PART ONE
CHAPTER FOUR: THE CHAMPIONS ARE SELECTED
Harry Potter was sitting in the back of the Great Hall when Dumbledore announced that the time had come for the champion selection. A tense silence fell on the audience. The Gryffindor fourth years kept throwing glances in the direction of Neville Longbottom who was sitting between Harry and Ginny. Neville looked very casual on the surface, but Harry and Ginny knew that he had not slept at all the night before. Neville really did not want to participate in the Triwizard Tournament and the thought of his being selected was causing him a great discomfort.
"I don't want eternal glory, Harry," he had explained at breakfast. "I don't want to wrestle with giants. I just want to sit back and enjoy the show."
"It's going to be a sixth or seventh year anyway," Ginny had offered. She and Harry were trying very hard to cheer Neville up.
As far as the champion selection was concerned, Harry was more worried about what could happen if Cedric Diggory became Hogwarts champion. He was not sure that he wanted Cedric to compete this time around, but the Hufflepuff seventh year, Quidditch Seeker and Captain of the team, was the Hogwarts favourite so far. Everyone was betting that it would either be Cedric Diggory or Nev Longbottom. For his part, Harry hoped that it would be neither of the two.
"The Durmstrang champion is Viktor Krum!" said Dumbledore in a strong voice that brought Harry out of his reverie.
Harry looked over at the staff table. Igor Karkarof was beaming. Mr Crouch was bent over a long piece of parchment and didn't look nearly interested in the selection. Madame Maxime was standing proudly behind her students ("The champion from Beaubatons is Fleur Delacour!"). Harry's father was clapping vigorously. He, too, was glancing at Neville. Then the moment came.
"The Hogwarts champion is Neville Longbottom!"
The Great Hall exploded with applause. Everyone was on their feet. Harry had never seen such excitement in the Great Hall. The magical ceiling had become filled with shooting stars. Ron, Dean and Seamus were pushing Neville forward to the middle of the Great Hall. It all happened so fast that Harry did not even have time to say anything to Neville, no word of encouragement or support.
It took some time for the Great Hall to empty while the champions were taken into the Trophy Room. Harry insisted on remaining until the Hall was completely deserted. A part of him half-expected the Goblet to spill out a fourth name. However it did not happen. Ginny was beginning to yawn when they finally decided to head back to the Common Room.
When they walked in, Harry was shocked to find that Neville's name had been written all over the place. Someone had also drawn an enormous golden bolt of lightening on a long white sheet and it was hanging from the ceiling.
"Where's Nev?" asked Fred and George, jumping from behind a couch.
Harry glanced quickly over at Ginny, wondering if she might have a clue. She simply shrugged, ignoring Harry's stare.
"Don't know. I wouldn't wait up if I were you. I bet they'll keep the champions up all night with all the rules, the interviews and so on."
With a sigh of disappointment, the Gryffindors all emerged from their various hiding places and started wearily to head towards their dormitories.
"We'll congratulate him at breakfast then," said Fred, yawning. "Bless the little squirt. I bet he'll be the youngest Triwizard champion ever. All the teachers say that he must be really special. Well we'll soon see. Good night!"
An hour later, the Gryffindor Common Room was all deserted, except for Harry and Ginny who were still on the couch waiting for Neville to show up. Ginny was very thoughtful and they did not speak much. It was close to midnight when Neville finally arrived. Harry immediately noticed that his eyes were very red.
"I was in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom," he simply said, sitting down on the rug in front of the fireplace and avoiding looking at his two friends.
Harry and Ginny exchanged a glance then both of them dropped unto the floor next to Neville.
Harry instantly felt pity for him. No one would be calling Neville a cheat like they had called Harry, but Neville would feel miserable just the same. Neville did not believe himself up to the challenge. Harry had no idea how he could possibly help him feel better about his abilities.
"It's not a coincidence," Ginny said after a long silence where Neville seemed to be fighting back tears.
The two boys turned to her inquiringly.
"The escapes from Azkaban last year, the Dark Mark at the World Cup, your name rising from that Goblet, Harry's dreams; it's all related to You-Know-Who," she said darkly.
"You're not making me feel better, Gin," said Neville. He looked positively scared now. "What dreams, Harry?"
"Well… err…"
Harry didn't have time to explain. Ginny was exposing her theory now.
"Nev, you are not as powerful as Cedric Diggory. You're as good as can be expected of a fourth year, that's all. Why did the Goblet select you then?"
Neville shrugged. Harry had some idea but decided to let Ginny continue.
"Someone outsmarted the Goblet into selecting you, Nev. They want you, You-Know-Who's followers. The teachers are not allowed to interfere in the Triwizard Tournament. It's the perfect opportunity."
"You think that someone has tricked the Goblet of Fire?" asked Neville. "But who? A student couldn't have done it. It's a really powerful magical object. I can't imagine a teacher… Surely there couldn't be any Death Eaters at Hogwarts, could there?"
"Igor Karkarof," Harry offered. "He was a convicted Death Eater. He went to Azkaban for it."
Ginny and Neville looked at him with wide eyes and in shock.
"I heard my dad talking about it," Harry explained quickly. "Karkarof was released from Azkaban when he gave the Council names of other Death Eaters. That's how Mr Crouch's son was arrested. Snape was mentioned, but he was cleared of all charges against him by Dumbledore."
Neville and Ginny seemed to be taking in this new information very thoughtfully.
"My dad doesn't like Snape," Neville added. He was whispering conspiringly. "He says that no one stops being a Death Eater."
"Sirius says the same thing," said Harry thoughtfully.
"All those escapes last year," Ginny began to say as though she was thinking out loud. "I bet you anything that Mr Crouch's son was among them. It would explain the extra protection they put around Mr Crouch at the World Cup."
"I didn't know notice that," said Harry awkwardly.
"We know that Peter Pettigrew also escaped last year, so that's two Death Eaters on the loose," concluded Neville. "Pettigrew is the worst. He betrayed his friends and my parents. It's because of him that my parents and I almost died when I was a baby and I got the scar. Now Karkarof can help Pettigrew to get to me. They'll finish what You-Know-Who started. There are no Dementors this year to stop him. Oh God. Hogwarts is not safe anymore. I'm doomed!"
Neville looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown. His eyes were bright with tears again. Harry threw a reproaching look at Ginny. Her theory was good, in fact better than what she could probably guess, but it was not helping Neville to feel secured about the upcoming tasks.
"We do have one advantage, Nev," said Ginny firmly. She sounded determined. "Harry's dreams."
"Harry's dreams?" said Neville, wiping his cheek with the sleeve of his robe.
"I think that your experience with Tom Riddle's diary in your second year gave you a special connection to You-Know-Who, Harry."
"Huh?" Harry and Neville said together, but not for the same reasons.
"Of course!" continued Ginny. "I thought about it when you told me about the first dream in the beginning of the summer, and you've told me you keep having the same dream."
"I'm sure it's not that…" said Harry quietly. Neville was looking at him with a gloomy expression.
"The Dark Mark made your head hurt, didn't it?"
"Well yes but…"
"You saw You-Know-Who in a house with Pettigrew and other people in your dream. They were plotting something."
"It was just a dream," retorted Harry.
"You have to trust these dreams, Harry, and what you feel. It might give us a clue as to what You-Know-Who's followers are up to, like a warning that danger's coming."
All three of them went silent for a while. Harry felt as though a tremendous weight had been laid on his shoulders. He had never thought of his dreams as such. Dumbledore had told him not to dwell upon his dreams, to cast them away. He couldn't see how the things he was seeing or feeling could help Neville in the upcoming tasks.
Harry could tell that this was a lot of information for Neville to handle. He was twisting the sleeve of his robe madly and biting his lower lip so that it would stop trembling. Ginny was staring at the fire in front of her.
"I don't see how I'm going to survive this tournament," said Neville weakly.
"I'll help you," said Harry without a moment's hesitation.
The corner of Neville's lip twitched into a half-smile.
"Me too," said Ginny. "We're in this as a team. You'll get through this, I swear."
The three of them headed to bed about an hour later. Ginny wrote down a schedule of trainings for Neville leading to the date of the first task. She would ask Professor McGonnagal to lend them a spare classroom. Neville's nervous state seemed to improve after that. Harry was already thinking about spells that he could teach him, yet all the while he was remembering what Dumbledore had said: "If chosen, you stand alone."
That night Harry dreamt that he was in a maze. Every turn that he was making was taking him closer and closer to the Triwizard Cup. A shrill laughing voice that he recognised as Voldemort's was whispering his name. He was trying to get away, as far away as possible, out of the maze, away from Hogwarts, away from everything. He wanted to be in his parent's house again. But the wind was strong and the maze was tricking him. The Cup was coming closer and closer.
When he woke up, his forehead was burning as though the scar had been there.
Harry hoped that if there were only three contestants, as it was supposed to in the Triwizard Tournament, then there would be only three dragons and the Hungarian Horntail would not be accounted for. It was bad enough to imagine Neville slaying a dragon, but the idea of the Horntail and what it might do to poor Neville was even worst. Unfortunately, the news that Ron brought to Neville was not encouraging.
They were walking up to the owlery, Harry and Ginny, when Neville caught up with them. He was panting and his cheeks were very red.
"Dragons! That's the first task," he breathed out to Harry and Ginny after he had made sure that there was no one else in the owlery. "Ron just told me, Ginny. Your brother Charlie was here last night to help in bringing them over from Romania."
Harry was actually glad that Ron had told Neville because he had not yet found a lie that would explain how he would know about the dragons. Obviously, Fleur and Krum were probably informed by now as well, so they were at least all on the same level as far as that was concerned.
"It's a disaster!" almost yelled out Neville. "It's going to be a massacre. I'm going to die in front of all those people; or worst, faint."
"You won't faint, Nev," said Ginny, patting him on the shoulders, "and you won't die, either. I'm glad we finally know what the first task is. We'll be able to train you accordingly. Charlie taught me stuff about dragons, loads of useful spells. You'll be great, Neville."
Harry was eyeing Ginny widely. Why hadn't he asked her before? She could have helped him the first time. But it was Neville who needed Ginny's help now. Sirius had also mentioned something about a dragon's weak spot. Harry was trying hard to remember what it was when a familiar owl landed in front of him. He took no notice of the bird until Ginny stopped short her explanation about Stunning spells and said: "Paris has a letter for you, Harry."
"Oh! No! Is it a Howler, Harry?" asked Neville, eyeing the owl Paris suspiciously.
It wasn't. Paris was holding out a small brown envelope that looked worn from the long trip. Harry took the letter and the owl immediately bit his finger as he did so.
"Paris! Don't bite me. I'm your friend, remember, your owner? Honestly."
"He wants you to thank him, Harry. He's a really proud owl. He likes to strut," said Ginny, laughing.
"My owl doesn't strut," Harry retorted quickly, remembering that Snape had said the same thing about his father.
"Is it from Lupin?" asked Neville while looking over Harry's shoulder.
It was indeed Remus Lupin. He was answering to the letter that Harry had sent him concerning the Patronus. Harry had related the incident with the Boggart and asked only one small question: "Can a Patronus be dangerous?"
The answer was as such:
Dear Harry,
How are you? It's nice to hear from you. I hope you had a good summer and enjoyed the World Cup even though you're not particularly fond of Quidditch.
"Not again," thought Harry bitterly. He was really annoyed that no one thought that he could appreciate Quidditch.
Your letter doesn't say it but I am sure that your father was not pleased with your performing a Patronus Charm in his classroom. Since I have not heard from him, I take it that you did not tell him about our correspondence of last year concerning that particular charm. I do not like the idea of you lying to your father. Things are happening now that might force me to visit Hogwarts this year, maybe at Christmas. You and I will have a talk about this situation then. You need to understand that the quarrel between your father and me is not against you, but if he asks it of me I will cease to write to you nonetheless. One day you will understand.
As for your Patronus, I am glad that you were able to conjure one to repel that Dementor/Boggart. However, I must admit that I did not expect that you would be able to produce one so strong. It's quite an improvement from last year. It is highly advanced magic. Boggarts are very tricky to handle, yet they do not have the full power of a Dementor. You used the spell correctly, but against a very feeble adversary.
You should know that any spell can be dangerous depending on the need of the moment and/or the wizard who conjures it. Even a simple spell can be harmful, especially if performed at arm's length or during a moment of heightened emotions. For your part, I do not believe that the Dementor could have hurt you in any way. It was after all just a Boggart. There would have to be horrors in your past beyond anything you have ever experienced for the Dementor to have a serious effect on you. What you need to work on is to master your fear of Dementors rather than advanced spells.
If the Dementors really frighten you so, you should definitely talk to your mother or father about it. They will help you to fight your daemons, Harry. They really can.
I'll see you soon.
Take care until then and enjoy the tournament.
Remus Lupin
Harry handed the letter for Neville and Ginny to read.
"I wonder what the quarrel between them is. Lupin and your father, I mean. Your father sure doesn't like Lupin at all, but Lupin doesn't sound so bad really," said Ginny conclusively. "Something must have happened. Something dreadful."
"Perhaps it's because Lupin is a werewolf," Harry said pensively.
The thought had crossed his mind a few days ago when his father had given them an essay to do: "Compare and contrast the ways in which to identify and cure werewolf and vampire bites". James Potter had been very harsh on the case of werewolves. It had not appeared to Harry like the talk of someone who had been friend with one.
Presently, Ginny and Neville were staring at him in surprise.
"You never told us!" said Neville. "A werewolf!"
"Maybe your father only wants to protect you, Harry. No parents would want their kids anywhere near a werewolf. My mom would have a heart attack," said Ginny quietly.
"My parents too, Harry!"
"Did he say he's coming to school?" said Neville quickly, snatching the letter from Harry.
"Lupin is a good guy, okay?" said Harry. He was almost upset, but then he reminded himself that Neville and Ginny didn't know Lupin at all. They could not be possibly as fond of him as he was.
"Don't let anyone know that he's a werewolf," he told them sharply. "He'll be fine. He takes a potion for it. Besides, my dad will know how to manage him if anything unexpected happens."
Harry really wanted to believe that his father was still fond enough of Lupin to help him, not hunt him down like an animal, should Lupin's condition become a problem while he was visiting the school. He could recall perfectly the horrible pictures of wizards and Muggles setting a werewolf on fire to kill it. Snape had made sure that every student would remember that class. As much as he wanted to speak to Lupin again, Harry was starting to feel that maybe it wasn't safe for him to come to Hogwarts.
That evening, Neville's favourite new subject for conversation was dragons and werewolves. Harry, Ginny and him had gathered as much books about dragons from the library as they possibly could and had brought them back in the Common Room to study them in their spare time. The result was that the floor was covered in leaves and parchments of red and black pictures of either ferocious dragons or their dead victims. Any girl that tried to get close to Neville recoiled in horror, except Eleanor. She kept interrupting Harry, Ginny and Neville's reading to ask her brother to sign autographs for other students.
Neville had also taken out a few books about werewolves, which Harry found really childish. They should be concentrating on dragons, not on Remus Lupin's dark side. Harry was simply exhausted. His head was throbbing again. He couldn't help it. He found Neville's new interest for the slaying of werewolves very annoying and was afraid that his friend would accidentally reveal Lupin's secret.
"You never know," Neville said as a reply to Harry. He was turning the pages of Lockhart's 'Waking with the Werewolf'. "You-know-who could forget to take his potion."
"This you-know-who business is pointless," Harry said wearily, shutting his copy of "Donjons and Dragons: Myths and Reality" closed with a loud snap. "At least try to say it only when you're talking about Voldemort."
But the look that Neville and Ginny gave him at that moment reminded him how much people were frightened to hear Voldemort's name spoken out loud.
"Sorry," he said, feeling awkward.
"Harry, you said his name. Even I don't say his name," said Neville nervously.
Ginny grinned at Neville. It made Harry grin too. Neville looked at them both for a moment, and then started to laugh. The three of them laughed whole-heartedly and uncontrollably for the next fifteen minutes that followed. It felt good for Harry. It seemed to him that he had not laughed for a long time.
"Okay, I get it," said Neville, wiping a tear and hiccoughing a little. "I'm not the bravest person to say his name. But I know for a fact that only Dumbledore can say it in a casual way like you just did, Harry."
Suddenly, Harry remembered what Hermione had said what seemed like a long time ago. It was a new Hermione now. She was not so serious anymore, but she was still very bright and the first one to answer in every class. Harry had seen her this morning in the Great Hall, eating breakfast with Ron. Harry was happy that some things had not changed.
"Fear of name only increases the fear of the thing itself," he said in a more cheerful voice than he had intended. "If you can't call him Voldemort, then maybe we should call him Tom Riddle. How's that?"
Neville gave a shudder and stared at him wide eyed.
"Harry, really you shouldn't say it anymore," he said seriously.
Harry could not argue. Who was he, after all, to be so arrogant as to pronounce the name that everyone feared?
Later that evening, they were flipping the pages of the books in silence, their eyelids heavy, and their brains more or less working properly, when Neville said something that kept Harry up all night.
"You're very brave, Harry. More than just brave. You're a great wizard. You're like Dumbledore. You will be one day. I wish you could battle the dragon instead of me."
