DISCLAIMER: THE BOOK BELONGS TO J. I HAVE ONLY BORROWED BOTH CHARACTERS AND PLOTLINE.
CHAPTER 57
During the next three day many people put their names into the goblet, some even during the dead of night so that they would not seen by the others.
The Gryffindor's had made quite a show out of it however, and had lined up before the goblet cheering each other on as they dropped their names inside it, Fred and George had even made a huge red and gold banner that had two lions on it which roared every time someone added their name in.
It had been quite entertaining to watch people running back and forth from the goblet unsure of whether putting their name's in was the wise thing to do or not, especially after Luna had stood in the crowd and told them about how an Erumpet, an African beast of power that looked like a rhinoceros, had trampled over two of the participants in a previous competition, killing one them in an instant!
The day of selection finally arrived and everyone waited while sitting at the edge of their seats in the great hall to see how it would all unfold.
"Good evening everyone, it's time for me to call out the first of the champion's name today" said Dumbledore his eyes twinkling in the blue glow of the goblet's flames, "Now, there is a slight twist in the system this year, instead of calling out all of the three names in one day, we will be doing it one name per day instead! So today's chosen competitor is…"
The blue flames changed to a fiery red, and within them shot out small a piece of parchment bearing the winners name, grabbing it Dumbledore peered inside it and said smiling "The first champion selected is Cedric Diggory!"
The Hufflepuff's erupted into happy cheers as one of their own had been selected for the championship, thumping him on the back as he stood beaming into the crowd with his extraordinarily handsome face he caused quite a few of the girls to start screaming in glee.
"Tomorrow the second champion will be chosen in the exact same manner and at the same time, so for now you may return to your dorms and wait patiently for it to happen" the Headmaster said wishing them a goodnight and walked away leaving the school to congratulate their fortunate classmate.
The next day the excitement was palpable, nobody paid much attention in class and were too busy voting for the next champion amongst themselves, Fred and George had decided to place bets and had earned quite a bit until Filch caught them and took away their money quite vindictively!
Sitting in the hall once again after dinner they waited impatiently for the goblet to throw up the next parchment, "The second champion is…" Dumbledore's face changed a smidgen and looked a bit confused "Darren Potter!"
Almost the entire hall rose up to cheer for him, but he himself continued sitting down with a sort of horrified expression on his face, and stood up only when Hermione pinched him really hard. Giving the hall a brief smile that almost looked like a grimace he sat back down looking lost.
Harry had stood up with the rest of the crowd not to cheer for him but to see what was going on, one look at his face and he knew that something was amiss, Darren looked like he had no idea who had put that parchment in, in the first place. He tried to get closer to him but failed when a crowd of people surrounded him, cheering him on.
He waited until the room had cleared out and then followed the trio back to the Gryffindor common room and stopped short when he saw the three of them standing in front of the portrait looking like they were arguing about something, not wanting to intervene and embarrass them he waited until they were finished.
"Did you put your name in during the night when we were sleeping?" Ron was asking, looking almost livid.
"What…? No! Don't be an idiot Ron" Darren said shoving him away "If I wanted to do it, I would have done it openly, like you and Hermione, why should I have hidden it?"
"Don't know, you like the extra attention I suppose" Ron said after thinking for a bit.
"Stop it Ron, you're not making sense at all, if Darren wanted to enter the tournament he did not have to lie to us about it and the attention would have been the same either ways, why are you so mad at him, really?" Hermione asked.
"The schmuck is pissed at me cause it was my name that came out the stupid goblet" Darren answered in return looking at a reddening Ron "Don't be stupid Ron, this whole situation is scaring the hell out of me, someone else has put my name in it and trust me I don't think it was meant to be a friendly gesture or anything"
"Whatever Potter" Ron muttered and stomped into the dormitory.
"Can you believe him?" Darren asked, looking at Ron's retreating back. Hermione shrugged and laid a calming hand on Darren's shoulder and said she'd talk to the stubborn boy and left him standing outside alone, leaning against the wall with his head bowed down.
"I believe you" Harry said coming out of shadows "And I think Ron does too, he's just angry that you'll be the one getting all the adoration again, he's acting like a small child, trust me he'll come back to normal pretty soon."
Darren looked gratefully at his brother and said "I know, it's just I'm a bit worried, I don't know how it happened, how was my name in the goblet in the first place?"
Harry swallowed his own fear holding Darren for a minute and said "Don't think about it, there will be no time anyway just focus on getting through the tournament right now. You are a strong competitor Darren, what with all the training and all you're probably the best, just do me a favor when you win that trophy? Just make sure you take us out for a nice big dinner yeah?"
Darren started to smile and said "Only dinner? Cheapstake!"
"There's always tomorrow Darren, who knows if that fool gets selected and has to eat his own words!"
"Yeah! Thanks Harry. Now go back or you'll get into trouble, goodnight" He said and walked toward the portrait, turning around he said "It means a lot that you believe me" and went in."
Oooooooooooooooooooo
Dray…? Draco wake up " Harry said desperately into the mirror, luckily Draco had gotten one too so communication had become rather easy, "Could I see you right now? Come down to the great hall please it'll only take a few."
"I'm awake, just changing." Draco said sounding a bit hassled, "Dammit Harry, it's late!"
"I know, I know, I'm sorry! I'll get you a bar of Honeyduke's finest, promise."
"Three" Draco said laughing.
"Ugh…fine! Three! Happy?"
"Yup!"
Standing in the great hall protected by a disillusionment and warming charm, Harry waited impatiently for Draco to come. Suddenly he heard a harsh whisper of "Harry?" and jumped with fright, he was standing right behind Harry himself!
"Dray, it's me" Harry said and removed the disillusionment charm and waited for Draco to do the same.
"What's so important it couldn't wait till tomorrow?"
"Darren's name was not put into the goblet by himself, Dray; a blind man could have seen it"
"I figured that much out and…?" Draco asked, looking suspiciously at him, waiting for the real reason he had been brought here.
"I need you to help me enter the competition!" Harry said looking apprehensively at him.
"Goodnight Potter! You're nuts if you think I'm aiding and abetting in this…crime!" Draco said and almost turned around when Harry ran to stand in front of him looking desperate "Please Dray, you just need to keep guard while I do this, please?"
"Harry, let's say you enter this stupid championship, then what?"
"I'll keep an eye out for him, try to find out who's behind this."
"Nothing I say is going to change your mind, is it? If I say no you'll go ahead and do it anyway right?"
Harry looked deeply into his shrouded eyes and said "Yes."
"Fine, but I'll only stand and wait till you're done."
"Thanks" Harry said and walked over to the goblet that was still standing in the middle of the room. He put his two hands on either side of it while Draco watched in awe as he performed wandless magic effortlessly in front of him.
Slowly Harry stripped off all the wards placed on the Goblet and added a powerful 'Confundus' charm to it, grinning to himself when he though how tomorrow his name would be called out by default.
Stepping away from it he quickly replaced all the wards and looked triumphantly at Draco who snorted and rolled his eyes at him.
"Let's go it's done" Harry said while Draco still looking at him like he was a serious head case. They wished each other a good night and split up to go to their respective dorms.
Ooooooooooooooo
The next day sitting with the others and waiting for the final name to be called out, Harry tried to exchange surreptitious glances at Draco who was studiously avoiding him in return.
"The final champion is…" Harry sat up straighter waiting for it when Dumbledore called out "Hermione Granger!"
Feeling confused Harry bent his head low wondering what had gone wrong since he had been quite meticulous about the whole thing, when the blue flames changed to red once again and a piece of parchment shot out.
Looking stunned, Dumbledore opened the folded chit amidst the loud shocked whispers of the crowd before him and called out softly"Harry Potter!"
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