Year Four: The Goblet of Fire
The three magical schools of Europe compete for eternal glory in the form of the Triwizard Tournament. Death Eaters are rising, gathering followers to join Voldemort. Dark times are approaching, threatening everything Marie loves. It's time for bravery. To be the light in terrible darkness...
Chapter Eight- Four Champions
The next morning was a Saturday but not a single person slept late. The Great Hall was already murmuring with activity as students milled about, every eye locked on the ever burning Goblet of Fire. A great golden circle was drawn about the cup, ten feet wide in every direct and floating above the ground. The Age Line.
"Has anyone put their name in yet?" Marie asked Daphne Greengrass who was already sitting at the Slytherin table. The blonde shrugged her shoulders, idly flipping through a book.
"Everyone from Durmstrang has, but not too many from Hogwarts. Though I heard Cassius Warrington put his name in." Cassius was a hefty seventh year who played as Chaser for Slytherin in the Quidditch Cup last year. Marie took a seat a bit away from the blonde as she returned to her book, clearly not in the mood to divulge information and chat. Thankfully the quiet was filled by Pansy rushing over and nearly tackling the wild haired girl in her mad dash.
"Marie!"
"Pansy! What on earth-" Pansy shook her head to interrupt and simply pointed at the entrance of the hall, wheezing as she caught her breath.
The person striding through the doorway with his natural intimidation was Marcus Flint. Nearby students shuffled back just in case but he didn't even look at them as he made his way toward the crackling goblet. The fourth year girls watched with wide eyes as he marched right through the Age Line and dropped his name into the fire. The flames flickered scarlet and sent up sparks, a display of acceptance. There was mild clapping, most of which came from his own House which was to be expected. Slytherin wasn't exactly a popular choice for Hogwarts champion.
"Do you think he could be picked?" asked Pansy, the stitch gone from her side. The Pureblood had heard about Flint's decision in the common room and had raced off to tell her friend. Marie wasn't quite listening as she watched him take his place near the end of the table, by himself. Marcus as Hogwarts champion? While the glory and attention would be beneficial for Slytherin and give them the opportunity to appeal to others, Marie couldn't shake the worry that filled her. What if he got hurt?
"-are you even listening?" huffed Pansy. Blinking owlishly, Marie turned back to her friend.
"Sorry, I was just thinking," she apologized. Pansy gave a snort as she fixed her hair.
"You're always thinking. Anyway, I was saying that I heard that Cedric Diggory entered his name, and so did Roger Davies from Ravenclaw, and I was asking you if they were all Quidditch players?" she repeated.
"Oh, yes, they are. Diggory, Davies, and Marcus are all captains actually," she clarified. "So far everyone seems like a solid contender."
"I also heard the Weasley twins tried an Aging Potion," informed Pansy. Marie gasped, alarmed.
"It didn't work, did it?"
"Of course not! But I did hear that they had spectacular beards as a result."
Marie gave a laugh. "You hear everything."
"That I do."
There was another bout of cheering as Angelina Johnson made her way forward and dropped her name into the fire where it confirmed her submission with another spout of sparks. Gryffindors broke out in loud applause as she returned to her classmates.
"And now there's Gryffindor."
At that moment, the representatives from Beauxbatons stepped into the Hall. Madame Maxime remained in the doorway as Mei Fang took the lead. Her robes were once again the pale gold so to distinguish herself from the others. Her long dark hair parted far to the side and tumbled over the front of her shoulder, cast an interesting shadow across her features. Gone was the pleasant author from the bookstore and now, clearly, a champion of formidable power stood in her place. Without any words, she was able to display Beauxbatons' authority in the Triwizard Tournament.
The students followed her steps exactly as she took them toward the goblet. Heads held high and walking with more grace than was natural, each possible contender dropped their name into the cup where it was accepted with sparks. Without a glance at the Hogwarts students, they slipped out of the hall as if they had never been there in the first place.
Pansy gave a type of forlorn sigh, resting her chin on her hand. "I wish my mum had sent me to Beauxbatons."
"You know you'd be saying the opposite if you were there," teased Marie. The girl looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging in agreement.
"So what do we do know?" she asked.
"I guess we wait."
They did their waiting and the day seemed like it dragged on for ages. The students were restless as they counted down until dinner. Some played a few matches of Exploding Snap and chess, but no one was particularly interested. Marie tried to read up on Charms but she became lost in thought, not even noticing that she had been on the same page for the past ten minutes. Millie seemed to have better luck reading but even Pansy was bored, no new gossip to relay as most of the students who were going to enter already put their name forward.
As the afternoon trickled on, students started to head down the to Great Hall, just do their waiting where all the excitement would be happening. Officially tired of waiting, the girls decided to leave as well. Ushering her friends to go on ahead, Marie returned to the girl's dormitory to put her book away. The event would have been uneventful if she didn't hear someone swear loudly as she walked back down the stairs.
"Bloody hell, not again!"
She smiled at the familiar voice, no matter how grumpy. Looking around the corner of the staircase, she was greeted with the sight of Marcus Flint. He continued to grumble as he shrugged off his robe, examining his right shoulder where there was a clean tear in his grey sweater.
"Alright, Marcus?" she asked. He didn't seem to thrown off by her presence as he gave a short laugh and a smirk.
"Thought I heard you." He tried to push the edges together to smooth over the tear but there was no such luck. He huffed. "Great. Another one."
Marie stepped up to him to study the rip for herself. Marcus didn't step away from her as he would with any other person. It was Marie after all, the exception for him. It wasn't too bad really, just a stress tear from too much pulling.
"Oh it's not so bad," she told him. He raised a brow to disagree.
"Maybe you didn't notice but this tear is just from me moving my arm too much," he explained. She looked at his arm and the rest of the sweater which was pulled taunt. Due to the troll curse he had inherited, Marcus' body wasn't the size of an average seventeen year old. He was taller and vastly more muscular than he should be due to the characteristics his body took on. As a result, he had trouble finding clothes that fit him properly and has ruined shirts as they have given up under the strain.
Marie's eyes brightened with an idea. "Here, I can mend it!" There was plenty of time until dinner and it would give her the chance to use the sewing kit she had gotten from Madame Malkin a few years before. She heard him groan but she was already halfway up the stairs.
The small tin in hand, Marie returned and smiled at the sulky older student. She held out her hand and he huffed before pulling the sweater off by the collar and dropping it into her waiting hand. She took a seat on the arm of the chair while Marcus stretched out on the long couch in his white shirt and Slytherin tie, feet hanging over the edge. The moment was pleasantly quiet for awhile, the fireplace crackling away as it kept the dungeons warm and decently lit. She didn't feel his gaze on her while she threaded the needle and wove it through the material. The sweater wasn't as flexible as his white shirt and was still a bit stiff, as if he didn't wear it enough or it was brand new. Just as she suspected, the repair didn't take too much time, although longer than she assumed since she didn't take into account how much sweater the boy would have as he was a larger person. It wasn't as pretty as she thought since her mend wasn't as inconspicuous as it could have been. She would need to practice more.
Marcus had his arms brought up over his eyes so he didn't notice when she held the sweater out for him to see. Deciding to be prompt, she took the kit back to her dormitory and returned in a timely fashion. The seventh year still hadn't moved and she knew he could hear her with his new sensitive hearing. Stepping up to him, he still didn't move. His chest was rising and falling evenly with his breaths and she noticed that due to him moving his arms up, the bottom of his shirt was untucked and she could even some of his stomach and the grooves he bore. Her face felt as if was on fire as she quickly shook her head to shatter her moment of rudeness.
"Marcus?" she called out softly, in case he had really fallen asleep.
He lifted one arm so to give her a bleary look. "You really did fix it?"
"Well, I said would," she informed him. "I said it, therefore, I meant it." He sat up and turn the sweater over in his hands, thumb brushing the new seam. It wasn't perfect and he could plainly see where the repair was, but fortunately it aligned with the original stitching and it would be covered by his robe in the end.
"Thanks."
"Of course."
Pulling the grey sweater on over his head, he then donned his robe and the pair made their way toward the Great Hall. Silence fell over the two of them again but neither one seemed to mind. Soon they could hear the sound of the rest of the castle migrating to the hall as the front doors opened to allow Durmstrang and Beauxbatons to enter, each school in well orchestrated formation. The Great Hall was decorated with its usual bats and floating jack-o-laterns.
"Nervous?" whispered Marie as they passed through the doorway after the foreign schools. He didn't answer right away though his posture had stiffen.
"No."
Her heart fluttered uneasily. "That's good, I think. I'm nervous enough for the both of us anyway."
They separated at their House table, Marcus sitting with the older students while Marie took the open seat on Draco's left. All of the tables were heavy with the magnificent food from the night before but not many people seemed especially interested in the meal. Perhaps the food had lost its appeal because it was the second feast in a row, but the most likely reason was because they were all nervous about the soon to be named champions. Conversations were little to nonexistent as everyone watched the carved goblet and its blue flames. The Slytherin pushed her plate away from herself, unable to eat anything else as her insides coiled tight with nerves.
Finally, the tables were cleared after dessert and everyone fell silent as Dumbledore rose from his seat. Madame Maxime and Professor Karkaroff both looked tense while Aleksander Bolokov and Mei Fang appeared completely in control. If they were nervous, it didn't show. Mr. Ludo Bagman, however, was winking at students while Mr. Barty Crouch looked bored. The Goblet of Fire had been moved so that it was standing in front of Dumbledore's spot at the table, the Age Line dispersed.
"Well, the goblet is almost ready to make its decision," said the Headmaster. Some students squirmed in impatience. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber-" he gestured to the door behind the staff table that typically went overlooked, "-where they will be receiving their first instructions."
He took out his wand and gave a wave, the lights diminishing with the exception of the floating carved pumpkins. The anticipation heightened with the darkened setting, the goblet now glowing with an almost painfully eerie presence. The blue white flames were sparkling even brighter, a torch in the darkness. Everyone waited with bated breaths, hearts pounding as some kept checking their watches to count down the final minute.
There was a gasp as the goblet's flames turned scarlet once more and sparks began to fly like before. Next, a tongue of fire whipped out of the cup and a piece of parchment fluttered down, unharmed. Dumbledore caught it without any trouble and held it out at arm's length so he could borrow the goblet's light.
"The champion for Durmstrang," he read, voice clear in the hall, "will be Viktor Krum."
Cheering and applause broke out, breaking the tension as Viktor rose from his spot at the Slytherin table and walked up to Dumbledore and then followed the path to the door that took him into a separate room. Mr. Bolokov looked pleased with his chosen successor as he clapped loudly.
"Bravo, Viktor!" cheered Karkaroff, the loudest by far. "Knew you had it in you!"
The room quieted again as everyone watched the goblet for the next name. It turned red once more, sending another piece of parchment floating down to the Headmaster. He caught it and opened the parchment to find the name.
"The champion for Beauxbatons," said Dumbledore, "is Fleur Delacour!"
The clapping broke out again as a lovely girl with silver blonde hair got up from her seat at the Ravenclaw and walked with an ethereal grace, passing the teacher's table where she receive the slightest nod from Mei Fang. When she was out of sight the hall fell into silence again. Marie and Draco were leaning forward in their seats as were many others. The air was thick with anticipation, every student wanting their House to be the one to represent their school.
Finally, the Goblet of Fire burned red again and the tongue of fire released the third name. The sound of Dumbledore's fingers catching the parchment could even be heard in the stillness.
"The Hogwarts champion," he called out, brow furrowing, "is Marie Rogue!"
Applause broke out again from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons and then from scattered parts of Hogwarts. The Slytherin table made the most noise as Marie looked around, bewildered. She quickly turned to Draco. That couldn't be right, but it sounded an awful lot like her name.
"What did he say?" she whispered urgently, pitch rising. The blonde answered by tugging her to her feet and nudging her forward.
"They called you, go!" he whispered back.
It was like a strange dream as she walked toward the teacher's table. She didn't understand how her legs were functioning as she could barely cope with what was going on. She felt cold and hot all at once as she passed Marcus whose expression she couldn't explain. Her skin was clammy as she passed Professor Dumbledore who was carefully neutral and she saw her Head of House, dark eyes burning holes into her. The other teachers were studying her just as intently, each and every one of them knowing full well that she was not seventeen. Then there was Aleksander and Mei, both of which were stunned and the Bulgarian looked upset. Heart pounding so hard she thought she might go deaf, she closed her eyes when she gripped the handle and disappeared into the next chamber.
The room was small and lined with the ever moving portraits that watched her curiously, whispering to one another as she stepped closer to the roaring fireplace where the other two champions were waiting. They turned when she stepped closer and Fleur was the first to speak up, taking the Slytherin in with a critical eye.
"You are ze champion for 'Ogwarts? You 'ave a young face," she commented. Marie nodded, taking a moment to figure out how to work her voice again.
"I...I'm Marie Rogue," she managed, cracking slightly. "But I didn't enter-"
She was cut off when the door opened once more and the three turned to see the figure of Harry Potter walking toward them, the buzzing from the school making itself heard before the door swung shut behind him. Marie found it difficult to breathe already, more so as her brother continued to walk toward them. Fleur gave a flip of her flawlessly smooth hair.
"What is it?" she asked, becoming the voice for the three. They were thinking it as well. "Do zey want us back in ze Hall?"
Harry only stood there, dumbstruck and unsure of how to answer. Concern wormed its way into her chest. How could it be so difficult to deliver a message? Why else would he be there?
There was the sound of rushing footsteps as the door was opened and Marie backed into the large mantle in her surprise, standing beside Viktor. Ludo Bagman was the one to enter and he gripped Harry by the arm and brought him closer.
"Extraordinary!" he said, beside himself. "Absolutely extraordinary! Ladies and gentleman, may I introduce-incredible as it may seem-the fourth Triwizard champion?"
Marie thought she had been dosed in cold water as the breath was pulled from her. Viktor stood up straighter, face darkening as he looked between the two, as if he had misheard. Although Fleur simply flipped her hair and gave a smile.
"Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."
"Joke?" repeated Bagman. "No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"
Twin sets of green eyes met, each confused and frightened by the ordeal. Something was terribly wrong. So very wrong, especially if Marie and Harry were involved. It couldn't be an accident or coincidence of any sort. By Merlin, something was wrong.
"But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," Fleur continued. "'E cannot compete. 'E is too young."
"As is Murray," spoke up Viktor, making the Slytherin jump. Though she was confused by his pronunciation of her name. Murray?
"Marie," corrected Fleur. "And yes, she looks young as well. But zat is not as troubling as a fourth champion!"
"Well...it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his clean shaven face before giving Harry a smile. "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 can-"
The door was opened once more and this time numerous sets of footsteps hurried inside. A large group that consisted of Professor Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Barty Crouch, Aleksander Bolokov and Mei Fang.
"Madame Maxime!" reported Fleur at once, striding right up to her Headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!" Madame Maxime drew herself up to her most formidable height, looking down at Dumbledore.
"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumbly-dorr?" she demanded, tone imperious and enhanced by her height.
"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said Professor Karkaroff. He was smiling unkindly and his frosted eyes glared at Marie and Harry, looking at them with the utmost contempt. "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?" The Slytherin prickled when he gave a nasty laugh, encouraging her to step closer.
"C'est impossible," scoffed Madame Maxime, the french simple enough to translate. She placed her large hand on her champion's shoulder. "'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most injust."
"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore," said Karkaroff. "I did not realize that by having a younger champion you are allowed a second to compensate. Otherwise we would have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools."
Face burning from insult, Marie moved around the adults so to place herself at her Head of House's side. Snape spoke up softly.
"It's no one's fault but Potter's, Karkaroff." His dark eyes were glinting with malice as he stared down the Headmaster of Durmstrang. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here-"
"Than you, Severus," said Dumbledore firmly. Marie leaned in close to her teacher so to whisper quickly,
"Professor-I didn't put my name in-I don't know how-or why-" Snape placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her so that she was facing the rest of the group. Swallowing her words, she clasped her hands in front of her and lifted her chin.
Dumbledore was questioning Harry now, voice controlled and completely calm as the rest of the room watched like hawks.
"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire, Harry?"
"No," said Harry. Marie could hear her teacher give a soft noise of obvious disbelief. The Headmaster turned to Marie and she stood up as tall as she could.
"Marie?"
"No, sir," she answered immediately. "I did not put my name in."
"Did either of you ask an older student to put your name in for you?" asked Dumbledore. They answered in perfect unison with each other.
"No."
"Ah, but of course zey are lying!" cried Madame Maxime. Aleksander's deep voice rang out easily.
"I believe them," he said simply.
Snape's grip on Marie's shoulder tightened. "Unlike Potter, Miss Rogue is one of my top students and does not waste her time with believing herself above the rules-"
"They could not have crossed the Age Line," said McGonagall sharply. "I am sure we are all agreed on that-"
"Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line," shrugged Maxime.
"It is possible, of course," said Dumbledore politely. Marie was surprised. Of course Dumbledore didn't make a mistake. This was Dumbledore, the wizard of their time.
"Dumbledore, you know perfectly well you did not make a mistake!" defended McGonagall angrily. "Really, what nonsense! Neither Harry nor Miss Rogue could have crossed the line themselves, and as Professor Dumbledore believes that they did not persuade an older student to do it for them, I'm sure that should be good enough for everybody else!"
"Perhaps Potter didn't do the persuading," grumbled Karkaroff darkly, icy glare scanning the Slytherin. Marie's jaw dropped and her face flushed bright scarlet at his accusation.
"How dare you-" started McGonagall, but Snape stepped forward. His form half shadowed Marie as he allowed his anger to radiate and threaten the Durmstrang Headmaster.
"You will not speak to my student in such a way, Karkaroff," he hissed, defending Marie's dignity. Both Dumbledore and McGonagall glared angrily as well, ending the discussion. Karkaroff cleared his throat and turned toward the Ministry officials.
"Mr. Crouch...Mr. Bagman...you are our, er, objective judges. Surely you will agree that this is most irregular?"
Bagman wiped his face with a handkerchief and looked to the older man to make the call. He stepped forward, his voice curt.
"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, better than anyone," confirmed Bagman, who seemed quite excited with the new turn of events. This did not settle the matter for Maxime or Karkaroff.
"I insist upon resubmitting the names of the rest of my students," demanded Karkaroff, any sense of pleasant pretense gone now. "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."
While the idea did sound fair to Marie, Bagman's smile wavered.
"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that. 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 in a rage. "After all of 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 familiar. Marie had to look around Snape, who was still keeping a firm hand on her shoulder, in order to see that Professor Moody had entered the room. The usual sound of his false leg had been lost with all of the arguing. "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?"
She was bound by magical contract. Marie had to compete. Looking over to the other fourth year, she was surprised to see him staring right back at her. They both had to compete.
"Convenient?" repeated Karkaroff. "I'm afraid I don't understand you, Moody." The Headmaster stiffened up at the sight of the professor, hands forming fists and it looked like he was fighting the urge to take a step back. An odd reaction, but it did make Marie happy to see the rude Durmstrang leader uncomfortable.
"Don't you?" asked Moody, his growl reaching everyone. "It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter's name in the goblet knowing he'd have to compete if it came out."
"Evidently, some 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" huffed Madame Maxime.
"And what of Rogue? She is underage as well," asked Karkaroff, gesturing toward the Slytherin. "Did someone want her to compete as well?"
Moody spared her a glance before smirking, blue eye lingering a moment longer. "She somehow got her name into the Goblet of Fire and was chosen above all other Hogwarts students. I'd watch out for her if I were you, Karkaroff. She's Captain Tess' girl, you know. You do remember Tess Andrews, don't you?"
Marie flinched as he turned to look at her, his face paling. Something else burned in his eyes and she didn't know how to read the expression. Whatever his connection to Tess was, it wasn't pleasant. And what was Moody playing at? Was he trying to draw a target on her back? She did not put her name in the goblet!
"How could I forget?" he gritted through clenched teeth. "However, I agree with Madame Maxime. I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards-"
"If anyone's got a reason to complain it's Potter," growled Moody, "but...funny thing...I don't hear him sayin' a word..."
"Why should 'e complain?" asked Fleur, speaking up once more with a stomp of 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!"
"Maybe someone's hoping Potter is going to die for it," Moody growled.
A very tense silence filled the room as Marie looked from the professor and then to Harry. Her worst fear vocalized. She felt as if she had just swallowed chips of ice whole.
Bagman was looking very anxious, doing his best to sound chipper. "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, strangely loud. "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."
There was the sound of his false foot as he stepped closer. "Imagining things, am I? 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?" exasperated Madame Maxime, throwing her large hands up into the air. She almost knocked the chandelier from the celing, too low for the giant woman.
"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 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..."
For some reason, Marie had the oddest feeling that the professor was shifting the attention toward her as Madame Maxime gave her a once over. He gave her too much credit earlier and now it was as if he was insinuating that she could have rigged Harry's name into the goblet. Was she misunderstanding? Snape kept his hand on her shoulder, much to her relief.
"You seem to have given this a great deal of thought, Moody," said Karkaroff, the cold tone returning to his voice, "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 advantages," Moody retorted, menacingly. "It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff-as you ought to remember..."
"Alastor!" Dumbledore cut in, warning obvious. It was too late, Marie had caught the insult. That was how Karkaroff knew Tess and Moody, and unpleasantly. He was a former Dark wizard. Karkaroff's face was burning due to the insult hitting its mark.
"How this situation arose, we do not know," said Dumbledore to everyone in the room. "It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Marie 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." Hope rose as Marie looked up at the Headmistress but she merely glared, no solution to provide. She wasn't the only one upset. McGonagall looked ruffled, Snape furious, and Karkaroff livid. Bolokov and Fang were keeping their silence as were the champions.
Bagman stepped forward, trying to spread his excitement to the tense room. "Well, shall we crack on then?" he suggested, rubbing his hands together. "Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honors?"
He gave a solemn nod. "Yes, instructions. Yes, the first task..." He stepped closer to the group so to be heard clearly by everyone.
"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 as 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, accompanied by our guests, the former champions.
"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 with only 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 will be exempted from end-of-year tests." Crouch turned to Dumbledore. "I think that is all, Albus?"
"I think so," agreed Dumbledore. "Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay at Hogwarts tonight, Barty?"
"No, Dumbledore, I must get back to the Ministry," sighed Mr. Crouch. "It is 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?" offered Dumbledore.
"Come on, Barty, I'm staying!" chirped 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, impatient once more with his overly eager coworker.
"Professor Karkaroff-Madame Maxime-a nightcap?" extended Dumbledore. Madame Maxime already had her arm around Fleur and they left in a flurry of rushed, whispering French. Karkaroff collected Viktor and the two stormed out in silence.
"Harry, Marie, I suggest you go up to bed," said Dumbledore, smiling gently at the pair. "I am sure that Gryffindor and Slytherin 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."
The fourth years nodded in agreement and Marie turned back to her teacher before she left.
"Professor, I didn't-" she tried to defend herself but was promptly cut off.
"I understand," he interrupted. "Return to your House, Miss Rogue."
Her throat felt tight as she nodded once more. "Yes, sir..."
REVIEW! Your thoughts would be much loved as we throw Marie into new danger! (I did update Cassius Warrington back in PoA where I had him written as a fourth year when he was supposed to be a sixth year. Sorry Warrington!)
Whew! So much happening and gosh I'm tired, but hey, two chapters within 24ish hours of each other! That has to be a bonus!
The Triwizard Tournament has officially begun! Time for drama, challenges, House rivalry, Rita Skeeter, and everything in between!
So excited! But I'm tired right now, I'll start the next one tomorrow I promise (I only have one class, yay!)
I hope you enjoyed!