Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 303 "Persuasion"

“This is absurd!” Professor McGonagall roared. “He’s just a child! Participating in this competition is dangerous enough! And you want to remove his prosthetic leg? What’s the difference between that and sending him to his death?”

“He should have thought this through before registering for this competition!” Ludobagman said. “I’m sorry, but for the sake of fairness, we need to strictly follow the rules. No magical items allowed, that’s the rule!”

“If necessary, the regulations can be changed!” Professor Moody limped over and glared fiercely at Ludobagman.

“If I remember correctly, if an accident occurs during the Triwizard Tournament—” Dumbledore said calmly, “for example, if a contestant loses a limb in the first or second match, then in the next match the contestant can use an alchemical prosthetic limb to replace that limb and continue to compete.”

“Um…yes…it seems there is such a rule…” Ludobagman said, “…it seems there is such a rule…”

"But he didn't lose his limb during the match!" Karkarov said.

“Rules are rules, but people are flexible. I think this rule also applies to Tierra,” Dumbledore said.

“Don’t forget, Dumbledore!” Mrs. Maxime roared. “There is another rule: when a rule is clearly biased in favor of one side, the other judges on the panel who exclude that side must vote more than half to determine when the rule applies.”

“That means three of us—myself, Karkaroff, Mr. Bagman, and Mr. Crouch—must agree for Tierra to play with his prosthetic leg,” Mrs. Maxim added. “I certainly don’t agree.”

“I disagree as well,” Karkarov said.

“In that case, I will follow the decision of the two principals and vote against it,” Ludobagman said with a smile, pretending to be a good person.

“I agree,” Barty Crouch said blankly.

“What?” Ludobagman was clearly taken aback. “Oh… I, I didn’t expect that…”

"But it doesn't really matter if Mr. Crouch agrees," Karkaroff said with a cold laugh. "There are already three votes against—"

"Wait a minute!" Tiera, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up. "Since this matter concerns me, I have to say a few words in my defense."

"Oh?" Dumbledore said in surprise, "What do you have to say?"

“Professor Dumbledore,” Tyella said obediently, “could you please clear this room? I have a few words to say to Mrs. Maxim and Mr. Karkaroff.”

"You want to persuade us to agree to you wearing your prosthetic leg?" Mrs. Maxim said dismissively.

"Hmph." Karkaroff agreed with a hum, "Don't bother, we can't change our decision. Say what you have to say here."

“Since you insist,” Tierra said slyly, giving a slight bow before turning to Madame Maxim—

“If I’m not mistaken, Madame Maxim is a half-giant,” Tierra chuckled and said in French.

Tierra learned a little French in Nicholas Lemès' alchemy hut through his collection of books.

"What nonsense are you spouting! You wretched brat!" Madame Maxim's face instantly changed, and she retorted in French, "How dare you spread rumors and slander me!"

"Whether it's slander or not, I know better than anyone else." Tiera smiled wickedly. "With your unusually large height, it must have been quite an achievement to climb to this position, right?"

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Maxim finally showed a hint of wavering.

After Tyrell finished speaking, Dumbledore, Nicholas Flamel, Mrs. Rosie, Professor McGonagall, Fleur Delacour, and the two Barty Crouchs all involuntarily turned their gazes toward Tyrell—

They all seemed to have guessed what Tiera was going to say next.

Karkaroff, Snape, and Ludobagman, who didn't understand French, looked at everyone blankly, hoping someone could explain it to them.

“As you probably know, my adoptive father is Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart, the number one author in the entire British wizarding world,” Tyella said. “What kind of reaction do you think it would have if my father’s books mentioned even a little bit about… Mrs. Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons, being a half-giant…”

"You dare!" Mrs. Maxim roared, her voice trembling with fear.

“Or…” Tiera smiled innocently and said, “All our warriors have to be interviewed by the Daily Prophet. Anyway, without my prosthetic limbs, I might not even survive the first project, so I might as well say whatever comes to mind.” Mrs. Maxim pursed her lips, staring at Tiera with a somber expression.

"Don't make things too tense, Mrs. Maxim," Tiera said with a smile. "I'm not trying to win the competition; I just want to save my life. You don't need to be so hostile towards me. Or are you so insecure that you think Miss Fleur Delacour is just a pretty face? That's why you're resorting to such a tactic against a fourteen-year-old wizard?"

Mrs. Maxim stared fiercely at Tyella for a while, then—

“Fine,” Mrs. Maxim said harshly in English, “I agree to let Tierra compete with her prosthetic leg.”

“This will be a wise decision,” Tierra said with a polite smile.

“But I have a condition,” Madam Maxim added. “Your prosthetic limb must be inspected and enchanted by every judge on our panel before you can wear it on the field, ensuring that it has only the most basic limb functions and contains no other magic.”

“No problem, Mrs. Maxim, it’s my pleasure,” Tierra said. “Please feel free to examine me—”

If you can come up with a spell that I can't break, then I'll admit defeat.

“Maxim’s vote in favor, Crouch’s vote in favor,” Karkaroff said with a sneer. “That’s only half. You need more than half. Between me and Bagman, who are you going to persuade?”

“I’m not so easily threatened.” Although Karkarov didn’t understand French, he could guess a little from Mrs. Maxim’s expression and gestures.

“Oh…” Tiera raised an eyebrow and smiled—

Suddenly, Karkarov felt a sharp pain in his left arm, as if a red-hot iron were branding his hand—

Karkaroff hadn't felt this way since Voldemort's death.

Karkarov felt his left arm slip out of his control, slowly rising and gripping his neck.

A chill ran through the air, as if gusts of cold wind were blowing.

Karkaroff looked at Tiera with difficulty.

In Karkaroff's vision, a tall, humanoid phantom gradually appeared behind Tiera—

The figure had a pale, grotesque face like a snake, and bloodshot eyes that seemed perpetually filled with blood.

His hand, like a pale, large spider, was long and thin, resting on Tiera's shoulder.

He was wearing a long robe that resembled a black mist.

The figure grinned menacingly at Karkaroff, hissing and making a hoarse sound—

“Kakalov…” the figure said.

"I agree! I agree!" Karkarov almost shouted. "I agree to Tierra competing with her prosthetic leg!"

Everyone around Karkaroff stared in astonishment—

Karkaroff, as if waking from a dream, looked around—

There was no trace of Voldemort around.

Because I'm quite busy today, the second update will have to be posted this afternoon.

Thank you xiaotang246 for the 100 Qidian coins reward.

Thank you Casapi for casting your February vote.
Thank you fqs for voting for January.
Thank you to "I am Amao" for casting 2 votes.

Thank you KC for voting for me in January!
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(End of this chapter)