LoDK

The Legacy of the Dark Knight Saga

Jamie Prosser and the Fourth Champion

Chapter 10: The Tournament Begins

Disclaimer: This is solely a not-for-profit fan activity and does not intend to infringe on copyrights held by Time Warner, DC Comics, Bloomsbury et al, and JK Rowling. Any character original to this work remains the property of the author.

A/N: This story diverges significantly from accepted canon for the Harry Potter series from the outset, as in addition to the crossover elements, there are several deviations from the books that will be covered where they fit into the narrative. The timeline of the DC Comics elements borrows heavily from Young Justice (2011), but adds elements and characters from the comics, and relocates the series to the late Sixties and early Seventies rather than the New Tens as screened and is heavy on 'legacy' and original characters as a result.

A/N: Unless stated otherwise, the action of this story takes place in the run up to and during the 1997-1998 school year (305 "Anno Secreto" or "Year of Secrecy") parallel to the events of Deathly Hallows in canon. The year code "AL" is also my own invention and stands for After Liberation, counting the years after the Justice League's ending of the "Apokolips War", my as-yet unwritten take on the events of Young Justice Season 3 (Set late 1973 to April 1976).

NB: This chapter is unbeta'd but will be replaced with the finished version as soon as possible.

NB: This chapter adapts significant elements from chapters fourteen, fifteen & sixteen from the fourth Harry Potter novel.

Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom,
Hogwarts Castle, Scottish Highlands.
20th October, 1215 BST, 17AL.

"Can anyone what the most important basic defensive spell is?" asked Professor Malocchio once the second years had settled in their seats.

Not expecting the question, the students were briefly silent. "No-one?"

Evan raised his hand.

"Yes Evan?"

"I've read about something called the Shield Charm?"

"'Protego'," replied the professor with a nod. "Certainly, a good spell to have in your arsenal, but a little much at your level. Anyone else?"

"How about the Tongue-Tying Curse?" asked another student.

"Another good choice, but too wordy and won't necessarily protect you against more powerful wizards," replied the professor. "Another?"

"Tickling Hex?" suggested Melanie.

"Nice low-powered spell, quick to cast… but not what I was looking for."

Jamie pondered the question for a few moments, trying to remember the conversations between her brother and his mentors that she'd heard in the past. Then it came to her. "I have two suggestions if I may, Professor?"

"You may," agreed Professor Malocchio. "But only if you can explain your choices."

"Gladly, Professor," said Jamie. "I considered the Full Body-Bind initially, as an enemy that can't move isn't a threat… I don't think that that's what you're after though, as it has similar problems to the Tongue-Tying Curse."

"I agree," confirmed the professor. "Your second candidate?"

"The Disarming Charm," said Jamie. "Most wizards require a wand to cast spells and even the few that can cast wandlessly should be disoriented long to follow with another spell."

"Eccellente!" exclaimed the professor. "Correct and well-reasoned. Take ten points for Gryffindor."

"Thank you, Professor."

"The Disarming Charm is probably the most essential defensive spell you will learn in your early years at Hogwarts. The incantation is 'Expelliarmus', and the wand movement is a downward stroke that curls back on itself. The effect is variable, typically either a white or white-blue flash of light, whereas a more powerful version may manifest as a golden fiery ring. It is even possible for it to generate a jet of scarlet energy. However, this occurs only in specific and unusual circumstances."

After allowing his students a minute or two to make notes, he split the class into pairs.

Given a choice, Jamie would have rather paired with Melanie or Evan, but the professor sent her to face off against one of Evan's roommates, Randal Aquilar, a tall, stocky boy with at least a little Italian in his family, while Melanie was pitted against Kyle Schwartz, a slim, Germanic boy and Evan faced off against Misty Torres, a short, plump ninita.

"Ladies first…" offered Randal.

Not sure I'm much of a lady, thought Jamie, but didn't see any reason not to take up the invitation. "Expelliarmus!"

Randall's wand flew neatly out of his hand and clattered to the ground. Contrary to her suggestion from earlier, Jamie decided that as they weren't duelling that it wouldn't be very sporting to hex him while he was wandless, so she allowed him to pick up his wand and return to the ready position.

"What do they call it… beginner's luck?" suggested Randall.

"If you like," Jamie conceded.

"My turn," said Randall. "Expelliarmus!"

Deciding to try something, Jamie waited until the last moment and then dodged to the side, allowing the spell – which might have been slightly stronger than hers – to miss her. Then she pointed her own wand at Randall and then before he could do anything she cast the spell again.

As before, his wand flew out of his hand and, because surprise and the off angle of the attack, he was also knocked into one of the desk. "Owww! What was that?!"

"Dodging, then a Disarming Charm," Jamie replied.

"Professor!"

"Yes, Mr Aquilar?"

"Prosser's cheating."

"I am not!" insisted Jamie.

"When it was my turn, she dodged out of the way and then disarmed me."

"Is this true?"

"Yes," admitted Jamie. "I'm not how that counts as cheating though."

"Neither am I," admitted the professor.

"But… but… that's not fair!"

"What's not fair?"

"It was my turn!"

"True," agreed the professor. "And if she had cast before you, then I would agree."

"But… she dodged!"

"Did I say she couldn't?"

"No," mumbled Randall, deflating slightly now things weren't going his way.

"Exactly," agreed the professor, then he turned to Jamie. "Miss Prosser, I would give you points for improvisation. But unfortunately, I would have to take them back off Mr Aquilar again for wasting my time."

"That's all right, Professor," Jamie told him. "I appreciate it anyway."

Professor Malocchio nodded and moved on. Jamie turned back to Randall and eyed him inquiringly.

The Italian boy paused for a moment, but then reluctantly nodded and moved back into position.

"Did you manage to nail him again?" asked Melanie as they left the classroom and headed downstairs.

Jamie shook her head. "He might have been taken by surprise the first time, but he got the idea pretty quickly. Even nailed me a couple of times with the same trick."

"Well, that's good I guess."

Jamie nodded.

Moments later, they arrived in the entrance hall, they found themselves unable to proceed owing to the large crowd of students congregated there, all milling around a large sign that had been erected at the foot of the marble staircase. Kyle Schwartz, the largest of the second years, stood on tiptoe to see over the heads in front of the other students and read the sign aloud to their year:

THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

THE DELEGATIONS FROM BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG WILL BE ARRIVING AT 4 O'CLOCK ON THURSDAY THE 30TH OF OCTOBER. LESSONS WILL END HALF AN HOUR EARLY.

"Drat, less History of Magic nap time that day!" exclaimed Melanie.

"Melanie…" said Jamie, warningly.

"It's true!"

STUDENTS WILL RETURN THEIR BAGS AND BOOKS TO THEIR DORMITORIES AND ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF THE CASTLE TO GREET OUR GUESTS BEFORE THE WELCOMING FEAST.

"That's only about a week away!" said Ernie MacMillan, the Hufflepuff Senior Prefect eagerly, then he disappeared back into the crowd.

"Do you think he wants to be Hogwarts champion?" Melanie asked.

"Almost certainly," confirmed Joanne as she came out of the crowd to stand beside Jamie and Melanie.

"Better a Hufflepuff than a Slytherin," said Melanie. "Imagine if Malfoy was Champion…"

"Ughh," said Jamie. "I'm glad I've not started eating yet."

The appearance of the sign in the Entrance Hall had a marked effect upon the inhabitants of the castle. During the following week, there seemed to be only one topic of conversation, no matter where Jamie went… the Triwizard Tournament.

Rumours were flying from student to student like highly contagious germs, who was going to try for Hogwarts champion, what the tournament would involve, how the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang differed from themselves.

Jamie noticed too that the castle seemed to be undergoing an extra-thorough cleaning. Several grimy portraits had been scrubbed, much to the displeasure of their subjects, who sat huddled in their frames muttering darkly and wincing as they felt their raw pink faces. The suits of armour were suddenly gleaming and moving without squeaking, and Argus Filch, the caretaker, was behaving so ferociously to any students who forgot to wipe their shoes that he terrified a pair of first-year girls into hysterics.

****
Hogwarts Castle, Scottish Highlands.
30th October, 1530 BST, 17AL.

There was a pleasant feeling of anticipation in the air that day. Nobody was very attentive in lessons, being much more interested in the arrival that evening of the people from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. When the bell rang early, Jamie, Melanie and Evan hurried up to Gryffindor Tower, deposited their bags and books as they had been instructed, pulled on their cloaks, and rushed back downstairs into the entrance hall.

The Heads of House were ordering their students into lines. "Follow me, please," said Professor McGonagall. "First years in front... no pushing..."

They filed down the steps and lined up in front of the castle. It was a cold, clear afternoon; the students scanned the grounds excitedly, but nothing was moving; everything was still, silent, and quite as usual. Jamie was just beginning to wonder if there might have been some sort of delay when the headmaster called out from the back row where he stood with the other teachers – "Aha! Unless I am very much mistaken, the delegation from Beauxbatons approaches!"

"Where?" said many students eagerly, all looking in different directions.

"There!" yelled a sixth year, pointing over the forest.

Something large, much larger than a broomstick – or, indeed, a hundred broomsticks – was hurtling across the deep blue sky toward the castle, growing larger all the time.

"It's a dragon!" shrieked one of the third years losing her head completely.

"Don't be stupid. . . it's a flying house!" said Dennis Creevey, another Gryffindor third year.

Dennis's guess was closer... As the gigantic black shape skimmed over the treetops of the Forbidden Forest and the lights shining from the castle windows hit it, they saw a gigantic, powder-blue, horse-drawn carriage, the size of a large house, soaring toward them, pulled through the air by a dozen winged horses, all palominos, and each the size of an elephant.

The front three rows of students drew backward as the carriage hurtled ever lower, coming in to land at a tremendous speed – then, with an almighty crash of the horses' hooves – larger than dinner plates – hit the ground. A second later, the carriage landed too, bouncing upon its vast wheels, while the golden horses tossed their enormous heads and rolled large, fiery red eyes.

Jamie just had time to see that the door of the carriage bore a coat of arms (two crossed, golden wands, each emitting three stars) before it opened.

A boy in pale-blue robes jumped down from the carriage, bent forward, fumbled for a moment with something on the carriage floor, and unfolded a set of golden steps. He sprang back respectfully. Then Jamie saw a shining, high-heeled black shoe emerging from the inside of the carriage – a shoe the size of a child's sled – followed, almost immediately, by the largest woman she had ever seen in her life.

The size of the carriage, and of the horses, was immediately explained. A few people gasped.

Jamie had seen quite a few large people in her time, but this woman (now at the foot of the steps, and looking around at the waiting, wide-eyed crowd) was the largest she'd seen 'in the flesh' that she could remember. As she stepped into the light flooding from the entrance hall, she was revealed to have a handsome, olive-skinned face; large, black, liquid-looking eyes; and a rather beaky nose. Her hair was drawn back in a shining knob at the base of her neck. She was dressed from head to foot in black satin, and many magnificent opals gleamed at her throat and on her thick fingers.

Slughorn started to clap... the students, following his lead, broke into applause too, many of them standing on tiptoe, the better to look at this woman.

Her face relaxed into a gracious smile and she walked forward toward Slughorn, extending a glittering hand. Slughorn, not by any stretch a tall man, had to almost stand on tiptoes – not an easy thing for a man of his girth – to kiss it.

"My dear Madame Maxime," he said. "Welcome to Hogwarts."

"Slughorn," said Madame Maxime in a deep voice. "I 'ope I find you well?"

"In excellent form, I thank you," said Slughorn.

"My pupils," said Madame Maxime, waving one of her enormous hands carelessly behind her.

Jamie, whose attention had been focused completely upon Madame Maxime, now noticed that about a dozen boys and girls - all, by the look of them, in their late teens - had emerged from the carriage and were now standing behind Madame Maxime. They were shivering, which was unsurprising, given that their robes seemed to be made of fine silk, and none of them were wearing cloaks. A few had wrapped scarves and shawls around their heads. From what Jamie could see of them (they were standing in Madame Maxime's enormous shadow), they were staring up at Hogwarts with apprehensive looks on their faces.

"'As Karkaroff arrived yet?" Madame Maxime asked.

"He should be here any moment," said Slughorn. "Would you like to wait here and greet him, or would you prefer to step inside and warm up a trifle?"

"Warm up, I think," said Madame Maxime. "But ze 'orses…"

Professor Lupin stepped forward. "Professor Lupin. I teach Care of Magical Creatures here at Hogwarts, Madame. I would be delighted to take care of your horses for you."

"My steeds require… err… forceful 'andling," said Madame Maxime, looking as though she doubted whether any Care of Magical Creatures teacher at Hogwarts could be up to the job. "Zey are very strong..."

"I believe I am up to the job, Madam," said Lupin, smiling.

"Very well," said Madame Maxime, bowing slightly. "Ze 'orses drink only single-malt whisky."

"Indeed," agreed Lupin, also bowing. "I am aware of the reputation of the horses of the L'Olympe Stable."

"Come," said Madame Maxime imperiously to her students, and the Hogwarts crowd parted to allow her and her students to pass up the stone steps while the Hogwarts staff and students stood, shivering slightly now, waiting for the Durmstrang party to arrive, while Professor Lupin struggled to move Madame Maxime's huge horses to the paddock.

A few minutes later, a loud and oddly eerie noise drifted toward them from out of the darkness: a muffled rumbling and sucking sound, as though an immense vacuum cleaner were moving along a riverbed.

"The lake!" yelled one of the sixth years, pointing down at it. "Look at the lake!"

From their position at the top of the lawns overlooking the grounds, they had a clear view of the smooth black surface of the water – except that the surface was suddenly not smooth at all. Some disturbance was taking place deep in the centre; great bubbles were forming on the surface, waves were now washing over the muddy banks – and then, out in the very middle of the lake, a whirlpool appeared, as if a giant plug had just been pulled out of the lake's floor. What seemed to be a long, black pole began to rise slowly out of the heart of the whirlpool... and then rigging...

"It's a mast!" Jamie exclaimed.

Slowly, magnificently, the ship rose out of the water, gleaming in the moonlight. It had a strangely skeletal look about it, as though it were a resurrected wreck, and the dim, misty lights shimmering at its portholes looked like ghostly eyes. Finally, with a great sloshing noise, the ship emerged entirely, bobbing on the turbulent water, and began to glide toward the bank. A few moments later, they heard the splash of an anchor being thrown down in the shallows, and the thud of a plank being lowered onto the bank.

People were disembarking; they could see their silhouettes passing the lights in the ship's portholes. All of them, Jamie noticed, seemed to be built like the Slytherin beaters... but then, as they drew nearer, walking up the lawns into the light streaming from the Entrance Hall, she saw that their bulk was because they were wearing cloaks of shaggy, matted fur. But the man who was leading them up to the castle was wearing furs of a different sort: sleek and silver, like his hair.

"Slughorn!" he called heartily as he walked up the slope. "How are you, my dear fellow, how are you?"

"Blooming, thank you, Professor Karkaroff," Slughorn replied.

Karkaroff had a fruity, unctuous voice; when he stepped into the light pouring from the front doors of the castle they saw that he was tall and thin, but his white hair was short, and his goatee (finishing in a small curl) did not entirely hide his rather weak chin. When he reached Slughorn, he shook hands with both of his own. "Dear old Hogwarts," he said, looking up at the castle and smiling; his teeth were rather yellow, and Jamie noticed that his smile did not extend to his eyes, which remained cold and shrewd. "How good it is to be here, how good…." He murmured as he and Slughorn lead their students back towards the castle.

By the time they reached the Great Hall, the Beauxbatons students had already installed themselves at the Ravenclaw table. Jamie and the rest of the Hogwarts students quickly moved to take their seats at the house tables, and the Durmstrang group – after some deliberation – joined the Slytherin table.

When all the students had entered the Hall and settled down at their House tables, the staff entered, filing up to the top table and taking their seats. Last in line were Professor Slughorn, 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 party appeared quite unembarrassed, however, and did not resume their seats until Madame Maxime had sat down on Slughorn's left-hand side. Slughorn remained standing, and a silence fell over the Great Hall.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and – most particularly – guests," said Slughorn, 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."

One of the Beauxbatons girls still clutching a muffler around her head gave what was unmistakably a derisive laugh.

"The tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast," said Slughorn. "I now invite you all to eat, drink, and make yourselves at home!" He sat down, and Jamie saw Karkaroff lean forward at once and engage him in conversation.

The plates in front of them filled with food as usual. The house-elves in the kitchen seemed to have made every effort to impress… there was a greater variety of dishes in front of them than Jamie had ever seen, including several that were definitely foreign.

"What's that?" said Melanie, pointing at a large dish of fish and vegetables drizzled in a kind of red sauce, sitting next to a roast chicken.

"I think it's ghiveci cu pește," said Jamie.

"Huh?" said Melanie.

"It's Romanian," said Jamie, "Harry described something like it after his visit to Svalbard."

"I'll take your word for it," said Melanie, helping herself to some sausages.

The Great Hall seemed somehow much more crowded than usual, even though there were barely twenty additional students there; perhaps it was because their differently coloured uniforms stood out so clearly against the black of the Hogwarts' robes. Now that they had removed their furs, the Durmstrang students were revealed to be wearing robes of a deep blood-red.

Professor Lupin sidled into the Hall through a door behind the staff table twenty minutes after the start of the feast. He looked a little worse for wear but appeared to have all his limbs.

"We've got visitors!" announced one of Jamie's classmates.

"We know, Misty," said Jamie.

"No… new visitors!" she insisted, pointing up at the staff table.

The two remaining empty seats had just been filled.

Two men – a blue-eyed, blonde with the appearance of an athlete gone to seed, and an older grey-haired man with a narrow toothbrush moustache – had now joined the staff at their table.

"Who are they?" Jamie wondered.

"No idea," admitted Melanie. "Maybe the other judges?"

"Makes sense," admitted Jamie.

Once the golden plates had been wiped clean, Slughorn stood up again. A pleasant sort of tension seemed to fill the Hall now. Jamie felt a slight thrill of excitement, wondering what was coming. Several seats down from them, the Fox twins were leaning forward, staring at Slughorn with great concentration.

"The moment has come," said Slughorn, smiling around at the sea of upturned faces. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the casket…"

"The what?" Jamie muttered.

Melanie shrugged.

"… I would like to clarify the procedure that we will be following this year. But first, let me introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr. Bartemius Crouch, Head of the British Department of International Magical Cooperation…"

There was a smattering of polite applause.

"… and Mr. Ludo Bagman, Head of the British Department of Magical Games and Sports."

There was a much louder round of applause.

"I recognise him now," said Melanie. "He used to be a Beater for the Wimborne Wasps back in the Seventies and early Eighties."

Bagman acknowledged the applause with a jovial wave of his hand, unlike Bartemius Crouch who hadn't smiled or waved 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…" Slughorn 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', the attentiveness of the listening students seemed to sharpen. Perhaps Slughorn had noticed their sudden stillness, for he smiled as he said, "The casket, then, if you please, Mr. Filch."

Filch, who had been lurking unnoticed in a far corner of the Hall, now approached Slughorn carrying a great wooden chest encrusted with jewels. It looked extremely old. A murmur of excited 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 Slughorn 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 ways… their magical prowess – their daring – their powers of deduction – and, of course, their ability to cope with danger."

At this last word, the Great Hall was filled with a silence so absolute that nobody seemed to be breathing.

"As you know, three champions compete in the tournament…" Slughorn went on calmly. "… 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."

Slughorn now took out his wand and tapped three times upon the top of the casket. The lid creaked slowly open. Slughorn reached inside it and pulled out a large, roughly hewn wooden cup. It would have been entirely unremarkable had it not been full to the brim with dancing blue-white flames. Slughorn closed the casket and placed the goblet carefully on top of it, where it would be clearly 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 Slughorn. "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.

"To ensure that no underage student yields to temptation…" said Slughorn. "… Professor Flitwick 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. Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once the Goblet of Fire has selected a champion, 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. 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."

"An Age Line!" Richard Fox said, his eyes glinting, as they all made their way across the Hall to the doors into the entrance hall. "Well, that should be fooled by an Aging Potion, shouldn't it? And once your name's in that goblet, you're laughing – it can't tell whether you're seventeen or not!"

Jamie wasn't entirely concinced by this argument, nor did she think that the sixth years knew what they were trying to get into. But she didn't say anything, as she figured that it wasn't her responsibility to police older students' mistakes.

****
Hogwarts Great Hall
Hogwarts Castle, Scottish Highlands.
31st October, 1800 BST, 17AL

Jamie's concern was moot however, as the Fox twins were wrong about their ability to bypass Professor Flitwick's Age Line via an Ageing Potion. However, they got over their disappointment quickly, and by the time the students returned to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, they were enthusiastically backing Ginny's brother Ron for Hogwarts Champion. Jamie for herself was split between Ron – due to him being' Harry's friend and Ginny's brother – and siding with most of the female Gryffindors in supporting Fay Dunbar, a relative unknown among the seventh years instead.

The Halloween feast seemed to take much longer than usual. Perhaps because it was their second feast in two days, Jamie didn't fancy the extravagantly prepared food as much as he would have normally. Like everyone else in the hall, judging by the constantly craning necks, the impatient expressions on every face, the fidgeting, and the standing up to see whether Slughorn had finished eating yet, Jamie simply wanted the plates to clear, and to hear who had been selected as champions.

At long last, the golden plates returned to their original spotless state; there was a sharp upswing in the level of noise within the hall, which died away almost instantly as Slughorn got to his feet. On either side of him, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone. Ludo Bagman was beaming and winking at various students. Mr. Crouch, however, looked quite uninterested, almost bored.

"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said Slughorn. "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 a great sweeping wave with it. At once, all the candles except those inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging them into a state of semidarkness. The Goblet of Fire now shone more brightly than anything in the whole hall, the sparkling bright, bluey-whiteness of the flames almost painful on the eyes. Everyone watched, waiting... A few people kept checking their watches...

"Any second," Colin Creevey whispered, a few seats away from Jamie.

The flames inside the goblet turned suddenly red again. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it - the whole room gasped.

Slughorn 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 Sanda Szilagyi."

An athletic looking girl who Jamie vaguely recognised from coverage of the European Cup got gracefully to her feet, shook back her sheet of silvery blonde hair, and swept up between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables to loud clapping.

However, Jamie's eye was drawn to one spot of silence, the other Durmstrang students sitting at the Slytherin. Most of the girls were clapping with Slytherin, but a couple were clearly disappointed and the boys to a man were angry, one in particular – a thin, dark, and sallow-skinned boy, with a large curved nose and thick black eyebrows looked particularly furious.

When Sanda Szilagyi had vanished into the side chamber, 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, propelled by the flames.

"The champion for Beauxbatons…" said Slughorn. "… is Gerome Blanchard!"

A tall, lanky boy with slick black hair stood up from the Ravenclaw table and walked up to the High Table. As he passed level with Jamie's place at the tables, she noted that despite his build, Blanchard looked older than his age due to a thin, pencil moustache.

When Gerome Blanchard 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 next...

And the Goblet of Fire turned red once more. Sparks showered out of it, the tongue of flame shot high into the air, and from its tip Slughorn pulled the third piece of parchment.

"The Hogwarts champion…" he called. "... is Zacharias Smith!"

"Phooey," muttered Jamie, she would have preferred a Gryffindor or Padma Patil, rather than the pompous sometimes obnoxious Hufflepuff.

But nobody heard her, the uproar from the next table was too great. Every single Hufflepuff had jumped to his or her feet, screaming and stamping, as Zacharias Smith made his way past them, grinning broadly, and headed off toward the chamber behind the teachers' table. Indeed, the applause for him – loudest from Hufflepuff but present from all four tables – went on so long that it was some time before Slughorn could make himself heard again.

"Excellent!" Slughorn called happily as at last the tumult 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 Slughorn suddenly stopped speaking, and it was apparent to everybody what had distracted him.

The fire in the goblet had just turned red again. Sparks were flying out of it. Then a long flame shot suddenly into the air, and borne upon it was a fourth piece of parchment.

Automatically, it seemed, Slughorn reached out a pudgy hand and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written upon it. There was a long pause, during which Slughorn stared at the slip in his hands, and everyone in the room stared at Slughorn. And then Slughorn cleared his throat and with an expression of confusion clear on his face announced. "Harry Potter?"

A number of emotions flitted through Jamie's mind in an instant, and she was reminded of a favourite saying by a fashionista turned spy that she'd met in Gotham a few years earlier. "Oh, bugger."

A/N: This chapter came out rather quicker than I expected, due to being only minimally adapted from Goblet of Fire as noted above, so I doubt that the turn around will be as quick next time. The beta'd version may also be a while as my beta is busy with RL concerns.