A/N: [This chapter is a mess.]
The summer holidays drew to a sudden close, as though someone had put a spell for it to go even faster than usual. But Helena and Katie were about to start their sixth year, where they'd be starting their NEWTs - which are a lot more demanding than the OWLs ever were. Since they both knew how important the exams were, they wouldn't miss them for the world.
The morning of the second day of September came, and the September sun shone down upon Hogwarts school, with a surprisingly stress-free morning. The majority of breakfast was spent choosing their NEWT level subjects. Helena even admitted that it was hard to choose what subjects she wanted to do - despite having the privilege to take every subject, she ultimately decided to drop Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies and Astronomy. And that was exactly what she told Professor Snape when he came round the whole year. This meant that she was taking Transfiguration, Charms, Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology and Arithmancy.
Although this was all very stress-free, she was still pondering on the previous night - how curious it all seemed.
It all began when she first walked into the Great Hall and the Dark Lord was not in his usual Headmaster's chair. Instead, it had been Professor Snape occupying the space.
Headmaster Snape, she thought dimly to herself - but surely he'd only be there temporarily...
The new Professor of the Dark Arts had also been introduced. It was rather a surprise, as this was the first time that a Dark Arts teacher had returned after being embarrassed. Her name was Dolores Umbridge. Helena guessed that it took a lot of persuasion to bring her back, as she jumped up worried when someone mentioned the Dark Lord or they made clopping noises with their mouths - which resembled horse hooves.
Her appearance, in Helena's opinion, made her look like a very pink and a very large toad. But there were just no words to how ugly she looked - especially as she was dressed all in pink.
When Professor(Headmaster) Snape introduced her, it was obvious that this was not his arrangement. It also showed that they have indeed met before. There was just about enough distaste in his eyes to show that he loathed her.
Headmaster Snape also said that the Triwizard tournament would be hosted at Hogwarts this year. Well there's no surprise...
But this wasn't the only thing that was curious that night. Because after the feast, Helena and Katie couldn't wait to collapse in their beds. However, the entrance to the Ravenclaw Tower was ultimately blocked. Instead, there was a notice and the eagle knocker was utterly destroyed.
To all it may concern,
For the preferences of the Dark Lord and a decision made by all the staff,
All must report to the Slytherin Common room for evenings and to stay there.
All other dormitories are now blocked to prevent distribution of illegal activities.
Signed,
Professor Snape.
"This is bullshit," said Katie.
"Come on, then," sighed Helena.
They did go outside the Slytherin Common room, but there were still lots of people waiting for the password to access it. Luckily, no one noticed them coming down. Eventually, someone did tell them the password so they all filtered into the common room.
The common room is a dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs. This dungeon extends partway under the lake, giving the light in the room a green tinge. The common room has lots of low backed black and dark green button-tufted, leather sofas; skulls; and dark wood cupboards. It has quite a grand atmosphere, but also quite a cold one. Helena did like the feel of the aura like they were in a mysterious underwater shipwreck, but Katie did not. Perhaps, she was still used to the blue and bronze of the Ravenclaw Common room.
They decided to go into their dormitory early, as they were both very tired. She seriously just wanted to sleep. But then, someone had to ruin it all.
It was another girl that they had to share the dormitory with, and she just couldn't keep her big mouth shut. Helena couldn't even recall her name, that's how unimportant she was - yet what she said hurt Helena a lot, even though she didn't show it.
"I don't want to share a room with a lesbian like her," she said very loudly to one of her friends across the room. "She might come and rape me when I'm asleep. Maybe if she shared the boy's dormitory then she'd be less likely to do that."
Her friend laughed nastily. At this point, Helena didn't want anything like this in the first place.
"Ok first of all, I'm bisexual. I'd properly 'rape' a boy as well, if I had the chance, wouldn't I? Second of all, you're being homophobic - which makes you a massive amount of trash so I wouldn't want to touch you with a 10 foot pole. Thirdly, I wouldn't dare have sex with you if we were the last two people in the entire world, so you can shove your homophobic comments up your tight arse."
Yes, that dropped her ugly smirk off her face.
Professor Snape set down her timetable in front of her. She scanned it quickly.
Monday
Dark Arts (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
Dark Arts (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
Break
Arithmancy (11:15 AM - 12:15 PM)
Lunch
Potions (13:00 PM - 14:00 PM)
Potions (14:00 PM - 15:00 PM)
Tuesday
Herbology (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
Herbology (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
Break
Free period (11:15 AM - 12:15 PM)
Lunch
Arithmancy (13:00 PM - 14:00 PM)
Charms (14:00 PM - 15:00 PM)
Wednesday
Charms (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
Charms (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
Break
Arithmancy (11:15 AM - 12:15 PM)
Lunch
Dark Arts (13:00 PM - 14:00 PM)
Transfiguration (14:00 PM - 15:00 PM)
Thursday
Potions (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
Herbology (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
Break
Dark Arts (11:15 AM - 12:15 PM)
Lunch
Free period (13:00 PM - 14:00 PM)
Free period (14:00 PM - 15:00 PM)
Friday
Transfiguration (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM)
Transfiguration (10:00 AM - 11:00 AM)
Break
Free period (11:15 AM - 12:15 PM)
Lunch
Free period (13:00 PM - 14:00 PM)
Free period (14:00 PM - 15:00 PM)
"Double Herbology this morning..." she moaned to Katie.
"Serves you right for picking it," replied Katie. She, unlike Helena, had gotten an 'Acceptable' and hadn't been able to pick it.
She, however, did get and Outstanding in Care of Magical Creatures, which she enjoyed a lot, so she was going to continue it to NEWT level. Katie also got an Acceptable in Dark Arts, although she didn't want to choose it, it is compulsory for everyone to continue it for NEWT level.
The bell rung, so they each departed for their lessons.
x
October
After only a month, Helena concluded that Dark Arts was by far the worst of her lessons, closely followed by Transfiguration. This was mainly because Professor Umbridge wouldn't let them do practical work - only writing out of the theoretical books. It was all very dull work, especially how they weren't even permitted to talk. This often led to Helena daydreaming in the lesson. This was considered a bad thing, purely because her lack of work honestly failed her. Although, how could they expect her to work so hard in something she just wasn't interested in?
Besides, it was Halloween tomorrow, which means that the Tri-Wizard tournament would begin with the Goblet of Fire. No one had actually told them all that they need to enter their names, but Helena suspected it was one big ploy for them to enter her without she actually knowing.
But she hoped that they did not plan that broadly - she would be surprised if they did.
But Halloween was never disappointing, despite not really ever celebrating it's uses. Not many people really understood the concept of Halloween, but the sweets were always good. Though the celebrations were somewhat disappointing - especially live bats, as they were such easy magic.
Besides from Halloween, in the past month they had been doing Apparation lessons. Helena did get close on the second session they had on a Saturday afternoon, but she hasn't successfully completed it. Some idiot did manage to splinch themselves and it was quite disturbing yet fun to watch. Funnily enough, it was the same girl that was rude to Helena on the first night of being in the Slytherin dormitory. And she still did not know her name. Katie did actually tell her that it was Lacerta Lestrange, but Helena was beyond caring at this point. She did laugh unkindly at her, but hey, she deserved it.
Halloween morning came and spirits were rather high as Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were to be arriving. Some of the younger years had nopt yet experienced the Tri-Wizard tournament, as not everyone was able to go to the other schools. Helena thought that they were rather lucky, as she was sick of it already. AND it hadn't even started yet. Helena wouldn't be surprised if the Dark Lord finally decided to turn up.
But when the evening came, she was surprised that he wasn't actually there, but was instead replaced by Severus Snape like usual.
The students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang had already arrived, so they were staying in the castle grounds. Where exactly? No one actually knew where they stayed. But Helena took a wild guess to say they'd be staying in the mode of transport they arrived in.
"Welcome," said Snape, his voice as droning as ever. "I trust that all of you will know that the Triwizard tournament is an on-going quest for glory, which is why we host this great and historic tournament once every two years. Although, the Dark Lord seems that it's inappropriate for anyone to be entered under the age of seventeen -" There was a massive uproar, although it subsided strangely within seconds. "And so these precautions have been put in place. The Goblet of Fire -" Flames emitted from the top of it. "Will choose our Champions, and from now on, the Tournament has begun. Our Champions will fight to win this -" A shining cup like trophy came out from under a long piece of cloth. It was old, with dull colours. They did have trouble obtaining it, Helena recalled. As Durmstrang didn't want to give up their glory. "For those aged 17 or above, you have a week to enter your names into the Goblet of Fire. And then we'll have our Champions. However, don't enter your name lightly, for if you're chosen, there's no turning back."
x
The Goblet of Fire had been around for Centuries - as early as the 13th century in fact. It's only job was to choose the Champions to compete in the Triwizard tournament, although it did make mistakes. In 1994, it did choose four Champions by mistake - but it was discovered that it had been confunded. This was a hard task, as it had to be an extremely powerful Confundus charm in order to work. It is often said that the Dark Lord could make a Confundus charm that powerful, although no one dared to talk about it aloud or point fingers. Instead, they whispered murmurs that no one dared to admit.
Although Helena was thinking about the Goblet of Fire a lot, she considered it to not be as important as other things. She deemed it important that she had a 100% chance of being chosen, if she put her name in it or not. Instead, she did know the tradition of the Yule Ball being hosted on Christmas Day night, and seeing as Champions had to dance first, she'd be forced to order a set of dress robes from Madam Malkin's. Although Katie was denying that she wouldn't be chosen, she was forced to accept the possibility that she might be - and so she promised to buy her some that looked 'nice'.
So when the day of the names being picked out, Helena wouldn't be surprised if she did indeed get pulled from it. But what was surprising, was that the Dark Lord was actually there. And he was the one who would be pulling her name out. Voldemort waited for the silence to become still.
"Welcome to the choosing of the Champions," the Dark Lord said in an emotionless voice. "I hope you've all enjoyed the hospitality of the Castle. But now the Goblet must choose for their quest for glory."
He always made it sound better than it was.
The Goblet spat out the first piece of parchment.
"The Beauxbatons champion is... Aveline Roux."
Claps from the Beauxbatons students were loud as a tall, brunette girl made her way into the chamber off the hall.
The claps died down and they waited for the second. The flame turned blue and spat out another piece of parchment.
"The Durmstrang champion is... Ernest Hartl."
Again, claps erupted as a boy with short black hair got up from not far where Helena was sitting.
This would be her, in only a few seconds time...
The Goblet flame turned blue -
This is her final chance to be free -
The parchment came out -
Her heart hammering, she couldn't do this in front of all of these people -
The Dark Lord saw the name, confused at first.
"The Hogwarts Champion is... Katie Fielding."
Helena turned round to see her, and she was already pale as a ghost.