Beautiful Control
Part 4 Chapter 3
Champions! ... All five?
It was drawing closer to the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang's arrival. With this came excitement form the students that Evelyn simply couldn't join in, thanks to her ludicrous amount of work! Evelyn not only had increasing amounts of homework (and rather grueling classes from DADA) but also had Professor Snape to keep up with, more than once she had fallen asleep in his classroom while they worked into the early hours of the morning, having forgotten about the time. Now that he had completed marking her essays, he was getting her to brew increasingly difficult potions every other night, also marking younger students papers, running errands and keeping up her potions studies. The girl barely had any time to think to herself. Not only that, but all this proximity with Snape was leading to...dreams. And increased heart rate just being around him.
Hogwarts was gearing up for the foreign students. The castle seemed to shine more vibrantly than ever before. Portraits were cleaned, armour was polished and silk banners were put up. It was like the whole place was coming alive and Evelyn was too busy running from place to place trying to get everything done in time. In fact, even when the other students came, she had been too busy to even see them. Although, she did hear the Beauxbatons came in a large powder blue horse drawn carriage, the size of a house! And the Durmstrangs came by boat. And, not really surprisingly, Vicktor Krum was among the contestants for Durmstrang.
Having finally managed to get some time to herself, she made her way to the Great Hall to watch the champions being chosen. Snape, of course, was already there. Evelyn settled herself next to some Beauxbatons girl (as the french school had chosen to sit with the Ravenclaws).
"I am so excited to see who they choose, aren't you?" said the strawberry blonde girl to her in strong french. She was exceptionally pretty, in a light kind of way apposed to Evelyn's darker beauty.
"I suppose," she replied sleepily. The girl eyed her robes with a smile.
"Potions Apprentice?"
"Yes, actually," Evelyn agreed with a small smile.
"I was a charms apprentice for a little while, but I couldn't handle the stress and failed my test."
"Test?"
"They have told you about the Apprentice tests?" she asked.
"No," Evelyn said with panic.
"There are five, one for every year of your apprenticeship, if you pass, you can continue to the next year." Evelyn dropped her eyes and ran her hands through her hair. Why didn't they tell her this?
"My name is Aimee Marquis, by the way," the girl said, changing the subject quickly once she noticed Evelyn's mood decline.
"My name is Evelyn Greyarc," she greeted back. They hushed as the ceremony began.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, 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 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!" Evelyn turned in her seat and began eating. The dining tables were filled with french and northern foods. Dumbledore probably wanted to make them feel more welcome. When Evelyn caught the appearance of Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch out of the corner of her eyes, she immediately stopped eating and watched them head up to the head tables. She still wasn't certain on those two after the antics of the Quiddich world cup.
"The moment has come," began Dumbledore, smiling around at the sea of upturned faces. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the casket -" The what? Evelyn looked around the students to see them just as surprised. So, it wasn't that she missed something. "Just to clarify the procedure that we 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." Everyone seemed to clap louder for this man.
"Mr. Bagman and Mr. Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements 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."
The air seemed to tense in suspense. Dumbledore, now having everyone's acute attention, got Filch to bring out the 'casket'. A wooden box with jewels was carried to the front of the hall.
"The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr. Crouch and Mr. Bagman," said Dumbledore as 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." Oh, how safe, Evelyn thought bitterly.
"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament," Dumbledore went on calmly, "one from 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." Dumbledore tapped on the casket three times with his wand, revealing a beautiful goblet that lit up instantly with blue-white flames that looked cool to touch.
"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," Dumbledore announced, also stating he will be casting an age line around the goblet.
"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."
Evelyn stood immediately and made her way to her dorm, needing to catch up on homework.
The week past quickly, what with Evelyn rushing around like a mad woman, she barely had time to listen to gossip about who was putting their name in the Goblet of Fire. Snape was being very calm and patient with her, not pushing her with teasing or rude remarks, just setting her tasks and helping her if she needed it. It was more a partnership than Evelyn had anticipated. However, the downside was that the other teachers (the ones who did not like Snape) seemed to treat her more rudely than she was ever used to before. They marked her hard, but she still managed to stay the top of the class, much to their annoyance.
Evelyn knew people were watching her, waiting for her to put the name in the cup. It was strange, to be so focused but still being able to notice the eyes on her as they leaned into each other and whispered.
Evelyn stepped into the oh-so-familiar dungeon that was Snape's go-to classroom and spotted Professor Snape standing at a bench brewing.
"Good afternoon, Professor!" Evelyn greeted tiredly.
"Afternoon," he replied absently.
"Anything I can help with?" she asked as she tied her inky black hair into a pony tail.
"It's menial, but could you brew some burn healing potion?" he asked. Evelyn nodded, although he couldn't see, and began to search the supply cupboard. This was one of her other potions that she had managed to remember off by heart. Having managed to find most of the ingredients, she set it out and then turned to her Master.
"I couldn't find the Dragons Blood, is there any in any of the other Storage rooms?" She asked.
"Try storage room 3," Snape told her, as he absently rubbed his forearm, waiting for the potion to simmer. Evelyn made her way out of the classroom and to the storage room. After she successfully found the Dragons Blood, she made her way back to the potions classroom. Inside she found Karkaroff and Snape having an argument about something, she wasn't sure, they just stopped as she entered. The man, Karkaroff, looked at her with a sneer.
"Who are you?" he spat.
"I"m Professor Snape's Apprentice, Evelyn Greyarc." He looked back at Snape with a raised eyebrow and a smirk, but said nothing and pushed past her to leave.
"What was that about?" Evelyn asked.
"Old disputes," he answered simply, looking at Evelyn for the first time that day. "You look unwell..." he mumbled. Evelyn blushed.
"Yeah, I've been a bit sick recently," she told him.
"Have you been taking your potions?" he asked, striding over to her slowly to stand before her.
"Yes, sir." Severus raised his hand and used his long, slender fingers to brush her hair out of her eyes and behind her ears. It was an oddly sensual moment. Their eyes locked, onyx on blue and brown. Evelyn felt heated and flushed, her lips parted almost expectantly. Severus lowered his hand and turned on his heel, moving back to his potion, without saying anything. Evelyn felt her breath return to her in a sudden wave, she had to be careful not to gasp for air, painfully, she sucked in air quietly and moved over to make the burn healing potion.
Evelyn sat in the Great Hall with all the other excited students, thinking about her latest Transfigurations homework.
"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 indicated the door behind the staff table - "where they will be receiving their first instructions." Evelyn's eyes travelled along the route Dumbledore had instructed with little interest as she wondered what the best spell would be for transforming a rock into metal would be, it seemed to follow a more alchemy based route, and alchemic transfigurations were quite difficult...Suddenly, the Goblet of Fire spat out a piece of paper with it's blue-white flames, a colour much like Evelyn's own blue eye.
"And the victor for Durmstrang, will be...Vicktor Krum!" There was a large cheer from the Durmstrang school and some Slytherins as the rest of the school clapped politely. The boy moved along the designated route with a stony expression.
"The champion for Beauxbatons is miss Fleur Delacour!" More clapping and two sobbing girls from beauxbatons later, and it was time for Hogwarts' champion. The flames lit up bright and a piece of paper swirled down into Dumbledore's hand.
"And the Hogwarts champion is...Cedric Diggory!" The Hogwarts students roared with clapping and hoots of appreciation. Cedric, smiling, walked into the chamber.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore called happily as at last the tumult 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 ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real -" Suddenly, the Goblet shone a bright, hot light and two parchments spat out of the fire and twirled down around each other in a way that reminded Evelyn of a 'helix' as the muggles called it. Dumbledore stared in shock as they circled down, one flew close enough to Snape, so he caught it in his fingers and stared at it in disbelief.
"Harry Potter." Dumbledore read out. Evelyn felt her stomach drop to her feet. She was seconds away from jumping up and calling a foul. People barked and whined at Harry as he made his was slowly up the hall. Evelyn could see the hesitation in his eyes, and confusion. People stared at Harry venomously and all the Ravenclaw girl wanted to do was walk with him and stare down any who glared. Harry finally made it through the door and Dumbledore turned around to the other teachers and judges with a steely look, none of them daring to say anything in front of the students.
"Headmaster..." Snape began slowly. Albus turned to look at him with a quizzical expression.
"There were two..." he offered the parchment out that was between his fingers. Dumbledore seemed almost reluctant to touch it. But, alas, he picked up the parchment and read it in his head. He shook it briefly as if not believing what it read.
"Evelyn Greyarc!" Evelyn felt her heart freeze over in shock, whilst simultaneously beating so fast she was sure she was going to faint. Already sick she wasn't sure she could stand.
"Evelyn," he spoke softly, far more softly than he had for Harry. Aimee grinned brilliantly and gave her a push, she had not even seen the girl sitting there. Evelyn stood unsteadily, ready to faint.
"What is this rubbish?" yelled a boy from Durmstrang. Evelyn approached Dumbledore and held out her hand. She had to see it. And there it was on the parchment 'Evelyn Greyarc'. Her eyes shot up to Dumbledore.
"I-I can't!" she stammered.
"I'll see what I can do," he whispered back. Patting her hand consolingly. Evelyn continued on her way, doing her best not to crumble into a panic attack. Her eyes locked onto Professor Snape's. For a moment, Evelyn felt her strength regain. He gave a small nod and she continued into the chamber.
Harry looked back to see who the other one was and felt his jaw drop as he saw Evelyn, looking as though she were about to have a mental breakdown.
"What is going on here?" Fleur asked in her strong french accent. Ludo Bagman came scurrying in with a wild grin. "Extraordinary!" he muttered, squeezing Harry and Evelyn's arms. Evelyn was sure she was going to curse him if he kept touching her. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen…lady," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. "May I introduce - incredible though it may seem - the fourth and fifth Triwizard champions?"
Vicktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed them both. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman to Harry to Evelyn and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said, "Oh, very funny joke, mister Bagman."
"Joke?" Bagman repeated, bewildered. "No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire! As with Evelyn Greyarc's!" Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned. "But evidently there has been a mistake! He, she said, gesturing to Harry, cannot compete, he is too youn! And she...well there is already a Hogwarts champion!"
"Well…it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry.
"Harry. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name's come out of the goblet…I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage.…It's down in the rules, you're obliged…Harry will just have to do the best he -" it seems Bagman had forgotten Evelyn, who crept over to lean against a wall and close her eyes, trying to slow her heartbeat. It was beating so fast it hurt.
The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Harry heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door.
"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "They are saying that this little boy is to compete also!" Madame Maxime had drawn herself up to her full, and considerable, height. The top of her handsome head brushed the candle-filled chandelier, and her gigantic black-satin bosom swelled.
"What is the meaning of this, Dumbly-dorr?" she said imperiously
"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said Professor Karkaroff. He was wearing a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like chips of ice. "Two...no three Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed three champions - or have I not read the rules carefully enough?" He gave a short and nasty laugh.
"C'est impossible," said Madame "Maxime, whose enormous hand with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder. "Hogwarts cannot have three champions. It is most injust."
"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. "Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools."
"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff," said Snape softly, not mentioning Evelyn who could not longer control her breathing and was starting to go into a panic attack. His black eyes were alight with malice at Harry. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here -"
"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently through his curtain of black hair.
Professor Dumbledore was now looking down at Harry, who looked right back at him, trying to discern the expression of the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles.
"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" he asked calmly.
"No," said Harry. He was very aware of everybody watching him closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows.
"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape, his eyes travelling for just a moment to the gasping girl everyone was ignoring.
"No," said Harry vehemently.
"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxime. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling.
"He could not have crossed the Age Line," said Professor McGonagall sharply. "I am sure we are all agreed on that -"
"Dumbly-dorr must have made a mistake with the line," said Madame Maxime, shrugging.
"It is possible, of course," said Dumbledore politely.
"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" said Professor McGonagall angrily. "Really, what nonsense! Harry could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!"
She shot a very angry look at Professor Snape.
"Mr. Crouch…Mr. Bagman," said Karkaroff, his voice unctuous once more, "you are our - er - objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?"
Bagman wiped his round, boyish face with his handkerchief and looked at Mr. Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face half hidden in shadow. He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance. When he spoke, however, it was in his it was in his usual curt voice.
"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament."
"Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front," said Bagman.
It was around here, Evelyn could no longer follow the conversation, now into a full blown panic attack, that everyone was remarkably ignoring. Her head was dizzy from lack of oxygen and she felt like she was going to black out any minute. She suddenly felt a cool hand on her back and knew it was Snape. She leaned into him, shaking.
"I ca-can't do this!" she gasped. Suddenly all eyes were on her.
"Is she okay?" Krum asked in surprise.
"Surely we can allow Evelyn Greyarc exception?" Severus asked Dumbledore. Albus stood in front of Evelyn and offered her a hand. She took it gently, tears streaming down her face and stood to her full height.
"Evelyn...did you put your name in the goblet of fire?" Everyone seemed to be hanging on her every breath, finally interested in the strange looking girl.
"No..." she whispered, although everyone seemed to hear.
"You heard what crouch said, she has to compete!" Bagman said with enthusiasm, obviously enjoying the excitement. He seemed to be the only one.
"Having five champions is a bit much!" Evelyn snapped, suddenly regaining her strength with the feeling of Snape's fingers on her back. "And three from Hogwarts alone? I not only do not have time for this, I don't have the strength! I am in no mood to die!" Her voice was raising and the crying, quivering mess she was before disappeared. The girl's eyes had gone a frightening silver blue and the air around her came colder. A silent disbelief of her 'lack of strength' ran through everyone in the room as they looked upon the frightening girl.
"Evelyn, please. There is nothing we can do..." Dumbledore told her calmly.
"That's not good enough!" she said coldly. Snape stepped up closer to her and whispered something in her ear, so quiet no one else could have hoped to hear it. The scene to everyone seemed intimate, with Severus pressed up behind her, his head lowered to reach his lips near her ear, his hair covered his eyes, so the only thing anyone could see was his lips move only slightly.
Not that anyone cared, because the air gained back it's warmth and the girl's eyes turned back to normal as she nodded slowly.
"Fine," she said aloud, though she did not seem happy. Severus stepped away and glared at everyone.
"The first task," Crouch began, moving onwards, "Is designed to test your daring, so we are not going to be telling you what it is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard…very important...The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges.
The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests... oh, except, I suppose, your apprenticeship one," he told Evelyn, who scoffed and crossed her arms. The other contestants were beginning to wonder about this girl, and whether she would be a threat in the competition.
The meeting was concluded and Evelyn turned to Snape and Dumbledore once everyone had left.
"I cannot do this!"
"I think you'll find you can do far more than you give yourself credit for," Albus told her calmly.
"I'm already run to the ground with work, I really can't spend the time to deal with this tournament."
"I know you are going to be quite busy this year, but think of it as hardening for the years to come," he told her, wandering off and leaving her to the cryptic message. She turned to Snape.
"If I ever find out who put my name in that Goblet, I am going to gut them!" she said venomously. Snape nodded and with an almost smile said, "I'll join in."
Severus and Albus stood in the Headmaster's office and contemplated.
"It most certainly is a disadvantage to have three contestants from our own school," Dumbledore mumbled. Severus was furious.
"She should not be allowed to compete, Albus. It will ruin her recovery!"
"It's nothing compared to what she will have to do in her future..."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Snape sneered.
"All in due time."
"You keep saying that about her. Are you sure all this secret keeping will be good for her in the long run?"
"I hope so. I'm curious, Severus, what did you say to her to calm her down?" Severus looked away across the room.
"I just told her I would be there for her," he mumbled. Albus chuckled.
"You really do have a soft spot for the girl." Severus remained silent, glad he didn't tell Albus that he had said 'we can do this'.