AN: Reminder, all conversations in another language are in italics - though there isn't much in this chapter.

AN: I wrote this chapter all in one night, and I haven't quite had chance to check it through yet, so sorry if there are quite a few mistake in there. I apologise.

DISCLAIMER - I own nothing in the Harry Potter world apart from my OC Isabella Marie Black.

CHAPTER SIX BPOV

THE GOBLET OF FIRE

When the time for the feast finally arrived, Viktor and I lead the way behind Karkaroff up to the great hall. As we were walking I spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione also walking up - probably from visiting Hagrid. I smiled and gave them a wave before slipping my hand on the crook of Viktors arm. Viktor placed his other hand over my own and smiled down at me.

When we entered the great hall I noticed it was almost full. The goblet of fire had been moved; it was now standing in front of Dumbledore's empty chair at the teacher's table. Viktor and the others led us back to the Slytherin table. I was tempted to go and sit with Harry again, but decided it was probably best to sit with Durmstrang today. This time however I pushed Viktor in-between me and Malfoy

The Halloween feast seemed to go on forever. Perhaps it was because everybody was too impatient for the names to be drawn. All I wanted was for the plates to clear, and to hear who had been selected as Champions - hopefully me.

At long last, the golden plates returned to their original spotless state; there was a sharp unswing in the level of noise within the hall, which died away almost instantly as Dumbledore got to his feet. On either side of him was our professor and Madame Maxine who looked as tense and expectant as anyone. Ludo Bagman was winking at various students - probably the ones who put their names in from Hogwarts. Mr Crouch, however, looked quite uninterested, almost bored.

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make it's decision" said Dumbledore. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table and go through into the next chamber -" he indicated the door behind the staff table " - where they will be receiving their first instructions"

Dumbledore took out his wand and gave a great sweeping wave with it; at once, all the candle except those inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging us into a state of semidarkness. The goblet of Fire seemed to burn brighter now, brighter than anything else in the whole Hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness of the flames almost painful on the eyes. Everyone watched, waiting.

The flames inside the goblet suddenly turned red. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it - the whole room gasped.

Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm's length, so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white.

"The champion for Durmstrang" he read in a strong clear voice. My stomach fluttered with nerves as he paused, and stared over at the Durmstrang table. "will be Isabella Black"

My mouth dropped open as the rest of the hall broke into applause. Viktor pushed me up from the table and gave me a nudge in the direction of Dumbledore. I walked towards Dumbledore who gave me my charred piece of parchment that clearly read:

Isabella Black

Durmstrang

"Congratulations Miss Black" Dumbledore said to me.

"Thank you professor" I replied.

I followed the route I was told along the staff table, shaking hands with few of the professors. Professor Snape caught my arms as I went past. "Well done, you deserve it"

I smiled and nodded in thanks to him.

As I continued on I could hear the booming voice of Karkaroff. "Bravo Isabella. Knew you had it in you!"

The chattering faded as I entered the room behind the door. This room was smaller - approximately the same size as the Gryffindor common room, lined with painting of witches and wizards. A handsome fire was roaring in the fireplace opposite me. I walked over to the fire and lent against the wall next to it.

It was only a few moments until I was joined. I wasn't surprised when Fleur Delacour stepped through the door. Madame Maxine, I had noticed, was just as biased towards Fleur as Karkaroff was towards me and Viktor.

"'ello again. I zuppoze we will be againzt one another" she spoke.

I nodded and smiled. "Looks like it"

The door opened again and in came Cedric Diggory. He must have been chosen as the Hogwarts champion. I hadn't even realised that he had entered. Cedric walked up to where Fleur and I were standing.

"Looks like you're out powered by the opposite sex Cedric." I joked with him.

He chuckled. "Well, I'll just have to prove that males are better than females then."

We chuckled together. Cedric had been one of the only civil people that had been in my year, while I was at Hogwarts. I was sure that had I been placed in Hufflepuff with him, he and I would have remained rather good friends, meaning I would have had more friends than I did, meaning I probably would have stayed at Hogwarts. Maybe that was why the sorting hat put in Gryffindor, so I would go to Durmstrang and achieve so much more.

"What do you think the first task will be?" asked Cedric to me.

I shrugged. "knowing this competition - anything"

It was a few moments later when I heard the door open again. I looked up at the same time as Fleur looked around and threw back her sheet of long, silvery hair, which luckily for her just missed hitting me in the face. Harry was stood just inside the room.

"What is it?" she said. "Do zey want us back in ze hall?"

That thought crossed my mind for moment, but then I realised that we were supposed to be receiving instructions, which wouldn't be given to us in the great hall. Then I also noticed, Harry had frozen and in his hand was a crunched up piece of parchment, that was singed at the edges, just like mine had been when it had come of the goblet of ... oh dear.

There was a sound of scurrying feet, and Ludo Bagman entered the room. he took Harry by the arm and led him towards us.

"Extraordinary!" he muttered, obviously squeezing Harry's arm. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentleman... ladies" he started, approaching the fireplace, addressing us three. "May I introduce - incredible though it may seem - the forth Twiwizard Champion?"

I straitened up. No! I looked from Harry to Bagman, and back again. I noticed Cedric was doing the same. Fleur, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said, "Oh, vairy funny joke, meester Bagman"

"I don't think he's joking Fleur" I whispered to her.

"Joke?" Bagman repeated, bewildered. "No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"

I noticed Fleur frown.

"But evidently zair 'as been a mistake" she said contemptuously to Bagman. "'E cannot compete. 'E is too young"

"Well... it is amazing" said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name came 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... Harry will just have to do the best he-"

The door behind them opened again and large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed by Mr Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxine, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. I could hear the talking to the hundreds of students from probably all three schools from the other side of the wall before Professor McGonagall closed the door.

"Madame Maxine" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also"

Somewhere in my brain I felt a ripple of anger. "Little boy"! Harry has done more in his short fourteen years than she will ever dream of doing. I noticed Harry also noticed the term of address as his fists seemed to tighten for a moment.

Madame Maxine had drawn herself up to her full, and considerable, height. The top of her head brushed the candle-filled chandelier, and her gigantic black satin bosom swelled.

"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 - he same one he would wear when he was annoyed with a certain student. "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions - or have I not read the ruled carefully enough?"

He gave a short and nasty laugh.

"C'est impossible" said Madame Maxine, whose enormous hand with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder "'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most injust"

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore" said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder. "Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools"

"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff" said Snape softly. his black eyes were alight with malice. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here - "

"Thank you Severus" said Professor Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet.

I shuffled so I was next to Harry and placed an arm around his shoulders. "It'll be okay Harry" I whispered to him.

Professor Dumbledore was now staring Down at Harry, who was staring bravely back.

"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire Harry?" he asked calmly.

"No" said Harry. I heard Professor Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows. I scowled in his direction while squeezing Harry firmly in support.

"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape.

"No" said Harry Vehemently. I squeezed his shoulder again.

"ah, but of course 'e is lying" cried Madame Maxine.

"He 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 Maxine, shrugging.

"It is possible, of course" said Dumbledore politely.

I snorted. Everybody's eyes seemed to turn to me.

"Do you 'ave zomethint to zay?" Madame Maxine asked me with a frown.

"Well, in my honest opinion, I believe Harry. If he said that he didn't do it, then he didn't. I know that Professor Dumbledore is experienced enough to perform an Age Line perfectly every time, so I don't see how that is a possible reason, and so one must presume that as the Age Line was working Harry could not have put his name in himself as the Age Line wouldn't have permitted it. Furthermore, no idiot is going to take the name of a younger student than them to put it in. They would have felt undermined and foolish. And besides, from what I have gathered the only people Harry would really know well enough to do that favour is the twins and Angelina Johnson. The twins are too young, thus meaning they wouldn't be able to pass the line either - "

"As demonstrated earlier. They ended up with a pair of lovely beards" mentioned Dumbledore.

I raised an eyebrow at Dumbledore, then at Harry, who nodded in confirmation. My inside were fuming, but I buried it for now. "And from what I know about Angelina from my year and half here and a constant mouthful from Fred, is that she is a sensible and a rule abiding student, meaning that she wouldn't have entered it. So that only leaves one other option, somebody put Harry's name in without informing Harry, perhaps a revenge shot or an attempt to severely harm him."

"Mr Crouch... Mr Bagman" said Professor Karkaroff completely ignoring the huge speech that I just gave. "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 firelight, his face half hidden in shadow. He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance. When he spoke, however, it was in a curt voice.

"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of the Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."

"Well Barty know the rule book back to front" said Bagman, beaming and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxine, as though the matter was now closed.

"Did nobody listen to what I just said? I just said somebody had probably entered his name as way to harm him. What if that was true? Are you just going to open him up as bait for it?" I asked loudly.

"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students" said Karkaroff again ignoring what I had to say. "You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore"

"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that" said Bagman. "The Goblet of Fire's just gone out - it won't reignite until the start of the next tournament - "

"In which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing" exploded Karkaroff. "After all out meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"

"Empty threat, Karkaroff" growled a voice from near the door. "You can't just leave your champion now. She has to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?"

"Convenient?" said Karkaroff. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody."

"Don't you?" Moody said quietly. "It's very simple, Karkaroff. As your champion said, someone put Potter's name in that Goblet knowing he'd have to compete if it came out"

I grinned on the inside. Somebody had actually listened to me.

"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" said Madame Maxime.

"I quite agree, Madame Maxime," said Karkaroff, bowing to her. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards -"

"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Potter," growled Moody, "but...funny thing...I don't hear him saying a word..."

"Why should 'e complain?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. "'E 'as ze chance to compete, 'asn't 'e? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money - zis is a chance many would die for!"

I snorted. "And many have died for it Fleur. That was why it was cancelled and why it now has an age limit. Besides, how I see it is that now we have more of a challenge. The honour would only be greater for Beauxbatons or Durmstrang should they win now, thanks to Harry. And if you can't beat both Harry and Cedric, then you shouldn't be winning anyway." I said. I paused for a moment but continued before anybody had chance to speak. " Mr Crouch has said, there is no pulling Harry out and Bagman said there is no putting anymore in, so I say we stop this stupid and time wasting argument and get on with it. I for one would like to know what our instructions are, and I would presume the other champions believe the same"

Mr Crouch seemed to come come out of some sort of deep reverie.

"Yes" he said. "Instructions. Yes... the first task..."

He moved forward into the firelight. Wow, was he pale. He looked almost ill. There were dark shadow beneath his eyes and a thin papery look. He must have been under a lot of stress recently.

"The first task is designed to test you daring" he told Harry, Cedric, Fleur and I. "So we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard... very important."

I nudged Harry. "You've had lost of experience at that" He smiled a little.

"The first task will take place on November he twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. The Champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their professors to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed with only 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"

"What, no" I moaned. "Can I, if I decide that I'm prepared enough, still take the end-of-year tests?"

Mr Crouch nodded at me, before turning 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?"

"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the ministry" said Mr Crouch. "It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment... I've left young Weatherby in charge -"

"It's Weasley. His name is Weasley" Interrupted him, behind gritted teach.

"Ah... yes... well he's very enthusiastic... a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told..." he continued.

"You'll come and have a drink before you go, at least?" said Dumbledore.

"Come on, Barty, I'm staying" said Bagman brightly. "It's all happening at Hogwarts now, you know, much more exciting here than at the office."

"I think not, Ludo" said Crouch with a touch of his old impatience.

"Professor Karkaroff - Madame Maxine - a nightcap?" asked Dumbledore.

But Madame Maxine had already put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and was leading her swiftly out of the room. Harry could hear them both talking very fast in French as they went off into the Great Hall. Karkaroff beckoned to me.

I turned and quickly pulled Harry into a hug. "You listen to me Prongslet. Don't let this get you down. Fleur was right about one thing, it is a great honour that many will be jealous about. Don't let any negativity from the school get you down. You will be a great champion. Absolutely brilliant. And if you try hard enough you may even win. Do you understand Prongslet?" I asked him while pulling away.

He nodded. "I understand"

I nodded back, quickly packed his cheek, and walked to Karkaroff's side, waving and smiling to Professor Snape as I passed him.

Professor Karkaroff was muttering under his breath as we walked down to 'Alix'. I sighed when we stepped out of the castle, onto the lawn, still listening the Karkaroff's insistent muttering.

"Don't worry Professor. I won't let Hogwarts win even if they do have two champions. Durmstrang will get the honour and so will I" I told him. I knew it was definitely true but I knew it would calm him, if only a little.

A smirk appeared on his face. "You are right. You are talented. You will win. Durmstrang will win, even if Hogwarts has two champions."

When we arrived at 'Alix', I was immediately swept into a hug by Viktor. "Well done".

There was cheering around the boat.

It was a good few hours after that I finally get to bed. I lay back on my bunk. It was an interested day to say the least. I was Durmstrang champion and Harry was one of Hogwarts champion. We were going to have to compete against each other. Paddy and Prongslet up against each other.


AN: THERE YOU HAVE IT! BOTH SHE AND HARRY ARE CHAMPIONS, BUT FOR DIFFERENT SIDES.

Will try and update next week, (this one was the day after when I said in the next week so keep an eye out, it may come up earlier than expected, depends when I have the time.)

Anyway, catch yer later

Oh, and please review and let me know how I'm doing or if you have any questions

Mammps xxx

AN 24/07/2012: SORRY THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN UPDATING. THESE LAST FEW WEEKS HAS BEEN HECTIC - MY BROTHER GOT MARRIED ON SATURDAY AND i WAS CAUGHT UP IN ALL THE PREP STUFF. SORRY. BUT NOW I'M BACK TO BUSINESS. NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE COMING UP SOON.

MAMMPS