Hogwarts: Don't call me the Staff Maker

Chapter 379 Karkaroff's Accusation

Chapter 380 Karkaroff's Accusation

A week before the second event of the Triwizard Tournament officially began, a very strange thing happened at Hogwarts.

For some unknown reason, the previously calm Black Lake suddenly became turbulent one Saturday night, its waters churning like ocean waves. This caused an unexpected disaster for the Durmstrang Magic School's large ship, which had been peacefully moored on the lake. The ship swayed violently in the middle of the lake, nearly capsizing. Although the crew managed to stabilize the ship thanks to their extensive experience, a considerable amount of lake water still flooded into the cabin.

By the next day, almost all of Durmstrang's students had caught a cold. Wrapped in thick fur cloaks, they stormed into the castle in a menacing manner, led by Karkaroff.

"Shameless, despicable, vile!" As soon as they entered the auditorium, someone deliberately shouted in a voice loud enough for almost everyone to hear, "This is a complete conspiracy, all to target Krum!"

"Don't say that, Alex," Karkaroff said in a greasy voice, feigning seriousness. "I don't think the respected Professor Dumbledore would do such a thing on purpose."

"Thank you for your trust, Professor Karkaroff. I am truly ashamed," Dumbledore said, walking over from the faculty table. "I apologize, but I think it's best to send the students to the school hospital first. Our school nurse, Ms. Pomfrey, has prepared the best stimulants, and they should be fully recovered by the afternoon."

"Is that so?" Karkaroff sneered. He wanted to say something more to try and gain some advantage, but a series of thumping sounds that came from afar made him instinctively shut his mouth.

Alastor Moody walked in from outside; the sound he'd just heard came from his wooden prosthetic leg.

"What are you trying to say, Karkaroff?" His blue demonic eye stared intently at the other man. "Are you going to show off your sophistry again, like you did a decade or so ago? I must admit, you are indeed exceptionally gifted in this area. I just wonder if your former colleagues think so too."

"Alastor," Dumbledore said, his voice carrying a hint of warning.

"Don't worry, Albus, I know what I'm talking about," Moody said, continuing to scrutinize Karkaroff.

In that instant, Karkaroff's face flushed crimson, but even so, he gritted his teeth and said, "Hogwarts almost capsized our ship, and right when the second project was about to begin! I need an explanation!"

"Sure, no problem." Moody stepped forward. "Let's investigate together and see if we did it on purpose, or if you're staging it yourselves."

He was about to leave when he was stopped.

"No need, we can check it ourselves," Karkaroff said, seemingly unwilling to let Moody onto his ship.

He then waved again, and without even having breakfast, led Durmstrang's students away from the auditorium.

"A clumsy trick," Moody scoffed.

Afterwards, Dumbledore and Moody also left, and the Great Hall became lively again.

"They definitely did it themselves, trying to frame Hogwarts," Ron said confidently. "That old liar, my dad said he used to be a Death Eater!"

"That can't be right," Hermione said, frowning.

"Why is it impossible?"

"Because he's the headmaster of Durmstrang," Hermione said, as if in her mind all headmasters of magic schools should be someone like Dumbledore, how could he possibly be a Death Eater?

"You said it yourself, he's the headmaster of Durmstrang," Ron said dismissively. "It's not surprising that a Death Eater is the headmaster of a school that teaches dark magic."

It has to be said that Ron's words made a lot of sense, and even Hermione didn't know how to refute them.

"But Ron, when did Mr. Weasley tell you all this?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"It was during the Christmas holidays," Ron said. "He and his mom were talking about the Triwizard Tournament, and I happened to be walking by and overheard them."

Why didn't you tell me this before?

"I forgot." Ron scratched his head sheepishly. "I secretly drank a glass of eggnog that day, and I was all groggy. I forgot everything the next morning, but I remembered it just now after hearing what Professor Moody said."

Harry stared wide-eyed, suddenly realizing a terrifying possibility.

"Ron, if Karkaroff is a Death Eater, then could Krum also be—"

"It shouldn't be. He's the most famous Seeker in the world," Ron said, looking somewhat conflicted. Although he no longer supported Krum because of the Triwizard Tournament, he didn't want him to become a Death Eater.

"Anyway, Sheren, you'd better stay alert while you're working on the second project," Harry said. "Krum is definitely going to use dark magic, so be careful not to get ambushed by him."

No one speaks.

"Sirlen?" Harry turned to look at Sirlen, who was quietly eating beside him.

Why aren't you saying anything?

"Ah, no." Xiren shook his head. "I just felt—? Hmm, Karkaroff might not be faking it."

“Absolutely impossible,” Ron said firmly. “Black Lake has been peaceful ever since we started school, even during torrential downpours. How could it change the moment they arrived?”

"I think so too." Hermione nodded and explained from a scientific point of view: "Besides, the Black Lake is a lake, and waves like those that can capsize Durmstrang's ship usually only appear in the sea."

"Hmm, maybe it could be something else?" Xilun's eyes darted around.

"It couldn't possibly be some giant squid from the Black Lake, could it?" Ron said, then burst into laughter as if he had just told a very funny joke.

"Everyone at Hogwarts knows that the giant squid in the Black Lake is known for its good temper. How could it possibly capsize Durmstrang's ship for no reason? Absolutely not!"

Harry, who was standing next to him, also started laughing.

"And we don't need to do that," he said. "Don't forget, you got the highest score in the last project. We were number one, so why would we target the last place? This is clearly a conspiracy of theirs."

"If not, I'd be willing to ride a broomstick upside down and fly around Hogwarts," Ron said, pouring himself a glass of milk.

Both spoke with certainty, but they didn't notice that Xilun was looking away guiltily and didn't continue the conversation.

Actually, that giant squid probably wasn't always so good-tempered.

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