cup has been cancelled, I think many of you have heard that there is a bigger event that will start in October this year. It will last for the entire school year and will take up most of our time and energy."

“I believe it will bring you more fun and you will enjoy watching such a great event.”

"That is, this year Hogwarts will host -"

He didn't finish his words.

The door of the auditorium was suddenly pushed open. Everyone turned around and saw a man in a dark cloak. He was not tall, but his aura was frightening. He took off his hood, revealing a bumpy and hideous face. There was a fake eye in his left eye that was spinning around.

The gray hair on his head added a strange temperament to him.

The left leg is a prosthetic, claw-shaped one, and it hits the ground with crisp and firm thumps.

He seemed very cautious, looking at everyone vigilantly, his eyes staying on Harry the longest, as if he could see the dangerousness of Harry. He walked hesitantly to the Slytherin table, made a big circle, and walked towards the teachers' seats.

"Who is he? Harry, he seems very afraid of you." Ron asked in a low voice.

Harry shook his head. "I don't know him."

He also stared at the man, looking into the blue and white artificial eye, sniffing slightly, as if he smelled something not so good, but now the auditorium was full of the smell of lamb chops, sausages, and caramel pudding, and the man also smelled more of rain and soil.

For a moment, he found it difficult to tell what this unpleasant smell was.

"It should be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, right?" Seamus leaned over and teased, "Harry, you have to be careful this year and don't beat up this professor again. He looks even more fragile than Professor Lupin."

Harry shook his head, expressionless: "It's hard to say."

Seamus was stunned and waved his hands in panic: "Harry, I was just joking."

Hermione and Ron realized something and looked at Harry in surprise.

It can't be such a coincidence...

What kind of dangerous person is this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?

The lame man with the fake eye walked up to Dumbledore, shook hands with him hastily, walked to the seat of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, checked it over and over again, and when he saw Snape next to him, a look of disgust appeared on his face, and he dragged his stool and sat next to Hagrid.

"Well, before we get down to business, let me introduce this late professor." Dumbledore broke the silence and introduced with a smile, "Alastor Moody, he will take over as our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the new year."

"He is a senior Auror who has made great contributions to the peace of the wizarding world. I think he will be a good professor as good as Professor Lupin."

After these words were spoken, they were finally greeted with some fairly enthusiastic applause.

Moody didn't react to this. He shrank in his chair and took out a rose-colored copper kettle from his pocket. Just as he was about to unscrew the lid, his fake eye met Harry's gaze again, forcing him to stuff the kettle back into his robes.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and said, "Please forgive Professor Moody. He has never been a warm person since he started school. Although his face looks a little cold, he must be very happy that everyone welcomes him so much."

Moody tilted his head away and sneered.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued on the topic just now: "As I said just now, this year Hogwarts will host a large-scale event that has not been held for a century - the Triwizard Tournament!"

Fred's eyes widened in surprise and he said, "Professor, you have to be kidding."

"No, this is not a joke." Dumbledore shook his head. "If you want to hear a joke, I can tell you one. One day a little white rabbit got lost in the forest. After walking for a while, it met a black rabbit..."

Professor McGonagall coughed twice.

Godric also coughed twice.

Dumbledore's face froze and he sighed, "Okay, let's continue with the previous topic. The Triwizard Tournament will indeed be held at Hogwarts this year."

"Some young wizards may not know this, so let me introduce it to you. This is a competition between the three best magic schools in Europe. Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang will each select a warrior, the best young wizard in seven school years..."

At this point, almost all the young wizards subconsciously turned their heads to look at Harry.

"Three trials determine the best warriors, which also represents which school is the best." Dumbledore continued, "The winner of the last session was Hogwarts, which is also the source of the saying that Hogwarts is the best magic school."

"But because this competition is too cruel, warriors often die."

"Therefore, it was suspended for more than a century until this year, when the Ministry of Magic actively negotiated with our three schools and reached a consensus. We also made sure that a lot of work was done to ensure that every warrior would not be in danger of life as much as possible, or at least would not die."

The young wizards were stunned.

What does it mean...at least you won’t die?

"I hope that all the outstanding young wizards in our school will try to participate. The Ministry of Magic is also very generous and has prepared a prize of 1,000 Galleons for the final winner."

George and Fred almost didn't think twice: "We want to join!"

A prize of one thousand Galleons!

Gryffindor was the most enthusiastic, and there were also many young wizards from the other three houses who were eager to join. Some of them were attracted by the prize money, and some were simply attracted by the honor, but no matter how they discussed, their eyes would eventually fall on Harry.

No matter which selection is made, there is no doubt that Harry Potter, the successor of Gryffindor, is the best young wizard in Hogwarts.

"Harry, do you want to join?" Hermione frowned, "One thousand Galleons is not a lot for you."

Her mind was full of what Dumbledore had just said - "Try not to put your life in danger, at least not to die."