The FOUR Champions?

A/N: Thanks for all your feedback! This is one of my shorter chapters, only 2k+ words... There are probably going to be WAY more chapters in fourth year than any other year I've done so far because fourth year's so eventful :P

However, enjoy the next chapter of, 'The Years of Change!' :)

Lina

I wake up the next morning in a less than stellar mood. Basically, what happened that night was: after I got thrown backwards, a beard popped on my face, and I ran to the Hospital Wing before anyone could see me.

When I got there, after a lot of, "tsk-tsk, Miss Quimby, you shouldn't have tried to go past the Age Line," from Madam Pomfrey, she got rid of my beard and made me fourteen again.

I decided to never speak of it again.

"How'd the Aging Potion thing go?" Hermione asks me.

I make a frustrated noise muffled under my pillow.

"I told you it wasn't going to work," Hermione says smugly.

"Yeah, yeah, you were right, I was wrong, happy now?" I snarl, slamming the bathroom door in her face.

I had to warn Fred and George. At least I did it and had the fortunate chance of no one seeing me. They're going to do it today, with a lot of people watching.

Once I'm ready, Hermione wasn't there. I go downstairs and run into Fred and George, who were grinning ear to ear.

"There you are," Fred says.

"Do you have the Potion?" George asks.

I sigh and go up to the dormitory, and bring down the remnants of the Aging Potion.

"Listen," I warn them. "I tried it last night."

"And?" Fred asks.

"It didn't work for me," I say flatly. "I got through, but got pushed back, and then I had to go to Pomfrey."

Fred and George look at each other before turning to me. "Maybe it's because you're only a fourth year." George says.

"Yeah," Fred says. "I mean, no offense, but we might have a better chance since we're nearly seventeen."

"Fine," I snap. "Take your Aging Potion!" I put it in Fred's hands. "But don't come to me when it doesn't work out!"

I go out of Gryffindor tower and join Harry, Ron, and Hermione for breakfast by the Goblet.

Fred, George, and Lee Jordan come down the stairs, looking excited. "We've just taken it, Lina. One drop each." Fred says with glee.

I glare at them.

Ron looks at me questioningly, and I shake my head, "It didn't work," I mouth.

"This isn't going to work," Hermione says. "I have proof from someone who did the same thing."

"Who?" Harry asks.

"Um...some...random...girl." Hermione says.

"Ready?" Fred asks them. "Alright...I'll go first..." Fred walks up to the Age Line, and with a moment's hesitation, steps over it.

George let out a yell of triumph and went in after his twin, but then both of them were pushed back.

Then they had white beards.

I start laughing like crazy. "I told you!" I gasp. "It didn't work!"

"I warned you," An amused voice says. Professor Dumbledore was standing there.

"You should go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr. Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little as well. I also know of a girl in Gryffindor who tried it last night too, I must say, doing it while no one is looking is a great strategy. None of their beards were as fine as yours, however." Dumbledore turns to look directly at me.

They set off for the Hospital Wing, and people were still howling with laughter.

We sit down at the Gryffindor table with Dean and Seamus, and the Great Hall was decorated in Halloween décor.

"There's a rumor that Warrington got up early and put his name in," Dean tells us.

"You mean the one that looks like a sloth, he's a Slytherin right?" I ask.

Ron looks disgusted, "We can't have a Slytherin champion!"

"Who do you think the Gryffindor girl who attempted the age line is?" Harry asks them.

I tense up, as does Ron and Hermione.

"Dunno," Seamus says. "Reckon that's why she did it at night, so no one would find out who she is. There are rumors going around about who she is, though."

"Like what?" Harry asks.

Seamus looks at me. "Some people reckon it's you, Lina." He shrugs. "Wouldn't mind either way," He says. "Better you than pretty boy Cedric Diggory." Seamus sneers. "It's all the Hufflepuffs talk about."

"Listen!" Hermione says suddenly before Harry could comment on the whole me being the Gryffindor girl thing.

I hear cheering, and Angelina Johnson, a tall black girl who was a Gryffindor Chaser comes in.

"I've done it, I put my name in!" She says, sitting down by us.

"That's great!" I say. "I'm glad a Gryffindor entered, I hope you get it!"

"Better you than pretty boy Diggory," Seamus grumbles. Some Hufflepuffs scowl heavily at him as they pass.

Seamus must really have something against Cedric Diggory...

"So, what should we do today?" Ron asks us all. Luckily, Harry seemed to forget about the Gryffindor girl thing.

"We haven't visited Hagrid yet," Harry suggests.

"Okay," Ron says. "Just as long as we don't have to donate our fingers to the Skrewts."

I laugh, "Hope not."

Hermione gasps. "I haven't asked Hagrid to join S.P.E.W. yet!" She exclaims. "Wait for me while I get the badges."

I roll my eyes as she leaves, "Again with the spew thing. I wonder when she'll let it go."

"Hey Ron," Harry says suddenly. "It's your friend..."

The Beauxbatons students were heading toward the Goblet to submit their names, the Veela girl included. I snicker.

Hermione arrives with the badges. "Oh, good, hurry up." Ron mutters. His eyes were on the back of the Veela girl's head.

The Beauxbatons party went inside their carriage, and we knock on Hagrid's door.

"'Bout time!" Hagrid says, "Thought you lot'd forgotten where I live!"

"We've been really busy," Hermione starts, but looks up at him and stops.

Hagrid was wearing a hairy brown suit, and a tie, and tried to tame his hair, which was in two bunches.

"Er...Hagrid?" I say. "Is that a new look, or...or, do you like somebody?" I grin.

Hagrid was blushing.

"You do!" I exclaim.

"The Skrewts are by the pumpkin patch," Hagrid says quickly, trying to change the conversation. "They've started killin' each other now."

"Oh, gods," I comment.

"It's okay; I've got 'em in separate crates now. Still got twenty, I think." Hagrid says.

We spent most of the day at Hagrid's house, trying to get him to tell us what the tasks are, and speculating who the Champions will be.

"Klaus Evergoth for the Durmstrang Champion," I say, sipping my tea.

"No, Viktor Krum," Ron argues. "You're only saying the other guy because you think he's hot. You are vairy beautiful, has anyone told you that?" He mimics a surly tone.

"Oh, shut up, Weasley." I say rolling my eyes, a blush coming to my face. "You saw that?"

Meanwhile, Hagrid and Hermione were arguing about S.P.E.W. and it delighted me to say that Hagrid won the argument.

"Look!" Ron says, pointing out of the window. Hagrid said he'd come back for us, and apparently he was wearing cologne. Yep. He definitely has a crush on someone.

Hagrid was with Madame Maxime, the Beauxbatons headmistress. He was staring at her with a misty eyed expression, and they were walking up to the castle with her students.

"He's going up to the castle with her!" Hermione says indignantly. "I thought he was waiting for us!"

"Hermione!" I scold gently. "Don't you see? He likes her! Aww! That's why he was all dressed up!"

"If they have children, they'll set a record—any baby of theirs would weigh about a ton." Ron says.

We set off towards the castle ourselves.

"Ooh, it's them, look!" Hermione says. It was the Durmstrang party. I looked around them, seeing if I could maybe get a glimpse of Klaus.

"Hey, Lina, your friend's there," Ron snickers.

Surely enough, I catch Klaus's eye and he winks at me.

"He winked at me!" I squeal.

"That means nothing," Harry snarls.

As they pass us, Klaus whispers into my ear, "It iz great to see you again."

"You too," I whisper breathlessly.

Ron snickers.

"Hey, at least I get attention from him!" I hiss. "Your so-called Veela girl couldn't care less about you." I snicker.

"Oh shut up Quimby." Ron says, elbowing my arm.

We sit down. "Hope its Angelina," Fred says.

"So do I!" Hermione says. "We'll soon know."

I just wanted the feast to end really. I wanted to know who the champions are.

As soon as it ended, Dumbledore announces that the goblet was ready to make a decision. The goblet burst into flames. "The champion for Durmstrang," he read in a clear voice. "will be Viktor Krum."

"Told you, Lina!" Ron yells as we all clap.

Oh well...wait, Klaus will still be at Hogwarts...right?!

Krum rises up and disappears into the next chamber.

"The champion for Beauxbatons," Dumbledore says. "is Fleur Delacour!"

"Oh, Ron, it's your friend!" I say, as the Veela girl stands up.

Then the Hogwarts champion, "Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore announces.

"No!" Ron exclaims.

But no one heard him except us Golden Quartette members, because everyone at the Hufflepuff table was at their feet, screaming and stamping. The applause went on for a long time.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore calls happily. "We now have our three champions, I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang to give all the support you can to your champions,"

Oh! Yes! Klaus is staying! Why am I so happy about that?

But then, for some reason, the goblet of fire turned red again. He takes out the parchment and reads aloud, "Harry Potter."

Harry, next to me, tenses up all of a sudden. His face turned completely white. I was about to ask him how he got past the Age Line, but as soon as I saw his face, I knew the answer: he didn't do anything. But all I could do is stare at him in shock.

"I didn't put my name in," Harry pleads to all the Gryffindors staring at him. "You know I didn't."

"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore calls again. "Harry! Up here, if you please!"

I squeeze his hand reassuringly. "Go on, Harry. I know you didn't put your name in, we'll talk in the common room, it'll be alright." I try to reassure him.

He squeezes my hand back, "Thanks, Lina," He whispers, before getting up and walking towards the teachers' table, while everyone was whispering about him.

I felt really bad for him.

"Well...through the door, Harry." Dumbledore says.

"For the last time!" I snarl at the Gryffindors as everyone walked to the common room. "Stop asking me! I don't know how Harry did it, and I doubt it was even him that did it okay!"

I turn to Ron and Hermione. "Can you believe this? Harry didn't even want to enter."

"I know," Hermione says concerned.

"Yeah, well he should have thought about that before he entered." Ron spit out.

I stop in my tracks. "What did you just say?" I demand. "Of course he didn't enter! You should have seen his face! And technically I tried to enter. Why aren't you mad at me right now?"

"Because you told us about the Aging Potion and I doubt he even made any. Plus, he had to go and be the fourth champion when your goal was to be a champion. There's a difference. All the more attention for him," Ron snarls.

"Ron, you can't mean that," Hermione says.

"I mean everything," Ron says. "I guess it wasn't enough for him to be the boy who lived; no he's an attention seeker. Balderdash," He says to the Fat Lady, who lets us in.

My defenses spring up, "What did you just say about Harry?" I shriek.

"I said he was an attention seeker!" Ron yells.

"Oh, that's rich! You think he wanted all of this? Newsflash, HE DIDN'T!" I yell at Ron. "You're the worst friend to have ever existed!" I shriek.

"Funny how I'M the worst friend here, when all he cares about is attention, not us!" Ron yells. "Harry Potter, the Triwizard Champion!"

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" I shriek.

"EVERY OUNCE OF IT IS TRUE, LINA!" Ron yells.

"YOU KNOW WHAT! I DON'T WANT A FRIEND WHO'S SO HUNG UP ON JEALOUSY AND HATRED TO NOT SEE THE TRUTH!" I yell.

"LINA!" Hermione says in shock.

"NO. SHE'S RIGHT. I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE TO BE FRIENDS, YOU CAN JUST BE PART OF HIS FANBASE!" Ron yells.

I stare at him. "FINE!" He yells.

"FINE!" I yell back at him.

"FINE!" We both yell, heading to our dormitories and slamming the doors as hard as possible.

Ah, lessons. AKA watch Harry get bullied mercilessly. Ron was still mad at Harry and me. Hermione thinks we should forgive him, but...we didn't do anything wrong. Come on. That would be like asking monsters to forgive me for being a demigod.

I could understand the Hufflepuffs. Cedric has raised them to glory and now it was diminished. The Slytherins; I hate them anyway, and expect nothing better from them. But the Ravenclaws, even them...

"It's alright," I assure Harry as we walk down to Care of Magical Creatures. "I'll punch Malfoy if I have to."

"Ah, look, boys, it's the champion, and his loyal girlfriend," Malfoy sneers as Harry, Hermione, and I approach him. "You'd better keep him for as long as you can, Lina." He says. "He's not going to be around much longer, I'm afraid. Half the people die in the Tournament. I bet he's going to last ten minutes into the first task. My father disagrees. He thinks Potter will last only five minutes. How about you, Lina? Think he's going to last longer?"

"First of all, we're not dating," I snarl. "Second of all, you can just piss off because Harry's going to survive and win the tournament, I will make sure of it."

"Oh, please Lina! If Potter wins the tournament, I'll—I'll be—I'll kiss the Giant Squid!" Malfoy says.

"So is it settled?" I ask. "If Harry wins the tournament, will you really go down to the Black Lake and kiss the Squid?"

Malfoy scoffs, "Yeah. But I won't have to because he won't win the tournament."

"We'll see about that," I say as he turns away.

A/N: Honestly, the first part of Goblet of Fire made me feel skeptical to whether I liked Ron Weasley as a character or not. I mean, he ditched Harry when he really needed him. This one's just a filler chapter. he next chapter will be very eventful...lol...Malfoy, you'd better pucker up for the Giant Squid! ;)

Next Chapter: Hatred, Friendship, and Vengeance

Please R&R :)

-Ana