The Four Champions

[Book: B4, 272 Siria is in shock that her name was called. Professor McGonagall whispers to Dumbledore]

Hermione had tightened her grip around Siria and seemed to be holding her breath. Ron stared, wide-eyed and open mouthed at Siria. The Gryffindor table, the Great Hall even, watched Siria. She shook her head in quick, small trembles. "B—Black" her voice cracked. That was right, she wasn't "Siria Potter" she was "Siria Potter-Black," so there was a mistake.

[Book: B4, 273 Dumbledore calls her name again]

Ron tugged Hermione's arm. "Dumbledore'll fix it." Ron told Siria. Hermione trembled as she nodded. "We've got you," Ron assured her.

[Book: B4, 273 Siria gets up and stumbles, but goes through the doors and into the room with Viktor Krum, Fleur Delacour, and Cassius Warrington, who all look impressive, and are surprised to see her. Fleur asks if Siria is there to deliver a message.]

"P.B.?" Warrington asked. Siria couldn't reply. He reached out to her, but Ludo Bagman swept up Siria's arm.

[Book: B4, 274-276 there's an argument on Hogwarts getting two champions, Siria being too young, and if Siria put her name in the Goblet]

Dumbledore asked Siria, in a tone even more calm and patient than he used in their summer lessons "Siria, did you place your name in the Goblet of Fire?" Siria's head shook. The weight of the eyes in the room made it difficult.

"Couldn't've" she whispered. Dumbledore leaned in. "I could not have put my name in." Siria repeated. Her fists were clenched and her words starting pouring out "It shouldn't matter though— the contract can't be valid! I'm Potter-BLACK." She gestured to herself as if it were written on her face. "Someone signed up 'Siria Potter', not 'Siria Potter-Black', right?" Siria's brow furrowed more and more as she scanned across the faces in the room. Even Dumbledore's face read was worried. "C— can't you fix it?" Siria asked as her voice cracked.

"Are you saying that— that the magic makes it 'wing-GAR-dee-um levi-O-sa' doesn't apply to— to being Potter-Black and not Potter?" Siria felt the room spinning. She took a stumbling step back. Warrington reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm only fourteen." Siria whispered. Sirius was going to worry himself to death.

[Book: B4, 277-282 It's concluded that Siria must compete in the tournament. Moody says that someone must have used a very strong Confundus Charm on the Goblet to make it think there were four schools. There's a lot of arguing, but Siria has been magically bound and no one has a way to get her out. There won't be any details on the first task because it's meant to test the champions' courage. They send the students away.]

Once they returned to the Great Hall, Warrington placed his hand on Siria's shoulder. She was only vaguely aware of it. A deep, sinking feeling of doom and misery had taken over her insides. It was as if the contentment to watch had been carved out of her along with any hope of having a quiet, normal year. "Normal" Siria thought. That was her problem. Given her past three years at Hogwarts, a "normal" year had at least one deadly encounter. She should have hoped for a boring year.

"Potter-Black!" Warrington called. He gave her shoulder a squeeze and something about the coldness of his hand pulled Siria together. She looked up at him.

"I might actually die this year." Siria confessed.

"You won't. We'll help each other. If either of us wins, it's a win for Hogwarts." He told her.

"How could I help you? You're two years ahead of me! I'm— I'm—and Sirius." Siria clutched the pendants of her necklace, a silver "S" and small star. "I've still never spent Christmas with my dad, or his birthday, or New Years…"

"You'll get to!" Warrington clapped Siria on the back with such force her knees buckled beneath her.

"Pull yourself together, P.B. Honestly, thank goodness I was chosen because you'd never live this down. If you don't calm down, you'll die of stress before the first task." Siria gave a shaking nod. "Who tackled the Professors' challenges to get the Sorcerer's Stone?" Warrington barked. Siria's trembling fingers pointed herself. "Who not only found the Chamber of Secrets, but killed the monster inside?" He continued and she stopped trembling. "This is like any other year, except you've got me. Don't let anyone see you afraid."

Warrington headed down to the Slytherin common room, in the dungeons, and Siria made the long climb up to Gryffindor Tower. So what if someone was trying to kill her with the Goblet of Fire? Dumbledore would be right there, wouldn't he? Warrington would be. They could find somewhere to practice…

Siria made a detour to the painting of the miserable man, still struggling to teach the trolls ballet. "Hello again" she smiled at him. He sighed. "I just wanted to let you know, you'll be seeing a lot of me again, until I can figure out what you're hiding. I need a good place to practice and I feel good about here." She smirked at the fumbling trolls in their ballet shoes and remembered how determined she was when she stood here as a first year student. It wasn't that the determination had left, it was just channeled to other things. This time, she'd find a good place to practice and make it through the tournament— even if she had to lose.

[Book: B4, 284-286 the Gryffindors are celebrating that Siria is a champion & she makes nice for a moment before going to her dorm.]

When the door opened, Hermione stopped pacing to throw her arms around Siria's neck. Siria gave a small sigh of relief and hugged Hermione back. She nuzzled her head against Hermione's bushy hair and chuckled. "I'll be okay," Siria told her. "It's me, afterall. I'm literally known for living." Hermione broke the hug to hold Siria's face in her hands.

"This will not be like the Chamber of Secrets! I will be there for you the entire time. You're my best friend." Hermione's eyes filled with tears and she swept Siria back into her arms with a suppressed shudder. "You're— you're going to be fine!"

"I know, 'Mione." Siria smiled and patted Hermione's back. "I know." She hoped.