There was a strong quiver of excitement as we all sat at our tables waiting for the announcement of the champions. Now beardless, Fred and George were saying that if I didn't get it, they'd be severely disappointed in me, that it would be all my fault and that the entirety of Gryffindor house's honour rested upon my shoulders as a means to try and make me feel uncomfortable, but I was calm as a cucumber. In fact they were both made to shut up when Durmstrang came in and several of the boys actually pointed at me and waved, calling my name. This actually made a lot of students turn and stare but I just smiled and waved back. I'm guessing there will be a lot more language students signing up next year. Professor Whittle will be pleased.

"Why are they being all friendly with you?" George asked me suspiciously as I waved off a bat which had fluttered too close to my head for my liking.

"I talked to them at breakfast." Fred's jaw dropped.

"You talked to them?"

"Yes Fred, you know, with words and stuff? They're actually all rather nice." Fred, however, scoffed in disbelief and made a point at scowling at them all. I ignored him, focusing on finishing my food though I didn't touch as much as I normally would. My stomach was now starting to twist in rather uncomfortable knots. The wait was almost unbearable, stretching out as if enjoying the fact that practically everyone in the room was hardly able to focus on anything other than the fact that it was almost time to select the champions. Eventually the plates were cleared of all food and Dumbledore rose to his feet, creating a solemn and reverent silence as he stepped forwards and peered at the Goblet.

"Well, the Goblet is almost ready to make its decision. 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, where they will be receiving their first instructions." With that, Dumbledore waved his wand to extinguish all the candles in the room save for the floating pumpkins to plunge the Great Hall into an intense gloom. The bright white of the Goblet flames became all the brighter, the only sound the crackle from the embers.

"Any second now." Lee whispered to me, observing his watch to count down the moments. Suddenly the white flames turned ruby red, causing everyone to gasp as it then spurted, blooming brilliantly before spitting out the first charred piece of parchment which Dumbledore smartly caught as it floated down to him. Adjusting his spectacles, he then spoke.

"The champion of Durmstrang…will be Viktor Krum!" A roar of approval arose from practically everyone present as Krum got to his feet and approached Dumbledore, shaking his hand briefly before then slouching away. No sooner had he disappeared, the Goblet turned bright red and spat out the next name on the parchment it selected. "The champion for Beauxbatons…is Fleur Delacour!" The girl who had a rather strong magnetic effect on boys stood, graciously smiling whilst her fellow students either cried our pouted. This was it, Hogwarts was next. It seemed to take longer this time, as if the Goblet were still deliberating over its decision until finally, the flames released the final slip of parchment.

I thought it rather looked like mine, but of course that was ridiculous. Everyone was probably thinking the same thing, and the parchment all looked the same, and yet everyone was now leaning forwards intently. Fred and George were gripping my shoulders tightly, holding their breath as Dumbledore plucked the floating parchment slip out of the air then unfolded it carefully. "The Hogwarts champion…" The tight knot of nerves were going crazy in my gut, and I suddenly wished I hadn't eaten anything at all. "…is Euphemia Black!"

"YES!" All of Gryffindor exploded the moment my name was called, roaring and stamping their feet as they screamed. The twins suddenly lifted me up and actually threw me into the air, making me cry out in alarm, flailing slightly before they caught me again. Ron and Harry were beaming, Hermione excitedly clapping and jumping on the spot as I wrestled myself free from the twins, knocked my fist over their heads lightly, high fived Lee then finally strode up towards the high table. I could even see McGonagall smiling freely at me, making no motion to calm down her house students.

"Well done, Mia." Dumbledore murmured to me, though the noise was so loud I could only tell what he said from watching his lips move.

"Thank you sir." I responded, still smiling as I shook his head. As I turned around, I could see the Durmstrang students had also stood up to applaud, so I sent a grateful nod in their direction before heading off to where the other champions were waiting, a fresh wave of victory and success flooding through me as I went. The other two were standing before a large fire, turning when they heard me descending the stairs.

"Mia, you vere chosen?" Krum blinked at me then gave a small smile. "Good, this is good."

"Congratulations to you both too." I responded, looking towards the Beauxbatons girl who was hugging her waist and looking rather nervous but trying to hide it behind a tense smile. I thought that was it, everything had been decided, but then a minute or so later, I heard someone else come down the stairs. To my surprise, it was Harry. "Harry? What's wrong?" Seeing his face I immediately recognised that something was up. He was white as a sheet and looking as if he'd just faced a dementor without a wand.

"What is it?" The girl, Fleur, questioned with a toss of her long silvery blonde hair. "Do zey want us back in ze hall?" But Harry just stood there, staring at the three of us and was unable to speak. I started towards him, wanting to understand what was wrong but then the doors were flung open and a swirl of yellow and black robes came sweeping in, Ludo Bagman of all people.

"Extraordinary!" He proclaimed, looking extremely pleased about something. "Absolutely extraordinary! Ladies…gentleman…may I introduce – incredible though it may seem – the fourth Triwizard champion?" Immediately I exclaimed in protest, unable to believe it. Krum stood upright abruptly as Fleur laughed girlishly, thinking it was all a joke. "Joke? No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"

"That can't be true." I insisted, my face now contorting into a frowning scowl at Bagman. "Harry's underage, there's no way he could have put his name in that Goblet."

"Well…it is amazing, but as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra security 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…" Hearing Bagman go on like that, I was furious. How could anyone expect Harry to participate in all this? Dumbledore explicitly said that the tasks were highly dangerous and it was unlikely anyone underage would be successful. Dumbledore…he has to put a stop to this!

Speak of the devil, he had just pushed open the door and was moving swiftly down the stairs with a hoard of people at his heel. At the sight of her headmistress, Fleur swept over to her in order to complain about the fact that Harry was being made to participate. Everyone was in a confusion as I moved to stand beside Harry, sharing a look with him. He looked so shocked by it all that there was no doubt in my mind that Harry did not put his name in that Goblet.

"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?"

"I'd rather like to know that myself." Karkaroff agreed as he bared his teeth in what could have passed as a smile, if it weren't for the fact that his eyes were blazing at the rest of us and his face had contracted in something akin to a sneer. "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions, or have I not read the rules carefully enough?"

"C'est impossible. 'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most unjust."

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger students, Dumbledore. Otherwise, we would of course have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools." Snape was the next to speak, and although his voice was quiet and almost gentle, his eyes glinted maliciously as if he were thoroughly enjoying himself.

"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff. 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." Remaining calm and composed, perhaps the only person in the room to remain so, Dumbledore focused on Harry as McGonagall and myself stood behind him. "Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" He adamantly answered no. "Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" Ignoring everyone else as he continued to focus on Harry, he once again answered no with greater tone of insistency.

"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!"

"He could not have crossed the Age Line." McGonagall responded quickly and sternly, shooting a glare towards Madame Maxime as she placed a hand over my shoulder. "I am sure we are all agreed on that…" But Madame Maxime was adamant that Dumbledore must have made a mistake with the Age Line, which I took as a personal insult.

"Professor Dumbledore would never make such a mistake!" I argued hotly, my temper flaring as all eyes suddenly turned on me as I glowered at the giantess woman. "I saw it work with my own eyes, two of my best friends walked away from it with beards." Rounding on Bagman and Crouch, I started on them next. "I was led to believe this was an event that had been carefully and scrupulously planned for months! Are you telling me that you had no other security measures to watch the Goblet? Anyone with malicious intent could have put a younger student's name in, and you just left it standing there?! Harry can't participate! It's too dangerous!"

"That's enough, Miss Black. Please calm yourself." Dumbledore said to me kindly, giving me a smile as if appreciating the fact that I defended him. Bagman was shifting uncomfortably, unused to being scolded by someone as young as me, probably, or feeling guilty that they had left such an oversight in the planning. Karkaroff turned to our ministry representatives, asking if they agreed that this was all highly irregular. For a long while neither of them spoke, though Bagman was looking intently at Crouch as if hoping for him to make the final decision, which after a long deliberation he did.

"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."

"No!" I gaped, unable to believe my ears as Bagman said cheerfully that Crouch knew the rules better than anyone.

"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students. You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore." Karkaroff demanded but Bagman tried to explain that the fire had already gone out and it was too late to resubmit as it wouldn't light again until the next tournament. "In which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing! After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"

"Empty threat, Karkaroff." Jumping slightly at the sound of Moody's voice, I turned to see him standing by the door. "You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?" I frowned at that, as did Karkaroff and several others as Moody came limping down the stairs.

"Convenient? I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody."

"Don't you? It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter's name in that Goblet of Fire knowing he'd have to compete if it came out." Karkaroff and Madame Maxime argued, saying that this was all only to give Hogwarts twice the chance to win the tournament, Karkaroff even announcing he was going to lodge a formal complaint. "If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Potter, but funny thing…I don't hear him saying a word."

"Why should 'e complain? 'E 'as ze chance to compete, 'asn't 'e? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honour for our schools! A thousand galleons in prize money…zis is a chance many would die for!" Fleur stomped her foot angrily and looked like she was on the verge of tears.

"Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it." I tensed all the more, looking at Harry in alarm.

"Professor, you can't possibly let Harry compete. He…he wasn't the one who put the name into the Goblet, surely that means he didn't agree to the binding contract, right? He doesn't have to participate…"

"I am afraid that's not how it works, young lady." Crouch said to me as I desperately searched for answers.

"He is fourteen! You cannot, absolutely cannot expect him to go through with this! He's been through enough already! Harry. Do you even want to participate in this tournament?" I looked at him and he mutely yet firmly shook his head, though looked a little too terrified to actually speak as everyone was still glaring at him. "See? I cannot believe between all of you adults here and all the brains, the only answer you can see is to force him to cooperate!"

"Miss Black, I really must insist that you try to rein in your temper." Dumbledore said to me, a little more strongly this time to warn me not to go too far. "I know that you care a great deal about Harry's welfare, but unfortunately, brilliant as I am, my hands are tied in this." I argued further, though I kept my temper under control like I'd been told. I suggested making some concessions to the rules, allowing Harry more help. I offered to team up with him for a point deduction to set us back in order to make it fair, I said everything I could to try and help Harry out of this, but Crouch insisted that the rules were clear and that they could not be changed.

"Rules! No wonder I break them all the time." I muttered under my breath, feeling McGonagall squeeze my shoulder tightly to keep me under control. Meanwhile, Moody had been arguing with Karkaroff, saying that only a very skilled Dark Wizard could have put Harry's name in the Goblet as it would have required a powerful Confundus Charm to trick the Goblet of Fire in the first place. Eventually Dumbledore cut across everyone, his calm yet domineering voice instantly calling everyone to attention.

"How this situation arose, we do not know. It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Euphemia and Harry have been chosen to compete in the tournament. This, therefore, they will do." Again Madame Maxime began to protest, so Dumbledore turned his smiling face up to hers. "My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it." But she had none, so instead she fell silent. The only person who actually seemed thrilled about this new development was Bagman, who pressed that we should all continue.

"Well, shall we crack on then? Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honours?" Blinking himself awake, Crouch nodded his head as he turned around.

"Yes, instructions…the first task." Closing his eyes for a moment to clear his throat, he then looked at us in turn. "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." Well, that was something at least. "I think that's all, is it Albus?"

"I think so." Dumbledore agreed smoothly as I took several deep breaths to try and clear my head. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"

"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the ministry. It is a very busy and difficult time at the moment, I've left young Weatherby in charge…very enthusiastic…a little over-enthusiastic, if truth be told." Despite everything, I couldn't suppress a faint smile at the mention of Percy, who even according to his boss tried way too hard to impress. Wait until I tell Fred and George, they'll love that. At this point all conversation and arguments had ceased, Fleur and Krum being taken away haughtily by their respective heads and Dumbledore suggested that Harry and I go up to bed, as no doubt our house was waiting to celebrate with us.

"Professors…is there really nothing we can do?" I asked Dumbledore and McGonagall quietly as Harry started to leave, holding myself back for a moment. "Harry didn't do it, I know he didn't, this is all…"

"I know, Mia. I know. Harry is not the type to be reckless, unlike a certain young lady I know." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled at me warmly and I couldn't help but give a faint smile.

"Of you go Miss Black, and might I add my congratulations to you…and Mr Potter too I suppose. I am very pleased that Gryffindor will be the house earning glory for its school." Now I smiled further at McGonagall, who clearly announced she fully believed that one of us would be the one to win. Nodding my head, I chased after Harry in order to walk back with him slowly, seeing that his thoughts were deeply wrapped up.

"So…how do you feel?"

"I didn't put my name…"

"I know Harry, I'm not an idiot. Quite frankly, you look like you're about to be sick. Or faint. Or both. Either way, you don't look pretty." I told him bluntly as he continued to frown. "Don't worry, no one's going to let you get hurt in this. I'll be there and Dumbledore will be watching closely. We'll make sure that whoever put your name in that Goblet can't get to you. I just don't understand why. Who'd want you in this tournament? What's their end game? What's the point? I mean, if they wanted to bump you off, there are simpler ways of going about it, you know."

"Thanks Mia, that makes me feel so much better." Wincing slightly as I realised that probably wasn't very subtle of me, I tried to cover up my mistake and raise his spirits as best I could.

"But hey, Karkaroff and Maxime were right about one thing. Now Hogwarts has double the chance to win this tournament, and either way it'll be a Gryffindor victory. Sounds good to me, I like those odds. I mean, you and I fought a basilisk before. What's the worst they could throw at us? Though technically, you were the one doing most of the fighting, waving that sword around and all…I just cheered from the side lines mostly." This had a much better effect, making Harry lift his head and attempt to smile at me. "At least if they make us fight another basilisk, we'll know what to do. I wonder if Dumbledore would lend us Fawkes and the sword again? If not, I'm sure we can think of something."

"Well, at least you believe me about all this. I have no idea what everyone else's going to think. Probably that I'm trying to steal all the fame and glory from you or something." Harry said to me so I clapped him on the back.

"If they do, then send them my way and I'll give them a good hammering. Just keep your chin up. We'll get through this, you and me. Just think of it was the Marauder's getting back into action, our dads would want us to look out for each other. If you watch my back, I might throw a glance your way every now and then. Perhaps. It is a competition after all, so no hard feelings if I leave you hanging." Now laughing, Harry and I then quietly discussed the possibilities for the first task, since Crouch had hardly given away any clues about it whatsoever.

In any case, by the time we got to the Fat Lady, she was eagerly awaiting us with one of her portrait friends who must have already brought her the news as she smiled at us knowingly. "Well, well, look at our champions!"

"Balderdash." I said dryly, not interested in standing here talking. She let us through, and immediately we were both dragged inside to a round of applause. Banners and scarves were being held aloft and waved around, everyone celebrating as the twins demanded to know Harry got his name into the Goblet without receiving a beard. Harry's face soon plummeted. I was perfectly up for a party and celebration, but I could see that Harry wanted to be alone for a while. He tried repeatedly to go up to his room but kept on getting pulled back, so in the end I grabbed his arm and thrust him up onto the stairs then blocked the way. "Run for it."

"Thanks Mia." Tossing a wink over my shoulder, I then punched the air and yelled loudly.

"GUESS WHO'S A CHAMPION!" Everyone roared heartily in reply.