I'm Here When You Need Me- Chapter 10
Disclaimer: My idol, J. K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter characters, places, spells, and so on. I, however, do not...Don't mind me...I'm just sobbing in my corner...
A/N: Please review! I would be most grateful! Thank you to Gothic Demoness, who so faithfully reviews. You're the best!
After the game, things between Malfoy and the Gryffindors seemed to loosen up. Ever since then, Malfoy could be seen waving to various students, all of whom had been at the Pitch that night, and he was receiving waves and smiles in return. He was even being nice to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Sarah thought that he was just trying to be civil, so she would still be his friend. Little did she know, he was trying to win her back.
The next day, the seventh of November, the Triwizard Champions were going to be announced. The whole school, including the two visiting ones, all gathered in the Great Hall, for the selection. Dumbledore magically dimmed the lights, and walked to the Goblet of Fire. The room instantly hushed, and tension filled the air.
"This is a historic moment; whoever gets chosen, is obligated to go through with the Tournament by a magical contract. The three Champions will go down in history as the bravest of their school, and will compete for the title of Triwizard Champion!"
The room burst into cheers. Waving his hands in an effort to silence the crowd once more, he turned to the Goblet of Fire and muttered some incantations, while running his slender fingers over the rough surface of the Goblet. Soon, the Goblet's blue flame flashed into a red blaze then back again, as it shot a piece of frilly parchment out from inside it. Dumbledore let it fall gracefully into his hand, then spoke.
"The Champion from Beauxbatons is…Fleur Delacour!"
At this, all of the Beauxbatons girls clapped politely, then gave Fleur a look of pure loathing once she was standing next to Dumbledore. He instructed her to wait in a chamber off the Great Hall, while the other Champions were chosen.
The Goblet of Fire did the same thing again, and it spit out a singed-looking piece of parchment. Dumbledore grabbed it, then read the name of the Durmstrang Champion.
"Viktor Krum!"
The boys from Durmstrang all patted him on the back, seeming to expect that he would be Champion. Krum walked to the same corridor as Fleur, but pausing a moment, to catch Sarah's eye. He smiled, then resumed his path. Sarah felt her cheeks go slightly pink, and thanked Merlin that Harry had been looking the other way.
For the third time that night, the Goblet went red, and everyone sat at the edge of their seats. This is what they had been waiting for; to see which of them would be picked for the Tournament in hopes of eternal glory, not to mention the thousand galleon prize for the winner.
"The Hogwarts Champion is…" he paused, "Cedric Diggory!"
Instantly, the Hufflepuff table erupted in celebration, for Hufflepuff House rarely got any praise. Sarah clapped with the rest of the school, still feeling bitter that she couldn't compete. Dumbledore then started to make a speech.
"Well done Champions. It is my overwhelming pleasure to say, that the Triwizard Tournament has begun. Now, for the Champion—,"
Dumbledore was cut off by the Goblet of Fire, which had gone red, yet again. He looked, for a moment, confused, then quickly regained his composure as he snatched the piece of parchment from the air. He mumbled to himself what it said, then looked up, in slight alarm. The Goblet was only supposed to choose three Champions, but from the look on his face, there would be a fourth, whether anyone liked it or not.
"Harry Potter," he said, his voice shaking slightly.
Sarah whipped her head around, seeing the look of total shock and horror on her boyfriend's face. He stayed firmly on his seat, hoping beyond anything else that it was a mistake. Sarah rolled her eyes, then nudged him to get up.
"No; this can not be happening," he whispered.
"Harry Potter!" Dumbledore shouted.
Sarah nudged him again, this time with her elbow, and he jumped at the sharp pain. She motioned for him to get up.
"Harry, you have to go. Get up!"
He had a glazed look to his eyes, as he stumbled over to the room adjacent to the Great Hall. The whole time he was walking, angry students from all three schools were heckling him, and complaining that he wasn't seventeen and such. Sarah felt a twinge of jealousy, that was quickly replaced with worry. Something has to be up. There have never been four Champions. And why Harry?
Dumbledore instructed that everyone go back to their common rooms, while he spoke with the Champions. Slowly, Sarah, Ron, and Hermione got up and made their way to Gryffindor Tower. Once there, Sarah flopped down on the couch, staring at the orange flames in the fireplace, not really seeing them. Hermione took a chair next to her, while Ron, a look of disgust plastered on his features, told them he was going to bed. He gave Hermione a kiss, and hugged Sarah, before heading to the boy's staircase.
Hermione looked deep in thought, then went to the girl's dormitory. Sarah began to drift into a light slumber, when all of a sudden, the portrait hole opened. There stood Harry, seemingly distraught.
"What's wrong?" Sarah asked.
"My name came out of that thing, and now I have to play in this fucking Tournament, that's what's wrong," Harry spat. Then he realized she had just been showing compassion and worry, so he softened his features, and sat next to Sarah, pulling her into a hug.
"I'm sorry. It's is just that I never wanted to play in this stupid thing, and now I have to. I don't understand why these things keep happening to me. It is like I am a magnet for trouble. That's how I feel about this Tournament; that it is going to be nothing but trouble. It is hard to explain, but there it is," he finished with a note of exasperation in his voice.
"Harry, I totally understand, and I am here when you need me. I'm here for you if you need help in any way," Sarah said, looking into his bright green eyes.
"That is one of the reasons why I lo-ike- like you so much. You are always here for me," he said. Sarah smiled.
"I lo-ike you too, Harry," she said, imitating him.
He playfully punched her on the arm, as he smiled. Glancing up at him, she grinned. Harry pulled her into a tighter embrace, and then kissed her on the top of her head.
A/N: Sorry it was so short. I had begun this story a long time ago, and never finished it. Now, I am continuing to writing on it, but at a slower pace than what I am publishing at. I am trying to make sure I can publish quickly.