Blood Bound
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 7: Something Wicked This Way Comes
The next morning I felt like shit. I so desperately wanted to hide under the covers of my bed and pretend last night was nothing more than a bad dream. Sadly Hermione dragged me out of bed and reminded me of not to miss class. Sighing in defeat, I gotten dress and got my bag ready before going down to the great hall for breakfast. Again, everyone was staring at me. Not able to tolerate the attention, I grabbed a slice of toast with grape jelly and headed off to DADA.
Unfortunately I was confronted by my friends, who pinned me to the corner in the hall.
"Bridge, why didn't you tell us you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Eliza asked.
"I didn't." I answered. "Somebody else did."
"Bull shit," Axel said. "You told me you didn't want me to put my name in. And low and behold, you're champion."
"Axe, you got to believe me." I pleaded. "I didn't put my name in."
"If you didn't then who?" José asked.
"I don't know?" I answered. "Someone who thought it would be funny to put the entire sixth and sevenths years name in the fire. "
Axel rolled his eyes not believing me. Great, he and Ron would get along just fine since neither of them believes me. It hurts that my cousin to think so harsh of me. He knows I'm not one for action, unless it is in quidditch. Taking a deep breath, all four of us tried to think of a way to figure this out.
"So Salem is finally in the Tournament?" Eliza asked.
"Yeah," I answered. "Four schools are competing. The professors and the Department of Magical Games and Sports believe that the goblet was confused and noticed a fourth school. That is how I was selected."
"So if Professors Moody quizzes were stolen, then there was a thirty-three percent that either of you were selected." José said.
"Thirty-three percent?" Axel asked.
"Yeah, I'm not seventeen." José answered.
"Oh," Axel said, with the expression that said 'I feel stupid.'
"But you know what that means as well," José started.
"What?" Eliza asked.
"It means a headmaster would be here to supervise us." José explained.
All four of us Salem students gave the "Oh shit" look. All three schools have their head masters. Hogwarts with Headmaster Dumbledore, Durmstrang with High Master Kakaroff, Beauxbatons with Madame Maxime. So with the Salem Institute now in the tournament…it means Principal Bishop would be here in a few days or so to be my mentor.
Axel groaned face palming himself, "Not the bitch."
Axel and Principal Bishop don't have a respective student-teacher relationship. Even though my cousin was smart, he was also a troublemaker. You would be surprise how many times he was sent to the principal's office for his hair color or mild pranks on the younger students. Many of us believe Axel is even in the exchange program because Principal Bishop and the entire Institute staff try to have a breather for an entire year than another with Axel antics.
Harriett Bishop was a witch you don't want to mess with. Her word is law at the Salem Institute. Although she gives her students leeway on the dress code and school rules, but if you cross her or cause a commotion, expect full punishment. Either it be detention or suspended from an event, or the worse expel. There was a time I was tardy for class in three straight rows during my fifth year, that Principal Bishop had me on broom wax duty for our Quidditch team. All week my hands were raw from polishing and grooming brooms that I needed to go to the nurse's office to get healing salve. Axel on the other hand have been sent to detention so many times that he and the janitors have become close friends, they are on first name terms.
Anyway, I excused myself and headed off to my DADA class. Once there I sat by my desk reading the textbook. I was so focus in my study that I hardly noticed anyone in the room.
"The last I saw you, you were nothing but a brat!" a voiced boomed.
I jumped, startled by the loud gruff voice, to look up to see Professor Moody standing by the door where his office was.
"Professor Moody," I greeted.
He nodded as he carefully made his way down the steps until reaching the main floor. Then he went over the chalkboard writing down today's lesson.
"Got to say, you surprised everyone last night." He said.
Wait, is he actually starting a conversation? The past week he hardly held a conversation with anyone other than the other professors. I debated if I should respond.
"I didn't put my name in." I said.
"Which many of the staff agrees." He said.
"But not the student body." I mumbled, remembering how the students were looking at me.
Professor Moody turned around and walked over. He soon stood in front of me, "Don't give rat's ass in what others think. You got to prepare for what's to come. So I expect you pay attention."
"Yes sir," I said.
He started going back to the front of the class. "How's the arm?"
I stared at my cover arm, lost in a flash back.
Mad-Eye Moody took me out of the bed room and Apparated to another location. I felt a tight pull, as the world spun around us. The spinning stopped and was in some sort of hospital. As a child I was so overwhelm from witnessing my mom's death, Mad-Eye, and my arm bleeding. Moody placed me on a chair taking out rag from his pocket and wrapped it around my tiny arm.
"Medic!" Mad-Eye yelled.
A healer gasped in seeing me as she ran over and examined my arm. "What happen?"
"She was struck by a curse." He answered and whispered something to her that made her gasp.
"I want my mommy," I cried.
"Can you take her while I find her father?" Mad-Eye asked.
The healer nodded. As he was about to leave I grabbed his coat. "No don't go!"
Moody stopped as he looked down and stared at me. He carefully knelt down to my height, "This healer will take good care of ya, lass. I'm just going to find your daddy. Can you be a good girl?"
My lip quiver but I nodded. Mad-Eye Moody gave a nod as he Apparated leaving me with the healers. The healer took me to a room giving me a potion that made relax. Afterwards it was all probing, wand waving, and treating my arm. As my arm was put in a wrapping once the wound stopped bleeding.
"It's fine," I said quietly.
Professor Moody was about to say something when the students enter. So the personal conversation came to an end to professional.
.o0o.
Later in the day I headed to the transfiguring classroom after the last day of classes. Professor McGonagall was there, since I had her second period on a Fridays. I couldn't talk to her right away for another student had an important question. But hopefully she could spare the time.
"Professor McGonagall?" I greeted.
The older woman looked up from her desk and gave a small smile, "Ah, Miss Blackwood, how can I help you?"
"I was wondering …well…asking you a favor?" I said.
"Depends on the favor," She replied.
"I was wondering if I could floo call my dad?" I asked. "Let him know what is going on."
Since my owl Autumn was back home in America, there was hardly any source of communication to my dad other than via floo. It feels right that he should hear the news of the tournament than from the Daily Gazette or Prophet. Professor McGonagall contemplated of the decision. Probably because students communicate with their parents by owl not floo.
"A snap letter was already sent to your father last night. Though, it may seem appropriate that you communicate with him personally." She answered.
"Thank you." I said.
Professor McGonagall nodded as she gotten up and led the way to her private office where a fire place was up and running. She tossed a bit of floo powder into the fire place while I gave the address and waited. I called out a few times for my dad thinking he should be home on a Friday at home. It took several tries, but not a moment too soon I saw my father's face in the flames.
"Bridgette, it's good to see you." Dad said his voice deep.
"Same here, dad," I said with a slight chuckle.
"Who's this?" Dad asked seeing Professor McGonagall.
"This is Professor McGonagall, she's my Transfiguration teacher." I introduced. "Professor, this is my father, Norman Blackwood."
"Pleasure to meet you, Madame." Dad greeted having his manners.
"Tis a pleasure, I'll let you two speak." Professor McGonagall said before going to her desk. Guess we can't be entirely alone. Then again, she was probably breaking some rules in allowing me to do this.
Anyway, I focused on my father, "So…"
"So indeed, what is this I hear about you being a champion for Salem Institute?" Dad replied.
I gulped, "I don't know what happen, but somebody put my name in the Goblet of Fire."
Dad sighed, "I'm sorry to hear that. Does any of the staff know who did?"
"No, but somebody stole one of the teachers quizzes and put all the sixths and sevenths years in." I answered. "I don't know what to do. Already I'm feeling shunned by the other students and Axel he's being harsh. I don't know if I can do this. Mr. Crouch says the Goblet of Fire has a binding contract."
"Bridgette, take a deep breath." Dad instructed which I did. His face gotten serious as he whispered low. "Did you say Crouch?"
"Yes," I confirmed.
"I need you to stay away from that man." He whispered.
"I know, even Mr. Moody is here…the Auror who saved me back then." I added quietly.
"If you're ever in trouble go to him." He said. "From what I am hearing with the World Cup and now…I don't think Hogwarts is safe. But there is nothing I can do to take you out. I'll try to be there for the Tournaments. You need to remember that people die in this tournament."
"I can't do this." I gulped.
"You don't have a choice, dear." He said.
"What should I do?" I asked.
"Focus on your studies and be careful. Most importantly enjoy this experience. Everyone in America is excited to know they are in the Tournament."
"Dad, this isn't the Olympics." I reminded.
"Just telling you the truth." He said, with a shrug like motion. "I'm proud of you no matter what."
To hear that relieved some of the stress off my shoulders. After exchanging a few words, we disconnected the call and I gotten up. Professor McGonagall was at her desk grading papers. Carefully I approached her.
"Thank you," I said.
She nodded, "Bridgette, do you know what being a Gryffindor means?"
"Being brave." I guessed.
"Indeed, but being a Gryffindor also means courage, chivalry, and determination." She listed. "Although, I agree that you should have a say in this, always know lions live in a pride."
Her words of wisdom helped a bit. "Thank you, Professor."
"You're welcome," she said with a sincere smile.
.o0o.
After speaking with Professor McGonagall, I went to the library to study for a bit. Apparently no one comes in the library for the first few weeks. So here, I found solitude in books. Yet there was so many questions I need to know about. With deep courage, I finally did some research on the Triwizard Tournament. It took a lot of time, but with the librarians help, Madame Pince.
From sitting in the corner, I discovered a lot of things. The Triwizard Tournament was established in 1294. A friendly competition between the wizarding schools the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and the Durmstrang Institute. Held once in every five years. The last Tournament was in 1792, held at Hogwarts.
I stared at the names of names, having a hard time pronouncing their name. When I got to the Tournament in 1777 caught my attention. The Champion for Hogwarts was a Ravenclaw student name Sebastian Chimmerah. I read his biography for he was eighteen years old when selected during his seventh year, from a long line of purebloods. He won second place in that tournament, while a Durmstrang student won first. On the second page there was a portrait of the young wizard, with short, frosted brown/blonde hair that is partially spiked and extremely pale skin. He stood proud, with a wand in his hand. I took a second look to see the wand once more.
"Impossible," I whispered.
I looked closer to indeed recognize that wand. How does this man have my mother's wand? Unless he is actually my ancestors if that is possible. The wand was long, as the handle was carved into a lion with a rams hand on the other side resting on the staff, while the rest was carved into a snake's tail. Mom had a wand just like that.
Immediately I gotten up and asked Madame Pince if she had any books or documents of families. Indeed Hogwarts had some, as she summed the book from pureblood families. Thanking her, I took the book and magical documents, heading to my table. An hour I scanned through the book till reaching the Chimmerah family. The family crest was actually a Chimera. They are one of the oldest pureblood families who hold ties to the royalty. This surprised me, until I read deeper about this family.
During the plague and five hundred years the Chimmerah families created a spell that allow turn their blood into another person blood. It was called the Blood Bound. When a noble or wizarding family was running low of heirs to continue their bloodlines, the Chimmerah family would offer their sons mainly, though daughters were used to continue the client legacy. In exchange, a marriage contract was made as the client family would marry off their daughters in exchange for a son.
This surprised me as I went to the document, a scroll of the Chimmerah family; from the founders dating back to the beginning of Wizarding civilization in Brittan. The family tree was shocking, in seeing how many sons there were and women who were married into the family. When I went to the bottom I gawked, there on the center bottom was my mother's name. Edith Anwen Chimmerah, she was an only child of her branch, while a cross was next to her name representing death. Underneath her name said her children's name or in this case, child's name. My name.
There was a sense of discovering in knowing my heritage. When I went to the book about the wand. The Chimmerah Family started with three sons, three wands were made. Not much is known about the wands appearance, yet it says it holds the traits of a chimera and that the magical core of these three wands was the heart string of a chimera. The essence of a chimera was believed to be one of the powerful magical cores documented, however the species went extinct. So there is no other powerful wand other than the elder wand.
"Bridgette!"
I snapped from my book to stare at Hermione.
"Oh, hey," I whispered.
"What are you reading?" she asked.
"Um…history of the tournament." I answered.
Hermione nodded, "If you ever need help don't be afraid to ask."
"Appreciate the offer, though the book says I can't get any outside help. I have to do it alone." I said.
"I doubt it," Hermione said. "The offer still stands."
"Thanks Hermione," I said.
"Anyway, it's almost time for dinner." She said.
Staring at my watch I was surprised to discover it was indeed almost time for dinner. I have spent three hours reading about the Tournaments and the Chimmerah family that I lost track of time. I nodded and started cleaning up the table.
"So have you prepared for the interview." She asked.
"Interview?" I replied confused.
"Yes, rumor has it all the champions will be interview for Monday's prophet." She explained.
"Interview?" I repeated.
Here's the thing…I get nervous when in an interview. When I did a summer job at a café back home only to discover how insecure I was, voice a bit softer, and a lot of nerves. How I even got the job is the question I'll never know. Now to hear I got to be interview just made things worse. I was someone who wants to keep things personal. Let alone my background is a sensitive subject.
"Bridgette, are you all right?" Hermione asked.
"I'm terrible at interviews." I said.
"It'll be all right." She assured.
"Do you know who the interviewer is?" I asked.
"I'm not entirely sure, but rumor has it, it's someone famous." She said.
I groaned as we put the books away and headed to the Great Hall. Hermione tried her best to cheer me up, except she was wasting air. It took her a while to realize I don't feel comfortable.
"Maybe tonight or tomorrow morning we could practice. I'm sure I can whip up some questions that might be asked." She offered.
"You don't have to do that," I said.
She smiled, "its fine, we Gryffindor's have to stick together."
I smiled slightly remembering what Professor McGonagall said about lions and their pride. Once we reached the Great Hall we sat down and waited for the others. Everyone who I acquainted this past week made small talk. Even Ron started talking to me again. He either realized I didn't put my name in or Harry put in a good word. Though I expect no apology.
"Can I have your attention please!" Dumbledore shouted.
The Great Hall went silent as Dumbledore stood in front of the platform where the teacher sat. I then realize there were another chair next to Professor McGonagall and the headmaster's chair that was empty. Oh no, please don't let it be for who I think it is.
"Do to our sudden surprise from the Goblet of Fire, selecting four champions. The Salem Institute will be competing in the Triwizard Tournament. "Dumbledore explained. "My I have the honor to introduce the Principle of the school, Ms. Harriette Bishop!"
The doors to the Great Hall open as Principal Bishop walked down the aisle. A woman who was tall with dominates features, while taking bride of her curvaceous body. As her black hair was kept in a tight bun, contrasting with her pale skin. She wore her black dress with a sheer overlay, filigree and ruffle accented neckline and front button closure and deep purple cloak.
Once she reached the front Dumbledore took her hand and kissed it. "Principal Bishop."
"Headmaster Dumbledore." She greeted voice smooth as velvet.
"I hope you and your students enjoy the rest of the year here at Hogwarts." He said.
"As do I," she said and turned to face the Great Hall till her eyes concentrated on me.
We have a lot of work, Miss Blackwood. Her voice entered my head.
I groaned and bowed my head.
Something wicked has come.
So…what did you all think? I thought I put more back ground about the Chimmerah family. Also what do you guys think about the Flashbacks?
I have an important question for all of you. I need interview questions. What do you think Rita Skeeter would ask Bridgette in the next chapter? Leave your suggestions in the review. I love you incorporate your ideas into the story.
Thanks for reading and please leave a review!
