"I don't believe it!" Ron said, sounding stunned as they started heading into the castle, following the Durmstrang party. "Krum, Hailey! Viktor Krum!"
"For heaven's sake, Ron, he's only a Quidditch player," said Hermione, sounding exasperated.
"'Only a Quidditch player?'" repeated Ron, looking as if he didn't hear Hermione correctly. "Hermione—he's one of the best Seekers in the world! I had no idea he was still at school!"
They got back in the entrance hall with the rest of the Hogwarts students, who were walking to the Great Hall. Hailey saw Lee Jordan jumping up and down on the soles of his feet trying to get a better look at the back of Krum's head. There were several sixth-year girls frantically searching the pockets of their robes as they walked.
One girl said, "Oh, I don't believe it, I haven't got a single quill on me—"
"D'you think he'd sign my hat in lipstick?" another girl asked.
"Really?" said Hermione loftily, as they walked passed the girls who were now fighting over the lipstick.
"I'm getting his autograph if I can," said Ron determinedly. "You haven't got a quill, have you, Hailey?"
Hailey looked at him, "Do I look like the sort of person that carries quills on me, at all times?"
Ron looked at Mandy and Michael, "how about you two?"
"No," Michael said and Mandy shook her head.
Mandy, Michael, and Hailey walked to the Ravenclaw table, where the Beauxbatons students had chosen to sit. Hailey sat down next to a girl wearing a muffler around her head. The girl looked down at Hailey with disgust and the fourth-year wondered if the look of disgust was directed at the bright purple leggings that Hailey wore twice last year. Hailey wasn't sure if it was because she was wearing combat boots with her uniform and decided to ignore the look of disgust. She noticed that Terry Boot, Anthony Goldstein, and Roger Malone were now openly staring at the girl. Mandy noticed too and rolled her eyes at that.
Hailey noticed that the Beauxbatons were looking around the Great Hall with glum expressions. Three of them were still clutching scarves and shawls around their heads. She looked for the Durmstrang students, noticing that they were still standing at the door, and they walked over to the Slytherins table. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle looked smug about it. Hailey noticed how Malfoy bent forward to say something to Krum and she rolled her eyes.
At least the Durmstrang students seem happier than the Beauxbatons students, because they were taking off their furs and were looking up at the ceiling, interested. Some of them were picking up the forks and goblets and looking at them, apparently impressed.
Hailey looked at the staff table, to see Filch, was adding chairs. Filch had worn a moldy old tailcoat in honour of the occasion. She noticed that four chairs, two on either side of the Dumbledore's. She wondered why there was an extra chair, because Karkaroff and Madam Maxime were there. She knew that a member of the Ministry of Magic was supposed to be an official for the Triwizard Tournament, by why was there an extra chair?
When all the students entered the Hall and settled down at their House tables, the staff entered the Hall, filing up to the top table, and taking their seats. Last in line were Professor Dumbledore, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime. When their headmistress appeared, the pupils from Beauxbatons leapt to their feet. A few of the Hogwarts students laughed, but the Beauxbatons party didn't seem embarrassed, and they didn't sit back down until Madame Maxime had sat down on Dumbledore's left-hand side, while Karkaroff took the seat on Dumbledore's right.
Dumbledore, however, remained standing and a silence fell over the Great Hall.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlement, ghosts, and—most particularly—guests," said Dumbledore, beaming around at the foreign students. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable."
The girl that Hailey was sitting next to gave a derisive laugh and Hailey bristled at that. She looked at Mandy and Michael, who looked agitated at the disrespect that she showed.
"The tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast," said Dumbledore. "I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!" He sat down and Hailey saw Karkaroff lean forward at once and engage him in conversation.
The plates in front of them filled with food. The house-elves in the kitchen seemed to have pulled out all the stops; there was a greater variety of dishes in front of them than Hailey had ever seen, including several that were were definitely foreign.
Hailey couldn't help but feel cramped because of the barely twenty additional students, which was probably because of the different coloured uniforms, which stood out against the black Hogwarts robes. Durmstrang was wearing deep blood-red robes.
The girl that Hailey was sitting next to had removed her muffler to reveal that she had silvery-blonde hair which almost reached her waist.
Hagrid sidled into the Hall through a door behind the staff table, twenty minutes after the start of the feast. He sat into his seat at the end of the table and waved at Mandy, Hailey, and Michael with a heavily bandaged hand.
"How are the skewts doing?" Mandy asked.
"Thrivin'," Hagrid called back happily.
The girl got up and walked over to the Gryffindor.
"Good riddance," Hailey muttered. She wasn't sure why the girl agitated her so much, but she did. Maybe it was because the girl was a veela, since she caused many boys' heads to turn, some seemed speechless, or maybe it was because she laughed when Dumbledore said that he hoped that their guests would find Hogwarts comfortable and relaxing.
Hailey was busy examining some French cuisine when the girl returned. She rolled her eyes and Mandy said, "What is Bagman doing here?"
Hailey turned to look to see that the two empty seats had just been filled by Ludo Bagman, who was on Professor Karkaroff's other side side, while Mr Crouch was next to Madame Maxime.
"I think they organized the Triwizard Tournament," Hailey said. "I suppose they want to be here once it starts."
The second course arrived, along with a number of unfamiliar desserts. Hailey noticed that at the head of the table was some sort of chocolate cake that was in the shape of a raven on a perch. Hailey was sure that it was made with chocolate pudding, chocolate syrup, and the raven was made of dark chocolate.
"What is that?" Michael asked, looking at some sort of dessert.
"Zat's blancmange," the girl next to Hailey said.
"Isn't that a band?" Michael asked.
"Is it?" Mandy asked, confused.
"I think so…" Michael said thoughtfully.
Once the golden plates had been wiped clean, Dumbledore stood up again. A tension seemed to fill the hall and Hailey felt excited, wondering what was coming.
"The moment has come," said Dumbledore, smiling around, "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few word of explanation before we bring in the casket—"
"Casket?" repeated Mandy shrilly.
"—just to clarify the procedure that will be following this year. But first, let me introduce, for those who do not know them. Mr Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation," there was a smattering of polite applause, "and Mr Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."
Bagman got a much louder round of applause, perhaps because of his fame as a Beater or because he looked more likeable. Bagman waved in a jovial manner. Crouch didn't smile or wave his name was announced. Hailey thought that Crouch look odd in wizard's robes because she remembered seeing him in a neat suit. Crouch's toothbrush mustache and severe parting looked very odd next to Dumbledore's long white hair and beard.
"Mr Bagman and Mr Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangement for the Triwizard Tournament," Dumbledore continued, "and they will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff, and Madame Maxime on the panel that will judge the champions' efforts." Hailey sat up straighter at the mention of champions. Dumbledore smiled, "The casket, then, if you please, Mr Filch."
Filch approached Dumbledore carrying a great, extremely old looking, wooden chest that was encrusted with jewels. There was a murmur of excited interest.
"That's a pretty looking casket. Do you think you can decorate my casket like that?" Michael asked and Mandy covered her mouth with her hand, to cover her laugh.
The veela looking girl gave Michael a strange look at that.
"The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have been examined by Mr Crouch and Mr Bagman," explained Dumbledore. Filch placed the chest carefully on the table before him, "and they have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways…their magical prowess—their daring—their powers of deduction—and, of course, their ability to cope with danger."
The word 'danger', the Hall seemed to fill with silence so absolute, it seemed like no one was breathing.
"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament," Dumbledore continued speaking, calmly, "One from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector; the Goblet of Fire." He took out of wand and tapped the top of the casket three times. Slowly, the lid creaked slowly open. Dumbledore reached inside the casket and pulled out a large, roughly hewn wooden cup.
To Hailey's surprise, the cup was filled with dancing blue-white flames.
Dumbledore closed the casket and carefully place the goblet on top of the casket, where it could be seen to everyone in the Hall.
"Anybody wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment and drop it into the goblet," said Dumbledore. "Aspiring champions have twenty-four hours in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Halloween, the goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The goblet will be placed in the entrance hall tonight, where it be freely accessed to all those wishing to compete.
"To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation," explained Dumbledore, "I will be drawing an Age Line around the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the entrance hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross this line.
"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the goblet. Now, I think it is time for bed. Good night to you all."
"An Age Line?" said Mandy thoughtful. She looked at Hailey, "You'll try and get in, right Hailey?"
The girl next to Hailey gave a derisive laugh at that.
Hailey scoffed, but she thought of winning the Triwizard Tournament. How furious would Dumbledore be if someone under seventeen entered? Would Michael be impressed if somehow she entered the Triwizard Tournament and won it?
"Don't be ridiculous," Michael said to Mandy. "I'm sure that no one would be able to bypass the Age Line."
"It won't stop Fred and George from trying," Mandy said. She looked over at the Weasley twins.
The three Ravenclaws got up from the table and met Ron and Hermione along the way. They were level with the Slytherin table where Karkaroff had just bustled up to his students.
"Back to the ship, then," Karakoff said. "Viktor, how are you feeling? Did you eat enough? Should I send for some mulled wine from the kitchens?"
Hailey noticed Krum shake his head as he pulled his furs back on.
"Profess, I vood like some vine," said a Durmstrang boy.
"I wasn't offering it to you, Poliakoff," snapped Karkaroff. His warm fatherly air vanished at that moment. "I notice you have dribbled food all down the front of your robes again, disgusting boy—"
Karkaroff turned and led his students towards the door, reaching them at the same time as the five Hogwarts students. Hailey stopped to let Karkaroff through first.
"Thank you," said Karkaroff carelessly, glancing at her. Karkaroff froze and turned to look back at Hailey, as if he couldn't believe what he saw. The students from Durmstrang came to a halt too. Karkaroff's eyes moved slowly up Hailey's face and focused on Hailey's scar. The Durmstrang students were looking at Hailey in curiosity, too.
From the corner of Hailey's eye, she noticed on a few Durmstrang students realize who she was. One boy nudged the girl next to him and pointed at Hailey's forehead.
"Yeah, that's Hailey Potter," said a growling voice from behind them.
Karkaroff spun around and Mad-Eye Moody was standing behind them, heavily leaning on his staff. Moody's magical eye wasn't blinking as it glared at Karkaroff.
The colour drained from Karkaroff's face and mingled fury and then fear appeared on Karkaroff's face. Karkaroff said, "You!" It looked like he wasn't sure if Moody was even there.
"Me," said Moody sounding grim. "And unless you've got anything to say to Potter, Karkaroff, you might want to move. You're blocking the doorway."
Hailey noticed that half of the students in the Hall were standing behind them. Some were looking over one another's shoulders trying to see what was causing the holdup.
Karkaroff swept his students away with him, without saying another word. Moody watching him until he was out of sight; his magical eye was fixed on Karkaroff's back and to Hailey's confusion, Moody had a look of intense dislike.
Hailey, Mandy, and Michael got up early the next day, despite it being a weekend. Ron and Hermione apparently had the same idea when they met each other in the entrance hall. Twenty others had the same idea, some eating toast and examining the Goblet of Fire.
It had been placed on the stool that the Sorting Hat was usually on and the goblet had been placed in the center of the hall. Encircling the goblet was a ten foot thin golden circle.
"Anyone put their name in yet?" Ron asked a third-year girl. He sounded eager.
"All the Durmstrang lot," the girl replied. "But I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts yet."
"Bet some of them put it in last night after we'd all gone to bed," Hailey pointed out. "I would've if it had been me…wouldn't have wanted everyone watching. What if the goblet just gobbed you right back out again?"
There was a laugh from behind Hailey. She turned to see Fred, George, and Lee Jordan hurrying down the staircase, all three of them looking extremely excited.
"Done it," Fred said in a triumphant whisper to Hailey, Mandy, Michael, Ron, and Hermione, "Just taken it."
"Taken what?" Mandy asked, confused.
"The Aging Potion," said Fred.
"One drop each," said George, rubbing his hands together with glee. "We only need to be a few months older."
"We're going to split the thousand Galleons between the three of us if one of us wins," said Lee, grinning broadly.
"I'm not sure this is going to work, you know," said Hermione in a warning tone. "I'm sure Dumbledore will have thought of this."
"Yeah, I'm sure he did," Mandy agreed. "He's a genius. He probably thought of countering every jinx, hex, spell, or potion that might be used to fool the goblet."
The three older Gryffindors ignored Hermione and Mandy.
"Ready?" Fred said to the other two. "C'mon, then—I'll go first—"
Hailey watched as Fred pulled a slip of parchment out of his pocket. Fred Weasely—Hogwarts was written on the piece of parchment. Fred walked right up to the line and rocked on his toes like a diver preparing for a fifty foot drop. It seemed like he caught the eyes of ever person in the entrance hall. Fred then stepped over the line and George did a yell of triumph and leapt after Fred. There was a loud sizzling sound and both twins were hurled out of the golden circle, as if they were thrown by a invisible shot-putter. They landed ten feet away and both of them sprouted identical long white beards.
Hailey couldn't help but laugh at that. Fred and George got to their feet and got a look at both of their beards, and started laughing to.
"I did warn you," said a deep voice. Hailey turned to see Dumbledore coming out of the Great Hall. He looked at Fred and George, looking amused. "I suggest you both go up to Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett of Ravenclaw and Mr Summers of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little too. Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything as fine as yours."
"I want to see Susanna's beard," Mandy whispered.
Fred and George set off for the hospital wing, accompanied by Lee, who was howling with laughter. Hailey, Ron, Hermione, Michael, and Mandy, sniggering at what happened to Fred and George went in to breakfast.
There was a cloud of live bats fluttering around the enchanted ceiling and hundred of carved pumpkins leered from every corner. Hermione and Ron went to the Gryffindor table, while the three Ravenclaws went to their table.
"I think Warrington got up early and put his name in," Cho was saying to her curly-haired friend, Marietta. "You know that big bloke from Slytherin."
"I wonder how he would do," Marietta said, thoughtfully.
"I heard a few second-year Hufflepuffs say that Cedric was going to put his name in," Cho said. She had a dreamy look on her face at the mention of Cedric's name.
There were cheers from the entrance hall. Hailey turned to see Angelina Johnson, a tall black girl who played Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, walked in the Hall, grinning as if she was embarrassed.
"I think she put her name in," Mandy said.
Angelina sat down and there was some chatter. However, what Seamus said caused a few passing Hufflepuffs to scowl at him.
"I don't know why everyone has to hate on Hufflepuff," Cho said. "Cedric isn't that bad."
"My cousin is in it," Michael said.
"Your cousin is Eva right?" Marietta stated.
Michael was confused, "Yeah. Why?"
"Oh, you should—" Marietta started and realized something. "Ooh, never mind. She told me to never tell you." Marietta and Cho switched seats before Michael can say or ask anything.
After eating, Hermione and Ron met up with the Ravenclaws in the Great Hall.
"What are we going to do today?" asked Ron.
"I was thinking that I need to catch on my Ghoul Studies," said Mandy.
"No," Ron deadpanned.
"We haven't visited Hagrid yet," said Hailey, remembering that they hadn't had time to visit Hagrid.
"Okay," said Ron, looking happy that they won't have to go to the library. "Just as long gas he doesn't ask us to donate a few fingers to the skrewts."
"What?" Michael asked confused.
"I've just realized—I haven't asked Hagrid to join S.P.E.W.. yet!" Hermione said brightly. "Wait for me, will you, while I nip upstairs and get the badges?" She ran upstairs.
"What is it with her?" asked Ron, exasperated.
"I think her heart is the right place, but I don't think she is doing it correctly," Mandy said. "In a way, it just comes off as offensive to the house-elves."
The students from Beauxbatons were coming through the front doors from the grounds, among them, the veela-girl. The students that were gathered around the Goblet of Fire stood back to let the Beauxbatons students pass, looking eager.
Madame Maxime entered the hall behind her students and organized them into a line. One by one, the Beauxbatons students stepped across the Age Line and dropped their slips of parchment into the blue-white flames. When each name was dropped, the fire briefly turned red and emitted sparks.
"What d'you reckon'll happen to the ones who aren't chose?" Ron muttered to Hailey as the veela-girl dropped her parchment into the Goblet of Fire. "Reckon they'll go back to school or hang around to the watch the tournament?"
"Hang around," said Hailey. "Madame Maxime's staying to judge, right?"
After the last Beauxbatons student dropped their name in the goblet, Madame Maxime led them back out of the hall and back out to the grounds again.
"Where are they sleeping, then?" asked Ron, moving toward the front doors and staring after them.
"Out in the carriage," Mandy said. "I'm sure it's enchanted to hold all of them, like the Durmstrang ship."
There was a loud rattling sound, which meant that Hermione returned with box of S.P.E.W. badges.
"Oh, good, hurry up." Ron said, jumping down the stone steps, keeping his eyes on the back of the veela-girl, who was now halfway across the lawn with Madame Maxime. "Blimey, Hailey, did you happen to get her name when you sat next to her yesterday?"
"Er—no," Hailey responded, caught off guard. "Was I supposed to?"
When they neared Hagrid's cabin on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, they saw the gigantic powder-blue carriage that the Beauxbatons students had arrived in. It was parked two hundred yards from Hagrid's front door and the students were climbing back inside. The elephantine flying horses were in a makeshift paddock that was next to the carriage.
Hailey knocked on the door to Hagrid's hut and got Fang's booming barks in return.
"'Bout time!" said Hagrid when he flung open the door. "Thought you lot'd forgotten where I live!"
"We've been really busy, Hag—" Hermione started to say but stopped immediately.
Hailey could see why.
Hagrid was wearing his best, and very horrible, hairy brown suit, complete with a checked yellow-and-orange tie. It looked like he had tried to tame his hair using large quantities of axle grease, which was slicked down into two bunches—like he tried a ponytail, but had too much hair. The entire look didn't suit Hagrid at all.
From the corner of Hailey's eye, she could see that Michael's mouth was open, gaping at the sight. Mandy's eyes were wide.
"Erm—where are the skrewts?" Hermione asked, trying to make small-talk.
"Out by the pumpkin patch," said Hagrid happily. "They're getting' massive, mus' be nearly three foot long now. On'y trouble is, they've started killin' each other."
"Oh, no, really?" asked Hermione, with fake sympathy.
Ron was goggling at Hagrid's odd hairstyle and looked like he was going to say something about it, but Hermione gave him a repressive look.
"Yeah," replied Hagrid sadly. "S'okay, though, I've got 'em in separate boxes now. Still got abou' twenty."
"Well, that's lucky," said Ron sarcastically, which Hagrid didn't notice, as he let them in.
Hagrid's cabin was a single room. A gigantic bed covered in a patchwork quilt was in one corner. There was a similar enormous wooden table and chairs in front of a fire. Hanging above them on chains, was a quantity of cured hams and dead birds.
They sat down at the table while Hagrid started to make tea, and was having a discussion of the Triwizard Tournament.
"You wait," Hagrid said, grinning. "You jus' wait. Yer going ter see some stuff yeh've never seen before. Firs' task…ah, but I'm not supposed ter say."
"Go on, Hagrid!" the fourth years urged him.
"We won't tell anyone what you told us," Mandy said, trying to butter him up.
Hagrid shook his head, still grinning. "I don' want ter spoil it fer yeh. But it's gonna be spectacular, I'll tell yeh that. Them champions're going ter have their work cut out. Never thought I'd live ter see the Triwizard Tournament played again!"
"With good reason, it has a high death toll," Mandy muttered.
"Lighten up, Mandy," Hermione said, surprising everyone. "Dumbledore will never allow anything to happen to them."
Mandy gaped at Hermione, as if Hermione gave a wrong answer.
They ended up having lunch with Hagrid. After Hermione unearthed a large talon in what was supposed to be a beef casserole, they all lost their appetites.
"I hope that Angelina Johnson gets picked to be a champion," Ron said. "It'll be a disaster if Warrington was picked. Imagine a Slytherin champion."
"Cedric doesn't sound too bad," Mandy said. "He's a Hufflepuff, sure, nothing wrong with that, right?"
"You're just saying that because he's handsome," countered Ron.
Mandy spluttered, "I do not."
"My cousin's in Hufflepuff and look at what she's been getting up to," Michael said.
"What has your cousin been doing?" Mandy asked. "Making bets like the champions have to get past a dragon to get something that they're guarding? Where would she get an idea like that at?"
"Dunno," Michael said. "She was always kind of odd like that."
"What? Making bets?" Hailey asked.
"No, she just started doing that," Michael replied, "I think. It's odd because greed is a sin and she's sinning."
"Do you think Fred and George are beardless yet?" Hermione asked, trying to change subjects.
"Probably," Mandy said. "Susanna and that Summers bloke probably got their beards removed by now. Madame Pomfrey could mend bones in a few seconds; she can make someone lose their beard in probably a few minutes."
The day went on and in the midafternoon, it started to lightly rain. Sitting by the fire and listening to the raindrops on the window, was cozy. However, what wasn't cozy was listening to Hermione and Hagrid, who was darning his socks, while they argued about S.P.E.W. wasn't cozy.
"It'd be doin' 'em an unkindness, Hermione," Hagrid said gravelly. He was threading a large bone needle with thick yellow yarn, which Hailey thought was more of a dyed rope. "It's in their nature ter look after humans, that's what they like, see? Yeh'd be makin' 'em unhappy ter take away their work, an' insultin' 'em if yeh tried ter pay 'em."
"But Hailey set Dobby free, and he was over the moon about it!" said Hermione firmly. "And we heard he's asking for wages now!"
"Yeah, well, yeh get weirdos in every breed. I'm not saying' there isn't the odd elf who'd take freedom, but yeh'll never persuade most of'em ter do it—no, nothing' don', Hermione," Hagrid explained.
At that, Hermione looked cross and stuffed the badges box in her cloak pocket.
When it was half past five and growing dark, the fourth years decided that it was time to get back up to the castle for the Halloween feast—and to the announcement of the school champions.
"I'll come with yeh," Hagrid said, putting his darning things away. "Jus' give me a sec." He got up and went across to the chest of drawers that was beside his bed. He searched for something inside and there was a horrible stench.
Ron started coughing and asked, "Hagrid, what's that?"
Hailey was strangely reminded of when her aunt dyed her clothes grey when they thought that she was going to Stonewall High.
"Eh?" asked Hagrid, turning around. He was holding a large bottle. "Don' yeh like it?"
"Is that aftershave?" asked Hermione in a slightly choked voice.
Mandy's eyes were watering and Michael had his nose covered, looking like he was going to gag.
"Er—eau de cologne," Hagrid muttered, his face turning red. "Maybe it's a bit much," he sounded gruff. "I'll go take it off, hang on…" With that, he stumped out of the cabin and through a window; they saw him washing himself vigorously in the water barrel.
"Eau de cologne?" asked Hermione sounding amaze, "Hagrid?"
"What does he want to look good for? Is it because of the Triwizard Tournament?" Michael questioned.
Hailey didn't know about that because she saw Hagrid straighten up and turn around.
"Look!" exclaimed Ron, pointing at the window.
Hagrid's face really was red and the five slowly got to their feet, making their way to the window, trying not to be noticed.
Madame Maxime and the Beauxbatons students emerged from their carriage, ready to set off for the feast. Hagrid was saying something and he had a rapt, misty-eyed look on face. He had that look once—when he was looking at the baby dragon, Norbert.
Hagrid started walking to the castle with Madame Maxime and the Beauxbaton students.
"Oh," Hailey said, "That's why..."
"I can't believe that he's going up to the castle with her!" Mandy said, sounding offended.
"I thought he was waiting for us!"
Hagrid didn't look back at the cabin.
"He fancies her!" said Ron sounding incredulous. "Well, if they end up having children, they'll be setting a world-record—bet any baby of theirs would weigh about a ton."
Michael laughed at that.
They walked out of cabin and closed the door behind them.
Hailey was surprised to that it was very dark outside. She drew her cloak more closely around herself, they set off the sloping lawns.
"Ooh, it's them, look!" Hermione whispered.
The Durmstrang party was also heading towards the castle from the lake. Viktor Krum was walking side by side with Karkaroff while the other Durmstrang students straggled behind them.
Ron was looking excited, but Krum didn't turn around as they reached the front door a bit ahead of the five Hogwarts students.
When they got inside the Great Hall which was lit with candles and almost full. The Goblet of Fire had been moved; because it was standing in front of Dumbledore's empty chair at the teachers' table. Fred and George were now clean-shaven again and seemed to have taken their disappointed in good stride.
Mandy, Michael, and Hailey sat at the Ravenclaw table.
"I hope that it's Autumn Jenson," an older Ravenclaw boy said to his friend beside him. "I saw her put her name in the goblet after lunch."
"I hope its Taylor," the girl said. She had a weird sort of dreamy look about her, which almost resembled Hagrid's look. "She almost beat Granger last term." She was looking down at the table at a black girl, who smiled at the girl.
"Maybe it could be Jack," the boy next to the girl said. "I think I saw him put his name in the goblet after breakfast."
The feast seemed to be dragging on, probably due to the fact that everyone was anticipating who the three champions are. Hailey was beginning to feel nervous about the whole thing and wanted the feast to be over already. She wasn't the only one, because she saw Michael and Mandy looking at Dumbledore. She saw heads turning, some students were looking impatient, and some were standing up to see if Dumbledore finished eating.
At last the golden plates returned to their original spotless state and there was excited chatter, which died away instantly when Dumbledore stood up. Hailey noticed that Madame Maxime and Karkaroff were looking tense and expectant. Bagman was beaming and winking at various students while Mr Crouch looked bored.
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Dumbledore. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would 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 motioned to the door behind the staff table, "where they will be receiving their first instructions."
After that was said, Dumbledore pulled out his wand and did a sweeping wave with it. At once, all of the candles except the ones inside the jack-o-lanterns were extinguished. They were plunged inside a state of semidarkness and the Goblet of Fire was shining brightly than anything else in the Hall. The sparkling bright, blue-white flames were almost painful on the eyes.
Hailey watched the goblet, waiting, and anticipating.
"Any second now," an older Ravenclaw girl said.
The flames turned red and sparks began to fly from it. A tongue of flame shot into the air, expelling a charred piece of parchment, gasping the entirety of the Hall to gasp. Dumbledore caught the parchment and held it at arm's length so he can read it by the light of the flames.
In a strong, clear voice, Dumbledore said, "The champion for Durmstrang will be Viktor Krum."
A storm of applause and cheering swept the Hall. Krum slouched up toward Dumbledore, walked along the staff table, and disappeared through the door into the next chamber.
"Bravo, Viktor!" boomed Karkaroff so loudly that Hailey heard him over the applause. "Knew you had it in you!"
The clapping and talking died down because everyone was focused on the goblet again. The fire turned red and a second piece of chattered parchment shot out of it, propelled by the flames.
"The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!"
The girl that was a veela got to her feet, shook back her hair and walked up between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff table.
Two girls from Beauxbatons started sobbing, burying their heads into their arms.
After Fleur vanished into the side chamber, silence fell again, seemingly filled with tension so strong, Hailey could barely stand it.
The Goblet of Fire turned red once more, sparks showering out of. The tongue of flame shot high in the air, and Dumbledore caught it.
"The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!" Dumbledore called out.
There was an uproar from the Hufflepuff table, because every single Hufflepuff jumped to their feet, screaming and stamping as Cedric made his way past them, grinning so wide as he headed to the chamber.
Hailey knew that it was because Hufflepuff didn't seem to have any glory and the only thing that they got close to it was Quidditch last term when she fell off her broom right when Cedric caught the Snitch. She saw some older Ravenclaws sag as they weren't called.
It took some time for Dumbledore to be heard over the applause. "Excellent!" Dumbledore called out as the noise died down. "Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every once of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real—"
The fire in the goblet had just turned red again, sparks flying out of it. A long flame shot into the air and borne upon was it wan another piece of parchment.
Dumbledore reached out and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name that was written upon it. It seemed to take a while because Dumbledore was staring at the slip in his hands. Hailey was staring at Dumbledore, holding her breath, waiting for the name to be called. It was impossible. Only three students were supposed to be champions, not four. Who could've done the impossible and became the fourth champion?
"Hailey Potter."
A/N: Yes, Blancmange really is a band. I Googled blancmange to see what it was, and I noticed that Blancmange was a band.