PART ONE ( EYE OF THE HURRICANE ) CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
014 || More Than Survive
"if aurelia cannot win this tournament with her abilities than she will win it out of pure spite . . ."
HER HEART SEEMS to have dropped into her stomach. No, the world is spinning around her, no! This kind of thing doesn't happen to her, no, this is something that happens to Harry bloody Potter.
No, she must be hallucinating, he can't have called her name. Aurelia opens her mouth to deny it but all that comes out is a strangled wheeze. No, she can't be a Triwizard champion, no, she'll die in this thing, she's not cut out for this. She doesn't want this. Tears burn her eyes.
Both Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout leap to their feet to whisper something in Professor Dumbledore's ear. This is actually happening, it shouldn't be but it is. Fuck, her worst nightmare is happening, no, Merlin, why me?
"N — n — no," Aurelia whimpers hoarsely, covering her mouth with a trembling hand.
"Ari," Neville whispers fearfully as he stares at her with wide eyes.
She shakes her head quickly, hot tears rolling down her cheeks. She's not meant for this, she's not — oh, Merlin! She's going to die, she doesn't want to die! A horrible, panicky feeling builds in the pit of her stomach and a fiery hot feeling ignites in every fibre of her being. She doesn't want this, it's too dangerous, she's not cut out for this!
Aurelia inhales a shuddering breath, the room seems to be spinning more violently now. Why is this happening to her?!
"Harry Potter! Aurelia Black," Dumbledore calls out again, "Harry, Aurelia! Up here if you please!"
Aurelia shakes her head so violently she makes herself even dizzier "No, I — I don't please, I — I d — don't wanna go — go up there! I did — didn't put my name in that da — damn gob — g — goblet," She can hardly breathe, she keeps shaking her head even as Harry gets to his feet and slowly heads to the top of the hall, looking way too calm for what just happened.
"Aurelia Black," Dumbledore calls again.
Aurelia refuses "I did — I didn't put my name in th — that thing," she says shrilly through gasps for breath. Now, most of the students had taken their eyes off Harry and placed them on her. Aurelia feels like she's going to be sick, her head is throbbing and her body is tensed up and it feels like her body is on fire — I can't be in this tournament, I'll die a painful, horrible death! I'm not strong enough for this!
Neville places his hands on her shoulders, softly saying: "Ari, you've got to go up there, how else are they going to get you and Harry out of this mess?"
That's the problem, her and Harry won't be able to get out of this mess, once a name's been spit out by the goblet they're stuck in the tournament to the end. In other words, Aurelia's totally fucked. She's still struggling to breathe as Professor Dumbledore calls her name for a third time.
"I — I — I didn't put m — m — my name in — in that gob — goblet."
"I know, I know," Neville soothes, "But, you've got to go with the other champions. We — we can wa — walk up there together if that'll make you feel better?"
Aurelia knows that at this point, nothing'll make her feel better. She's just been entered into the Triwizard Tournament not only against the rules but against her will, she's doomed! She nods her head and Neville grabs her hand as he helps her stand up. Aurelia's terrified; she can't do this!
By the time they reach the side chamber's door, Harry had just disappeared through it. Professor Sprout stops Neville from going down, saying only champions can go down there. Aurelia's stomach lurches, she can't do this without Neville. She doesn't want to go down there alone.
"I'll wait for you," Neville promises.
This doesn't settle her nerves even though she knows he will. Descending the stairs, Aurelia can no longer hold back her tears. Surely, this can't be happening to me? How on Earth did Harry look so calm about this whole thing? Is he just internally panicking or is she just weak?
As she comes to the stop at the bottom of the stairs, Aurelia hears Fleur Delacour asking Harry: "Do zey want us back in ze hall?"
Aurelia truly wishes that's the real reason why her and Harry had to come down here, to go and fetch the champions but it's not; they're the bloody champions — well, fuck me gently with a chainsaw! Her eyebrows furrow together, she needs to come up with a more wizard-appropriate catchphrase, she doesn't really know what a chainsaw is and she takes in the three older, actually willing participants wonders why she's thinking about that when she's literally just been entered in a tournament of death.
She sniffles, muttering "Fuck this, fuck that, fuck everything, fuck —"
Cedric's gaze lands on her and he asks: "Blue, what's going on? What's happened?"
"Something that's not supposed to happen," Aurelia sobs as her hair turns white, "We were — weren't supposed to be chosen! This is — is supposed to be the TRIwizard Tournament not the FIVEwizard Tournament!"
Before Cedric can question exactly what Aurelia means, there's the sound of scurrying feet and Ludo Bagman exclaiming: " Extraordinary!"
Bagman grabs Harry and Aurelia's arm but she rips herself from his grasp, he doesn't seem to mind as he squeezes Harry's arm "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen . . . Lady, may I introduce — incredible though it may seem — the fourth tri — and fifth Triwizard champion?"
Viktor Krum straightens up, his surly face darkened as he surveys Harry and Aurelia. Cedric looks positively nonplussed, he looks from Bagman to Harry and Aurelia then back again as though he must've misheard what Bagman had said.
Fleur Delacour, however, tosses her hair, smiling as she says: "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."
"Joke? No, no, not at all! Harry's n — and Black's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire," Bagman says, bewildered.
"It's Aurelia, asshole," She mutters under her breath, "And technically it is a joke because neither of us put our damned names in that goblet! Someone else did, we're far too young!"
Viktor's thick eyebrows contracted slightly, Cedric's still looking positively surprised, and Fleur frowns — the only one who obviously sees the problem here!
"But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," Fleur says contemptuously, " Zey cannot compete. Zey are too young."
"Ex — exactly! There's been a mistake, she's right! You can't let — let us compete, we're too young! We're children," Aurelia exclaims, face turning red as she grows increasingly frustrated.
Why does no one understand that she doesn't want this?!
"Well . . . It is amazing," Bagman says, as he rubs his smooth chin and smiles down at Harry, "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his — their names did 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, they're obliged . . . Harry will just have to do the best he —"
"I DON'T FUCKING WANT THIS," Aurelia screams, drawing the attention of everyone in the room and those entering it, "I DIDN'T PUT MY NAME IN THE GOBLET!"
Her hair turns red in anger "I'm just a child! I can't — I can't do this! I'm not prepared for this, I didn't choose this, someone put my name in that goblet without my permission and I sh — shouldn't have to pay for that! I'm sure Harry feels the way. I mean come the fuck on, he's Harry fucking Potter, he definitely didn't put his name in that goblet! He's a fucking trouble magnet, Voldemort probably put his name in that goblet somehow, it wouldn't be the first time he got into Hogwarts undetected. Neither of us put our fucking names in the goblet!"
Professor Dumbledore comes down the stairs, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, Professor Snape and Lyra.
"Madame Maxime," Fleur says at once, striding over to her headmistress, "Zey are saying zat zee little children are to compete also!"
"I'm children, not little," Aurelia snaps, "Calm down, Delacour, we don't want to compete! Is anyone fucking listening to me?! Merlin's beard! I don't fucking want this — I don't want to deal with this bullshit!"
"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr," Madam Maxime says imperiously.
"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore. 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," Professor Karkaroff says, letting out a short and nasty laugh.
"There isn't," Aurelia cries shrilly, "There's only supposed to be one champion each, my name — our names shouldn't've come out of it! There's been a ter — terrible mistake!"
She rushes over to Professor Sprout, tearfully crying: "You — you can't let us com — compete! We didn't p — put our names in! We — we're just children, we — we can't do this."
"C'est impossible, 'Ogwarts cannot 'ave three champions. It is most injust," Madam Maxime says.
"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," Professor Karkaroff says, his steely gaze 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," Professor Snape says softly, his black eyes were alight with malice, "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here —"
"Please Snape! Potter's not smart enough to get across the age line on his own — no offense, Potter, the real culprit is Malfoy. Her entire family is full of Death-Eaters, she found away across the line, somehow, to get Potter's name in there to get him killed, of course, then threw in her name for good measure. To make sure she's not a suspect. You can drop the act now, Malfoy —" Lyra hisses, glaring daggers at Aurelia.
Aurelia cowers under her aunt's lethal gaze.
"Thank you, Severus, Lyra," Dumbledore says firmly effectively shutting them up. He looks down at Aurelia and Harry, asking: "Did either of you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?"
They both shake their heads.
"No," Harry says earning a snort of impatient disbelief from Professor Snape.
"No, sir," Aurelia says, from the corner of her eye she sees Lyra roll her eyes.
"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you," Dumbledore asks.
"No," Harry insists.
"Wait — wait, you mean you made an age restriction but you didn't think to do something from stopping older students putting in names for younger students?" Aurelia asks in complete disbelief, "Do you know how fucked that is! Do you know how many older students hate me — Roseburke! Warrington! Aldridge! — and do you know how many older students hate Harry! Most of these students come from Death-Eater families and they didn't have an age restriction to worry about!: Warrington! Wilkes! Wiltmire! I didn't ask an older student to put my name in but for all we fucking know, they could've done it without my permission! Same goes with Harry," Aurelia exclaims, her chest heaving up and down quickly with every breath she takes.
"Ah! Of course zey are lying," Madam Maxime cries angrily.
"Listen, lady —" Aurelia begins to snap but she's cut off my Professor McGonagall.
"They could not have crossed the Age Line," Professor McGonagall says sharply. "I am sure we are all agreed on that —"
"Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line," Madame Maxime counters, shrugging.
"It is possible, of course," Dumbledore says politely.
"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake," Professor Sprout exclaims, patting Aurelia's back as she lets out little shaky sobs here and there.
"Really, what nonsense! Harry nor Aurelia could not have crossed the line themselves, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that they did not persuade an older student to do it for them, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else," McGonagall says angrily, shooting Lyra and Snape dirty looks.
"Mr. Crouch . . . Mr. Bagman, you are our — er — objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular," Karkaroff questions, uncertainly.
"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," Mr. Crouch says curtly.
Aurelia dissolves into tears — I'm going to fucking die!
Professor Sprout pats her shoulder "There, there. Dear, don't cry."
She only cries harder.
The room bursts into an argument, complete and utter chaos. It only gets worse when Moody steps in. The newest professor accuses Karkaroff of putting Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire, the second person to completely disregard the fact that Aurelia's name had been entered too, the first being Bagman.
Karkaroff, to Aurelia's knowledge, could've been a Death-Eater, she remembers her dad mentioning that name once or twice to Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson. But, he had been one of the few to escape an Azkaban sentence, so Aurelia really can't see Karkaroff risking his freedom to have a go at Harry, fourteen years after his 'master' had died.
"You could've put Harry's name in the goblet," Aurelia speaks up giving Moody a dark look. She says this mostly out of spite for how he's treated her, there's no real belief in her words but she wants to have a go at him, someway, somehow. She inhales sharply, waving her arms about with a dramatic flare "How do we know you're even the real Moody?"
Everyone, including Aurelia misses Moody's eyes flashing dangerously at this remark, Aurelia continues her angry rant through tears: "It wouldn't be the first time we've had Voldemort disguised as a professor. Hell, you could've put my name in the goblet, you seem to really hate me and my family!"
Moody glances at Harry with his glass eyes, ignoring as Aurelia as he says: "I don't see Potter complaining."
Aurelia narrows her red eyes, this bitch definitely put my name in the goblet. He's got a good motive, that being to stop her from turning out to be as crazy and evil as the rest of her family, there's an eighty percent chance that she'll die in this tournament. But, who put Harry's name in it? Moody, if he really is Moody — there hasn't really been any proof that he's not Moody so she can't really say he's not — wouldn't want Harry Potter of all people in this tournament.
"Why should zey complain," Fleur Delacour cries out, stamping her foot. "'Zey 'ave ze chance to compete, 'aven't ze? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money — zis is a chance many would die for!"
"Mhm, sweetie, not to sound snobby or anything but next to Viktor, I'm probably the richest bitch in this entire room. I've got three of the biggest vaults in Gringotts at my disposal," Aurelia says, if she hadn't been crying when she had say that, she would've praised herself for being a sassy little shit but, no, instead she sounds like a sensitive little shit.
"Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it," Moody says.
"Did or did my name not get spit up by that goblet? As much as I hate the fact I have to participate in this tournament, I am part of it. And someone could be hopin' that I end up dead too," Aurelia exclaims, wiping tears from her eyes.
The room falls silent for a moment, Aurelia sniffles as she hugs her lanky arms around her waist. Fuck, all she wanted is one — one damn peaceful year at Hogwarts! If she survives this damned tournament, if, she's made up her mind, she's dropping out of Hogwarts! She's had enough of this shit.
First being sorted into Hufflepuff, which isn't a problem now but it did lead to her saying she didn't want to be a Malfoy anymore and her parents agreeing that it's best that she move out and into Mae's care. Then the whole her finding Tom — Tim? Riddle's diary in Ginny's possession and trying to save Ginny from Voldemort's dark magic which resulted in her getting petrified by a glorified giant magic snake. And in third year she got attacked by a Dementor, only once unlike Harry who was tormented by them, but the fact it even happened to her was bullshit. Why do bad things always happen to her, she's not the worst person, she doesn't deserve this. She's so tired of it.
"We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime," Karkaroff says loudly, "Apparently he is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt you had your reasons."
"Imagining things, am I," Moody growls, "Seeing things, eh? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the boy's name in that goblet."
"Ah, what evidence is zere of zat," Madame Maxime questions, throwing up her huge hands.
"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object," Moody say, "It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament. . . . I'm guessing they submitted Potter's name under a fourth school and Malfoy under a fifth, to make sure they were only ones in their category."
Aurelia narrows her eyes suspiciously "You seem to know a lot —"
"You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody!" Karkaroff remarks coldly, "And a very ingenious theory it is — though of course, I heard you recently got it into your head that one of your birthday presents contained a cunningly disguised basilisk egg, and smashed it to pieces before realizing it was a carriage clock. So you'll understand if we don't take you entirely seriously!"
"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage," Moody retorts in a menacing voice, "It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff — as you ought to remember!"
"Alastor," Dumbledore says warningly, both Karkaroff and Moody fall silent.
"How this situation arose, we do not know. It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Cedric, Aurelia, and Harry have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. Therefore, the three will do," Dumbledore says.
Aurelia inhales sharply, the room starts spinning again. She won't last a second in this tournament, Merlin, she doesn't want to die.
"Ah, but Dumbly-dorr —"
"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it."
Madame Maxime says nothing, merely glaring, she's not the only one though; everyone except for Bagman looked positively livid.
"Well, shall we crack on, then," Bagman says, rubbing his hands together and smiling around the room, "Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honors?"
"Yes," Mr. Crouch says, blinking, "Instructions. Yes . . . The first task. The first task 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."
"Ah, that's great to hear, I've got to compete in a deadly tournament against my will but — hey, ha ha, ha, at least I don't got to do my exams," Aurelia scoffs sarcastically, rolling her teary eyes.
Upon finishing the instructions, Crouch turns to Dumbledore "I think that is all, Albus."
Aurelia looks to Professor Sprout, swallowing the lump in her throat "P — professor?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Can I — I leave now?"
Sprout pats her back "In a few minutes, you must wait until you're dismissed."
Aurelia sighs tiredly, wiping more tears from her eyes.
"Lyra," Sprout whispers to the younger professor.
Lyra raises an eyebrow "Yes, Pomona?"
"Go write to Maeve Macleod, Remus Lupin, and . . . I'm sorry to ask this of you but, your sister."
Aurelia glances at them, she gets why Professor Sprout wants her aunt to write to her mum and Mae but, Remus?
Lyra looks so offended "You want me to write to her? I —"
"Do you want her to find out through the paper," Sprout counters.
Lyra scowls then huffs "I doubt, the wretch'll answer any letter from me."
"Let her know it's about Aurelia on the envelope and she will," Sprout says, patting Aurelia's back still.
Aurelia's somehow even more confused. Her mum's not gonna care if it's about her or not, her mum's hardly contacted her since Aurelia disowned herself from the Malfoys and had taken her mum's maiden name as her own.
"No," Lyra says after a moment, her grey eyes shining with unshed tears "I'm not writing to her, she ruined my life, Pomona, and so did —"
"That's enough, Lyra, don't write to her then," Sprout says.
"I'll let Remus handle the wretch, since —" Lyra cuts herself off, a few tears slide down her cheeks as she shakes her head. "She gets everything," She mutters under her breath then stalks out of the chamber, much to Aurelia's confusion.
What's Remus go to do with this?
Madam Maxime and Professor Karkaroff leave the chamber, dragging their champions with them. This distracts Aurelia from her pondering as she's once again hit with the realisation that she's a fucking Triwizard champion. She holds back a sob as Dumbledore dismisses, her, Harry, and Cedric.
"Harry, Cedric, Aurelia, I suggest you go to bed. I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise," Dumbeldore tells them.
Aurelia swallows thickly, bewildered that he could possibly think that she wants to celebrate this. But, she along with Cedric, nods her head. The three of them leave together, venturing back up to the Great Hall which is deserted save for Neville, who perks up when he sees Aurelia.
"Ari! Harry! Have they fixed everything," He questions, stumbling over to them.
Harry shakes his head numbly and Aurelia lets out a loud sob, Neville's hopeful expression falters "W — what happened?"
"We've got to compete," Harry says blankly.
"Yeah, we've got to compete against each other." Cedric says with a slight smile and Aurelia can't understand how he's smiling at a moment like this.
Neville's eyes widen as he looks at Aurelia who's once again dissolved into tears. Harry and Cedric leave her behind with Neville. Aurelia hears Cedric ask Harry how he really got his name in the goblet; Neville pulls her into a tight hug and Harry's response is muffled by Neville's jumper which her ear is pressed against.
"Are you alright," Neville asks, softly stroking her white curls as Aurelia cries into his jumper. Maybe, it's not the best question to ask but, he know's she'd much rather have him ask that than tell her that everything's going to be fine.
"This is real fine! Everythin' is fine and nothing is wrong in this world," Aurelia replies, her tone hysterical.
Not the answer he's looking for, he raises an eyebrow "Then why are you having an emotional breakdown?"
"I'm not," She denies shrilly, sobbing loudly yet again.
"Ari, do — do you really have to do this?"
"Yes," She wails, body shaking violently as she does so, "Oh, Merlin! I'm not prepared for this! I can't do this, Neville, I'm goin' to die! I'm just a child, I don't know what to do! I can't do this! I can't!"
Sweet Merlin, Aurelia's terrified.
"Yes, you can. You're Aurelia Black, and you can do anything! If you can fight off Gwendoline Goyle then you can do this!"
Aurelia shakes her head, clinging to him "No, Neville, not this. Not — no. I really can't do this."
"You can, I promise, you can do this because you already know so much about this tournament, you've read all about it, it — it's not always the same but sometimes they do pretty similar things, right? You just need to look for clues, look for spells. I — know it's scary but you're not alone. You've got me, you've got Cedric, and Harry. I'll be right by your side, through out this entire thing. You can count on me, Sunflower Girl," Neville reassures her.
Aurelia hugs him tightly, crying into his shoulder "I'm not ready for this!"
"I know, none of us were," Neville mumbles, "You don't have to win this thing, Ari, you've just got to survive."
"Some — someone put me in there because they want me dead!" Aurelia sobs, "They don't want me to survive, they — they aren't expectin' me to survive."
"Then . . . Then, prove them wrong."
Aurelia blinks, surprised at this "W — w — what?"
Neville turns red "Well, you say they put you in there to hurt you because they think it'll work, so show them that you — that it won't. Show them you can beat this — I know you can, but they don't. Prove them wrong, survive this, hell, win it!" Neville's eyes are wide as he gives her shoulders a little shake of encouragement "You can do this, Ari, you're smart, you're quick, you know how to fight! If anyone can win this tournament, it's you."
Aurelia breathes heavily, her eyes wide. He actually thinks I can win this? He actually thinks I can survive this?
"Do more than survive — win."
He's right. As terrified as she is, and as much as she doesn't want anything to do with this tournament, she's got to win — or at least survive it. Someone clearly put her in this tournament with the intentions of watching her be killed, they obviously think that she's weak — and, hey, they might be right but, what's that to stop her from proving that fucker wrong. Although she doubts that she can.
"You really think I can," She asks Neville uncertainly.
He nods his head, firmly saying: "I know you can."