Sydney: Here it is, three chapters in one day. Good for me. Now if only I could stop jumpping at every noise.
Roxas: Ring!
Sydney: Ok, give me my cell phone back. That's my Blondie. Oh, I totally knew it was Voldemort!
Sora: She's watching Chamber of Secrets as we type.
Sydney: Yes which is the whole reason that I'm so jumpy. So here we have it. I don't own anything but if I did, these two would already be merged.
Roxas: Yes now enjoy reading as we finish the movie and go to bed.
Chapter 7: Questions and Explanations
I sat there shocked as people around me started whispering about me this time and what not. I could feel Roxas pulling on my arm but I didn't want to stand. I didn't want to fight dragons, merpeople, and what is hidden in that stupid maze. I didn't want to eventually face Voldemort and watch Cedric die. I could feel Roxas pull me to my feet and then push me towards the staff table.
"Don't make me do this. Don't make me fight dragons and everything else. Roxas, please don't make me fight he who must not be named." I whispered as we came closer to the staff table and the Goblet of Fire.
"What are you talking about Sydney? Voldemort disappeared years ago. It's not like he can come back." She said.
"No, I could die doing this. Voldemort is suppose to rise again during the third and final task. Don't make me do this." I told him as tears started to form. Before he could answer, Professor Dumbledore grabbed onto my wrist and lead me the rest of the way. Once I was in the next room, I saw Fleur, Viktor, Cedric and Harry standing around the fire. They all turn towards me before Ludo Bagman entered the room.
"Extraordinary" He muttered as he grabbed onto my arm and Harry's arm. "Absolutely extraordinary! Gentlemen, Lady, may i introduce - incredible though it may seem - the fourth and fifth Triwizard champion."
Viktor Krum straightened up as he surveyed Harry and me. Cedric looked nonplussed as he looked from Bagman to Harry to me and back again as though he misheard what Bagman said. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said, "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."
"Joke?" Bagman repeated. "No, no, not at all! Harry's and Sydney's names just came out of the Goblet of Fire!" I looked between the three of the other champions to see that Krum's eyebrows contracted slightly and Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. I looked over at Harry mainly because I knew that Fleur was still arguing with Ludo. He was looking at me and we came to a mutual understanding. Neither of us put our name in that stupid goblet, we were set up by someone and I was the only one who knows who did it. Which reminds me that I really have to talk to him later. The door behind them opened again and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxine, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape. I heard the buzzing of hundreds to thousands of students on the other side of the wall before Professor McGonagall closed the door.
"Madame Maxine! Zey are saying zat zis little boy and girl are to compete also!" Fleur complained to her headmistress as she made her way towards her. Ok, I knew that I wanted to kill her right now for calling me a little girl. I have never acted like a little girl! I've been fighting the world ever since I was born!
Madame Maxine drew herself up to her full height. Her head brushed against the chandelier, and her gigantic black satin bosom swelled.
"What is ze meaning of zis, Dumby-dorr?" she said imperiously.
"I'd rather like to know that myself, Dumbledore," said Professor Karkaroff. "Three Hogwarts champions? I don't remember anyone telling me the host school is allowed three champions - or have I not read the rules carefully enough?" He gave a short and nasty laugh that made me wished that I could run away from it.
"C'est impossible, 'Ogwarts cannot 'ave three champions. It is most injust." Madame Maxine said as her enormous hand was resting on Fleur's shoulder.
"We were under the impression that your Age Line would keep out younger contestants, Dumbledore. Otherwise, we would, of course, have brought along a wider selection of candidates from our own schools." Karkaroff said with his steely smile still in place though his eyes were colder than ever.
"It's no one's fault but Potter's and Jackson's. Karkaroff," Snape said softly. His black eyes were alight with malice. I always hated that look. "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter and Jackson's determination to break rules. He has been crossing lines ever since he arrived here -"
"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore firmly, and Snape went quiet, though his eyes still glinted malevolently though his curtain of greasy black hair that made me wonder if he ever washed it.
Dumbledore finally turned to look at us and I could tell that there was a little flame of hope in his eyes. Sadly it was almost completely covered up by sadness, disappointment and other kinds of emotions. "Now Harry, did you put your name in that cup?" He asked.
"No, of course not." Harry admitted right after Dumbledore finished asking his question.
"Did you ask an older student to put it into the Goblet of Fire for you?" Dumbledore asked.
"No, of course not." Harry replied almost as quickly as before.
"Ah, but of course 'e is lying!" Madame Maxine exclaimed.
"There is no way that he would be lying. I was with him for majority of the time the Goblet was lit. He hadn't talked to any older students or had enough time to make an ageing potion." I said as soon as Madame Maxine said that Harry was lying.
"I suggest that you stay quiet, Miss Jackson. Seeing as you are in no position to be defending Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall said as I closed my mouth.
"But it is true. Sydney and I were spending the day watching other students put their names into the Goblet like so many other students. After watching that for a while, we moved to the library to work on the assignments that we have been given last class. After that we went back to the common room, Sydney, Sora and Roxas saw something then took off leaving me, Hermione and Ron to head back to the common room but they showed up about ten minutes later." Harry said telling them what we did. I knew that the taking off part was going to be the part that they are going to pick on.
"Ah ha! The evidence that we have been looking for! Now where did you run off to?" Karkaroff asked as he pointed a finger at me.
I took a deep breath to calm myself down because I really wanted to kill him. "My friends and I thought that we saw something that didn't belong in this school. Something that should stay in the darkness. It turned out to be a false alarm so we head back to the common room when we spent the time talking." I explained using the excuse that Roxas and I had settled on after hours of debating. This explained just what it was to somebody that had been told about it before and knows the dangers. While it leaves a little bit of mystery to the untrained eye.
"That does not explain much Jackson. Maybe you should explain this danger in more detail." Snape said and I felt fear start to rise. What was I going to do?
"Enough with the questioning Snape, she is free to go." Dumbledore said as I let out a sigh. A thought came into my mind, Dumbledore knows what I'm talking about. The next thing that I know, Dumbledore, Karkaroff and Maxine are all arguing about how they should get to pick two more champions but the Goblet went out. SInce I knew this was going to be boring, I went back to think about the heartless that attacked us yesterday. The only explanation I have is the barrier and that it could be weakening because of the tournament.
"Come on Sydney." Harry whispered, pulling me out of my thoughts. It looked like most of the complaints were gone so now Harry and Cedric were leading me out towards the Great Hall. The Great Hall was completely deserted with the candles giving off the eerie feeling somebody is watching you which means that somebody probably was.
"So, the three of us are playing against each other." Cedric said with a slight smile.
"I guess we are, Just wait until I win though." I said with that smug attitude that I loved so much.
"Anyways... tell me... how did you get your names in?" Cedric asked once we were in the entrance hall.
"I didn't." Harry and I said at the same time, We looked at each other and smiled slightly.
"Ah... ok... see ya." Cedric said before walking away from us. Once we were sure that he was far enough away, we made our way up the stairs.
"Ok, I only have one question that has been left unanswered." I said as we entered the whole moving staircase place.
"And What's that?" Harry asked.
"Who is going to believe us? Sure Roxas, Sora Donald, Goofy, Ron and Hermione will believe us but who else will? Sure we could try to have most of Gryffindor on our side but it is unlikely that most of them will right now." I asked as we stopped in the middle of a staircase.
"I don't know. It's still hard to believe that this happened." Harry said as we started to move again.
"I know, I still find it hard to believe that the cup chose me." I said as we turned a corner and walked down toward the painting.
"Balderdash." I said before the painting had the chance to say password. It swung open to reveal the Gryffindor common room. There seemed to be a whole party going on in here. As we walked in people started cheering for us. I looked around in hope to find Roxas and Sora before Fred and George found me. Lucky enough the two I wanted were sitting at a small table in the back so I made my way over to them.
"Hey our little champion." Sora said once I sat down with them.
"Enough of that. I have something major to tell you." I said as we all leaned towards each other. "Dumbledore knows about heartless, he probably knows what nobodies are too and who we really are." I said.
"How do you know that? Did you use our excuse?" Roxas asked.
"Yeah and Snape wanted me to explain more but Dumbledore understood and told him to stop." I told them. "It makes sense, that's why he was waiting for us that day. He probably knows that Heartless are getting into the castle."
"Do you think we should tell them?" Sora asked as he nodded his head towards Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"Yeah, I really think that we should. That way they aren't left defenseless." I said as Sora nodded his head. "But not tonight, this is a party to celebrate me and Harry."
"Do you know who put your names into the Goblet?" Roxas asked.
"Yeah, Mad-eye Moody who turns out not to be the real Mad-eye Moody." I said in a whispered tone.
"Are we going to talk to him eventually?" Sora asked.
"Before the weighing of the wands. We need to confirm it as soon as possible." I said, "now I'm going to bed. I need my beauty sleep if I'm going to die soon." With that joke, I stood up and made my way towards my room. Today had been a long day and I didn't want to extend it any more than I wanted too.