Into the Entrance Hall strutted Fred and George Weasley, and behind them was Sasha. Fred and George smiled cockily, walking over to Ron Weasley, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Selena watched them, feeling as though they were up to something. Well, the Weasley Twins were always up to something.
Sure enough, the two redheads walked towards the Goblet of Fire and stopped around the magic, golden age circle.
Only then did Selena realize what they were going to do: the two of them were going to try and sneak their names into the Goblet of Fire.
Selena gaped at them. Damon laughed a bit as he relaxed back to watch the show.
Selena watched, wanting to tell them to stop. What if Dumbledore really had guessed somebody would try this? He wouldn't set up some curse, right? she thought worriedly, imagining Fred and George getting expelled.
Only then did she notice Wendy there, staring at her, having walked in behind Sasha. Selena ducked her head, scooting away from Damon.
Fred - well, she thought it was Fred - stood at the edge of the age line, rocking on his toes, a hush falling over the Entrance Hall. He took a deep breath. Selena braced herself for a curse to hit Fred.
He stepped over the age circle.
Selena cringed. But nothing happened, Fred grinning. George whooped and leapt over the age circle as well.
Damon looked slightly disappointed that nothing had gone awry, folding his arms.
"How did they-" Selena began before a noise resembling that of sizzling bacon filled the room. Fred and George were suddenly launched backwards out of the age circle and onto the stone floor.
Pop!
Selena gaped as white beards magically appeared on each of the boys.
Damon burst out laughing. Selena couldn't help herself and laughed as she looked at the twins and found Sasha on the ground, laughing so hard tears ran down her face. The students in the Entrance Hall laughed together, even Fred and George joining in.
"I did warn you," said a deep voice. Professor Dumbledore emerged from the Great Hall, eyes amused behind his half-moon spectacles. "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."
Leaving, Fred and George were followed by a cackling Sasha.
Selena looked over at Damon. "That was... interesting."
He grinned. "That was hilarious!"
Selena smiled back. "I can't believe they would try entering the competition, it sounds dangerous."
"I would enter if I were seventeen," Damon commented, shrugging. "Do you think they'll have the Tournament again in a couple of years?"
"With any luck," Selena laughed.
"As long as a Slytherin wins this year," Damon said as they stood, "I'll be happy."
That Evening
Hogwarts was buzzing with excited chatter as the sun set.
The students proceeded to dinner discussing the names that would be drawn from the goblet that night. Renee was hoping Angelina Johnson would get chosen - apparently, the Gryffindor girl had entered the Triwizard Tournament.
Selena felt like dinner lasted for hours, the students all glancing over at Dumbledore from time-to-time. By the Teacher's Table, directly in front of Dumbledore, was the Goblet of Fire, burning brightly. The entire hall was dim and only lit with flickering candles, giving it a ghoulish glow.
Finally - when she didn't think she could wait any longer - Selena's golden plate cleaned itself and the Great Hall filled with excited chatter. Dumbledore rose, the noise dropping off.
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," the Headmaster said. "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" - the wizard motioned to a door that was off behind the Teacher's Table, to their right - "where they will be receiving their first instructions."
Renee beamed with thrill, Alisson grinning back.
Dumbledore waved his wand, putting out nearly all the candles. Everyone looked at the Goblet of Fire, the hall hushed. Selena clutched the side of the table, watching expectantly. The blue flames seemed even brighter in the near darkness, the aqua hue reflecting on the students' faces and goblets. Just as Tess looked at her watch, the Goblet of Fire's flames turned a dazzling red.
It sparked wildly, a flame dancing high in the air before a piece of parchment was tossed out, making Selena and all the other students gasp. The flames cooled back to their usual blue, Dumbledore catching the charred paper.
"The champion for Durmstrang will be Viktor Krum," he announced.
The Great Hall erupted into cheers, the Durmstrang student standing up and walking through the door Dumbledore had pointed out before.
"Bravo, Viktor!" cheered the Durmstrang Headmaster, Igor Karkaroff, loudly. "Knew you had it in you!"
As the cheers began to quell, the Goblet of Fire turned scarlet again and spit out the next piece of parchment. Once again, Dumbledore read it aloud.
"The champion for Beauxbatons," he said, "is Fleur Delacour!"
A girl with silvery-blonde hair stood, walking gracefully to the door Viktor had vanished through. Over at the Ravenclaw table, some of the Beauxbatons girls were crying, clearly upset over not having been chosen.
As the students quieted, the Hogwarts students traded giddy smiles. It was their champion next. Selena crossed her fingers for Angelina, for a Gryffindor to win the Triwizard Tournament.
For the last time, the Goblet of Fire became red and threw out a piece of parchment with fiery flourish. Dumbledore held out the parchment and read it.
"The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!"
The Hufflepuff table went berserk with cheers, the Hufflepuffs standing up and screaming to the point where Tess covered her ears. Cedric smiled at his housemates, walking to the door to join Viktor and Fleur.
Alisson sighed. "At least it isn't a Slytherin." Selena could barely hear her over the still-cheering Hufflepuffs. She spotted Hazel and Rolf hugging, both of them beaming.
Eventually, Dumbledore managed to speak.
"Excellent!" the wizard said, clasping his hands behind his back. "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-"
The Goblet of Fire turned red.
Selena's eyes widened in disbelief. What was going on? The three champions had already been chosen.
The goblet sparked, a flame curling out and throwing a piece of parchment into the air. Dumbledore caught it mechanically, staring at the parchment.
"What's going on?" Tess whispered to Elizabeth.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Harry Potter."
Every head in the Great Hall turned towards Harry, Selena glancing down the Gryffindor table at him. He sat there, still as a statue, green eyes fixed on the goblet, blue flames flickering in his spectacles.
Selena listened as some people began to talk in low voices, the Great Hall beginning to hum. Why had the Goblet of Fire drawn Harry's name? Was it trying to say it had made a mistake in choosing Cedric?
By the goblet, Professor McGonagall was talking to Dumbledore, whispering. And then he nodded.
"Harry Potter!" Everyone turned to the Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Harry! Up here, if you please!"
Harry stood, stumbling a little, walking up the aisle to Dumbledore.
"What's he done?" Renee whispered harshly, her voice low. "Did he sneak his name in somehow?"
"But Dumbledore made the age line," Alisson replied. "Whatever he did, it must be wicked advanced magic."
Selena watched silently as Harry approached an unsmiling Dumbledore. Dumbledore said something, and then Harry walked off towards the door that the three champions had gone through. Not too long after, Ludo Bagman vanished through the door as well.
The Great Hall grew louder with noise, students discussing what was going on and just how fifteen-year-old Harry Potter had gotten his name in the Goblet of Fire.
"Do you think Dumbledore helped him?" Alisson offered.
Selena shook her head. "He wouldn't break the rules like that."
"I don't care how it happened," Elizabeth finally piped up. She looked at her friends grimly. "All we know is that Harry is a competitor now. He's a champion for Hogwarts."
They were all quiet for a moment, the hall buzzing around them.
And then a smile spread across Alisson's lips. "Well. I guess Gryffindor's got a chance now."
November 9th, 1994. Monday.
"How am I supposed to know what Standard Ingredient, valerian sprigs, Lavender, and Flobberworm mucus make without a book?" Selena snarled angrily, snatching the white-flowering valerian from her small, pewter cauldron, inspecting them.
"You heard Snape," Alisson replied from her position hanging upside-down on the back of a Common Room couch. Her brown hair scraped the rug on the ground. "This is to see how well you know your ingredients. Textbooks up here now! Oh, that's right, Miss Callahan, you weren't here last class... keep yours. Miss Pierce, be quiet before I throw this vial at you!"
Selena couldn't help but laugh at her friend's nasally impression of Professor Snape.
"My head still hurts..." Renee replied, rubbing the back of her skull.
"He didn't hit you that hard," Danny said from the couch. "He could've knocked your chair out from under you. I still have a scar!"
Selena looked at them, a headache starting to bloom. "Shush, please! I have to figure this out!" She tried to remember their classes so far that year, stuffed in the dingy Dungeon. "Valerian sprigs are used in... um..." All she could think of was her mother at home making Treacle fudge with the ingredient. Glancing over at the green jar of goopy Flobberoworm mucus, she groaned and sunk to her chair.
"It's a Sleeping Draught from the sound of it," said a quiet, female voice from across the room. "You'll have to chop the valerian up, and juice the Flobberworm."
Selena looked over at the direction of the voice and found a Daily Prophet newspaper propped in front of a face, someone sitting in one of the squashy armchairs.
"Uh, thanks..." Selena said, furrowing her brows. She'd noticed them earlier, but hadn't paid any attention. Kids floated in and out of the Common Room all day.
"Try it. It really does work," the voice assured her.
Danny shook his head at Selena.
Renee gasped. "It's a talking newspaper! I call keeping it!"
Alisson rolled her blue eyes, still upside-down. "Ree, it's definitely a girl."
Selena looked down at the index card with her assignment scribbled down.
Project - DUE BY FRIDAY!
Each of you will get a different assignment. That way no one may cheat, correct Gryffindors?
Your assignment:
Find a way to mix Flobberworm mucus, valerian sprigs, lavender, and Standard Ingredient into a potion.
A memory floated back to her, a class where Professor Snape held up a glittering purple vial of Sleeping Draught. She grinned. "It is!" She stood up, reaching for the jar of Flobberworm.
"It's smart too! I really want it!" Renee said.
Alisson sighed, finally pulling herself up to sit on the back of the couch. "Hey, whoever is behind there, can you please lower your paper and show our dear, misguided friend that you are not a sentient newspaper and that she cannot keep you?"
A pair of brown eyes peeked out from behind the crinkling Daily Prophet, hands setting the paper down. A girl's face appeared. She was slender, her wavy, dark blonde hair hanging down loosely. Selena noticed freckles covering her nose, too.
"Hi," the girl said in a soft voice. "Apologies to your friend. I'm not a talking newspaper."
Danny blushed a deep red. "Everyone, this is Avery... She's in my year."
"I'm Selena," the dark-haired girl told Avery happily. "Thanks for the help. How'd you know that?"
"My mum writes articles for the Daily Prophet and has written some on Potions. I remember when Snape gave me that assignment." She smiled a little. "I failed."
"M-me too," Danny said, his cheeks still as red as a cherry.
Avery smiled. "Great. I'm not alone. I decided to start studying potions more... which, of course, is helpful when it comes to that class. Snape can assign some brutal projects."
Selena grinned. "Yeah, he can be a pain. But thanks!"
Avery nodded. "No problem."
Wendy chose that moment to shove open the Fat Lady's portrait so hard, the painting actually started to yell. Wendy ignored her, storming into the Common Room. Selena thought she looked as though she wanted to light something on fire. "I cannot believe this!"
"What's wrong? Fall off your broom again?" Renee asked.
Wendy glared at her, dark eyes glinting. "Two things: firstly, no, and secondly - if I remember correctly, you've broken your arm falling of a broom before!"
Alisson barked out a laugh, Renee shooting her a look.
Selena sighed. "Dee, what's wrong?"
Wendy looked over at her. "Those two Freaky Twins are what's wrong! I ran into that boy, Eggplant or something, in the Second Floor corridor. I tried to say sorry, but he jinxed me! The next second, I was wearing nothing but my underwear in the hallway! I had to hide in the lavatory and have Sasha bring me my clothes!"
Alisson began to laugh even harder, covering her mouth. Renee opened her honey eyes wide. Danny managed not to laugh, but Selena could tell he wanted to, lips twitching. Wendy shoved Alisson off the back of the couch, the Second Year landing on the cushions. "Another giggle and I take your eyes out with a spoon!"
"That sounds terrible... But, uh," Avery stammered and Wendy turned around, fringe fluttering. "Just look," Avery said finally with a grimace. She closed the Daily Prophet to one of the pages labeled with 'Hogwarts News.'
The next moment Wendy shrieked and began screaming things Selena wouldn't dare repeat.
"What is it?" she asked. Wendy shoved the thin paper in her hands and Selena began reading.
STUDENT WITH NO CLOTHES IN HOGWARTS HALL?
By Rita Skeeter
Has Hogwarts gotten too out of hand? This afternoon, on my way to more photography of the Triwizard Champions (See Page 4) I noticed a certain Hogwarts student, Miss Wendy Rossotto, of Gryffindor, thought it would be fun to strip down to her underwear in the middle of the corridor.
I have vowed to find out what happened, and therefore talked to close friend of Wendy, a Miss Sasha Ramirez, also of Gryffindor.
"Leave me alone! Wendy was jinxed! And get some new glasses!"
Shocking! It appears that this girl, Wendy, had been jinxed! We talked to Neil, of Slytherin, a bystander.
"She's definitely lost it now. I've seen her around school, but now I can't get that image from my head!"
Saddening... Has Professor Albus Dumbledore finally let this school go? Are the students slipping from the reins? What's next? Someone smashing all the windows with a broom? I talked to Madam Maxime, Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, located in France. They are being hosted for the Triwizard Tournament along with Durmstrang Institute (See Page 5.)
"I cannot be'live zat Dumbl'edore would actually let 'is stud'ants act zis way! My stud'ants would ne'ver act zis way! I hope zat zis cl'ars up before ze Tourn'am'ant begins!"
Next I tried to speak with Igor Karkaroff, Headmaster of Durmstrang Institute, located in Scandinavia. He refused to comment, although I would like to add a comment myself, if I may.
I tell you all, loyal readers: whatever is happening at Hogwarts, I will help to make sure you know all about it!
Selena's jaw dropped open. "Why would she do that?"
Wendy threw up her hands. "I don't know! But, if I ever see that woman again - I'm going to strangle her with her own purse!"
Renee looked at them innocently. "She does need a new pair of glasses."
Hi Guys!
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG!
I've been really busy. Seriously:
Track, Yearbook, NJHS, Testing, Projects, German Exchange Program, and sooooo much Homework!
I've been wanting to write for so long. I'm sorry. I will NEVER make you wait that long.
So, onto the chapter. HOW WAS IT? Was it good enough to make up for everything? Still mad? =(
Anyway, I'm trying to make a new character every few chapters. Any suggestions on anything that YOU want to see happen?
I'll take suggestions! And who can guess this WITHOUT looking back at the chapters? Be honest! ;D
Who was being bullied by the two twins Iceyeyes and Erebus?
Book Rec: Harry Potter 19 Years Later
It's good!
Anyway, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STAYING WITH THIS STORY! *Hands you some cookies!*
I really like this chapter, and I had fun writing it! Hope you like it too!
~Meghan
12/4/17: In the books, the names are drawn from the Goblet of Fire on October 31st. I made the event take place a week later to make the dates make sense for my story. Additionally, I replaced Lee Jordan with our Sasha in this chapter.