Champion

A Champion is a witch or wizard selected to represent their school in the prestigious and dangerous Triwizard Tournament. Traditionally, one champion is chosen from each of the three participating European schools of magic: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and the Durmstrang Institute. The champions compete in three perilous tasks over the course of the school year for the honor of winning the Triwizard Cup and a prize of one thousand Galleons. The position of Champion is one of great honor but also carries immense risk, as the tournament has a history of competitor fatalities.

The selection of the champions is performed by a powerful magical artifact known as the Goblet of Fire. It acts as an impartial judge, choosing the student from each school it deems most worthy.

• Submission: Students wishing to enter the competition must write their name and school on a piece of parchment and drop it into the Goblet of Fire before a designated deadline.
• Age Restriction (1994): For the Triwizard Tournament held in 1994, the Ministry of Magic implemented an age restriction, barring anyone under seventeen from entering. Albus Dumbledore enforced this at Hogwarts by casting an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire.
• Binding Contract: The act of the Goblet of Fire choosing a student forms a binding magical contract. Once chosen, a champion cannot back out of the tournament.
• The Fourth Champion: During the 1994 tournament, a fourth champion, Harry Potter, was controversially selected. This was the work of Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Alastor Moody, who used a powerful Confundus Charm to trick the Goblet of Fire into believing a fourth school had entered, with Harry as its sole competitor. This forced Harry to compete despite being underage and not having entered his own name.

A champion's primary duty is to compete to the best of their ability in the three tasks, which are designed to test magical prowess, courage, and logical deduction.

• The Three Tasks: Champions must face formidable challenges, such as battling a dragon to retrieve a golden egg, navigating the Black Lake to rescue a hostage, and finding their way through a magically-bewitched maze.
• School Representation: Champions carry the honor and reputation of their entire school. Their performance is a source of immense pride or disappointment for their fellow students and staff.
• Academic Exemption: As a concession for the time and effort required to prepare for the tasks, champions are exempted from their end-of-year school examinations.
• Yule Ball: As part of the tournament's tradition, the champions are required to open the dance at the Yule Ball with a dance partner of their choice.

The Triwizard Tournament of 1994-1995 featured four champions instead of the traditional three:

• Cedric Diggory: The official Hogwarts champion, a popular and talented Hufflepuff student. He demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship, particularly towards Harry Potter. He and Harry reached the Triwizard Cup together, but upon touching the Portkey, he was murdered by Peter Pettigrew on the command of Lord Voldemort.
• Fleur Delacour: The champion for Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. She possessed considerable charm and magical skill, though she was forced to retire early from the Second Task after an attack by Grindylows.
• Viktor Krum: The champion for the Durmstrang Institute and an internationally famous Quidditch Seeker. In the final task, he was placed under the Imperius Curse by Barty Crouch Jr. and made to attack the other champions.
• Harry Potter: The unexpected and unwilling fourth champion, also representing Hogwarts. He successfully navigated all three tasks, often with help from friends and mentors, and ultimately witnessed the return of Lord Voldemort in the Little Hangleton graveyard.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the selection of the champions is a highly dramatic scene. A notable difference from the book is Albus Dumbledore's reaction to Harry's selection; in the film, he rushes to and physically confronts a shocked Harry, whereas the book describes him as being unnervingly calm when he asks, “Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire, Harry?”. (film)
• The film also provides distinct uniforms for each champion during the tasks, which are not described in the books. These costumes have become an iconic part of the film's visual identity. (film)