Note: I do not own 'Harry Potter'. I do own my own characters. I hope you enjoy and I'll try to post a couple of chapters a day since I leave on a 40 day vacation on the 25th...No matter what or how busy I become with packing and everything, I will have it all posted before my flight takes off...
The start of term was different. The song from the Sorting hat was more of the same except it mentioned a shift toward the end. I knew it was talking about me. Sorting of first years still took forever but my housemates were surprised to see the changes and all wanted to know the reason behind it. They also asked about the meaning of the tattoo and I told them as I did with my friends that they'd have to figure it out themselves.
Rather than the usual Malfoy quips, he stayed quiet and didn't try to start any fights. Dumbledore had the entire school in an uproar when he cancelled Quidditch for the year. He explained about the Triwizard Tournament and that the other schools would be arriving shortly.
One look at the new DADA professor and I knew he wasn't who he said he was. He reeked of Dark magic and while Aurors dealt with it, they didn't usually perform any unlike this man. I tried speaking to Dumbledore about it but he ignored me and said he trusted Alastor Moody.
"Today, we'll be looking at the Unforgivables. Can anyone tell me what they are?" Moody grumped.
"Imperius," a Gryffindor yelled.
"Cruciatus," a Slytherin commented.
There was silence as the entire class looked at me. No one wanted to say it.
"Fine. My personal favorite is Avada Kedavra. It may have killed my parents but at least they didn't suffer. What about you, Professor? Ever had to use the killing curse in your field?"
The magic around the fake Moody shifted and in that instant, I was glad that other students were around or else I would have killed him right then and there.
"Aurors are not allowed. We're bound to keep the peace and to protect. Not to become like them."
"I bet there've been situations that you wish you could've used it. Like when you went up against Barty Crouch Jr.?"
The students gasped and even Moody was surprised. I smirked and sat back in my chair. He gave us homework to research how the Unforgivables became such and dismissed the class. I held back to talk while Ron and Neville waited in the hall.
"You listen good, Crouch. I'm not one you want to fuck with. I know who and what you are so one little toe out of line and I'll take you out at the knees. I'll be keeping an eye on you and if I sense any Dark magic around you, I'll see through with my threat. Got it?" I seethed.
I stormed out of the DADA classroom and led my friends to the Great Hall. I pulled the other Weasleys together and warned them to keep clear around Moody.
"He seems OK," Fred said.
"Not everyone is as they appear to be. Never be left alone with him. He won't hurt anyone but it pays to be cautious."
That night before the feast, we were introduced to the other schools participating in the Tournament. Every male went blank staring at the Beauxbatons girls because of their tight light blue robes and the 3 veelas in the group. Then the boys and some girls were wide eyes at seeing Viktor Krum in our Great Hall. He was here with the Durmstrang school.
"With the Triwizard Tournament, it is a binding contract with whomever puts their name in the Goblet of Fire. If your name is chosen, you have to complete or risk losing your magic. Because of this and the possibility of injury, no one under the age of 17 will be able to enter."
Sixth and some seventh years cried out in anger but the appearance of the Goblet of Fire shut them up. The sparkliness and shininess might have done some in but I wasn't buying it. This must be what Voldemort is going to use to get to me and rather than playing by his rules, we'd be playing by mine.
"We'll enter. We're only short by a few months. Dumbledore can't keep us from entering," one twin mentioned.
"He can't but I can. The last Triwizard Tournament held was half a century ago and a champion died. These tasks will be hard and could permanently injure you. I will not let you enter," I said.
"You may be who you are but you can't do that to us. We're like your brothers," George exclaimed.
"Exactly. I will not sit by while your parents are told that one of you died. Dumbledore said he'll be placing an age line and I plan on doubling that so not even a stupid age potion will work."
I sat in the common room while everyone else was asleep. I used the Marauders Map to make sure that no one, not even Filch or his cat, were out in the hallways. Not allowing the portraits to snitch on me, I apparated from the Gryffindor tower to the Great Hall. The magic that Dumbledore had placed around the Goblet of Fire was simple. If any 7th year took the time, they could have dismantled it in a couple of hours. I added my own line keeping out anyone I considered family or friend. When I knew they were safe, I did the unthinkable. I walked past the lines and dropped my own name into the Goblet. Another spell would make it that no other Hogwarts student was selected but me. I snickered as I thought of the reactions when the champions are selected. I apparated back to the common room and headed upstairs to my dorm room.
"Quiet. Once everyone is settled, the selection of champions will begin. Remember if your name is selected, you must complete. No one will be able to back out."
Every student of Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang sat up straighter and watched as Dumbledore looked to the blue firey Goblet. This was going to be good. The fire went red and a blue sheet of paper was spit out. It fluttered down and Dumbledore caught it.
"For Beauxbatons, Fleur Delacour."
We all clapped as one of the veelas hugged a younger girl and headed to where her giantess of a headmistress stood. Fleur was directed through a door and out of the Great Hall. All eyes turned back to the blue flame, waiting for it to go red again.
"For Durmstrang, Viktor Krum."
The crowd went loud as the Slavic made his way to the front. His headmaster, Igor Karkaroff, an ex Death Eater, clapped him on the shoulder as he past. Viktor would be a formidable opponent based on his flying alone.
I turned my attention back to the book I had brought along. When they called my name, I didn't want them to think I was expecting it.
"For Hogwarts, Cedric Diggory."
What? That wasn't supposed to happen. No one but me was to be selected. I ignored the deafening noise as I tried to remember when I did that spell. I had the intent right so it should have worked, especially with the amount of magic I poured into the spell. I guess I was going to get at Voldemort some other way.
"Now that the champions are chosen, the feast can begin. Tuck in," Dumbledore said.
The students began to dig in to the food that appeared on the tables. I ignored the food and continued to read. I could hear Ron talking with his mouth full and wasn't going to remind him that it was a disgusting habit.
"Look," someone yelled.
The flame had gone red again and was growing in size. Dumbledore walked closer but before he got too close, a piece of parchment shot out. The possibility of a 4th champion started to go around the room.
"Good luck to the odd ball," I said turning back to my book.
"Arya Potter!" Dumbledore bellowed.
I was being stared at. Pretending to be surprised and scared, I closed up my book and headed to the Headmaster. He handed me the slip and pointed to where the other champions went. I followed the stairs and entered a room full of unused junk.
"Arya?" Cedric said.
The adults followed behind me and Dumbledore grabbed my shoulder and turned me to face him.
"Did you put your name into the Goblet of Fire?"
"I didn't put this in there. I have no clue as to how it got in there."
And it was the truth. It wasn't the same piece of parchment that I had thrown in. So obviously someone else wanted me in the Triwizard Tournament.
"Albus, surely you can't let her continue on. She's only 14," McGonagall said.
"If Hogwarts gets 2, we should get 2," the Beauxbatons headmistress complained.
Dumbledore turned to the man in charge of the tournament Barty Crouch Sr. His little mustache twitched as he rung his hands together.
"Ms. Potter will have to compete or face losing her magic. Obviously someone tampered with the Goblet but she will have to participate."
Crouch left and the headmasters followed out their champions. Dumbledore tried to force me to stay but I pushed past him and smirked at Snape when I caught him staring.
Trying to convince my friends that I didn't put my name in was hard to do. Yes, I did enter but the parchment selected wasn't mine so technically it was someone else.
"There's no way anyone can beat you. Not with being a mage," Ron said.
"True but no one besides a select few knows that. It might give me an advantage but they can't kick me out. Besides, what fun would that be to simply flick my wrist and win. It's a tournament but the people will want to be entertained."
"You're thinking entertainment value when you could be hurt."
"Neville, if I get hurt it'll heal quickly. It's not like anything can kill me."