Hey guys! I know it's been a while, but I had work and friends and swimming and everything... I don't really have anything else to say, which is a big surprise, I know, but I'll just leave it at that! :)

Disclaimer: Me no owney Harry Potter.

Chapter Ten: Maelstrom

The next night, the whole castle was in upheaval. Everyone was waiting anxiously to see who would become the three champions, and when the feast arrived, Ginny hardly ate a bite. Finally, Dumbledore finished, and the plates cleared themselves.

Dumbledore walked up to the goblet, and it spit out a ragged piece of parchment, which Dumbledore caught.

"The champion for Durmstrang is... Viktor Krum!"

Ginny applauded politely, she saw the Slytherins all congratulating Krum, who then walked to the front, around a corner, and out of sight.

A second piece of parchment came soaring out.

"The Beuxtbatons champion is... Fleur Delacour!"

Ginny clapped for the blonde as she flounced to the front, smiling at anything and everyone, apparently very pleased with herself. Ginny saw some of her fellow schoolmates begin weeping.

I guess they wanted that champion position themselves... Ginny thought, resisting the urge to laugh out loud at the ridiculous spectacle some of the Beuxtbatons students were putting on.

"And lastly..." Dumbledore snatched the final piece of parchment as it came flying out of the goblet. "The champion for Hogwarts is..." Ginny sat a little straighter in her seat, attentive. "Cedric Diggory!"

The Hufflepuff table exploded with cheers. Ginny cheered too, even though she was dissapointed that the champion wasn't a Slytherin. Cedric Diggory, after all, had signed her paper.

After Cedric had disappeared into the back room with the rest of the champions, the goblet suddenly flared up again, spitting out yet another piece of parchment, which Dumbledore grabbed instinctively.

His blue eyes widened as he gazed at the paper clutched in his hand.

"Harry Potter," he enunciated slowly and clearly.

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The population of the Great Hall was in shock.

Four Triwizard champions? It seemed everyone was thinking the same thing. How did Harry Potter's name get in the Goblet of Fire? He's not even seventeen yet!

Ginny got up, practically ran to the Slytherin table, and sat beside Daphne.

"How'd he do it?" she said aloud to the table full of Slytherins and Durmstrang students. "How'd he get the Goblet of Fire to accept his name?" Daphne shrugged.

"I wonder if they'll let him compete?"

"If they do, nobody's going to be that happy about it," Blaise said, smiling deviously. "Maybe his own House, but nobody else. I, for one, am going to be supporting Cedric Diggory, the real Hogwarts champion."

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That phrase became very popular in the next few days to use whenever Harry Potter came in hearing range. The entirety of Hogwarts, besides Gryffindor House, was furious with him for becoming the fourth Triwizard champion.

The Slytherins, of course, were nothing short of ecstatic about this turn of events. They took every opportunity to needle Harry, and Ginny watched it all unfold with amusement, even occasionally joining in. Then, somebody made "Support Cedric Diggory" "Potter Stinks" buttons, and they were everywhere like wildfire. Ginny pinned hers to her schoolbag.

And then there was the drama in Gryffindor House itself. Everyone had basically forgotten about Ginny in the face of this new scandal.

Harry and Ron, best friends, had gotten into a fight.

Nobody knew the full details, but everybody knew that the two seemingly glued-at-the-hip people had stopped speaking to each other.

So the tables have turned, Ginny thought as she flashed her "Potter Stinks" button in Harry's direction.

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In the light of these new events, Ginny still hadn't forgotten about the House Reversal Regulation.

The signatures from Gryffindor proved to be enough, far more then half the members of her House had signed. All she needed now was the three more signatures from the remaining Heads of House, and the headmaster.

So after the next Herbology lesson, Ginny approached Professor Sprout, quill and parchment in hand.

"Um, Professor? Can I have a word?"

Sprout emerged from behind a Venomous Tentacula, straightening her hat over her flyaway hair.

"Sure, Weasley," she said amicably. "What is it?"

"I'm invoking the House Reversal Regulation," she said quickly, ignoring the professor's shocked look. "Would you sign, giving your consent that I can switch Houses?"

"You can't say what House you want?" Sprout asked. When Ginny shook her head 'no', the Head of Hufflepuff took the quill. "If it'll make you happy, Weasley," she said as she signed her name under Professor Snape's. "I hope you feel welcome in your new House."

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Getting Professor Flitwick's signature proved to be just as easy as acquiring Professor Sprout's, and Ginny thought she knew why. They both wanted her to switch into their House.

The squat little wizard who taught Charms, Flitwick toppled right out of his chair when Ginny mentioned the House Reversal Regulation.

"That hasn't been used for centuries, Miss Weasley!" he said shrilly. "But... If it's what you want, Ravenclaw will support you all the way!"

And with that, her Head's paper bore three names.

But she knew that getting the Head of Gryffindor's consent would be much more difficult, and she was right.

"You want to what, Weasley?" she shrieked as soon as Ginny began talking.

"Switch Houses," Ginny said nervously. She had been in her Head's line of fire before, and had no desire to repeat that experience. "It has nothing to do with you, or Gryffindor, it's just... Well... The people in the House, I guess."

"You're going to have to get through petty squabbles between Housemates, Weasley," McGonagall said severely, eying her. "You can't just switch willy-nilly."

"No, Professor," Ginny said desperately. "I've given this a lot of thought, and a lot of work! I want to switch Houses with all my heart, and if it happens, I have no intention of going back on my decision!"

"Is this just to get back at your brother?" the Professor questioned, eyes suddenly softening. "Because I think I have an inkling idea of what House you want to be in."

"At first it was," Ginny replied truthfully. "But I found out that I actually have friends in that House, and I feel at home. No offense to Gryffindor," she added hastily.

"None taken," McGonagall said with a strange little half-smile. "Alright. Although I have no desire to lose a student to Professor Snape, give me your paper."

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Ginny relayed this information to the Slytherins that same hour.

"I can't believe you got McGonagall to let you leave her House," Blaise commented approvingly as he walked her back to Gryffindor Tower. "Well done, young Weasel, well done."

Ginny raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Weasel?"

"My new term of endearment for you."

"But you call my brother 'Weasel'," Ginny pointed out. "And I hardly believe that's supposed to be endearing."

"It depends on how it's used," Blaise argued. "We call Ronald 'Weasel' because we hate him, and it's funny to watch his ears get all red. We call Granger 'Beaver' because we strongly dislike her also, and her teeth are huge. We call you 'Weasel' because, and only because, we love you." Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Does that mean I can start calling Draco 'Ferret'?"

"Be my guest," he smirked. "But I'm not responsible for what happens to you afterwards."

Hee hee, Blaise is so awesome.

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