Hailey felt stunned and numb after her name was called out. She was also uncomfortably aware that all eyes seemed to turn to her and she couldn't help but think that this is must have been some sort of nightmare.

There wasn't any applause and there was a strange buzzing noise, like there were thousands of angry bees filling the Hall. She noticed that a few students stood up to see her better.

Hailey couldn't make her legs move to get up to walk past the table and to the chamber, because she felt frozen. Surely there was some mistake because only three champions were supposed to be selected, not four.

She watched Professor McGonagall whisper to Professor Dumbledore, who was frowning slightly. Hailey managed to turn around to look back at Michael and Mandy, who were staring, even though Mandy was looking horrified.

"I didn't put my name in," Hailey said, her hands were shaking. "You know that I didn't." Her friends just stared back at her.

"Surely there has to be some mistake," Mandy said looking thoughtful.

"Hailey Potter!" Dumbledore called again, "Hailey! Up here, if you please!"

Hailey refused to move because she was sure if that she didn't go up there, that would be a sign that she wasn't going to participate in the death cup.

"Go on," Michael said, nudging Hailey with his elbow to get her to stand up.

"Don't go," Mandy said. "If you don't go up there, you might be able to get out of joining the Death Tournament."

"Just go," Michael said and Hailey managed to get up, almost hitting her knee on the table. Her legs were wobbling and she shakily made the walk to the top table. It felt like an immensely long walk and it felt like she was doing the walk of shame as she felt eyes watch her. The buzzing seemed to grow louder.

Hailey stood right in front of Dumbledore, feeling the stares of the teacher on her.

"Well…through the door, Hailey," said Dumbledore. He wasn't smiling and Hailey move along the staff teachers' table. Hagrid was seated at the end and didn't even wink or wave at her, however he seemed astonished as he stared at her.

She went through the door out of the Great Hall and found herself in a smaller room, lined with paintings of witches and wizards. A fire was roaring in the fireplace that was opposite of her.

The faces in the portraits turned to look at Hailey as she entered. She saw a wizened witch flit out of the frame of her picture and into the one that was next to it, which contained a wizard with a walrus mustache. The wizened witch started whispering in his ear.

Viktor Krum, Cedric Diggory, and Fleur Delacour were grouped together around the fire. They looked strangely impressive, silhouetted against the flames. Krum, hunched up and brooding was leaning against the mantelpiece, slightly apart from the other two. Cedric was standing with his hands behind his back, staring into the fire. Fleur looked around when Hailey walked in and threw back her long hair.

"What is it?" she asked. "Do zey want us back in ze Hall?" She thought that she had come to deliver a message. Why would they send a fourteen year old to deliver a message when one of the teachers could deliver it themselves, was a strange idea.

Hailey wasn't sure how to explain her situation, so she stood there, staring at the three champions. She realized how tall they really were.

Ludo Bagman entered the room and took Hailey by the arm, to led her forward. "Extraordinary!" he muttered, squeezing Hailey's arm. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen…lady," he added, approaching the fire. "May I introduce—incredible though it may seem—the fourth Triwizard champion?"

Viktor Krum straightened up, his surly face darkened as he surveyed Hailey. Cedric looked like he didn't know how to react as he looked from Bagman to Hailey, and then back again as if he misheard what Bagman said.

Fleur tossed her hair back smiling and said, "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."

If it was a joke, it was pretty cruel.

Bagman looked bewildered, "Joke? No, no, not at all! Hailey's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"

Krum's eyebrows contracted slightly and Cedric was looking bewildered.

Fleur was frowning, "But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," she said in contempt to Bagman. "She cannot compete. She is too young."

"Well…it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his chin and smiling down at Hailey. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as her name's come out of the goblet…I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage…It's down in the rules, you're obliged…Hailey will just have to do the best she—"

The door opened again and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed by Mr Crouch, Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape.

Hailey could hear the buzzing of the hundred of students on the other side, before McGonagall closed the door.

"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little girl is competing also!"

Hailey was still in disbelief, but she felt a little anger at being called "little girl".

Madame Maxime drew herself up to her full and considerable height. The top of her head brushed the candle-filled chandelier and her black-satin bosom swelled. "What is ze mean of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" she asked.

"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said Professor Karkaroff. He had a steely smile. "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host is allowed two champions—or have I not read the rules carefully enough?" He did a short and nasty laugh.

"C'est impossible," said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand with many superb opal rings rested upon Fleur's shoulder. "'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is must injust."

Hailey agreed.

"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff, his steely smile still in place. "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. She has been crossing line ever since she arrived here—"

"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore firmly and Snape went quiet. His eyes were still glinted malevolently though. Dumbledore was looking down at Hailey, who looked right back at him. "Did you put you name into the Goblet of Fire, Hailey?" he sounded calm.

"No," said Hailey, feeling very aware of everybody watching her closely. Snape made a noise of impatient disbelief.

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

"No," replied Hailey firmly.

"Ah, but of course she is lying!" Madam Maxime cried. Snape was shaking his head, his lip curling.

"I will take Veritaserum," Hailey whispered which went unheard because McGonagall said, "She could not have crossed the Age Line. 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! Hailey could have crossed the line herself, and as Professor Dumbledore said that she did not persuade an older student to do it for her, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!" She gave Snape a very angry look.

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

Bagman wiped his face with his handkerchief and looked at Mr Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of firelight, his face half hidden in shadow. He looked much older, almost skull-like. He spoke curtly, "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."

"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 up resubmitting the names of the rest of my students," said Karkaroff. He dropped his oily tone and smile now. He had a very ugly look on his face. "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 certainly most not be competing!" Karkaroff exclaimed. "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," a voice said 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?" Moody had entered the room and he limped toward the fire. With every right step he took, there was a loud clunking sound.

"Convenient?" repeated Karkaroff. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody." He tried to sound disdainful, as if want Moody was saying was barely worth his time. However, Hailey noticed that his hands were balled into fists.

"Don't you?" asked Moody quietly. "It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter's name in that goblet knowing she'd have to compete if it came out."

Hailey wondered where Moody was going with that.

"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" exclaimed Madame Maxime.

"I quite agree, Madame Maxime," said Karkaroff, bowing to her. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards—"

"If anyone's got reason to compete, it's Potter," growled Moody, "but…funny thing…I don't hear her saying a word…"

Hailey wasn't sure how to even form what she wanted to say.

"Why should she complain?" Fleur blurted out, stamping her foot. "She 'as ze chance to compete, 'asn't she? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! Ze honour for our schools! A thousand Galleons in prize money –zis is a chance many would die for!"

Hailey wanted to say that many had died for the chance, which was why the tournament had been cancelled in the first place.

"Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it," replied Moody.

Oh, that makes sense, Hailey thought, feeling nervous.

A tense silence followed after that. Bagman was looking very anxious, bouncing up and down on his feet. He said, "Moody, old man…what thing to say!"

"We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime," said Karkaroff loudly. "Apparently he is now teaching his students to fear assassination too. An odd quality in a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dumbledore, but no doubt you had your reasons."

Hailey wanted to say that it was better than favouring one student because he was famous. At least Moody has a reason to be paranoid.

"Imagining things, am I?" growled Moody. "Seeing things, eh? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the girl's name in that goblet…"

"Ah, what evidence is zere of zat?" demanded Madame Maxime, throwing her hands in the air.

"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object!" snapped Moody. "It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into forgetting that only three schools compete in the tournament. I'm guessing they submitted Potter's name under a fourth school, to make sure she was the only one in her category…"

"You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody," Karkaroff replied coldly, "and a very ingenious theory it is—though of course, I heard you recently got it into your head that one of your birthday presents contained a cunningly disguised basilisk egg, and smashed it to pieces before realizing it was a carriage clock. So you'll understand if we don't take you entirely seriously…"

"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage," Moody retorted, sounding menacing. "It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff—as you ought to remember…"

Hailey thought that was a weird thing to say.

"Alastor!" Dumbledore warned and Moody fell silent, surveying Karkaroff with satisfaction—Karkaroff's face was really red. Dumbledore spoke to everyone in the room. "How this sitatuin arose, we do not know. It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Cedric and Hailey have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. This, therefore, they will do…"

Madame Maxime started, "Ah, but Dumbly-doorr—"

"My dear Madame Maxime, if you have an alternative, I would be delighted to hear it." Dumbledore said and paused, waiting for the French headmistress to respond, but she just glared instead. Snape looked furious and Karkaroff was livid.

Bagman instead looked excited for some reason. "Well, shall we crack on, then?" He rubbed his hands together and smiled around the room. "Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honours?"

Crouch seemed to come to, after looking deep in thought, "Yes, instructions. Yes…the first task…" He moved into the firelight and Hailey saw there there were dark shadows beneath his eyes. He also had a thin, papery look about his wrinkled skin that Hailey remembered weren't there when they were at the Quidditch World Cup. He looked at the four champions and explained, "The first task is designed to test your daring. 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-the-year tests."

Hailey felt herself deflate at not being able to take the end-of-the-year tests. Crouch turned to look at Dumbledore and said, "I think that's all, is it, Albus?"

"I think so," said Dumbledore, looking at Crouch concerned. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"

"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry," said Crouch. "It is a very busy, very difficult time at the moment…I've left young Weatherby in charge…Very enthusiastic…a little overenthusiastic, if truth be told…"

Hailey was slightly confused over who 'Weatherby' was before realizing that Crouch was talking about Percy.

"You'll come and have a drink before you go, at least?" asked Dumbledore.

"Come on, Barty, I'm staying!" said Bagman brightly. "It's all happening at Hogwarts now, you know, much more exciting here than at the office!"

"I think not, Ludo," said Crouch sounding impatient.

Hailey realized that at least Crouch was still his old self.

"Professor Karkarof—Madam Mazime—a nightcap?" asked Dumbledore.

Madame Maxime had already put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and was leading her out of the room. Hailey could her them talking rapidly in French as they went into the Great Hall. She was sure that it was about her. Karkaroff beckoned to Krum and they exited in silence.

"Hailey, Cedric, I suggest you go up to bed," said Dumbledore, smiling at the two Hogwarts students. "I am sure Ravenclaw 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."

Hailey wanted to point out that apparently Ravenclaws don't have parties, because there wasn't one when she won the Quidditch House Cup. She looked at Cedric, who nodded, and they left the chamber together.

The Great Hall was deserted, the candles had burned low giving the jagged smiles of the jack-o-lanterns an eerie, flickering quality.

"So," started Cedric, smiling slightly. "We're playing against each other again!"

"I s'pose," Hailey responded, not knowing what to say, because it seemed like her thoughts were scattered.

"So…tell me…" said Cedric when they reached the entrance hall, now lit by the torches because of the absence of the Goblet of Fire. "How did you get your name in?"

"I didn't," responded Hailey, growing frustrated. "I didn't put my name in. I didn't ask someone to put it in for me. I'm telling the truth."

"Ah, okay," replied Cedric. Hailey was sure that he didn't believe her either. "Well…see you, then."

Hailey thought, see you where? She watched as Cedric headed to the door on the right side of the marble staircase. Hailey listened to Cedric go down the stone steps beyond it, and then slowly climbed the marble staircase.

She wasn't sure that anyone was going to believe, besides Ron, Hermione, Mandy, and Michael. Would they all think that she'd put herself in the tournament. But why would anyone think that, when she was facing competition that had three years more magical education that she has? She was facing tasks that sounded very dangerous and had to be performed in front of hundreds of people. Sure, she fantasized about it…along with probably many others…but she hadn't seriously considered entering…

But someone else had considered it…someone who wanted her in the tournament and made sure that she was entered. Why they did it she wasn't sure? Just to get her to make a fool out of herself? To make her get money? To treat her? She wasn't sure about her winning money or to treat her…but to get her killed?

She wasn't sure if Moody was being paranoid about it. Besides, couldn't someone have put her name in the goblet as a trick or practical joke? Did someone really want her dead?

Yes…someone did want her dead. Someone wanted her dead ever since she was a year old…Lord Voldemort. However, how could Voldemort ensured that Hailey's name got into the Goblet of Fire? Voldemort was supposed to be somewhere far, far away…alone, feeble, and powerless…

But the dream she had, just before she woke up with her scar hurting, Voldemort hadn't been alone. He had been talking to Peter Pettigrew…plotting Hailey's murder…

Hailey got a shock to find herself standing in front of the old wooden door. It didn't have a door handle, but had an old bronze, eagle shaped knocker. She didn't even notice where she was going. She grabbed the knocker and knocked once. The eagle, in a musical voice, gave her a riddle which she answered, before the door opened.

She walked in, to see some older Ravenclaws glaring at her or giving her a curious look.

"How did you get past the Age Line without growing a beard?" a Ravenclaw demanded.

Hailey almost sighed, "I didn't. I don't know how my name got in there." She wanted to find Michael and Mandy to get a bit of her sanity back. But they weren't in the common room. She hurried her way over to the common room entrance, being stopped by a few Ravenclaws. Some were congratulating her on finding a way to trick the Age Line and getting her name in the Goblet of Fire. Some demanded to know which spell or potion she used to get in, but Hailey repeated herself on how she got in because she didn't do it.

It took a while, but Hailey managed to get up to the dormitory, relieved to find that Mandy was still up, wearing her gingham tt and going through some noise.

"I didn't my name in the goblet," Hailey blurted out. "I don't know how my name got in there."

Mandy looked up, looking weary. "I know you didn't. Michael and I got questioned repeatedly by them. They believe that since we're friends, we would know how you put your name in."

Hailey felt relieved, "You believe me?"

"The 'oh crap' look gave was an indicator," Mandy said. "Michael knows you didn't either." Hailey flopped down on her bed. "But why would someone enter you? As a joke maybe?"

"To get me killed?" Hailey responded, feeling melodramatic to say it.

"Where did you get that idea?" Mandy asked.

"Moody," Hailey responded.

"Ah," Mandy replied, as if that answered everything. "It does make sense actually. Your dream about You-Know-Who and your scar hurting…"

"But how?" Hailey asked. "How can Pettigrew come all the over here and put my name in? Moody says that the goblet is a powerful magical object and you need to be a powerful Dark wizard to even put my name in. I don't think Pettigrew can be that powerful. He's just a…rat."

The door to the bathroom opened and Su Li emerged from it and looked at Hailey. "How did you put your name in the goblet?"

Hailey grabbed a pillow, covered her face with it, and screamed from frustration.