And now things should start moving a bit faster! My thanks to those of you who are sticking with me so far- I hope I am continuing to hold your interest! Let me know if there is anything in particular that you'd like to see in the next few chapters!

DISCLAIMER- HARRY POTTER CHARACTERS AND PLOTS ARE THE PROPERTY OF J.K. ROWLINGS, NOT ME.

Chapter Seven

Half a dozen third years looked rather dejected. Somehow Fred and George had managed to convince them that there was not a chance in the world of Krum's name being chosen, and they had all laid down bets against them. Fred and George were now three Galleons richer and if Hermione had been a prefect they would have been in great trouble.

"Fleur Delacour," said Dumbledore, reading off the second name.

All the boys immediately turned to watch Fleur make her way up to the head table.

"Veela," scoffed Hannah. "Is there any male in this room not watching her?"

Well, Cedric wasn't. Cassi knew because- apart from Hermione's outburst she had kept her eyes glued to the Hufflepuff favorite. She knew him well enough to see that, despite his calm demeanor, he was actually quite anxious. His hand was clenching his goblet too hard- his knuckles were white.

Hannah suddenly grabbed Cassi's arm. "Here it is!" she whispered. "Hogwarts!"

A blue flame whooshed up from the Cup for the third time, and the final paper drifted out to be caught by Dumbledore. The headmaster turned it over and carefully read off the name. "Cedric Diggory."

Cassi let out a small shriek as the rest of the Hufflepuff table burst into cheers. Cedric rose, a slight flush on his face. He looked pleased, but was trying not to show it.

"I knew it!" said Hannah. "Of course, Neville isn't old enough, but-"

With a roll of her eyes, Cassi shook her head at her friend and joined the rest of the Hufflepuffs in wild applause. Cedric had reached the front of the room, and Dumbledore sent the three contestants on through a side door.

"Great," said a fifth year from across the table. "Now I suppose we can actually eat?"

Suddenly, a hush fell over the room. Cassi jerked her head up in time to see the blue flames rising from the Cup once more. A fourth paper rose up, to be snatched almost angrily by Dumbledore.

Angrily- or fearfully?

The headmaster looked down at the tiny piece, squinted, and murmured something that Cassi could not hear. Then, raising his voice, he looked directly at the Gryffindor table.

"Harry Potter?"

All eyes immediately swiveled to stare at Harry's astonished face. The boy didn't move.

"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore repeated, his voice the sharpest Cassi had ever heard from him.

Slowly, as though in a trance, Harry rose and made his way up the aisle. A rumble of rebellious whispers followed him.

Hannah turned to Cassi. "He's only fourteen! How could his name get in there?"

Cassi was frowning. "He couldn't have crossed the age line. Even Fred and George couldn't trick that."

"But- Harry Potter you know- he's supposed to be quite powerful."

"Yes," said the fifth year from across the table. "After all, he was the one who defeated you-know-who…"

"Don't be silly," said Cassi. Something was nagging at her mind, but she couldn't quite place it. "Didn't you see his face? Harry was just as surprised as the rest of us."

"Of course. The Hogwart's champion had already been chosen."

Cassi shook her head. "He was clapping along with everyone else, wasn't he?" She glanced over at Hannah, her eyebrows raised. Hannah had been watching Neville, who was never very far from Harry.

Hannah nodded. "Yes, I remember he was clapping even harder than Neville…"

"So he can't have been expecting his name to come out at all. You saw how the other contestants looked a bit glummer than the rest of us- even though they were all good sports."

"How did his name get in the cup, then?"

"Someone other than Harry must have put it in."

"You mean-"

"Yes. An adult."

"But who? Why would they want Harry to be in the tournament?"

Cassi closed her eyes. "I don't know. But I feel as though I ought to."

Her friend reached over and shook her shoulder. "Don't let it bother you, Cassi. It's not your concern. Let's get back to the common room so we can see Cedric when he returns."

But Cassi wasn't in a celebratory mood. All the excitement that had welled up in her when Cedric's name was chosen had been driven out by a prickling of fear at the look in Harry's eyes.

It's because we're both different, she thought. We're not like the rest of them.

And that was true. Harry was marked by a scar and a past that held the wizarding world in awe. Cassi was marked by an untimely entrance and a past which no one knew.

No one, except Moody. And he had given her a clue.

Slipping through the crowd in the common room, she headed out into the deserted corridors. She had left the book of curses in an alcove outside the library and put a concealment charm on it. Now all she had to do was retrieve it and find a quiet place to read.

And, actually, it was easier to do than she expected. The teachers were all in conference in Dumbledore's office, and the students were gathered in their respective common rooms, discussing or celebrating the evening's revelations. So it wasn't hard at all to find a nook hidden behind a suit of armor that was just big enough to sit in. Pulling out her wand, she murmered the spell Neville had taught her.

"Occulius Stella."

Immediately the pages whipped by, ruffling her hair and sending a cool breeze onto her face. No. This wasn't what she was looking for. Only a curse on the Goyle family that any child of theirs born under a certain constellation would be doomed to ill luck. What a boring curse.

She sighed and thought again. "Occulius Stella Black."

The pages moved again, and this time she knew she had found her quarry. A two page spread, completely with illustrations, was titled "The Star Curse Upon the Name of Black."

Of course, the title was misleading. As the others had told her, the curse was not that the Blacks were doomed to have the name of stars, but rather that a non-black naming their child after a constellation would be haunted by an unspeakable terror. The "safety net" extended to those who were Black by blood, not merely by name. Therefore those such as Narcissa Malfoy and could not only carry stellar names themselves, but could also pass the names on to their children.

So there was no hope, then. She was part of the Black family. That didn't automatically mean that her parents were death eaters- but it seemed as though there was a good chance. There were only three women who were the right age to be her mother. Narcissa Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Andromeda Tonks.

Well, there was a hope, then. Andromeda, apparently, had married a Muggle. But why would she give up her daughter? It didn't make sense. Likewise with Narcissa. Her son Draco was the same age as Cassi- and they were obviously not twins.

A chill stole down Cassi's spine. It couldn't be Bellatrix Lestrange. Bellatrix was in Azkaban. Bellatrix was a Death Eater.

Bellatrix was, in short, a perfect answer to the riddle.

"Hold on, Cassi," she told herself. "You're forgetting Moody."

"What about Moody?"

She jumped as the gruff voice barked in her ear.

"Pro-Professor!"

"What are you doing wandering around the halls at night, Young?"

"I- I'm not wandering."

The magical eye zoomed in on her book. "Researching family curses, eh?"

"My…name. You said-"

"Smart girl. Now put the book away and get back to your common room. There's danger lurking around Hogwarts. You saw what happened to Potter!"

Cassi gasped. "Did something else happen?"

"Else?" Moody glared at her. "It isn't enough that someone put his name in the Goblet of Fire? It isn't enough that his life will be in danger through every one of those tasks? Does he need something more to happen?"

"N-no. Of course not."

"Stop stuttering. I'm not an ogre."

No, thought Cassi, but I'm not convinced that you don't have one somewhere in your family tree.

"Now are you going back to your room or do I have to send you back with this?" he waved his wand ominously.

Cassi rose quickly from the floor and edged her way out of the nook. She was still staring at the Professor, wondering whether or not to ask him for the truth. But the wand was starting to glow and she had no wish to be sent flying into the Hufflepuff common room with Cedric Diggory watching. She turned and ran.

And behind her was the sound of a dark chuckle.

The next few days flew by. Cassi, disturbed by her own findings, had decided to let the matter of her parentage rest for the time being. Perhaps she was on the wrong track anyhow. She would wait for Moody to bring up the subject himself.

But that didn't keep her from being cautious. There was something nasty going on at Hogwarts. Someone had enchanted buttons to flash between "Support Cedric Diggory" and "Potter Stinks." As much as Cassi liked Cedric, she wasn't willing to wear something that blasted poor Harry. She was convinced (even if Hannah wasn't) that the boy who lived liked living, and had certainly not entered the Tournament of his own free will.

Because rumors were flying. Rumors of previous contestants who had died in the challenges. And, one by one, the other three contestants began looking less and less confident, until Harry didn't look so out of place.

Still, Cassi wasn't prepared for the sight of Cedric sitting up under a tree and looking entirely depressed.

It was after class, and most of the students were buzzing excitedly about the first of the tasks, which was to take place the next day. None of them noticed that their intended champion looked as though he had swallowed pig slop for breakfast.

She stood hesitantly under the tree. Would it be rude to notice his fear? The Slytherins would probably call him a coward. Half of them were cheering for Krum, anyhow.

"Cedric?" she called softly. "Are you all right?"

He glanced down at her. "Oh. Hello Cassi."

"Are you all right?" she repeated.

"I'm fine."

She craned her neck upwards, trying to read his face. There wasn't much to read. It was more of a…frozen…look.

"Cedric…did something happen?"

He looked down again, and seemed to be wondering as though he could trust her. Then, abruptly, he motioned for her to join him. "Come up."

Thank goodness having all those brothers had ensured that Cassi knew how to climb a tree! Leaving her book bag on the ground, she scrambled up into the branches. She tried not to shake them too hard as she settled into a comfortable position. No use attracting attention. The leaves were beginning to turn, but they were still fairly well shielded from prying eyes.

"All right, I'm here. What is going on?"

Cedric sighed. "I found out what the first task is."

"Oh."

"Yes."

"Can you-"

"Tell you? No. I don't think I can."

"Is it bad?"

"Well…" he hesitated. "It's supposed to be bad. But I wasn't expecting- well, this."

"Can I…do anything to help?"

He shook his head. "No. Thank you though. I really should be leaving anyhow. I'm meeting Cho."

The last bit was offered somewhat apologetically, but still, Cassi felt as though she had been slapped. "Oh."

"Yes. We're, well, studying. Even with the tournament I still have to keep up with my classes."

Cassi tried to smile. "Well, a Ravenclaw would be the best tutor."

"Exactly."

This was getting awkward. Cassi managed another half smile. "I'll go then." She put her foot on the lower branch and began the descent, but Cedric touched her lightly on the arm.

"Cassi…"

She looked at him.

"Thank you. For noticing."