A.N./
I do not own Harry Potter... sadly. All characters and events (aside from Emma Foster and her life) are the property of the brilliant J.K. Rowling.
Chapter 4
The next morning at breakfast I couldn't help but feel nervous. Cedric had put his name in the Goblet, and there was no part of me that wanted him to be chosen. I hoped desperately that some other student would be picked.
"Are you alright," Ron asked me, shaking me from my thoughts. I hadn't noticed that I had completely spaced out.
"Yeah, why?"
Harry gave me an odd look. "You've been out of it all morning. And last night."
Hermione reach across the table to rest her hand on mine. "I'm sure he won't be chosen," she said quietly. I was grateful for it.
I gave her a smile. "Thanks," I said before looking back at Harry and Ron. "I'm fine, I promise. I'm just worried about Cedric." They nodded sympathetically before returning to their food.
I didn't want to over think this if I didn't have to, so instead I turned to Harry. "Hey, Harry. When was the last time you talked to Sirius," I whispered so that only he could hear me.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Not in a while actually. The ministry has been intercepting too many owls for me to risk sending Hedwig out."
I nodded to myself and was just about to suggest he use Ron's owl for the time being when Professor Dumbledore stood from his seat and called our attention. The room fell silent instantly.
"The time has come that we announce the champions of the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore stated. "Keep in mind that once you are chosen, you stand alone. Trust me when I say that the tests that you will encounter are not for the faint hearted." He turned to the goblet which stood just behind him.
The blue flames flickered red and rose, a slip of paper suddenly appearing and falling into the headmaster's waiting hand. He unfolded it before turning back towards us. "The Durmstrang champion, Viktor Krum." The room erupted into applause as Viktor stood and walked to the front of the room and stood just beside Dumbledore.
"And now," he continued, the flames sparking once more, another paper falling into Dumbledore's hand. "The Beauxbaton's champion, Fleur DeLacoure." The room applauded once more as Fleur stood and joined the other two at the head of the room.
"Finally, the Hogwarts champion." I watched the flames rise, and a slip of paper fall slowly. Dumbledore grabbed it quickly and unfolded it. "Cedric Diggory."
I felt dizzy suddenly as I watched Cedric stand triumphantly and walk forward. I couldn't hear the applause, but I could see the excited expressions and whispering among the other students.
I heard a loud gasp and brought myself back to the present. Dumbledore stood holding… another slip of paper? But that couldn't be right. Three schools, three champions.
Hermione looked at me and I felt my stomach turn. This was going to be bad.
Dumbledore whispered something and then suddenly turned towards the Gryffindor table. "Harry Potter," he said louder.
Harry sank into his seat slightly, avoiding the growing number of stares he was attracting.
"Harry Potter," Dumbledore shouted angrily.
When he didn't move Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. "Harry, move."
I shot her a glare but she only gave me a worried glance before turning to watch Harry walk up to Dumbledore and then disappear with the champions through a door at the side of the room.
Before anyone could stop me, I stood from the table and made my way out of the dining hall. I didn't stop walking until I had made it to the Black Lake.
Technically students weren't allowed down here, but they never really enforced that rule. Still, I was surprised that I seemed to be the only one here.
I sat under a tree that sat just on the edge of the water.
I had been so worried about Cedric being chosen for the tournament. Now both he and Harry were going to have to participate in a competition where death is not unheard of. I couldn't believe that this was happening. I felt tears stinging in my eyes and wiped them away roughly.
"Foster," I heard someone say quietly. I looked up and saw Draco standing a few feet away. He had one hand in his pocket and the other behind his neck nervously. "You alright? I saw you run out of the dining hall. No one followed you out, so I figured that I should…" He let his voice trail off and then looked down at the ground. He seemed really nervous but also slightly frustrated.
"I'm fine," I said pathetically. "Thank you, Draco."
He smiled to himself before he looked back up at me. He didn't seem to know what to say, but that was alright. I felt comfortable around him, and I could tell that he knew it.
After several seconds in silence, he came to sit next to me. For the next few minutes we watched the surface of the lake, the mountains just past it and the trees swaying slightly in the breeze. Our arms just barely touched, but it felt nice.
Finally, Draco let out a deep breathe and turned to look at me again. "Are you sure you're alright, Emma?" I looked at him shocked. He had never used my first name before.
"No," I told him honestly. I let out a laugh but it was without humor. "Every year Harry finds some new way to put his life in danger. And Cedric couldn't be more thrilled that he was chosen to represent Hogwarts in a competition that borders on cruel. I'm worried."
Draco didn't say anything for minute. "As much as I hate to admit this, and I'll deny it if you tell anyone that I said it, but I think that he'll do fine."
"Really?"
He smiled. "Sure. I mean, how many times has he faced death and walked away like it was nothing? And you said it yourself that every year Potter finds some way to put himself in danger. And he's always turned up fine." I considered his words for a moment before nodding. He was right. "And might I point out," he continued with a sly smile. "That it isn't just his own life he's managed to put in peril."
I couldn't help but laugh. "Well if it means anything, I've always been more than willing to help."
"Oh yes. Magical stones guarded by enchantments and giant dogs, secret chambers housing unusually large serpents, and of course facing dementors in order to free wanted fugitives. Where do I sign up?" This time we both laughed.
"Well when you put it that way," I said, nudging him with my shoulder. He smiled at me and then turned back to look out at the water.
"Draco," I said quietly after a few more minutes. He hummed a reply. "Thank you for coming out to check on me."
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Someone had to, right?"
I sighed and gave him a slight smile. "I'm glad it was you."
He nodded, but didn't seem pleased with my words. His eyes narrowed and he stood up. "I should go. I have to stop by the dormitories before classes start."
"Okay," I said slowly. "I'll see you later then."
He gave me one last nod before he turned and walked back up to the castle. I watched him walk away until he was no longer in sight and then turned back to the lake.
There was something about Draco that I didn't understand. He was completely rude and vial to everyone not in his immediate circle. The few times that he had been relatively civil towards me, we had been alone. It seemed that every time he discovered that he was being kind, he would correct himself and become more reserved. How could I be attracted to someone who acted that way? I couldn't. But at the same time, I couldn't be like my friends and bring myself to hate him. No matter what he did I found myself excusing him for his behavior time and time again.
I sighed heavily. Why did I even care? We weren't really friends and all of my friends hated him. Not that I could really blame them. The way that he acted towards everyone, you'd think that his father was the minister of magic himself.
Lucius Malfoy worked for the Ministry of Magic, and many people in the magical world had theories as to what he did in his free time. It was common knowledge that Mr. Malfoy had been a big supporter of the Dark Lord many years ago, and most speculated that he still held that alliance. Even I couldn't deny the possibility. I just hoped that Draco never ended up like his father. He was too…good for that.
Finally it was time for me to go to my classes. I decided that I didn't need my book bag today and just walked straight to Divination.
I was surprised when I saw Crabbe sitting at the back of the room alone since he usually sat with Draco. But I was even more surprised when Draco remained missing for the rest of the day. He wasn't in any of our classes and he hadn't come to lunch.
"Emma," I heard Ron call after me when I left the dining hall after dinner. I turned towards him and smiled.
"Hey, Ron. Where's Harry," I asked, looking behind him confused.
"With Hermione talking about that bloody tournament I suspect. But I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay, shoot." We started walking towards the Gryffindor common room.
"Well tomorrow my brother, Charlie, is coming in from Romania."
"The one who studies dragons, right?"
"Yeah, that's the one. Anyway, he sent me an owl earlier telling me to meet him at Hagrid's tomorrow after dinner. You want to come with me? I'd ask Hermione but she'll probably be with Harry."
"Sure," I said immediately. "I'd love to. But why didn't you ask Harry?"
He scoffed. "Like I'd ask that right foul git to do anything."
I sighed. "I know I'm going to regret asking this, but what are you going on about Ron?"
"Him putting his name in that goblet. He might have told his best friend about it."
"Ronald," I said sternly. "You know as well as I do that he didn't put his name in that goblet. He wouldn't do that. Besides, there was an age line in place."
"Whatever," he said dismissively. We had just gotten to the common room and were now standing in front of the dorms. "I'll see you tomorrow. Don't forget, after dinner. Meet me in the courtyard?"
I nodded. "Yeah, sure." He nodded before going into the dorms, and just after, Harry walked up the stairs. "Oh," I said as he turned and saw me. "Hello, Harry."
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Were you just talking to Ron?"
"Uh, yeah. I was."
"Where are you meeting him tomorrow," he asked angrily.
"No where," I said defensively. "It doesn't matter." I could see him getting angry. "Why are you fighting?"
"Ron seems to have his own opinion on how my name got into that goblet. He thinks I did it. Like I'm some type of masochistic git." I knew that he was angry with Ron, but I also knew that it hurt him to be fighting with his best friend.
I stepped forward and hugged him, resting my head on his shoulder. "I promise he's going to see things straight. And if he doesn't then I'll be obliged to smack some sense into him." Harry tightened his arms for a few seconds before he pulled away.
"Thanks, Emma," he said with a smile before turning away and going into the boys' dorms.
