Bold*- parstletounge
Italics - thoughts
"Normal"- speech and narrative
Chapter 58: The Goblet Of Fire
30/10/1994
~~~~~~~~~
Cassandra broke the eye contact to look up at the staff table, where Filch was adding chairs: two on either side of Dumbledore's.
When all the students had settled down at their House tables the staff entered, them too, 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. The Beauxbatons were unembarrassed, however, and did not resume their seats until Madame Maxime had sat down on Dumbledore's left-hand side.
Cassandra smiled at the custom, and the respect they clearly had for the woman.
Dumbledore remained standing and, as always, silence fell over the Great Hall. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and, most particularly, guests!"
The Hogwarts headmaster was 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. I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!"
He sat down and Cassandra rolled her eyes as she saw Karkaroff lean forward and engage him in conversation almost instantly.
The plates in front of them filled with food as usual. 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, including several that were favourites of the foreign students.
"Cass! You have to try bouillabaisse!" Stated Daphne. "It's one of mine and Tori's favourites, right sis?"
The group heard a muffled assent and looked to see Astoria with her mouth full of the French dish. They laughed and all scooped some onto their plates.
"Pst look!" Blaise hissed, pointing towards the Gryffindor table. Cassandra raised her head and saw Fleur stood talking to a practically drooling Weasley.
"The idiot, what the hell does he think she is?! A slab of meat?!"
Pansy, Astoria and Daphne snorted, rolling their eyes as they saw most of the boys from their school staring at her the same way: as she returned to her seat.
Granger looked to berating Potter and Weasley and then pointed at the staff table, making Cass look up there as well .
The two remaining empty seats had just been filled. Ludo Bagman was now sitting on Professor Karkaroff's other side, whilst Bartemius Crouch Sr was next to Madame Maxime. Cassandra glanced at Mad-Eye and he gave her a small smirk. She knew that he would not last the year.
As a matter of fact it was Cassandra's mission to not let Karkaroff live til the years end either. After all it had been him that had ratted out her Zio and got him thrown in Azkaban.
She'd have to wait until the tournament was over, but that was fine for her - as long as he met his untimely end.
Dessert was delicious and once their plates had been wiped, Dumbledore stood up again. An exciting sort of tension seemed to fill the Hall now. Cass felt a bout of nerves but it was quickly covered with immense enthusiasm.
"The moment has come," said Dumbledore, smiling at everyone. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the casket, just to clarify the procedure that we will be following this year."
He looked out at them all. "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 polite applause, "and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."
There was a much louder round of applause for Bagman than for Crouch, most likely because of his fame as a Beater - maybe just because he looked more likable.
He acknowledged his greeting with a jovial wave of his hand. Crouch did not smile or wave when his name was announced.
"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."
At the mention of the word 'champions' Cassandra noticed everyone sit up sharper. Perhaps Dumbledore must have noticed, for he smiled and simply said, "The casket, then, if you please, Mr. Filch."
Filch approached Dumbledore carrying a great wooden chest encrusted with jewels.
A murmur of excitement and interest rose from the watching students.
"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."
Cassandra paled slightly as she looked at Cedric's determined face across the hall.
"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament - 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 took out his wand and tapped it three times on the top of the casket. The lid creaked slowly open. He reached inside it and pulled out a large wooden cup that was full to the brim with dancing blue/white flames.
The headmaster closed the casket and placed the goblet carefully on top of it, where it would be visible 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 will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete."
Cass smirked to herself.
"To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation," said 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."
She could hear the Carrow twins muttering to each other quickly; clearly planning a way to get past it. A glance at the Gryffindor table showed Fred and George doing the same thing.
"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered 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."
He surveyed the hall. "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."
———
31/10/1994
As the next day was Saturday, most students would normally have breakfast late. However Cassandra and her friends were not the only ones rising earlier than they usually did on weekends.
As soon as they got to the entrance hall, they saw about twenty people standing around it, some eating toast, but all examining the Goblet of Fire. It had been placed in the center of the hall on the stool that normally bore the Sorting Hat. A thin golden line could be seen on the floor, forming a circle ten feet around the cup in every direction.
"Anyone put their name in yet?" Cass asked Hestia Carrow, who was now back from the hospital wing after spouting a beard, along with her sister.
"All the Durmstrang lot," she 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," said Malcom, who was with them. "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?"
A laugh sounded behind them, "don't you worry little man, it wouldn't have done that!"
Cassandra smiled, "Freddie! Georgie!" She engulfed them in a hug. "Why are you guys in such a good mood?"
"What do you mean love?"
"Yeah! We're always in a good mood!"
She laughed. "No but seriously!"
"Alright, we give! We made an aging potion, whipped it up last night to get past that stupid line!"
"You know it's not going to work right?"
Fred put a finger to her lips, "shh love, don't ruin the moment!"
"Urgh, fine, but it's your funeral!"
"Ready Fred?"
"Ready George!"
"Bottoms up!" They said together as the gulped down the potion. They then looked at each other before jumping into the line.
Nothing happened and the boys grinned at each other. They both nodded to their mirror image and placed the piece of paper, with their names and school on, into the goblet.
As nothing happened after a few seconds the boys grinned, high-fiving each other and giving the other a hug.
Suddenly there was a loud sizzling sound, and both Fred and George were hurled out of the golden circle, flames from the goblet shooting out everywhere, the pieces of paper being spat out and getting disintegrated in the process.
The boys landed painfully, ten feet away on the cold stone floor sporting identical long, white beards.
The entrance hall rang with laughter. Even Fred and George joined in, once they had gotten to their feet and taken a good look at each other.
"I did warn you," said an amused voice. Everyone turned to see Professor Dumbledore coming out of the Great Hall.
He surveyed Fred and George, his eyes twinkling. "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 like as fine as yours."
Cassie giggled as the twins set off for the hospital wing, sticking their tongues out at her as they went, before she entered the Great Hall for breakfast.
The decorations had changed since last night as it was Halloween. The usual live bats was fluttering around the enchanted ceiling, while hundreds of carved pumpkins leered from every corner.
Cassandra looked over at a grinning Warrington as she sat down and called out to him. "Hey Cassius! What's the grinning for?"
"Shut the hell up Riddle!" Retorted Adrian Pucey, who had had a grudge with her since her first year.
"Be quite Adrian!" Cassius stated. "To answer your question Riddle, I got up early and put my name in the goblet!"
"That's great! Wouldn't it be amusing if the Hogwarts champion was a Slytherin!" Cassie smirked and the boy grinned back before turning to talk to Adrian about manners.
"All the Hufflepuffs are talking about is Diggory," said Gregory. "Do you know if he's put his name in yet Cass?"
She paled slightly, "he's not yet, but he will do today - there's no doubt in that."
"Listen!" said Vincent suddenly. "What's that noise?!"
People were cheering out in the entrance hall. They all swiveled around in their seats and saw Angelina Johnson from Gryffindor coming into the Hall, grinning in an embarrassed sort of way.
The group turned back. "Well she's clearly put her name in hasn't she? Bet the Gryffindorks love that!" Stated Draco venomously.
———
"What're we going to do today, then?" Blaise asked the group when they had finished breakfast and left the Great Hall.
"Me and Astoria are going to hang out with Fleur and Val to catch up with them. Fleur also said her sister, Gabrielle, is here!"
"Mind if I join? I want to talk more with Fleur." Blaise asked, earning a nod from Daphne.
"Me, Theo and Pansy are going to chill in the library for a bit." Stated Draco, whilst Vince and Greg stated they would be in the common room.
"What about you Cass?"
"I have my private lesson with Moody."
"Okay! Good luck - and be careful!"
She grinned and bid them goodbye, just as the Beauxbatons students entered and started to place each of their names, one by one, into the goblet.
Cassandra hadn't told her friends that Professor Moody was actually her Uncle Barty. She had wanted to keep it to herself, at least for a tiny bit longer. Cass knew it was a bit selfish but she couldn't help herself. She would eventually tell them, but now was not that time.
As she reached Moody's office she knocked the secret code from when she was young and heard her Uncle's voice call out to her. She entered the room and immediately embraced him into a hug.
"Did you do it?!" She asked as they seated themselves down, firewhiskey in hand.
"Yup, did it last night. When those names exit that cup no one will be prepared for what comes next!"
"And there is no possible way that he will be able to not compete?"
"No, it is binding - if he doesn't compete he will die!"
"Excellent! Let the games begin..."
———
Cassandra and Barty chatted until it grew dark. It was now time for the feast, and the announcement of the school champions.
Barty downed another bout of Polyjuice potion, turning into Moody, before the two made their way to the Great Hall.
When they entered it it was almost full. Cass joined the Slytherins whilst Moody made his way up to the teachers table.
The Goblet of Fire had been moved; it was now standing in front of Dumbledore's empty chair.
"Hope it's Cassius," said Draco as Cassie sat down next to him.
"Same, we could really do with some more Slytherin wins around the castle" said Cass. Plus I really don't want Cedric in danger, she added in her head.
The Halloween feast seemed to take much longer than usual. Like everyone else in the Hall, judging by the craning necks and impatient expressions, Cassandra just wanted the plates to clear and to hear who had been selected.
At long last, the golden plates were spotless and there was a sharp bout of noise which stopped as soon as Dumbledore got to his feet. On either side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone. Bagman was beaming and winking at students, whilst Crouch looked quite uninterested: almost 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 indicated the door behind the staff table, "where they will be receiving their first instructions."
He took out his wand and gave it a wave. At once, all the candles, except those inside the carved pumpkins, were extinguished. The Goblet of Fire now shone more brightly than anything in the entire Hall.
Everyone was checking their watches, and Cassandra was on the edge of her seat. "Any second now..."
The flames inside the goblet suddenly turned red, and sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a line of flames shot into the air, a scorched piece of parchment fluttered out of it - the whole room held their breaths.
Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm's length, so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue/white.
"The champion for Durmstrang," he read, in a strong, clear voice, "will be Viktor Krum."
Cassandra wished him congratulations as a storm of applause and cheering swept the Hall. Viktor rose from the Slytherin table and he turned right, walked along the staff table, and disappeared through the door into the next chamber.
"Bravo, Viktor!" boomed Karkaroff, so loudly that everyone could hear him, even over all the applause. "Knew you had it in you!"
Cassie rolled her eyes at the nerve of the man.
The clapping and chatting died down.
Now everyone's attention was focused again on the goblet, which, seconds later, turned red once more. A second piece of parchment shot out of it.
"The champion for Beauxbatons," said Dumbledore, "is Fleur Delacour!"
Cassandra grabbed Daphne's hand as she saw the girl pale slightly, and saw Daphne was clutching Blaise's hand too. They all cheered, along with the rest of the hall as Fleur shook back her silvery blonde hair, and swept up between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.
When she too had vanished into the side chamber, silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff with excitement you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion was next...
Cassandra tensed, squeezing Daphne's hand vigorously.
The Goblet of Fire turned red once more; sparks showered out of it; the line of flames shot high into the air, and from its tip Dumbledore pulled the third piece of parchment.
"The Hogwarts champion," he called, "is Cedric Diggory!"
The uproar from the Hufflepuff table was deafening. Every single Hufflepuff had jumped to his or her feet, screaming and stamping. Cassandra didn't know what to do, she was happy for him - but the danger he now faced... it was frightening.
As Cedric made his way past his cheering table, grinning broadly, and headed off toward the chamber behind the teachers' table; he caught Cass's eye. She gave him a weak smile but her pale face stood out more to him.
He quickly legged it over to her and pulled her into a hug. "I'll be alright Cass, don't you worry! With you cheering me on, how could I not be?"
Cedric then gave her a kiss on the cheek and went through the doors like the other two students before him.
The applause for him went on so long that it was some time before Dumbledore could make himself heard again.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore called happily as at last the cheers 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-"
But Dumbledore suddenly stopped speaking.
The fire in the goblet had just turned red again. Sparks were flying out of it. A long bout of flames shot suddenly into the air, and, upon it, was another piece of parchment.
Automatically, the headmaster reached out and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written upon it.
Cassandra grinned at the look of pure shock on his face.
There was a long pause and Dumbledore continued to stare at the slip in his hands.
Everyone else was staring at him.
Someone cleared their throat, Cass had a feeling it was Moody, and Dumbledore snapped out of his frozen state.
He looked up at the students and spoke the words Cassandra had been anxiously waiting for.
"Harry Potter."
