Pyotr had been waiting for this moment all week. Finally, it was time for the feast and the announcement of the Triwizard Champions. He had been keeping track of everyone who entered their name in the Goblet, sizing up all possible opponents and evening out all of the pros and cons.
He walked nervously in to the entrance hall, fidgeting with nerves. Nobody knew he had entered, that girl had kept her promise. He hoped the champions would be announced before they ate, so that he didn't throw up his food.
Pyotr sighed. The Imps were trundling in, plates of mouth-watering food help above their heads. Reluctantly, he forced the food down his throat, barely paying attention to what he was eating. The energy in the room was hyped, those who had entered seemed to be trying to override their nerves by acting crazy to entertain others. The nerdy girl Pyotr had met was sitting in her usual spot, even more pale than usual, ignoring everybody and her food. She seemed terrified.
The feast dragged by like slow honey, and after an infinity the Headmaster finally stood up and ordered one of the Imps to bring the Goblet from the entrance hall. Everybody went deadly silent. The Goblet of Fire was placed on a podium in front of the Headmaster.
"I would like to commemorate everybody who has had the courage to enter your names in this Goblet. Know that, regardless of how many slips of parchment went in, only three can come out, and you should not be disappointed if it is not your name that is called. The flames in the Goblet will turn bright red when the time has come, and the winner's slip of parchment will fly out. I would like to ask all of you to remain silent. And now, we wait."
They were waiting barely a minute, before the fire in the goblet turned bright red and a tongue of flame shot up in to the air. Those sitting closest could see the piece of parchment on the end. Headmaster Aleksandrov reached out and grabbed the parchment, and it seemed like everyone in the hall held their breath.
"The Hogwarts champion," He announced. "Is Jane Haversham-Smythe." Pyotr's mouth fell open in shock as he saw the nerdy girl stand up from her table nervously.
"Please come up here, Jane, and proceed in to the chamber behind me."
Pyotr studied the other Hogwarts students. A few were looking very let-down, and were being comforted by their friends, a few looked angry, and quite a lot were still gaping in shock. Pyotr could see not a single happy face in their cohort.
The Goblet turned red again, and the Headmaster grabbed the parchment.
"The Beuxbatons champion," Pyotr could see all of the Beuxbatons students glancing around uneasily, "Is Marcelle Alix." Nobody stood up.
"Marcelle Alix?" he repeated.
A petite girl stood up from the Beuxbatons table. It was the one Pyotr saw enter her name the day after the feast, with the shabby robes and scuffed-up shoes. The Beuxbatons girls all started muttering unhappily. Pyotr barely had time to worry about who would be picked from Durmstrang before the flames turned scarlet once more.
"And finally," he boomed in to the silent hall, "The Durmstrang champion," Pyotr was clenching his fists so hard they might break, "Is Pyotr Poliakoff."
He couldn't believe it. His name had been picked! He stood up and strode to the front of the hall, all of the Durmstrang students staring after him in shock, including Radko. That'll show him, he thought.
As he walked past, the Headmaster nodded, and indicated the door to the chamber behind him. Pyotr nodded back and proceeded in to the other room.