THE POTTER TWINS AND THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT

CHAPTER 2:

AUTHOR'S NOTE: THIS IS THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE STORY AND MANY THINGS THAT ARE IN THIS OR WILL COME IN THE NEXT CHAPTER ARE CONNECTED TO MY OTHER STORY,"THE TWINS WHO LIVED." ALSO, SIRIUS BLACK IS NOT IN AZKABAN, HE IS FREE, HARRY AND HAZEL LIVE WITH HIM,

ENJOY THE CHAPTER AND LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS,

TILL THE NEXT ONE,

ALYNA.

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place, though his eyes were colder than ever. "Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools."

"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff," said Snape softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here —"

"How is it Harry's fault?" Hazel burned up." My name came out of the Goblet too."

"Lily, Harry has caused so much.."Snape stopped in the middle of his sentence.

Dumbledore and McGonagall looked at him in surprise, it was true that Hazel looked a lot like Lily but Snape going soft for James's daughter, seemed impossible. Snape tried to look the other way, he always denied his soft spot for Hazel whenever she corrected him. All the detentions and pionts he took away was to retain himself for admitting somethings to her.

"Did you two put your name into the Goblet of Fire," he asked calmly. "No," said Harry. He was very aware of everybody watching him closely. Snape made a soft noise of impatient disbelief in the shadows.

"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" said Professor Dumbledore, ignoring Snape. "

No," said Harry vehemently.

"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" cried Madame Maxime. Snape was now shaking his head, his lip curling.

"I am NOT." The twins yelled together.

"He could not have crossed the Age Line," said Professor McGonagall sharply. "I am sure we are all agreed on that —"

"Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line," said Madame Maxime, shrugging.

"It is possible, of course," said Dumbledore politely.

Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" said Professor McGonagall angrily. "Really, what nonsense! These two could not have crossed the line themselves, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that they did not persuade an older student to do it for them, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!"

She glared at everyone.

"Mr. Crouch . . . Mr. Bagman," said Karkaroff, his voice unctuous once more, "you are our — er — objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?"

"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." Barty Crouch said in his grave voice.

"Well, Barty knows the rule book back to front," said Bagman, beaming and turning back to Karkaroff and Madame Maxime, as though the matter was now closed.

"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students," said Karkaroff. He had dropped his unctuous tone and his smile now. His face wore a very ugly look indeed. "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."

"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that," said Bagman. "The Goblet of Fire's just gone out — it won't reignite until the start of the next tournament —"

"— in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!" exploded Karkaroff. "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," growled a voice from near 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?"

Professor Moody said for the first time.

"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Potter,s" growled Moody, "but . . . funny thing . . . I don't hear them saying a word. . . ."

"Why should 'e complain?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot. " 'E 'as ze chance to compete, 'asn't 'e? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honor for our schools!"

"Maybe someone's hoping the Potters are going to die for it," said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl. An extremely tense silence followed these words.

Ludo Bagman, who was looking very anxious indeed, bounced nervously up and down on his feet and said, "Moody, old man . . . what a thing to say!"

"How this situation arose, we do not know," said Dumbledore, speaking to everyone gathered in the room. "It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Cedric and Hazel and Haary have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do. . . ."

"Ah, but Dumbly-dorr —"

"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it."

Karkaroff livid; Bagman, however, looked rather excited. "Well, shall we crack on, then?" he said, rubbing his hands together and smiling around the room. "Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honors?"

Mr. Crouch seemed to come out of a deep reverie. "Yes," he said, "instructions. Yes . . . the first task . . ." He moved forward into the firelight.

The first task is designed to test your daring," he told Harry,Hazel, Cedric, Fleur, and Viktor, "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."

Mr. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore. "I think that's all, is it, Albus?"

"Harry,Hazel, Cedric, I suggest you go up to bed," said Dumbledore, smiling at both of them. "I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting to celebrate with you, and it would be a shame to deprive them of this excellent excuse to make a great deal of mess and noise."

Harry glanced at Cedric, who nodded, and they left together. The Great Hall was deserted now; the candles had burned low, giving the jagged smiles of the pumpkins an eerie, flickering quality. "So," said Cedric, with a slight smile. "We're playing against each other again!"

"I guess." Harry said slowly,

He looked at Hazel, she looked a little worried.

"So . . . tell me . . ." said Cedric as they reached the entrance hall, which was now lit only by torches in the absence of the Goblet of Fire. "How did you two get your name in?" "I didn't," said Harry, staring up at him.

Hazel said firmly."We didn't put it in. we were telling the truth."

Harry and Hazel walked to the common room in silence, they didn't know what to say.

"You should've told us you'd entered!" bellowed Fred as he saw them enter, he looked half annoyed, half deeply impressed.

"How did you do it without getting a beard? Brilliant!" roared George.

But Angelina had now swooped down upon him; "Oh if it couldn't be me, at least it's a Gryffindor —"

"You'll be able to pay back Diggory for that last Quidditch match, Harry!" shrieked Katie Bell, another of the Gryffindor Chasers.

Everyone wanted to celebrate, no one wanted to hear that both of them tired. they wanted sometime by themselves. At last Harry and Hazel got out of the crowd and went to bed.