The strange meeting with Fleur Delacour was out of my mind by the time I was sitting at the Halloween feast.

I wasn't very fond of this holiday not so much because it was the anniversary of my parent's deaths, I didn't know that a few years ago after all, but because every year something bad happened to me on this very date.

"Who do you reckon will be champion?" Said Ron with dreamy eyes.

"If the twins had managed to enter their names I would think it would be one of them." Ron and I looked at Hermione in surprise.

"What," she said. "They are too clever by half, and if those things they invent are any indication, they are a lot smarter than most people think. They don't shy away from danger either."

"That makes sense actually," I said, thinking about it. "I would not have thought of it that way though."

"That's cause they're clever. They downplay their strengths so people underestimate them."

"Hmmm." They are havoc wreckers too, I thought, not a bad skill when facing bad odds.

Ron just sat there looking as if someone had kicked his puppy.

"Come on Ronald, don't look at me like that," said Hermione amused at Ron's funk, "Harry was right yesterday. None of us stands a chance alone. I actually read that the last instalment of the tournament ended with all champions, judges and a good portion of the public dead because the wards around the arena failed and the cockatrice that the champions were supposed to battle went on a rampage."

"We killed a Mountain troll-"

"We being the operative word."

"Harry killed a basilisk alo-"

"With the help of a phoenix, who is an incredibly powerful magical creature and one of the most heavily enchanted swords in the history of the British Isles. Not to mention he's a parseltongue. He would not have to worry about its gaze."

Well, Hermione did have a point. "And the chamber was too small for it to manoeuvre. That helped lots." It was that in fact, what gave me the chance to take that last stab.

"And even then it bit you, if it weren't for Fawkes you would be dead." I rubbed my arm self consciously, aware of Ron's worried gaze.

"Yeah, you are right," said my ginger friend, "It just sounds so exciting though. To be Hogwarts Champion." Ron stared at the ceiling with unfocused, dreamy eyes. "But I guess that kind of adventure always gets balls up, huh?"

"Ronald!" Hermione always got Weasley red when Ron or I said something like that. It was endearing really.

"Follow the spiders," I mocked whispered to Ron in a gravely voice, chuckling when he shuddered at the reminder of one of our adventures gone balls up and warding my head from my brown-haired friend's book before she hit me with it. Hermione smiled despite herself.

"Don't remind me of that, mate. Especially before the feast."

That made us laugh outright, more so as a few seconds later food appeared on the plates making Ron's expression do a one-eighty.

The hall, in general, was a buzz of excitement, people chattering about, making bets and predictions about what the tasks would be. All that stopped when Dumbledore rose from his seat, eyes warm and kind, arms wide open as if he could embrace the whole room at once.

"Dear students, staff members, ghosts and guests; the time has come. The Goblet is ready to make its decision. Glory and recognition await just a breath away, a chance like no other, but as such, laden with danger unimaginable."

There was a severeness to Dumbledore that was seldom seen as he let his gaze roam over all the house tables one by one. "Those chosen here will be the Champions of their respective schools, they would be brave and kind, sly but wise. They will be tested in every way, and woe to him who is found lacking! For all start as champions but only one will keep that title, in the end".

The mood on the hall dropped in tandem with the lights that dimmed to leave only the Goblet aflame. How very like Dumbledore to drop such a warning veiled within a pretty speech.

With an awful swoosh, fire rose from the Goblet like a snake striking towards the stars on the charmed ceiling. From the tongues of flame, a scorched piece of parchment flew and Dumbledore caught it with a deftness that belied his age. I wonder if he was a seeker in his youth?

"The champion of Durmstrang institute will be Victor Krum!" Read Dumbledore from the sliver of parchment.

The Durmstrang entourage rose in celebration, chanting Krum's name like he was entering a quidditch stadium.

After shaking Dumbledore's hand Krum was directed to a door at the back of the head table and everyone quieted again, excitably waiting for the next name. In the same spectacular fashion, the name of the next contestant found its way to Dumbledore's hand.

"Fleur Delacour will be Beauxbatons chosen!" The blonde girl from before rose, all poise and elegance chin high and a delicate smile adorning her proud face. It painted a very different picture from the disgruntled girl that got lost at lunch. Each step exuding confidence, she approached Dumbledore and then went the same way as Krum.

The last name was indeed the most awaited, and the Great Hall seemed to be holding it's collective breath, primed to explode, Wich it did when with naught but a small smile Dumbledore read the name he had just caught.

"Cedric Diggory."

If Dumbledore said anything more it was lost to the yells of most everyone on the hall, though none louder than Cedric's housemates. More than walking towards the front, he was half carried there, laughing charmingly at the organizers before going towards the next room.

Everyone was celebrating, even Ron who had been hoping for a Gryffindor champion. A flash of lightning illuminated the enchanted ceiling. No, not lightning. I turned toward the flash, it was the Goblet again. Little by little the hall quieted, realizing something was amiss.

Dumbledore stood frozen looking at the small crumpled parchment in his hand he had caught by mere reflex, an then he looked at me, old blue eyes pinning me down with a sense of dread.

"Harry Potter." And everyone heard, even though it was merely a whisper.


Shorter chapter this time, but it felt like the right place to end it.

When Hermione says "Not to mention he's a parseltongue. He would not have to worry about its gaze." Its because in this fic, parseltongues are supposed to be immune to the gaze of a basilisk, they didn't find out until after the fact though. Consider it a rule of my au.

Also yes, the first interaction between Harry and Fleur is inspired by a reddit post by u/TheDivineDemon.

Also, daily updates are. NOT going to be the norm, even if they happen from time to time

Those of you that say I need to polish my writing style, please elaborate. Otherwise, I will not know where I can improve.

Thank you all for reading, every time I got a following or favourite notification I got giddy hehehe. It is really motivating. See you in the next one.