– Chapter Seventeen –

The Fourth Champion

Romi looked to her brother, sitting next to her. He was staring, a mixture of complete confusion and an astonishment, with a little bit of fear on his face. He caught Romi's eye and didn't move, his face going pale.

There was no applause. A buzzing, as though a swarm of angry bees had invaded, was starting to fill the Hall; some students were standing up to get a better look at Harry, as he sat frozen in his seat, staring at Romi.

Up at the top table, Professor McGonagall had got to her feet and swept past Ludo Bagman and Professor Karkaroff to whisper urgently to Professor Dumbledore, who bent his ear towards her, frowning slightly.

"I didn't put my name in," Harry said quietly to Romi, looking frightened that she wouldn't believe him. "You know I didn't."

Romi was stunned, the horsemen driven from her mind, and she was not able to process giving Harry any sort of comfort before Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Harry Potter!" he called again. "Harry! Up here, if you please."

"Go on," Hermione said, from the opposite side of the table. Harry got to his feet trod on the hem on his robes and stumbled slightly. He set off up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables. The buzzing grew louder and louder as he went closer to the front. Dumbledore pointed to the door behind the staff table and slowly Harry made his way through it. There was a pause then Dumbledore spoke again.

"I would suggest that you all head off the bed, and perhaps get ready to celebrate with your champions."

It was a clear dismissal, but most of the students did not get up and continued to buzz. Romi sat there for a moment and stared at the teachers. She tried to catch Severus' eye, but he seemed to be avoiding it.

"Romi," Ginny said quietly. "What just happened?"

"I dunno," replied Romi. "Does that mean that he has to… fight? In the tournament?"

Neville and Ginny were silent.

"Come on," Hermione said, reaching the three of them. "We're going back up to the Common Room. You coming?"

"Yeah, sure," Romi said, getting to her feet and looking back at the little door where her brother had disappeared through.

Neville took her arm and guided her away from the table, as she continued to look after Harry.

"Are you okay?" Neville whispered in her ear. She looked back at him, he was watching her concerned.

"Yeah, sure," Romi replied, feeling all anxious as though it had been her name called out of the Goblet of Fire.

"He'll be fine," comforted Neville. "He's too young, they can't possibly let him play."

Romi looked to her friend, she knew he was trying to help. "Neville, if your name comes out of the Goblet of Fire, it's a binding magical contract. You have no choice but to play."

Neville looked worried as she felt. They followed Hermione and Ron up the stairs towards the Gryffindor Tower. Those Gryffindors around them were slowly coming to a realisation that they had their own Champion, and were starting to congratulate the absent Harry.

Ginny was looking pale beside Romi, and she glanced up to her more than once as they walked.

"What's up Ginny?" Romi asked, watching her.

"Do you think he's going to be alright?" Ginny asked. "I mean there was a Death Toll…"

Ginny trailed off. Romi couldn't give her the answer that she wanted. Romi was worried too. Everyone around them was talking about how on earth Harry slipped past the age line and got his name into the Goblet of Fire. They all sounded like they admired him greatly.

"How do you think he got his name into the Goblet," muttered Ron, in front of them. "I mean, were his friends, don't you think he would have told us?"

"Well, the answer is obvious, isn't it," Romi said, and Ron and Hermione turned to look at her as they climbed through the Portrait hole.

"Is it?" Ron said, he had a small snarl on his face, clearly mad about something.

"He didn't," said Romi forcibly. "You should have seen the look on his face – it was like someone handed him the death sentence," she paused. "For all we know, they did."

Ron was about the retort when Fred and George Weasley interrupted, their arms full of candies and goodies, shouting at the top of their lungs. The rest of the Tower erupted in joyous roars, and almost immediately it was too loud to even talk.

"I'm going to bed," shouted Ron angrily and stomped off towards the boys' staircase.

"I think I will too," Hermione replied and with a little wave disappeared off into her own bedroom.

Romi looked to Neville and Ginny. They were silent, the music pounding in their ears. They retreated to a quieter corner to chat a bit.

"Romi, I'm sure he'll be okay," Neville said, putting a hand on her arm again. "You shouldn't worry about him until you've had a chance to talk to him."

"How can I not worry about him," Romi replied. "He is always getting into trouble."

Ginny watched Romi carefully for a moment, and then said softly.

"You are dating Malfoy still, aren't you?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah," Romi said quietly, her voice no louder than the three of them thanks to the music. "What does he have to do with this?"

"Well, you just seemed, very concerned about Harry, I was just…" Ginny blushed and looked away from Romi.

Romi watched her a moment and then smiled. "You have full permission to like him," Romi said. Neville looked completely lost beside her. "I have … a complicated relationship with him."

"It must be complicated, you seem so attached to him," Ginny said. Romi looked from Ginny to Neville. He watched her for a moment and then shrugged.

"You might as well tell her," Neville replied. "She might figure it out anyways."

"Tell me what?" Ginny asked, looking between the two of them.

"First, you have to promise that you won't tell anyone else. It would make things… difficult," Romi said slowly, "especially with Draco."

If it were possible, Ginny looked even more confused.

"Sure," she said finally, realising that Romi wasn't going to say anything until Ginny agreed to the terms.

"Harry is important to me… because, well," Romi lowered her voice even more, though she really didn't have to, "because he's my brother."

Ginny sat there for a moment, then said.

"You're kidding," she said flatly. Romi shook her head.

"She's not," Neville added. "Not kidding at all. Twins separated at birth."

"Does Harry know?" questioned Ginny.

"Yes," Romi said with a smile.

Ginny seemed to be processing the information. "Why haven't you told anyone?"

"I have told people…" Romi said, with a little awkward shrug. "I told Harry, and I told Neville, and I just told you."

"That's not what I meant," Ginny replied, looking huffy.

Romi sighed, "the right time just never seems to appear."

Ginny didn't say anything for a long time, watching the crowd around her. "This is going to make everything more complicated, isn't it?"

Romi glanced to the crowd, and then back to Neville and Ginny. "We should probably talk to Luna in the morning. I think focusing on the Apocalypse is slightly more important. Seeing as we're pretty much the only ones that know about it."

Ginny nodded.

"Let's keep that to ourselves," Neville whispered softly. "I have a feeling the right time for that will never appear."

Ginny and Romi agreed.

Romi tried to wait up for Harry to return. She really wanted to talk to him before going to bed, but after half an hour the sound of the music was pounding in her ears. Neville had already taken himself off, and Ginny was sitting beside Romi, a million miles away.

Romi had to shake her shoulder to tell her that she was going to bed. Ginny nodded, and fiddled with the pages of the Book of Revelations in her hand. Her other fingers going to her mouth, as she stared, distracted and worried into the fire.

Hermione was already tucked into bed when Romi got there and did not make any conversation; the sound of her breathing told Romi that she was awake, most likely thinking over what had happened to Harry.

Romi changed into her pyjamas quickly, and hurried into her bed. Zhi made her way carefully to her knees and settled herself in between them, purring contently.

Romi stared at the top of her bed for what seemed like forever, but sleep would not come. Her brain was too overworked trying think about what she had just discovered and what had been thrown at her brother. All she could think was that she was having perpetual butterflies.

The wind was warm on her face as she watched the small waves of the lake lap against the bank. Romi hugged her legs a little, leaning her head against her knees, breathing in the fresh air; feeling at peace.

The wild flowers around her tickled her legs and made whooshing sounds in the breeze.

It took Romi a moment to realise that she wasn't alone.

"Who are you?" Romi asked, not moving her head from her knees. She felt very sleepy and content, like her mind was moving slowly.

There was movement beside her and a young women in an Ancient Grecian style flowing gown, sat beside her, tucking her skirt under her, and holding her knees in a very similar way to Romi.

"We've met before, Romi," the woman said. "Just recently."

Romi lifted her head and looked at the woman. She was older, small crows feets around her eyes, which looked very wise. Her hair was deep auburn colour, thick and long. She looked familiar, but not enough for Romi to remember.

"I don't remember you," Romi replied.

An expression flashed across the woman's face – hurt? Sadness? – Romi couldn't place it but then it was gone and the woman was smiling again.

"Your friend did," she replied. "A very loyal boy."

"Neville?" Romi asked.

The woman nodded.

Romi squinted. "Diomeda Odessa?"

The woman nodded again, smiling. "That's me," she said, "the one and only."

"Okay, you look different than a couple weeks ago," Romi said.

"Many people change as they get older," Diomeda Odessa replied, breathing sharply through her nose.

"Do you get older?" Romi asked.

"What kind of a question is that?" Diomeda Odessa inquired.

"Like, what are you? I didn't think you could, well, age…" Romi said.

"I am one of the Reapers and we do age," Diomeda Odessa replied. "I have a feeling you'll be seeing a lot of us. We have a job for you, that doesn't require trips to Hell."

"For me?" Romi said. "You just said you were a Reaper – why would you need fourteen years old to do things for you?"

"Well, you're not exactly a normal fourteen year old, are you?" Diomeda Odessa asked. "You're unusually bright, and unusually powerful."

She waited for a reply, but Romi didn't know what to say.

"We'd like to ask you for your assistance," Diomeda asked.

"And what do you need from me?" Romi questioned quietly.

"We need you to help protect your brother."

"My – how did you–?"

"I know," Diomeda Odessa said softly. She looked at Romi smiled. "Can you do that?"

"I don't know – he's got himself into a pretty sticky situation," Romi said with a huff.

"Yes, the Triwizard Tournament, I know," Diomeda Odessa answered. She looked forward to the lake in front of them. "I'm not saying it'll be easy – but with your interference –"

"Interference?" Romi interrupted.

"That's not the right word," said Diomeda Odessa quickly. "Help, maybe? Or interaction – something along those lines. A lot of disastrous futures may be avoided."

"Disastrous futures?" Romi repeated.

"Yes."

"You realise half the words that come out of your mouth don't make any sense, right?" Romi said blandly.

"They will," Diomeda Odessa replied. "You don't need to know much. If you just do your best to protect your brother, then everything should work out as it planned. With no great unpleasantness."

"No great unpleasantness – my brother could be killed in this next coming year," Romi said angrily. Diomeda Odessa nodded and took a deep breath.

"Then I suggest that you work towards keeping him alive."

Romi was startled awake when Zhi jumped onto her stomach, winding her completely. Romi stared at the ceiling for a moment, trying to remember everything about her conversation and also trying to remember where she was and how to breathe.

Zhi purred in Romi's face, bumping her forehead off of Romi's.

"Hey," Romi said softly to her cat, and then scratched her ears for a moment. Romi then pulled her off and sat up, rubbing her own eyes. She looked around the room. Hermione was already gone, and Lavender and Parvati were just getting up.

"You missed a good party last night," Parvati said, as Romi swung her feet out of bed.

"Too loud," Romi muttered.

"Well, Harry was very secretive," Lavender said with a giggle. "He wouldn't tell us how he got his name in the Goblet. He's so lucky."

"Oh, yes," Romi said dryly. "Who wouldn't want to risk their life for a sackful of galleons?"

"Er, I think most people would," Parvati said. "Did you see Pheobe?" she added looking to Lavender, her eyes bright. "Oh, I hope we get a chance to talk with her! Do you think she'll be around much at Hogwarts? With the tournament going?"

"Probably," Lavender said, seriously. Both Lavender and Parvati believed very much in Divination, and they believed even more that they were exceptionally good at it.

Romi rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother," she muttered. "Just what I need."

"You could learn from her, Romi," Lavender called as Romi headed towards the door, not even changing out of her pyjamas bottoms.

"Right, sure," Romi replied, giving a little wave and walking out the door. Zhi snuck out just before it shut again.

Romi hurried down the stairs towards the common room. Halfway there she met Ginny, who was coming out of her own dormitory, puffy eyed.

"Morning," Ginny said, as she joined Romi.

"It is," Romi replied.

Neville was waiting for them by the fire place, looking equally worried as he had when he left for bed the night before.

"Hey, you," Romi said, poking him slightly as he didn't notice their approach.

"Hi," he said stretching, then flopping back in his chair. "Ready for breakfast?" he asked.

"Not particularly," Ginny replied. "I'm not remotely hungry."

"Me neither," Romi said. "Let's go. I have a lesson with Dumbledore this afternoon and I intend to understand what went wrong with the Goblet of Fire."

"I didn't think your lessons with Dumbledore worked that way," Neville said, as they made their way to the Portrait Hole.

"They do now," Romi muttered darkly.

The castle was bright and there were a lot of students out and about this early. Apparently no one could sleep because of the events of last night. They finally made it to the Great Hall, after having to pull Neville's leg out of the trick step, twice.

Luckily enough, Luna was already awake. She looked bright and cheery as ever, and Romi was a little bit jealous because she was sure that the three of them looked like they'd been fighting dragons all night long.

"Good morning," Luna said, as they all sat down around her at the Ravenclaw table. Sitting with Luna had proved very useful as none of the Ravenclaws seemed to be remotely interested in being her friend, and not knowing the Gryffindors they kept a wide distant from the four of them.

"So?" Luna said, as they all sat down and stared at the breakfast in front of them.

"So what?" Romi replied. "I'm at a loss." She explained briefly about her dream with Diomeda Odessa. Neville, Ginny and Luna were very quiet for a good deal of time afterwards.

"And she didn't mention anything about the Apocalypse?" Ginny said. Romi shook her head. "Maybe I got it wrong?"

"You don't really believe that do you?" Romi said. "Captain was confirming it."

Ginny sighed. "It was just a hope. I figured seeing as you know what Diomeda Odessa is … you have no idea what Captain is."

"True," Romi said. "But I trust him – I'm not sure why, but I do trust him."

"That's very strange, don't you think?" Luna asked, staring over Romi's shoulder. Romi resisted the urge to look behind her.

"What is?" Romi asked.

"That she didn't mention it, something like that, you'd think she'd know," Luna answered. She sighed and then looked back to Romi, Neville and Ginny and smiled. "I'm sure it's nothing. She asked you to look after Harry?"

"Yes," Romi replied.

"Maybe you should go and look for him then," Luna replied. She looked over to the Gryffindor Table. "He hasn't been there all morning."

Romi looked over. She could see Ron sitting there beside Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas.

"I guess that sounds like a plan. I'll meet you in the library in a couple hours?" Romi asked, sighing slightly.

"Don't worry," Neville said. "We'll dig up everything we have to on the Horsemen, you take care of Harry."

"Thanks," Romi said, sliding her legs out and getting up. She walked over to the Gryffindor Table, looking at the Slytherin Table as she went. She caught Draco's eye, it felt like it had been a long time since she got to spend any time with him. But it would have to wait.

She reached the table and headed to where Ron was sitting.

"Hey, Ron," she said reaching him. "Seen Harry?"

"No," Ron snapped. "And I don't want too!"

"Whoa," answered Romi, a little taken aback, "who peed in your cheerios?"

"What?" barked Ron.

"Why are you flying off the handle?" Romi asked. "Weren't you friends with Harry, yesterday?"

"That was yesterday," Ron said darkly.

"Okay," Romi said slowly. "I'll just go look for him elsewhere."

"Well, when you find him, you can tell him –"

"No, thanks," interrupted Romi. "That's okay, I don't deliver messages from cranky people."

She walked away, feeling Ron's anger follow her down the aisle. She stopped at the Entrance Hall and thought for a moment about looking for Harry later and going down to sit with Draco for the rest of breakfast.

But she forced herself to turn and walk back towards Gryffindor Tower. She was just on the second floor, passing a window when she looked out towards the lake. She just caught a glance of two people, one with very messy black hair, sitting by the bank.

She turned around and hurried down to the Entrance Hall again and outside. Most of the lawns were empty, but she could see Harry sitting with Hermione by the lake side.

Romi hurried up to them.

"There you are!" she said, coming to a stop by them. "I was looking for you everywhere."

Harry glanced up at her, he looked completely miserable.

"Great, have you come to badger me about how I put my name in the Goblet, too?" he said grumpily, throwing a piece of toast into the lake. It was quickly pulled under by a very large pinkish tentacle.

"Uh, no," Romi said a little annoyed, sitting down next to Harry.

"Really?" asked Harry. He sounded very defeated.

"Romi was actually one of the first to believe you didn't put in your name," Hermione said hurriedly, glancing at Romi. "She said so last night."

"You did?" Harry asked, looking a little hopeful.

"Of course," replied Romi. "I mean, a little fantasy is one thing, but I can't imagine a lot of people actually wanting to do this."

"Got that straight," Harry said, with a sigh, "I definitely don't want to do this."

Romi glanced at Hermione.

"We'll help you of course," Romi said, taking her brother's hand.

"Thanks," he said. "So you're like Hermione? You believe that someone's trying to kill me?"

Romi glanced at Hermione, she was looking grave.

"Well, the Triwizard Tournament would be a great way to do it," Romi said offhandedly, "or would it be the Quadwizard Tournament now?"

Harry made a ticking noise with his tongue, and let go of her hand; but there was a smile tugging at his lips.

"So what's the master plan?" Romi asked.

"Harry was just going to write a letter to Sirius," Hermione said. Harry grunted in a way that suggested he didn't want to do anything of the sort. "Will you come up to the Owlery with us?"

"Sure," Romi replied, getting to her feet and dusting off her pyjama bottoms. Hermione watched her for a moment.

"Do you ever get dressed in the morning?" she asked getting to her feet herself.

"It's the weekend!" Romi protested. "Why would I need to get dressed?"

Harry smiled a little and Hermione just shook her head. They walked towards the Owlery quietly and Romi decided she needed to ask what was on her mind.

"Um," she said quietly, "I spoke to Ron this morning." Harry went all rigid and prickly beside her.

"Did you?" he said stiffly.

"Well, it wasn't much of a conversation, he seemed mad about something," Romi said.

"Well, that's cause he's a jerk that doesn't understand anything," Harry spat.

"Apparently I don't understand anything, either," Romi said, looking confused at Hermione.

Hermione took Romi's arm and whispered to her.

"Harry and Ron are in a little bit of a row right now," she said quietly, glancing at Harry.

"He doesn't believe me," shot Harry.

"I think he's just a little jealous, with Harry being famous and all," Hermione said quietly.

"Oh," Romi said. "Enough said."

They went up to the Owlery. Hermione gave Harry a piece of parchment, a quill and a bottle of ink, then strolled around the long lines of perches, looking at all the different owls. Harry watched Romi for a moment then sat down, indicating that he wanted her to sit beside him. He wrote his letter in silence while Romi watched.

Dear Sirius

You told me to keep you posted on what's happening at Hogwarts, so here goes – I don't know if you've heard, but the Triwizard Tournament's happening this year and on Saturday night I got picked as a fourth champion. I don't know who put my name in the Goblet of Fire, because I didn't. The other Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory, from Hufflepuff.

Harry paused for a moment thinking. Romi vaguely wished that she could know his thoughts at this time. Eventually Harry dipped the quill back into the ink and wrote:

Hope you're okay, and Buckbeak – Harry.

"Finished," he said, getting to his feet and brushing straw off his robes. Romi stood up after him. At this, Hedwig came fluttering down onto his shoulder, and held out her leg.

"I can't use you," Harry told her, looking around for the school owls. "I've got to use one of these…"

Hedwig gave a very loud hoot, and took off so suddenly, hitting him around the head with her wings. She kept her back to Harry all the time he was tying his letter to the leg of a large barn owl. When the barn owl had flown off, Harry reached out to stroke Hedwig, but she clicked her beak furiously and soared up into the rafters out of reach.

"First Ron, then you," said Harry angrily. "This isn't my fault!"

Romi spent more time with Harry and Hermione before having to leave for her appointment with Dumbledore. She hoped that it would be a quick one, for she really wanted to go down to the Library and catch up with what Neville, Ginny and Luna had been learning.

She hurried up to Dumbledore's office, and knocked. She waited a moment before hearing 'come in' and she opened the door.

Dumbledore seemed distracted when she entered his office, he was staring out the window, a hand to his chin, his forehead creased. Fawkes immediately flew to Romi's shoulder, cooing in her ear. She patted him on the head, and went to the chair across from Dumbledore's.

"Is everything alright?" Romi asked, looking over to where Dumbledore was standing.

Dumbledore took a deep breath, and turned around, smiling. "Just have a lot of things on my mind," he said, with a sad smile.

"I think understand the feeling," Romi muttered.

"Naturally, you're worried about your brother," Dumbledore said, going to sit down at his chair. "I wish–" he interrupted himself and went silent for a moment. "May I ask – have you had any dreams lately?"

"That would help with this?" Romi clarified, she shook her head, "no, nothing about the Triwizard Tournament."

Dumbledore sighed. "It was a long shot."

"Why did they decide to try and revive the tournament, after so many people died?" Romi asked.

"The organizers are under the belief that they had accounted for every possible danger and have prevented it," Dumbledore answered.

"But you don't think so?" Romi asked.

"Neither does your father," replied Dumbledore. "He told me so last week. There were just too many variables. And frankly, one that no one ever even thought of. Harry now must play as the fourth champion."

Romi was very quiet, then she spoke.

"If I was planning on helping him, what would you say?" Romi asked.

"I would say that I would be very much relieved to hear that," he said smiling. "And that we never had this conversation."

Neville had fallen asleep against his book when Romi arrived. Ginny and Luna whispered to her, trying not to wake him.

"Anything?" Romi asked.

Ginny shook her head. "Nothing for even recognizing which ones are coming first. I'm not even sure if we'll find anything helpful in books," she whispered. She glanced at Neville. "He was so tired that we didn't want to wake him."

"That's okay," Romi replied. "Let him sleep, while he can."