Chapter 42

Goblin Village, Rocky Mountains, UK – September 10

The morning of that day heralded unexpected changes. To the goblins, the Blood Moon was sacred and a cursed. The last time the Blood Moon was still visible against the rising sun was the day Ice Land was destroyed. The inhabitants of this realm were the only wizards who earned the respect of the goblin nation.

Roseblade stared fearfully at the sign of the coming changes. The young goblin wasn't sure if she should notify chief of their village. Only she had the right to discuss this with other chieftains. The girl hoped that the Blood Moon didn't herald a Fall. She hoped they would find their way to Ice Land. In its area, they could find wand materials that the Ministry of Magic couldn't take away from them.

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Gringotts Bank, UK - September 10

He couldn't believe what he saw. The Goblet of Fire ignited. It ignited in a way that hadn't been seen for centuries. Steelthorn still remembered his grandfather's tales of a friendly wizarding nation. People who cared about the magic that circulated in their blood, not the origin of that blood. Beings who valued their family even when the magic in their veins wasn't active.

He also remembered stories of the betrayal of wizards belonging to the Union between the Old Continent and the British Isles. Tales of a war where wizards slaughtered themselves like livestock simply because the Ice Land had a different view of who was worthy of having magic and who should be banished from the source of power.

"It finally happened." - he whispered with a smile on his face. "At least one of the Ice wizards survived. The Goblet of Fire was activated in the original way."

He ran to his office. He knew that sooner or later someone from Hogwarts would show up at his door. It was more than obvious. This artifact was used by the citizens of Ice Land. If among the names thrown into it wasn't the name of someone who has at least a little blood of those wizards, there is little chance that the Goblet of Fire reacted to someone who wasn't worth participating in the tournament.

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Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore's Office - September 11

To say that Albus Dumbledore was furious would be an understatement. The Goblet of Fire hadn't spat another name in over a day. The headmaster no longer knew how to reassure Headmistress Beauxbatons. He didn't know what to tell the students of his own school. He had been thinking about going to Gringotts yesterday. However, he quickly rejected this idea, because goblins weren't easy to talk to. Earlier attempts to solve the problems in which the goblins were embroiled usually led to even greater complications.

"I need a glass... Not a glass. A whole bottle of firewhiskey." - he said aloud, not noticing Minewra McGonagall and Filius Flitwick entering his office.

"What you need is to drop your pride and get your bony ass off to Gringotts." - The Charms professor's voice was exceedingly biting. - "We can't afford to delay any further. We're getting ridiculed. We already have a strained reputation after losing Severus Snape to Durmstrang. I prefer not to think about what will happen when the information about the skills and position of Mr. Evan Potter reaches the public."

The headmaster stood up and, after quickly wiping the lenses of his glasses, looked at his colleague. - "What are you talking about?"

"You're so self-absorbed that you don't follow the changes in the magical community. I checked with the wizards I met during the Dueling Championship. Evan Potter is a five-time wandless dueling champion. As far as I remember, he also used to attend our school. Can you really afford a Goblet of Fire corruption scandal?"

Minerva McGonagall didn't let him answer that question. He wouldn't know how to answer it anyway. Over the past year, Albus had begun to feel as though he was being led more and more into a dead end. Whatever he did turned out to be a mistake.

"You're coming with me whether you like it or not. There is an atmosphere in the Great Hall that would be unbearable even for the most well-balanced being." - She looked at him from his head, on which he had a green hat with red stars, to his feet, on which he had slippers decorated with large multi-colored pompoms. - "Dress more appropriately."

"What do you mean? I am looking really good." - he knew that his style was rather eccentric, but so far no one had a problem with that.

A deep crease appeared between the witch's eyebrows, indicating that she was annoyed. - "Are you serious? Don't you remember what happened when you went to Steelthorn about getting the Goblet of Fire in your PAJAMAS? He wanted to challenge you to a duel because he said you didn't respect him. He didn't start talking to you until the next day when you wore something more appropriate for the occasion. Do you really want to make the same mistake?"

Albus looked at both Minerva and Filius. The expression on his deputy's face didn't surprise him. It surprised him that Flitwick seemed to agree with the head of Gryffindor.

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Goblin Village, Rocky Mountains, UK – September 11

She ran quickly along the path that led from the Observatory to the Chief of her village. The Blood Moon itself was disturbing. However, when she noticed how the Goblet of Chaos ignited, she had to report it. It was the last gift from Ice Land. Many Goblins died defending this artifact during the last goblin rebellion. She didn't want it to happen again.

Finally, slightly out of breath, she reached the door of the home carved in the rock. - "Chief, Fire Ivy!" - she screamed, knocking on the black oak door. - "Open the door!"

It was a long time before the goblin heard any sound from behind the door. Her patience was rewarded. The Mother of their Village appeared before her eyes. Chief Fire Ivy.

"What happened child?" - Her voice was hoarse, she must have been ailing.

Due to the tyranny of the British wizards, the goblins had difficulty obtaining the help of a healer. An additional difficulty was the fact that the goblins carefully concealed the number of women of their tribe. Females were rare among goblin offspring. They were valuable. And treasures are hidden and nurtured.

"There is a Blood Moon in the sky. And what's worse... The Goblet of Chaos ignited."

An expression of pure terror appeared on the Chief's face.

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Hogwarts - September 11

The smile on his face was something he never expected to see. Sirius Black, after the initial surprise, stopped wondering why Severus Snape turned out to be a hit with the girls from their school. And not only from their school. Tall, well-built, relaxed ... The complete opposite of what he presented not so long ago.

He couldn't concentrate in class. Sirius was convinced that the joint activities of Hogwarts students and students from the invited schools were organized only to, at least partially, divert attention from yesterday's fiasco of the draw of candidates. They met only one participant in the tournament.

"Holy shit Black." - the voice of the former Slytherin tore him out of his thoughts - "If you don't want to participate in classes then stop wasting my time and leave the class. Unlike you, I want to learn something. Even if I have to break it down in this magic-forgotten school."

"Mr. Snape, I would ask you to keep your opinions about Hogwarts to yourself."

"Professor Slughorn, you know very well that this school offers less and less classes every year. At Durmstrang we have both Muggle Studies and Wizarding Culture classes. I wonder why in a school where is more and more Muggle-borns don't have classes to help them adjust to the wizarding world..."

Sirius wasn't listening anymore. He tried to answer Snivellus' question. And to his surprise, he couldn't answer it. After all, it was more common for a Muggle-born to integrate into the magical community than for a pureblood to choose to live in the Muggle world.

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Gringotts Bank, UK - September 11

As he had suspected, the headmaster of Hogwarts had announced his visit an hour ago. Steelthorn waited patiently, locked in his office. He told his secretary to tell Dumbledore that he didn't have time at the moment and that if he wanted to see him he would have to wait about half an hour. This old wizard should learn to respect other people's time. He just hoped he wasn't wearing something like a cross between a Muggle Halloween outfit and a circus clown outfit this time. The goblin didn't understand what was wrong with the muted colors of the robes or the plain three-piece suit so prevalent among wizards in the 1920s and 1930s.

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"How come there's no time for us now?" - Albus was outraged. He's used to everyone making time for him.

"Steelthorn told you to inform you that due to the inappropriate timing of the announcement of your visit, he couldn't exactly match the time given by you. He also expressed his hope that you are dressed with respect to his office. He didn't want to be forced to either send you back empty-handed or to buy the right clothes himself." - Something like a smile appeared on the young goblin's face. It looked very exaggerated.

Looking at the banker's back, Albus Dumbledore couldn't help but feel that someone was laughing at him. This impression was heightened by the chuckle of Minerva McGonagall he heard.

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How do you like this chapter? Regards;). Katie Krum