A/N... Hey guys. I know I said I would try and get an extra chapter up withing the week but clearly that didn't happen, at least I didn't leave it as long as I did before. It is hard to get chapters up quickly because I try to make them long as per request so I am sorry, if I made them small chapters like only 1000 words it wouldn't take as long but I am making them longer. Thanks for the lovely reviews, story alerts, favs and all that jazz. Though I realise a lot of people are reading but aren't reviewing. I understand that people do that and I used to do that to other stories but after I realised how nice it is to receive a wonderful review I now review all the stories. The more reviews I get the quicker I write. I don't want to become one of those people that demand like 5 reviews before the next chapter comes out but i will probably update and write faster the more reviews I receive.
So please Review! and enjoy the next chapter :)
(disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Sailor Moon.)
Every head in the Great Hall turned to look at Harry but he just sat there still in a state of shock. He thought he was dreaming or that he had not heard correctly. The whole Hall was silently there was no applause and nobody knew what to say.
The teachers were the first to react, Professor McGonagall got to her feet and started to whisper to Dumbledore who was frowning slightly. Mina and Ami were trying to communicate silently with each other and Setsuna who was looking down at their table with a look of sympathy and a slight hint of fear.
Harry finally snapped out of his daze when whispers from all around him were heard. He turned to look Mina, Ami, Ron and Hermione. "I didn't put my name in. You know I didn't"
Harry watched on slightly depressed to see their responses. Ron just stared at him, Hermione looked around the room clearly avoiding his eyes and Ami shrugged. Finally he looked at Mina and she was like his saving grace the one thing that was making him feel okay about the situation. She had nodded and grabbed his hand to offer him comfort.
Dumbledore's voice was heard again. "Harry Potter! Harry, up here, if you please."
He went to open his mouth to say something to Mina when she smiled and gave him a slight push. "Go on."
Harry reluctantly got to his feet and nearly tripped over his own robes. He set off up on the long gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. He was disheartened to hear no applause and no cheers, until a soft clapping was heard from the Gryffindor table.
He had thoughts on who it would be and glanced over his shoulder to check. He let a soft smile spread across his face when he saw Mina standing confidently at the Gryffindor table clapping loudly. He could not have been more appreciative in that moment; much of the attention that was focused on him had been redirected to her. He made a mental note to find her later to thank her for her support.
After what seemed like eternity he had made his way up to where Dumbledore stood, frowning slightly. "Well... through the door Harry."
Harry nodded slightly and walked through the door and found himself in a smaller room. Standing around the fire were the other three champions. Fleur looked over at him and gave him a tentative smile.
"You are Mina's friend, Do zey want us back in ze hall?"
Harry didn't know how to explain, he just stood there thinking about what had just happened. Soon the judges of the Tournament entered and stared at Harry.
Harry huffed wanting to tell them to back off, he wasn't some animal in a zoo.
The judges spoke over what was to happen, treating Harry like he wasn't even there. It was like all hell had broke loose and Harry could do nothing about it.
The argument raged on about whether he could compete or not and the only one on his side appeared to be Ludo Bagman.
Dumbledore tried to calm them all down and walked over to Harry.
"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire Harry?" Harry shook his head no and Dumbledore continued on. "Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?"
Again Harry shook his head but this time managed to say a word. "No"
Madame Maxime, Snape and Karkaroff all scoffed at this and Madame Maxime spoke. "Ah but of course 'e is lying!"
This caused Professor McGonagall to speak for the first time. "He could not have crossed the Age Line. I am sure we are all agreed on that..."
Madame Maxime huffed loudly and interrupted McGonagall. "Dumbly-dorr must 'ave made a mistake wiz ze line."
Dumbledore who was trying to be polite and stop more conflict agree that it was possible.
Professor McGonagall glared at Madame Maxime and turned to Dumbledore. "You know perfectly well you did not make a mistake! Really what non-sense. Harry could not have crossed the line himself and Professor Dumbledore believes that he did not persuade and older student to do it for him. That is enough for me and should be good enough for everyone else!"
Dumbledore calmed McGonagall down with a look and turned to Mr Bagman and Mr Crouch. "You are our two objective judges, what do you believe should happen."
Mr Crouch stepped forward slightly and spoke. "We must follow the rules and the rules clearly state that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the Tournament.
Karkaroff did not take this news well and started off on a rant. "I insist upon resubmitting the rest of my students. You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions..."
"It doesn't work like that; the Goblet has just gone out and will not reignite until the start of the next tournament." Bagman interrupted.
Karkaroff shot Bagman a dirty look. "In which Durmstrang will not be competing! After all 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, you can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said." Moody growled from near the doorway, scaring Harry who had hardly heard anything they were discussing.
Harry quickly fell back into his daze barely registering what they were saying. He was too confused about everything and was trying to wrap his mind around it all.
The only things that he had registered was that his name was put into the Goblet of Fire, he had to compete in this stupid Tournament and finally that none of his friends seemed to believe him when he said he didn't put his name in.
That thought upset him more than anything until he saw the beautiful smiling face of Mina appear in his head. She was the only one that believe him and that meant a lot to him, the fact that someone he had only met about two months ago believed him and stood up for him.
He was snapped out of his daze when he heard Dumbledore using a stern voice to tell people off and indicate that what he says goes.
"How this situation arose, we do not know. It seems to me however that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Cedric and Harry have been chosen to compete in the Tournament and they will do so, unless anyone has any other alternatives, which I would be delighted to hear."
When nobody spoke in response Dumbledore got his smile back and rubbed his hands together. "Well shall we crack on then? Got to give our champions their instructions haven't we. Barty will you please do the honours?"
Crouch nodded and stepped a bit closer to the four students. "The first task is designed to test your daring, so we are not going to be telling you what the task is. Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard.
The first task will take place on the twenty-fourth of November, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers. The champions will face the first challenge 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 are exempted from end-of-year tests. That is all."
As soon as he was done Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime gathered up their champion and started leading them away.
Dumbledore sighed lightly and turned to the Hogwarts champions. "Harry, Cedric I suggest you go up to bed. I am sure Gryffindor and Hufflepuff 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."
Harry glanced at Cedric who nodded and the two left together.
Cedric held a rigid stance as they walked together. "So, we are playing against each other again."
Harry grunted in response, there wasn't really anything he wanted to say to the pretty boy that had caught Mina's attention, no matter how brief a moment it was.
Cedric didn't seem to mind his hostile attitude because he too was projecting the same attitude towards Harry. "So, tell me... How did you get your name in?"
Harry groaned and stared up at the taller boy. "I didn't put it in, I was telling the truth."
Cedric gave Harry a look that clearly said he didn't believe him which irritated Harry. Harry was about to speak more when Cedric waved slightly and headed towards a door to the right of the marble staircase.
Harry sighed and began to climb the stairs up to the Gryffindor tower. As he headed upstairs he wondered if anybody but Mina would believe him. He hoped that the reactions from Hermione and Ron were just shock and they too would believe him.
Harry got a shock to find himself facing the Fat Lady. He had barely noticed where his feet were carrying him. It was also a surprise to see that she was not alone in her frame.
"Balderdash" said Harry dully. The Fat Lady nodded and swung forward on her hinges to let Harry into the common room.
The blast of noise that met Harry's ears when the portrait opened almost knocked him backwards. Next thing he knew he was being wrenched inside the common room by about a dozen pairs of hands and was facing the whole of the Gryffindor house. They were all standing there screaming, applauding and whistling.
Fred walked up to Harry and patted him on the back. "You should've told us you'd entered!"
George followed his twin and nodded at Harry. "How did you do it without getting a beard? Brilliant!"
Harry tried to answer saying that he didn't enter but he wasn't heard over all the others in the common room. He shook his head as more people tried to congratulate him. He tried to ignore them all and wanted nothing more than to talk to Ron, Hermione, Ami or Mina.
Lee Jordan had found a Gryffindor banner and wrapped it around Harry, he tried to shake it off but everybody just kept on placing it back on his shoulders. He eventually gave up and just left it around him.
He looked around everywhere for his friends and couldn't find them. Eventually he walked up to Fred and voiced his question.
"Where is Ron, Hermione, Ami or Mina?"
Fred shrugged his shoulders. "Something about bed and then Mina said something else about support, her being the only one or something."
Harry thanked him and said he too was going to bed. People tried to stop him from going upstairs but he dodged them all and finally made it up to his room. He let out a loud sigh and smiled when he saw Ron, who looked up when Harry slammed the door behind him.
Ron was grinning at Harry, but it looked very odd like a trained sort of a grin. Harry suddenly became aware that he was still wearing the scarlet Gryffindor banner that Lee had tied around him. He hastened to take it off but the after he shrugged it off one too many times, the others had tied it on very tightly.
Finally he removed the banner and threw it in the corner. Ron glanced up and nodded his head very briefly. "So, congratulations."
Harry stared at his friend in shock. "What do you mean congratulations?"
Ron smiled but it looked more like a grimace. "Well... no one else got across the Age Line, not even Fred and George. What did you use... the Invisibility Cloak?"
Harry looked at Ron, "The Invisibility Cloak wouldn't have got me over that line."
"Oh right, I thought you might have told me if it was the Cloak... because it would've covered both of us, wouldn't it? But you found another way did you?"
Harry looked at Ron in disbelief. "I didn't put my name in that Goblet Someone else must have done it and II don't know why."
Ron rose his eyebrows at harry. "It's okay you know, you can tell me the truth. If you don't want everyone else to know fine but I don't know why you're bothering to lie. You didn't get in trouble for it, did you? We were all told that Dumbledore's letting you enter... A thousand Galleons prize money eh? And you don't have to do end-of-year tests either..."
Harry interrupted him in an angry tone. "I didn't put my name in that Goblet."
Ron gave him a sceptical look. "Yeah okay, only you said this morning you'd have done it last night and no one would have seen you. I am not stupid you know."
"You're doing a really good impression of it!" Harry snapped furious that Ron one of his best friends refused to believe him.
Ron glared back at harry. "You will want to go to bed Harry? I expect you'll need to be up early tomorrow for a photo call or something."
He wrenched the hanging shut around his four-poster bed leaving Harry standing there by the door.
Harry gapped at Ron in shock and anger. He could not believe that his best friend refused to believe him! The only one that had believed him so fair was Mina, not even Hermione looked like he was going to trust him.
Harry got changed and hopped into bed, thoughts still rolling around in his mind. How did he know that people believed him? Mina may have nodded and grabbed his hand in support but did that mean she believed him. She wasn't there to greet him in the common room but what he didn't know was how furious Mina had been at the situation.
Mina wasn't as shocked as she thought she would be when she heard Dumbledore call out Harry's name. When she looked over to see Harry's reaction her heart ached for him. He looked so confused that she just wanted to go over and hug him.
He stayed that way for a while until he spoke up. "I didn't put my name in. You know I didn't"
Mina glanced at Hermione and Ron to see their reactions and was appalled to see the doubt shining in their eyes. Finally emerald eyes met hers and were silently begging for understanding.
Mina smiled at him and grabbed his hand hoping that that would give him a little bit of strength. Before anything else could be said Dumbledore's voice was heard "Harry Potter! Harry, up here, if you please."
Harry looked at her again and she could tell he was about to say something but she cut him off with a smile, "Go on."
She watched as he made his way slowly up to the staff table hating the fact that everybody was just staring at him and giving him no support. Mina knew he didn't place his name in the Goblet and knew he needed support.
Taking a breath to prepare herself for all the stares she was about to receive, she stood up and started to clap loudly. She ignored the stares coming at her from all directions used to the attention, though admittedly the stares were usually because of her looks but she didn't care. She wanted Harry to realise that she would support him.
She smiled at him when she saw him glance over his shoulder at her. She kept clapping until he disappeared behind the doors. Dumbledore then stood and addressed the remaining students. "There are your champions, you a free to go. Goodnight."
Mina could tell he was trying to be his usual self but he was shaken. She turned to Ami who looked deep in thought and nudged her bringing her back to attention.
Mina leant over and whispered. "I think we should go and talk to Setsuna she might know what is happening."
Ami nodded and the two started to follow everyone out of the hall. Ron turned to the two girls as they went to go down a different hallway instead of up to the Gryffindor Tower.
"Where are you two going?"
Mina didn't really have an excuse so she just shrugged and walked away. Ami turned to Ron and smiled at him. "She just needs to think about what just happened."
Ron nodded and left towards the Gryffindor Tower as Ami followed her in silence. The two reached Setsuna's office and knocked.
Setsuna opened the door and welcomed them in. The three sat down before Mina started the discussion.
"Setsuna, how dangerous is the Triwizard Tournament?"
Setsuna sighed slightly and looked at Mina. "There have been deaths during the Tournament."
"Is this the thing that puts Harry in danger and may cause Voldemort to rise?" Minako asks in a calm voice that is too calm for Mina. Setsuna and Ami can tell straight away something is wrong; the voice they heard sounded more like Sailor Venus than Mina.
"I don't know Minako, not for sure but I believe so. The Tournament is quite dangerous."
Mina glared at Setsuna. "Let me get this straight. We came here to protect Harry from danger but now he is in a competition that may kill him and you did nothing to stop it."
Setsuna calmly looked back at Mina. "I did not know this would happen Mina, all I saw was danger not exactly what caused it. You know I don't like to see into the future too much, changing one thing causes a rift effect."
"We could have stopped this Setsuna, all of this. I know you don't like looking into the future but you should do so to protect your princess! If we had simply stopped Harry's name from being entered into the Goblet than Harry would be protected!
Now we will have to watch out for him more and it will be harder because how are we supposed to protect him from these tasks! He has to compete in them and there is nothing we can do to stop that. Damn it Pluto, you could have stopped this." Mina yelled, but clearly it wasn't Mina speaking it was Sailor Venus. Venus was furious that if they had just taken extra precautions this whole thing would be a lot easier.
Setsuna didn't react she just stared at Mina and spoke calmly. "I know it would be easier Mina, but when is doing our duty ever easy? We will stay here and do what we have to so Harry will be safe. I know you are angry but you know that the future isn't set in stone. What I see can be changed at any time due to our choices; nothing is definite not love predictions, not certain events, not even Crystal Tokyo. Every future can be changed by small choices."
Mina gapped at Setsuna in shock, halting her anger. She finally released a breath and deflated falling back into her chair. "I am sorry Setsuna, for yelling at you. Everything you said is true and I shouldn't be telling you how to do your job over the time gates. I apologise, I am just worried about Harry and about Usagi. I am worried that if Harry gets hurt it will be our fault that we failed and I am also afraid that if we die this time, we may not come back..."
Setsuna and Ami looked at her, knowing what she was saying was true. It was times like this they remembered why the blonde was the leader. Mina ignored their looks and continued on.
"With this Tournament happening we will need to work extra hard to protect him and work out how to do this without arousing suspicions."
Ami spoke up for the first time. "Since Setsuna is a teacher here it shouldn't be too hard to figure out what each of the tasks will be. The only thing we will need to do is figure out how to tell Harry without letting him know it was us giving him the hints. I am not sure exactly how we can do that but we will find a way."
Mina nodded and had one more thing to say. "Something occurred to me when Harry told me he didn't put his name in the Goblet. If he didn't do it who did? Someone at this school is out to get Harry and we don't know who it is."
Setsuna sighed and rubbed her hand across her face. "I know, I can't see clearly who it is. When I looked into the future and saw Harry getting in danger, the figure that is causing all this is blurry. I can't figure it all out. We will just need to stay on our guard and watch out for Harry.
Though, there is one thing I can see clearly. Harry will have a fight with Ron and will feel alone. One of you should stay with Harry and get to know him better that way. We can protect him better if he trusts us. The other one of you should watch out for Ron, somebody might use this fight against them and plus we can find out some stuff from Ron."
Mina listened carefully, "I will stay with Harry and Ami will stay with Ron. Harry and I are already becoming pretty good friends and he saw already that I support him."
Ami nodded along, "That is fine with me, I will stay with Ron."
"That sounds like that will work fine. I will also watch over Harry but from afar. He is our main concern after all. You two should go back to your rooms now, if you get caught outside out your rooms it could cause trouble."
Mina smiled at Setsuna and cheekily winked at them. "You know we won't get caught but we should go shouldn't we."
Setsuna nodded as Ami giggled. The two younger senshi gave Setsuna a hug before leaving and walking to Gryffindor Tower. They didn't say much on the way back and quickly arrived back to the Gryffindor Tower.
After giving The Fat Lady the password the two walked into the common room to shouts of congratulations. The cheering and yelling soon stopped when the other Gryffindors realised who it was.
Fred sauntered up to the two of them and put his arms around their shoulders. "Sorry we thought you were the Hogwarts champion."
Ami shyly pushed his arm of her. "Sorry about that, what is all this?"
Fred grinned with his arm still around Mina. "It is a celebration for Harry. You two are staying right?"
Ami smiled politely and started to walk away. "That is lovely but I must be go and catch up on some homework."
Fred shrugged and turned to Mina. "Are you staying to show your support for Harry?"
Mina pushed his arm roughly off her and glared coldly at him. "Harry knows I support him, while the rest of you stared blankly at him, I was the one clapping for him. He knows I am there for him. Now I have to go catch up on some homework goodnight."
She walked away and stormed up the stairs before arriving at the door. She entered and flopped down on her bed. Tears pricked at her eyes when she thought about how much harder things have become. She knows that Ami and Setsuna are here but she still feels alone, like she would be the one to fail if Harry gets hurt. She really wished she had Artemis to talk to; he always made everything seem easier
Mina got changed and got into her bed. Ami watched her before deciding to say something. "Minako are you okay?"
Mina quickly wiped her face to make sure no tears had fallen before smiling at Ami. "I am fine Ami, just missing Artie and the others."
"I miss them too; you know maybe I can find a spell that will make our communicators work. I mean I know most electronic devices don't work but technically our communicators are a combination of technology and magic so I should be able to get them to work."
Mina beamed over at Ami. "You really think you could?"
Ami nodded and Mina jumped up and hugged Ami. "Oh that would be fantastic Ames... I haven't been away from Artie since the day I got him and I miss him so much!"
"It may take a little time but I am sure I can do it. Go to sleep Mina, everything will be fine."
Mina smiled at returned to her bed. "Thank you so much Ames."
Ami closed her eyes and whispered. "You're welcome."
Hope you enjoyed the chapter please review telling me what you liked, what could be improved and maybe ideas if you like!
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