The Goblet of Fire
"I can't believe it!" David said in a stunned voice as the Hogwarts students all filed back up the steps behind the Durmstrang party. "It's actually Viktor Krum!"
"David, he's just a Quidditch player." Chrys said, not really understanding the level of hype he felt.
"He's not just some Quidditch player, Chrys! He's one of, if not, the best Seekers in the world! And he's still a student!" David said, sounding offended.
As they recrossed the Entrance Hall with all the other Hogwarts students towards the Great Hall, Arthur saw Lee Jordan jumping up and down on the soles of his feet to get a better look at the back of Krum's head. There were also several sixth year girls who frantically searched their pockets as they walked.
"Oh, I don't believe it, I haven't got a single quill on me -"
"D'you think he'd sign my hat in lipstick?"
"Honestly." Chrys shook her head in contempt as they passed the girls, who were now squabbling over the lipstick.
"I hope to get his autograph eventually." David said.
"Same here." Arthur added as they went and sat at the Gryffindor table. They decided to sit on the side that faced the doorway as Krum and his fellow Durmstrang students still gathered around it, seemingly unsure about where to sit.
The students from Beauxbatons all sat at the Ravenclaw table, all looking around the Great Hall with glum expressions on their faces. Three of them still clutched their scarves and shawls around their heads.
"Are you kidding me? It's not even that cold." Chrys said in confusion. "Why didn't they bother bringing their cloaks?"
"Most likely not part of their uniform." Arthur said as he and David watched the Durmstrang students settle themselves at the Slytherin table with frowns. They noticed Draco, Crabbe and Goyle looking very smug about this.
It didn't really surprise them as Durmstrang very much embraces the Dark Arts and Slytherin is notorious for spawning dark wizards.
"Look at Draco, trying to smarm up to Krum. It's clear he sees right through him." Arthur snarled as he looked at Krum's look of disgust at Draco who tried talking to him.
"They seem to be much happier compared to the Beauxbatons lot." Chrys noted as they pulled off their heavy furs and looked up at the starry black ceiling with interest. A couple of them even picked up golden plates and goblets, examining them with looks that seemed to showcase that they're impressed.
Up at the staff table, Filch added some more chairs. He wore his mouldy old tailcoat in honour of the occasion. Arthur was a bit confused to see that he added four chairs, two on either side of Dumbledore's.
"Who else is coming?" He asked David and Chrys, who noticed this as well.
"I have no idea." David said as Chrys shrugged.
As all the students have now entered the Hall and settled down at their house tables, the staff entered and filed up to the top table and took their seats. Last in line were the three Headmasters. When Maxime appeared, her students all leapt to their feet. A few Hogwarts students laughed at this.
The Beauxbatons party seemed very unembarrassed and didn't resume their seats until Maxime sat down on Dumbledore's left.
Dumbledore, though, remained standing and a silence fell over the Great Hall.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and - most particularly - guests." He said, beaming around at the foreign students. "I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable."
A Beauxbatons girl that still clutched a muffler around her head gave what was without question a derisive laugh, which Arthur snarled quietly at. No one mocks Dumbledore and gets away with it.
"Shut up, you pompous twat." Chrys spat, expressing her disdain towards her.
"The Tournament will be officially opened at the end of the feast." Dumbledore then said. "I now invite you all to eat, drink and make yourselves at home!"
He then sat down and Karkaroff instantly leaned forward to engage in conversation with Dumbledore.
The dishes in front of them were now filled with food as usual, the house elves in the kitchen clearly pulling out all the stops as there was a real variety of dishes that Arthur was amazed by, including ones that were foreign.
"What's that dish?" David asked, pointing at a particularly large dish that looked like a shellfish stew next to a large steak and kidney pudding.
"That's a bouillabaisse. A French dish that I had once the summer before last, it's actually pretty good." Chrys answered.
"I'll have to try it out then." He said before he tried some, finding it to be so delicious that he had a bowl of it along with some bread.
The Great Hall now seemed more crowded than it normally is, despite there being twenty additional students from different schools. Maybe it was because of the fact that their school uniforms stood out in comparison to the mostly black Hogwarts robes. Having removed their furs, the Durmstrang students all seemed to wear deep blood red robes.
Hagrid had sidled into the Hall through the door behind the staff table twenty minutes after the feast started. He slid into his seat at the end and waved at the trio with a heavily bandaged hand.
"The Skrewts doing alright?" Arthur called to him.
"Thrivin'." Hagrid called back happily.
"Naturally." David muttered. "They must enjoy Hagrid's fingers."
"Excuse me, are you wanting ze bouillabaisse?" A voice suddenly said.
They looked and saw that it was the Beauxbatons girl that laughed during Dumbledore's speech. She had also removed her muffler to reveal a sheet of silvery blonde hair that fell almost to her waist. She also had large deep blue eyes and very white even teeth.
David's face went red as he stared up at her.
"We saw you laughing at Dumbledore, you know. I wouldn't recommend mocking our Headmaster ever again." Arthur replied coolly, shocking the girl, who now looked embarrassed and guilty.
"Zo… ze bouillabaisse?" She asked timidly.
"You can have it… it's excellent." David said breathlessly.
She picked up the dish and carried it carefully off to the Ravenclaw table. David goggled after her for a bit until he snapped out of it. Chrys noticeably didn't seem happy.
"She has to be descended from a Veela. No way she's that naturally beautiful." He muttered.
"I think you may be right." Arthur noted as he noticed a lot of other boys looking at her speechlessly at her. "This is not normal." He then noticed that Cho Chang was sitting a few paces away from the girl with the silvery hair.
"Hey, you two… look who's just arrived." Chrys pointed at the staff table.
The two remaining seats were now occupied with Ludo Bagman on Karkaroff's other side and Crouch, Sam's boss, sat next to Maxime.
"Of course… they helped organise the Tournament, it makes sense for them to see it start." David said.
When the second course arrived, there were also unfamiliar puddings as well. Both Arthur and David had some blancmange, which was heavenly.
Eventually, the golden plates were wiped clean and Dumbledore stood once more. A pleasant tension filled the Hall now.
Even Arthur felt a shot of excitement through his body, wondering what would come next. Several seats along from them, both Jack and Kevin leaned forwards, staring at their Headmaster with real concentration.
"The moment has come." Dumbledore said as he smiled around at the sea of upturned faces. "The Triwizard Tournament is about to start. I would like to say a few words of explanation before we bring in the casket -"
"A casket?" Arthur questioned with concern, knowing that caskets are used to carry dead bodies.
" - just to clarify the procedure which we will be following this year. But firstly, let me introduce, for those who do not know them, Mr Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation -" There was a scatter of polite applause. " - and Ludo Bagman, Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."
There was a much louder applause for Bagman in comparison to Crouch, most likely due to his fame as a Beater, or maybe because he seemed more likeable in comparison to Crouch. He acknowledged it with a jovial wave of his hand. Crouch didn't smile or wave when his name was announced in comparison.
Arthur found it odd to see him in wizard's robes after seeing him in a neat suit at the Quidditch World Cup and his toothbrush moustache and severe parting looked odd when next to Dumbledore's long white hair and beard.
"Mr Bagman and Mr Crouch have worked tirelessly over the last few months on the arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament…" Dumbledore continued. "...and they will be joining myself, Professor Karkaroff and Madame Maxime on the panel which will judge the champions' efforts."
The attentiveness of the students sharpened when the word 'champions' was mentioned.
Dumbledore clearly saw this sudden stillness because he smiled and said "The casket, then, if you please, Mr Filch."
Filch, who lurked without being noticed in a far corner of the Hall, approached Dumbledore with a great wooden chest that was encrusted with jewels. It looked ancient and a murmur of excited interest rose from the students. Dennis Creevey even stood on his chair to see it properly, but because he was so tiny, his head barely rose over anyone else's.
"The instructions for the tasks the champions will face this year have already been examined by Mr Crouch and Mr Bagman…" Dumbeldore then said as Filch placed the chest carefully on the table before the Headmaster. "...and they have made the necessary arrangements for each challenge. There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways… their magical prowess, their daring, their powers of deduction, and, of course, their ability to cope with danger."
That last word made the Hall fill with an absolute silence that it seemed no one was breathing.
"As you know, three champions compete in the Tournament…" Dumbledore then said calmly. "...one from each of the participating schools. They will be marked on how well they perform each of the Tournament tasks and the champion with the highest total after task three will win the Triwizard Cup. The champions will be chosen by an impartial selector… the Goblet of Fire."
Dumbledore relieved Arthur's concerns as he pulled out his wand and tapped the top of the casket with it three times. The lid then slowly creaked open.
He then reached inside it and pulled out a large and roughly hewn wooden cup that would've looked remarkable, especially with it being filled to the brim with dancing blue-white flames.
Dumbledore then closed the casket and carefully placed the Goblet on top of it, where it was visible to everyone in the Hall.
"Anyone wishing to submit themselves as champion must write their name and school clearly upon a slip of parchment, and drop it into the Goblet. Aspiring champions have twenty four hours in which to put their names forward. Tomorrow night, Hallowe'en, the Goblet will return the names of the three it has judged most worthy to represent their schools. The Goblet will be placed in the Entrance Hall tonight, where it will be freely accessible to all those wishing to compete. To ensure that no underage students yields to temptation, I will be drawing an Age Line round the Goblet of Fire once it has been placed in the Entrance Hall. Nobody under the age of seventeen will be able to cross this line. Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this Tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the Tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the Goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play. Before you drop your name into the Goblet. Now, I think it is time for bed. Goodnight to you all."
"An Age Line!" Jack said with glinting eyes as they made their way to the doors to the Entrance Hall. "I'm sure we can fool that with an Aging Potion."
"But you won't stand a chance, you haven't learnt enough -"
"Speak for yourself, Chrys." Kevin cut her off. "You'll try to get in, right, Arthur?"
"Nope." Arthur shook his head. "I've already been in enough attention seeking situations to last a lifetime. I just want to take a break and let someone else take the spotlight for once."
"By the way, Dumbledore didn't even say where the Durmstrang party will be sleeping." David noted.
This ended up being answered almost instantly, as they were now level with the Slytherin table and Karkaroff had just bustled up to his students.
"Back to the ship, then." He said. "Viktor, how are you feeling? Did you eat enough? Should I send for some mulled wine from the kitchens?"
Arthur saw Krum shaking his head as he pulled his furs back on. It seemed he didn't want to be given special treatment.
"Professor, I vood like some vine." A Durmstrang boy said hopefully.
"I wasn't offering it to you, Poliakoff." Karkaroff snapped at him, his paternal air evaporating instantly. "I notice you have dribbled food all down the front of your robes again, disgusting boy -"
Karkaroff had turned and led his students towards the doors, reaching them at exactly the moment when the trio did too.
Arthur stopped to let him walk through first.
"Thank you." He said carelessly, glancing at Arthur, but then he froze and turned his head back at Arthur.
He stared at him as though he couldn't believe his eyes. Behind him, his students came to a halt.
Karkaroff's eyes slowly moved up Arthur's face and fixed upon his scar. His students all stared at Arthur curiously as well. Arthur noticed comprehension dawn on a few of their faces out of the corner of his eye. Poliakoff nudged the girl next to him and pointed at Arthur's forehead.
Arthur glared at Karkaroff, both for staring at him and for the fact that he was holding everyone up.
"Yeah, that's Arthur Pendergast." A growling voice from behind them said.
Karkaroff spun around and saw Moody standing there, leaning heavily on his staff and his magical eye glared unblinkingly at the Durmstrang Headmaster.
All colour drained from Karkaroff's face as Arthur watched a terrible look of fury and fear come over his face, indicating a past between them.
"You!" He said, staring at Moody, as though he was unsure he was really looking at him.
"Me." Moody said grimly. "And unless you've got anything to say to Pendergast, Karkaroff, you might want to move. You're blocking the doorway."
This was true as half the students in the Hall were all waiting behind them, looking over each other's shoulders to see what was going on.
Without another word, Karkaroff swept his students away with him. Moody watched him out of sight, his magical eye fixed upon his back with a look of intense dislike upon his mutilated face.
With the next day being a Saturday, most students would normally have breakfast later than the rest of the week.
But the trio, among many others, rose much earlier than they would normally on weekends.
Upon entering the Entrance Hall, they saw twenty other people milling around it, some eating their toast, examining the Goblet of Fire. It was placed at the centre of the hall on the stool that the Sorting Hat usually bore on. There was also a thin golden line that was traced on the floor, forming a ten foot wide circle around it. The Age Line.
"Has anyone put their names in yet?" David asked a third year girl.
"All the Durmstrang lot. But I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts yet."
"Some of them must've put their names in last night after we all went to bed." Arthur theorised.
Then the three heard laughter behind them. They turned and saw Jack, Kevin and Lee Jordan hurrying down the marble staircase, all three looking very excited.
"We've done it. Just taken it." Jack whispered to the trio.
"The Aging Potions?" David asked for clarification.
"Naturally." Kevin said. "We only needed to be several months older by taking a couple of drops each."
"Guys, Dumbledore would've thought of this, he's not stupid." Chrys told them, but they and Lee ignored her.
"Ready?" Jack asked them. "I'll go first."
Arthur watched in suspense as Jack pulled out a slip of parchment from his pocket that bore the words 'Jack Merlon - Hogwarts'. He then walked right up to the edge of the line and stood, rocking on his toes like a diver as they prepared for a fifty foot drop. Then, with everyone watching, he took a deep breath and stepped over the line.
For a split second, it seemed to work as Kevin ended up leaping in after Jack, but then a loud sizzling sound filled the air and both twins got hurled out of the golden circle like they were thrown but large invisible hands.
They landed ten feet away on the cold stone floor painfully. And adding insult to injury, a loud pop was heard and they both sprouted long white beards that looked identical to each other.
The entire Entrance Hall burst with laughter, as even the twins joined in once they got to their feet and looked at each other.
Even Arthur found it hilarious.
"I did warn you." Dumbledore's amused voice said as he came out of the Great Hall, surveying Jack and Kevin with his twinkling eyes. "I suggest you both go up Madam Pomfrey. She is already tending to Miss Fawcett, of Ravenclaw, and Mr Summers, of Hufflepuff, both of whom decided to age themselves up a little, too. Though I must say, neither of their beards is anything like as fine as yours."
The two set off for the hospital wing, accompanied by Lee, who howled with laughter and the trio all went in to have breakfast.
The decorations in the Great Hall have changed. Since it was Hallowe'en, there was a cloud of live bats fluttering around the enchanted ceiling as hundreds of carved pumpkins leered from every corner.
Arthur led the way over to Dean, Seamus and Mike, who were discussing the Hogwarts students that were seventeen or over that might be entering.
"There's a rumour going round, Warrington got up early and put his name in." Dean informed them. "That big bloke from Slytherin who looks like a sloth."
Arthur knew who he meant. He played against him in Quidditch matches.
"We cannot have a Slytherin as our champion!" He spat with venom and disgust.
"And the Hufflepuffs talked about Diggory." Mike said with some resentment. "I'd have thought he'd stay out of it to keep his handsome looks from being damaged."
"Yeah, one would think." Arthur agreed with him.
"Wait, do you hear that?" Chrys said suddenly.
There was cheering from the Entrance Hall. Everyone looked and saw Angelina Johnson coming into the Hall with a grin on her face. She's a tall black girl who played as Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.
She came over and sat with them, saying "Well, I've done it! Just put my name in!"
"Seriously?" David asked, looking impressed.
"When was your birthday?" Arthur asked.
"Last week." She replied.
"It's nice to see a Gryffindor entering." Chrys said. "I truly hope you get it, Angelina!"
"Thanks, Chrys." Angelina smiled at her.
"Yeah, better you than Pretty Boy Diggory." Seamus said, resulting in several Hufflepuffs who passed their table to scowl heavily at them.
"So what do we do today?" David asked as the trio left the Great Hall after having breakfast.
"We could go visit Hagrid." Arthur suggested, as they've yet to visit him, and he was very keen to show him his Animagus form.
"Alright."
Then they all saw the Beauxbatons students coming in through the front doors from the grounds, among them was the girl that David suspected is part Veela. Those gathered around the Goblet of Fire stood back to let them pass, watching very eagerly.
Maxime then entered the Hall behind her students and organised them into a line. Then one by one, her students stepped across the Age Line and dropped their slips of parchment into the blue-white flames. As each name entered the fire, it turned red briefly as it emitted sparks.
"What will happen to the ones not chosen?" David asked.
"I'm sure they'll just stick around, their Headmistress is staying to judge, after all." Chrys pointed out.
Once all the Beauxbatons students submitted their names, Maxime led them all back out of the hall and into the ground again.
"Well, let's go." Arthur said and they made their way out onto the grounds, David trying to avoid looking at the Veela girl.
As they neared Hagrid's cabin on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, they found out what the sleeping quarters for the Beauxbatons were.
The gigantic powder blue carriage that they arrived in was parked two hundred yards away from Hagrid's front door and the students all climbed back inside it. The Abraxans that pulled the carriage were currently grazing in a makeshift paddock alongside it.
Arthur then knocked on Hagrid's door and Fang's booming barks answered immediately.
"'Bout time!" Hagrid said as he flung the door open to see who was knocking. "Thought you lot'd forgotten where I live!"
"We've been busy -" Chrys started saying but stopped dead upon looking at Hagrid, completely lost for words.
Hagrid wore his best (yet very horrible) hair brown suit and a checked yellow and orange tie. But this wasn't the worst of it as he tried to tame his hair, using large quantities of what seemed to be axle grease. His hair was now slicked down into two bunches, most likely attempting a ponytail, like Rob's, but found he just had too much hair. This look didn't suit Hagrid at all.
For a moment, Chrys just goggled at him but she decided to not comment on it.
"So… where's the Skrewts?"
"Out by the pumpkin patch." Hagrid said happily. "They're gettin' massive, mus' be nearly three feet long now. On'y trouble is, they've started killin' each other."
"Really?" She said.
"Yeah." He said sadly. "'S'okay, though I've got 'em in separate boxes now. Still got abou' twenty."
"That's lucky." David said, Hagrid missing the fact that he was being sarcastic.
His cabin mainly consisted of a single room with a corner where a gigantic bed covered in a patchwork quilt was situated. There was also a large wooden table and chairs that stood in front of the fire, beneath the quantity of cured hams and dead birds that hung from the ceiling. They sat as Hagrid started to make tea.
Arthur was able to showcase his Animagus form and Hagrid was all kinds of impressed, complimenting his mane and fur.
Soon, they were immersed in discussion about the Triwizard Tournament and Hagrid seemed to be quite excited about it as they were.
"You wait." He said with a grin. "You jus' wait. Yer going ter see some stuff yeh've never seen before. Firs' task… ah, but I'm not supposed ter say."
"Come on, Hagrid…" The trio urged him on, yet he just shook his head with a grin.
"I don' want ter spoil it fer yeh. But it's gonna be spectacular, I'll tell yeh that. Them champions're going ter have their work cut out. Never thought I'd live ter see the Triwizard Tournament played again!"
The three ended up having lunch with Hagrid, even though they didn't really eat much. Hagrid made them what he called a beef casserole, though after Chrys unearthed a large talon in hers, they lost their appetites.
A light rain started falling by mid afternoon, making it very cosy to sit by the fire, listening to the gentle patter of the drops on the window, watching Hagrid darn his socks and talk with Chrys about the house elves.
"It's in their nature ter look after humans. Yeh'd be makin' 'em unhappy ter take away their work, an' insultin' 'em if yeh tried ter pay 'em."
"Then how do you explain Dobby?" Arthur asked. "I helped set him free because he wanted it. And he was asking for wages, according to Winky."
"Yeah, well, yeh get weirdos in every breed. I'm not sayin' there isn't the odd elf who'd take freedom, but yeh'll never persuade most of 'em ter do it."
"Oh, and Hagrid…. I've talked with Kenny about Norbert." Arthur decided to reveal.
"Oh! How is Norbert?" Hagrid asked, looking very eager to learn how his former dragon was.
"Well… it turns out Norbert's actually a female and so they named her Norberta. It seems that the females are more aggressive." Arthur revealed, stunning Hagrid and even David and Chrys.
By half past five, it was growing dark and the trio decided that it was time to go back up to the castle for the Hallowe'en feast, and most importantly, the announcement of the Triwizard champions.
"I'll come with yeh." Hagrid said, putting away his darning. "Jus' give us a sec."
He got up, went across to the chest of drawers beside his bed and searched for something inside it. The trio didn't pay attention until a truly awful smell reached their nostrils.
"What is that?" David asked through his coughing.
"Eh?" Hagrid said, turning around with a large bottle in his hand. "Don' yeh like it?"
"Is that supposed to be aftershave?" Chrys asked, sounding choked.
"Er - eau de Cologne." Hagrid muttered, blushing as well. "Maybe it's a bit much." He then said gruffly. "I'll go take it off, hang on…."
"By the way, what's with the hair and the suit?" Arthur asked in an undertone.
"Look!" David suddenly said as he pointed out of the window.
Hagrid straightened up and turned around. If he was blushing before, it was nothing compared to before.
The trio got to their feet very cautiously so that Hagrid wouldn't spot them, they peered through the window and saw that Maxime and the Beauxbatons students had just emerged from their carriage and were setting off for the feast as well. They couldn't hear exactly what Hagrid was saying, but he was definitely talking to Maxime with a rapt and misty eyed expression that Arthur only ever saw him have when he looked at Norberta.
"Wow… he's left us to go up to the castle on our own!" Chrys said, sounding offended.
Without even making a backwards glance at his cabin, Hagrid trudged up the ground with Maxime, the Beauxbatons students following after them in a jog to keep up with their enormous strides.
"I can't believe it! He fancies her!" David said, absolutely stunned. "They might end up setting a world record if they ever have any children."
So they simply let themselves out of the cabin and shut the door behind them. It was surprisingly dark outside as they drew their cloaks more closely around themselves and set off up the sloping lawns.
"Look, the Durmstrangs." Chrys whispered.
They saw them walking up towards the castle from the lake. Krum was walking alongside Karkaroff with all the other students straggling along behind them.
Upon entering the Great Hall, it was almost full.
The Goblet of Fire was also moved as it now stood in front of Dumbledore's empty chair at the teachers' table. Both Jack and Kevin - now clean shaven - took the disappointment very well.
"I sure as hell hope it's Angelina." Jack said as the trio sat down. Of course, he happens to have feelings for his fellow Quidditch teammate, so he'd naturally want her to be the Hogwarts champion.
"Same here!" Chrys sided with him. "But we'll soon know!"
The Hallowe'en feast took much longer than it usually seemed. Maybe it was because it was their second feast two days in a row, but Arthur found himself not really in the mood for extravagantly prepared food as he normally would.
Like everyone else in the Hall, based on their ever craning necks, the impatient expressions on every face and the fidgeting and standing up to see if Dumbledore finished eating, Arthur just wanted the plates to clear up just so he could see who was selected as the Triwizard champions.
Finally, the golden plates returned to their original empty and spotless state. This caused a sharp upswing in the level of noise within the Hall, which died out almost instantly when Dumbledore got to his feet.
On either side of him, both Karkaroff and Maxime looked as tense and expectant as anyone. Bagman was beaming and winking at various students and Crouch looked very uninterested, downright bored.
"Well, the Goblet is almost ready to make its decision." Dumbledore said. "I estimate that it requires one more minute. Now, when the champions' names are called, I would ask them please to come up to the top of the Hall, walk along the staff table, and go through into the next chamber -" He indicated towards the door behind the staff table. " - where they will be receiving their first instructions."
Dumbledore then took his wand out and gave a sweeping wave with it, extinguishing all the candles in the Hall except for the ones in the carved pumpkins, plunging the Great Hall into semi-darkness. This made the Goblet of Fire shine more brightly than anything else with its sparkling bright, blue-whiteness of the flames that were nearly painful on the eyes.
Everyone watched, waiting… a few people even checked their watches.
"Any second." Lee Jordan whispered as he sat two seats away from Arthur.
The flames inside the Goblet now suddenly turned red as sparks flew from it. The next moment, a tongue of flame shot into the air and a charred piece of parchment fluttered out from it.
The whole room gasped at this as Dumbledore caught the piece of parchment and held it at arm's length so that he could read it by the light of the flames, which now turned back to blue-white.
"The champion for Durmstrang…" He then read in a strong and clear voice. "...will be Viktor Krum."
"Not surprising!" David yelled as a large round of applause and cheering consumed the entire Hall. Arthur watched Krum rise from the Slytherin table and slouch towards Dumbledore; he then turned right and walked along the staff table, disappearing through the door into the next chamber.
"Brave, Viktor!" Karkaroff boomed out so loudly that he could be heard, even over the applause. "Knew you had it in you!"
The clapping and chatting then died down with everyone's attention now back on the Goblet, which seconds later, turned red again. A second piece of parchment shot out, propelled by the flames.
"The champion for Beauxbatons…" Dumbledore said. "...is Fleur Delacour!"
"It's the Veela girl!" Arthur shouted to David, seeing her stand gracefully onto her feet and shook back her sheet of silvery blonde hair, sweeping between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables.
"Look at them, you'd think they lost someone special!" Chrys pointed out, nodding to all the other Beauxbatons students, who collectively dissolved into tears, two of them even sobbing with their heads on their arms.
When Fleur vanished as well into the side chamber, silence fell once more, but one that was so stiff with excitement that you could downright taste it. The Hogwarts champion was next….
The Goblet of Fire turned red for the third time and sparks formed from it. The tongue of flame shot high into the air and Dumbledore was able to grab the third piece of parchment from its tip.
"The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!"
Arthur and David groaned in disappointment and contempt as the table next to them made a truly loud uproar. Every single Hufflepuff had jumped to their feet, screaming and stamping, as Cedric made his way past them, grinning broadly and headed off to the chamber behind the teachers' table.
In fact, the applause for Cedric went on for so long that it took some time before Dumbledore made himself heard again.
"Excellent!" He called happily as it finally died down. "Well, we now have our three champions. I am sure I can count upon all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions every ounce of support you can muster. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real -"
He suddenly stopped as everyone saw what had distracted him.
The fire in the Goblet turned red again with sparks flying out of it. Then a long flame shot out suddenly into the air and there was another piece of parchment.
Very automatically, Dumbledore reached out a long hand and seized it. He then held it out and started at the name that was written upon it. There was a long pause, leaving everyone staring at Dumbledore as he stared at the slip in his hands.
But then he cleared his throat and read aloud "Arthur Pendergast."
Oh boy... Time for the heat of everyone to come bearing down on Arthur.
