The first few weeks of school went by slowly but soon the students settled into their new surroundings in time for the Champion selections. The school was abuzz with excitement as the children and staff gathered in the Great Hall where the Goblet of Fire had been hoisted onto a tall podium for all to see. Veronica quickly claimed the spot next to Severus; however, she was almost immediately backed by Igor Karkaroff and his golden boy, Victor Krum.

She hadn't had much time with Severus in nearly a month, despite seeing him every single day. But their time was occupied by teaching, grading, and resting so that they could return to teaching and grading. But she did decide to wear her necklace today in case it caught his attention.

"Madame Largo, good to see you again." Karkaroff noted, "I'm afraid I haven't been seeing much of you around the castle, my dear. Why is that?"

Veronica swallowed hard and felt her face heat up until Severus jumped into the conversation.

"My assistant and I have been busy Karkaroff, I'm afraid most of our time is spent in the dungeons." He didn't look at the man, but his tone was venomous, making Karkaroff smirk.

"To keep a creature like this in the dark, Severus." He clucked his tongue disapprovingly, "It ought to be a crime."

"Yes, well." Severus's hand brushed against Veronica's hanging hand, letting her know he was on her side. "It's not."

Veronica winced as she felt Karkaroff's fingers brush her shoulder, slightly grazing her hair, and she moved to the other side of Severus. Her saving grace, however, came in the form of Madame Maxine, who spotted her in her evident discomfort and motioned for her to join her on the other side of the hall.

"Uh, Professor. I will see you down stairs after the selection, yes?" She eyed Severus who blinked at her in surprise but nodded. "Very well."

Madame Maxine made room on her bench Veronica who thanked her ardently.

"That Bulgarian Brute" the woman shook her head and patted Veronica's hand, "He has no idea how to treat a lady."

"Thank you again for inviting me over." Veronica sighed.

Madame Maxime nodded and glanced down. "Why what a lovely necklace, where ever did you get it?"

"Oh, my uh." Veronica smiled awkwardly, "It was a gift…from a man."

"Ah! L'amore!" Madame Maxine sighed dreamily, "I remember when I was a young girl receiving gifts from passionate paramours. Oh, but the selection is about to start."

All were on their edge of their seats as, one by one, Dumbledore retrieved the burnt scraps of paper that the Goblet ejected from its fire.

From Durmstrang, the strapping Victor Krum.

From Beauxbatons, the elegant Fleur Delacour.

And finally, from Hogwarts, the charming young Cedric Diggory.

The Champions stood beside their school heads proudly as the applause subsided and Dumbledore turned to the crowd.

"Excellent!" He bellowed, "We have our champions. But, in the end, only one can go down in history. Only one can hoist that chalice of champions, the vessel of victory, the Tri-Wizard Cup!"

As he spoke, the Goblet behind him began to blaze once again, causing everyone to fall silent as the flames turned red and spat out a fourth piece of paper before returning to blue.

In the middle of the silence, Dumbledore carefully plucked the paper from the air and examined it in stunned curiosity.

"Harry Potter" He spoke quietly at first, but loud enough for the closest of students to be enraged by it. "Harry Potter?"

There was not response as indignant mutters filled the hall, not just from students but also from staff and the other Heads. Veronica was stunned but, in a way, not surprised. After all, if any name was going to unexpectedly be cast into the ring, it was going to be Potter.

"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore bellowed loudly and after a pause, Harry rose from the crowd and began to approach the headmaster.

"He's a Cheat!" Someone called from the crowd, followed by other protests.

"He's not even 17 yet!"

Harry stood beside Cedric rather reluctantly and Dumbledore wisely decided to disband the students and promptly instructed the Heads and the faculty to meet him in the dubbed "Chamber of Champions", along with their champions.

Though the gathering was less like a meeting and more like a mob. Everyone talked over each other to voice their distress until Dumbledore finally confronted Harry himself.

Harry rejected any claims that he put the paper in the goblet, nor did he have an older student do it. Veronica was apt to believe him, but the others were not so easily swayed.

"But of course, he is lying!" Madame Maxine scoffed indignantly.

"The hell he is!" Moody shot back, "The Goblet of Fire is an exceptionally powerful magic object, only an exceptionally powerful Confundus Charm could have hoodwinked it!" He glared at his with a growl. "Power way beyond the talent of a fourth year."

"You seem to have given this a fair bit of thought, Mad-eye." Karkaroff noted in an accusing tone which Moody squared up to without hesitation.

"It was once my job to think as Dark Wizards do, Karkaroff, perhaps you'll remember." He growled and Dumbledore pushed past him with a growl.

"This doesn't Help Alastor!"

"Let's all just calm down" Veronica cut between the two men and looked to Mr. Crouch, the chief overseer of this whole mess. "Mr. Crouch? You're representing the competition, what do you have to say about all this?"

Barty Crouch shook his head grimly, looking out over the group with almost sorrowful eyes. "I'm afraid the rules of the competition are absolute. The Goblet of Fire represents a binding magical contract. Mr. Potter has no choice; he is, as of tonight, a Tri-Wizard Champion."

The Heads and their champions disbanded to their quarters and Veronica took Harry aside and told him to go straight to his common room and stay there for the rest of the night, and to come to a teacher if he has any trouble.

After Potter fled, Dumbledore held Her, Severus, and Moody back and called for the rest of the Hogwarts staff to join them for a meeting.

"This can't go on, Albus!" Minerva protested immediately. "First the Dark Mark, and now this?"

"What would you suggest Minerva?"

Minerva sputtered, "Put an end to it! Forbid Potter from competing, you're the headmaster!"

"You heard Barty" Dumbledore shook his head, "The rules are clear."

"The Devil with Barty!" Minerva snapped, "and his rules! Since when have you abided by them?"

"Headmaster, I to have a hard time believe that this is mere coincidence. However, if we are to truly find out who find out who is truly behind these events." Severus motioned with his hands passively, "we should let them unfold."

Both Veronica and Minerva let their jaws drop, but the deputy headmistress was the first to protest.

"What-Do nothing?!" She gasped, "Offer him up as bait!? Potter is a boy, not a piece of meat!"

"I agree." Veronica backed the woman fully, "The age limit was put in place because the Tournament was decided to be too dangerous on its own. How can we ethically allow a fourteen-year-old to not only compete, but compete under potentially sinister circumstances?"

Dumbledore considered this, leaning over his pensive thoughtfully before turning to them.

"I agree." He declared, "With Severus."

Minerva threw up her hands in surrender as Dumbledore instructed Moody to keep an eye on Harry through the year and disbanded the meeting without argument.

For once, it was Severus struggling to keep up with Veronica as she stormed down the halls, heels echoing off the arches.

"Slow down!"

"I can not believe you just did that!"

"Did what?"

Veronica whipped around, loose hairs flying behind her and she faced him. "He is a child, Severus. He's fourteen years old for Christ's sake, what were you thinking saying we should do nothing?!"

"I'm thinking in the long run, Veronica! Yes, it may be dangerous at the present, but we could prevent something even worse in the long run!" Severus caught up with her and tried to explain to her unyielding face. "You must trust me on this."

Veronica wouldn't bite, and instead brushed off his hands as he tried to rest them on her shoulders. "I'm going to take a walk." She breathed coldly and turned, leaving him alone in the hall as her cloak snapped sharply at him as she turned.

Veronica stormed aimlessly around the garden, the air still slightly warm from summer, and spotted the blueish glow of the Beauxbatons quarters.

Impulsively, Veronica followed the glow and found herself standing in front of the private quarters of Madame Maxime herself. Nerves suddenly overtook her as she turned to leave but the door opened before she could and the headmistress herself stood over her curiously.

"Madame Largo? Can I help you with something, Cherie?"

"oh, no. I uh- "Veronica smiled smally, "I just wanted to say how sorry I am for the disruption today at the selection."

"Bah" The madame scoffed, "It is not you who should be sorry, but the headmaster Dumbledore. He should be standing here to apologize, not you."

"He-the headmaster doesn't actually know that I am here." Veronica confessed. "I'm sorry. I should have sent an owl or something before coming. It's terribly rude just to show up like this."

"Ah" Madame Maxime smiled welcomingly. "For you, I will make an exception. Would you like to come in?"

"I'd hate to impose."

"Nonsense. I was just having a drink. Please." She ushered Veronica in and the girl was stunned by the opulent beauty of the chambers. It was entirely misty blue and silver, and dripping with spun glass and jewels.

"It's so beautiful." She breathed and the half giantess smiled.

"Merci, I firmly believe just because I am away from home I shouldn't be kept from the finer things in life. Yes?"

"Yes, of course." Veronica sat on a feather stuffed cushion and the Madame poured a silvery liquid from a slender glass decanter into a delicate champagne flute.

"Would you care for some Fairy wine, my dear?"

"Oh, thank you" Veronica blushed, "But I do not drink."

"Nor do I" the madame laughed, "tis non-alcoholic. The only libations I allow around my school is the single malt whiskey my horses drink."

The Headmistress handed her a glass half full of the sparkling drink and raised her own slightly. "Now, we French are very serious about our toasts, so let me teach you the proper technique. Now, we must look each other in the eyes, and the person who pours must say 'à votre santé' and then the second person must say 'à la tienne'. Then, we must both drink immediately."

Veronica nodded and turned slightly so they could look each other in the eye.

"à votre santé" Madame Maxime smiled and tilted her glass to met Veronica's, who smiled and nodded.

"à la tienne'" She replied and met the glass, letting the ching from the glasses ring out before taking a sip and setting her glass to the side. "Out of curiosity, what happens if you don't do that?"

Madame Maxime laughed, "Well, it varies from person to person, but the most popular consequence is seven years of bad luck."

"Oh dear" Veronica giggled awkwardly.

"Of course, the second most common is seven years of bad sex." The madame grinned mischievously, "so either way, it is important to do."

Veronica giggled lightheartedly at that and nodded.

"Now." The Madame made herself comfortable. "Have you taken time to consider my offer."

"I have" Veronica nodded, "And I must say, it is extremely tempting."

"It ought to be" Madame Maxime agreed. "It is a true crime if a writer of your talents must become a potions assistant. If you take my offer, I can promise you not only a home in the Beauxbatons Palace, but also a salary that will ensure a proper home of your own."

Veronica couldn't help but smile. "You are too generous."

"No, I am not." The Madame said seriously. "I will give you until the end of term to think it over."

Veronica smiled shyly and nodded, "by the end of term, you will have my answer. You have my word."

"Excellent" The madame stood. "Now, I do hate you kick you out so, but I must rest. Tomorrow the real games begin."

Veronica left the headmistress with a warmth in her heart and a giddy tingle in her feet.