Chapter 14
Nico
I went to the connected room where the champions were supposed to wait. I still couldn't believe the look on their faces when I was chosen. I don't know whether it was luck or fate or whatever it might be. But I was…well happy I guess.
Reyna came in next
"Nico!" Reyna greeted me with a hug. After our excursion with the Athena statue, well Reyna and I become rather close.
"And here I thought you didn't miss me." I said feigning seriousness. Reyna blinked then just laughed heartily.
"Anyways, how's everything going. Being back here."
"Its fine I guess." I said "The people are still the same as they were before. It is worse here than it was in Camp."
"Didn't camp become more bearable now?"
"Well, Will, Lou and Cecil are great and all. But it's becoming suffocating." I said. "Don't you normal social demigods know that I occasionally need my space. No matter how badly I was before. No one can just jump into having people around you twenty four seven."
Reyna chuckled at me. "Well they were right about one thing."
"And what is that?"
"You have been alone for way too long for one lifetime." she said. "I have no idea how you could've done it."
I shrugged. "It all comes with the mentality I guess. But I'm over it."
Thalia then entered the room with a smug look on her face. "Hello fellow demigods."
Thalia greeted Reyna warmly and nodded her head towards me. Thalia and I have never been that close. Mostly because I am a boy and the fact that I have a minor grudge towards the Hunters. But hopefully it would be easily patched up.
I was about to say something then, Harry came into the room.
"Harry?" I walked over to where Harry was looking rather lost. "What are you doing here?"
Ludo Bagman entered the room. He grabbed Harry by the arm and studied him.
"What the hell is going on?" Reyna demanded.
"Extraordinary!" he muttered, squeezing Harry's arm. "Absolutely extraordinary Ladies and Gentlemen," he added, approaching the fireside and addressing us all. "May I introduce - incredible though it may seem the seventh champion?"
Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed Harry. I was just in plain shock and disbelief. I know Harry enough to know that he wouldn't want eternal glory. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman to Harry and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. Thalia and Reyna both looked as well in disbelief except more alert like they think he is an imposter. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said,
"Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."
"Joke?" Bagman repeated, bewildered. "No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!" Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. We demigods have to comment on this. Things like that happen to us all the time this is no coincidence. Fleur frowned.
"But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," she said contemptuously to Bagman. "E cannot compete. 'E is too young." Thalia and I looked at her bewildered we all look younger than her, I am the same age as Harry himself. Thalia was stuck at fifteen only Reyna was seventeen between the three of us. "no offenz"
"Well. . . it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his 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. . . Harry will just have to do the best he -"
The door behind us slammed opened, causing me to really ready my sword and Thalia had her bow notched, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Chiron on his wheelchair.
"Please put that sword away, Mr. Di Angelo. Unless you want a detention." Snape said with his usual drawling tone
"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!" I saw Harry's expression he looked enraged like he was insulted Madame Maxime had drawn herself up to her full, and considerable, height. The top of her handsome head brushed the candle-filled chandelier, and her gigantic black-satin bosom swelled.
"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" she said imperiously.
"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said Professor Karkaroff. He was wearing a steely smile, and his blue eyes were like chips of ice. "Two Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed two champions - or have I not read the rules carefully enough?" He gave a short and nasty laugh.
"C'est impossible," said Madame Maxime, whose enormous hand with its many superb opals was resting upon Fleur's shoulder. "Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most injust."
"It is unusual for Mr. Potter to enter especially with the new age restriction and your age line" Chiron said seriously.
"Yeah. 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 –"
"Thank you, Severus," said Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently through his curtain of greasy black hair. Professor Dumbledore was now looking down at Harry, who looked right back at him, trying to discern the expression of the eyes behind the half-moon spectacles. "Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" 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 or a demigod 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.
"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! Harry could not have crossed the line himself, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade an older student to do it for him, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!" She shot a very angry look at Professor Snape.
"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?" Bagman wiped his round, boyish face with his handkerchief and looked at Mr. Crouch, who was standing outside the circle of the firelight, his face half hidden in shadow. He looked slightly eerie, the half darkness making him look much older, giving him an almost skull-like appearance. When he spoke, however, it was in his usual curt voice.
"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. Chiron and Artemis were both looking a bit bored at the situation.
"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?" Moody had just entered the room. He limped toward the fire, and with every right step he took, there was a loud clunk.
"Convenient?" said Karkaroff. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody."
"Don't you?" said Moody quietly. "It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter's name in that goblet knowing he'd have to compete if it came out."
"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" said 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 complain, it's Potter," growled Moody, "but. . . funny thing. . . I don't hear him 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! A thousand Galleons in prize money zis is a chance many would die for!"
"Seriously!" I was on my feet glaring at them. "Do you honestly think that he would want to enter himself? People die in these competitions. Someone wants him dead. And everyone here knows that this tournament is one of the most dangerous known." they were all staring at me like I was talking in another language… and I get that a lot so I know how it looks like
"Yes Nico's right" Chiron said "it's impossible for a fifteen year old boy to enter himself in this competition someone wants him dead"
"Maybe someone's hoping Potter is 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!"
"We all know Professor Moody considers the morning wasted if he hasn't discovered six plots to murder him before lunchtime," said Karkaroff loudly. I nearly burst out laughing seriously this man needs a life "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."
"Imagining things, am I?" growled Moody. "Seeing things, eh? It was a skilled witch or wizard who put the boy's name in that goblet. . ."
"Ah, what evidence is zere of zat?" said Madame Maxime, throwing up her huge hands.
"Because they hoodwinked a very powerful magical object!" said Moody. "It would have needed an exceptionally strong Confundus Charm to bamboozle that goblet into forgetting that only three schools and the three camps are to compete in the tournament.. . . I'm guessing they submitted Potter's name under a fourth school, to make sure he was the only one in his category.. . ."
"You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody," said Karkaroff 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 in a menacing voice. "It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff - as you ought to remember...
"Alastor!" said Dumbledore warningly. I was looking around till Moody fell silent, though still surveying Karkaroff. I thought Mad- eye WAS his name oh well
"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. Both Cedric and Harry 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." Dumbledore waited, but Madame Maxime did not speak, she merely glared. She wasn't the only one either. Snape looked furious; 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. He looked sick and very pail. There were dark shadows beneath his eyes and a thin, papery look about his wrinkled skin.
"The first task is designed to test your daring," he told us, "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. . . or in a hero is 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 or with only one of your weapons. 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?"
"I think so," said Dumbledore, who was looking at Mr. Crouch with mild concern. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"
"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry," said Mr. 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. . .
"You'll come and have a drink before you go, at least?" said Dumbledore.
"Come on, Barry, 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 with a touch of his old impatience.
"Professor Karkaroff - Madame Maxime- Chiron - a nightcap?" said Dumbledore. Madame Maxime had already put her arm around Fleur's shoulders and was leading her swiftly out of the room. We could hear them both talking very fast in French as they went off into the Great Hall. Karkaroff beckoned to Krum, and they, too, exited, though in silence.
"Come, you three" Chiron said much more patiently the three of us followed him back towards our camp site.
"Congratulations in becoming the champions for our team," Chiron said with a smile "Beware these task are just as dangerous as your quest so don't be too complacent. "
HEY EVERYONE! So New chapter! yaaay I couldnt fully thin k of how to do teh chapter so i took some parts of my first writing of this story and the Goblet of Fire book itself so yeah
Sorry im a bit slow ive been having some rather difficult tasks of my own (called PLATES!) so yeah :P
Promise ill update soon for now
PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE! :D