disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Chapter 8: Four Champions
The next day was Saturday, and Harry figured he would be able to sleep in late, before getting up and spending some time with his girlfriend Hannah, but Ginny seemed to have other ideas.
"Hey, Potter, get your lazy bum up." Ginny said, as she came into the boy's dorm, and then smacked the back of his head. "Come on now, get up."
"Ginevra," Harry groaned, opening one eye and peeping up at her, she was already dressed in a uniform skirt, black stockings, tall black boots, and her white blouse had the shoulders missing, and if she turned around Harry could see her griffin tattoo. Her hair was once again pulled back into a ponytail.
"Don't you usually sleep in on Saturdays. Unless it's a Hogsmeade weekend." Harry asked.
"Yeah, well, I want to see who all puts their name in the goblet." Ginny said. "Now get up."
Harry mumbled to himself, as he threw the covers off, and sat up. he rubbed his eyes. Then blushed when he realized he was only in his boxers.
"Are you planing on watching me get dressed or are going to wait down stairs?" Harry demanded.
Ginny's face turned blood-red; as she turned without a word and fled down the stairs. Harry would have loved to lay back down and stay in bed all day, but he got up, dressed, went in the bathroom and brushed his teeth, then met Ginny down in the common room.
"About time." Ginny complained, and together they went down to the Great Hall. When they got there they were shocked to see Teddy and Rigel already up and out of bed.
"Look, Trouble, it's the sleepy heads." Teddy said, nudging Rigel, and pointing over to Harry and Ginny. Teddy didn't bother to even wear any of his uniform, wearing ripped up black jeans, and a muggle rock band T-shirt. (Teddy liked muggle music more than wizard) his combat boots, and leather bands on his arms. One of which had his wand tucked in it. His hair was not the usual mohawk, but spiked up, and blue. They were sitting on top of the Gryffindor table, and not on the benches.
"I'm surprised to see you guys already up." Harry said, hopping up and sitting next to Teddy. Ginny hoped up and sat next to Harry. Not many people were up yet: Just about ten Hufflepuffs, including Hannah, about five Ravenclaws, well seven now that Harry and Ginny were up, and six Gryffindors, one of which was Hermione, she was sitting on the other side of the table and glared at them when he sat on the tabel. Her eyes was red like she had cried all night, and was only picking at her food not eating it.
"So, whose put their name in so far?" Ginny asked. They were all facing the Goblet of fire, which sat in the middle of the Great Hall.
"Just Cedric Diggory, Angelina Johnson, and a few from the other schools." Teddy said. "Nobody from Hogwarts seems to want to get up early just to put their names in." Harry snorted.
"I don't see what the big deal is anyway." Rigel said. "Not everyone is going to get picked." Just then Draco Malfoy walked into the Great Hall, along with his two cronies Crabb and Goyle.
"Oh no, everyone hide." Teddy cried out. "It's a scary Malfoy." Malfoy glared over at them. Crabb and Goyle cracking their knuckles.
"What do you think you're looking at?" Rigel demanded. Malfoy said nothing, as they headed toward the Slytherin table.
"You know, you don't have to go around picking fights." Hermione said. "They weren't doing anything to you."
"If we didn't say anything, they would have just do something first." Ginny told her.
Hermione's reply was cut off by loud laughing, as Fred, George, Cody, and Lee Jardon came running into the room. Hermione huffed, slammed her fork down and stormed out of the Great Hall.
"What's with her?" Harry demanded.
"They broke up." Teddy said. Harry frowned.
"Cody and Hermione?" He asked, shocked Cody was crazy about her, she was all he ever talked about. Harry looked toward Cody, and if you didn't know him well; you would think the break up had didn't bother him. He was laughing and pushing his friends back and forth. But Harry knew better. Cody wasn't one for showing his emotions in public. Harry knew the break up was killing him, he could tell by the way his hazel eyes had lost the sparkle, they usually had when he laughed.
"They had this big fight, right in the middle of the common room last night." Teddy said, in a low voice, so Cody and the others, who were heading their way wouldn't hear. "All the Gryffindors heard it. I don't know what it was about or what started it, but it went on for like half an hour, before Hermione blew up and said Cody needs to grow up, and that they were through."
"Done it," Fred said, in a triumphant whisper to Harry, Ginny, Rigel, and Teddy, as they came up to them. "Just taken it."
"Taken what?" Ginny demanded, raising an eyebrow.
"Aging potion, little sis, the aging potion." George said. "Fred, Lee and I have taken it." Harry started laughing and they looked at him.
"And what do you find so funny?" Fred asked, he went and stood next to Harry, laid his hand on the table and leaned in.
"Yes, what could the littlest Potter find so funny." George said. He copied Fred, but on the other side of Harry, which made Teddy have to move over.
"An aging potions, isn't going to get pass Dumbledore's age line." Harry said.
"And what makes you think that?" Fred asked.
"Aging potion isn't strong enough." Harry said. "It might age your body, but it won't get passed an age line. Not to mention one done by Dumbeldore."
"That's what you think." Fred said, and he pulled out a slip of parchment, wrote Fred Weasley - Hogwarts; then George did they same, and together they walked up to the Goblet and dropped their names in. At first they thought it might just work, but then, there was a big bang, and Fred and George was thrown back, and hit the floor, and when they sat up, they had long white beards and hair. They looked at Harry in surprise.
"How did you know it wouldn't work." Fred demanded. "You have to have like the worse gave in potions in the school." Harry just shrugged as he laughed at them. Along with his friends.
"I know not to put my name in now." Lee said. Laughing at his two friends.
"I see a few students are breaking the rules." A voice said, they looked to see Sirius and Tonks standing there. It was Sirius who had spoken. "Good, hate to think this generation of wizards, followed the rules."
"But how about next time you stick with pulling a prank or something." Tonks said, looking as if she wanted to a laugh. "You might want to go see if Madam Pomfrey can help you guys." Fred and George left the Great Hall, Cody and Lee went with them, and Sirius and Tonks walked over to Harry and his friends.
"Come on you guys." Tonks said. "The table is not to set on, that's what the benches are for." All four of them at the same time; slide down from the table on to the bench. "You guys aren't getting into too much trouble are you."
"No, Mum." Teddy said. He took after his Mum, he had her same sense of humor and almost same fashion sense. Tonks was in her late teens when she had Teddy; her and Remus wasn't even married yet, so she was still kinda of young, and a little laid back, but did make sure Teddy didn't get in too much trouble, and didn't do anything real bad. She kept her hair bubblegum pink, and wore faded jeans with holes in the knees, and a Weird Sisters T-shirt.
"Hey, kiddo." Sirius greeted his nephew by messing up his hair.
"Don't!" Rigel snapped and knocked Sirius' hand away. "Why do you always have to mess up my hair?"
"Because it makes you mad." Sirius grinned. Sirius and Rigel was a lot a like. Sirius was in is early forties, but lot a lot younger; with black silky hair, and dark grey eyes, girls of all ages wanted him, infect a few of the older students were staring at him now, and one girl at the Hufflepuff table pointed Sirius' way and whispered something to her friend, and they started giggling. Rigel was the same way, he went through girlfriends like he was changing clothes, even had some older than him; he was tall for fourteen, kept his black hair long, down to his shoulders and had light grey eyes. He didn't have a girlfriend now. Having broke up with the muggle girl he had dated this summer. He only started dating last year, and had already had about five different girlfriends.
"How long are you here for?" Teddy asked.
"Why? you plan on getting into trouble?" Tonks asked. Teddy rolled his eyes. Even though Teddy couldn't get it to too much trouble with his mum here, like pranking teachers or skipping class, that kind of thing, he still could get in some trouble, if it had been his dad. That was another story. Remus Lupin did not like it when his son was in trouble or when he got bad grades, and hated when he cut up his clothes. Usually in families; it's the dad who let you by with a lot and the mum that would sit her foot down. But it was the other way for Teddy.
"No, mum, I was just wondering." Teddy said. "Because, it is a little embarrassing having your Mum at school with you."
"Sorry, kid, but unless I get called off to do something else, and they send a replacement for me." Tonks explained. " I'll be here for the year." Teddy groaned.
"Mummy," Britney Lupin now made her way into the Great Hall and had run up and hugged her mum.
"Well, I'm glade someone is happy that I am here." Tonks said, as she hugged her daughter back, she still blamed herself for letting Britney get out of the house the night Greyback had attacked her. And was a little overly portative of her.
"Mum, I like you to meet my friend Tiffany." Britney said. "Tiffany this my mum." Tiffany smiled at Tonks and said hi. Tonks smiled and gave the little girl a hug. Glad that her little girl had made at least one friend. "We're going to go eat now. Tiffany brought some of her muggle games with her, and is going to teach me how to play them."
"Sounds like fun." Tonks grinned.
"What? I don't get a hello?" Sirius teased. Britney gave him a hug, her little arms not even reaching around his middle. Then her and her friend headed over to the Ravenclaw table and sat down.
"Come on, Sirius, we better get to patrolling the halls." Tonks said. "And find where we left Kingsley." They soon left the Great Hall as the silvery girl from Beauxbatons came in to drop her name. Ginny snorted.
"Like it'll pick her." Ginny said, the girl heard and glared her way.
"You better watch it, that's Ron's new girlfriend." Rigel said. "You should have seen him last night, she came over to our table, and he just stared at her, with his mouth hanging open Teddy told him he was drooling right in front of her too." Ginny smacked Teddy, but she was laughing.
The chatted a little more watching people who put their names in and made fun of the ones the didn't like. Then Hydra Lastange walked in the Great Hall with her two Slytherin friends. She gave Harry a smirk before walking up to the goblet and dropped her name in. Hydra would have turned seventeen at the end of September.
"Hey, Lastrange." Rigel yelled. "I hope your name gets call, maybe you'll die during a task." Hydra glared, and turned around so she was looking at him. His hand went in his pocket where his wand was. But Hydra didn't go for hers, her dark eyes glanced over at Harry and then back to Rigel and she gave him a nasty smirk.
"It's not me you should worry about." Hydra said. Rigel frowned.
"Are you threaten me?" He demanded, standing up and pulling out his wand.
Hydra smirked even more, her dark eyes once again fall on Harry, before saying. "No, not you." And she turned and walked out of the Great Hall without another word.
Not long after that Seamus Finnigan showed up, and Ginny went off somewhere with him. Harry sat there for a few more minutes chatting, before deciding to go hang out with Hannah. They spent most the morning setting under the beech tree by the black lake, just talking, holder hands, and sometimes kissing. It was lunch time by the time they decided to go back in. Hannah sat with him at the Gryffindor table when they ate lunch. They sat with Teddy and Rigel. Ginny had sat down at the end with Seamus.
After lunch, Hannah went up to the Hufflepuff common room to do some weekend homework, before the ceremony that night, she was really hoping Cedric's name comes out. Hufflepuffs never got any glory for anything. Harry hung out the rest of the after noon in the Gryffindor common room, with Rigel and Teddy. He noticed Cody over in the corner, looking sad, Rigel had explained, Cody had went to the library to talk to Hermione and try to fix things between them, only to see her in there talking to Victor Krum. Harry felt bad for Cody, but there was nothing he could do for him. Unless he talked to Hermione. he didn't know if she would listen, but it was worth a shot. He decided to do that tomorrow.
Soon it was time for the fest and Harry, Rigel, and Teddy were making their way do to the Great Hall. Harry was walking down the marble staircase, when someone pushed past him, and if Teddy hadn't grabbed his arm, he would have fallen down them.
"Watch where you're walking." Rigel snapped. The person who had knocked into Harry had been Hydra, along with two Slytherin boys. They just smirked as they went on.
"They did that on porpoise." Teddy said. "You alright, Lighting."
"I'm fine, Morph." Harry said.
"Did what on porpoise?" Ginny asked, coming up behind them along with Seamus. Harry looked at their entwined hands and scowled. When he looked up at them, Seamus gave him a smirk.
"Lastrange just pushed past us and nearly knocked Lighting-blot down the stairs." Teddy answered. Ginny's eyes narrowed.
"That bitch." She cried, and acted as if she was going to run into the Great Hall after her, but Seamus pulled her back.
"Potter is a grown boy, Ginevra." Seamus said. "He should me able to handle it."
"Don't call me that." Ginny snapped, letting go of his hand. Harry couldn't help but smirk at Seamus, who glared back at him. But then smirked reached over pulled Ginny to him and kissed her. Harry suddenly felt like knocking Seamus out, but the kiss didn't last long, for Ginny quickly pulled away.
"We are in the middle of a stairway." She snapped, then turned to her friends. "Come on guys, we better get in the Great Hall before the feast starts.
It was Harry's turn to smirk again. "Well, let's go, Ginevra." Seamus frowned when Ginny didn't snap at Harry for calling her that, and the four friends left him standing there, as they walked into the Great Hall. The parted ways, and Ginny and Harry sat across from Luna at the Ravenclaw table. They didn't talk much as they ate and it seem to take longer than usual, maybe because everyone was in a hurry to see who gets picked.
Finally it was time, the golden plates returned to their original state, and the noise in the Great Hall dead instantly when Dumbledore had got to his feet. Madam Maxime and Karkaroff were seated at the staff table. Along with Ludo Bagman and Crouch. Sirius, Tonks, and Kingsley where standing behind the table, as still as status.
"It's nearly time." Dumbledore said. "The goblet is almost ready to make its decisions. Just one more minute and the names will be chosen. Now when the champions name is called, I ask them to please, come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table and go through this door, behind the staff table, it leads to a chamber, where they will be receiving their instructions." Dumbledore took out his wand and waved it; at once, all the candles, but for the ones inside the carved pumpkins were extinguished, plunging them in a state of semidarkness. The Goblet of Fire now shone more brightly than anything in the Hall. Nobody talked or moved, they just sat and watched the goblet.
"Any second." Terry Boot, who sat a few chairs from Harry, was almost bouncing in his seat.
Suddenly the flames inside the goblet turned red. Sparks began to fly from it. Next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air, a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it-the whole hall gasped.
Dumbeldore caught the parchment and held it up, so he could read it by the light of the flames, which had turned back to blue-white.
"The champion for Durmstrange," he read, in a strong clear voice, "will be Victor Krum."
"No surprise there," yelled Micheal Corner, another fourth year Ravenclaw. The Great Hall cheered as Krum made his way up the Hall and into the outer chamber. Once he disappeared the cheering died down and once again everyone's attention went to the goblet. It only took a second for it, to once more turn red and another piece of parchment shot out of the flames.
"The Beauxbatons champion is." Dumbledore read. "Fleur Delacour."
"It's your friend." Harry told Ginny, as the silvery haired girl Ginny had taken a dislike too, got to her feet and made her way to the outer chamber. The Great Hall cheered and clapped for her, but not as loud as they had for Victor Krum. When she had disappeared; everyone's attention went back to the goblet. Like before it only to a second for the parchment to shot out.
"And the Hogwarts champion it." Dumbeldore paused, and Ginny for some reason grabbed Harry's leg. "Cedric Diggory." Ginny gave a sigh of relief, as the Hall clapped and cheered for Cedric as he too disappeared into the outer chamber.
"Excellent!" Dumbledore called. "Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all you, to give your champions ever ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real-"
But Dumbledore suddenly stopped speaking, and it was clear to everybody what had distracted him.
The fire in the goblet had just turned red again. Sparks were flying out of it. A long flame shot out suddenly into the air, and borne upon it was another piece of parchment.
"Merlin, no." Ginny whispered, and once again grabbed Harry's leg, but this time tighter then she did before. As her eye shot across the table to look at Luna.
Automatically, it seemed, Dumbeldore reached out a long hand and seized the parchment. He held it out and stared at the name written upon it, there was a long pause which Dumbeldore stared at the slip in his hand. Harry could see Sirius and Tonks whispering to one another confused, as everyone else stared at Dumbeldore, then after what seem like forever Dumbledore cleared his throat and read out a name, Harry never in the world excepted.
"Harry Potter!"
Harry felt his jaw drop, as Ginny's grip on his leg had become so tight, he was sure her nails was digging through his pants to his skin.
"Harry Potter!" Dumbeldore shouted again looking grim.
"But I didn't put my name in that bloody cup." Harry said. Ginny finally let go of his leg.
"I know, Harry, I believe you." Ginny said, and Luna nodded in agreement. "But, maybe you should go on up."
Harry jumped as a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder, he looked up to see Cody looking down at him, concern in his hazel eyes. He had taken his robs and vest off, had his shirt hanging out, and his tie was untied and just handing around his neck.
"Come on, Baby Bro." Cody said. "I'll got with you." When Harry stood, Cody slung his arm around Harry and led him toward the door.
"But that's not fair." Someone yelled out. "He's not even of age." Cody glared at said person.
"Shut your face." He snapped.
"Cody, I swear, I didn't put my name in that goblet." Harry said. He glanced over at Teddy and Rigel, who were both gaping back at him, Teddy for once seemed lost for words.
"I know, Harry." Cody said. And just by the fact he had call Harry by his name, Harry knew how worried he was. Harry glanced over at Sirius, he was looked at Harry with an expression he couldn't read, then he leaned in whispered something to Tonks, she nodded her head as Cody opened the door to the outer chamber and led Harry through.
Inside the room the three other champions where standing around the fireplace. Fleur was talking with Madam Maxime. When she heard Harry and Cody enter she looked up, as did the others.
"What is it?" She asked, her french accent was thick, and Harry saw her blue eyes check Cody out. "Do they want us to come back out?" She mistook them as messengers, but before they could answer the door flew open again and in came: Moody, Snape, Sirius, Flitwick, and McGonagall, along with Crouch and Bagman.
Dumbledore and Sirius ran right to Harry. "Harry, did you put your name in the cup?" Dumbeldore demanded.
"No, sir." Harry answered.
"Did you get an older student to do it?" Sirius demanded, his eyes for a second went to Cody."
"Don't look at me, I wouldn't do that." Cody said. "Jesse would kill me." Sirius nodded and turned back to Harry.
"No, I don't know how my name got in that cup." Harry said.
"What's going on here?" Karkaroff demanded. Bagman stepped forward, put his arm around Harry and announced.
"Let me introduce you to the fourth triwizard champion." Bagman beamed. "Harry Potter's name came out of the Goblet of fire."
"There is no need to sound happy about it." Cody demanded, he grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him away from Bagman.
"And he said he didn't put it in." Maxime demanded.
"I didn't." Harry denied.
"He is lying." Maxime said.
"Hey, watch who you call a liar, lady." Cody demanded, glaring at her.
"Potter!" McGonagall warned, giving Cody a stern look.
"Madam Maxime." Flitwick added. "I have known Mr. Potter for four years now, he might get in a lot of trouble, but one thing he has never done was lie."
"But he is just a child." Fleur said. Harry glared at her, he hated being called a child.
"I may only be fourteen, but I've probably done more than you have." He said.
"Yeah," Cody agreed. "Have you stopped any dark lords lately, frenchie."
"What are you trying to pull here, Dumbledore." Karkaroff demanded.
"Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's doings." Snape demanded. "He has stepped over lines since he step foot in this school."
"Hey, that's my little brother you're talking about." Cody said, glaring at Snape.
"Cody, please." Harry said, last thing he needed was for Cody and Snape, to get into it over how Snape treats Harry, something they've done more than a few times, thankfully Cody listen, but Sirius did not.
"Why are you in here anyway." Sirisu demanded. You're not a headmaster, or Harry's head of house. And if you know what is good for you, Snape, you'll leave my godson alone, both of them."
"Guys enough." Dumbeldore said, as Snape opened his mouth to reply. "Now is not the time."
"Sir, I swear, I didn't put my name in that cup." Harry said again.
"Rather you did are didn't does not really matter." Crouch said. "You'll have to compete either way."
"Oh, come one." Sirius said. "Surely you can let him out of it."
"Afaird not." Crouch said. "It's a banding magical contract, it can not be broken."
"Then let me compete for him." Cody said. "My last name is Potter."
"Not good enough." Crouch said. "If the slip had only his last name written on it, then maybe, but since his first name is on it he must compete."
"I'll change me name to Harry then." Cody said. Harry snorted at that.
"This is not fair." Fleur cried. "Hogwarts should not have two champions."
"I say, let us put some more names in and let the cup choose another champion for us." Karkaroff said.
"You can't" Bagman said,. "The cup went out, it won't lit again into the next tournament."
"I'll just leave, then." Karkraoff said.
"Empty threat, Karkaroff." Moody said. " Potter is the only one with the right to complain, and funny enough, he's not complaining."
"Why should he complain." Maxime demanded. "He gets to compete. Glory many would die for."
"Maybe someone is hoping he will die for it." Moody said. Cody gasped and threw his arms around Harry's shoulders and pulled him to his chest, as if he thought, said person would jump out of a corner and do him in now.
"Over my dead body." Cody growled.
"Moody, old man,." Bagman said. "What a thing to say."
"Please, why would someone want to kill a child." Maxime said. "He put his name in that cup, or had his brother to do it."
"I'm not a child." Harry spat. "And I had nothing to do with it, why would I."
"Oh, I don't know." Fleur said. "Maybe for a the glory and thousand prize galleons."
"I have enough fame already, thank you." Harry said. "I don't need anymore."
"And a thousand galleon is just chunk change to us Potters." Cody bragged. Which was true, the Potter children had inherited ever last knut of the Potter family fortune, not to mention already having their own trust founds, in their own vaults at Gringotts.
"Listen, standing around here complaining and arguing isn't going to help anything." Sirius said. "Barty, why don't you go ahead and give these students their instructions, and let them get on to bed, it is getting late, and I'm sure you would like to get home.
"Yes, you're right." Crouch said. He stepped forward and told them what they could except, and the date of the first task would be. Harry couldn't help but think he looked sick.
After they were dismissed, Sirius and Cody walked Harry back to his common room, like they were scared if they didn't; Harry wouldn't make it there alive.
"Harry," Someone called, they all three turned around to see Hannah rushing up to them.
"Shouldn't you in your common room?" Sirius asked. Hannah glanced at Sirius then back to Harry.
"How could you?" She demanded, Harry gaped at her.
"What?" Harry asked.
"How could you put your name in that goblet." Hannah demanded. "You know what this tournament means to Hufflepuff."
"But I didn't." Harry said.
"Then how did it get in there?" Hannah demanded. "How could you? Think what Cedric most think. That was real low Harry."
"Hey, lay off him." Cody demanded.
"Besides, shouldn't you be on my side?" Harry demeaned. "I am your boyfriend."
"Not anymore." Hannah said
"What?' Harry demanded. "You're going to dump me over a dumb tournament. That's stupid."
Hannah growled, then smacked Harry across the face. "Don't call me stupid." She snapped then turned around and stormed off.
"Don't let her get to you, kiddo." Sirius said. "If she can't believe you, she's not worth it." Harry just nodded as he rubbed his cheek. Was that what it's going to be like, was the whole school going to hate him, and believe he did put his name in that goblet. would Jesse believe he didn't do it.