Chapter 25: Five Champions

Harry Potter turned to Ron and Hermione and said blankly, "You know I didn't put my name in the Goblet." But they were staring at him back. Their expressions were blank. He turned to the new girl who sat by a red haired girl who had a liquorices hanging on her lips, she was also, like him, stunned by the fact.

"HARRY POTTER! ALEX RUSSO!" Albus Dumbeldore called them out from across the Great Hall. As if it was acting as a catalyst, Harry and Alex immediately on the move, heading to the front of the hall. "Through the door…" He added to them. He wasn't smiling at all. None of the teachers and staffs was smiling at all. Once they gone through the door out of the hall, a sudden burst of angry voices started to fill up again.

"I didn't put my name in it." Harry stated as he and Alex walking down the stoned steps into a new area, a trophy room. "You believe me right?"

Alex turned to him. "For sure, I didn't my name in it. I mean, it's crazy!"

The room was filled with portraits of witches and wizards, glass cases shining with trophies in all shape and sizes and a fiery red stoned fireplace where three recognizable figures stood. Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum turned from the fireplace and faced the two Gryffindor. They looked at them curiously.

"Vy are you vere Alex Russo?" Viktor thickly asked.

"You—you know my name?" Alex started.

Noises of scurrying feet were echoing the walls and it was getting closer and closer. The five Champions stared at the door and found Dumbeldore, at the front, leading the whole pack consisted of Barty Crouch, Prof. McGonagall, Karkarof, Madame Maxime, Snape and Ludo Bagman.

"Mr. Potter, Mrs. Russo," Dumbeldore began calmly as he approached them. "Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?"

"No!" Harry and Alex answered at the same time.

"Did any of you ask older students to put your names in the Goblet?"

"No!"

"Zis is absurd, Dumble'dor!" Madame Maxime expressed her disbelief in the whole matter. "Ze Zriwizard zournament only por three champions. Not five!"

"Dumbeldore never make any mistake, Madame Maxime!" Prof. McGonagall spoke out. She moved forward cornering Karkarof who was glaring at the two Gryffindor and stood next to Dumbeldore. "I saw him with my own eyes when he made the Age-line."

Everyone agreed. Dumbeldore turned to Barty Crouch. "What do you think Barty? I'm sure you can give this an excuse. Both of them are underage. They shouldn't be in this tournament."

"But Albus…" A frightening look was on Crouch face. His eyes were wide as if they would jump out of its socket. He looked at the Hogwarts headmaster briefly before he turned to the young ones. "It is very clear. Getting names out of the Goblet immediately has them in an unbreakable contract. They can't be 'excuse'. They must compete. The rules must be followed."

Fears struck everyone. Eyes were on them. On Harry and Alex. The other champions on the other hand seen them as a competitions.

"You know what!" Alex spoke out, glaring at the other champions. "Game on!"

After a briefing with the five champions about the first task; Alex and Harry left the trophies room heading to their dorms. Both were tired and still had a little shock over the matter. There were supposed to be three champions but now there five. Something like this does not happen. Of course, according to Harper, Harry was the only one going to be the extra competition. Of all the students there, why Alex?

"Alex!" a cold voice called her out. In the corridor to the grand staircase, Randy Gavrail was standing by the main entrance, alone. As soon as the Gryffindors were out, he made his move. "I would like a word with you." He said. But before Alex could answer, Randy had his grip hard on her arm dragging her out of the castle for a while.

"Dude! Ouch!" She expressed her pain out loud but Randy still had his deathly grip on her. They went over to the area by the stairs to the Boathouse. They stopped there. Randy, having this scary expression on his face, looked around for a moment before settling to the girl in front of her.

"Why did you put your name in the Goblet? Do you think this is a cool thing to do, Russo? No, it's NOT!" Randy started bombarding her. "People die in this tournament, Alex! That's why Crouch set the age up. Because it's bloody dangerous!"

"Yo!" Alex shouted. "I didn't put my name in the cup thingy. Why would I want to do that? Huh?"

"I'm just saying that it's dangerous!"

"I get it!"

Randy sighed as Alex rolled her eyes at him. "Seriously, guys like you get annoying sometimes." She stated.

He gave her a look. "Sorry?"

Alex sighed this time. "Never mind." She moved away from him and marches across the courtyard.

"Wait, I'm not done yet!" Randy ran after her.

"Why don't we keep up tomorrow? I mean, I'm super tired right now. You should be there where that Couch guy explain everything."

"Crouch." He corrected her.

"Whatever!" She started off again. "Night."

"Hold on a second!" He stopped her again and this time, he grabbed her hand pulling her in to him.

Both froze. Pair of brown eyes locked. They were staring at each other. No more were said. Inches away…

"Gavrail! Vy are you vere?" Viktor Krum was standing at the door, catching them in the moment. "Time to go before Karkarof vetting busy again." He pat Randy at the back before he greeted Alex, "Good Vight Russo."

"What he said." Alex said. She also pats Randy in the back.

"Night Alex." Randy said. He waved at her and followed Viktor to the Boathouse. Alex, on the other hand, headed to the Gryffindor common room.