Wicked Game
"I knew it vood be you!" Viktor strode forward from his position by the fire, and the two friends shared a warm hug of congratulation. "Did not I tell you?"
"You and Ced were the only ones that knew." She laughed, "I'm expecting them to send a messenger to say it's been a mistake and Warrington's the true Hogwarts champion," Catalina drew closer to the fire, relishing the warmth of the flames on her face. "I was only sure that you were going to be the Durmstrang champion."
"I vonder vot vill be the first task." Viktor mused, "Does your father not know?"
"He probably does, but he refused to tell me any details." Catalina sighed. The door swung open, letting the sound of hundreds of voices buzzing in the Great Hall flow inside the smaller chamber. "They don't sound happy do they?" the sound had shifted from the explosion of delight, excitement and pride that had followed the announcement of Catalina's name to confusion and not a little anger.
Harry entered, looking shell shocked, his thoughts whirling furiously around his head and not making much sense to Catalina. How? I didn't... I how... have they always been that tall?
"What's wrong Harry?" Catalina asked, but the fourth year didn't seem to be able to speak. He just stared, his green eyes betraying his numb bewilderment as they flickered between the faces of the other three teenagers.
Scurrying feet drew their attention, and Ludo Bagman came scampering inside the room, his face glowed with excitement as he grabbed Harry's arm, pulling him towards the fire. "Ladies... gentleman, allow me to introduce the fourth Triwizard champion,"
"Vot is this?" Viktor said "Rory is champion for Hogvarts. They do not haff two," His face darkened as he surveyed Harry, thinking that the younger boy was trying to steal his friend's thunder.
"It's not possible Mr Bagman. Harry's too young, he couldn't have crossed the Age line," Catalina said.
"She is right. Zair 'as been a mistake." Fleur said contemptuously to Ludo "'E cannot compete. 'E is too young."
The door opened again before Ludo could reply, and Dumbledore entered, surrounded by Mr Crouch, Karkaroff, Madame Maxime and Professors McGonagall and Snape. The buzzing of conversations was even louder than before, in the brief snatch they heard before Maxime closed the door again. "Now ve vill get the truth," Viktor said, watching as Fleur stormed over to complain to her headmistress.
"What is ze meaning of zis Dumbly-dorr?" Madame Maxime's voice had taken on a imperious edge as she revealed her true height. "'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions."
"I don't think it's Harry's fault," Catalina interjected, earning herself a nasty look from Karkaroff who had been about to speak. "I'm sorry to interrupt but a sixth year friend of mine failed to get past Professor Dumbledore's age line, after taking a ageing potion and he's only a couple of months away from his seventeenth birthday. How could a fourteen year old have tricked it?"
"Thank you Miss DiVita," Professor Dumbledore's soft blue eyes sparkled at her, before he turned his attention to Harry "Did you put your name into the Goblet?"
"No," Harry said firmly, his nervousness at having the attention of everyone in the room, was written all over his face.
"Did you ask a older student to enter for you?" Dumbledore continued, ignoring the huffy form of Professor Snape in the shadows.
"No." Harry's voice rang with honesty.
"'E must be lying," Fleur commented, in a undertone, the three champions had drawn back towards the fire. Viktor had moved Catalina back out of the range of his headmaster's gaze. "Either zat or your headmaster made a mistake on ze line,"
"No, Dumbledore is not the type to make mistakes," Viktor commented, drawing on what Catalina had told him over the years that she had been studying at Hogwarts. "He is very careful is he not Rory?"
"Yeah. I don't think it's possible that he made a mistake while setting the Age Line," Catalina said, pushing a stubborn curl back from her eyes.
Karkaroff's voice cut into their whispered conversation as he exclaimed "in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!" His face was filled with anger, "After all the meetings, and compromises, I didn't expect this to happen! I have half a mind to leave now!"
"I don't think so Karkaroff." Moody limped into the room, "You can't leave your champion. He's got to compete." Viktor reached out, taking Catalina's hand as he felt a slight twinge of fear at competing without having his fellow students back up. "Binding magical contract like Dumbledore said. Convenient eh?" She squeezed his hand, reassuringly without looking away from the teachers.
"Convenient?" Karkaroff said, "I don't understand you Moody," his voice dripped with disdain, but his thoughts gave him away to Catalina Will he reveal the past? I don't...It was a mistake coming back here. I can't leave Viktor but I don't... his hands clenched themselves into fists, I will never really be free will I?
"Don't you? It's simple Karkaroff," Moody's voice was quiet. "Somebody put the lad's name in the goblet, knowing that he'd have to compete,"
"Why would somebody do that Professor Moody?" Catalina asked.
"They wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites of the ze apple!" Madame Maxime complained.
"I will be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic, and the..." Karkaroff announced.
Moody interrupted, "If anyone should be complaining it's Potter but I don't hear him saying a word,"
"Why should 'e complain?" Fleur stamped her foot, her annoyance boiling over. "'E 'as ze chance to compete 'asn't 'e? All of us 'ave been 'oping for weeks! Zis is a chance zat many would die for!"
"That doesn't mean that Harry's one of them," Catalina interjected. "He's not a glory hound Fleur, he wouldn't try to enter such a dangerous tournament under his own volition." Harry's surprise at her defence of him was obvious.
"Maybe not. But maybe who ever entered his name is hoping he will die for it," Moody growled.
Ludo was looking anxious, as he bounced up and down on the balls of his feet, "What a thing to say Moody," he remarked nervously.
Viktor drew Catalina's attention away from the teachers and back to him when he said softly "Is that likely? That somebody vood haff entered him to try to kill him?"
"No. No." Catalina said instantly "Although it would have to be somebody powerful to confuse the Goblet." She thought aloud. "Dad told me that it's one of the most powerful magical objects he's ever heard of. I think there's something called a Confundus charm that could have..." she trailed off as she realised that the teachers were all looking at her.
"Well at least there's one of the champions that knows her stuff," Moody remarked, "She's right. Only a confundus charm could have confused the goblet into forgetting that there are only three schools competing... I'm guessing that they entered him under another school, to make sure he was the only one in his category..."
"This is a very ingenious theory Moody, but I heard that you recently thought that one of your birthday presents had a cunningly disguised basilisk egg inside, and smashed it, before realising that it was a carriage clock. I don't think I'll be taking you or Miss DiVita seriously." Karkaroff remarked coldly.
"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage," Moody snapped back, menacingly "It's my job to think like Death Eaters do, Karkaroff - as you might remember,"
"Alastor!" Dumbledore snapped warningly, as Karkaroff's face flushed bright red. "We don't know how Harry's name was entered, but it was and he is honour bound to compete alongside the others," Dumbledore said, addressing the entire room.
"Ah but Dumbly-dorr," Madame Maxime protested.
"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have a alternative I will gladly hear it," He waited but she didn't speak, she just glared at Harry. Her annoyance was shared by Karkaroff and Snape.
Bagman however was practically beside himself "Well let's crack on shall we?" he rubbed his hands together as he flashed a broad smile at the other occupants of the room. "Barty do you want to give them the instructions?"
Mr Crouch had been standing in the shadows, in a deep reverie while the others debated, and he slowly roused himself, "Yes..." he moved forwards into the light, and her immediate thought was that he was ill. He was a lot thinner than he had been at the cup, and his thoughts were even more fragmented. "The first task will test your daring," he told the four teenagers. "So we will not tell you what is going to happen. Courage in the face of the unknown is a very important characteristic of a wizard or witch. It will take place on the 24th November in front of your fellow students and a panel of judges. You are not allowed to ask your teachers for help, in any way to help you with the tasks." He was rattling this all off, as if by rote "You .will be armed only with your wands for the first challenge. And you will be excused from end of year tests because of the difficulty and time consuming nature of the tasks." He turned to Dumbledore "That's all isn't it Dumbledore?"
"Yes I think so." Dumbledore's slight concern spilled from him as he studied Crouch's tired features. "Are you sure you won't stay at Hogwarts tonight?"
"No I must get back." He said "It's a very busy and very difficult time at the Ministry right now... and I've left Weatherby in charge, he's a little over enthusiastic..."
"Why not have a drink before you go?" Dumbledore suggested, and not even Bagman's open petition won Crouch over. He departed with a swish of his cloak, and was soon followed by Madame Maxime and Fleur who were chatting quickly and vociferously in French.
Viktor hugged Catalina, handing her a small note before he left with Karkaroff in silence. "Harry and Catalina I suggest that you go to your celebratory parties. Although do not stay up too late please,"
Harry glanced at Catalina, and she nodded gently, so they left together. The Great Hall was completely deserted, "It looks really creepy right now doesn't it? With the only light being from the candles in the pumpkins I mean," she remarked, trying to distract Harry from the events of the night.
"How did you know that I was telling the truth in there?" he asked, jerking his thumb back the way they had come. "You defended me against them all, even Krum. Why?"
"Instinct." She replied simply. "George's always talking about how honourable you are, and I can't imagine that a lad like you would ask somebody to put your name in the Goblet, even if you knew somebody old enough to do it for you." Catalina smiled "The only sixth years that actually know you are Fred and George, and they couldn't have carried it for you. Not without developing a serious likeness to father christmas anyway," she smiled softly.
"You saw that?"
"No." She replied "Another friend of mine in Hufflepuff, a lad called Paddy Summers had the same thing happen to him. Although he's closer to seventeen, than the twins so his wasn't as long," She told him. "But anyway, I assumed that you might have had a momentary fantasy about entering the tournament to try and impress your friends, but you'd never seriously try. Would you?"
"No." He confessed. "There was a moment...but I don't want...I'm not ready for this." He hadn't meant to tell her that, as he barely knew her, but there was something about her, her bright eyes looking at him with such concern, and her willingness to believe in him that made it easy for him to confide in her. "I can't..."
"I'm so sorry Harry but I don't think you have a choice. You heard Dumbledore and the others, the choosing of the champions is a binding agreement," Catalina said softly, as they reached the fourth floor. "You can do it, anyway. Haven't you battled a basilisk, and fended off hundreds of dementors on your own?"
"Not exactly on my own." He muttered. "Hermione and Ron have always helped."
"Then ask them to help you through this too. Friends help each other out, and it's not against the rules." She said, smiling "They only said we couldn't get teachers to help us, remember?"
Harry's reply was interrupted as Catalina's mobile vibrated against her hip, halfway up the fifth flight of stairs. "Electronics don't work inside Hogwarts." Harry was genuinely surprised.
"My dad souped it up." She smiled, as she read the text from Cedric. Rory, please hurry, we've all assembled in the room of requirement, and Sandy's threatening shots if you don't show up soon. Vik's already here, we just need the other guest of honour. "I've got to go Harry. Celebrations are happening without me."
She started to leave, but his voice called out "Congratulations!" She turned, slightly puzzled. "I never said it downstairs." He said "I'm glad you're the official Hogwarts champion,"
"Thank you Harry." She smiled broadly "I hope it's not too mad in Gryffindor for you. I'll see you tomorrow," She left him on the seventh floor, he headed towards Gryffindor tower and she made her way to the Room of requirement, a useful little room that she and Shannon had discovered in their first year. The door was propped open when she arrived, and she knew that Patrick must be in charge of the music, as Living in America blasted out, the sound confusing the moth eaten trolls in one of the tapestries who were perpetually clobbering their hapless ballet teacher.
"RORY!" a chorus of voices all called her name at once, and she was pulled into the centre of the room, by a very excited Shannon.
"Oh I'm so proud of you Rory," she said, she was holding an open bottle of beer in her left hand "Paddy do you have that hat?" Patrick appeared out of the crush of people. All the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs had turned out to support her, and Viktor was being congratulated by all his fellow students. A huge banner hung across the left wall Congrats Rory and Vik, Triwizard Champions.
"I do indeed." He was holding a hat that was the same shape as the hats from the World Cup, but this one had her face on it, underneath yellow lettering that read Support Rory. The TRUE champion. Patrick placed it carefully on her head, and then kissed her cheek "Congrats Rory." He smiled, "I reckon you'll need a Boeing 747 next time you have a training session, for all the Rorettes you've converted tonight."
"Cheers Paddy," she took the bottle of beer from Shannon, swigging deeply from it.
"Don't drink that Rory!" Cedric came across from the fully stocked bar, that filled the left wall beneath the banner. "It's champagne all the way tonight. Shannon made sure that the room knows what we want," He gestured over to the monster sound system in the opposite corner, that was surrounded by two floor to ceiling bookcases which were filled with cds. He was holding a bottle of champagne in one hand, and popped the cork, to riotous cheers from the crowd.
Anna squeezed her way through the throng, to hug her. "Oh I'm so glad it's you!" she said cheerfully. "I know I'm not being loyal to my house, but I don't care, I couldn't have stuck it if Warrington had been chosen,"
"Nobody would have chosen that idiot over our Rory!" Shannon announced, suddenly reappearing, carrying a camera. "I want a photo of us."
Patrick took the camera from her, and the two girls posed, their arms wrapped around each other's waists as they pouted, fluttering their eyelashes and giggling. "Very sexy girls!" He snapped the picture, laughing as he did so.
"Hey Paddy I was channelling Monroe I'll have you know." Catalina laughed, accepting the glass of champagne her boyfriend was handing her. She took a swig, and then the music changed into Thriller. "Oh god I love this song. Do you remember all the hours we spent trying to master the steps?" she glanced at Shannon and Anna in particular.
"Oh my god yeah," Shannon giggled. "We were properly obsessed by it, rewinding the tape constantly to perfect a move,"
"Let's see if any of it stuck," Anna suggested, draining the last of her champagne and handing the empty glass to Patrick.
"No I'm not quite that drunk just yet," Catalina smiled. "Give me a couple of hours, and I might attempt the moonwalk again."
"You can moonvalk?" Viktor had caught the last sentence, as he joined them. He was draped in a Durmstrang banner and had a Support Rory hat on.
"Given the right amount of alcohol in my system yes. I can still moonwalk," she laughed.
"That sounds like a challenge Miss DiVita," Stefan's voice was filled with amusement. "How much is the right amount?"
"Just keep the drinks coming, Stef," she smiled. "It takes a lot to get me even tipsy, and I'd need to be pleasantly buzzed before I'll moonwalk."