PART ONE
THE TOURNAMENT
CHAPTER 2
I felt sick. I was sure I was going to be physically sick as everyone who recognised my name turned to me. It was less than five seconds before everyone realised just exactly who I was and I didn't like that one bit. Yet I felt as though I was frozen in position, like all ability to even move had drained from my body.
"Jamie Williams," Dumbledore repeated my name.
Hearing him speak again only made my chest constrict with fear, but Fay just put her hand on my arm and helped me to my feet.
"You need to just go, Jamie," she whispered in my ear, "Just try and remember to breath."
I buried my hands deep in my robes to stop them from shaking, a deep flush of embarrassment spreading across my face and my cheeks warming to the point where I was ready to break into a sweat. Not only did I not want to die in this tournament that I never even entered, the thought of being everyone's centre of attention right now was making me feel like I couldn't even breath correctly. Dumbledore handed me the parchment in his hand and I couldn't even look at him or it, my brain was too busy screaming at me not to cry and to try and actually breath before I collapsed right here in front of everyone.
I quickened my pace, barely making it out of the hall before I hunched over, crouching and holding my head. How the hell could his even be happening to me? I didn't enter, I wasn't even old enough to enter so how on earth could my name possibly have come out of the Goblet of Fire.
Suddenly a voice alerted me to the presence of the other Champions, "Oh my, are you okay?"
Now I looked even more ridiculous in this prolonged nightmare so biting my lip and fighting against every feeling that was threatening to to overwhelm me I managed to stand back up properly and observe the three Champions now eyeing me questioningly. Unfortunately the painfully large lump in my throat prevented me from answering.
"Do zey want us back in ze hall?" Fleur continued, as it was obviously her who spoke earlier.
Not only did I not have any clue how to explain what had just happened, I wasn't even sure I knew what was going on, and it didn't even feel like it was real. Plus, I was sure if I opened my mouth, I might just throw up and that would not be good.
Luckily, or unluckily depending on your view, my uncomfortably painful silence was disturbed by the sound of hurried footsteps behind me. Ludo Bagman, the most excitable man in the universe appeared, took me by the arm and cheerfully lead me further into the room, against my wishes.
"Extraordinary!" he muttered, squeezing my arm. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen... lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. "May I introduce - incredible though it may seem - the fourth Triwizard champion?"
Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as his eyes fell to me. Cedric looked confused and if I may add somewhat concerned at the same time. He looked from Bagman to me and back again as though sure he definitely had misheard what Bagman had just clearly said. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, and smiled, "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."
"Joke?" Bagman repeated, bewildered. "No, no, not at all! Jamie's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"
Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned.
"But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," she said contemptuously to Bagman. "She cannot compete. She is too young."
I half wanted to snort with disgust, everyone knew I was way too young, but I was A, terrified of the attention, and B, concerned about how easy it was for them to talk like I wasn't standing right there next to them.
"Well... it is amazing," said Bagman; I was too busy inspecting my shoes to look up at him. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as her name's come out of the goblet... I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage... It's down in the rules, you're obliged... Jamie will just have to do the best she —"
The door behind us opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. I very briefly heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door. They were probably all talking about me and that just made me feel even worse, I desperately needed to see the nurse.
"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little girl is to compete also!"
Somewhere beneath all the continuous floods of panic I scowled in anger. I was only two years her bloody junior, it wasn't like I was seven. Madame Maxime was suddenly much taller than I first really noticed, the top of her head actually brushed the candle-filled chandelier.
"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" she said imperiously.
"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said Professor Karkaroff. He was wearing a steely smile, but was also sneering across the room at me. "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions – or have I not read the rules carefully enough?"
He gave a short and nasty laugh.
"C'est impossible," said Madame Maxime. "Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most injust."
"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," interrupted Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. "Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools."
"It's no one's fault but Williams', Karkaroff," said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for her determination to break the rules we set."
But I didn't break them, I didn't. It was impossible to voice just exactly what I was thinking with all these people waiting for answers I didn't have.
"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently through his curtain of greasy black hair.
Professor Dumbledore was now looking down at me, and I nervously looked back up at him, the parchment still clutched in my hand and the lump in my throat swelling painfully
"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Jamie?" he asked calmly.
I shook my head, finding it too impossible to speak, even though I was extremely aware that everybody was watching me closely. Of course, like with everything Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows.
"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape.
I shook my head again, trying the swallow heavily and breath consistently at the same time, so I didn't faint.
"Ah, but of course she is lying!" cried Madame Maxime. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling. My lungs swelled painfully and I clamped my hands into fists to try a detract focus from the anxiety and fear threatening to explode from me.
"She could not have crossed the Age Line," said Professor McGonagall sharply. "I am sure we are all agreed on that -"
"Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line," said Madame Maxime, shrugging.
"It is possible, of course," said Dumbledore politely. I saw McGonagall roll her eyes, her lips forming a thin line which every Hogwarts student knew to fear.
"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" said Professor McGonagall angrily. "Really, what nonsense! Jamie could not have crossed the line herself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that she did not persuade an older student to do it for her, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!"
She shot a very angry look at Professor Snape at this exact moment, which gave me just a hint of a grin before it disappeared quickly.
"Mr. Crouch... Mr. Bagman," said Karkaroff, his voice rising above the others once more, "you are our - er - objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?"
Bagman wiped his round, boyish face with his handkerchief and looked at Mr. Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face half hidden in shadow. He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance. When he spoke, however, it was in his usual curt voice.
"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."
I zoned out. All of their words were blurring into one, none of it made sense. As much as I hated this whole situation the occasional part of Karkaroff's and Moody's sarcastic conversation, that would usually amuse me greatly, was probably the only thinking taking focus from the whole panic attack thing.
"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage," Moody retorted in a menacing voice. "It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff - as you ought to remember..."
"Alastor!" said Dumbledore warningly. Obviously I realised "Mad-Eye" could hardly be Moody's real first name, but Alastor seemed so… Grandad-like. Moody fell silent, though still surveying Karkaroff with satisfaction - Karkaroff's face was burning, with either embarrassment or anger, or both.
"How this situation arose, we do not know," said Dumbledore, speaking to everyone gathered in the room. "It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Cedric and Jamie have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do…"
What the hell was happening? Everything around me really did seem to be blurring into one big awful mess.
"...the first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges."
I may be a Gryffindor, but I had about as much courage and daring as a baked bean. I was up against three seventeen, possibly eighteen year olds and it would be in front of a crowd as well. It was like twenty of my nightmares all rolled out into the epitome of Hell.
"The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."
At last I wouldn't have to do exams. The only bonus of the Triwizard Tournament.
Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore. "I think that's all, is it, Albus?"
"I think so," said Dumbledore, who was looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"
The rest of their conversation went in one ear and out the other. Madame Maxime had already put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and was leading her swiftly out of the room. I could hear them both talking very fast in French as they went off into the Great Hall. Karkaroff beckoned to Krum, and they, too, exited, though in silence.
"Jamie, Cedric, I suggest you go up to bed," said Dumbledore, smiling at both of us. "I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise."
